《Return of the Dragons - Born of Water》


 Chapter 1: Candasar

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    CHAPTER 1


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    There was a dragon named Candasar. If someone were asked to describe what they thought a dragon might be like, Candasar would probably fall short of their expectations. She was not overly large, nor did she have wings or the ability to breathe fire. Those attributes had been taken from her and every other member of her race a long time ago. If someone was lucky enough to spot one of her kind, it would be while visiting a very specific lake and looking at the water.


    In terms of outward appearances, there were not many differences between her and the others. Her hide was the only thing that seemed to set her apart. She was a beautiful blue color. Almost without exception, the others of her kind were only grey. All of the water dragons lived their lives, propelled on short flat flippers that helped them swim. These helped them catch and eat the fish in the lake in which they lived. The dragons of the lake led simple, relatively short lives. They fed on fish, fought petty internal squabbles, reproduced, and died.


    Candasar had an overpowering feeling that there must be more to life than this. Because of this, she lived a lonely life and felt estranged from the rest of her kind.


    Candasar had different desires. Nothing about how the others lived made sense to her. Because her blue color made her stand out, and despite her eccentric ways, the young males of the tribe found her very exotic and were attracted to her. She had never accepted their offers to breed. Sometimes this rejection ended violently. They seemed to feel that she needed additional persuasion. She learned quickly how to fight back.


    Strangely, she seemed to be more skilled at fighting than they were. She seemed stronger and faster. She did receive a few cuts and scratches, but if they persisted, many of them left badly injured. She usually left their bodies and pride in tatters from her strong rejection. To reduce the frequency of these confrontations she lived alone and as far from them as possible.


    When she was young, her immediate family was often the subject of ridicule. This contributed to her to her social difficulties. From the tribe''s perspective, Candasar''s grandfather Mo-rung had been born with what were considered severe birth defects.


    Not only was his skin red, but instead of flippers to propel himself through the water, he had legs. At the end of them, his strange feet ended in segmented pointed joints of bone. They were hard enough to scratch the rocks over which he occasionally scrambled. His unsuitable build caused him to be almost useless to the other males as they hunted their fishy prey in packs and swam swiftly.


    Crippled as he was, he was called upon to perform the work of the females in caring for the young while his normal-looking mate did her meager part of fishing in his stead. The clan elders had been relieved when Candasar¡¯s father had hatched normally. Making fun of Mo-Rung became a popular pastime of young dragons from other families. This was well established long before Candasar came along.


    More hideous than her grandfather¡¯s disfigured and segmented feet, were the ragged and easily torn flaps of boneless skin that hung limp on his back near his shoulder blades. Though he could still swim by thrusting himself through the water like a snake, he grew tired quickly. Because he preferred to stay on land, he was more likely to be spotted by the men who inhabited the town at the far end of the loch.


    Due to his having been seen several times, the men of the town had developed a renewed and zealous interest in the dragons. The humans seemed especially happy to see Mo-Rung. They had some sort of temple and revered the dragons. This seemed to upset the tribe leadership and they often reminded Mo-Rung to keep his distance from them.


    Because of the tribal mandate to remain inconspicuous, Most dragons avoided the end of the lake that was the site of the human town. Because of the human''s increased interest in trying to see Mo-Rung, they more often wandered the shores of the lake. If humans were present, hunting parties had to temporarily forego some of the better fishing areas. Mo-Rung and any dragon related to him had suffered socially for that. This especially affected Candasar while she was young.


    Despite all of that, Candasar had adored her grandfather. She clearly remembered several conversations that she had with him before his death. One in particular stuck in her mind. He had been watching her and her cousins while their parents were out getting fish.


    ¡°The creatures that we are now, are weak and deformed, " Mo-Rung had said.


    That drew a strong reaction from Candasar''s cousin Heath, who had laughed at him.


    "I am already a better swimmer than you are Grandfather!"


    "That is because I look more like our ancestors." her Grandfather had answered. "Dragons did not always have those flippers that you are so proud of. They flew with wings. Your water-shaped bodies are a mockery of what dragons once were!" he had said sadly.


    "Those dragons must have hunted flying fish!" Heath had said laughing. Then he had swum away to spend his time with dragons from another family.


    Very few of the youngsters paid attention or listened to Mo-Rung''s rantings. They all eventually left.


    Only Candasar stayed, listening to every word.


    "Are those things on your back supposed to be wings?" she had asked sincerely.


    "They are supposed to be." he had said with a grimace. "You must have noticed that no one else has them at all.¡±


    ¡±Why are you the only one Grandfather?¡± She had asked.


    ¡±Once in a while, if the magic of a particular egg is strong enough, something in the ¡°debilitating evil magic¡± that was cast on us fails. Then some of our original shape emerges. It might exhibit like these legs and wings that I have, but lacking their original size and strength. It is proof, however, of what we were meant to be!"


    Candasar looked at her own back, lacking any trace of wings.


    "I may not have legs or wings, but I feel like a true dragon inside" she had said defiantly.


    Mo-Rung had looked at her and smiled sadly.


    "I believe you are Candasar. Your blue color is evidence of that. Your soul craves for more, and you may never be happy living in this lake."


    As all of the young of her generation grew older, it seemed that only Candasar had continued to believe what he said. It struck a strange chord in her. Deep inside she knew what he said was true. It had changed her life.


    On the day before he died, her grandfather had pulled her aside for a strange conversation.


    "I am very old Candasar. I have long outlived your grandmother. The new tribal elders consider feeding me too great a burden. Before I die I need to tell you something."


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    "But you look healthy Grandfather!" she protested.


    "Listen! There may be a chance for your children Candasar" he had said. "These others do not have the magic inside them that you do. I have seen that for a long time now."


    "Do not accept one of these dragons without magic for your mate. You must be patient. You may someday find a male dragon like yourself, that is closer to our ancestors. The crippling magic that affects the others may have somehow missed him like it did you. The differences might be inside like yours or outside like mine. Both are the result of our magic."


    Candasar started to protest.


    "There is no one like us." she said sadly. "None of them have magic!"


    "Wait for him! Find him Candasar. Together you and he may be able to have offspring that can fly. Also,¡± he said, looking around suspiciously. ¡°Hide your eggs. Over the years, many of your grandmother''s eggs somehow went missing from our nest. Something strange is happening in this lake.


    The next day he walked out into the forest to die.


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    For the vast majority of the water dragons, the use of magic had dwindled until it was something more like wishing than actual magic. Only a few females still found uses for magic. They sometimes used it to ¡°change their luck¡±, causing dazed and hapless schools of fish to swim up to them allowing them to skip hunting and providing them with an easy meal.


    In most of the lake dragons, even a small use of magical energy usually left the user drained and unable to raise even a glimmer of power for several days. The females seemed to have only one other use for magic. It was to attract prime males by increasing their sexual appeal. As aggressive as the males had been towards her, Candasar wondered why they even bothered. She wished she had a way to keep them as uninterested as possible.


    After her grandfather died, Candasar lived alone and hunted her prey with only flippers and jaw. She conserved every scrap of magical energy she could and diverted it into her ovaries. The unfertilized eggs she was born with and carried were as healthy and improved as she could make them. Her pattern and reason for the changes she was attempting on the eggs were bolstered by the strange tale of lost glory passed down to her by Mo-Rung. She willed her magical power into her future offspring. They would have the shape of her grandfather. She missed him greatly.


    After her grandfather had died he had not been mourned, except by his strange and reclusive granddaughter. His death had severed something deep within her and she had grown more distant and distracted, even from her immediate family. She continued to spurn the advances of several of the larger, more powerful males, even if not magically provoked. Their humiliation and damaged pride caused several of them to begin telling lies about their conquests of her. They were lies she did not find credible enough to even bother to deny.


    Somehow these stories took hold and she often found herself the recipient of haughty looks from the females or worse yet, leering or aggressive physical contact from the single males if she happened to cross paths with them as she hunted her food. Her once smooth flanks were scarred by gouges and teeth marks, souvenirs of her fending off their unwanted advances.


    Eventually, as the prime age for the pairing of her kind was past, the unwanted attention faded to an angry sullen apathy toward her from all others, including her previously sympathetic and tolerant family. She swam and hunted the cold waters of the lake alone, biding her time dreaming at night of star-filled skies and silently stoking the magical fire burning deep within her body that denied everything she had been taught about her place in this world.


    When she wasn''t trying to catch enough fish to feed herself, she used her time alone to work on her nest. A short underwater tunnel was the entrance to a small cavern she had carefully excavated into the steep bank of the shore. She had used her large flippers to dig out the area, dissolving and pushing out most of the dirt and mud. She also had been fortunate enough to find a flat natural rock shelf inside that she could climb up onto for a place to sleep.


    The rock shelf above the waterline had finalized her decision to choose this cave as a refuge and continue its excavation. A few holes up near the top let in air and filtered light, providing some needed ventilation, their exterior openings hidden by boulders and ferns. At night, the walls shimmered softly with bioluminescence from an algae that Candasar had found growing on some rocks. She had carefully brought a few of them into the nest and the glowing algae had spread. Candasar was very pleased with herself, but all that work had taken a great deal of time. Now, more than ever, she could feel her biological clock ticking. She realized that if she couldn''t find the mate she needed then all her efforts would be wasted.


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    Then at last came the day that changed everything. While passing through a narrow underwater passageway, that her people used to remain unseen near the human town, she caught the end of a conversation that she had waited far too long to hear. Two females, engaged in some sort of clan gossip, smirked at her before saying the words:


    ¡°His parents are so discouraged. That poor young dragon looks like that wretched creature that was Candasar''s grandfather.¡±


    Candasar gave them a long cold stare before shouldering past them and continuing on her way. It was very hard to deny them the satisfaction of a reaction to their insults


    After soon doing some covert investigation of her own, she learned that a distant cousin had been found to have a defective child. At the insistence of his mother, and despite being a burden, they had hidden him from the clan and elders for many years, raising him to young adulthood. Then another child, a normal-looking female, had hatched. She soon, as children often do, began to complain about her family to her friends. Her brother''s existence was exposed and the tribal leaders had been called to a meeting.


    This council was far less tolerant than those presiding over the generation of her grandfather. Because of their fear of additional attention by men, and due to the young male¡¯s complete inability to swim, the solution seemed an obvious one to them. He was to be banished to die, forcibly dragged to the deepest part of the lake, and left there to drown, where hopefully his body would never be discovered.


    Despite his mother''s protests, the sentence was to be carried out that very night. Candasar allowed her cousin to cry on her shoulder as she learned the details.


    Candasar quietly paddled out, following the execution party. She listened from far out of sight, slowly circling the area of the youngster¡¯s imminent demise, She heard the occasional cursing from the elders as his sharp claws flailed and scratched one of them. But they were large and he was smaller. They dragged him out into deep water. As they pulled back from him, Candasar could hear the young dragon''s futile desperate splashing. His pointed claws were unable to support him and his billowing leathery wings filled with small pockets of trapped air as he struggled to hold his head above the water. The struggles were surely and swiftly sapping his strength and he began sinking inexorably toward the bottom. The tribal elders swiftly headed away, lingering only long enough to make sure he did not resurface.


    The timing was terrible. The dragon mother had a strong desire to rescue her child. Her instincts kept her circling back to try and save him herself. She had no idea Candasar was trying to stealthily do the same thing. The stern voice of her husband and the elders kept the mother from actually acting, but she would not fully swim away. At last, unable to bear it any further, she turned and fled leaving Candasar alone to dive deeply and unseen toward the drowning male. He was quite a way down.


    It was probably best that she reached him at the end of his strength, for the sharp talons of his strange feet cut into her as he thrashed briefly as she drew near him in the dark water. She bit as gently as possible into his neck to subdue him and swam upwards. Her years of exercise and extreme fitness were the only things making pulling a weight like his out of the depths possible. He was not completely unconscious as they surfaced. In his frenzied desperation, he tried to climb on top of her to get out of the water. His talons left scratches on her side. Stifling a scream, she tried to remain calm. She again grabbed his thrashing neck in her jaws and bit down firmly enough to temporarily choke him into unconsciousness. Easing her pressure she pulled his head and snout once again out of the water and began the arduous task of towing his limp and lifeless body back toward her cavern.


    Even with her abnormal strength she almost didn¡¯t make it. She had to spend some of her precious magic to reinforce her muscles and slow the bleeding of the gashes on her body just to get back to shore. With a final great effort, she forced him through the tunnel and getting under him, levered him up onto the rocky shelf of her cave. He was unconscious and his breathing was shallow and very fast.


    Years of not using her magic and here she was spending so much of it, all in one night! Reaching within herself, she felt more of it push out toward the young male as she wished to stabilize him. Suddenly he coughed and a stream of water gushed out of his mouth. He began to breathe easier.


    ¡®He might yet live¡± she thought. There was not enough room for the two of them on the shelf. Wedging her head and neck into a crack nearby, she gazed blearily at the softly glowing algae, out of focus, just in front of her eyes.


    ¡°Hopefully I won¡¯t slip down and drown after all that! She thought¡±. Too tired to further consider her wounds, Candasar let her consciousness fall into oblivion.


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 Chapter 2: A Walk in the Woods.

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    Chapter Two


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    The algae on the cavern walls above the waterline glowed a mirky green, reflecting shimmering light off the gentle swells in the water as Candasar''s body jerked into consciousness: Why was she wedged into a crack? Why was she in the water? The memories returned gradually. She was in her cave, and she was not alone for once. The male was still asleep, safe, for now, and as far as the clan knew, long drowned. Candasar felt lucky to have kept its location hidden.


    Candasar usually did not have much social interaction with the rest of her kind. Now that she had broken tribal mandate, if he were found, it would mean certain death for both of them.


    Because of the male¡¯s unconscious and sprawled condition, there was only room for him on the ledge above the water. This was highly inconvenient! She circled slowly, treading water. She was still exhausted. Her body felt bruised and scraped raw. Slowly moving her large flippers, she waited for his eyes to open. She wasn''t that surprised when, after a short while, they did. Mistaking her watery form for the mother, who had eventually been the last to abandon him. He called out for her.


    ¡±Mother!¡±


    ¡°Hush,¡± she whispered urgently, ¡°Lie still, or you will fall in the water again! I am female, but I am not your mother.¡±


    Her words stopped him, and he swung his neck toward her to get a better look in the dim light.


    ¡°Who..?¡±


    She cut him off quickly.


    ¡°I am Candasar,¡± she said quietly. ¡°I saved you, and I am an outcast such as yourself, but for different reasons.¡±


    Seeming to, at last, remember the ordeal and events that led up to his near drowning, his stubby wings fluttered reflexively, and he cringed back as far as possible onto the shoreline ledge.


    ¡°But why?¡± he groaned miserably, seeming to recoil even further. ¡°I am useless and ugly.¡±


    ¡°What is your name?¡± she asked quietly, trying to sound soothing.


    ¡°Tundor,¡± he replied at last after a lengthy pause.


    ¡°Well, Tundor,¡± she began slowly, ¡°I have rescued you. As my reward, let me tell you about our long-ago ancestors. It is a story that was told to me by my Grandfather. Strangely enough, he looked a lot like you. If you don¡¯t mind me climbing up, I will tell it to you.¡±


    Shrinking back on the rock shelf, he managed to find some room for her. In the dim light, she pulled herself up, beginning her story:


    ¡±Long ago, our people were plentiful and strong, and they flew in the skies and lived on mountaintops. They were much larger than us, and they lived without fear. The land was plentiful, and they hunted, not cold, slippery fish, but striking from above, they fed on land beasts. They grew strong on warm red meat.¡±


    Tundors eyes grew wide.


    ¡°Their claws, segmented and sharp, such as yours, tore flesh as they wished until once again their mighty wings lifted them again from the earth to hunt from the sky in flights of red and black, white and blue, for those were some of their colors. They were able to use magic and called themselves Dragons! In their power and arrogance, however, they fell victim to an unexpected enemy!¡±


    The young dragon listened, spellbound.


    ¡®The elves of the land far to the South of our ancestors had frequently made contact with the great dragons of the North through the years. Some elves used telepathic abilities to speak with the dragons and share mental conversations. As their territories expanded and grew closer to one another, in time, these two powerful races began to more often peacefully interact.¡±


    ¡°The elves, who used deep magic stemming from the true names of every rock, twig, and physical force, were fascinated and impressed with the dragons who seemed to possess huge untold amounts of this magical energy. The dragons seemed content to live out their lives in the realm of the unmatched physical prowess they possessed, not studying how the elves used magic or considering their desire to gain more would lead to their downfall.¡±


    ¡°In our belief that one must only be physically strong, the dragons seriously underestimated the power of Elven magic. They had no idea what the Elves were capable of once roused from their peaceful ways. Somehow, a conflict occurred.¡±


    ¡±Mother said that we lost a war,¡± said Tundor interjected.


    ¡±I guess you could call it that,¡± said Candasar. ¡°My grandfather called it a mass execution.¡±


    ¡±Even though they lacked the telepathy of the elves, the race of men held the dragons in very high esteem, and some even worshiped them. Dragons were never in conflict with them. On this continent, food was abundant. For reasons unknown, some dragons chose to attack the settlements of the Elven folk. The elf my grandfather talked to claimed dragons went so far as to eat the elves they killed in battle. Of course, this would be their undoing.¡±


    ¡±How did your grandfather learn these things?¡± Asked Tundor


    ¡±Did you know that there are elves that still keep watch over this lake?¡± She asked in return.


    ¡°My family kept me hidden,¡± he replied awkwardly.


    ¡±I have seen them myself a few times.¡± She said. ¡°Long ago one of them told these things to my grandfather. I think the elf got in trouble for talking to him. My grandfather said that he never came back. Let me finish telling you about the war.¡±


    ¡°The elves, finding some of their homesteads missing and sorting the grisly evidence, sent emissaries to the dragon rulers appealing for a cessation of the atrocity, but these negotiations did not end well. The dragons had become accustomed to having their way.¡±


    ¡±Only one group of dragons and one family of elves argued for peace, appealing to the rest to consider each other peers and comrades, warning of disastrous repercussions, but they were silenced.¡±


    ¡±Seeing no benefit to further negotiations, the Elves fought with a new magic. The Elves formed a team of mighty sages that created a new and powerful spell.¡±


    ¡°The dragons had no real defense against it. The very magic that flooded the bloodstreams of the great dragons was turned against them and they were burned alive in the very fires of their bodies. Glands that secreted the flames that they could exhale were stoked from within to burn them from the inside out. The ones that survived were those that took refuge in the water to quench their internal fires. Very few were left!¡±


    ¡±How did those once mighty dragons become us?¡± He asked sadly.


    ¡°The elven watcher that spoke to my grandfather claimed that the elves were, at heart, a race that wanted no species to die off entirely. They gathered the survivors and began using a deep magic of change upon the dragons, most of which had sheltered in the lake. As a condition to stop their extinction, the dragons had to agree to great flesh-sculpting changes, including diminishing their fire glands and changing their shape. Their claws were fused into flippers, and their great wings were removed. This was powerful magic, but it took years for all the dragons to convert. Not every elf went along with this. They tried to protect the specific dragons they had befriended. They plotted together. Escapes were attempted. Dragons that did not accept these rules and the elves that helped them resist were killed. Dragons as they had existed before were deemed too dangerous to be allowed to live.¡±


    ¡±The elders certainly wanted me dead,¡± Tundor said. "Do you think that they did this to appease the elves?"


    ¡°I have seen few elves around here," said Candasar. "But that doesn''t mean that they aren''t watching. My Grandfather warned me that something strange was going on."


    "So why do I have wings?" asked Tundor, confused.


    "Because dragons were creatures of magic, the changes forced on us by the elves'' magic have left a few gaps. These gaps occasionally manifest to show us what we once were. Dragons like you still very occasionally hatch.¡±


    While she had spoken, daylight had arrived, soft, filtered sunbeams creeping through the air ducts in the cave ceiling.


    "Does your magic make you blue?" Tundor asked bashfully.


    Candasar looked down at the sunlight that was now illuminating her.


    "Yes, it makes me blue," she said sadly. "In more ways than one."


    Tundor had mainly been silent through the first part of her tale, but now his eyes widened in realization.


    ¡°We are both throwbacks to our ancestors!¡± he said, a curl of vapor hissing and steaming from the tip of his soggy wet nose.¡±


    ¡°I believe with all my heart,¡± Candasar said solemnly, "That we are not the abnormality. The rest of them are!¡±


    ----------------


    Tundor woke the next morning alone. He lay on the damp, narrow shelf that made up the only relatively dry place the cavern provided. The events of the night before and the brutal treatment he had suffered at the whim of the clan elders were confusing to the young pseudo-dragon. He felt betrayed and abandoned.


    He supposed Candasar was out hunting or something. He had never been able to swim well, but lowered himself, legs first, down the edge of the sleeping shelf and into the underground pool. It was slippery. He thrashed as he slipped in deeper than he intended, unintentionally submerging himself. Sputtering and spitting, he clawed his way back out of the water.


    He shivered miserably as he realized he might be trapped in this cave until Candasar came back for him. He would have liked to run away but didn''t know where he would even go. That his own family had agreed to his death was hard for him to accept.


    When Candasar finally returned, she fed and brought several large fish for him. He devoured them quickly, looking about eagerly for more. Candasar remembered the overpowering need for food brought on by growing at that age. She looked sadly at him, saying,


    ¡°I''m sorry, Tundor, that''s all I could get. I am exhausted and have barely slept at all since dragging you here.¡±


    Puzzled, he looked at her still treading water in the cavern and asked stupidly.


    ¡°Why not?¡±


    She seemed to smile slightly before answering quietly


    ¡°Because you are in my bed, Idiot!¡±


    Tundor almost leaped from the ledge before remembering his failed previous attempt.


    ¡°Sorry,¡± he mumbled apologetically and shrunk back against the wall, trying to make himself as small as possible.


    Candasar chuckled and began pulling herself out of the water.


    He was horrified to see again the bloody scratches that still oozed deep and red on her sides and upper legs as she groaned slightly and climbed up beside him.


    ¡°Did I do that?¡± he gasped.


    ¡°Yes, but don''t worry about it,¡± she replied. ¡°You didn''t mean to. You were trying to save yourself from drowning by using me as an island.¡±


    He looked away, embarrassed and dismayed that he had done so much damage to the one who had been trying to save him.


    ¡°It''s just that I swim like a rock,¡± he said sadly, forcing himself to meet her eyes, hoping his expression showed at least some gratitude.


    ¡°I''m a little puzzled by that, actually,¡± she said with her eyelids already drooping. ¡°My grandfather could swim enough to keep his head out of the water, but I suppose he was much older than you and had more time to practice. I remember him moving the entire length of his body back and forth through the water. Maybe you should try that instead of trying to paddle with those very sharp feet. Perhaps you could try it while I try to sleep a little.¡±


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    Tundor nodded.


    ¡°I''ll try not to make too much noise,¡± he said softly, but her eyes were already closed.


    Intrigued by the possibility that he might have been going about the swimming with a faulty technique, he shimmied over her and lowered himself into the water of the cavern, Letting go of the shelf and pushing off he tried thrashing his body from side to side in the water. He sank immediately and came up coughing.


    The blue water dragon on the shelf opened an eye and watched him for a minute before drifting off again, obviously more than exhausted. Tundor looked again at the horrible red slashes she bore on her body and wondered to himself why this stranger had bothered to save him. He tried to swim once more.


    Eventually, he found he could keep his head out of the water by holding his arms and legs straight back against his sides and violently thrashing his whole body like it was one great tail. It took a lot of energy, but it would work in a pinch. Cold, tired, and now even more hungry, he found the tunnel to the outside and contemplated using his new skills to make an escape. Instead, he forced himself to crawl up next to her and sit quietly on the shelf until Candasar finally woke up. It was a long time. Eventually, he saw one of her large blue eyes quietly staring at him.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± he said to her softly. "Your advice worked. At least a little."


    ¡°Did you become a better swimmer?" she asked hopefully.


    ¡°Yes, I did, at least somewhat. ¡± he replied cautiously, ¡°But I was thanking you for saving my life.¡±


    She only smiled at him, then squeezed past. She pushed off the shelf with her flippers and slid gracefully into the water.


    ¡°I will again hunt, but it is now almost midday. The bigger fish will be deeper. I can make a good meal out of many smaller ones, but to bring something back of any consequence for you, I will need to catch larger ones.¡±


    Tundor nodded. He had been eating fish caught by others for his entire life. It was never enough.


    Candasar looked at him thoughtfully and continued.


    ¡°I wonder if our kind''s size would be different if we ate the way our ancestors did. I''m curious how big you could grow on a different diet. We may soon have to find a way to get you something more than fish."


    Tundor looked confused but nodded appreciatively. Food was good, the more the better. He climbed onto the still-warm shelf on which she had just rested to wait for her return, licking his lips in expectation. All that afternoon, she hunted, and she returned with as much for him as she could carry every time. Each time, he finished it all.


    ¡°Didn''t your family feed you?¡± she asked at one point, trying not to laugh as the fish, with which she had just arrived, disappeared as fast as she could toss it to him.


    "Mom tried, but my sister got jealous when she was told to catch her own. She didn''t understand why she had to work for her meals, and I didn''t.¡±


    ¡°She was hatched with flippers and is not like you?¡±


    ¡±Yes, he replied, thank goodness!¡±


    ¡°I suppose this sort of thing is hard to explain to a child.¡± Candasar thought to herself but did not say out loud. ¡°An older brother getting special treatment.¡±


    ¡±How am I going to teach him to hunt for his land food when I barely can leave the water?¡± She worriedly asked herself.


    That night, they tried to share the small shelf. It was all they had. Tundor pressed himself tightly against the rock wall, and Candasar laid as close as she could to him while still leaving some space in between them. Even so, some of her was hanging over the water. As she approached, there was an awkwardness in his eyes, which let her know it was far too soon to bring up the reason she had taken such an interest in his survival in the first place.


    She lay awake for a long time, listening to his breathing as he dozed. She almost thought she could feel the heat from his sleeping fire running down her body as she lay awake beside him. She turned her thoughts inward and guided her magic to work inside her, enhancing the deep private places in her body that she hoped would soon produce creatures to rule the sky again.


    -------------------


    The next morning, Tundor awoke to yet another empty cavern. The rumbling in his stomach seemed to echo the hopeful thoughts that Candasar was out fishing.


    ¡°I''m going to wear her out trying to keep up with my appetite,¡± he thought to himself.


    Suddenly, it seemed immensely practical to do something about the situation himself. He felt so wholly useless just sitting around waiting. Moving to the edge of the water, he looked at his reflection on its calm surface, his eyes having been in this dim light for so long that a reasonable shape could be made out. Despite a better understanding of what his body actually was and what it could grow into, it still disturbed him to consider his abnormal features. It was time to make an honest appraisal of his attributes.


    Thoughtfully, he began to evaluate himself. The creature that stared back at him in the pool''s reflection seemed so strange. Its body was thicker and heavier by far than that of others he had seen, even the larger males like his father had a thinner gracefulness about them, especially in the width of their trunk. He was much bulkier in comparison. His neck was wider at the base, tapering much slower toward his overlarge head. His tail was broader too. Though he was still relatively young, it seemed obvious, now, that he was a throwback to a completely different time in his racial history.


    As he considered Candasar''s story of their ancestors it seemed unlikely these ¡°abnormalities¡± that he had thought of as defects could not have happened all at once and by random chance. The magic that had converted his kind to a life of swimming was merciful in a way. The elves had certainly never intended that dragons would ever fly again. The powerful elven magicians had prepared them for aquatic life. Tundor resolved that if he ever had the misfortune to meet one of these ¡°elves¡± he would be exceedingly polite.


    Just then Candasar''s form broke the surface of the water at the center of the pool, startling him and shattering the reflected image in it. Tundor jumped slightly causing her to grin mischievously as his face showed far too much hidden embarrassment at her having caught him looking at himself.


    ¡°Breakfast!¡± was all she said by way of apology. It was the best apology. Tundor was eager to accept.


    After Tundor quickly devoured the three large fish she deposited on the sleeping shelf, Candasar looked at him quizzically and asked a question.


    ¡°Are you ready to try and swim out of here and have a look around?¡±


    ¡°Do you think it''s safe?¡± He asked, realizing he had no idea how far they were from others on the lake. It suddenly occurred to him unpleasantly that this might make it sound as if he was expecting her to defend him.


    ¡°Are there others near enough to hear me? I might do some heavy splashing!¡±


    ¡°I don''t think so. No one should be close by¡±, Candasar said, thinking about the risk they would be taking ¡°But keeping you in this cave forever is just not an option. Maybe you can catch something to eat. I''d like to get those thick legs of yours onto dry land and see what you are capable of!¡±


    He looked down in embarrassment, becoming confused. Her sleeping next to him the night before had awoken a strange and unfamiliar yearning that he had failed to completely understand.


    ¡°Honestly, I don''t know if we can keep up with your food requirements without somehow catching the land animals on the shore.¡± She said, not noticing his embarrassment.


    "I have no idea how that is going to work out, though. In this situation, I have no experience whatsoever."


    ¡°I will try,¡± he said finally, deciding her intent was innocent of innuendo. ¡°Let me see if I can get out of this cave¡±


    Candasar nodded approvingly.


    ¡°That should not be too hard. Just take a deep breath and follow me!¡± Candasar said, before slipping soundlessly beneath the surface of the pool.


    Splashing noisily into the water, Tundor grabbed a lungful of air and threw himself under the surface. Pressing his arms and legs against his sides he thrashed vigorously back and forth. Opening his eyes underwater, he could just make out the form of the blue water dragon as she moved away from him.


    She was headed toward an underwater opening on the far side of the chamber. He doubled his efforts and slithered after her. They passed through a tunnel, lined with a few sharp-edged rocks. Hitting them proved to be inevitable while using his side-to-side swimming style. He careened off of a couple of them before straightening out his path and shooting out the other side. As he broke the surface, the dim light of early morning dazzled his eyes, now long adapted to the darkness.


    ¡°The water is deep here,¡± he thought, stretching out his hind legs as he bobbed up and down trying to find the bottom. Poking his head back under, he looked down. It was far too deep here to stand, but he could see the hole in the underwater cliff face that they had emerged from.


    He suddenly realized that the entrance to the cavern, which was probably well concealed from land, would be easy to find for someone swimming underwater. He rose quickly to the surface, sputtering and gasping noisily for air. Now that he knew where it was, it shouldn''t be hard to get back inside.


    ¡°That wasn''t too bad was it?¡± asked Candasar with concern.


    ¡°Not really¡± Tundor replied still sucking air from his abnormal exertion and feeling the scrapes along his side. The scrapes twinged slightly, despite the cold water.


    ¡°I''m not much of a swimmer, though, and I''d sure like to get out of the water!¡±


    ¡°I noticed that." Candasar chuckled softly but then grew more serious.


    ¡±You should probably head for the shore over there¡± she gestured. ¡°It has some shallows¡±


    Taking a mental picture of the shoreline, Tundor tried to memorize the place where he had come to the surface. The shore near the sheer cliff sloped down fairly quickly to the left. About a hundred yards down he saw a pebbled but narrow beach surrounded on three sides by large old-growth trees. It looked like a very secluded spot.


    ¡°The nearest family grouping is about two and a half miles down to the right. The clan hunters usually avoid the shore, so you shouldn''t be seen, especially if you can make it back behind the trees.¡± Candasar said as if reading his mind. ¡°The human town is much closer so be aware of that.¡°


    Tundor swam quickly in that direction, relieved when his claws found purchase on the rocky bottom and he waded quickly onto the stony beach and then up through the underbrush surrounding some large pines. His shoulders cracked and snapped the lower branches as he struggled to get through them and out of sight from the water. One of the tree limbs snagged on his ¡°wing¡± and he gave a little yelp as it tore free. Finally finding a small space where he could look around, he gazed back to see that Candasar had followed him up as far as the shoreline. She looked strangely beautiful sitting in the shallows with nothing but her flippers below the water. Her long neck swished from side to side, looking into the trees for signs of him.


    Wrestling through the brush he found a place where he could fit his body enough to stick his head out between the trees and let her know where he was.


    ¡°See if you can catch something to eat¡± she called softly.


    Her voice was unintentionally amplified as it passed over the water.


    ¡°I don''t think there are any creatures in the forest large enough to give you problems but BE CAREFUL!¡±


    With that she turned, sliding over the shallows, and quickly disappeared into the water. Tundor was alone.


    -------------------


    As Tundor turned away from the lake and headed into the forest, the first thing he noticed was that all the trees looked very much the same. They blocked his view and he realized very quickly how thick the undergrowth was. It was tough going. Tree branches and their prickly pine needles caught at him in various sensitive lower places and also poked at his face as he tried to force his way through them. He did find their scent strange and exciting. He decided to make his way up the sloping hill to the cliff that marked the spot over the opening to Candasar''s grotto.


    The trees seemed to thin as he climbed and once at the top, he found a clear spot in which he could lay down and stretch out in the morning sunshine. It felt invigorating to lay on the warm grass as he looked out over the lake. The air was clear and he thought he could make out Candasar as she swam swiftly back and forth underwater, popping her head up occasionally in the choppy waves that dotted the lake''s surface. He resisted the temptation to stand and call out to attract her attention, suddenly reminded again how dire the consequences should he be seen by anyone.


    A stiff morning breeze had risen, and a bird hung silently in the air, wings flicking occasionally to make small changes in direction as it too, searched for fish below the surface. He watched in fascination as it dipped and moved riding the currents. Suddenly it dove, piercing the lake water like a shooting star, rising quickly, a small fish wiggling in its beak. Looking over his shoulder at his back, he tried to flare his stumpy pathetic wings and felt the air catch slightly beneath them. They provided far too little lift to rise at all from the hilltop. He snorted in disgust and headed back into the trees, his stomach calling louder than the thrill of unattainable flight.


    Pushing onward through the thick growth, it struck him as very unlikely that he would be able to sneak up on anything unless it had been born deaf. The horrific sounds of a large dragon moving noisily through rough terrain would probably warn any prey. Fate proved him wrong. He didn''t find a meal, he stepped in it.


    Moving across a small meadow, he spotted a creek and veered toward it, suddenly thirsty. As he pivoted, one of his rear claws dropped into an unseen hole. The occupants of the hole were a family of small but feisty animals, two of which were angry or ornery enough to rush out of the smashed entryway hissing and snarling. They seemed to expect to exact some measure of revenge on anyone or anything responsible for disturbing them.


    Hearing them yelp in surprise at seeing the size of the actual cause of their troubles, and barely giving it conscious thought, Tundor whipped his long neck around and snapped the first one up in one swift bite. The other dove back down the hole. Intrigued by the interesting taste and hungry for more, Tundor swiftly unearthed the den completely with his front claws by pushing aside a large boulder, under which the den lay. Tundor quickly dispatched the other one and then its two cubs. The blood running down his chin was sweet and warm. He then drank deeply from the creek before continuing his search.


    A few minutes later, moving through a thin spread of trees, he spotted an odd brownish-black creature, which upon seeing him began mewling loudly and quickly climbed a nearby pine. Intrigued, Tundor headed over to the tree and gazed up at the animal, now far above his head in the upper branches. Standing on his hind legs proved insufficient to reach it. It only caused the small animal to cry more loudly.


    Suddenly, a much larger animal, presumably the adult version, was charging down on him echoing the call of its offspring up in the tree. It lumbered oddly on its much shorter front legs. Tundor snorted in pain and surprise as it swiped at him with an extremely sharp claw. It jumped upward, trying to sink its teeth into his neck. Anger rising, Tundor drove himself forward upon the animal, talons ripping and jaw snapping. There was the crunch of bone as he severed its back and the animal lay still, blood pooling beneath its fur-covered body.


    Somewhat surprised at what he found himself capable of, but still smarting from the gash in his shoulder, Tundor began feeding on the creature. It was messy work but more food than he had ever had at one time in his entire life. Returning to the creek, he immersed his head into the stream removing most of the gore and drinking his fill once again.


    He decided to call it quits after an encounter with a black animal with a large white stripe running down its back. The creature seemed oddly unafraid of him but when he approached, it turned its tail and hit him directly in the face with a vile smelling spray. Eyes blinking and burning he fled, plunged his head once again into the small creek. After removing his head from the water, he wiped his face desperately on the long grass of the meadow. The smell would not go away, but at least again he could see. He returned to look again for the animal, to get some sort of revenge, but when he did, it was gone. It was time to go home.


    Tundor found his way back to the trees by the water''s edge and poking his head out from between them, looked out over the lake. The whitecaps were higher in the brisk afternoon wind, and he could see Candasar just offshore swimming back and forth. When she spotted him emerging from the trees at last, she swam quickly over to the shoreline.


    ¡°Where have you been?¡± she asked with worry as he waded out into the water. She suddenly retracted her head in surprise.


    ¡°What is that smell?¡±


    ¡°I have no idea¡± Tundor replied quickly, ¡°But black animals with a white stripe are not good to eat¡±


    ¡°Is that what cut your shoulder?¡± she asked looking with concern at the large gash.


    ¡°No, that one I managed to make into a meal,¡± he said proudly. ¡°But I definitely should have stopped while I was ahead¡±


    She giggled a little, then wrinkling her saurian nose, she led him out into the waves. They stopped briefly at the place where they would dive.


    ¡°When we get back inside, you can tell me all about it,¡± she said. Then she dove swiftly.


    Taking a huge lungful himself, he followed thrashing back and forth in her smooth wake until at last he surfaced breathless in the darkened cavern.


    Suddenly he remembered the little cub he had left up the tree. Who would take care of him now? Such was the harsh reality of making a meal out of someone''s mother. Pressing himself against the rock on the narrow shelf, he waited for Candasar to lie next to him. He didn''t mind when she pressed a little closer than the night before. It did, however, make it a lot more distracting to tell her about his day.

 Chapter 3: Meeting the Elf

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    CHAPTER 3


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 Chapter 4: The Danger of Deceit

    ***************


    CHAPTER 4


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    Tundor stood as still as possible. It had taken him at least an hour to get even this close. It just wasn''t feasible for something as large as he was to sneak through a forest of crackling twigs and branches. The antlered kind of animal the elf had called a deer was grazing on the lower branches of a tree on the other side of a sizeable sunlit clearing. Tundor watched it intently as it reached as high as possible to nibble on the tender sprigs of green that seemed just out of reach. Tundor''s other attempts at stalking had ended quickly and disastrously. It had only been on the last one that he had realized that it was necessary to circle around and approach from downwind. These deer seemed to have very sensitive noses, or perhaps dragons were smellier than he had previously realized.


    ¡°What can you expect from living on a diet of stinky fish?¡± he thought to himself.


    He knew Candasar was probably still waiting in the little bay for him to return. He didn''t want to come back to her empty-jawed. He prepared himself, coiling and tensing the large muscles of his rear legs and silently mouthing the syllable he hoped would hold the deer still long enough for him to close the gap between them. Before anything else could go wrong to ruin this chance, he lunged out from behind the thick brush while twisting his mouth in patterns complex and foreign to his reptilian ancestry.


    ¡°LETTA!¡± He cried loudly, although the ¡°t¡± sound seemed slightly soft and hissy.


    The strange feeling of energy leaving his body was distracting enough to cause him to stop mid-lunge as he jumped across the space between himself and the deer. Eerily, he could almost see invisible lines of force, as if a great mental claw was reaching out from his body, grasping and holding the object of his hunt.


    The animal did not move, but its eyes were wild and terrified. It took much more out of him than he expected to hold onto the creature with his magic. His physical attack had been circumvented by the need of his mind to concentrate to maintain the spell. He returned to matters more physical.


    He snapped his jaws shut around the deer''s neck, twisting sharply. The bones snapped, ending its chance of escape. He dropped the deer and sagged to the ground, exhausted on a level he had not experienced since the night of his near drowning. After several minutes, he was able to rise. He gathered the animal in his jaws and returned to the water''s edge.


    Candasar was waiting in the shallows, her body submerged, but her neck pivoted around as she heard his approach. She slithered through the shallows as he dropped the deer at the water''s edge. His legs almost buckled under him as he tried to appear unaffected by the effort. Whatever this power was based on, it took something from deep inside him. It would take some getting used to it and he would have to build up to it slowly.


    ¡°What is it?¡± she asked eagerly


    ¡°I''m calling it a deer,¡± he replied. ¡°It''s quite tasty.¡±


    Candasar gave him a strange look but began to eat. Tundor watched her with interest as she tasted her first red meat. He remembered the wonderful flavor from the entire deer he had eaten earlier in the day and felt his mouth salivate despite himself. As if reading his mind, she looked up from the feast, her eyes glistening with amusement.


    ¡°I''m not going to be able to eat this enormous thing by myself, Tundor. Would you mind helping me with it? She asked.


    He was only too happy to oblige.


    Looking down at her, he suddenly realized how much he had grown in only a few short days. It seemed clear that part of the explosive growth rate came from his new diet. He was already almost as large as some of the bigger water-bound males, the ones that had dragged him away to be drowned.


    "I could definitely put up more of a fight now!" he thought.


    As he finished Candasar¡¯s leftovers, Tundor could feel the weak, shaky feeling left over from using word magic begin to leave his body. By the time he had licked the last of the blood from his lips, he almost felt normal again. He would have to be careful about using this power. He didn''t know what would happen if he tried to use it on two deer simultaneously. He might even lose consciousness.


    His respect for the elf jumped up a notch. These powerful beings had been the adversaries of his ancestors, so it was little wonder the war was brief. It was amazing that any of his kind had survived at all. It was strange that he had never heard of water dragons attempting to use the power of the words. Perhaps the words were lost to them, he thought, if they ever had them. He asked Candasar about it.


    "Do you know anything about using magic?" he asked.


    She looked at him strangely. She seemed oddly self-conscious.


    "Some females can use magic to attract fish," she said. "And other things."


    "What other things?" he asked


    She blushed.


    "Some use it to attract an especially desirable mate."


    He looked at her in surprise.


    "Does that work?" he asked.


    "I don''t know," she said. "I''ve never tried it. I''ve never been very interested in mating.... before."


    The ''before'' had come out so softly that Tundor wasn''t even sure he had heard it correctly. It was far too embarrassing to ask again, so he let it go.


    He decided to ask the elf about magic instead. It was a safer conversation.


    As he swam, following Candasar back toward the cavern, he began to sense something new about her. She swam strongly and looked back somewhat impatiently as he struggled to keep up. Her energy, after eating the deer, seemed greater than before. She gleamed with new power and life. Her blue color was darker, and she even seemed to look younger. He would definitely have to hunt for her again.


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    Later, as he lay by her side, in the darkness of the cave, he could feel a different kind of power flowing inside her body. An energy made much more potent by the red meat he had brought to her. It was evident in every little move she made and the subtle changes of scent she had begun to make. It created a hunger in his soul he had not known before. It was all he could do to constrain himself from wanting to get closer to her, much closer. He closed his eyes tightly in the shimmering glow of the cave and tried not to think about it. It was going to be a long night.


    -----------


    Cursing silently for not discarding the arrow that the young dragon had returned to him, Lothinar briefly locked eyes with his father before looking away. He didn''t want his face giving away too much as he tried to create a plausible story. Lying to his father had always been extremely difficult. The man seemed to be able to somehow look into his soul. Surprisingly, it was his father who spoke again first.


    ¡°This is deer blood, Lothinar. I hope you have a good reason.¡±


    Thinking fast, Lothinar remembered the bear cub he had seen, lost and crying for its mother the day before. He had taken it to Ardwynn, one of his fellow wardens who was gifted at nursing young or sick animals back to health. For some reason, she always seemed willing to do him favors.


    ¡°I found a starving young bear,¡± he said at last. ¡°His mother was nowhere to be found and his need was great, I hunted something for it to eat and then turned it over to Ardwynn,¡± he said at last, forcing his eyes to meet his father''s, hoping the partial lie would work.


    ¡°That was a strange decision,¡± his father finally replied, setting down the arrow. ¡°Taking one life, interrupting the natural flow of nature, to save another ¨C it is not our way.¡±


    ¡°The Wardens have been concerned about the number of bears declining lately, Father,¡± he improvised. ¡°They believe the bears provide a deterrent that keeps the men at the village on the other end of the lake from hunting in our forest, and,¡± he stammered, ¡°The deer are plentiful. What are you even doing over here, anyway?¡±


    ¡°I should apologize for hunting you down at work, but your mother said I would find you here. It¡¯s been quite a while since we saw you. She misses you."


    ¡±I¡¯ve been extremely busy.¡± He replied, looking down


    His father nodded slowly, his eyes searching Lothinar''s face for something


    ¡°I am still disturbed by your rash actions, my son,¡± he said sadly, seeming to have not noticed the widespread but shallow teeth marks that still lay, unmentioned, on the arrow''s shaft.


    ¡°Ardwynn, one of my co-workers, thought it was a good idea for me to bring the animal to her,¡± Lothinar said hotly. ¡°I felt it would be unfair not to help feed it.¡±


    ¡°There are ways that do not require the shedding of blood, Lothinar,¡± his father replied.


    ¡°I had no time to search for berries and grubs,¡± he replied. ¡°The cub was very weak.¡±


    ¡°What are you reading?¡± his father asked, changing the subject abruptly, almost causing Lothinar''s knees to buckle as he realized he still held the book of history.


    ¡°I found a new plant that I could not identify,¡± he replied. He quickly slid the volume back onto the shelf among the others, hoping his father had not noticed its cover.


    ¡°I see,¡± his father said, raising an eyebrow to a newly dangerous height. ¡°That almost surprises me more than your reckless behavior. You were always on top of your studies on plant life.¡±


    Lothinar shrugged.


    ¡°Did you at least bring a sample of this plant?¡± his father asked as if to test his story further.


    ¡°The young bear distracted me, Father,¡± he replied quickly as if putting an end to the topic.


    His father stood still, evaluating for several seconds before the tension finally left his shoulders. He smiled.


    ¡°Well then, will you at least allow me to invite you home for dinner?¡± he asked. ¡°Your mother will be delighted to see you.¡±


    ¡°As you wish, Father,¡± he replied before noisily gathering his bow and arrows from the table. Snapping the arrow with which he had shot the deer in half, he threw it into the embers of the small fire that burned on the hearth. It flashed as first the feathered end, and then the slender wooden shaft burst into flame.


    Silently and with no further discussion, Lothinar followed his father through the forest and toward the place of his family home. His family had lived in this forest for generations, longer, in fact, than any of the other forest wardens, and his family¡¯s house was the closest to the small fortress that contained the warden''s office and library. They were there in just a few minutes.


    His mother Ardwella¡¯s face lit up with joy as he entered and straightened up again, having bent slightly to enter through the hidden door. The elves of this forest were keenly aware of the proximity of men, and even though there had been peace for a long time, it had not always been so.


    ¡°Lothinar! What a surprise!¡± she said with a radiant smile, ¡°Did you see anything unusual on your patrol around the lake today?¡±


    ¡°Can you believe our son found a plant he could not identify?¡± his father interrupted before he was forced to lie again.


    ¡°The world is a big and wonderful place. It is full of mysteries," she said, beaming as she gazed upon her son. ¡°I am glad you are home!¡±


    Lothinar hugged his mother and looked around at his small but tidy childhood home. Hanging above the fireplace, the ancient sword still hung, its blade uncovered but still bright. It had been made in the ancient days of war by someone in his family, that much he knew. The story was shrouded in mystery. A mystery his parents, if they knew, had not shared with him. Once, as a child, he climbed up on the mantle and tried to pull the sword down to inspect it. His father had come into the room and caught him. It was the only time his father had ever disciplined him harshly. Afterward, though, his father had pulled the sword down for him to see it. While holding it, the blade seemed to glow with a strange light. As far as Lothinar knew, the sword had not been down off the wall since.


    His mother''s cooking was excellent as usual, and after dinner, the three of them sat talking deep into the night. Lothinar told them of his travels and work in the forest, cataloging the animal population and watching the lake for the encroachment of the men from the other side. He fought the temptation to tell them the truth as he reported that the water dragons, as usual, had been keeping to their secretive ways beneath the surface of the lake.


    ¡°Strange, sad creatures they are,¡± muttered his mother, ¡°I feel very sorry for them.¡± His father shot her a curious glance before replying.


    ¡°It is said that their predecessors ate our kind," he said grimly. These are dumb, ignorant beasts, but they are still dangerous. There is a reason it is forbidden to swim in the lake''s waters."


    ¡±They are much more than you think,¡± His mother replied. She gave him a mysterious look.


    Lothinar nodded, remembering the rule quite clearly from his childhood. It was against the rules to have any contact with the water dragons. He didn''t wonder for a minute what the council would do if they learned of the land-going version he had seen this morning. They would certainly kill it.


    Briefly, he thought of the credit he would receive by being the one to sound the warning, but he had already come too far. He had lied to his father and now his mother. He would have to see this through, and if things did not go well, kill the beast himself and hide all traces of the evidence. But first, he would do some research of his own.


    As he lay awake in his childhood room late that night, he wondered how the dragon he had met had rid itself of the handicaps the elven magic had created in its formation. His feet and claws were devoid of the flipper changes wrought by the elves. His wings, though pathetically small, were undeniably there. This particular specimen, he thought, must be filled with a powerful magic indeed. That, or the elves'' ancient magic, was beginning to unravel.


    If the old magic were unraveling, his people should be warned. Lothinar thought again about the female water type waiting for Tundor. A second generation of this dragon''s offspring could be formidable enemies indeed.

 Chapter 5: In The Heat of the Moment

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    CHAPTER 5


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    Lothinar had made his way back to the lake at first light. He had dressed quietly and left his parent''s home without waking them. He knew they would be saddened that he didn''t say goodbye, but then again, he had been hiking and exploring the forest trails from the first light of dawn since he was just a boy. When he came of age, it had only seemed natural to join the lake wardens. His parents also knew that he had a rigorous route and schedule to keep as he patrolled the part of the forest assigned to him. They would hardly have expected him to do anything less.


    Now, as he climbed the cliff at the water''s edge and looked out over the expanse of shoreline, the cool gray fog was slowly loosening its grip on the surface of the water. A stiff breeze blew, and he pulled his cloak tighter around him as he waited. The dragons were nowhere in sight, but he was not concerned. The dragon had seemed to instinctively know that failing to return as promised would undoubtedly be an unforgivable mistake.


    Just as the sun rose properly, spreading its brilliant radiance across the sky as it slipped over the tops of the mountains encircling the lake, he saw him. The dragon looked almost comical in the water as it thrashed its body from side to side, more like the swimming style of a serpent than a four-legged creature. Still, Lothinar had to admit. It seemed to make good progress toward the shore. Wading on to land, it shook itself like a giant dog and, not seeming to notice him, made off with surprising speed through the trees toward the place of yesterday''s meeting. He did not see the female, which he found rather curious. More questions. He descended the hill.


    ¡°It would not be polite to keep a dragon waiting,¡± he chuckled.


    He wasn''t apprehensive as he approached the clearing where they had first met, but nonetheless, he notched an arrow as he stepped out of hiding and in view of the creature. He noticed that it seemed to be noticeably larger than the day before.


    ¡°Good morning,¡± he said brightly, sending his thoughts of best wishes toward the dragon, who spun around to face him.


    It shifted nervously from side to side but only hissed and shook in reply. Lothinar pushed forward with his thoughts, thrusting aside the veil of resistance he felt blocking his access to the creature''s mind. He pressed through...


    ¡°I have returned... do not kill... I have returned!¡± came at last the dragon''s thoughts, rushing into his mind. They were filled with fear.


    ¡°It is not my wish to harm you,¡± Lothinar replied


    ¡°You carry the wood used for killing!¡± the dragon replied, his mental voice almost rising to a shriek.


    Looking down at his hands, Lothinar realized instinctively that he had instinctively pulled the bowstring back when the dragon spun around to face him. Slowly, so as not to cause further alarm, Lothinar relaxed the bow and quickly slipped the feathered shaft back into the quiver on his shoulder. The dragon seemed to calm down a little.


    ¡°Your words, they are inside my head,¡± the dragon said, his mental voice seeming to falter, rising and falling in volume as the words came across the telepathic connection.


    Lothinar stepped closer. It seemed apparent that the dragon had not previously been accustomed to mental communication. Projecting a feeling of calm, he answered.


    ¡°This sharing of thoughts sometimes occurs among my people,¡± he said. ¡°I believe it is also how someone among my race was able to warn your ancestors about their coming doom and allow a few of them to escape destruction.¡±


    ¡°We were enemies, then,¡± the dragon replied cautiously, suddenly asking, ¡°Must it still be so between us?¡±


    Lothinar looked at the dragon for quite a while before he finally responded.


    ¡°I don''t think either of us is in a position to negotiate peace between our peoples, but perhaps in time, if we are sincere, an opportunity may present itself.¡±


    The dragon seemed to ponder the words, struggling with the images the vocabulary had thrust into its mind.


    ¡°This is preferable. I do not want to die. There is a story I have heard that once all my race were as I am... ¡°


    The dragon paused, and Lothinar could sense a deep feeling of shame.


    ¡°No, they were better than me. Bigger and with real wings that could carry them through the air.¡±


    ¡°You have heard correctly,¡± Lothinar said at last, marveling that the water dragons had somehow kept the stories of their heritage alive so many years after their fall and exile.


    Seeming to read the images of his unspoken thoughts, the dragon said,


    ¡°Now, only one of my kind still remembers the old stories. It was she who saved me when the others sought to end my life. The others must believe me dead, or they would certainly return to finish the task.¡±


    ¡°And my people,¡± Lothinar replied, ¡°If they knew that I was talking to you now, they would consider me a traitor and most likely kill me as well.¡±


    ¡°Why do you do this thing? The dragon asked, looking quizzically at him. "Why risk your life?"


    ¡°''I''m not entirely sure,¡± Lothinar answered, shrugging. ¡°Mostly, the dragons from our stories were arrogant and dangerous. Their appetite for blood and death seemed insatiable. They were ferocious physical adversaries, feeding indiscriminately on anything they chose. They ate men and elves and any beast they decided was appealing."


    "I do sometimes get hungry," admitted the dragon. Then added hastily, "But I would never try to eat you!"


    "Thanks for clearing that up," said Lothinar, chuckling.


    "Our records say that our attempts to communicate with your ancestors, for the most part, were unsuccessful. It was only by the great skill of one of our foremost magicians and quite a bit of luck that we could stop the old dragons from laying waste to the world.


    The dragon seemed to ponder the stream of thoughts and words, taking a while before finally responding.


    ¡°So again, I ask. Why do you spare my life? My birth seems to indicate that my kind may once again have the potential to leave the prison of the lake and return to our faulty ways.¡±


    Lothinar looked at the shriveled wings and thought of what it must be like for this creature to be almost entirely alone in the world. He had spent months in the forest on patrol, counting and cataloging plants and animals, but deep inside, he always knew that he would eventually return home. He had family that loved him. He finally answered the question for both the dragon and himself.


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    ¡°There are also stories among my people, stories not popular or often told, about the friendship and respect between some of my people and some of yours. There must have been something worthwhile in that. Something that caused one of my kind to lay down his life to try and save a few of yours. I want to find out about that.¡± Lothinar said. He realized suddenly, as he sent the thoughts to the dragon, that he felt sure the traitorous elf of the history book was somehow looking down upon him and nodding in approval.


    ¡°My name is Tundor,¡± the dragon said softly.


    ¡°And I am Lothinar,¡± the elf replied, reaching out to touch the dragon gently on the nose, realizing that with one terrible snap of the massive jaw, he would disappear.


    The dragon did not move, but some of the remaining tension seemed to leave him. After several seconds, it pulled away and finally spoke again, shaking his head and his thoughts sounding massive and somber.


    ¡°Would you mind coming with me over to the water? I would like you to meet someone.¡±


    -------------------


    As was her usual routine, Candasar had spent the first part of the morning trying to fish. Not surprisingly, however, it didn''t seem at all appealing. After feeding yesterday on the deer meat, she had little enthusiasm for the swift darting silver prey of the deep. Still, her energy level was high, and she had no trouble catching even some of the faster species.


    Besides increased energy, she could feel other changes the strange food had wrought in her. It confirmed to her yet again that her kind was not native to the water. Fish consumption kept them alive but only as pale shadows of what they might become with a proper diet. Previously, only a tiny simmering cauldron, the internal fire of magical energy she had been carefully hoarding, had burst into a roaring furnace of heat. She had not intended or planned for it but now found that her body had unexpectedly prepared her for a pairing.


    ¡°Poor Tundor,¡± she thought to herself. ¡°No wonder he left the cave so quickly this morning.¡±


    It occurred to her that she didn''t even know how old he was or how his different body type would affect the timetable of his maturity. He had been eating meat for several days now and judging by the changes it had made in her own rate of metabolism after only one feeding, she suspected that he was more than ready as well.


    Based on his change in size alone, his growth had been abnormally fast. It was as if their bodies had been starved for some missing nutritional ingredient. Now that it had been supplied, they were making up for lost time.


    As she swam around the point of land that separated the cove that held the underwater entrance to her lair, Candasar suddenly stopped, frozen in surprise. Swimming in the shallow waters were two young but large males. Quickly spotting her arrival, they made their way toward her.


    Her first thought was that they had found Tundor, but she quickly realized that if that had been the case, the clan would have sent many more to make an end of him. She scanned the shoreline but saw no sign of him. He was still off hunting, no doubt.


    Instead, she suddenly realized that her unplanned sexual readiness had sent traces of an ancient unmistakable call far into the lake itself. She suddenly realized in terror that the two males were here for her!


    Her first instinct was to run, but Candasar had chosen this place specifically for its seclusion and distance from others of her kind. There would be no appeal to the clan for protection or justice. If there had been only one, she might have stood a chance in fighting him off, but with two, the outcome of a physical confrontation was inevitable. One or both of them would end up forcing themselves upon her.


    These stupid, wretched beasts would fertilize the carefully crafted ripe eggs that she had carried and nurtured so carefully within her. She watched as they began circling her in the water. She held her position, spinning rapidly and trying to keep herself facing whichever one was the closest. Their faces locked in malevolent, silent grins.


    Finally, one of them spoke.


    ¡°We have smelled you, Candasar. You have called us,¡± He hissed.


    ¡°Yessss. We have heard stories about the female who lives alone but gives pleasure to all males that approach her,¡± the other replied, lunging in with his long neck to try and bite at her.


    ¡°But we didn''t expect you to be so young and...smell so tasty,¡± the first continued, quickly swimming in closer and trying to circle behind her.


    ¡°I am not interested!¡± Candasar said brusquely, pushing away and trying to maneuver herself into a position with her back to the face of the cliff above the entrance to her cave. She didn''t want to make a run for the underwater opening, just in case Tundor had returned and was inside.


    ¡°You sssmell interested!¡± came the nasty reply as one of the males lunged forward grabbing her by the neck. The other quickly approached her from behind while his conspirator held her. As he rolled on his side in the water, she could see his male organ, distended and ready. She struggled frantically, feeling a terrified scream escaping her throat.


    Suddenly, a shadow passed overhead, eclipsing the sun. An incredible shriek and enormous splash followed it. The large male''s grip on her neck released as it stared in astonishment at the rolling boil of the water''s surface where his companion had been swimming. The water frothed crimson. Stranger yet, the male that had bitten her neck suddenly let out a strangled cry. A wooden shaft stood out from his shoulder, a feathered tip protruding just inches from where his heart would undoubtedly be beating loudly in his chest.


    The surface of the water broke open and Candasar saw Tundor, He had the other male''s neck in his powerful jaw. Its body was limp and lifeless. As Tundor surfaced, his thrashing wings cast water droplets high into the air. The remaining male gasped in shock but then dove quickly as a second arrow narrowly missed hitting him in the neck. Looking up to the cliff above, Candasar could see a two-legged figure dressed all in green as he quickly placed another wooden shaft against the string of his weapon.


    ¡°Don''t let him escape!¡± The man in green called to her, his urgent words reverberating in her mind. Shaking free of her shock, Candasar dove after the remaining male, swimming with the anger of purpose that she had rarely felt before toward one of her own kind.


    No doubt the arrow in his shoulder slowed him, but the big male had put on a burst of speed that was yet impressive. It was, however, easy to follow his bloody trail through the water. She caught up with him at that point. When he finally realized he could not outdistance her, he wheeled to fight. Even with his wound, he was still much larger than her and enormously strong.


    ¡°Do you really think you will be able to kill me?¡± he scoffed at her as she lunged toward him, seeking a grip.


    ¡°I might,¡± she replied, ¡°Old as I am, I have learned a few tricks while fighting off young, stupid brutes like you.¡±


    The male did not waste words but growled angrily as it swung a head full of razor-sharp teeth once again toward her throat. She dodged and struck back, tearing a deep slash in the side of its face.


    ¡°Now you won''t be so pretty if you live through this and attempt to force yourself on some other female,¡± Candasar taunted, the heat of battle awakening an intense internal heat in her spirit. She was angry. Angry at this male. Angry at all of the others who had individually tried to force themselves on her over the years. Enraged at her life of exile and the hatred she felt from those of her kind. She was furious that now that she was so close, they tried to steal her dreams again. In her fury, though, she miscalculated and left an opening for him. He found her throat with his teeth and bit down hard, she felt the pressure of his jaw on the bones in her neck. She would have screamed but no air would come out.


    Suddenly, the pressure was released. Looking down, Candasar was surprised to see yet another feather-tipped shaft protruding from the base of the male''s skull. His eyes glazed, and his body twitched reflexively just before it began to sink beneath the waves. On the shore at the point was the elf. The bow was still clenched tightly in his hand. It had been a fantastic shot. Candasar sagged in the water, gasping for breath, the agony in her neck stripping away the anger she had felt only moments before.


    Who was this elf, and what had Tundor said to him to elicit his help? She wondered. Years of fear overcome by an overpowering curiosity, Candasar turned and returned to the beach where Tundor lay panting in the shallows. Nearby, the body of the first dead male bobbed up and down in the water. His guts lay torn open from the deep raking of Tundor''s rear claws. She nuzzled him in thanks as he turned and rose to greet her.


    ¡°That was close!¡± he said quietly.


    ¡°Somebody will eventually miss them,¡± she said at last. ¡°Others will come looking.¡±


    ¡°We will face them together when they come,¡± Tundor replied, nodding toward the elf, picking his way quickly toward them over the boulders on the shoreline. ¡°And we will have help.¡±


    ¡°What deal have you made, Tundor?¡± she asked, sagging against him, her neck oozing from the jagged marks of the male''s sharp teeth.


    ¡°I have renegotiated an old relationship,¡± he said slowly. ¡°But now you need rest and food. Go to the cavern, and I will hunt for you. For both of us.¡±


    --------------------


    Candasar nodded and swam out toward the entrance to her cave. Looking back, she saw the elf reach the young dragon on the shore. It astounded her that she saw Tundor lay his large head upon the elf''s shoulder as if in thanks. Wearily, she dove underwater for her bed. Explanations would have to wait. She seriously doubted that the two dead males would not be missed. Reaching her small shelf, she lowered her head to rest, but unbidden and springing to her eyes despite herself, the tears began to flow as the terror began to leave her slowly. Deep within her, she could feel her eggs'' heat and the promise they bore. She would have to be much more careful with them.

 Chapter 6: The Cover-up

    ************


    CHAPTER SIX


    ************


    Lothinar stared down at the torn body of the water dragon as it rose and fell in the small waves that lapped at the lake shore. Tundor''s rear claws had torn through the underbelly leaving a grotesque display of internal organs blood and fatty tissue exposed. It had been lucky for the dragon that death had come almost instantly from a snapped neck. It would have taken several minutes of agony for the water dragon, suffering only from these injuries, to die.


    The other dragon, Lothinar''s arrow lodged in its brain stem, had also met a mercifully quick end.


    "I have killed, yet again!" he thought bitterly. "What am I becoming?"


    "Tundor!" Lothinar called suddenly as the blur and haze caused by the shock of what he had just participated in dissipated.


    The stub-winged dragon, who had been about to leave the narrow beach and enter the forest, returned to his side, gazing down at the carcass to which Lothinar pointed.


    "You need to help me drag this body up into the forest. We need to bury it quickly," he said as the enormity of the decisions and actions he had taken began to settle, crouching and snarling in his troubled soul. "If it is found, it will cause me big problems."


    Together, they pushed and pulled the dead body of the male up over the stony shore, through the brush, and into the tree line. Lothinar retraced their steps several times to retrieve bits and pieces of intestines that spilled out of the open body cavity. Eventually, Tundor managed to roll the creature onto its back to prevent this. Handling the wet, slimy organs made Lothinar want to vomit. There was so much blood. Watching Tundor as he grasped the creature by the neck, Lothinar suddenly was struck with a thought.


    "Tundor, do you have any desire to feed on this dragon?" He asked cautiously.


    Watching the dragon''s face, it occurred to him how short a time he had known the dragon and how unlikely he would be able to decipher what it was thinking by looking at facial expressions. When the answer came, it relieved the elf somewhat to hear it.


    "I know I said that I''m usually hungry, but I feel great disgust at that suggestion," replied Tundor, locking eyes with Lothinar.


    Apparently, dragons were not as insatiably bloodthirsty as Lothinar had been led to believe.


    "And although <em style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif">I do not look forward to the work it will take to bury him because you want that, I will certainly help you. That''s what friends do."


    It surprised Lothinar a bit that Tundor now considered him a friend.


    He continued as if reading the elf''s thoughts.


    "I know you consider me a bloodthirsty meat eater, but would YOU eat another elf that you killed while defending someone in your family?"


    "No, I would not," answered Lothinar, the bile rising in his throat at the thought.


    "We elves do not eat meat at all, but even if we did, we would certainly not eat our own kind."


    "Although I once was once told about an extreme winter when the great lake froze and the water-dragons ate their own kind to avoid starvation," Tundor replied soberly, "the thought of doing so is disgusting to me."


    "I wonder why I was given so much information?" Lothinar thought to himself. Tundor was now beginning to dig rapidly in what looked like an already partially excavated burrow.


    "I pulled some animals out of a hole here a few days ago," Tundor explained to the unasked question. "It seemed a good idea to drag the body here and follow up on the work I had already started. It will save some time."


    Lothinar watched in fascination as the dragon used both sets of legs in unison. Sharp claws cut through the soft earth like large garden trowels. His muscular rear legs pushed the ripped-up dirt backward and out of the quickly expanding hole. There was not much he could do to help. The dragon made relatively quick work of it. For digging, at least, it seemed advantageous to Lothinar for the dragon to have smaller wings. Larger ones would have certainly trapped some of the dirt that the dragon was vigorously throwing out behind him.


    "How did you learn to do that?" He asked as together they pulled the body into the hole. "You have never had anyone that could show you how.


    The dragon paused a moment as if thinking.


    "I don''t know," it finally said. "I guess it is just a skill I was hatched with. I think Candasar did some digging to make her cave bigger."


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    "Well, you made short work of it," Lothinar commented.


    He nodded with admiration as Tundor, after pulling the dead dragon into the hole with a squishy plop, began piling the dirt on top of the body. At last, he finished it off by pushing the large boulder that had been laying nearby over the top of the freshly turned earth.


    ¡°Do you think one of your people will find him now?¡± Tundor suddenly asked.


    ¡°You have done your part,¡± replied Lothinar. ¡°Leave the rest to me.¡±


    ¡°What about the other one still in the lake?¡± Tundor asked.


    ¡°That one is actually more important.¡± The elf said. ¡°It''s got two of my arrows still sticking out of it.¡±


    Tundor only growled in acknowledgment, a low rumble that sent shivers up the elf''s spine as he turned and moved quickly away.


    "It will have to wait. I go now to hunt," he said, violently shaking the remaining dirt from his body as he walked toward the trees.


    The elf watched him go, standing silently and allowing his thoughts to calm. Then, reaching down with his mind, he sent tendrils of thought into the soil that covered the newly filled hole; patiently, he sought the location of the hundreds of thousands of seed spores that lay sleeping within the top few inches of the freshly turned dirt. He could see them in his mind''s eye, lying there filled with life¡ªso many pinpricks of energy, like stars dotting the night sky. Locking onto them with the power of his mind, he said the words.


    "Eldhrimner nuanen, dautr abr deloi, Eldhrimner un fortha onr feon vara."


    The rich brown soil, overturned and disturbed by the efforts of the dragon, began to twist, and writhe of its own accord as the seedlings and plants within it, answered the ancient call of magical power. Grow!


    This was Lothinar''s greatest skill, and he smiled as the plants began to spread and cover all evidence of having dug there. In only a few minutes, the explosive growth was done. An unbroken field of green meadow and low-lying plants lay before him. It would take someone deliberately looking to find the dragon''s body that Tundor had killed. Looking back toward the lake, Lothinar wondered if he was going to be lucky enough to see and then hide the body of the one that he had killed with the arrow. For this task, he would need the female. Tundor had said her name was Candasar. She was undoubtedly resting in her cave after her ordeal with the two males.


    Retracing the path over which Tundor had pulled the dead body, Lothinar moved small rocks and branches and sent small magical requests for additional growth from various plants they had disturbed along the way. By the time he reached the lake shore, except for a few smears of blood that the next rain would wash away, there was nothing to show, even his trained eye, that they had dragged something large though here.


    Lothinar realized that the underwater entrance to the cave that Tundor had been sharing must be directly below the cliff face as he swiftly climbed the side of the steep hill overlooking the water. It was from here that Tundor had leaped to disembowel the first male. It was from here that Lothinar had fired his arrow. Lothinar suddenly made an impulsive decision to help this strange pair of dragons. Whatever the consequences, there was probably no turning back now.


    Suddenly, he felt surprisingly lightheaded. Staggering, he stopped momentarily to lean against a tree overlooking the water. The magical energy he had used to grow the plants quickly and the physical effort of dragging the bloody carcass through the brush must have taken more out of him than he thought. He quickly pushed the feeling aside. He had no time for weakness.


    Before removing his green forest garb to keep it dry, Lothinar scanned the shoreline for signs of the other lake wardens. He had a good vantage point from the cliff top. There was no one in sight. However, if he was to be seen as he entered the lake, having to answer to them for breaking the rule about swimming in its waters would be the least of his worries.


    Stripping off his clothes, he quickly hid them under a rock. Feeling the wind bite at his naked body, he gathered a lungful of air and dove headfirst into the lake. The water was colder than he expected.


    -----------------


    Candasar awoke in throbbing, unbearable pain. The powerful jaw of the male the elf had killed had deeply bruised the bones in her neck. She groaned and started to try and shift herself to a more comfortable position but suddenly stopped, a rising sense of terror taking hold of her. Tundor was nowhere to be seen, but due to the faint luminous glow of the cavern walls, she realized that she was not alone.


    Ancient fears and a lifetime of living in hiding rose to a fevered pitch as she spotted the elf squatting on a large boulder near the water''s edge. He seemed to be staring at her. Strangely, he was no longer green in color, but his body seemed almost uniformly brown. She squirmed under his gaze, unsure what she should do. There was nowhere to go except past him and into the water.


    Remembering that it was the elf that had killed the male that had almost crushed her spine gave her the confidence to do nothing. If he had wanted to harm her, she would be dead already. Strangely, though, she did not see his weapon. Pointing her long, slender head directly at him, she waited. It did not take very long for him to speak.


    ¡°I thought we should meet,¡± he said. The unheard words tickled strangely in her mind. ¡°I hope that you are feeling better.¡±


    ¡°My neck still hurts!¡± thought Candasar, surprised when the elf seemed to nod as if understanding her thoughts.


    ¡°If you wish, I will try to help you,¡± came the strange words, again into her mind.


    Candasar nodded.


    The elf paused for a moment, then spoke aloud.


    ¡°Heill¡±


    The word meant ¡°Heal,¡± and its power to affect her was felt immediately. Even as she marveled at how ¡°suitable¡± the word sounded in her ears and how correct its purpose for this occasion was, she felt a warmth in her neck and an extraordinary easing of the ache deep in her bones. In addition, the puncture wounds on her skin and in the muscles seemed to fade quickly.


    Candesar could almost see the energy flowing in the eye of her mind as it left the elf''s outstretched hand and flowed first to the skin of her neck and then deeper into the bruised muscles and bones. She was amazed that she could even help guide the direction of its healing power to the places that hurt the worst. The energy seemed a silvery blue string of light. It felt wonderful. Grasping at it with her mind, she caught the end like a rope and began to help it along, pulling as the elf pushed.


    Suddenly, she felt a great resistance and tension on the cord of energy as it snapped taught. Caught up in the wonder of feeling incredible health and even a sense of renewed youth, she resisted, continuing the flow and pulling strongly upon the tether of magic. Savagely, the energy began jerking and shaking as, finally, it tore free of her mental grasp. The marvelous healing flow of power suddenly stopped.


    Candasar stared at the elf in grateful amazement but then watched in surprise as his eyes rolled up into his head and he crumpled, followed by a splash as he fell face first into the dark murky water. He did not come up.


    Confused, she thought to herself, ¡°Tundor will be very disappointed with me. I have already managed to kill his elf.¡±


    ------------------

 Chapter 7: Death of a Dream

    **************


    CHAPTER SEVEN


    **************


    Tundor was angry and confused. The excitement of battle had come to an abrupt end, leaving him as though he had more to do. Although he was glad Candasar was safe, a huge angry part of him wanted to have been the one who ripped the second one from end to end, as he had the first.


    He regretted that in his clumsy leap from the cliff top, the ineffective way his wings slowed his descent caused him to fall too swiftly upon the neck of the first attacker, breaking it instantly. He could only hope that in the final firing synapses of death, the disembowelment could still be felt. He hoped the other male dragon had suffered. He suspected the end of such pain had come far too quickly. Tundor had wanted him to feel his rage and to know who had killed him.


    As for the second, it was frustrating that he had died with the elf''s arrow in his skull instead of by his claw and crushing jaw. The elf, of course, had done what he could not do himself.


    Tundor had cursed his inability to swim fast enough to keep up with the water dragon as it had fled the cliffside pursued by Candasar. The elf had sprinted around to the point of the shot far faster, although his distance had been much shorter. He had watched helplessly as the big male had taken Candasar by the throat, unable to reach them in time.


    He could not fly, and he could not swim. Only here on land did he have any chance of success. That came only by using a word of a language that he had also borrowed from the elf. Unfortunately, the use of the word required an internal power that he seemed to have only in short supply. He would have to make a point of asking the elf about that shortage very soon. He was getting stronger, but not nearly fast enough!


    Now, as he circled slowly and carefully through the wood, attempting to gain an upwind position on an unsuspecting deer, he could still feel the fire of his fury smoldering for blood and death. He would show Candasar that he could supply her needs as well as protect her. This new reversal of their roles, without even pausing to consider it, seemed right and necessary to him.


    Reaching the optimum point of attack, he jumped from behind the cover of the trees, the pounding fury of his legs and the utterance of the magical word of holding united in angry unison. The deer did not even begin to move as the dragon broke its back at the end of his charge. Tundor did not stop to savor the moment. Devouring the broken body of the deer, he did not even bother to lick his face clean before starting again in search of more blood.


    After gorging on a second kill, it occurred to him that he had never felt full before. It was a good feeling, and he intended on having it often. It was as if deep inside his body, the availability of food in this quantity had turned the key to some invisible lock. This new power was giving his body permission to change and grow.


    Tundor could feel the energy coursing through him. Suddenly he let out a roar, surprising himself. He quickly looked around, considering the danger of discovery. Lothinar had gone to great lengths to hide all evidence of the killing of the first water dragon. He didn''t think the elf would want him attracting unnecessary attention to the area, but somehow, at this moment, he didn''t care. He could feel the energy the red meat provided him and considered whether he held enough power to use the word of holding again. He didn''t want to incapacitate himself. He considered heading back. He didn''t think he would have a chance to sneak up on a second deer after making so much noise.


    Finally, his desire to impress Candasar by bringing her a fresh kill won the debate. As quietly as he could, he began circling in ever-widening arcs through the forest.


    -------------


    ¡°Definitely a third,¡± Tundor chuckled to himself, moving even deeper into the woods. He was completely oblivious to the female elf that silently stood back, shrouded by the darkness of the trees. She watched him with great interest as he eventually moved off and away. When he had gone, she too vanished, fading silently into the forest like a swirling dark-haired mist.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-


    As gently as she could, Candasar grabbed the elf''s body in her mouth and pulled him out of the water. She carried him up onto the narrow shore. Laying him down in the driest place she could find, she was relieved to feel his heart faintly beating in his chest. Reflexively, he coughed before setting into a rhythmic breathing pattern, the ribs slowly rising and falling. He was not dead yet, but what had happened? She pushed his body with her snout. It still did not move. There were no answers. She would have to wait for Tundor''s return. Candasar sat alone in the darkness but as close to the elf as she could. It was the least she could do to try and keep him warm.


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    Sometime later, the still water of the lagoon was broken by the thrashing body of Tundor returning with a deer in his jaws. He seemed exhausted, struggling to the ledge in fitful starts and stops. Dropping the deer, he stared at Candasar curled up next to the elf in surprise.


    ¡°What happened to him,¡± he asked in confusion. ¡°Is he dead?¡±


    ¡°Not yet, but soon I think,¡± she replied. ¡°He healed my neck, then just fell. I had to pull him from the water¡±


    Tundor nudged the unconscious elf with the end of his nose. He did not stir. Candasar looked at the body of the deer that he had dropped carefully next to the elf, on the shelf.


    ¡°Is that for me, Tundor?¡± she asked, licking her lips


    ¡°Yes¡±, he said distractedly. ¡°Take as much as you want. I have eaten.¡± ¡°But after you have finished, I want to try and find the body of the other male that attacked you. It was important to Lothinar that we try and hide it. He will get into a lot of trouble if it is found.¡±


    ¡°It looks like he won''t have to worry about that now,¡± Candasar replied sadly.


    ¡°But we probably still do,¡± Tundor replied quickly. ¡°A couple of missing males is going to raise questions, even for you, and I¡¯m getting too big to continue to stay hiding in this cave. Besides, I don''t think he is going to die. I think he is unconscious because he used up all his magical power.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± she asked, between huge bites, her head twisting around from the carcass of the waterlogged deer to make eye contact with Tundor.


    Tundor explained to her how he was able to hold a deer from bolting by using a word of power¡ªa word that the elf had originally used on him the first day they had met. He told her the word ¡°Letta¡± slowly and carefully so as not to invoke its power.


    ¡°The use of this magic takes away some of my energy,¡± he said finally. ¡°I think the elf might have used his all up while trying to heal you¡±


    ¡°That is very interesting,¡± said Candasar at last. ¡°I felt his energy flowing into me. We wrestled for it. I pulled it from him. It felt so good, Tundor; I didn''t mean to hurt him!¡±


    ¡°Perhaps we can put some of it back!¡± said Tundor suddenly. ¡°Can you remember what word he said when he started to heal you?¡±


    ¡°Of course I can.¡± the dragoness replied, taking a deep breath. ¡°The word was..... Heill¡±


    In her mind''s eye, Candasar saw the blue light arc from her and land on Tundor.


    ¡°NO! Not there!¡± she thought, causing the light to snap and crackle like a blue bolt of lightning as it shifted from Tundor and engulfed the body of the prone elf with a shimmering glow. She fed the flow, trying to put back slowly and gently into the elf some of what she had taken.


    It took so much, and she began to feel something physically shift inside her, but she continued. She stopped, severing the link only when the elf began to stir. He groaned and rolled onto his side before rising to his feet in a crouch. His eyes were wide in surprise. Leaning with his arm upon the cavern wall, he shakily stood up. Looking back and forth at the two dragons just a few feet from him, Lothinar finally spoke.


    ¡°You two are more than I expected,¡± he said silently, the sound of his thoughts entering pleasantly into both their minds.


    ¡°Lothinar, I would like you to meet Candasar¡± said Tundor.


    ¡°We have met,¡± he replied, grimacing. But then he smiled.


    Candasar only nodded in reply. Her thoughts suddenly turned inward as she took stock of something internal, tragic, and unexpected. Not only was she no longer in heat, but the simmering flame of one of her unborn and unfertilized eggs flickered and went out. Her mind could see the darkness begin to settle upon it as the fragile life potential it bore was stripped of the magical energy that had made it special. Now only three remained.


    Trying to remain calm, she returned to the half-eaten deer and began again to eat it hungrily. She took hold of the deer meat in great gulps, trying to replenish some of the energy she had so quickly spent.


    Despite herself, Candasar could feel a deep groaning begin inside her, and despite her efforts to suppress it, soon it sprang forth into a full-fledged wail. Tundor, as he watched her, seemed confused, and he looked toward Lothinar for answers. Standing beside her, Lothinar touched her flank, speaking softly so that only she could hear.


    ¡°Thank you for returning my life dragoness,¡± he said softly.


    Even through the grief with which she was afflicted, Candasar remembered her manners.


    ¡°<em style="font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif">And thank you for saving mine as well,¡± she replied stiffly. ¡°If you had not killed that male, he certainly would have snapped my neck¡±


    ¡°It only cost me a couple of arrows.¡± The elf replied, ¡°But If I am not mistaken, you have paid far more than me.¡±


    ¡°I have returned payment for your life with only a dream, elf. A dream that was never meant to be.¡± Candasar said finally, looking down on the little brown man.


    As if finally understanding at last, the elf sniffed the air.


    ¡°Candasar,¡± Lothinar replied, ¡°If I can have anything to do with it, I will try to see that the rest of your dreams come true.¡±


    ---------------------

 Chapter 8: On the mountain

    **********************


    CHAPTER EIGHT


    **********************


    The three stared awkwardly at one another in the eerie glow of the cavern''s bioluminescence. It was Tundor who at last broke the silence by sending his thoughts toward Lothinar.


    ¡°Are you well? He asked cautiously. ¡°Did Candasar do the right thing by speaking this word?¡±


    The elf pondered the question for a moment before nodding.


    "My magical energy was almost gone, and what little remained was sustaining my unconscious body while under the water. I probably would not have awoken unless Candasar had done as she did. She revived me.¡± he sent to both dragons.


    If Lothinar could read the expression correctly, Tundor looked relieved.


    ¡°I am grateful, but it has cost both of you a great deal. If I am not mistaken, one of your potential children has perished because she helped me.¡±


    ¡°Our potential children?¡± Confused, Tundor looked from the elf to Candasar with a strange light of recognition dawning. "You mean an unlaid egg died? But we are not mated."


    Lothinar gave Candasar a curious look. He reached out and placed his hand on her. He seemed deep in thought.


    Candasar squirmed awkwardly beneath the elf''s hand. His touch seemed to reach further inside her than the surface of her body. Tendrils of magic probed and inspected. She jerked away.


    "No, the ova are not yet fertilized, but they are ready to be. I can feel their magical potential," he said after a few seconds.


    ¡°You were in heat!¡± Tundor exclaimed. ¡°That is why the two males attacked you, and it''s why I''ve been feeling so confused and protective!¡±


    Candasar hung her head, perhaps in embarrassment, perhaps in the way of apology, before answering.


    ¡°It came as a surprise to me,¡± she said, ¡°I have always had good control of my own body and have previously been able to plan such things better. The meat you gave to me has awakened something new. I lost control. It was not my intent to begin this so soon¡±


    ¡°So soon?¡± Tundor replied with astonishment. ¡°Is that why you saved me? As a way to fertilize your eggs?¡±


    Looking at the female water dragon, Lothinar could almost see her blush, if that were possible for a dragon.


    Candasar glared at the elf; she avoided the question. Instead, she asked one of her own.


    ¡°Tell me, Lothinar, what right did your people have to damage our bodies and take from my people what we once were?¡± she asked angrily. The power of her thoughts reverberated with anger in the elf''s mind.


    Lothinar paused, suddenly considering what a vulnerable position he might find himself in if one or both of these creatures decided to settle an old score. He had left his bow and even his clothes back on the lake shore.


    Fighting a couple of dragons while naked in a dark cave was not on his list of things he wanted to try. He tried reason instead.


    ¡°What was done to your people, by mine, an age ago, was done during a period of war and misunderstanding. ¡° He said quietly, sending the sincerity of his belief along with the words. ¡°Dragons were FEEDING on elves and the methods that were used were done in our defense!¡°


    ¡°That was not me!¡±  Candisar angrily yelled into the elf¡¯s mind, then looked sorrowfully towards Tundor and continued, ¡°That was not¡­.us. Must we remain so¡­.diminished, even now, for the mistakes of our ancestors?¡±


    ¡±What was done can not so easily be undone.¡±  Lothinar answered quietly, paused, then said more firmly, ¡°And it certainly is not up to me!"


    Candasar felt her anger and frustration growing even though she knew that the elf spoke the truth. She knew she needed time to process the events she had recently been through. The attack and attempted rape, Rage, anger, and grief all boiled together in her mind. The embarrassment of the elf correctly ascertaining that she had intended to mate with Tundor and the young dragon''s resulting odd look of surprise caused her emotions to swirl from embarrassment to fear and shame far too quickly. She was unable to get a hold of them. Finally, she could take it no more.


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    ¡±Get Out! And that means BOTH OF YOU!¡± She yelled.


    Tundor looked at Candasar in surprise, then back toward the elf.


    ¡±So, Lothinar, do you know anywhere we could stay nearby?¡± He asked


    ¡±You two need to decide that outside!¡± She bellowed.


    Both the elf and the dragon jumped quickly into the water. Lothinar took some satisfaction in the fact that the dragon fled first.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-


    ¡¯Lothinar awoke, chilled to the bone. A mist had developed overnight, and the hillside below the cave where he and Tundor had taken shelter was shrouded in a cloud of white. The still air was thick and damp. The young elf was slightly disoriented at first. Then the memories of yesterday came rushing back into his mind.


    So much had happened. The young dragon had seemed willing to follow him away from the lake and up toward some caves he knew of. They were not too far. Tundor was not inclined to strike out on his own. The uphill climb must have been hard for him, but he hadn¡¯t complained once. The elf felt surreal looking across the cave at the still-slumbering dragon, a creature from myth and legend. He was getting bigger. Lothinar didn¡¯t think that Candasar¡¯s cave was going to be an option for Tundor much longer, even when she eventually took him back. And he was sure that she would.


    The light in her eyes when she looked at him was unmistakable, and there was something else. She had plans. She wanted her children to fly. She had sacrificed everything for it, and Tundor¡¯s unique attributes certainly factored into that.


    The elf smirked as he considered how the young male dragon might feel about the eventual pairing. He had seemed surprised when he figured it out, but not unwilling. Lothinar felt he was somehow becoming a ¡°third wheel¡± in their relationship, and he wondered how he had ever gotten into this position. If he admitted it to himself, he grew increasingly fond of the forthright youngster.


    They had come upon Candasar just as she was being attacked by two large water-going males. Tundor had not hesitated but leaped from the cliff into the water, killing the first, much to Lothinar¡¯s surprise, as Tundor could barely swim. Lothinar joined the battle with his bow, shooting and eventually killing the second. How had that happened? It had seemed so obvious at the time. Had he not intervened, the female would have been raped and most likely killed. Although now thinking about his involvement, It certainly would not have been the first time that the aggressive large males had taken advantage of the much smaller females. It was the way of nature, he supposed. Was his telepathy with Tundor causing the dragon''s desire to protect Candesar somehow shaping his feelings?


    After the brief battle, with Tundor''s help, the elf had hidden the body of the first dead male well. Returning later, however, he found the second one, containing two of his arrows had sunk deep within the lake. It would eventually rot and rise creating complications. Trying to elicit Candasar''s help, Lothinar had swum into her lair, discovering by surprise the powerful magical attributes she possessed. He had not expected that!


    He had been emptied of all life force and almost killed when the healing spell he had tried to use on her was gobbled up by her natural talent for magic. She had begun pulling his already overtaxed magical energies from him by the force of her overzealous, if unintentional, will. It was embarrassing, but he had completely collapsed. With him unconscious, somehow, the two dragons had managed to reverse the spell and return the life force that she had taken from him back to his body. He was lucky that they had figured out how to do it before he expired. The cost of this power transfer back to him was that one of the magical eggs she had been nurturing was unintentionally drained. Its life force infused him with stored magic. The egg had unfortunately perished.


    Understandably, this had broken Candasar¡¯s heart. In her hurt and confusion, she had also lashed out when Tundor had questioned her motives for rescuing him. Candasar had argued with him and angrily ordered them both from her cave. The elf and young male dragon had not wasted the opportunity to flee from her wrath. Lothinar hoped that her anger would soon cool and not make their already precarious situation worse.


    Looking back behind him into the cave''s rear, Lothinar looked at the form of the dragon, still deep in sleep. Yesterday''s exertions had taken their toll. Tundor had, without complaining, lugged his substantial bulk up to their rocky resting place. The caves were high in the mountains and far from anything the young dragon had previously known. The dragon somehow seemed to trust him. Lothinar, too, found that without really knowing why, he was starting to feel a deep kinship with this creature, one that he had been trained to fear and distrust his entire life.


    Well, he thought, I might as well see about getting us both some breakfast! Silently he rose and crept from the cave mouth into the mist-covered dawn. Swept up by the beauty of the mountains he began to hum, then sing a very old song.


    His voice carried out across the mountain.


    "When the morning mist comes creeping


    ¡®round the cat-tails, softly over stillness breathing


    Past the softly croaking symphony of frogs in fern


    Deep within my heart, the stillness turns


    My thoughts once cluttered and askew


    To peaceful places found anew.


    Then creation''s wonder fills my soul


    for lighting flash and thunder roll


    though dazzling power in display


    are no more splendid than this day


    when mournful cry of passing bird


    can plumb the depths of things unheard


    For silence calls its special name


    for those that listen and feel the flame


    of life''s pulse pounding out the beat


    of planet''s pull and sun''s sweet heat


    as onward spins the arch of time


    while I but watch and see it shine."


    Lothinar loved that song. He had heard it often growing up. The last lingering notes seemed to linger on the breeze as a bird called to greet his mate on their morning exercises.


    Suddenly, he heard a sound behind him. He turned to see the dragon lowering his head to squeeze out of the cave¡¯s opening.


    ¡°Good morning, Tundor! " he said merrily. I wonder what this wonderful day will bring?¡±


    As hard as it was to accurately read dragon expressions, it seemed that Tundor had a horrified look on his face.


    "Was my singing that bad?" he asked the dragon.


    Then Lothinar noticed the dragon''s eyes. They were looking past Lorithar and over his shoulder.


    ¡°It brings me, my son, " his mother said in a familiar voice as she stepped out of the mist, holding him motionless with her eyes.


    "I hope that I''m not intruding. I see that you have made a new friend."


    --------------------------------------

 Chapter 9: Mother Knows Best

    *******************


    CHAPTER NINE


    *******************


    Tundor stood stock still, and interestingly enough, a tiny wisp of flame and accompanying smoke drifted out of his slightly open mouth. Quickly, he snapped his jaw closed, trying to look innocent. Lothinar had been frozen in shock, but he suddenly turned toward the dragon making indecipherable faces. These eventually stopped but were soon replaced with a fairly rapid shaking of his head.


    The words ¡±No, no, no, No, NO¡± began coming out his mouth in syncopation with the head shakes. Finally, he just stopped with a very forlorn look on his face. Though their telepathy was far from perfect, it seemed the elf was somehow hoping that Tundor might be able to disappear. The dragon could only respond with a mental shrug. Whatever the consequences, Lothinar''s mother had seen him. He realized that he lacked the social skills to be able to help.


    ¡±Well, don¡¯t just stand there, Lothinar,¡± the beautiful elf woman said. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to introduce me to your dragon?


    Lothinar turned around. Indecipherable words began to come out of his mouth. They sounded like,


    ¡±Not my dragon, not MY dragon, He isn¡¯t even a real dragon. Look at those tiny wings. He can¡¯t even fly¡±


    Tundor tried to not take offense at the words because they were mostly true. He could not deny the many obvious ways he fell short of the definition of Dragon. Even so, it hurt a little that the elf had disavowed their new friendship so quickly. At last, stepping around her stuttering son, the elf woman reached over to gently touch the dragon on the nose.


    ¡°I¡¯m this foolish boy''s mother, Ardwella,¡± she said. ¡°I am glad and actually not that surprised to finally meet you.¡±


    ¡°My name is Tundor,¡± he thought towards her in his mind''s speech. And although I have more than a few questions, I am very glad to meet you as well!¡±


    Lothinar watched his mother touch the dragon. For a horrible moment, Lothinar thought the Dragon might kill his mother, solving the problem in one cruel snap. When Tundor did not, he was incredibly relieved and yet suddenly terrified. He began to think quickly. "What was she doing out here? How could she possibly find me?" And the most important, "What was she going to tell his father?"


    When he had visited with both his parents the other night, it was she who had said that she had felt sorry for the fallen dragons. Had she somehow known? That was a possibility that didn¡¯t make sense. What was going on here? What was he missing?


    His mother turned around again and faced him again, apparently unconcerned about turning her back to the thousand pounds of scales, fangs, and smoking nostrils just behind her vulnerable back.


    Wait a minute! When had Tundor started smoking?


    ¡±Why don¡¯t we let Tundor go about his business? Maybe he can hunt for a bit while we chat.¡± she said as if it was the most normal thing in the world. ¡°I have some food for us in my pack but it¡¯s not the type or in the quantity that would do much for a dragon.¡±


    ¡®Lothinar could only nod stupidly. He sat down with his back against a tree as the dragon moved past him and out into the nearby forest. His mother folded effortlessly into a cross-leg position a few yards in front of him. She simultaneously swung her backpack around to the front and released the drawstring.


    ¡°Are you two going to be fine alone here?¡± Tundor telepathically sent from somewhere off in the bushes.


    Unfortunately, Lothinar could hear the sounds of him simultaneously urinating noisily. At least it was downwind.


    ¡°We will be fine, thanks Tundor. Oh, and it''s a little too close for the pee-ing. And please, anything else you need to do out there, we are going to want plenty of distance!¡±


    ¡±Oops! Sorry! After I take care of¡­.that other thing, I¡¯m going hunting. I¡¯m really hungry. I don¡¯t suppose you want me to bring you anything back?¡±


    Surprising him, Ardwella replied, ¡±Well, you know we don¡¯t eat meat, but perhaps before you head off, you could grab us a branch of pine needles from a young tree. I think this conversation is going to take quite a while, and I¡¯d like to make tea¡±


    ¡±No problem, be right back!¡±


    ¡®Lothinar could hear crashing and snapping sounds out in the forest, and soon the dragon returned dragging a small pine tree behind him¡±


    ¡±That should be plenty. Thank you, Tundor.¡± his mother said, making her preparations and starting a small fire.


    Gazing at her son she got a peculiar look on her face.


    ¡°Now, where do we begin?¡±


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-


    Initially, Candasar sulked in her cave, allowing her emotions to settle. Eventually, she fell asleep. The truth was that she had been exhausted. The events of the last several days had taken their toll.


    After she awoke, she briefly lay in repose before quickly finishing the rest of the deer that Tundor had brought her. She then took a short swim through the tunnel to the outside. The daylight dazzled her eyes. Except for a few birds circling, it was quiet. The banished elf and dragon were nowhere to be seen.


    ¡°Good!" She said to herself Yet a nagging thought began to occur to her. She might have just destroyed all her careful planning and hard work. She had to find a way to get Tundor back.


    The damage to her neck from the fight with the males and even the cuts she had received saving Tundor seemed completely healed. She grimaced when she thought of the lost egg that had paid for it all.


    Only after the elf had tried to heal her had things gotten so complicated. This whole situation was very frustrating. If she had just been able to follow through on her plan to keep Tundor to herself, she might already be on the way to motherhood. But, she had to admit, she probably would not have survived the encounter with the two males. She would have been raped or even dead. She at least owed the elf for that.


    That body with the two arrows had to be out here somewhere. Grabbing air and diving deep, Candasar began searching. Although the water was fairly deep, It did not take long to find the body. The male dragon''s distended abdomen had already begun to bloat and fill with the rotting gasses that accompany death. It took her several trips, but she pulled out the arrows as best she could, although the one in his skull was stuck fast. She was only able to break off the shaft. She carried the arrows a good distance away and chewed the wood to the smallest splinters she could. Then she allowed the pieces to float away in the currents. She even moved some large rocks into position and wedged them up against the body to hold it in place. It wouldn¡¯t last forever, as it would probably rapidly decompose. But when the body resurfaced, it shouldn¡¯t automatically point back to the elf. Unfortunately, with her undeserved reputation, two missing males could lead the council back to her. Someone would, no doubt, come looking. Even so, that was the best she could do for now.


    Perhaps it wouldn¡¯t be so bad for the elf to owe her another favor. She could probably mislead the clan elders for a while. It was very likely that if the elves began looking into these events, they would have ways of being more thorough. The chore done, she wearily returned to her nest. She needed a nap.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    In an elven home, some distance away, a male elf stared at a sword that hung upon the wall. He didn¡¯t like it. He enjoyed his peaceful life. Now everything was changing. He had realized when he found the arrow with the teeth marks in it, that something was up. He should never have told Ardwella about it. Instead of being worried, she had grinned ear to ear.


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    "I have waited so long for this!" she said. "My dreams for our son are finally coming true!"


    "The boy is playing a dangerous game," Albarad said. "Nothing good comes from associating with dragons!"


    Ardwella had given him a strange look, but the very next morning, she packed a small knapsack and headed out herself. She was determined to find traces of the dragon that was destined to fulfill the prophecy handed down through her family. The prophecy had something to do with the sword. And worse yet, their son.


    He had heard rumors about her family, but the stories were events that had happened a very long time ago. Why is ancient history showing up here now? It frustrated him that there was no food on his table, and now he was going to have to do the cooking himself. He feared the repercussions that might arise from the actions his son had been willing to take. These were things that any "good elf¡± should know better than to do. Worst of all, in the dim light of the room, it was getting hard to ignore that the ancient sword had started to glow. He sighed, then turned around and headed into the kitchen to make some breakfast. It was going to be a long day.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-


    The pine needle tea, although not his usual favorite, certainly was fresh. To be honest, it wasn¡¯t just pine needles that Ardwella tossed into the water. His mother had added another small bag of something aromatic before bringing it to boil in a ceramic pot over a small campfire that she seemed to have produced from thin air.


    Lothinar was impressed. He lived out in the rough more than most, but he didn¡¯t think he could have put a cookfire together so quickly. The pot, he observed, was definitely not new. It bore the blackened marks, scrapes, and scars of hundreds, if not thousands, of tea-making episodes. It was well used, but it obviously had been well made. He had never seen it before, and that was one of the other things that surprised him.


    ¡°You think you know your mother¡¯s teapots.¡± he marveled.


    Whatever else was in the tea, it made a perfect counterbalance and compliment to the piney fresh needles.


    Lothinar caught himself smacking his lips and pushing his empty cup forward toward his mother, who just smiled and reached for the pot.


    Neither he he nor his mother had spoken as they had drunk their first cup, as was the custom. Lothinar suddenly considered that asking for another cup might come across as attempted stalling, so he set his cup down to cool on a nearby rock and leaned back against the tree.


    ¡±So what are you doing up here, Mother?¡± he finally asked.


    ¡±Is that how you¡¯re going to play it?¡± His mother replied with one of her characteristic raised brows. ¡°What am I doing up here? I can do better than that! What are you going to do when the rest of the wardens realize that you have been shirking your duties and have taken up with a dragon? And not some soggy wet beast with flippers and fish on their breath, but a real arch-type throwback from before the war!¡±


    ¡±I don¡¯t know!¡± Lothinar almost wailed, his voice cracking. ¡°I didn¡¯t set out to do this. It just happened. I feel like I¡¯ve lost control, and somebody else is pulling my bowstrings!¡±


    ¡±Take another drink of your tea,¡± his mother said, pointing at his cup on the rock. ¡°It will calm you down¡±


    As he sipped, his mother poured the rest of the tea into the fire, where it steamed and threw up a little cloud of ash. She then set the pot aside to cool. Finally, she turned to him. She seemed to have an uncharacteristic difficulty in meeting his eyes.


    ¡°This might be a good time to tell you about your grandfather, ¡° she said.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-


    Tundor had given them their space and taken care of business twice: once before his first deer and then again after the second one. He made sure to do both well away from the little campsite, which he was currently watching.


    Now they were just sitting there quietly talking, and not telepathically. He was getting better at understanding their language. But as fast as they were talking, he couldn¡¯t make out that much. They seemed to be fine, and not surprisingly, he was starting to worry about Candasar. The last time that he had seen her she hadn¡¯t seemed in her right mind. Her thoughts had been clouded with grief when she had thrown the pair of them out. Tossing the elf, he could somewhat understand, but why him?


    Despite not wanting to leave the mother and son, he found himself trundling rapidly down and over the hills he had climbed yesterday. He was heading toward the lake and, last he checked, an angry lady dragon. Maybe she would be willing to take him back if he caught her another deer!


    The ¡°Letta¡± power word had made hunting possible for a dragon without wings. Making the word stuck in his throat and putting his tongue in a precarious place with his fangs. Despite that, he could belt out the two syllables fairly reliably at this point. He wasn¡¯t sure he could keep up with the magical power demands, but somehow that seemed to be getting better too. Tundor didn¡¯t think he could cast with it all day, but as long as he was only hunting for two and eating well between uses, his magical reservoir seemed to refill fairly quickly. It was nice of the elves to provide this pristine hunting ground with plenty of fresh tasty deer for him to gorge himself on. He had started to wonder about that.


    Of course, the dragons in the lake had no real way to move about on land as he now did, and there was little chance of them getting a deer. Sometimes a herd of deer, when spooked by the men down at the other end of the lake would, in panic, try to make a swimming crossing. But the dragons, by habit, avoided the humans and their village. They didn''t want to gather the attention of human spears and arrows.


    Nearing the place where the forest ended at the beech near Candasar¡¯s cove, Tundor, with half a deer in his jaws, was trying to move fairly quietly. That was easier this time because he had eaten a bunch of the front of the animal himself. This allowed him to discard the antlers. He had learned how hard it was to move through the trees with pesky antlers hanging up on every tree and bush. It slowed things down. His new policy was to eat the front first so that he could stealthily sneak off with the rear haunches if something unknown were approaching. The smell of blood sometimes drew predators. Lothinar had called them mountain lions.


    Even some of those bears he had dealt with on that first day would occasionally make an appearance. Lothinar had said that they were more aggressive in the fall as they hungrily prepared for hibernation. He had explained that his aggressive encounter was due to the proximity of a young cub, removing the mother¡¯s sense of self-preservation. Since his first experience, Tundor still steadfastly avoided what Lothinar had called skunks. The dragon had to admit that the trip up to the cave with Lothinar had done wonders for his zoological vocabulary. He wasn¡¯t as interested in the Botany lessons for what he thought were obvious reasons.


    As he neared the forest edge and peeked out over the water Tundor was dismayed to see Candasar in an argument with a pair of females. They had to be much younger than her, but Tundor was impressed again with her timeless beauty and obvious strength. Her scales shimmered a beautiful blue, while the other females had scales that were only a flat grey.


    ¡°I don¡¯t care what you say about them not showing up here!¡± one of them hissed. Beldor¡¯s little brother clearly said that he was going to court Candasar yesterday, although I don¡¯t know why he would waste his time on an old cow like you!¡±


    ¡±And Timrun¡¯s sister said he was coming along for moral support, ¡° spat the other Dragoness.


    ¡±I told them both no, and they swam off together somewhere. Maybe they found love elsewhere.¡± Candasar replied with a smirk.


    But even from here, Tundor could hear a strange tremble in her voice.


    ¡°And I don¡¯t believe either of them had anything in mind that was moral.¡±


    "We will sssee, ¡° said the second again. ¡°Timrun¡¯s father is on the council and I¡¯m sure that they will want to speak to you! Those two will be found and unravel your lies¡±


    ¡°Let them come!¡± Candasar replied, ¡°I have nothing to hide. Could I have survived a lust-filled encounter with them without a scratch?¡± She asked, rotating before them to display her beautiful flanks


    ¡±You could if you just rolled over and let them have a go at you, which is what I heard!¡± Said the first.


    ¡±The rumor of my promiscuity is fantasy, ¡° Candasar said firmly but evenly. ¡°And if they had succeeded, they would certainly have returned bragging. For one of them to mate with me, I would have been dead, I promise you!¡±


    ¡±The council will come, and we will force the truth of these things from you!¡± said the second. She was practically screaming. They both looked back angrily as they rapidly swam away.


    Candasar, now alone in the cove, seemed to shrink and wilt. She was obviously frustrated and despairing.


    Tundor dropped the deer.


    Running across the beach, he began splashing through the shallows. Hearing the noise, she turned.


    It seemed that she flew to him!


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-


    ¡®The elven team of lake wardens was having their monthly gathering. Someone was missing. In the years Lothinar had served with them, he had never missed a meeting, but now, unimaginably, his chair was empty.


    ¡°Well, we might as well get started,¡± sighed Cantrell, the head warden. ¡°I¡¯m sure whatever it is, it must be important. I will personally catch Lothinar up to speed when I see him¡± he looked around the room at the other slightly grim-faced Wardens.


    "And make no mistake, I will certainly be seeing him soon. Jontain, let¡¯s start with you. Report!¡±


    Ardwynn, the only female elf of the group, looked nervously around the table, hoping one of the other rangers might offer a hint of what had become of Lothinar. For quite some time, she had held him in high esteem. This was not like him at all. She had worked with him on a reconstruction after a lightning-strike fire. His ability to use his magic to restore damaged areas to pristine condition was unequaled. Perhaps she could find him before Cantrell did and give him some warning on how upset the Chief Warden appeared to be.


    Whatever Lothinar had going on, she would like to help. It didn''t hurt her motivation at all that Lothinar was a very handsome elf.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-


    They met in the shallows, Tundor already standing hands taller than the large dragoness. Her elegant neck intertwined with his thicker one. He found he didn¡¯t mind. Not at all.


    ¡±I¡¯m sorry, I couldn¡¯t stay away,¡± he mumbled but suddenly brightened. ¡°I brought you a deer, Uh, well, half a deer,¡± he admitted, beaming what he had recently learned Lothinar called a roguish grin.


    ¡±Did you hear any of that confrontation?¡° Candasar asked timidly, not fully meeting his eyes.


    ¡±Yes, he admitted, ¡°It was kind of hard to miss. If we are to believe them, the council will come.¡±


    ¡±Bring me that half deer¡±, she said. ¡°I¡¯m going to eat it all, and in a while, if you would be so kind, please go and get me another. I don¡¯t know what to do, Tundor! The only way for us to get out of this mess may be to grow wings and fly out of here!


    He was glad to be back! That sounded good to him!


    -----------------------

 Chapter 10: A Notorious Heritage

    ********************


    CHAPTER TEN


    *********************


    ¡°Your Grandfather was the traitor?¡± Lothinar said, emotionally reeling. something about hearing it, however, was beginning to make a little more sense.


    ¡±Yes, he was,¡± his mother confirmed again. ¡°And our family paid for it with years of abuse and anger. My father barely spoke of it. He tried to shield my sisters and me from the worst of the repercussions. It didn''t work. There is always a price to pay."


    "That''s terrible," said Lothinar. I have aunts?"


    "Yes, but I haven''t seen them in years. One of them is very likely dead. She tried to emulate my grandfather. She wanted to help the dragons. She went to talk to the emperor. No one has seen her since."


    "The dragons?" Lothinar asked. "The original flying kind?"


    "Yes," Ardwella replied. "Our family knew a few of them."


    "But they''ve been dead and gone for over five hundred years!" protested Lothinar.


    Elves, he thought, when not killed by accidents of nature or rampaging dragons, tended to live quite a long time. It wasn''t unheard of for one to live up to 500 years, but at that age, they were no more than withered skin and bones. His mother was definitely not that. Sitting here in front of him, she barely looked 30. In fact, she was incredibly beautiful.


    ¡°Just how old are you, mother?¡± He asked, realizing he had no idea.


    ¡± I''ll be 572 years old next week,¡± she finally hesitantly said, seeming reluctant to admit it out loud.


    "How is that possible?"


    "A lady must keep some of her secrets...I will tell you eventually."


    ¡±And father?¡± He asked, his mind reeling as he tried to connect the dots.


    ¡±218 she mumbled slightly,¡± then again more clearly, ¡°A-hem, yes, actually, I believe 219. I think I owe him an apology. I missed his birthday a few days ago.


    ¡°Well,¡± thought Lothinar, ¡°That might explain some of the awkwardness when I last stopped by. He probably assumed it was for that, and of course, I didn¡¯t say anything. I obviously forgot too.¡±


    ¡±Well,¡± said Lothinar, considering the vast difference in their ages, ¡°I guess that means you probably didn¡¯t know each other growing up.¡± Then he laughed.


    She gave him another one of those looks.


    ¡±No, life was still pretty difficult for me and my sisters back then, even though we were all beautiful. Some people even tried to take advantage of us, as you might imagine. I actually spent quite a lot of time traveling around, moving along when someone figured out who my family was.


    ¡±The teapot!¡± Lothinar said, realizing.


    ¡±An old friend,¡± she said, smiling and looking at it.


    ¡±Eventually, people stopped asking. I must have outlived most of the suspicions ¡°


    "So," Lothinar said with a scowl, "I have genetic reasons for being handsome as well as notorious?"


    She smiled strangely, looking at him.


    Then Ardwella frowned, feeling the need to explain something. "My grandfather was not an evil man. I knew him when I was young, from before the dragon attacks began. He was one of the kindest and compassionate people I have ever known. He was also very powerful in magic, much like you. You remind me of him. Quite a bit, in fact."


    "Well, obviously, the council felt that his actions were bad enough for him to be tried and put to death," sighed Lothinar.


    "The trial was a farce! There was so much anger in those times. When villages were lost, they needed someone to blame", she said fiercely. "Most people were convinced that the dragons were too dangerous to be allowed to live. My grandfather warned the dragons about what was coming and helped some of them escape immolation. That was his crime. The emperor feared the possibility that any living dragon would come back for revenge. For the most part, the dragons were just killed. Changing them physically and flesh-sculpting their race into a water-bound creature actually came quite a bit later."


    "Altering multiple physical traits on any living thing, as you know from your plant shaping, takes a long time and incredible amounts of magic. Many people didn¡¯t think it was worth the effort in power, but ''Clipping their wings'', so to speak, definitely took the fears down a notch. It was a compromise that kept them alive. Dragons flying again isn¡¯t something most people will accept."


    Reaching the obvious conclusion, he added, ¡®When they find out about Tundor, they will probably not hesitate to kill him.¡± He finished.


    ¡±And anyone helping him.¡± She added, looking grim. ¡°So far, that¡¯s just us. I think your father is still on the fence¡±


    "Being a traitor to your race is kind or frowned upon.¡± He said, but suddenly smiled. "It certainly takes it up a notch from accidentally leaving toenail clippings in the bed!" He said, vividly remembering the time his mother had chased his father around the house with a broom for over an hour. Unfortunately for his father, it had not been the first time for that trespass. After that, it finally was the last.


    "Of all the things you should remember from your childhood, you always seem to enjoy bringing that up," She said abashedly. "It was not my finest moment!"


    "I think it was!" Lothinar chuckled, then finally broke loose into a full barrage of laughter.


    ¡±Sometimes I felt that I was raising the both of you!¡±


    His mother couldn''t help but join in before growing still and serious once more, feeling the need to return to more difficult subjects.


    "Not everything you have heard about the dragon war is true, you know. People have been told that dragons would dive from the sky and lay waste to homes, burning crops, killing and.... eating....." His mother choked on her words, Although it might have happened somewhere, my grandfather said that most of those stories were lies. "


    "If you believe that, then I''m not surprised that you were so fearless and friendly with Tundor a few minutes ago. Lothinar observed. "I''m not sure I could have done that, having just met him."


    "It helped that he was on the ground and still relatively small, but I guess I still trust my Grandfather¡¯s decision to help them and his gift.¡±


    ¡°What does that mean?¡±


    "He had a fairly rare gift. "He was a Soul Seer."


    "I have never heard of that," replied Lothinar, pausing briefly. "What does that do?"


    ¡°When it comes to the dragons, especially a throwback¡­one like Tundor,¡± Ardwella explained, ¡°Their magical power is likely to be much more developed. Or rather unchained. It allows them to more easily share feelings across something my grandfather called ''a bond¡¯.¡± I have the ability to see a little bit of their soul, and I think part of your recent difficulties come from the possibility that you as well!"


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    Tundor and Candasar were resting, after eating, in the bay shallows near the beach of Candasar¡¯s cove


    Candasar let out an amazing burp.


    ¡°Deer and a half, that¡¯s got to be a record!¡±


    ¡±Not for me,¡± Tundor grinned. ¡°Let me know when you get to three. That would be something!¡±


    ¡±I don¡¯t think that¡¯s fair! Look how huge you are getting now!¡±


    ¡±Yeah, I don¡¯t really understand it myself.¡± Tundor said. ¡°It¡¯s like whatever magic the elven magicians used on us is breaking down. I''m turning back into an ancestor type."


    ¡±Yes, Candasar admitted. It¡¯s as if something about you, in particular, is resisting the shifting spell from working the way they intended.¡±


    ¡±Well, obviously, I was born like this or started changing soon after. I¡¯d have to talk to my mother, and I don¡¯t think that is a particularly good idea right now¡±


    ¡±No, probably not,¡± she agreed. ¡°But sooner or later, you are going to be so big and vicious they won¡¯t be able to deal with you¡±


    ¡±Well, even now, I don¡¯t think that I have a lot to worry about, from them at least, especially on land. There it¡¯s going to be the elves. One of them has obviously already spotted me. The dragons we know now really don¡¯t do well out of the water. That was clearly done by the elves on purpose. Even if the clan dragons bring large numbers, I could probably just run away. Drowning me was their best play. Thanks to you it didn¡¯t work out for them. I¡¯m substantially bigger now. That¡¯s going to come as a surprise. What I worry about is how to protect you when you really can¡¯t leave the lake¡±


    Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    ¡°We need to figure something out,¡± Candasar said.


    ¡±What¡¯s that?¡± he asked


    ¡±My grandfather looked more like you, which means he had at least some of the ability to resist the elven magic that locked the ¡®normal us¡¯ away. I¡¯m his granddaughter and obviously don¡¯t have as much of that. The elven restrictive magic is still working on me. I look like the rest of them.


    ¡°Are you thinking that there is something we could do about that?¡± He asked, trying to follow her thoughts.


    ¡±Well, I don¡¯t know. I¡¯m not really sure how I¡¯d feel about losing my flippers and growing feet like yours,¡± she admitted. ¡°I¡¯ve been stuck in this body shape a lot longer than you¡±


    ¡±That sounds painful to try something like that,¡± he said with concern.


    ¡±Actually, I had been thinking that my children¡­¡± she stopped suddenly, embarrassed. ¡±Would inherit your natural resistance as well as the magical reinforcements that I¡¯ve been sculpting my eggs with for years¡±


    ¡±You were hoping to hatch primal dragons!¡± He exclaimed


    ¡°I hadn¡¯t really thought it all the way through.¡± She admitted, ¡°But something like that.¡±


    ¡±I could get behind you on that, he said, then backed up a step when he saw her blush. ¡°When the time is right, I mean¡±


    They both laughed.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    ¡°I wonder where Tundor¡¯s gone off to?¡± Lothinar suddenly asked.


    ¡±He left hours ago.¡± Ardwella replied. ¡°I could feel him leave the area. ¡°Anyway, he¡¯s well out of range.¡±


    Reaching out with his mind Lothinar confirmed it. Suddenly realizing that a link he shared with the dragon was not working. ¡°How could I have missed something like that?¡± He asked out loud.


    ¡±It takes some practice.¡± She replied, ¡°And from my experience, you will need more time."


    "I appreciate your thoughts." he said. He stretched as he got to his feet. ¡°There is only one place that he could go, I suppose ¡°


    ¡±You¡¯re right, I¡¯m sure.¡± She nodded. ¡°Perhaps it¡¯s time I met the female dragon as well!¡±


    ¡±That¡¯s fine, Mother, but I think by now I¡¯m in a lot of hot water for not checking in. I definitely have to do that.¡±


    ¡±I¡¯ll need a few hours, and you should probably go and do whatever you can to appease Dad.¡±


    ¡± That¡¯s a good idea,¡± she agreed


    ¡°Tell him I¡¯m sorry I missed his birthday and will come by as soon as I can.¡±


    He turned to go, then stopped suddenly.


    ¡°Oh, and before we visit the dragons, both of us are going to need to come up with some sort of swimsuit!¡±


    ¡±That goes without saying.¡± she said.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-


    Lothinar had returned to the warden headquarters. He had found his coworker Ardwynn lurking around outside. Rather she had found him, reaching up to tap him on the back as he prepared to turn his key in the door lock. He had jumped, spinning around with a little yelp. Now, he was trying his best not to look guilty. In his hand, he clutched a sheaf of papers that contained his weekly report. He had hastily scribbled it out and had intended to tuck it inside on the desk where Cantrell could find it. Once he had done that, his plan had been to run back out to the cove by Candasar''s cave. The forest report package also contained an apology for missing the meeting. It was, however, rather vague on the reasons for doing so.


    "You''re in trouble, you know!" Ardwynn replied, smirking, trying to suppress a smile at having been able to sneak up on the very competent forest warden.


    "You mean I AM trouble," Lothinar replied cockily. He had suspected for some time that Ardwynn had more than a professional interest in his life. He had not been opposed to exploring that further himself, but the timing didn''t ever seem to work out right. Their line of work was generally a solitary one. He had a great deal of admiration for Ardwynn as the only woman to be employed as a warden in many years. It took superior skills, intelligence, and toughness to make the cut. There were a lot of male and female applicants, and few passed the screening process.


    "No, seriously," she replied. "Cantrell is out looking for you.... right now"


    "It''s no big deal," Lothinar said, quickly looking back and forth up the narrow street on which the office stood. "I got busy"


    "Do you know how long it has been since you missed a meeting?" She asked. "Anybody else, maybe, but you, no. His alarm bells must be ringing!"


    "Can I be flattered at my excellent reputation with you, yet somehow dismayed that my reputation has landed me in hot water?"


    "You can''t have it both ways, you know, wonder boy," she smiled sweetly. "So, what have you been up to?"


    Lothinar groaned and wondered if he could just run away.


    ----------------


    Cantrell was frustrated. None of the other Wardens had any information in their weekly reports about seeing Lothinar while on their patrols. That was not completely unusual. Not only that, Cantrell had stopped by Lothinar''s parent''s home and spoken with his father. He was informed that the elf had not seen his son since earlier in the week. Lothinar''s father Alberad said that Lothinar had not seemed himself. That was a bit cryptic, but that was all the father would say.


    The work the Wardens performed was not intrinsically dangerous, but they were out in a wilderness for much of their time, Things could happen. Unplanned things. The Wardens had been screened and carefully selected to be able to take care of themselves and they worked alone for long periods of time. There were exceptions when taking on unusually dangerous missions. Considering the risk factors in the region, his group of wardens was spread pretty thin.


    One of the bigger concerns for Cantrell was that there had been some reports that the men who inhabited the town at the far end of the lake had been drifting into the preserve. They were hunting deer, even though they had been told not to. A few here and there he was willing to let slide, but according to the reports of the Wardens at the meeting, the deer head count was substantially down. It also seemed that some kind of pressure was spooking the deer into moving farther away from their water source at the lake. Cantrell needed to get to the bottom of that soon.


    Now, with Lothinar missing, he was becoming concerned that his Warden might have run into an aggressive human hunting party and had tried to confront them on his own. That had the potential for unfortunate results. Since Lothinar''s territory was one of those closest to the human settlement, that was certainly a possibility. Whatever the reason, he had been completely unable to find him. Therefore it came as a surprise to see not one, but two of his Wardens practically standing on the outpost porch. Thankfully one of them was Lothinar. Walking past them both with a nod, he turned the key in the lock and opened the door. "I expect you both will be coming in?"


    "Actually...." began Lothinar...


    "That was not a request"


    --------------------------


    Ardwella had made it back to the house she shared with her husband Alberad without incident. It had been quite a while since she had been so vigorously traipsing through the forest. Although she did not, for mysterious reasons, look it, she really was getting up there in years. She could feel the weight of it inside if not yet physically. The things she had seen and the secrets she carried had laid an unnatural burden on her soul. She had considered never marrying, but then there would have been no Lothinar. In addition, there was something somewhat suspicious about an unmarried female elf who looked as desirable as her. Being married stopped a lot of annoying questions before they even started. She really didn''t know how Alberad would react if he knew about the vast differences in their ages. Sometimes, it seemed that he was almost about to ask, but something held him back. Perhaps it was the sheer impossibility of the scale at which she had robbed the cradle that prevented his daring to delve deeper. He had presented her to his respectable family as "His Young Bride," and nobody had ever questioned it. She had done her best to be a dutiful and considerate wife. It was too bad that it was all going to start crashing down now, but that had always been inevitable.


    She found him at home. He looked sullen and sad. She sat down beside him on the couch and put her arm around him, leaning in.


    "The Head Warden came by earlier." He said. "He, of course, was looking for Lothinar. Did you manage to find him?"


    "You knew I would." she said with a supporting smile. "We share a common skill, AND I am his mother. I could probably find him if he were on the southern continent. Well, eventually... Probably."


    He smiled at that. "Not as confident as you used to be these days? Now that he is keeping company with a....." he shuddered. "Dragon!"


    "I told you this might happen," she said


    "Might is not a certainty," he replied. "I thought he might be spared from this crazy curse that runs in your family!"


    "You mean, you thought he might turn out more like you", she replied calmly, but her beautiful blue eyes blazed with an inner light. "It''s not a curse but a calling. Some would even call it a blessing!"


    "Well, whatever we are calling it, it seems to have started to get OUR son into a great deal of trouble." He sighed, then, seeming to strengthen his resolve, pulled away from her and stood up from the couch. "What can I do to help?"


    ----------


    The three wardens sat in chairs in a small circle. Silently looking at each other.


    "I don''t even know why she is here!" commented Lothinar looking at Ardwynn. "Please just tell her to leave." Ardwynn looked at Cantrel, who said nothing. She shifted in her seat awkwardly but remained seated.


    "I don''t know how she fits into this," replied Cantrel, but to find her here at the headquarters at the same moment that I finally find you, should be looked into. One thing I have noticed is that whatever is going on between you two, and I''m not saying anything is necessarily wrong with that, but you seem to be on your best behavior when she is around. And right now, I''m hoping for some leverage on the truth."


    Ardwynn looked a little surprised and then slightly pleased by that statement from their boss.


    "Here''s my weekly report," said Lothinar, holding out the crumpled and slightly sweaty sheaf of papers that he had prepared.


    Cantrell took it and scanned over the documents for a few awkward minutes while Ardwynn and Lothinar passed back odd looks to one another.


    "Everything in here looks pretty much in order," Cantrell said at last, "But what I am most concerned about is what I actually don''t see here."


    "Um, what''s that exactly?" asked Lothinar.


    "There isn''t anything in this report that explains why you had to miss the gods dammed meeting!" exploded the Warden.


    "Wardens have missed the meeting before!"


    "Yes, but in their verbal or written reports, there is always an unusual fact. A reason that makes sense. There is always something out of the ordinary, or exceptional, or something! Yours reads like a bunch of hum-drum days. That is what makes this whole thing the MOST mysterious. And that is why I am going to ask you again. What is really going on?"


    Lothinar backpedaled furiously in his mind, trying to think of something that would stand out that might excuse his abnormal behavior. Something that could be corroborated.


    "Well, I did find an abnormal amount of what looks like huge bear shit in the woods. That''s a messy job. You can''t rush that!"


    Ardwynn rolled out of her chair, and in spite of himself, Cantrell found himself fighting back a laugh.


    "Do you mean to say that in your quest to answer the old question ''Does a bear shit in the woods?'' You really meant to say, ''Does a bear, or some other very large predator, that some inexperienced fool might mistake for one, actually IS shitting in the woods? Because I, of all people, have not forgotten the possibility that there are DRAGONS around here!"


    "Oops! thought Lothinar. "Never underestimate the Chief Warden"


    "Maybe you had better show us what you found and where you found it. Can you help me that much?"


    Lothinar nodded. He hoped Tundor hadn''t come back around the caves looking for him.


    "Can I come?" asked Ardwynn brightly. "I wouldn''t want to miss this....."


    ----------------------


    Back in the nest that Candasar called home, The female dragon lay next to a deer that Tundor had placed on the shelf. She was already full from her gorging earlier in the day. At this point, she could not eat another bite. She considered the uneaten deer future food for magical muscle. She wasn¡¯t going to risk her eggs again. She could only hope that whatever part of dragon physiology converted ingested meat into magical energy was awake and paying attention. Tundor was out hunting, or at least prowling around in the woods. Now that he was so large, there was almost no way they could share her little bed, at least for resting.


    "I don''t think that there is going to be a better time to try this than now," she thought to herself. "Best be about it while Tundor is not around to witness the suffering"


    Arching her neck around, she put her left front flipper between her razor-sharp teeth and bit down with her large jaws. Then she pulled, and the blood started spurting. Through the agony, she fought for her focus, and with all the determination and willpower she could muster, she ignored the memory of the flipper with which she was most accustomed. Focusing on the torn and flayed strips of flesh, she thought of Tundor''s feet and shouted, "Hell!"


    --------------------------

 Chapter 11: No, the Bear Did NOT Poop in the Woods

    *************************


    CHAPTER ELEVEN


    *************************


    Tundor took a second look.


    ¡°It looks kind of like my foot.¡± He said, with a sympathetic grimace on his face.


    ¡°No, it doesn¡¯t,¡± wailed Candasar forlornly.


    ¡±Yes, it does! Here look closer now that the wound is all closed up. Wait a second; wash it off again. I think that part there might still be dried blood.¡±


    Candasar, strangely subdued, swished her left front appendage around in the cavern water. She pulled it out and shook it a bit. The poor lighting was not helping.


    ¡°Yeah, see right there, the bones in the flipper have split into individual toes. It looks like you can put some pressure on them. I¡¯m sure they will hold your weight. You¡¯ve got no toenail claws yet, but what do you expect? They will grow. Probably. I can¡¯t believe you did that to yourself,¡± he finally said. ¡°You must be crazy!¡±


    ¡±Not crazy,¡± she retorted, ¡°But I have to admit to feeling a little desperate.¡± She said, taking another look at the extended foot, actually feeling a bit better about it. ¡°At least it doesn¡¯t hurt anymore!¡±


    ¡±I am glad to hear that." he replied, "Your healing powers must be improving. When are you going to try the other one? I¡¯d imagine you don¡¯t want to stay half and half like that ¡°


    ¡±Pretty soon, I think.¡±


    ¡±Hey, I was wondering. Why did you choose to do the left one first? After you threw us out, um, well anyway, on our hike Lothinar was telling me that elves have tendencies to be right or left ¡®handed¡¯. Sounds weird, huh?¡±


    Candasar nodded, half paying attention. She was obviously still distracted by her new claw.


    ¡±I guess they actually have a preference on what arm to do certain things with,¡± said Tundor.


    She just looked at him and slowly blinked.


    He also said that if an elf loses an arm, or I guess a leg, it¡¯s often harder for them to do some things with the other one. It¡¯s part of their brain function or something and not a weakness with the limb itself. He said that he can shoot his bow accurately with either hand, but a lot of elves can''t"


    "That''s interesting," replied Candasar, "I''ve never noticed a difference in left or right myself, uh, well, until now, I guess. Obviously." Gesturing down at her recently rearranged appendage. "Swimming with a foot instead of a flipper is going to take some getting used to."


    ¡°It only gets worse the fewer flippers you have. Tundor commiserated. Can¡¯t swim straight, can¡¯t walk straight. You poor thing. You don¡¯t even have decent claws to fight with yet.¡± Tundor monologued. ¡°If those clan elders show up now and catch you alone, you are probably screwed,¡± he said with a coy smile at the double entendre.


    She blushed slightly, then nipped at him. "I still have my teeth! I do not regret following through on the choice of making you my mate. I think your feeding and protecting me should have been rewarded. I have simply done so sooner than you probably expected."


    ¡°I know due to the cycle timing, the eggs were not fertilized,¡± Tundor said, slightly embarrassed.


    ¡°No,¡± she replied coyly, ¡°But I would call that very good practice! And practice makes perfect."


    Tundor couldn¡¯t agree more


    The eggs would be ready soon.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-


    ¡°If the question was ¡®Does the bear shit in the woods,¡¯ then, in this case, the answer is a definite no.¡± Said Ardwynn looking at the enormous pile. ¡°Whew! You can always tell a pure carnivore¡® because that¡­ stuff¡­STINKS!¡±


    Wrinkling his nose, Lothinar could only nod his agreement with the panic starting to set in. This was coming apart far too fast. He had tried to act a little vague and confused about where the bear droppings had been seen, but both of his fellow Wardens had just stared at him and shook their heads. They wouldn''t even start to believe that he didn''t know this area like the back of his hand.


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s definitely not a bear¡±, confirmed Cantrell. ¡°Bears, especially this time of year, are omnivorous. So, ignoring the obvious question of why you got the beast to come up here, Lothinar, Where are you hiding the dragon?¡±


    ¡±I¡¯m not hiding anything!¡± He protested, ¡°What? Do you think I could keep something that poops like that in my pocket?


    Ardwynn looked awkward for a second, then laughed. ¡°But Lothinar got the strangest feeling that she was trying to covertly look at his trousers.


    You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    ¡°Oh hell, come on! Not now,¡± he thought. ¡°This was no time for sexy flirting! Didn¡¯t she realize how much trouble this situation was going to make for him?¡±


    ¡±You can get a little too dirty, do you know that?¡± He asked her.


    ¡±I guess it is probably from hanging out with all the guy wardens,¡± she said defensively. ¡°I did sign up to come out here to look at poop with you. You sure do know how to show a girl a good time, Lothinar!¡±


    He just sighed.


    Ardwynn blushed when she caught Lothinar looking at her again, then suddenly called out to Cantrell who was looking for tracks, trying to figure out which way the beast had gone.


    ¡°Oh, look!¡± She suddenly exclaimed to Cantrell. ¡°Here¡¯s a broken tree. I¡¯m sure that the cave I remember is right back over there! Let¡¯s go check it out.¡±


    Cantrell and Ardwynn walked off together, suddenly leaving him alone for a few minutes. He seriously considered trying to make a break for it. But Cantrell didn¡¯t seem that angry at him yet, so maybe things were not that bad. The other option was to try to ride it out and appeal to the Chief Warden¡¯s sense of team loyalty. He didn¡¯t know, however, how he was going to conclusively prove he was still on team Elf to Cantrell without totally betraying both Tundor and Candasar.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    Ardwella and Alberad were packing a cart. They had been married for over 50 years, and of course, they could only take the basics. Lothinar had come along a decade or so into their marriage. They packed away what they could and loaded only what was absolutely necessary in the well-maintained two-wheeler behind their old Gelding Jamison, who bore it stoically. Already in the traces, he was of the most patient sort as long as you rewarded him once in a while with a carrot or two. Going on the road was almost normal for Ardwella, but this would be the first time for Alberad. He was already starting to look a little panicked.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think we are going to be able to get the tarp to tie down if we pack it any higher,¡± he speculated.


    ¡®It will be fine, it has more stretch than you think¡± she replied confidently. "I think we are about done anyway, well, except for the sword.¡±


    He got a strange look on his face before replying, ¡°Are you going to pack it or carry it?¡±


    ¡±Hopefully it won¡¯t come to ¡®that¡¯ anytime soon, Females don¡¯t walk around wearing swords much anymore.¡±


    ¡±Did they used to?¡± He asked suspiciously


    ¡°Yes, a long, long time ago,¡± she replied. ¡°Or at least that¡¯s what I read somewhere.¡°


    Giving her a curious glance, he finally said, ¡°You always seem to prefer old books¡±


    ¡±Nothing like the classics.¡± She added, smiling. ¡°Go and get it down off the wall and I¡¯ll wrap it up and pack it in the wagon.¡±


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-


    Bartuug had to acknowledge that the meeting of the water dragon elders had been a disaster. It started with a protest and only got worse from there. First, the mother of yet another dragon, a female this time who had recently hatched with several birth defects, had appealed to some family members and friends. They had showed up to complain about the council¡¯s decision to end the life of¡­.what was his name? Yes, Tundor. She wanted guarantees that the same thing wouldn¡¯t happen to her own child. Frankly, the council wasn¡¯t going to promise anything. The child would either have to grow out of it or it would would suffer the same fate. The girl would have to take swimming lessons seriously. Everyone had to keep up and do their part.


    Then there were the usual complaints about Candasar. As one of the clan leaders, Bartuug didn¡¯t feel like she should be his problem to solve anymore. She appeared totally self-sufficient, not relying on the clan. Occasionally, if she had a good hunt, she would even bring extra food by and give it to someone who hadn¡¯t done as well that day. She didn¡¯t even appeal to them on issues of protection and rules, and that led to some of the problems.


    Because she fought her own battles, which was something Bartuug could admire, some of the young males had tried to bother her, trying for sexual favors. It made it worse that she was so classically beautiful, he had to admit. But his motto regarding the females had always been, ¡°It¡¯s ok to have an appetite, but make sure you only eat at home¡±


    Knowing that they were relatively safe from punishment, the young males had taken to swimming down to Candasar¡¯s hunting areas to try to give it a go. He had thought it a reprehensible thing to do. But by now, some of them had even started thinking of it as a right of passage. Coming back with a few scars from Candasar and making up stories of success where others had failed was, unfortunately, far too common.


    He had to admit that she could hold her own when it was one-on-one, driving them away. But this time, two of them had gone together, and now both of them were missing. They were probably off somewhere, letting their wounds heal to avoid the mockery of losing two to one. They probably deserved whatever scars they got, but inquiries would have to be made. One of the missing was a fellow council member¡¯s son. He wasn''t going to let it go. Bartuug didn''t think he had thought through the social consequences of bringing up the fact that two males had gone down to try and have their way with one female. The clan still had some sort of code of conduct on things like forcing someone. That rule still stood, even for the reclusive outsider Candasar. If nothing else, perhaps it was finally time to rein in Candasar¡¯s free spirit and make her once again a more productive member of the clan. Bringing her into the fold might solve the problem. Maybe it was time to start thinking about a third wife.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    Cantrell and Ardwynn ducked slightly to enter the cave. Filtered sunlight only made its way in so far, so Cantrell stopped, pulled a small candle out of a shirt pocket, struck a match, and lit it.


    ¡°I love the sweet smell of beeswax,¡± Ardwynn commented as they began to peer about. ¡±What do you think he was doing up here?¡±


    ¡±Well, Lothinar¡¯s tracks are mixed in with the dragons and overlap extensively, so they must have at least a friendly relationship, ¡° the Chief Warden observed. ¡°Do you know anything more about this?¡±


    ¡±You know, we are not as close as you seem to think.¡± She said.


    ¡°I suppose not if you were willing to keep him at the station until I got back,¡± he replied.


    ¡°Well, I have to admit that it was kind of an accident, as I was asking questions too. I was curious myself!¡±


    ¡±I''m not sure that I can just sweep this under the rug Ardwynn." said Cantrell. ¡°A lot of what I¡¯m going to do depends on him¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s a good man Ardwynn said at last ."You have figured out that I¡¯ve been paying close attention to him for a while. I am pretty confident that as far as he is concerned, he has good reasons for associating with this dragon."


    ¡±I agree, or I¡¯d probably have him tied up with a good strong rope by now¡±


    ¡±Do you think it would ever come to that?¡± She asked, frowning.


    ¡±I guess we will probably answer that question when we go outside and find out if he is still there¡±


    He was.


    ¡°Ok, Lothinar,¡± Cantrell said, looking a bit relieved. ¡°How many wardens will I need when you take me to the dragon?¡±


    Lothinar looked resigned. ¡°If you let me talk to him first, then you and I will be enough ¡°


    ¡±Hell no!¡± You are not leaving me out of this now!¡± Ardwynn almost shouted.

 Chapter 12: Lending a Hand

    *****************


    CHAPTER 12


    *****************


    Ardwella was beginning to look concerned. Usually cool and on point, she kept looking off into the distance and scrunching up her eyes as if trying to think of something or maybe see something.


    ¡°He¡¯s not coming¡­Something is wrong.¡± She at last said to Alberad. ¡°He said he would meet us here after taking care of things with the Head Warden, but I can¡¯t even feel him right now.¡±


    ¡±Well, that doesn¡¯t sound good!¡± Said Alberad. ¡°Do you think the Warden suspects something? He looked more worried than suspicious when he came by to talk to me.¡±


    ¡±Well, it is part of the warden''s job to keep an eye on things like this, so it¡¯s possible. Lothinar was going to drop off his report at the office and head over here as quickly as he could so he could avoid talking to him for now, But something must have gone wrong!¡±


    ¡±You couldn¡¯t see that with your powers or whatever?¡±


    ¡±I got kind of distracted packing up!¡± She said, rolling her eyes at the cart. ¡°Deciding what part of the mementos of our last 50 years together in this house I was willing to leave behind. There were a lot!¡± She said, almost crying.


    ¡°I told you this might happen.¡± He said, feeling instantly like an ass for throwing her words back at her. Then, looking at the tarp covering far too few of his most important things, he said, ¡°It was hard for me, too!¡±


    She ran over and pressed herself against him, giving him a huge hug. ¡°I know, sweetheart! It¡¯s not fair at all to expect you to overturn your life like this, but he is our son.¡±


    His knees went a little weak as she looked lovingly up into his eyes. She was so incredibly beautiful it was almost surreal. How did a normal elf like him end up with such a treasure? Anything that he had to leave behind for her was no loss at all.


    ¡±So what¡¯s next?¡± He finally found the words to ask.


    Her eyes moved quickly back and forth, seeming to take inventory of the situation with an uncanny ability. Her gaze then returned to him, lingering a tiny bit too long as if trying to figure out what she might be able to expect from him. He squirmed a little. He felt, somehow a bit lacking for this sort of scenario.


    ¡±Leave the cart loaded, of course. That took way too long. But unhitch Jamison and get him a little water. I¡¯m all out of carrots."


    He smiled at that, then frowned when she added, ¡°And unpack the sword.¡±


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    Are you sure you want to go in there alone?¡± Asked Cantrell. They were standing on the cliff overlooking Candasar¡¯s cove.


    Lothinar looked him in the eyes. He didn¡¯t want to admit to anyone, quite yet, that he could sense Tundor moving around three or four hundred yards away up in the trees. Probably hunting. He didn¡¯t think the dragon had spotted them at all because he was moving slightly away from them at the moment in widening circles. He realized that he had not answered the question.


    ¡®I have before, although that didn¡¯t turn out great,¡± replied Lothinar brusquely. ¡°It¡¯s dark, damp, and cramped, but I think that they still live in there, and I am fairly certain that at least she is inside.¡± He improvised. ¡®This will go much better if I go alone¡­..and knock at the door.¡±


    ¡°Is it safe?¡¯¡± Asked Ardwynn, suddenly displaying quite a bit of concern. ¡°Wait a minute. There''s a door?¡±


    ¡±Figure of speech.¡± He added.


    ¡±No, really! She asked again. ¡°Is it safe for you to go in there?¡±


    ¡±Well, last time I almost died,¡± he mumbled more to himself than the other two wardens. ¡°Sure!, We¡¯re good friends! he said out loud, But then he suddenly remembered the angry way she had thrown him and Tundor out. What the hell was he doing?


    ¡°You two should walk down over there,¡± he said, gesturing to the shoreline, ¡°and wait.¡± I¡¯ll bring them out and make the peaceful introductions."


    ¡±She is a water type?¡± Asked Cantrell.


    Lothinar nodded at the choppy waves in the cove. A little breeze had been picking up.


    ¡±Well, obviously, ¡° he said.


    ¡°You will forgive me if I don¡¯t suddenly fall back on old assumptions,¡° Cantrell responded with a strange scowl.


    He was thinking that it hadn¡¯t been a good idea to bring only the three of them, thought Lothinar, and so few heavy weapons.


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    ¡°Those dragon prints up by the caves were not made by flippers!¡± He finally said.


    ¡±No, you¡¯re right. He¡¯s got to be some sort of accidental throwback. That¡¯s what got me caught up in this in the first place. He is kind of fascinating!¡±


    ¡±Don¡¯t forget that curiosity killed the cat.¡± Cantrell replied. ¡°Right now, I¡¯m hoping it doesn¡¯t kill the rest of us too¡±


    Lothinar only nodded. He realized the chief ranger was trusting him and giving the whole situation a lot more leeway than he deserved at this point. He didn¡¯t want to drop the hammer on him. He found himself suddenly grateful for that.


    ¡±Um, Cantrell?¡±


    The ranger cocked an eyebrow as he was starting to turn around.


    ¡±The one from up by the caves, the throwback. His name is Tundor. He might be out there in the woods somewhere, so keep your head on a swivel.¡±


    ¡±Should I be starting to get even more concerned?¡± He asked.


    ¡±Actually between the two of them, surprisingly, I sincerely believe at this point that we have less to worry about from him.¡±


    ¡°But he has good land mobility, right?¡± Asked the chief.


    ¡±He can trundle along pretty well, but he¡¯s getting pretty big, so thick trees would slow him down if it came to that.¡±


    ¡±You are not doing much to increase my confidence.¡± The warden replied with a scowl. ¡°Carry on then!¡±


    Cantrell began walking down toward the cove. Then, looking back at Ardwynn, he asked, puzzled, " Are you coming?¡±


    ¡®Hang on a minute¡±, she replied with a giggle. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t want to miss this!¡±


    Rolling his eyes in disbelief, Lothinar sighed and stepped out of his boots. Stripping off his shirt and breeches, he looked back toward her, saying


    ¡°I¡¯m flattered at the attention.¡± Then without hesitating further, he launched himself from the cliff in a perfect dive, cleanly entering the water below.¡±


    Cantrell looked at her with an eyebrow raised and said judgmentally, ¡°I don¡¯t think you realize how serious this all is!¡±


    The female warden grinned, ¡±A girl, in this outfit, has to seize every opportunity ¡° she said laughing.¡±That was quite a show!¡±


    ¡±Are you going to at least pick up his clothes? He¡¯d probably appreciate having them when he comes out of the water down there¡±


    ¡±I¡¯m still debating.¡± She said, smiling deviously. ¡°I don¡¯t think he thought that through ¡°


    Cantrel just shook his head and moved off quickly.


    ¡±Definitely worth the price of admission,¡± she said to herself, picking up the clothes and boots and turning, began to follow Cantrell down the slope towards the cove.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-


    Candasar was howling! Something was going very wrong this time. She had waited for Tundor to leave her by herself, as last time, before working on her modifications. She didn¡¯t know what the problem was, but now the recently shredded and ripped front flipper, now pseudo dragon foot on her right side, was unrepentantly spurting blood. It wasn¡¯t even slowing down.


    ¡°This is what you get, Candasar, for not leaving well enough alone and trying to chase after Tundor.¡± She thought to herself as she began to feel light-headed and woozy. Suddenly through the haze of pain, she somehow realized that she was no longer alone.


    ¡±What are you doing, you crazy dragon?¡± The elf practically shrieked.


    He was back! The little brown man! She thought to herself. ¡°Maybe he could help!¡±


    She tried to push through the pain to telepathically send him her memories of hiding the dead water dragon¡¯s body. The one with his arrows in it. He owed her a favor!


    The elf stood over her, dripping and naked, not quite uniformly brown. She could see now, up as close as he was, that certain parts of him had received more sunlight than others. Clothes are so weird, she thought. He seemed to be looking at her¡ªno, not at her, but inside her. He looked at the bleeding foot and then back again to the other one¡ªthe first one she had changed.


    ¡±Did you bite yourself?¡± He asked.


    She nodded, suddenly slightly uncomfortable beneath his piercing gaze.


    ¡°Who was he to judge her?¡± She thought defensively, but she was fading and didn¡¯t have the strength to make her displeasure obvious.


    ¡°Ooooh,¡± he said slowly. ¡°That was a bad idea. I¡¯m surprised you could pull it off on the other side.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve heard people say that they would rather be lucky than good, but in that first case on the left side, I¡¯d say that you got very, very lucky. That is not what the Heill spell does,or what it is for!"


    ¡±So, are you going to help me or not, elf?¡± She sent him.


    ¡±I¡¯m pretty sure I am,¡± he said. ¡°For Tundor. Foot or flipper?¡±


    ¡±Foot, please!¡± She sent, suddenly relieved. He began to chant softly. She could feel his power flowing into her leg and watched in fascination as the limb squirmed and knitted in front of her eyes. She was already feeling better.


    ¡±These changes you¡¯ve started are going to complicate your life even more than you know.¡± He said, wobbling a bit, then suddenly slipping and sitting down unexpectedly hard. She could see his face looked uncharacteristically haggard and tired.


    Surprising herself, she leaned over a little with her neck to prop him up. Before he fell over completely.


    ¡±Thanks,¡± he said, ¡°When are you expecting Tundor back?¡±


    ¡°How do you know he¡¯s even back here?¡± She asked churlishly. ¡°I threw you BOTH out, remember?¡±


    ¡±Well, for one thing, it kind of smells like dragon sex in here,¡± he said mischievously,


    ¡±It does not!¡± She squealed, casting her head about, aggressively sniffing the shelf.


    He laughed loud and long, obviously starting to feel a little better. ¡°No, no. Just kidding. I think someone is rubbing off on me¡±


    ¡±It¡¯s the half-deer carcass over there. I don¡¯t think you caught that yourself!¡± He said, then grew suddenly serious.


    ¡±Listen, Candasar, I know I haven¡¯t known you very long, and I don¡¯t think we are good friends like Tundor and me, but I have unsurprisingly gotten into quite a bit of trouble with my own people trying to help you both.  My boss, the Head Warden, is outside with another, um, friend, and I really would appreciate it if you could come out and meet them.¡±


    She looked at him suspiciously for a few seconds before asking, ¡°Do I even have a choice?¡±


    ¡±Yes, you do, actually, but I don¡¯t think saying no is going to work out well for either of us.¡± he answered.


    ¡±I will do as you ask, but only because Tundor seems to trust you."


    ¡±Thank you for that,¡± he said, a little moved.


    ¡±You healed me, and at least my foot is not bleeding anymore,¡± she said. ¡°I will keep it under the water so they do not notice the changes¡±


    ¡±Believe me, Candasar, you won¡¯t be able to fool these people about much of anything. They are going to notice. ¡° he said with resignation.


    The worst nightmare of the Elvish race was well on its way to becoming a reality, he thought to himself.


    After just a few more minutes to collect their thoughts, they swam together, with him leading the way out through the submerged tunnel and into the light of day.


    -------------------------------

 Chapter 13: The Dishonest Priest

    *******************


    Chapter 13


    *******************


    Ardwella ran swiftly through the forest. Her eyes moved rapidly over the terrain she was currently navigating, vivid blue eyes on her incredibly beautiful face. She had exchanged the traditional clothing of a respectable elven housewife and mother for a long-sleeved thick leather tunic. It had little that could be considered ornamentation, but there were some bronze ringlets sewn around the sleeves and another larger one near the collar. She also wore knee-high boots, leaving her elegant thighs the only bare skin showing. Her long, flowing hair was tied back in a ponytail. On her back, the sword moved only slightly back and forth in an ornate but practical sheath that Alberad had never seen before. Actually he had never seen anything at all like this before. He was completely stunned at the transformation of his wife into this warrior queen goddess. He had always considered himself to be in pretty fair shape for physical activity, but now he was struggling and just trying to keep up. He was also sure that she was holding back.


    He carried a bow in his now far too-sweaty hand and could feel his quiver bouncing off his far too-sweaty back. Looking over her shoulder she evaluated his all too sweaty face and at last took pity on him. She finally stopped running. He pulled up short, sucking wind, and bent over with his hands on his knees.


    ¡°H-How?¡± was all he could force out between breaths.


    ¡±I am drawing on a sleeping power,¡± she said. ¡°One that once awakened will change everything.¡±


    ¡°Why now?¡± He gasped out.


    ¡±Because I have waited long enough,¡± she smiled, ¡°And I have grown weary of subtle and meaningless negotiations ¡°


    ¡±At least tell me where we are going!¡± He panted, finally catching up on his air a little.


    ¡°You will see soon enough, darling. Don¡¯t worry. We are almost there¡±


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-


    Tundor had failed. It seemed the area within a couple of miles of Candasar¡¯s cove was ¡°fished out¡±. He chuckled to himself at the deliberate incorrect use of the term. A throwback to a life he no longer lived or even cared about. Stinky, cold-blooded fish! It was amazing how much had changed in such a short span of time.


    He knew that he had been hunting the area heavily, but Candasar¡¯s body shape had made life near the lake a necessity. Something was pushing the deer herds into other areas, and that something was him. Now, it seemed that the situation was about to change. He had no doubt that Candasar would have tried working on the other limb while he was gone. When all four of them were done, they would walk out of here together and into a new kind of life. He would check in on her now and then, after he had ensured her wellbeing, and range farther out into the forest to find her food. With her swimming ability vastly reduced, fishing was no longer an option. It was up to him. They would eat bears if need be. He was not afraid of them in the least. He would provide for her as a good mate should. They would raise their young together. They would make some DRAGONS. His family would try to live peacefully with the elves. Lothinar seemed open to helping him with that. With so much on his mind, Tundor was surprised to see two strange elves standing just inside the trees, suspiciously near the cove. They were looking directly at him. They hadn¡¯t attacked or fled but were warily holding their positions. They both looked a little nervous. He decided to go with polite. It had worked before.


    ¡±I am Tundor. I am peaceful. I have elf friends already. Please don¡¯t kill me,¡± He sent telepathically to the pair. He very much hoped that they could understand him. He hoped that somehow he sounded sufficiently meek.


    They looked at each other, then back at him. The male elf seemed especially focused on his sadly shriveled wings. Tundor could work with that.


    ¡±Yes, can not fly. Am sad broken misfit, not real dragon. Tundor likes his elf friends! Um, little Hungry¡ªbad hunter¡ªYou have food?¡±


    The elves definitely looked calmer.


    Then the female said to the other, but not in mind speech, ¡±I can see why Lothinar likes him. He seems sweet for a dragon.¡±


    ¡±Not at all what I expected either,¡± said the male.


    ¡±Lothinar! Lothinar, yes, friend. Do you also know Ardwella? She is mother. Very pretty elf. My friend too¡±


    ¡±Well, that¡¯s surprising, said the male. I didn¡¯t realize the parents were involved.¡±


    ¡±Why don¡¯t we let him off the hook? This seems a little cruel.¡± Said the male


    ¡±Yeah, but you must admit it¡¯s kind of funny.¡± Said the female


    Suddenly the male elf started sending.


    ¡±Hello Tundor, my name is Cantrell, and this wise-ass is ArdWYNN¡­I don¡¯t want you to be confused because her name is very similar to someone you have met before. We are here with Lothinar. He is in the cave trying to get Candasar to come out so we can all get to know one other.¡±


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    ¡±Lothinar went to see Candasar by himself? That¡¯s probably unwise!¡± Tundor sent loudly as he bolted forward and then past the startled elves. He shot between the remaining trees and out onto the beach.


    ¡®Wow! He can move fast,¡± said Cantrell as he began picking himself up off the ground where he had reflexively thrown himself when the dragon started his charge. On the other side Ardwynn was doing the same. She had a puzzled look on her face.


    ¡±Hey Cantrell!¡° she asked. ¡°Do you think it¡¯s kind of a turnoff for a guy if a girl¡¯s name is very close to his mother¡¯s, or is it kind of exciting?¡±


    ¡±Let¡¯s discuss that later, or maybe you can just ask Lothinar if he is still alive, that is!¡± Bellowed the Warden.


    He ran after the dragon. She followed.


    She really hoped he was


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    In the village of men, near the end of the lake, there was a temple to an ancient god. Womber, the priest, was just finishing his daily studies. He had been reminding himself of the duties, obligations, and, of course, benefits of his position. It was a good life. An easy life. Little did he know, a life that was about to be greatly disturbed. Yes, he had ¡°skimmed off the top¡± these many years, but only a little. Apparently not enough to be noticed by the masked and darkly hooded figure that appeared to receive the temple tithes each month.


    Next month, he would retire and slip away from the village, leaving behind the pimple-faced young man with the overly large Adam¡¯s apple whose name was, of all things, Starett. It would then become Starett¡¯s duty to run things. Funny name, he thought, but he had come highly recommended as honest. Womber chuckled. The money he had taken would buy him a nice villa near the sea, a long way from here. Womber would be glad to finally get the smell of incense out of his clothes. He was just finishing the last of his wine when there came a frantic pounding on the door to his quarters. It could only be the apprentice.


    ¡±What is it? Don¡¯t you know that I¡¯m not to be interrupted!¡± Bellowed the Priest, throwing open the door.


    ¡±Yes, begging your indulgence, sir, but I think we have a problem!¡±


    ¡±Well, spit it out, boy, now that I¡¯m up¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s the huge statue of the dragon, sir, in the courtyard!¡± Gasped the apprentice.


    ¡±Yes, yes, what about it?


    ¡°Well, it¡¯s moving!¡±


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-


    Ardwella broke from the trees and crossed the clearing between the dense forest and the town wall. Such a tree gap was usually necessary to provide a little warning if the city was attacked by men at arms or if a pack of dangerous animals decided to come toward the town. It provided a line of sight and ample range for archers to try to remove the threat. After the initial shock of seeing the two sprinting elves, someone manning the wall with a bow wisely chose not to fire. He hoped that they were not running from something big! He called for reinforcements and continued to observe the trees.


    The guard at the gate looked them over. The male was gassed, breathing rapidly with his legs quivering. the female looked fresh, and WOW was all he could say.


    ¡°You need to let us in right away. There is something going on in the temple, ¡° she said, her musical voice easily adapting to human speech.


    ¡°How would you know that?¡± He asked.


    Just then, a tremendous roar blew out from blocks away, ending the argument.


    She cocked her head at the noise, emphasizing her point.


    ¡°You had better let us in; I don¡¯t think she will be as patient as I have been.¡±


    ¡±¡± You know, gasped Alberad, I just realized that you could have caught me with that broom at any time¡±


    ¡±It was more fun to chase you!¡± She winked. ¡°Let¡¯s go get my girl before she levels the place¡±


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-


    The giant statue of a dragon roared again, very much alive. Her immense tail swung back and forth in the courtyard, snapping smaller pillars and breaking ornamental pottery that covered the area. Suddenly instead of a hollow crash, there was a more substantial crunch. A large decorative urn near the high priest¡¯s quarters was smashed and hundreds of gold coins came tumbling out.


    Starett watched with disgust as Womber went suddenly pale, This didn¡¯t look good for the priest.


    ¡°It¡¯s a miracle!¡± The old man finally croaked out. The dragon god has created gold with his tail!¡±


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-


    The timing could not have been better for Bartuuug. The seven clan elders had made the trip down to Candasar¡¯s hunting grounds near the man village. They had searched the area for a bit, not exactly knowing where she usually rested. The two annoying females who claimed to have confronted Candasar had given them directions, but they were somewhat vague. There were no obvious places to sleep on the shore down here, especially so close to where a human might come by and find you.


    Just when they had been about to give up for the day, they turned a corner into a tiny cove. There was Candasar, swimming erratically with her head barely above the water. She appeared to be chasing a naked elf! It was clear that she had lost her mind! That was the kind of behavior that the council was sure to take action against.


    Elf was off the menu since the end of the Great War. Everyone knew that! Elves at large tended to respond very badly to eating one of them. The clan elders would stop this crime and then interrogate her regarding the missing young males before bringing her back. He personally would apologize to the elf. Hopefully that would smooth things over for now. She would come willingly, or she would die here!


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-


    Tundor broke out of the trees and onto the beach just in time to see seven large water dragons come around the corner of the cove. His strides stuttered to a stop as he watched the scene unfold before him. Lothinar and Candasar were struggling, still out in the deep water. The elf looked unnaturally exhausted. Candasar had obviously underestimated her newly diminished abilities in the water. She had made a huge mistake in not converting her rear flippers first. She was barely keeping her head up to breathe. He looked on helplessly. Oh no! The elders were here!


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-


    In the temple of the dragon god, the immense female dragon that had been the statue in the courtyard for over 300 years looked down at the priest. He was trying to scoop up the large pile of gold coins in the front folds of his robe.


    ¡±¡¯ T-Thank you for your contribution, my Lord Dragon!¡± he said, failing somehow, even through his terror, to control his greed or acknowledge his crime.


    ¡±¡®My body was stilled in a type of hibernation, but I have not been truly asleep these many years, you greedy thief! ¡° said the dragon, her voice a strange and deep musical mystery. ¡°I saw everything!¡±


    Just then, a pair of elves entered the courtyard. The priest''s eyes flew open as he saw what could only be the lost sacred sword glow even brighter as the elf neared the dragon.


    ¡±Esmerilla, my dear friend, it¡¯s been far too long!¡° Crooned the beautiful elf. ¡°I¡¯ve missed you. I¡¯d like to introduce you to my husband Alberad.¡±


    ¡±You got married?¡±


    ¡±At last, I found someone that I can truly love,¡± replied the elf, smiling at Alberad.


    ¡±Well isn¡¯t that wonderful!. I regret the ceremony wasn¡¯t done here in my temple. I could have observed!"


    ¡°Well, yes, I¡¯m sorry, dear; he¡¯s from out of town.¡±


    ¡±Yes, I¡¯m certain that had to be the case,¡± Rumbled the dragon sadly, then brightened. ¡°I¡¯ve got great news! This priest has been collecting a wedding present for you. He¡¯s got it right here!¡±

 Chapter 14: Maritime Operations

    ******************


    Chapter 14


    ******************


    Candasar was struggling. No wonder Tundor had had such a hard time learning to swim. Without her flippers, she could barely keep her head above the water. The movements that used to come so naturally to her were failing her now; She needed to get to land! Even the elf in front of her was making better headway than she was. She knew he still had to be exhausted from the healing he had done on her leg. He had almost passed out! She could see Tundor over on the beach staring out over the lake towards her.  The elf wardens that Lothinar had wanted her to meet spilled out of the trees behind Tundor in a crazy dash. Were they chasing Tundor? No, he didn''t seem at all concerned when they ran up, quickly glancing as they stopped next to him. But now, all three of them had concerned looks on their faces as they watched Lothinar swimming. No, she was mistaken. They were not looking at the elf, or even her. Their eyes were fixed on something beyond. She swiveled her head around for a glance and felt her blood run cold. Several dragons were swimming up behind her. Huge water males. They had no problem with her slow pace and were closing fast. There was no way the elf could have seen them yet. The overly pale part of him at the top of his legs, just below his back, flashed in the sunlight as he struggled in the choppy water. He would never outrun the elders to the shore. She turned and roared. She would buy him some time to escape! She regretted that she had picked a bad time to give up her swimming advantages.


    Lothinar could see his friends on the beach but none of them looked at all happy to see that he and Candasar had made up. He suddenly heard her roar behind him. Could she have changed her mind about that? His friends looked shocked! Could they think that Candasar was chasing him?


    He looked back, dismayed to see her squaring off with at least four large males. They had her spinning in place as she tried to prevent them from getting their teeth into her from the back. Three others slipped around Candasar¡¯s right to quickly zip by him, cutting him off from the shore and leaving him no place to go. He had observed water dragons before, but being in the water with them, he realized how big they really were. He expected to be attacked, but for some reason, they didn¡¯t come directly at him. They were waiting for something. As he watched the dragoness fight, he was awed by her fury and determination against impossible odds. She took a vicious bite on the back from behind her, but the large male couldn¡¯t hang on. Another crashed into her driving her to the side and down. The enraged males would not stop now. They would certainly kill her! She had to know she couldn¡¯t win this battle. Then suddenly he realized that she didn¡¯t have to! Hoping she still had the wherewithal to listen, Lothinar sent a telepathic scream to the battling female.


    ¡±You can¡¯t win! ¡ª- Candasar! Dive!¡±


    Bartuuug was confused. He could understand Candasar turning to fight. He had anticipated that. She had never lacked courage. But everyone in the area could hear that telepathic scream telling her to dive. Was the elf helping Candasar? As one of the three encircling the elf, he wanted some answers, but he couldn''t tear his attention from the nearby fight to take the time to ask them. Then, just as the elf had commanded, Candasar visibly grabbed a huge breath and disappeared under the water, The four that had been encircling her roared their frustration and looked about trying to see in which direction she had fled. Without warning, Bartuug felt a tearing pain in his neck and found himself in the jaws of a monster! It shook him violently from side to side! Then he knew no more.


    The wardens had stood frozen as Tundor had thrown himself into the water, splashing through the shallows and then pushing himself out flat, arms and legs pulled in close. His violent thrashing propelled him through the water like a strange wiggling arrow as he closed with the dragons surrounding Lothinar. The one with his back to the shore never saw him coming. Without even slowing down, Tundor snapped his neck and laid into the second one. This one had seen the first attack and, although obviously surprised, was able to dodge, somehow ignoring an immediate fatal bite,


    "What should we do, Cantrell?" yelled Ardwynn. "Seven, well, six on two feels a little unfair!"


    "I don''t completely know yet!" He shouted back. "Not really our fight, but I suppose we need to make getting Lothinar out of there our highest priority!"


    "You know he¡¯s my priority, agreed Ardwynn, "Let''s see if we can freeze the two next to him. Even if he''s not the direct target, all that dragon in the water could squash some of his better parts.¡±


    Giving her the side eye, the Warden said, "Ok, I''ve got the left. You take the right. One.. Two.. Three... Letta!" They shouted together.


    Suddenly the two big males closest to the shore stuttered and stopped. Tundor, puzzled for a second, didn''t hesitate and grabbed hold of the one that had been dodging him. Pulling up his rear legs and claws, he ripped down, opening the slightly smaller male''s abdomen from end to end. A strange piercing cry was cut off in a gurgle.


    That certainly got the attention of the other four, who had been looking for Candasar''s path under the water. They drew rapidly close to Lothinar as he was finally trying to leave the area and head toward the shore. The remaining "frozen" dragon had rolled over on his side, starting to sink, being unable to swim, and for now, Tundor thrashed away, placing himself between the approaching males and the elf.


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    "What are you? Bellowed the closest one to Tundor


    "I''m your worst nightmare!" he screamed back. "When you drown a dragon, you had better make sure he stays drowned!"


    A look of horror passed over their faces.


    "You are the cripple!" one of them said.


    "Cripple no more!" screamed Candasar as she surfaced and bit, slashing into the face and eyes of the nearest male who had been staring, aghast at seeing Tundor,


    He moaned terribly as blood ran down the waste of his face, one of his eyes clearly missing.


    Lothinar, seemingly highly motivated, had reached the beach and was pulled from the shallows by his two warden friends.


    Gasping he asked, "What''s the score?¡± looking back at the water.


    "Ardwynn 1, Lothinar 0," the female warden grinned, looking him up and down. "You forgot your clothes up on the cliff."


    "Not that score!" he yelled. "The dragons!"


    "Tundor''s killed two, we sank one, and Candasar is still chewing on another''s one¡¯s face,¡± Called out Cantrell. "So what''s that? Three and a half left against two?"


    ¡°Definitely an improvement, ¡° said Lothinar.


    "I thought you said the dragons you knew were safe to be around?" smirked Ardwynn.


    "I never said that," Said Lothinar, "I said that they were my friends! Now where are my clothes?"


    Out in the water, they were still in battle. Tundor and Candasar fought back to back but managed to make it into water shallow enough to stand. Tundor evaluated their options, The remaining males circled them but seemed far less confident than before. It had been a bad day for the council, The "Frozen" one had not yet come up and might never. If he had been locked just after an exhale with his lungs empty, he probably would have passed out down there and drowned before unsticking. Tundor kind of liked that idea. It seemed appropriate; He decided to try that again to even the odds.


    "Letta!" he snarled and watched his target, the largest remaining male, begin to quiver and then stop. He sank a little, but the water was shallow enough that he didn''t go completely under. The effect on the remaining fighters was immediate.


    "You ssspoke a word!" one hissed. "An Elven word!"


    "Yes, said Tundor. You will die. You will all die!"


    "We only want the female Candasar!" one of them said. We did not know you had survived. Give her to us, and we will leave"


    "SHE IS WHY I SURVIVED," bellowed Tundor. "You will not have her!"


    "Where is my boy?" asked another. "He came to court with this unworthy slut and has not returned."


    "I told him no! I have always told them all NO! He and his friend did not come to court but to rape and, failing that, kill. He and his friend are dead and that is justice even by your code" said Candasar a wicked gleam in her eye.


    The dragon that had asked, let out a snarl.


    "I may allow one of you to live after all,¡± said Tundor, ¡°To spread the message to the clan that no one is to bother Candasar again!"


    "How will you decide this, one?" asked the male with the missing eye. He, at least, seemed to be painfully aware that things were not going in the council''s favor.


    "He that runs first will live," said Candasar grinning.


    The three ambulatory dragon males immediately turned and fled. Somewhat surprised at himself, Tundor released the Letta hold on the remaining one, who quickly followed.


    Candasar looked at Tundor.


    "We let them all go," said Candasar with a sigh.


    "Our pursuit abilities are poor, and we have killed enough of our kind today,¡± said Tundor. ¡°And don''t forget the elves are watching. We would not want to appear too bloodthirsty.¡±


    ¡±I am proud of you, my mate!" said Candasar. "You fought fiercely"


    ¡°You inspired me!¡± Said Tundor


    "Your elf friend fixed my claw Tundor, I made a bad mistake in the cave, I was bleeding and probably would have died. He healed me. In the cave. If he hadn''t come...."


    "But he did!" said Tundor. "I think he would like to be your friend too"


    "I would be willing to consider that," she said, "But first, I want to get out of this miserable water and find something to eat. ¡°Maybe, after we have become friends, Lothinar can heal my back.¡±


    ---------------------


    City guards and archers had the temple surrounded. Eyes flicked back and forth between fearful men, all asking the same unspoken questions. What was going on inside the temple? Was the Dragon God angry? Apparently, it had come alive and was wrecking the place. It had, however, been quiet for a while now. Nobody wanted to get too close and suffer a god''s wrath. A guard who claimed to have been at the gate said that a couple of elves had come into the city just as this whole mess was getting started. They hadn''t been seen since, but someone said they had run towards the temple.


    Just then, Womber, the priest, came out of the entryway, followed by his apprentice.


    "Everyone may disperse! We have solved the issue," he said loudly.


    The captain of the city guard stepped up angrily, grabbing Womber by the robes.


    "That is not going to be enough of an explanation, Priest. This whole town is in an uproar over this disaster"


    "The high priest acknowledges that he has made a mistake angering the dragon god," a voice from the entryway said as Starett stepped forward. He has agreed to resign his position."


    "That will not be enough! complained the guard. "There is so much damage!"


    "Lucky for our town, before he was a priest, Womber worked as a mason. He will live here at the temple and perform repairs. I will assume his previous duties"


    "Is this so, Priest?" asked the guard captain. Womber only nodded, his face grim.


    "What about the Dragon God?" asked one of the guards. Is it safe inside?


    Starett paused, considering his answer. "She said she had something to do for now but would check back in on us from time to time. She seemed especially interested in making sure Womber was here"


    The old priest paled.


    As they walked back inside, Womber said, "I never said I knew anything about masonry."


    "Well then, you will have to learn, won''t you?" said Starrett. He thought it was going to be very satisfying working for his new flying boss.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    ¡±You know there are skills I never thought an elf would need,¡± said Alberad


    ¡±Such as?¡± Asked his wife


    ¡±Oh, things like sneaking a giant black dragon out of a town, for one.¡± he grinned, looking down at the lake below as they circled, then moved in for a landing on the cliff near Candasar¡¯s cove.¡±Oh look, there is Lothinar!¡± Then he waved.


    Esmerilla, carrying them both on her back, rumbled in pleasure, obviously glad to be in the sky again.


    ¡±Believe me, dear,¡± Ardwella laughed. ¡°When it comes to dragons you have no idea the things that I am going to teach you!¡±

 Chapter 15: The Market Price of a Cow

    **************


    Chapter 15


    **************


    Esmarilla''s landing was a little hard. Ardwella had to give her a little leeway as she had not flown in over three hundred years. As much as he appeared to have enjoyed flying, she was not surprised to see her husband Alberad jump swiftly from her back. It was a lot to take in, poor landing aside. The ground was solid, and it was what he knew. Nobody rode dragons! "We will have to do something about that," she thought to herself.


    Leaning forward, reaching her arms as far as she could around the great neck, Ardwella pressed her body tight against the dragon in a hug. Esmarilla rumbled contentedly, feeling her emotions. She was happy to finally have her back. The string of magic words she had used had placed the dragon in a type of hibernation and, in a way, linked their life forces. It had never been tried before.


    She had done it to save the dragon¡¯s life, but there were unforeseen consequences. Magical power from the hibernating dragon¡¯s core had needed somewhere to go, and so it had flowed into her. Ardwella¡¯s body had no longer aged. She had incredible strength and stamina. When she received a wound, it healed extremely quickly and left no scar. But now that the dragon was awake again, things would be different. She would actually have to be careful!


    Speaking mind to mind, with her elven bonded, Esmarilla said,


    "He is cute and fits you well, but I wonder if he is concerned about what our relationship means for him."


    "Alberad? Of course, he is! ¡° Ardwella thought back. I never had the courage to tell him any of it! I''m sure he is probably in shock,"


    "You had lived a lonely life until you found him!¡± The dragon thought. "In many ways, even though I could see things passing me by, the time went quickly"


    "It was the only way that I could keep you alive, and you know how important that has always been to me. And, of course, I had a great deal to do!"


    "Yes," the dragon murmured, "and for that, I thank you, but now we must make up for a lost time. Why don''t you introduce me to your son."


    "We will get to that soon," said Ardwella, "But I think I need a few minutes to talk to him first"


    ¡±Do you think that he will be angry?¡±


    ¡±No, but it will create many questions when my son figures out that the whole time I carried him, I was filled with your power. Both he and his father will have to consider the ways this has affected their lives¡±.


    "I understand," Esmerilla replied. Perhaps while you talk, I will eat a few cows.


    Ardwella replied, "That will probably be okay, but try to keep your search on the human side of the lake.


    "It makes sense for now," the dragon said, dropping from the cliff. Pulling short her dive over the water, she pumped her wings and vanished quickly into the distance.


    --------------------------------


    Lothinar had just watched his PARENTS jump off the back of a dragon. Not a Candasar-sized dragon. Not even a Tundor-sized dragon. A primal history defying giant black DRAGON! Even as he watched, the immense, fantastic creature dropped from the cliff from which he had dived just slightly over an hour before and flew off into the distance. He had no doubt it would be back.


    As Lothinar watched his father and mother, Ardwynn watched Lothinar. The black dragon was terrifying and impressive, but Ardwella stood out like a wonderful jewel. With beauty like that filling his eyes every day while he was growing up, it was no wonder Lothinar seemed impervious to the charms of normal women. Although it was hundreds of years out of style for elves to use animals for clothes, she wondered if the leather tanner in the human town could make her a cute little dress like that and some matching knee-high boots.


    Cantrell had always believed in the war stories. The ones where the elves had used their overwhelming intellect and power to kill all the dragons, well, except the few lucky remnants that had been reduced to non-flying fish eaters here in this lake. Someone had lied to him. Lots of someones. Now, not only had he seen major evidence to the contrary that the BIG dragons of history were NOT extinct, but he had met and talked to a dragon. Not the terrifying black flying version that had just flown off somewhere, but the one he had spoken with in the forest. Tundor. In spite of his expectations that he might be forced to fight for his life against a bloodthirsty beast, Tundor had seemed polite and reasonable. Well, at least until someone tried to take a bite out of his mate. His actions after that were something Cantrell could understand. He would have done the same in a similar situation. What had really happened back in that terrible war?! He didn''t know anymore, but he suspected he might know someone who did.


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    Tundor watched the black dragon pass overhead and out of sight. Wings, WINGS, WINGS! That''s how they were supposed to look. That''s what they could do. He looked at the shriveled excuses on his own back and bellowed, "LOTHINAR! How do I get some of those?!"


    All her hopes and all her dreams could not have prepared Candasar to see what she had been working for. She stood speechless, her mouth hanging open. Big dragon tears fell from her eyes. The ravings of her Grandfather had not done justice to the grandeur and power of her true heritage. She had lived her whole life for this moment! A glimpse of what they all might become. "Thank you, Thank you, Grandfather! You were right!" She had never even really believed herself that her dreams might be able to come true. Even if that beautiful dragon never came back, it was enough. But she hoped that she would. Candasar had many questions.


    Alberad was watching his wife hug a dragon. A creature he had always believed was unrepentantly evil and dangerous. His mind was spinning as he tried to compare what he was seeing now with the way he had always thought the world to be. He was glad that the priest back in the human town had insisted that they take that gold as a wedding present. It was going to cost a fortune to feed this thing! He had better keep Jamison out of sight.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    ¡®The four surviving members of the water dragon council had returned to receive not the honors due to conquering heroes but chaos, anger, and questions. The answers had all come out in a rush. The clan leader, Killingsworth was now unwillingly wearing the nickname of ¡°One Eye¡±, adding insult to injury. Candasar¡¯s family had seemed resigned to her fate but now were hanging about the fringes listening for news of their reclusive daughter. Bartuug¡¯s wives, as well as the families of the other two that wouldn¡¯t be coming back, had predictably reacted in horror before fleeing for privacy to cry and grieve. There was a lot of anger, but strangely some of the dragons had reasons for joy. Tundor¡¯s father had a strange but not unhappy look on his face and his mother had been swimming around telling everyone with excitement that her son was alive! Their daughter Vanessa even looked pleased.


    Killingsworth went home. He would need some time to figure out what to do next. His face hurt. He would talk to the other leaders in the morning. He shouted to his wife, ¡°Bring me some fish!¡± Somehow he would find a way to make Candasar pay for his missing eye, but he didn¡¯t think it was going to be as easy as he did before.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    Old MacDonald had a dairy farm. In the late afternoon, he had gone into the house because he had suddenly felt like helping his still-pretty wife churn the butter. He had come out twenty minutes later with a smile on his face. But now he was surprised and upset that some of his cows were missing. Stranger still, on a tree stump in the yard that MacDonald had soon intended to chop into firewood, he found a strange note. It had been scrawled into the wood with some sort of sharp awl. "I OWE U 2 COWS, STARETT." Now that was unusual. The name was unknown to him. He would have to ask old Womber over at the temple. He knew everyone.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-


    ¡®¡°Somehow, saying that I am surprised doesn¡¯t seem like nearly enough.¡± Said Lothinar as his parents walked towards him across the beach. ¡°My normal unassuming parents are riding a dragon now!¡±


    ¡°Well, when you didn¡¯t show up at our house to sneak out of town with us, I had to make other arrangements.¡± smiled his mother.


    ¡±Someone interfered.¡± he growled, looking at Ardwynn


    ¡±Love your outfit!¡± Interrupted the female warden. ¡°Do you remember where you got it?¡±


    ¡±Yes, I do,¡± replied Aredwella warmly. ¡°But it was a while ago, and I¡¯m not sure the company is making them anymore ¡°


    ¡±That¡¯s too bad, I wonder if a human leatherworker could put something like that together for me¡±


    ¡±I¡¯d imagine he could. There is not that much to it¡±


    ¡±He might need a pattern. Do you think I could, perhaps, borrow it at some point for a few days¡±


    ¡±I¡¯m sure that could be arranged¡­¡­¡±


    ¡±Um, Ah! I hate to force my way into this interesting fashion conversation,¡± said Cantrell suddenly, ¡°But I have some questions.¡±


    ¡°I suppose you do,¡± said the ridiculously beautiful elf, smiling.


    In spite of his best efforts, Cantrell felt himself staring a little.


    ¡°Ahem!¡± Coughed Alberad.


    ¡°Will you be trying to arrest me for keeping company with dragons?¡± She asked, raising an elegant eyebrow.


    ¡±Well, before today, that is exactly what I might be inclined to do,¡± he said, surprising himself.


    ¡±You¡¯re not serious!¡± Interjected Alberad


    ¡±I don¡¯t think Esmarilla would be too happy about that,¡± said Ardwella. ¡°But tell me more about the ¡®before today¡¯ part of that sentence ¡°


    ¡±I am starting to think that everyone has been lying to us, suppressing some of the facts. This may have led to inaccuracies that I have been assuming about dragons,¡± Cantrell said.


    ¡±Not everyone ¡°


    ¡±Well, obviously!¡±


    ¡±Listen, my dear warden, you will someday realize that the winners of wars can take great liberties with the actual facts and reasons why they happened. Some dragons did wrong, this I do not dispute. But Elves in this conflict were the real guilty party. ¡°


    ¡±I can¡¯t imagine an elf doing something to deliberately provoke a primal dragon.¡± Said Cantrell, ¡°No offense Tundor¡±


    Tundor and Candasar had been standing quietly nearby during the conversation. Although it was not telepathy but elvish, he could figure out quite a bit of what had been going on. He was getting better at this.


    ¡°What can an elf do to anger a dragon? Enrage her, in fact?¡± asked Ardwella


    Cantrell just shrugged helplessly.


    ¡±He can steal her eggs!¡±


    Even Candasar could understand that.¡± She began to growl.


    ¡± Yes, I suppose that might do it.¡± Said Cantrell.


    There was a lengthy, awkward pause while the group looked at each other


    ¡°Can I ride her mother?¡± Lothinar finally asked.


    ¡®I¡¯m sure you will, my son. I believe that you two will find that you have a lot in common.¡±

 Chapter 16: A Dragon鈥檚 Advice

    ***************


    Chapter 16


    ***************


    Cantrell and Ardwella had come to at least a temporary verbal truce regarding the ethical complications of making friends with dragons. What she had said about the eggs had shaken his faith a little. The reclusive elven high council had created the wardens and assigned them to watch over this sensitive area as primarily an endangered species preserve. Cardell was thinking about main job objectives:


    1. To keep elves that lived in the area and elves in general safe from ¡°elf eating¡± dragons.


    2. To keep the water dragon population in the lake stable and protected.


    3. To keep their eyes on the growing human population in the area


    4, To oversee the diversity of plants, animals and fish that keep the area in balance and healthy


    The dragon population was down by three more today. Large old males, which ought to make the fish happy, he thought. Strangely during the conflict, the dragons had stopped but not directly attacked Lothinar while he was in the water. It was almost like they thought they were protecting him from Candasar. It had all happened pretty fast, and it was too easy to misjudge intent.


    Apparently, Candasar had killed a couple of younger ones in self-defense a few days ago, too. Somehow, these water dragons seemed overly prone to violence and killing their own. They seemed to have lost some self-restraint when they gained flippers. Maybe it was eating fish. Tundor, a diminished version of the original type, seemed a lot smarter and more reasonable. He did have to admit that with those, his experiences were limited.


    Cantrell had a few things to think through before he took action. Things were complicated. But he knew from painful experience that the best way to fight a forest fire is to stop it before it started. Right now, he was playing with matches.


    No one quite knew what to do next. Ardwella and Alberad stood together on one part of the rocky beach. Cantrell and Ardwynn stood several yards away on another.


    Lothinar stood rather awkwardly between the four. He suddenly found himself terrified to move, afraid any physical repositioning would send an unintentional message regarding his political intent in all of this.


    It was Tundor that saved him. The young dragon, seeming to have a greater sensitivity to the situation than it seemed possible, walked over and plopped down in front of him, looking him in the eyes.


    "Wings on a dragon sure look great, huh?" he said with a sad smile.


    Lothinar looked at Tundors boneless flaps and could only nod. "Thanks for coming over to talk to me Tundor, "I''m feeling a little confused about what to do with myself right now"


    "Well, it''s obvious, right? On one side, you''ve got your friends, and on the other, your parents. To make it worse they all have very different hopes and expectations for you. Especially Ardwynn. You know she''s in love with you, right?


    Lothinar blinked. "There is something going on there, I suppose.¡±


    "I thought maybe you hadn''t noticed. I know nothing about the breeding habits of elves, but even Candasar thinks that one is pretty obvious"


    "Yeah, it''s complicated"


    "How?"


    "Well, she works with me. She''s kind of one of the guys"


    "She''s definitely not one of the guys!" said Tundor "Even I can see that"


    "Maybe it''s because she comes on so strong, It¡¯s pretty intimidating ¡°


    "Did you know her for a while before she started coming on strong like that?"


    "Uh, well, sure"


    "Maybe she found the "waiting for you" approach was not working for her and had to try something different."


    Lothinar looked awkwardly towards her hoping that their conversation was quiet enough that she wasn''t listening in. She had actually walked over to his mother. From what he could tell, they were discussing Ardwella''s fighting leathers again.


    It looked like Cantrell had headed a short distance up into the forest and was picking up dead wood. Maybe he wanted to make a fire. There were some really tasty large mushrooms in the area that would make some good steaks. Wardens were good at living off the land. His dad was watching the two women talk with a face that said he wanted to look supportive but couldn''t care less about the subject matter. Nod and smile.


    "Anyway", Tundor continued, Candasar has always had strong goals. Even though, at first, I felt like she was indifferent to me personally in achieving them..."


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    "Just someone to fertilize eggs?"


    "Right! But I''ve come to realize that when Candasar made that goal, she also made a choice to commit her life to the individual who would accomplish it with her." I could get upset that she didn''t specifically know it was ¡®me¡¯ when the goal was made, but it doesn''t change much of anything now that she has committed. Look at her, two flippers, two legs. Although I know you healed her earlier, she has done most of those changes herself. To share in my kind of life. A life on legs. If she was willing to go through that, I think that I can count on her being there for me.


    She turned around to fight those males today to try and let me escape," said Lothinar.


    "There were just too many of them. It didn''t work. That''s about the time I got involved," added the young dragon. "Anyway, what I think I''m trying to say is that Ardwynn seems to have made that kind of commitment to you. Except that you didn''t want to notice. "


    "My life is pretty complicated right now without adding in a girlfriend"


    "She keeps getting louder and louder, trying to get your attention. If you keep ignoring it......"


    "I''m going to do permanent damage," said the elf


    "And probably lose something precious ¡°


    "I will talk to her," promised Lothinar.


    Just then, Esmarilla returned, and although it was impossible to miss a flying black dragon, she added to her entrance by bringing the other two dragons some dinner.


    She had gone off to eat and, on her way back, had spooked a deer herd, snatching up one to share. Since he hadn''t really even met her yet, Tundor considered that extremely considerate. He could imagine, though, that the deer probably did not. The sun had not set, although it was low in the sky. She had the stag gripped in her talons as she flew over, casting a deep and indecipherable shadow. She dropped it a few yards from them with a huge thump. That should be nice and tender, thought Tundor.


    She swung around once more on her great wings before making a running landing that didn¡¯t look easy. She then sat off by herself and to the side, obviously unsure about how she fit in. Once she was down, Candasar completely ignored the deer and wobble-hopped as fast as she could toward the enormous female. Tundor grimaced as he watched Candasar struggle half-legged and half-flippered as she moved toward Esmarilla. She finally stopped and stared up in awe at the great black Dragoness. Tundor walked over to join them.


    "Hello, Children, Esmarilla said, her voice wondrous and deep. "It looks like you have had a hard day!"


    Candasar still had bites and abrasions across her back from the fight with the males just a few hours ago.


    "It doesn''t matter now that I have seen you, my queen. You have made me hope again in a future for our people!"


    "There are not many of us left, Esmarilla said, but from what I can see in your hearts, you are as worthy of the name Dragon as any that have gone before you. Tell me your story. Both of you.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-


    While the dragons started talking, Lothinar walked over to stand next to his parents and Ardwynn. She finished her sentence and turned to look at him.


    ¡°You are back¡±


    ¡°Yeah, um. I was talking with Tundor¡±


    ¡±What was on the dragon¡¯s mind?¡±


    ¡±Well, lots of things, actually, but one of his big concerns was surprisingly about us.¡±


    ¡±Us?¡± She said with a strange look on her face. ¡°That kind of us? I didn¡¯t think there actually was an¡­..us.¡±


    ¡±Well, he said I was being an idiot.¡±


    ¡®Ardwynn suddenly turned to his mother and said, ¡°Do you know that I love dragons?¡±


    ¡±So do I, dear, so do I.¡± She said, smiling. ¡°But Lothinar, before you have the conversation that I think you are going to have with Ardwynn, there are a couple of things you, uh, well, both of you probably need to know ¡°


    ¡°You¡¯re going to stop him now?¡± Squeeked Ardwynn. ¡°This was getting interesting, and I really wanted to hear what he was going to say¡±


    ¡±Well, your response kind of illustrates the things I intend to tell you about,¡± said Ardwella.


    ¡°Please don¡¯t stop him now! He even said that he had been an idiot. That was way too promising. He even said the word US!¡±


    ¡±I know, dear, and he probably will again¡­..¡±


    ¡±The idiot part, for sure,¡± interjected his father grinning. He had been standing there taking it all in.


    ¡±I really only care about the us part. I¡¯ve been chasing him for a long time ¡°


    ¡°I know that as beautiful as your mother is, Lothinar, that it might be hard to believe that I was oblivious too. For a long time before we got married, ¡° said Alberad.


    ¡°You have no idea, sweetheart,¡± said his mother.


    Lothinar stood here with his head spinning. This was not how he thought this conversation would go. He was way too young to get married!


    ¡°Let me explain something first before we go much further here,¡± said his mother with a very strange look on her face¡±


    ¡±I¡¯m listening, Just letting you know, if he¡¯s asking me to marry him, I¡¯m probably saying yes, regardless, ¡° interrupted Ardwynn


    Lothinar gawked


    ¡±Well, hear me out anyway,¡± his mother continued¡­.then asked a question.


    ¡°Husband?¡±


    ¡± Yes, Wife,¡± answered Albarad, slightly surprised.


    ¡±While we were sprinting over to the human town, did you notice anything strange?¡±


    ¡±That¡¯s quite a way. Did you say sprinting?¡± Asked Lothinar


    ¡±We briefly stopped once, but sprinting is definitely accurate, and of course, I noticed something. Your speed and stamina are off the charts impossible, ¡° said Albarad.


    ¡°Well, if we do that run tomorrow, you would probably beat me¡±


    ¡±Why¡¯s that¡­.oh.. Esmerella is awake now. You said something about channeling her power¡±


    ¡±Yes, and she has been hibernating for a very long time. Longer than Lothinar¡¯s been born.¡±


    ¡±So while you were carrying me¡­.¡± said Lothinar


    ¡±Even before that, actually, when my ovum was becoming mature, while my Uterus was preparing for fertilization, A dragon¡¯s power was making changes, and while you were a baby growing inside of me¡­¡±


    ¡±He¡¯s part dragon? Asked Ardwynn with a strange worried look on her face.


    ¡±Haha, no, dear, not at all.¡± Let¡¯s just say he¡¯s the best elf he can be, well that¡¯s ever been. Probably. I don¡¯t think anyone can imagine how powerful his magic could become.¡± Ardwella said, smiling. ¡°He¡¯s probably going to live a very long time¡±


    ¡±No wonder I can¡¯t seem to resist him¡­.¡±Muttered Ardwynn.


    ¡±Well, you¡¯re going to have to try a little bit longer!¡± Said Cantrell walking up. He had made a small fire on the beach, and the smell of smoke and broiling mushrooms wafted up with him. The Food is almost ready."


    ¡®Thank you, Cantrell, that was very considerate of you. If you can wait just a couple of minutes, I¡¯ll make some tea.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll get some fresh needles while you put on the water,¡± said Ardwynn


    ¡±Thank you, it will go faster. I kind of got distracted talking, ¡° said Ardwella


    ¡±Hey,¡± asked Ardwynn. How was dragon-enhanced childbirth?


    ¡°Very, very easy as you might expect,¡± Ardwella answered. ¡°That¡¯s why I am kind of nervous about next time¡±


    ¡±Next time?¡± Came the strangled voice of Alberad.


    ¡±Yes, dear, we have a few more things to talk about.¡±


    The mushroom steaks were delicious.

 Chapter 17: The Hen House

    **************


    Chapter 17


    **************


    Ardwynn awoke before dawn. It wasn''t especially cold, but a slight mist came off the lake. It gathered in the cattails and crept up into the trees. The strange group of elves and dragon had decided that it would probably be easiest to sleep on the beach near the tree line. Elves and dragon (singular) because Candasar and Tundor had returned for one last night in the grotto.


    In further evening discussions, it had been decided that tomorrow was the day that Ardwella and Lothinar would attempt to make a magical restoration of her rear legs and other unspecified improvements. Esmarilla had insisted that she should be whole. It was most likely that as a dragon with normal legs, she would not have much use for the cavern again. If Lothinar failed, she would be dead.


    Ardwynn thought, If this was possibly their last night together, they could use the privacy for other reasons. It was really sweet how young Tundor had been fawning over the recently battle-slashed Candasar. Their relationship made her wonder what was in store for Lothinar and her.


    It was quite a surprise when Lothinar approached her last evening. Even though his parents interrupted their talk and later dinner. It was the first glimmer of hope that she had felt regarding her aspirations for the obtuse warden. If she hadn''t been so completely smitten with him for this long, she might have wondered if getting involved with him and his eccentric family was a good idea at all. But now she didn''t think she could just walk away. If love was a disease She had it bad. After dinner, as individual members of the party made their sleeping arrangements, Lothinar had "swung by", seeming willing to possibly sleep near her.


    "Just, so we can talk some more," he said, looking hesitant and perhaps slightly guilty.


    She could read the room.


    Things were happening too fast for him. Instead she had said that she would be sleeping by the smoldering fire to keep Cantrell company. The Head Warden had just grunted and shimmied around a little to make her some room before rolling over and placing his back to the fire. She quickly laid down on the other side.


    She thought he had fallen asleep when he finally said "You must be losing your touch if you are turning down an offer to sleep near Lothinar", then he chuckled. Shortly afterward, he began snoring. Of course, she had to lay awake for hours second-guessing THAT decision.


    Lothinar had returned to the area claimed by his parents and the black dragon. Apparently, having a smoldering monstrosity around was a step up from a regular bed of hot coals. She could hear their muffled, distant voices and occasionally the strange rumble of what must be the dragon far into the night. She felt like she had barely slept.


    It didn''t seem long until Cantrell rose and wandered up into the woods, soon returning with some branches for the fire. He stirred the coals with one of them, and a few sparks shot up as the dry stick burst into flame. He built a small lean-to in the firepit that soon was engulfed.


    "You know," he said at last. "When I''m out in the woods like this on a lake, I''ve been known to eat a baked fish or two. But right now, I''m a little too keenly aware of what they might be feeding on down there"


    Ardwynn nodded.


    "Dead dragons," she said.


    Although it was much more common these days, It wasn''t always the case for elves to be strictly vegan. Even now, some ate fish and.........."EGGS! she suddenly said"


    "Yes, I considered that last night", Cantrell said. "I wonder what kind of magical powers someone might gain adding dragon eggs to their diet?"


    "It certainly would be dangerous to try and acquire them," replied Ardwynn.


    "The original nests were probably high in the mountains, protected by dragons like Esmarilla


    ¡±But you think the lake is a convenient place to keep the dragons for easy access.¡± Said Ardwynn


    ¡°Yes, and whoever is doing this is probably not interested in the magic-starved water version ¡°


    ¡±They are collecting the eggs that will hatch into something like Tundor. ¡° gasped Ardwynn. ¡°They must have some way to identify them.¡±


    ¡±And in this case, they must have missed one!¡± Guessed Cantrell ¡°Maybe some of the eggs they collect have stronger magic potential than Tundor¡¯s, or maybe they just made a mistake, but he hatched, and his mother hid him.


    "You think all of this¡­.?¡±


    "Is a giant egg farm. What the humans call ¡®A chicken coop¡¯¡±


    "Son of a....."


    "Dragon," interrupted Cantrell. Son of a Dragon, and his daughters too!"


    "We''ve been duped into working for them," said Ardwynn.


    "Yes, I need to make some inquiries to confirm, but I believe so."


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    "So what do we do now?"


    "Now we see what that big dragon over there is going to do.¡± Said Cantrell cautiously. ¡°And just maybe, we help her"


    ---------------------


    Lothinar was feeling the pressure. He and his mother had discussed it, but no one had ever done what they were contemplating. They were going to physically sculpt a dragon. Actually, someone had, but in the other direction. Big dragons had been reduced to water dragons.


    He knew that he was better than average at shaping plants, but he had never tried anything this extreme on animal flesh. It seemed impossible.


    Esmarilla was already gone, probably off looking for the deer herd again. She could cover more ground and provide the dragons with food faster than a small army of elves with bows could. She was probably miles away. She had a lot of acreage to hunt. Esmarilla left and returned three times, each trip bringing an animal. Two deer and a bear were dropped unceremoniously on the beach.


    Lothinar looked at Cantrell, who just shrugged and said, "At least she is trying to keep the food chain in balance."


    ¡±Is this the kind of thing that led to you bringing me that bear cub?¡± Ardwynn asked, looking at Lothinar.


    He frowned slightly. ¡°I have taken advantage of you¡±


    ¡±Yes, but not in the way I had been encouraging you to.¡± She pouted.


    By now, Tundor and Cadasar had returned to the group, who greeted them with expectant faces.


    ¡°I am ready to be a real dragon!¡± Said Candasar.


    ¡±As are we,¡± rumbled Esmarilla. ¡°But first, we must make some decisions ¡°


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-


    Cantrell was extremely surprised to find the black dragon looking at him. From his brief talk with Tundor yesterday, he thought he could recognize what a dragon looked like when they were friendly. Her face was not friendly.


    ¡± Me?¡± He croaked in sudden terror. He had always had a certain confidence in himself. He was a large muscular elf with a lifetime of vigorous outdoor activities. He kept his body in excellent condition. He was not young for an elf, but neither was he old. He had spent the last 200 years traveling the entire globe on various tasks for the Elven High Council. He had used his more than ample magic, diplomacy, and, if needed, physicality to achieve their seemingly reasonable objectives.


    Now, standing next to what had to be six tons of wings, teeth, scales, and claws had suddenly given him a whole new perspective on confidence.


    ¡°I have tolerated your presence here because Ardwella has assured me that you are a fair and reasonable man. I can feel from a connection that I share with Lothinar that, for some reason, he values and trusts you. I am, however, perplexed by your role in this.¡±


    ¡°My role?¡± Asked Cantrell, but he suddenly realized that he knew exactly what she meant.


    ¡±You are the not the jailer of of my race? The warden of this prison?¡±


    ¡±I have recently come into new information¡­¡­¡±


    ¡±He has!¡± Chirped up Ardwynn. ¡°He and I figured it out this morning. We have been keeping the dragons here in this lake for a really terrible purpose!¡±


    ¡±I swear I didn¡¯t understand!¡± Said Cantrell.


    ¡±Understand what exactly?¡± Asked Lothinar worriedly ¡°I feel like I am the last one to know¡±


    ¡± You are not alone, son,¡± said Alberad, shooting eyes at Ardwella,


    ¡±Someone in the elven hierarchy has been keeping dragons here to harvest their magical eggs. The reason I came back here to have you is....¡± Ardwella looked at Albarad. She seemed to hesitate.


    ¡°We believe that you are the one that will set them all free.¡± Said Esmarilla with confidence.


    ¡±Ahh. Said Lothinar, ¡°So no pressure..¡±


    ¡°So, what will you do now, wardens?¡± Asked the great black dragon. ¡°We are about to try to undo some of the harm your people have done by correcting the flaws in Candasar¡¯s physical body. It will not be easy and may leave one or more of us weak and vulnerable. I can''t have you here if you are a threat to us and what we are trying to do.¡±


    ¡±You said wardens. More than one. You must mean me too? Asked Ardwynn.


    The dragon nodded slightly.


    ¡°Well, just so you know, whatever Lothinar¡¯s going to be doing, I¡¯m totally in. I hope I have made that clear.¡± Said Ardwynn


    ¡±Yeah, pretty clear,¡± said Lothinar with an actual smile.


    ¡®Ardwynn felt her heart melting at that smile.


    ¡±I could leave and give you your privacy.¡± Said Cantrell.


    ¡±I don¡¯t think that¡¯s a good option at this point,¡± said Ardwella


    That surprised Cantrell because he thought it would be the dragon making the veiled threats, not the beautiful elf.


    ¡±I only suggested that because, although I am inclined to support you, I have not always had the greatest confidence when someone claims to have suddenly switched loyalty. ¡° said Cantrell, feeling an unexplainable impending dread. He had to ask.


    ¡°I mean, obviously, dragon aside, what makes you think you could stop me from walking out of here?¡±


    Ardwella chuckled a little, although she had a strange, pained look. ¡°My dear warden, do you want to guess what I was doing before I met my husband? In the long 700 years since I watched a group of greedy, evil power, power-hungry elves travel this continent using a twisted spell to burn dragons to death from the inside out?


    ¡±What were you doing? Cantrell whispered.


    ¡°I traveled a lot. I took my time. I played many roles and told many lies.¡±


    ¡±And?¡± Asked Alberad jumping in with an increasingly concerned look on his face.


    ¡±I killed them all¡±


    ¡± Who did you kill mother?¡± Asked Lothinar because his father had grown speechless.


    ¡°I killed every elf that had used that spell, Everyone that knew that spell. I destroyed the books that might be used to research that spell.¡±


    ¡±That¡¯s probably a lot,¡± said Lothinar thinking about it.


    ¡±A few more than a hundred elves, I suppose,¡± she said. ¡° Like I said, I took my time to avoid gathering suspicion. The books were the easy part. There weren¡¯t that many, and the bastards usually had them on them. ¡°


    ¡°You are an assassin!¡± Alberad finally croaked. He looked ill.


    ¡±Not for over 100 years, dear,¡± she smiled, ¡°and I only killed bad people¡±


    ¡±Well, that¡¯s a relief for me, I guess,¡± said Cantrell because I¡¯m pretty sure that I¡¯m not bad¡±


    ¡±What we have to come to an agreement about is how you feel about us ending the exploitation and slavery of dragons, ¡° asked Ardwella.


    ¡±Oh, on that, I¡¯m good. I¡¯m definitely good¡±


    "Well, I''m glad somebody''s good," exclaimed Alberad. "That assassin part is a lot to take in."


    "I was afraid of this," said Ardwella.


    "You knew this might happen!" said the large black dragon.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    Out on the lake, the sun was rising. Yesterday had been a disaster. They had come home from trying to kill Candasar and left three dead clan leaders behind. Killingsworth was still off recovering from his wounds and would be no further help for now. The opinion of a majority of the tribe actually seemed to be that the two young males who had tried to visit Candasar actually got what they deserved. Only one of them, Beldor, had been HIS son. Regardless of popular opinion, he was going to get revenge. Maybe that nice elf lady who came by to check the nests could help. Only the elders knew of her visits.


    She would magically observe the unhatched eggs from a distance trying to make sure no more freaks were born. If she saw an egg that was going to turn out badly as Tundor had, she would mercifully remove it, slipping in a surrogate. Of course, it wouldn¡¯t hatch, but at least the parents were spared the horror of watching their child grow into a freak. He would go to the place where she watched. She would not like it, but he would try to speak to her. Benedar was sure she would know what to do.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 18: The New Dragon Part 1

    **************


    Chapter 18


    **************


    "There is one more thing we must agree on before we begin," said Esmarilla.


    "Ah," said Ardwella, "I was wondering when you would get to that....."


    "It will affect the entire process and change the way he must proceed.


    "What are we talking about here," Asked Lothinar. " I think I should know since it probably concerns me."


    "It does. Candasar and Tundor." as well, said Ardwella.


    "How did I get left out?" Ardwynn asked. " Here, I thought I was almost part of the family!"


    "You may very well be... In time," sent Esmarella, "But your opinions do not make a difference for our actions today."


    "Well, there I go. My status has dropped back down to not making a difference," pouted Ardwynn. Cantrell, tell them I made a difference this morning in our discussion!"


    "Yes, you made a difference," said Cantrell, smiling. "You have an excellent mind"


    "Ouch!" said Ardwynn. "That''s not what a girl necessarily wants to hear upfront. Never lead with that ''He loves her for her mind'' bit. It makes everyone think she''s plain.


    "You''re not plain," said Lothinar.


    "Ouch again!. That''s not a very high bar. Not plain. Somehow, this keeps getting worse!"


    "Maybe you should tell me about the choice I have to make and let ME decide if I want Ardwynn''s opinion on the matter," Lothinar said, finally looking at Esmarilla.


    "Thank you, Lothinar," Ardwynn said with a big smile, "But you''re definitely going to want it."


    He reached over, grabbed Ardwynn by the shoulders, and kissed her. Once he had her lips, he lingered a short while.


    "Well, that should shut her up for a few minutes,¡± said Tundor.


    Lothinar smiled despite his embarrassment. Ardwynn was standing there, staring into the distance. She never quits, he thought to himself. Suddenly, he realized that he really liked that about her.


    The big Dragon rolled her eyes, apparently done with the drama. Candasar had been sitting quietly and listening to the conversation. Now Esmarella turned to her and asked.


    "Do you understand what we are going to be doing?


    Candasar. nodded, "They are going to look inside my body, find things that don''t belong there, and then take them away." she said. Then they are going to put back the things I am missing..."


    "That is correct," said the dragon, "except that these two actions cannot be separated. They must happen at the same time. That¡¯s why it will take two of them. Ardwella will take away, and Lothinar will put back. His job is incredibly hard. I will supply the power that gets them through such an arduous process. It will not be easy.


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    "How will they know what parts are the real me? I''ve been this way so long I''m not sure I even know myself."


    "You will know," said the dragon, "because the picture of the true self you carry inside has driven every step you have taken on this journey.


    "But he is the one doing the shaping. How will he know?" asked Candasar


    "That is the part that requires the decision, " said Ardwella. Before the dragons were changed, some of them formed bonds with some of the members of my family.¡± She paused, looking at Lothinar. Our family .¡° It is a unique and privileged experience that forever changes both dragon and elf. Albarad and Ardwynn may have realized from my conversation with Cantrell that I am quite old, even for an elf.¡±


    Lothinar looked over at his father, who was clearly listening but digging a little with the toe of his boot on the rocky beach. He seemed to sense Lothinar¡¯s gaze and looked up, managing a small smile for his son.


    ¡°How long do dragons live?¡± interrupted Cantrell


    ¡±Before they were changed, a thousand years or more was not uncommon, ¡° answered Ardwella


    ¡±But we only have a hundred years!¡± Cried out Candasar. ¡°I have lived over half of that already!¡±


    ¡±We believe that the vastly shorter life span is primarily caused by the stunted magic the elven flesh sculptors enacted upon your kind. Reaching sexual maturity early gives them access to more harvestable eggs¡± They made changes to intellect, limiting that, as well as the more obvious wing and flipper changes.¡± Ardwella explained.


    ¡°These changes are usually linked. You get one, you get them all, but they want magic-infused eggs, so they must have left a way for that to happen occasionally. For some reason we don¡¯t understand, Candasar got the mind of a full fledged dragon in the body of the water type. We don¡¯t really know how rare that is."


    ¡±My mother is probably one like that,¡± said Tundor thoughtfully.


    ¡±I will probably want to talk to her then,¡± said Esmarella. ¡°With the mind comes the magic.¡±


    ¡±And the magic fights back, and we get a Tundor!¡± Said Cantrell, connecting the dots.


    ¡°Yes, mind and most of the body attributes of something like me,¡± said Esmarella, but still at least partially held back. Like the wings. He will be much easier to fix.¡±


    Tundor found that hopeful.


    ¡°So if all this hadn¡¯t happened and Tundor and I had children¡­.They would be real dragons, ¡° asked Candasar hopefully.


    ¡®Quite probably¡± said Cantrell, ¡°assuming whoever is doing this didn¡¯t sense it and steal away your eggs before they hatched, because that¡¯s kind of their goal here¡±. He looked at Ardwella, who nodded in confirmation.


    ¡°So if Lothinar bonds with Tundor, would he outlive me by over 500 years? Asked Ardwynn, suddenly very interested in the conversation again. ¡°Then I want to bond with Candasar!¡±


    ¡±That would be convenient for you, wouldn¡¯t it?¡± rumbled Esmarella. ¡°But that¡¯s not how it works.¡±


    ¡±Don¡¯t I have a say in this?¡± Asked Candasar. ¡°Not that you aren¡¯t a fascinating girl, but you and I have barely spoken. ¡°


    ¡± You do have a say, Candasar. Not every dragon or elf for that matter is even willing to bond,¡± said Ardwella


    ¡±There are emotional reasons that males bond male dragons, and female dragons almost always prefer female elves as a bond, but it is not always so,¡± said Esmarilla


    ¡°You want me to bond with Candasar?¡± Asked Lothinar.


    Tundor looked a little surprised.


    ¡±It would make restoring her much more likely to succeed. You would have better access to the picture of her true self that she carries inside. Bonding is an intense and revealing experience, ¡° said Esmarilla


    Ardwynn interrupted. ¡°This would not change his, um, how do I ask this¡­.¡±


    ¡±Sexual preferences. No, not usually,¡± replied Ardwella, shaking her head with a smile.


    ¡°I¡¯m not feeling confident about letting him bond with a female dragon who wants to be a mother so badly. You could undo all of my progress!¡± Said Ardwynn anxiously.


    ¡±Hey, I just kissed you, remember?¡±


    ¡±Yes, and that was great by the way, I¡¯d love to repeat that, but it took you a really long time and this could set me back ages!¡±


    ¡°As passionate as Candasar is about having children, something like this could light his fire!¡± Commented Cantrell, who had been listening and looking on very amused.


    ¡±Ok, I¡¯m convinced, let¡¯s go with that, Ardwynn clamored. Lothinar, please bond with the horny female dragon.¡±


    ¡±Look!¡± he said at last. He was starting to become overwhelmed. ¡®I think we need to consider this from the perspective of what would also be best for Candasar ¡°


    ¡±I will accept you, little brown man with the strange white parts. Your magic and my magic entwined will be formidable!¡±


    ¡°I guess that settles it. Let¡¯s get started.¡± Rumbled Esmarilla.


    ¡±This is not the way I saw my life going,¡± said Lothinar resignedly


    ¡°You know, son,¡± blurted Alberad.¡± No one is going to make you do anything.¡±


    ¡±I know, Father, and thanks for that, but somehow I believe that this is what I was born to do.¡±


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 19: The New Dragon Part 2

    ***************


    Chapter 19


    ****************


    A Song of Candasar


    As recorded by the elf, Cantrell


    On the day of her second birth.


    -------------


    When your inside is bigger than your outside


    But your face is all they can see


    It can not help but hurt your pride


    And make you long to be free


    You know you¡¯re more


    But can¡¯t say why


    While standing on the shore


    It must feel great to fly


    But now we soar on rainbows bend


    At top of sky, we roll


    With an elven partner as our friend


    To heal our wounds and fill our soul


    -------------------------


    Do you trust me, Candasar? asked Ardwella.


    "I barely know you lady elf, but you are the mother of one I have reason to trust and the bonded of my queen. Do what you need to do. My life is in your hands."


    Turning and gazing at Abarad, Cantrell and Ardwella, she shouted, "Think what you wish of me for killing those elves that unleashed the dragon fire, I accept your distain. Know that when I strike now, it is for healing!"


    The white sword cleared the sheath with a sound like the ringing of a bell. Ardwella looked at the glowing blade and read out loud some of the runes that were etched upon its surface. Then she swung it hard for one of Candasar''s rear legs. By then, Lothinar had already started chanting. The sword sliced through the leg well above the flipper, which flopped onto the rocky shore. Candasar moaned. A terrible cry filled with shock and pain. But she did not try to flee. Her weight shifted, and it looked like she leaned heavily, but valiantly, somehow, she compensated. Tundor had lunged forward to catch her, only to stop when she didn''t fall. He began to let out a keening sound. There was no flow from the stump of the leg where it had been severed, but the severed flipper bled strongly and then suddenly stopped, deprived of blood pressure. Lothinar stood, hands outstretched as he channeled his shaping.


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    "Eldhrimner nuanen, dautr abr phalangix, Eldhrimner un fortha femua Heill''


    Ardwynn watched, awestruck. She had once had the opportunity to watch Lothinar repair a ravaged forest after a fire had come through. He had shown a mastery over the plants in the area that had perished, stirring their growth and finding still viable seeds in the soil, restoring the area to life. Now a very similar skill had found its target in the living flesh of the dragon. But what had taken hours or even days in the restoration of plants now exploded into the rapid healing of writhing, twisting flesh. In only seconds, the stump was reformed into a healthy leg. Not the kind laying on the ground in Candasar''s blood, but a leg and talon similar but smaller than Esmarilla''s


    Lothinar met his mother''s eyes and nodded, saying only.


    "Again!"


    Ardwella only nodded. The beautiful elven woman walked around the back of the dragon and swiftly struck. Even though they knew what to expect, it was still a terrifying thing to witness the second and last remaining flippers fall to the ground. Again, the magic flowed, its strange crackle filling the air with a smell of ozone and blood. When the legs were done, Lothinar walked to the front of Candasar and put his forehead against her snout.


    "Are you ok, Candasar?"


    The dragon looked into his eyes.


    "That HURT little brown man, but now the pain is completely gone. Are we finished?"


    "I''m afraid not, Candy, we are just getting started. This is the part where you and I need to get to know each other much better"


    The dragon chuckled. "You have shown me your strange white elven behind. I survived that! I am not afraid to see your heart"


    "And I do not fear what I may see in yours!" Said Lothinar. He placed a hand on each side of her face. "Let us begin!¡±


    The next hour and a half was the most remarkable thing Cantrell had ever seen. Swiftly Ardwella and Lothinar worked on the dragon''s body. Ardwella no longer used her sword but, with brisk movements of her hands, pressed and pulled at invisible things inside Candasar''s body. Occasionally something hit the ground with a wet splooch. Lothinar, his face, sweaty and pinched, continued following his mother''s path of destruction through the dragon''s body, sending waves of healing immediately after. Both Ardwella and Lothinar were obviously growing weary. As he watched, Ardwella stumbled, falling toward him. He caught her and set her back on her feet. She grimaced, mumbled a thank you, and resumed her grim work. A sheen of sweat covered her as well.


    As fascinated as he was with what was going on with the two elves, Cantrell spared a look at the dragon Esmerilla. He wasn''t surprised to see that instead of an obsidian black color, the huge dragon had faded to a light charcoal grey. She looked on, her face a mask. She showed no other signs of distress,


    Finally, she grunted, and a cloud of steam rose from her nostrils. It is finished, she said. Moving from her position, she wobbled over to three animals she had dropped on the beach a few hours ago and began devouring a deer. Lothinar and his mother seemed to slump in place, looking each other in the eyes and smiling slightly. The creature where Candasar, the water dragon, once stood was gone. In her place was something that looked a lot like a smaller Esmerilla, but instead of Obsidian black, she was deep sapphire blue. Her wings slowly unfurled and arched over her back in triumph!


    "I was first born of water, but I am now who I was always intended to be. A creature of air and fire. I am at last me!"


    Tundor stood frozen in amazement. All he could say was, "She is beautiful!"


    "She sure is," quipped Ardwynn. "But I can''t believe my boyfriend has only kissed me once and is already in a permanent relationship with another woman!"


    -----------------------------

 Chapter 20: The Assassins Beau

    **************


    Chapter 20


    **************


    ¡°Why have you come, Benedar? I have told the council more than once that approaching me while working is unacceptable! It distracts me from my tasks.¡±


    ¡±Apologies, Ulaire, but I didn¡¯t know what else to do.¡±


    ¡®As he had expected, the large male water dragon had found the elf standing by the lake''s edge gazing at the females moving about as they went about female tasks.¡± There were a few young around, as usual, learning to catch smaller fish in the shallower water.


    ¡±Do you remember the dragoness Candasar?¡±


    ¡±The hermit? What of her? Has she finally taken a mate?¡±


    ¡±Not from one of our males, no,¡± said Benedar, painfully remembering the loss of his son just a few days ago.


    ¡±What could you possibly mean, ¡®Not from one of our males? A female?¡±


    It was rare, but not unheard of, for a lone female to take up with another in a friendship that might lead to stronger feelings. Under the right emotional conditions it could even lead to the laying of a few eggs, although unfertilized. It might be worth checking on her whereabouts. For some strange reason, Candasar''s eggs seemed to have a high potential for magic. It was too bad she was so unsociable. If she were to finally lay them, they would be filled with strong magic.


    ¡°No, unfortunately, we had an outlier that survived several years undetected. ¡°


    ¡±You what? She asked angrily. This wasn¡¯t good, but It had happened before. She must have missed one.


    ¡±Yes, the eccentric, devoted mother convinced her family to hide him for a pretty long time¡±


    ¡±When you found out, you, of course, took action?¡±


    ¡±Yes, immediately. We took him to the center of the lake and drowned him, or at least we thought we did.¡±


    ¡±I do not like where this story is going, Benedar!¡±


    ¡±It¡¯s Candasar¡¯s fault! Somehow, she managed to save him.¡±


    ¡±How is this even possible? Where are they now?


    ¡±We did not know she rescued the freak, but the entire clan council went searching for her yesterday for some other important reasons, and when we finally found out where she was staying, we fought.¡±


    ¡±She and the male are dead then?¡±


    ¡±No, somehow she defeated us. Seven went out, but only four returned, and one badly wounded. ¡°


    ¡±Well isn¡¯t that great, now I have to train more council members! Perhaps I can find some males strong enough to deal with a lone female and an adolescent freak.¡±


    Ulaire was annoyed. She would have to find a way to deal with this without losing too much production. After she had made her counts she would have Benedar show her to the place Candasar was hiding. She would have to deal with this swiftly.


    ¡±In a short while, you will take me to them.¡±


    ¡±There is another thing, Ulair,¡± said Benedar, simmering at her rebuke of his strength


    ¡°What is it now?¡±


    ¡±There were elves with them. They looked like Wardens.¡±


    ¡®What!!?¡±


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-


    The beach party was breaking up. It had to, but it made a lot of things awkward. Lothinar and Ardwella were exhausted and in pain. Though the black dragon Esmarilla¡¯s seemingly inexhaustible strength had supplied the magic for Candasar¡¯s restoration, they had been the conduit. It had been decided that their family was going home to rest a little before making plans on what to do next.


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    Cantrell¡¯s involvement and participation in what was happening took the immediate pressure off being discovered and executed by an angry elven population blissfully unaware of what was really going on here at the lake. Cantrell had overheard them quietly discussing hiding among men.


    Ardwella had been the recipient of dragon magic for hundreds of years, and the pathway to that power had been reinforced and strengthened slowly over a long time. Her part in Candasar¡¯s rebirth had been strenuous, but it had been much easier to destroy the form of cancer that had trapped Candasar in a water dragon shape than to regrow a healthy dragon. She was already recovering.


    Lothinar had a unique relationship with Esmarella. While in his mother¡¯s womb, he received substantial amounts of dragon energy from Ardwella¡¯s connection with her bonded dragon. The changes had been substantial, giving him an enhanced body and capacity for magic. However, the duration had been limited to the time of gestation. Now, his channels were burned and crispy. They would heal, but he was going to be sore for quite a while. He would not be using magic soon.


    The big dragon had fed, eating both the deer and the bear but leaving the bear. Cantrell could not be sure, but already, her color was a bit darker. Her ability to push power into the mother and son was at a level Cantrell had no idea was even possible. He had no idea how elves had ever subdued these creatures.


    Tundor had taken Candasar over to the ursine carcass and was excitedly retelling her the story of hunting on his first day. Candasar flipped the animal over and commented on the claws, then looked at Tundor¡¯s chest, which still bore a small scar. It looked like they were going to share the bear. It would feed them both, taking the edge off. Soon they would need more. A stable food supply seemed one of their highest priorities. Although he understood the carnivores'' behavior and the necessity of it, all of this visible feeding on flesh was a lot to take in for a mostly vegan elf.


    Ardwynn was standing next to Lothinar, and they were talking in the hushed, conspiratorial voices of a couple that had recently acknowledged the potential of greater intimacy. Cantrell was happy for them both, but especially for Ardwynn. It looked like her dream of finally capturing her elusive prey might be becoming a reality. Her smile and the way she constantly followed him with her eyes was good to see. He hoped she didn¡¯t come to regret her choices. If nothing else, it had been more than interesting so far. Cantrell knew that thinking you wanted something was never the same as actually having it. The thrill of the chase could skew your perspective.


    All was not at ease with Lothinar¡¯s parents. Although he couldn¡¯t see an elf-like Alberad ending his relationship with Ardwella, the Beautiful but ancient assassin had certainly delivered her surprises all at once. The man must be reeling! He had been ready to pack up and leave the area with her and their son, presumably bringing Tundor along, That still was probably the only option as it would be difficult to keep the presence of a dragon much of a secret. It was clear the assassin¡¯s beau had a lot of thinking to do.


    Now, if he had not misheard, Ardwella had hinted at another pregnancy. Looking as good as she did, it wasn¡¯t difficult to understand how that probably happened. But why now? Lothinar was almost forty. Was she working on an insurance baby? The complex motivations and decisions of an elf that old had to be hard to fathom. She had seen the days of the dragon''s demise and watched her family be torn apart. How does someone come back from something like that? I guess it just takes time and a youthful attitude. She still had that in spades.


    The elven village surrounding their little outpost was known for its perceptiveness and, unfortunately, its gossip. Staying there was probably never going to work. Now they had three dragons to hide. The winged ones would have greater mobility and that would help immensely. But they still had the boat anchor that was Tundor. For now and the immediate future, he would be stuck on the ground. The other wardens in the preserve would be impossible to keep ignorant if he stayed in the immediate area. Already they had left evidence around that would force Cantrell to decide if the rest of his team could be trusted with some difficult secrets. This was going to be a logistical mess!


    Getting everyone off the lake was already complicated. Candasar, although eager to try flying, had been assured by Esmarilla that it was not as easy as it looked and it would take some lessons. She was more than willing to provide them at another time and place but for today the blue dragon was going to have to walk. Because she would also find walking on her new legs to be a novel experience she didn¡¯t seem to mind too much. Tundor was delighted to have her company. For reasons he probably could understand Lothinar was loath to leave Candasar and Tundor. In spite of his obvious fatigue he would walk out with them Ardwynn would likewise not leave Lothinar making humorous excuses about how she couldn¡¯t trust him around another woman, making even the two dragons laugh.


    Esmarilla soon left. Flying out low over the water. She had Ardwella and Alberad nestled on her back between her great wings. She pumped them forcefully as she made altitude to clear the trees. They would go ahead, sneak back into town and prepare to receive the rest. Cantrell couldn¡¯t remember but he thought that they had a barn. He hoped it was of good size.


    The dragon and elf couples said there goodbyes before starting the long walk back.


    ¡±I can¡¯t thank you enough, Cantrell for giving my family and me the benefit of the doubt.¡± Said Lothinar shaking his hand


    ¡±Well, honestly I never even dreamed that this deception could be so deep!¡± Replied Cantrell ¡°This was supposedly a nice easy posting, hiking around in meadows and watching the flowers grow. The occasional deer poacher. Keep a few water lizards out of trouble. Look what you¡¯ve done to my golden years!¡± He laughed.


    ¡±Yeah, sorry, but remember, I tried to keep you out of it¡±


    ¡±I¡¯ve never been more sorry to be good at my job¡± said Cantrell.


    Cantrell had insisted that he stay behind to clean up the campsite. He raked out the fire pit and tried to obfuscate some of the large piles of dragon dung that Tundor seemed to randomly leave about far too close to the beach. He buried some antlers. He had just about finished when he happened to look out over the mid day lake. Out in the cove he saw a grey mass bobbing in the water.


    Dead things were rising and there was nothing he could do about it.

 Chapter 21: Horsing around

    *****************


    Chapter 21


    *****************


    The bricklayer had finished the repairs in the cracked walkway and been paid. The Potter had finished and set up several decorative urns throughout the courtyard. He had also been paid. Starett didn''t know what he would do about his ex-boss, but he knew he wouldn''t be much help around here. Now that he had been caught out stealing from the temple coffers and relegated to serve his punishment as a laborer, it had become problematic.


    The Dragon had told Starett that she expected him to be around to ensure he did not weasel out of discipline. Therefore, he was still a mouth to feed. He had hoped to have at least the old man contribute a little to the repairs and upkeep of the place. Unfortunately, years of sitting around had not done much for his work ethic. The dragon was not around, leaving only Starett to enforce a sense of responsibility on the old priest. Donations were up because of all the recent excitement, but he was sure it wouldn''t last. He wasn''t sure if he should try to replace the statue of the big black dragon god that had stood in the center of the courtyard. Its conspicuous absence was affecting the morale of the faithful. They loved to gaze at the beautiful dragon. It seemed to calm and rejuvenate them somehow. They were becoming anxious now that it had been gone for several days. That it had been a real dragon, somehow sleeping in the temple these many years, had greatly increased the excitement and religious fervor. Starrett didn''t think she would likely be coming back around soon unless it was to check up on the thieving priest.


    Suddenly, some shouting and noise could be heard near the entryway.


    "You can''t bring that cart in here! What are you doing?


    Scarlett looked over to see a cart being pushed past several temple acolytes and into the courtyard. On it was a large tree stump. It was being pushed by an angry-looking farmer.


    "I found this in my yard, and I need to talk to someone named Starett!"


    The young man walked over and read the scrawl carved into the wood. Then he reread it. Then he reached for his money purse.


    "How much is a cow?" He asked.


    "Not just a cow... a dairy cow, two of them," said the man holding out his hand. You must be Starett. "


    Starett was happy the elvish couple had insisted he keep half of the old priest''s ill gotten gains for future expenses. They must have known something.


    ¡°I¡¯m McDonald, by the way. Pleased to meet ya. Do you think this is going to turn into a thing?¡±


    ¡±Probably. Can I get a volume discount?¡±


    ---------------------------


    Alberad had to admit that travel by dragon back sure beat walking. They had landed discreetly outside of town, and the three had walked in together. Ardwella had some sort of word of obfuscation that she had cast on the dragon leaving the human village. She cast it again to sneak the huge black dragon past the eyes of anyone who might be looking around near their isolated home. Alberad watched in amazement as the black dragon shimmered and then disappeared. Looking down, he could still see immense footprints on the dusty path leading up toward the house. Ardwella waved a hand, and a small breeze blew them away. Once back at their barn, they had opened the door to a very startled horse. He couldn''t see the dragon, but he knew a predator when he smelled one. Alberad suspected that the trusty old gelding was looking at him suspiciously and probably thinking of him as a traitor. He turned out some fresh straw in the large open area in the middle of the barn and saw it squash flat as the dragon settled. She apparently did not feel the need to discuss anything further. She was probably very tired, he thought.


    "How long can we keep this up, Ardwella? " Alberad asked, standing in the doorway leading into the kitchen. They had arrived back at the home they had left just a day before, but now everything seemed to have changed.


    "As long as it takes," my husband Ardwella said, forcing a strained smile.


    Gods, she is beautiful, he thought, not for the ten thousandth time. But now, there was something troubling that seemed to cloud his vision. How could he have missed all this? Her mannerisms, clothing choices, books, and even how she spiced the meals she faithfully prepared for him over the years seemed like echoes of some distant past. It had been so obvious. He had never really asked. He supposed it was his own fault. She had lived an entire lifetime and a half before he was born. And during that lifetime, she had hunted down and killed over a hundred elves. He had been trying to convince himself that they deserved it. How could someone so very old still be so incredibly hot? She squeezed past him into the cooking area, causing him to pull back out of her way involuntarily. Normally, he would have used the "Pay the Toll" Game, asking for a kiss for safe passage through the crowded doorway. She looked at him with a hint of great sadness, obviously seeming to notice his reluctance to play their old game.


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    "I''ll start dinner," was all she said. "You relax. It has been a busy couple of days"


    "Sounds good," he said, "but first, I want to go check on the horse."


    She almost laughed, but not quite.


    "Don''t worry about Jamison," Esmarilla won''t eat him.


    "It''s not me you have to convince," said Albarad. walking out toward the barn.


    ------------------------


    The woods were alive! Candasar watched in amazement as the two elves and two dragons worked their way through the trees and across flowered meadows. The colors, the smells, the sunshine. She had never felt more joyful. A part of herself that she hadn''t even known existed had been dying inside her, starving for such beauty. She couldn''t get enough. Tundor was in a good mood too. He just kept running around trying to show her things that he himself had discovered for himself before. He was doing his best to tell her the words for all the things that they were seeing. Occasionally he had to stop and ask Lothinar or Ardwynn for some help. The Elves were happy to oblige him with lessons in nature. They seemed happy, too, walking hand in hand and stealing long glances at each other while trying to remain inconspicuous about it. It wasn''t working. They both were far too observant. Candasar was adjusting to the feeling of having something lying across her back. Looking back, she looked in wonder again at her wings'' veined but silky surface, HER WINGS! Oh my, she shuddered in absolute happiness. Is this what it feels like when your dreams all come true?


    "So, you have learned much about my family in the last couple of days," started Lothinar. "What are yours like?"


    "Lothinar! Are you asking to meet my parents already?" Giggled Ardwynn


    "Well, I guess I should show some sort of interest in what to expect when I meet them; I mean, they aren''t ''big egg consumers'' or anything like that," He joked.


    She got a funny look on her face.


    "No. No eggs. That is really bothering me, Lothinar. How could we not have understood what was going on here? I''ve worked here for over five years..."


    "It''s been fifteen for me." It just wasn''t something I had ever even considered.


    "Do you think that whoever is doing this is using some kind of spell to prevent anyone from noticing what is happening? I mean, now it seems so obvious."


    "It''s a possibility. I''ll have to ask my mother or Esmarilla, I suppose."


    "Yes, they would probably know about something like that," she said.


    "Well, Esmarilla has been out of the loop for a long, long time." My mom was traveling too, for a while". He looked down, suddenly embarrassed, remembering again what his mom had really been doing for those many years.


    Ardwynn seemed to understand and gave him a little side squeeze


    "You know, if someone had killed my family and my friends, even if some of them were dragons, I think I would probably do the same thing"


    "I don''t know, killing in self-defense is sort of understandable, but making it your life mission to hunt down and destroy a group of people is a little extreme. I''m still coming to grips that my sweet, mild-mannered mom is capable of that. I think my dad is struggling quite a bit with it too."


    "So your mom is so damn hot! I don''t really know how I feel about that. "


    "I saw you talking to her about her leathers. Do you really want to dress like that?"


    "Look, you dummy, I''ve been trying to attract your attention for such a long time that I am afraid that I have become rather desperate and insecure!"


    "Well, don''t worry, I''m not one of those guys secretly wishing he was in a strange relationship with his mother."


    "I actually asked Cantrell what he thought about that...."


    "What did he say?"


    "He told me to ask you... So I just did."


    "Hmm, sighed Lothinar. Now that you mention it..."


    She punched him in the arm.


    "Ow! Easy there, I''m sore all over from all that work on Candy over there!"


    "Candy, is it now?"


    "Lothinar can call me Candy, and Tundor too, I guess," said Candasar butting in.


    "I can?" asked Tundor. "Great! By the way, what is a candy?"


    "It''s something sweet and delicious: replied Ardwynn


    "See, that''s such a weird thing..." Said Lothinar. "My new bond with Candasar... Candy fills in some gaps for her. She knew what candy was, but she had been asking Tundor all morning about the plants and flowers"


    "Oh, I know what they are called, Lothinar," replied Candasar. "Our bond is quite adequate. Its just that it gives him such pleasure to talk to me about them, I just let him go on and on."


    Tundor looked a little abashed.


    "I was going on and on?"


    "A little", the beautiful dragon smiled, but I love you so much I just couldn''t stop you..."


    Tundor wiggled so much that his tail started wagging.


    "I love you too! Candy!"


    "That is so sweet," Said Ardwynn. Oh, look, we are almost back to the village. How will we get the dragons in there without being seen?"


    "My mother taught us a word, but I''m so fried right now. I will have to tell it to you, then hopefully, you can cast it on the dragons. If you can''t, then I''ll stay out here with them while you go to my parent''s house and get word to my mom. She will come out and take care of it."


    "I think I can probably handle a single-word spell"


    "Ok, it is ''Transphoton''. "


    "That is a strange one, Ardwynn said, rolling it around on her tongue."


    "You know you look really cute doing that with your tongue," Said Lothinar.


    Ardwynn blushed


    "Just wait. I have many skills, my dear elf"


    She tried the word again and Tundor disappeared.


    "I can only do one," She said sadly. "I can feel it pulling quite a bit of power. I had better hurry if I''m going to get Tundor all the way into town without being seen"


    "I''ll wait here with Candasar," Lothinar said. "Send my mom back when you can. We''ll be fine"


    "I''ll hurry," said Ardwynn. "Hurry and follow me, Tundor. "


    Lothinar heard but did not see Tundor as he crashed through the bushes a little, catching up to the quick-moving elf.


    As she disappeared from sight, Lothinar finally realized that she hadn''t answered any of the questions about her parents, for some reason that worried him.


    ---------------------


    Ulaire surveyed the rocky beach near where Benedar had told him they had confronted Candasar. There was no sign of the water dragon or the misfit. Someone had made an effort to hide the fact that something extremely troubling had been going on here. The bloated bodies of at least two of the large males, no three, floated nearby. Two near the shore and one a bit farther out. There was a lot of blood on the beach. How could one water dragon do all this? It was just not possible, she thought. She had to have help. She would have to figure out a stealthy way to make inquiries of the Warden. What was his name? Yes. Cantrell would need a visit from someone persuasive. She knew the exact person for the job. She hoped Cantrell was cooperative. Things could get violent when Quentin did not get the answers he wanted.

 Chapter 22: Sins of the Flesh

    <hr>


    ****************


    Chapter 22


    ****************


    Harvey, the gate guard, was disappointed. He had been on duty on the day when that pair of elves, the sweaty one and the ultra-hot one, had approached his post. Harvey had let them In because she claimed to have a solution for what was happening in the dragon temple. He had initially been skeptical, but she had been persuasive and correct. That dragon was throwing a supreme fit about something, and the lovely lady elf had arrived just in time to shut it down.


    She had saved the temple. She was famous, and what¡¯s more, a hero, and he hadn¡¯t even gotten her name. He was considering going to the elven village at the other end of the lake. The elves were generally mysterious and reclusive, but someone over there might be able to tell him where she had run off to with the dragon god. Maybe she could come back and bring the dragon for a visit. The people sure missed the dragon, and it would be good for business. He¡¯d be willing to chip in on a cow to see that. Looking at her was just a bonus.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-


    ¡°We have not had a chance to talk seriously by ourselves since you gave me rebirth,¡± said Candasar. ¡°I would like to formally thank you for what you did for me.


    Lothinar smiled. It was a heartfelt smile, ear to ear. He probably had never felt himself form such a sincere smile. He was amazingly handsome when he smiled. He should do it more often.


    That was weird!


    It was like an echo of emotions and observations that allowed him to see himself outside his body. Then suddenly, he realized what it was.


    ¡°Is this the bond?" he asked.


    "Yes," said Candasar; it was not precisely telepathy but inside his mind. You now can see yourself as I do.¡±


    ¡±It¡¯s rather distracting, ¡° said Lothinar. ¡°It¡¯s going to take some getting used to.¡±


    ¡±If we survive this, we should have a long time to figure it out. For that, I am also thankful."


    "That you have time?"


    ¡¯Yes, Esmarilla explained that when Dragons bond with elves, substantial time is added to the elf¡¯s years".


    ¡°Like my mother.¡±


    ¡±Yes, she is ancient for an elf.¡± Esmarilla has given her many extra years.


    ¡±Yes, and I think that is freaking my dad out. The age gap, I mean."


    ¡±It does not seem to bother Tundor to be with a dragon older than himself.¡±


    Lothinar smile. Tundor and I haven¡¯t discussed it, but you¡¯re right. Not to mention that everyone seems to be older than he is."


    "With us, I mean water dragons, me before¡­.I¡¯m trying to say that my previous body was already getting old. I had many scars. They live much shorter lives. What you have done has returned me to a healthy, healed dragon body and added many years."


    "I had wondered about that."


    "Do not be concerned. You did not shorten your own life by doing so."


    "I didn''t?" Lothinar said, suddenly feeling quite relieved.


    "Oh! Do you think that adding to my years would take them from yours? You would die sooner?¡±


    "It crossed my mind, I guess."


    "And yet you did it anyway?¡±


    "Um, yes. I guess I hadn''t thought it through then, but yes."


    "That makes me love you more, you know. But don''t worry, Years between bonded like us are not a resource to be divided, but a power to be shared". One does not diminish the other."


    "So my mother is not going to suddenly one day just turn grey, shrivel up and die?"


    Candasar laughed. "No," nothing sudden like that will happen. Because bonding was a recent thing before the war, Esmarilla doesn''t even know how long a bonded elf and dragon might live. We may even be immortal. She did look grey today, though. She used a lot of her magic reserves.¡±


    ¡®But somebody can still kill us.¡±


    ¡±Yes, there is always that to look forward to.¡± said Candasar.


    "As for your mother, I see in your memories that you have not always realized what and who she truly is."


    "Well, there were no dragons in my home growing up.¡±


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    "Yes, to shelter Esmarilla from the burning time and that which followed, Ardwella put her in the human temple and locked her body functions in hibernation. It was a smart move. She was not around for that reason. I¡¯m sure it made them both lonely. I will probably share your home from now on, or if this does not please you," She said, looking down sadly, "I will live very close by with Tundor."


    Lothinar looked at Candasar. She prominently showed her teeth. It wasn''t very comforting.


    "Was that a smile? ''cause if it was, it might need some work". Lothinar laughed.


    "Through our bond, I will watch you, watch me, try this ''smiling.'' It seems important to your kind. I will see it with your eyes and emotions when I improve. Soon, it will not look so terrifying. It is difficult because my teeth are bigger than yours."


    Then, the emotions hit. Hard. Lothinar staggered.


    She was trying so desperately to fit in. To make him comfortable with her. Gratitude with so much loneliness. She was only now beginning to believe that there was hope. Children, Family, Love, and Acceptance. These were the things Candasar wanted, The things she was starving for! There was also Fear. Fear he wouldn''t fully accept her. Fear that someone would hurt them. Fear for her unborn children. Candasar had lots of Fear.


    ¡°Are you worried about surviving Candy?¡±


    "I am....and you should be too. I have been an outsider my entire life. The world has not been a kind place for me. Now, I am very concerned that I have dragged you into my problems.


    "People will be trying to stop us. They will be trying to kill us for defying them." Lothinar suddenly realized.


    "We are stronger than they know," Said Candy. "They have no idea how committed I am to you. To your survival."


    "Well, let''s hope we have some time to develop our powers together before whoever they are shows up!¡± said Lothinar. "I¡¯d like to see you be able to use those wings!"


    "Yes, the sky is calling us. It''s even my color. We will be there soon!"


    "For what it''s worth, can I tell you that I am really beginning to love you, and I would never leave you alone?"


    "Yes, thank you. That helps. But I guess I already knew that. We can live with Tundor together. I have big plans for him."


    Then she smiled again. He was impressed. She WAS getting better.


    ---------------------------


    Ardwella answered the frantic knocking at the door. It was Ardwynn. She looked tired. She had been running. Behind her, Ardwella could not see the dragon, but there was a Tundor-sized blurry spot on the side of the barn as the spell neared its end.


    "Alberad! It''s Ardwella, She¡¯s here. Can you get her something to eat off the stove? I made vegetable soup for everyone. I need to get Tundor into the barn. He''s starting to show!¡±


    "Thank you! Ardwynn said. ¡®Lothihar stayed back with Candasar. His magic is pretty damaged, and he didn''t want to try to cast the spell. You had better hurry. Someone might see them.


    "I am impressed you could get him here by yourself. That spell is very draining."


    "I noticed... now please go. I don''t like them out there all by themselves. They have both been through a lot lately."


    Ardwella nodded and briefly refreshed the spell for Tundor before running to the barn. The horse didn''t make much of a commotion as the second dragon invisibly slumped down near him. By now, Esmarilla was in full view.


    ¡±What is this animal?¡± asked Tundor. Are they good to eat?¡±


    ¡±It¡¯s a horse. As domesticated livestock go, they are passable,¡± said Esmarilla, but I really prefer a cow or a bull when I can get them. ¡°l should bring you one! Very tasty. Some bulls can be more trouble than they¡¯re worth, so watch out for that.¡±


    ¡±This horse does not seem afraid,¡± said Tundor


    "I guess he must be resigned to his fate, chuckled Ardwella."


    "I am keeping him calm," said Esmarilla. "It is taking some effort."


    "He will eventually get used to it," muttered the elf, shutting the door and running into the woods.


    I must look a sight, she thought to herself. I¡¯m still wearing this leather dress!


    I wonder how much longer it is going to fit?


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-


    Jontain had been surprised to see Ardwynn running through the forest outside the village. He always tried to keep an eye out for that girl. She was a beauty. She quickly left the trees and headed for the older part of town. He was kind of amazed at how heavy her footsteps sounded. He thought she was lighter on her feet. This was the area where Lothinar lived. Was Ardwynn still love-sick over that elf? It infuriated Jontain that he couldn¡¯t get a bit of attention from her because she was always so focused on oblivious Lothinar. Yes, there she was, knocking at his family''s door. Someone that had to be Lothinar¡¯s sister answered and let her inside. Wow, where had she been hiding? She sure looked great in that outfit.


    The sister ran to the barn briefly and opened the door. Closing it, she quickly left again, running away from town and back the way Ardwynn had come. Something unusual was going on. It was part of a warden¡¯s job to watch for abnormal things. He decided to follow her. Maybe if she was covering up something nefarious, he could look the other way for some special attention. They ran for a few more minutes. Jontain didn¡¯t have to use his best skills to stay out of sight because she wasn¡¯t watching behind her. Soon, she stopped in a clearing well out of town. Lothinar stepped out of the trees. Then a large blue dragon stepped out of the trees behind him. Jontain involuntarily yelped!


    There was a blue flash, and Jontain found himself flat on his back with a huge blue claw pressing him into the dirt. The two Elves ran over quickly.


    ¡°I recognize this one from your memory, Lothinar, said Candasar. He is Jontain. You work with him. He should know better than to try to sneak up on a dragon. ¡°


    ¡°I was careless!¡± Said Ardwella. "He must have followed me."


    Jontain couldn¡¯t breathe. He squirmed. The pressure was enormous.


    ¡±Please let him up, Candy,¡± said Lothinar.


    ¡±I don¡¯t know about that,¡± answered the dragon. ¡°This would probably go better if we solve this problem now.¡±


    ¡±It wouldn¡¯t go better for him. Said Lothinar. ¡°I¡¯m not ready to kill my coworkers quite yet.¡±


    His mother looked down with a sad smile.


    ¡°Your dragon is probably right about this, you know. Their instincts about those they meet are pretty good.¡±


    ¡±I know, right,¡± said Candasar, ¡°You know, Ardwella, even now, this nasty elf has been looking up your dress!¡±


    ¡±Eeep!¡± She said backing up.


    ¡±You had to make this difficult,¡± said Lothinar.


    Jontain felt the darkness closing in. He was out of oxygen. He could hear Lothinar saying something, but he couldn¡¯t discern the words. Then everything went black.


    ---------------


    On his way out of town, McDonald stopped at the livestock yard and picked up six more cows and another bull. The novice priest had paid a tidy tidy sum, he cackled as he felt the remaining coins the new priest had paid him still jingling in his pocket. Milk was a good business, but feeding dragons was really where the profit was. If you could get paid for your missing livestock that is. This bull was going to be busy. He hoped he was up for it. He couldn''t wait to share the good news with his still-pretty wife, so he took a shortcut through a local vineyard. He knew that the owner wouldn¡¯t mind as long as he didn¡¯t damage the plants. He would have to keep a wary eye on the high-spirited bull and very carefully herd it through the grapevine.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-

 Chapter 23: Tying the Knot

    **************


    Chapter 23


    **************


    Cantrell had spent quite a while on campsite cleanup and then hiking out, so it was quite late in the day before he returned to the warden''s office in Tasumakoji. In the elven speech, the word was translated as ¡°Fire Lake.¡± It had been named, or perhaps more correctly, renamed, for the liquid dragon fire that had burned on its surface over 700 years ago. Flames that could not be extinguished even as the dragon''s own bodies had turned traitor against them at the behest of elven magic. The spell had caused their natural flames to run amok. They died horribly as their throats and lungs burned in their own fires.


    Only by ingesting great quantities of water and then expelling it had the dragons been able to postpone a seemingly inevitable self-immolation. It must have been quite a grotesque spectacle.


    The memories of those fateful events also led the local human inhabitants to rename their town. They called it Delora Natine, which means ¡°Tears of Fire.¡± The surrender of the dragons that managed to survive here ended the war. They had acquiesced to the agreements that had given their race a chance at remaining alive.


    Other large lakes were scattered about what now amounted to the northern fringes of the eleven kingdoms. But the dragons had made their last stand here. The history books said that it was because of the relationship of the dragons to one family who had apparently earned their trust. A family that had their ancestral home in this area. The family of the ¡°Elven Traitor¡± Lothinex. The name was not that common, and it astounded Cantrell that he had somehow never made the connection. Obviously, Lothinar was his grandson.


    Cantrell thought he might be excused for his blindness to the similarities in the names because of the incredible number of years since the event. No one seemed to have taken into account the vast increase in lifespan that accompanied bonding with a dragon. That lifespan had allowed a surviving granddaughter enough eventual anonymity to act methodically. She had found that, indeed, revenge was best served cold.


    Apparently everyone that had participated in the killing of the dragons was now dead. They had been tracked down and killed by a vengeful Valkyrie named Ardwella. Now that Cantrell had seen Lothinar¡¯s mother somehow restore one of the original dragons and fly on it through the sky, it all made perfect sense. Cantrell had never suspected that any of the dragons like Esmarilla had survived, but he had seen it for himself. Now, even more impossibly, she and her son had made another one by rescuing a lake dragon. He had been there and watched it happen. They had reforged a broken blade.


    Tundor had been proof that the dragons of old still lived within the genetic code of the flipper-footed creatures that the wardens guarded in this lake. Something had been done to them. They were vastly changed, but the magic that flowed through their bodies was still fighting the war. It seemed these highly magical eggs had been deemed valuable by someone, and a process was in place to steal them out of their nests and take them away for nefarious purposes. Very occasionally, one of the eggs would escape detection and hatch. The young that emerged would bear a resemblance to its ancestors.


    For an egg to mutate into a dragon, like Tudor, it had to be laid by the saddest of all dragons. A mother that had none of the physical characteristics of an original but the mind and spirit of one. Trapped in a body that must seem not at all her own, among creatures with which she had no emotional camaraderie. Such had been Candasar. No wonder she had been a loner in self-imposed exile from her own kind.


    It was only now that Cantrell had realized that his understanding of his job title had been wrong. He had thought himself a game warden. Instead he had been the chief guard of the dragon prison. Now, somehow, he had to facilitate a jailbreak.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    Ardwynn watched Lothinar eat his soup. She had finished a bowl earlier, along with some really delicious crunchy bread that had begged to be dunked. Watching him wipe up the last of his broth with another piece of the aforementioned bread, she waited while he swallowed and only then asked,


    ¡°So what are we going to do with Jontain?¡±


    ¡°Well, after he followed her, my mom wanted to finish him off out in the woods. Especially after Candasar caught him looking up her dress. It was all I could do to keep them both from ending him immediately.


    ¡®He did that? Ew. But I can¡¯t say that I am surprised. He¡¯s been following me around for years flirting and making lewd suggestions. It was very consistent.¡±


    Lothinar groaned


    ¡±Why didn¡¯t you ask Cantrell to stop it?¡±


    ¡±Where do you think I got all my best material to try on you? It was kind of inspirational, really.¡±


    He rolled his eyes. ¡± You''re making me second guess my decision to just tie him up in the barn for now¡±


    ¡±Do you want to tie me up in the barn? It has certain possibilities."


    Lothinar just shook his head, smiling. She smiled back.


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    ¡±I¡¯m sure it will be fine. What trouble could he possibly bring down on us if he was to escape? ¡±said Ardwynn sarcastically.


    ¡°Uh, I don¡¯t think he is getting out of there past those three dragons¡±


    ¡±I suppose not. Well, in that case, if you don¡¯t need it, I can always use some good rope¡±


    ¡®I don¡¯t think so. It¡¯s my dad¡¯s rope. He uses it to lead Jamison around.¡±


    ¡®Have your parents unpacked? I saw the wagon in the barn. Looks like they were going on a trip¡±


    ¡±No on the unpacking, and Yeah, they are still going, all of us, actually. Especially the dragons. Delora Natine, at the other end of the lake. They kind of have an arrangement with a priest over there. He has a big place where we can probably stay for at least a while.¡±


    ¡±The humans seem relatively fond of the dragons, at least the aquatic version. Did it ever occur to you that they don¡¯t seem to have the stories of evil dragons eating everyone or concerns about that happening?¡± Asked Ardwynn.


    ¡±Now that you mention it¡­¡±


    ¡°Maybe because it didn¡¯t happen the way that we were told it did¡­The war, I mean.¡±


    ¡±That¡¯s the working theory. I really need to have a long talk with Esmarilla and get this sorted out¡±


    ¡±I¡¯m going by the way,¡± said Ardwynn. With you¡±


    ¡±Are you sure? Things could get pretty rough ¡°


    ¡±Definitely. Don¡¯t try to resist. I thought we were past this. I wouldn¡¯t want to miss an opportunity to tie the knot with you. Did you say something about a priest?¡±


    Then it came to him. One of the reasons she was so appealing. It wasn¡¯t the ¡°over the top¡± infatuated banter. It was that with all the uncertainty in the world, sometimes it was just nice to know where someone stood, Unequivocally. Actually, he might be feeling that from Candasar as well. Perhaps Ardwynn was finally growing on her.


    ¡°You can¡¯t blame the girl,¡± Candasar had said. ¡°You are extremely handsome for an elf, but if this kind of talk goes much further, you should consider evening out those whiter parts of yours with a little sunshine ¡°


    ¡±I¡¯ll need to take that slow,¡± he had said. ¡°I could burn¡±


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-


    Before turning in, Lothinar and Ardwella had gone back out to check on their prisoner and had found him still fully tied and unconscious. Ardwynn had gone to ¡°pick up a few things¡± but said she would meet them here first thing in the morning. She had threatened him with bodily violence if they left without her. Only after Lothinar had promised not to leave her behind had she been willing to go


    ¡°I am keeping him asleep, ¡° said Esmarilla, looking at Jontain as they entered the barn. ¡°He has seen Candasar but not the rest of us, and we do not want to make it any easier for those who might come looking if he talks.


    ¡°Can you do that and keep the horse quiet without taxing yourself too much?¡±


    ¡±The horse is completely calm now, and I¡¯m not doing anything. Alberad came out a little while ago and brought him some carrots¡±


    ¡°Are carrots candy?¡± Asked Tundor


    ¡±Candy for horses,¡± replied Lothinar¡± ¡°But I don¡¯t think you would like them.¡±


    ¡±They do look interesting, ¡° commented the dragon.


    The sleeping elf was bound with a rope and still remained unconscious on some straw


    ¡±We are eventually going to be letting him go,¡± said Lothinar.


    ¡±I still think we should have left Candasar leaning on him just a little longer, ¡° said Ardwella, slightly blushing. She had changed when they had gotten back to the house into some attractive but conservative pants.


    ¡±I¡¯m turning him over to Cantrell in the morning on the way out. I¡¯ll make Jontain the pervert his problem. That¡¯s the right way to handle this. We are not killing him¡±


    ¡±Cantrell probably has a lot going on right now, even without this,¡± said his mother.


    ¡±I¡¯m sure he will make time for this after I explain the alternative. But yeah, he is in an awkward position.¡± Said Lothinar. ¡°But I don¡¯t think he really wants the job anymore ¡°


    ¡°It¡¯s fortunate that he is a good elf and was willing to understand the dragon situation enough to help,¡± said Candasar


    ¡±There were many good elves that tried to help us during the war, but all of them are dead,¡± said Ardwella


    ¡±It must have been terrible for you, ¡° said Alberad, stepping out from somewhere in the back of the barn.


    Ardwella jumped


    ¡±I was just rechecking the wagon,¡± he smiled apologetically, ¡°Packing a few more carrots. Updating the supplies. Need a little more food since Ardwynn is coming. Didn¡¯t mean to interrupt. You were telling us about those you lost?¡±


    ¡±Yes, it was terrible, ¡° she said, tearing up slightly.


    Alberad walked over to her and gave her a hug, then held her just far enough back to look in her eyes ¡°


    ¡±I think I¡¯m beginning to understand, ¡° he said.


    She choked off a little sob.


    ¡±I lost a lot of people I loved¡±


    ¡°Well, this is promising, ¡° thought Candasar through the bond. "Your father seems to be coming around.¡±


    ¡±Yes, it is ¡°


    ¡±Do you think anyone else from that time is left?¡± Lothinar asked his mother sympathetically.


    ¡±No one not bonded could have lived this long, and as far as I know, I was the only one that saved my dragon. I sent my sister the information and hibernation spell but never heard back from her. In all these years, I have heard nothing ¡°


    ¡°She was bonded?¡±


    ¡°Our entire family was. My sister''s Bond was a beautiful white male dragon named¡­¡±


    ¡±Vanador.¡± Finished Esmarilla. He was my brother. ¡°I just had a crazy thought, ¡° said Alberad. ¡°What if somehow an elf figured out that eating dragon eggs made them live longer?¡±


    ¡°Well, that might explain a lot,¡± said Lothinar.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-


    ¡®When Ardwynn got home, only her mother was awake. She was in the kitchen getting something to eat.


    ¡±I see we are both up late, my daughter. Is everything alright?¡±


    ¡±I¡¯ve got a special assignment tomorrow, so I will probably be away for a few days. I need to pack a few things¡±


    ¡±Your boss works you too hard. I warned you that the Wardens job was probably not suitable for a woman¡±


    ¡±I am good at the work mother¡±


    ¡±And, of course, that boy you like is there. What was his name?¡±


    ¡±Lothinar, mother¡±


    ¡°Do you know that hundreds of years ago there was a famous traitor that lived in this very town that had a similar name?¡±


    ¡±No, I hadn¡¯t heard that mother, the name I mean¡±


    ¡±He and his whole family were killed ¡°


    ¡±That sounds very sad¡±


    ¡±Just be careful, Ardwynn. About that elf boy, if he hasn¡¯t noticed you by now, he probably never will¡±


    ¡±Don¡¯t say that¡±


    ¡±Running around like you do, I¡¯m not surprised he hasn¡¯t noticed. You need to take the time to buy some new clothes, doll yourself up, and look pretty¡±


    ¡±It¡¯s fine mother. I am starting to make some progress ¡°


    ¡±I¡¯ll tell you what, I have to send Quentin over to ask your boss Cantrell for some help on a few things. Maybe I can ask him if he would be willing to let you have a few days off. We could have a spa day together ¡°


    ¡±Quinton¡¯s here?¡±


    ¡°Yes, dear, unlike you, your brother always comes when I call.¡±


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 24: The Fear of Flying.

    ***************


    Chapter 24


    ***************


    He awoke to the smell of buckwheat cakes and maple syrup. His father was cooking. He didn¡¯t cook often, but when he did, he fell back on a few easy but delicious favorites. He was also whistling. Lothinar took that as a very good sign at least some reconciliation had occurred between his parents. No, actually, from the spring in his step, his father must have reconciled quite enthusiastically. That made the young warden happy. Both of his parents deserved all the joy they could find. He wondered now how things would be changing. They were leaving this house. His baby brother or sister would be growing up quite differently.


    ¡±It¡¯s a Sister.¡± came the rumbling thoughts of Esmarilla.


    ¡±Ok, that¡¯s great,¡± Replied Lothinar. ¡°I guess you should be able to tell¡±


    ¡±I do have some experience with watching human babies grow. I watched you! Feeling your sleepy thoughts. It was enjoyable! Your sister isn¡¯t that far along yet, but I¡¯m looking forward to it. ¡°


    ¡±I am honored to have such a special relationship with you said Lothinar. That you empowered my development while my mother carried me must be unique.


    "Yes," said Esmarilla. When I was suspended, in statue form, my energies were largely channeled towards your mother. It gave her some abnormal advantages. Now that I am active again, there will be... How do you say it?


    "Less of you to go around?" Asked Lothinar.


    "Perhaps it is something like that," agreed the dragon.


    ¡°I wonder where Candasar is? I kind of expected to hear from her first thing¡±


    ¡±She is out of range, but wanted to wish you a good morning ¡°


    ¡±What!?¡±


    ¡±Yes, we are currently flying over a small pasture of cows near the man town.¡± Candasar is very excited.


    ¡±She¡¯s flying?¡± I thought she needed lessons!"


    "Yes, she got them this morning"


    ¡°Did you have concerns?¡± He asked nervously.


    ¡±Well, dragons usually learn at a much younger age, but she did spend years swimming underwater. Both activities require getting used to working in three dimensions. She caught on right away. She sends her regrets that we snuck out and you missed it, but we are on a tight schedule this morning ¡°


    ¡±She couldn''t tell me that herself?"


    ¡±To avoid being seen, we departed long before first light. Remember we had to walk at first. She didn''t want to wake you that early. You had a very hard day yesterday."


    ¡±Yeah, I feel a bit better, but I won¡¯t be doing anything like that very soon ¡°


    "We both will need some time. Your channels need to heal, and my magic reserves need to be refilled". ¡±I have told Tundor that he must be patient about getting his wings. ¡®


    ¡±You lost a lot of color depth yesterday.¡± said Lothinar to the dragon. Are you going to be all right?


    ¡±I can explain more about that later, but right now, I am very hungry, and these cows don¡¯t seem willing to wait. There is also a human here that I may need to appease ¡°


    Lothinar laughed ¡° I¡¯ll see you when you get back.


    Don¡¯t worry about not being able to talk to her from here. The range of your bond will soon improve. Ardwella communicated with me from that very house when I was hibernating in the temple. I don¡¯t think Candasar wanted to tell you about the flying until she was sure she could do it. She wants to make you proud of her."


    "I am already proud of her!"


    ¡±Hey, we will grab some cows and head back. Tell Tundor I¡¯ll bring him one, too He¡¯s been looking forward to it¡±


    ¡±Wait a minute, if you two are out flying, is it just Tundor guarding Jontain? He¡¯s a sneaky bastard!¡±


    ¡±Don¡¯t worry, eat some breakfast! Ardwella¡¯s out there with him too¡±


    Lothinar gulped. ¡°I¡¯d better hurry then!¡±


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    "Listen, girl, You are going to untie me this instant. I am a warden, and you are in big trouble!"''


    Lothinar returned to the barn to see his mother, her hands on her hips, staring down his co-worker Jontain. Spittle flew from his lips as his red face scrunched up in fury.


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    As Lothinar entered the barn, Jontain''s eyes followed him, and he exclaimed, "Lothinar, thank the Gods. Tell your sister to untie me, and I won''t press charges!"


    "My Sister?" Lothinar asked with a smile. He thought, "Sure, let''s go with that."


    "Sister dear," said Lothinar to Ardwella with a wink; how long has my fine colleague been awake?"


    "Well, he seemed. to wake up shortly after our two other friends left the barn. I suppose that could be expected"


    "I just heard from Miss Black. She will probably be done with her errands soon. Perhaps you can help me escort Jontain down to the warden¡¯s office so we can get all of this sorted out with Cantrell."


    "Yes, I''d love to help you make your report to Cantrell. I''ll untie his legs."


    "You will untie all of me, girl!"


    Lothinar sighed. "Look, Jontain, I don''t think sneaking around following women at night is good for your reputation, but taking you through town with your hands tied behind your back is sure to get people talking. If I untie you, will you give me your word that you will go with me to Cantrell''s office and let him get this all sorted out? No Theatrics?"


    "Sure," smirked Jontain, but I wonder what he is going to say about the DRAGON I saw with you last night?"


    "I guess we will just have to find out, won''t we? " said Lothinar, beginning to untie the rope.


    Jontain stood relatively still until the ropes were removed. He rubbed his wrists and stretched out his legs before asking.


    "So, are you two the only ones around this morning? I thought I saw Ardwynn earlier."


    "She went home. She had some things to do," Said Lothinar.


    "Then there is nobody to stop me from doing this!" cried Jontain as he pulled out an amazingly long and wicked-looking knife from concealment somewhere on his body. He swung viciously for Lothinar''s neck. Lothinar barely jumped back in time. He stumbled badly. He felt the knife swish past. Somehow his head was still attached. It had been close. He could feel blood trickling down from a small cut on his Adam''s apple.


    "Why?¡± Croaked Lothinar


    "You¡¯ve been interfering with my goals for a long time! You are already in trouble with Cantrell. I''m sure he won''t be surprised to hear that you have been seen with a dragon. It will only make sense that I had to kill you... Hiding the existence of a winged dragon is still a capital crime!"


    "Don''t do this, Jontain! We can sort this all out!"


    "What''s the fun in that? While you are bleeding here out on the barn floor, I''ll have a go at that delicious sister of yours over there on one of those hay bales. She¡¯s too fine not to keep her around for entertainment, but eventually, I will have to wrap up that loose end as well"


    Strangely Ardwella hadn''t moved. If Lothinar hadn''t known better she would seem paralyzed with fear.


    Jontain was fast, Lothinar had to admit. He had obviously had some training. It was all Lothinar could do to avoid the pointy end of that knife. He had a manic look on his face as he pulled back the knife for a finishing overhead blow. Suddenly, much of his arm, between shoulder and wrist, disappeared. The knife fell into the hay. Arterial spray shot out toward the barn wall behind Lothinars head. Some of it sprayed the front of his clothes and face. There was a high-pitched shrieking. Most of an arm with an elbow reappeared and fell to the ground next to the writhing elf. He looked up at them with wild and confused eyes.


    "Blech!" Said Tundor. I don''t believe the history at all. Elves really don''t taste very good."


    Ardwella waved her hand, and Tundor shimmered into view. His muzzle was covered with blood.


    "He made his choice," Said Ardwella. "I told you it would probably have been easier to deal with this last night...."


    Lothinar could only nod.


    It didn''t take very long for Jontain to die. That Tundor kept his front claw firmly on his chest the whole time probably didn''t help his prospects.


    Shortly thereafter, Lothinar got an unfortunate second look at his buckwheat cakes.


    -----------------------------------


    It took almost a whole cow for Tundor to get the taste of elf out of his mouth.


    Having left pre-dawn to avoid detection, Esmarilla had consulted with Ardwella, and the two now airborne dragons had decided to forego the slower invisible, clandestine walk-in and flew straight to the barn. The cow arrived first. The group was leaving. Immediately, if not sooner, after Tundor ate his breakfast. It probably would not matter that much if they were seen. The amount of evidence they had been leaving behind almost certainly ensured that the knowledge that dragons had escaped the lake was soon to be widely known.


    The plan was for a quick exit in order to beat any pursuit to the temple. They doubted they could be stopped without an organized response from the head warden¡¯s forces. For now, they had decided to rely on Cantrell¡¯s deliberate nonaction and the men of Delora Natine. The wagon had been tied down, and the house locked. Jamison had been hitched and was ready to go. Lothinar had quickly cleaned up and changed his clothes. Only one question remained. Where was Ardwynn?


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    Cantrell looked at the two elves seated across from him at his desk at the warden''s office. He had seen only one of them before. Immaculately dressed, the male was large and impressively muscled. His golden hair was worn long but tied back. His flawless face held perfect white teeth and mysterious dark eyes. He had carried himself through the open front door and across the office with liquid grace and restrained energy before plopping himself into one of the chairs. He stared at the head warden with an undefinable smirk. One of his hands held tightly to his companion, who wasn¡¯t actively struggling but seemed troubled and uneasy at his touch. She sat next to him, glaring at him side-eyed. She was, of course, someone he had seen before. Recently. It was Ardwynn.


    ¡°I am Quinton from the Imperial Palace.¡± The newcomer said in high elvish. ¡°I need to speak with you about a few things¡±


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    McDonald had, of course, been up with the cows. Milking was an early business. His still-pretty wife was seated on the milking stool. He could hear the squish squish sound of the milk streaming into the metal pail.


    ¡°I think that there are only three more to go,¡± she said, standing and leading the docile cow deeper into the barn for a well-earned cup of oats. ¡°Bring in the next one.¡±


    ¡®McDonald looked out the barn door at the small holding pasture outside. A huge black dragon was carving on a log in his woodpile with one of her front claws. It was the darnedest thing he had ever seen. Finishing, she chucked the log toward the barn''s open door, where it bounced twice and rolled to a stop near his feet.


    ¡°Honey, why don¡¯t you change into a nice dress ¡®cause I¡¯m taking you into town this morning ¡°


    She looked at him with a puzzled expression.


    ¡±What about the last three cows?¡±


    ¡±They have already been taken care of,¡± he said, picking up the piece of firewood.


    He watched as the two dragons pumped their wings to clear the stand of trees near the edge of his property. The huge black one held a squirming cow between its talons. He could barely make out a mournful moo. The much smaller, beautiful sky-blue one wobbled a bit as they disappeared in the distance.


    ¡®It¡¯s about to get extremely interesting around these parts,¡± he said to his wife.


    Her still pretty eyes grew wide.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-

 Chapter 25: Sibling Rivalry

    **************


    Chapter 25


    **************


    "We need to make a decision," said Lothinar. "We can''t just stand around here waiting for Ardwynn any longer!"


    "This waiting is really cutting into the carrot supply," his father agreed, but he smiled sympathetically.


    "We also have some other problems that are hard to overlook and that we need to resolve," said Ardwella. "Like the body of the one-armed warden that will soon be stinking up our barn"


    "Ok, that guy turned out to be really bad, I admit it. I was wrong. It is still hard for me to just take a life"


    "You did not kill him. I did." said Tundor, "If that makes you feel any better"


    "Not really, no," said Lothinar. "It just shows that I was unwilling to make difficult decisions, not to mention a really bad judge of character."


    "That''s why I didn''t jump in," Said Ardwella. It was hard for me to watch him go at you with that knife and do nothing, but I needed you to understand something very important"


    "Was it important enough to risk him killing me?!"


    "I don''t think you fully understand how superior your body and reflexes are compared to the average elf, Lothinar. I had every reason to believe you would survive the encounter"


    "That makes one of us!" he replied hotly, then softened. "What is it you wanted me to understand?"


    "We are truly still in a war. Though we are elves, we are on the side of the dragons. Ninety-nine percent of the elves you will meet are going to be trying to stop you by killing you or your dragon. I wanted that to sink in. Your survival depends on it. Candasar¡¯s survival depends on it. You need to know it deep down inside. We cannot afford half measures at this point. We can negotiate some sort of peace later from a position of strength, but right now, we are still weak. There are a lot more of them than us. When they realize that we are liberating the dragons, they will be coming!" said Ardwella finally. Do you understand?"


    Lothinar grimaced, pursing his lips, and then nodded. "You are right, of course. It''s just that Jontain took me by surprise. I''ve worked with him for years, and although he wasn''t a friend, I just had a hard time letting Candasar kill him last night!"


    Son, you need to understand something more clearly. began Ardwella. Dragons use a type of audible speech among themselves but are ultimately telepathic in nature. They use a special soul-sharing communication with a bonded elf, but that doesn''t work effortlessly for everyone else. Elves strong with magic can push through with a lot of effort and speak with them telepathically.


    "I felt you do that with me the first time I met you," Tundor agreed. I kind of felt a ''pop,'' and then I could understand you.


    "Thank you, Tundor. That is exactly what I am talking about,¡± said Ardwella.


    "When a dragon is around an elf they don''t know and have not yet communicated with, they can still be very open to their mental energies. We might call it intuition or a hunch, but for a dragon, it''s much stronger than that. Back before the war, I even sometimes used Esmarilla as a kind of lie detector. I was young and na?ve, and it kept me from making some big mistakes with boys!" Then she blushed.


    "Obviously it didn''t work on me, laughed Alberad.


    "It absolutely did work on you, " said Ardwella. I wouldn''t have married you otherwise. "Esmarila could tell right away that you had a true and good heart. You were the type of man I had wanted for a long, long time."


    Alberad coughed. "This isn''t getting our problems solved this morning"


    "My point is, Lothinar, You need to learn to trust your dragon. She knows more than you give her credit for."


    "That guy was always going to be trouble," Said Candasar. "There was no doubt about it."


    "Okay, here''s what we need to do," Said Lothinar. Ardwynn is still not here. I promised not to leave without her, but all of you need to get started. I''m going into the warden''s office to tell Cantrell what happened with Jontain and see if he has any idea where Ardwynn might be."


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    "You are not going by yourself!" Said Candasar.


    "I don''t know how I''m going to sneak a ton and a half of dragon through town this morning," said Lothinar. "My channels are shot, and I can¡¯t cast invisibility.


    "It''s lucky then that you won''t have to,¡± said Ardwynn, suddenly slipping out from behind a tree.


    "I totally knew you were there," said Tundor. "I just didn''t want to interrupt."


    "Where have you been? asked Lothinar. I was beginning to really worry!"


    "Chase a guy for years, then be late once, and he falls apart. I should have tried the ''hard to get'' route a long time ago." laughed Ardwynn. Then she grew very serious.


    "Listen, we have a big problem...."


    --------------------------------


    Thirty minutes earlier¡­..


    Cantrell raised an eyebrow at the two elves seated in front of him. Ardwynn was clearly unhappy. She didn¡¯t want to be here. Her arm was increasingly resisting the hold the male elf had upon it. Perhaps now, in front of a witness, she had the courage to attempt to escape his obviously unwanted grasp.


    ¡°Are things as they appear here, Ardwynn? Do you need assistance?¡± Asked Cantrell.


    ¡°My sister,¡± chuckled Quinton. ¡°seems to feel she had more important things to do this morning than accompany me here to speak with you. I disagreed, as some of what I wish to discuss with you involves her work responsibilities ¡°


    Ardwynn somehow, at that moment, twisted her arm quickly and managed to pull free of his grasp. He looked at her with annoyance but did not attempt to renew his hold. For the moment, she seemed willing to remain seated but glared at Quinton, rubbing her wrist.


    ¡±She seems unusually loyal to this job and you personally, Warden. To the point where my mother has started to grow concerned that she is being overworked ¡°


    ¡±All of the staff assigned to this office equally share in the duties of the job and perform their tasks admirably. I am not sure how your mother comes into the picture, but if the Imperial Palace has concerns about us working too hard, perhaps you should suggest that they increase my budget so that I can hire a few more personnel ¡°


    ¡±Normally, I would dismiss your blatant attempt to increase your budget as self-serving politics, but it has recently come to my attention from another source that your control and management of lake resources is becoming tenuous. Some additional staff may actually be required ¡°


    Cantrell looked at the elf, trying to keep his face neutral. Had someone already discovered the evidence of the water dragon battle yesterday?


    ¡±What are your concerns?¡± Asked Cantrell.


    ¡±A naturalist on independent assignment to the imperial staff came upon some evidence that the dragon population was escalating their internal conflicts. Several have perished.¡±


    ¡±This has been known to happen from time to time with wild populations, ¡° said Cantrell


    ¡°Yes, it is not totally unexpected that conflicts between them might arise. However, our naturalist saw evidence that at least one of their battles took place on shore. Considering the physical limitations of the species that warranted greater inquiry. Do you know anything more about that?¡± The Imperial envoy smiled a shit-eating grin at Cantrell.


    ¡±This independently functioning naturalist you mentioned just happens to be the mother of both you and Ardwynn?¡± Asked Cantrell, finally putting the pieces together.


    ¡°That is correct ¡°


    ¡±I wasn¡¯t made aware of her involvement in this nature preserve and have not had the pleasure¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°Look,¡± interrupted Ardwynn, ¡°Boss, as you know, I have duties to perform this morning. Can I go?¡±


    ¡±We are not done discussing your redeployment and reduced work commitments, ¡° said Quinton with annoyance.


    ¡±Yes, fine¡­you two work it out, but this morning, I have a lot to do,¡± said Ardwynn, getting out of her seat.


    ¡±You can go,¡± said Cantrell, earning himself an angry glare from her brother.


    Ardwynn sidled from the room but not before hearing her brother begin to berate, having females attempting to work at the tasks best done by males.


    Retrieving the backpack that she had left near the door, Ardwynn rushed away and toward her new life with the elf she loved. She hoped Cantrell could delay her brother long enough for all of them to make their escape.


    ¡°I wonder how it all worked out with Jontain?¡± she thought¡­.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-


    ¡°So you left Cantrell there with your brother and came straight here?¡± Confirmed Ardwella.


    ¡±Yes, and we need to go now! If my brother was to suspect that there are three land-based dragons on the loose with two that can actually fly, he could have hundreds of spell-casting troops from the capital here within a day, if not hours.¡±


    Can the men at the dragon temple stand up to such a force, or even would they try?¡± Asked Lothinar.


    ¡±That remains to be seen, ¡° said Ardwella, ¡°But it must be our next step, regardless.¡±


    Lothinar took one last look at Jontain¡¯s body still cooling in the barn. The elf¡¯s face still bore a frozen look of shock. Suddenly, Ardwynn stood next to him, rubbing his back sympathetically.


    ¡°Your mother told me what happened. You gave him every chance.¡±


    ¡±I don¡¯t know why I¡¯m taking this so hard,¡± said Lothinar


    ¡±It¡¯s because you are a good elf and care about life. From the way Jontain came after you and what he said about how he intended to sexually ravage your mom, I would say he was almost your exact opposite ¡°


    ¡±I suppose that helps me feel better about not giving him a decent burial ¡°


    ¡±Don¡¯t worry about him,¡± said Ardwella, coming back into the barn. ¡°There are going to be investigators all over this place in just a few hours. He won¡¯t be there long. I¡¯m actually grateful for that. Now we really do need to go!¡±


    She was not wearing her leather fighting skirt, but the white sword was visibly strapped to her waist.


    ¡°Your father is already on the road with the wagon and Tundor. He has already started to attract a little attention. Others have seen them¡±


    ¡±How did they react?¡± Asked Lothinar.


    ¡±Shock mostly so far, but that¡¯s mild compared to what probably happens next¡±


    ¡±What¡¯s that?¡± Asked Lothinar


    ¡±Climb on your dragon Lothinar, Ardwynn, you are with Esmarilla and me. This town is going to get an eyeful!¡±


    ¡±Can she carry me?¡±


    ¡±I guess you are going to find out,¡± chuckled Ardwella. ¡°Make sure to hold on tight!¡±


    ¡±Come on, my brave elf,¡± came Candasar¡¯s thoughts. ¡°I want to show you something spectacular!¡±


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-

 Chapter 26: The Road to Delora Natine

    ****************


    Chapter 26


    ***************


    "Woohoo! Let''s go! Yelled Ardwynn as Esmarilla crouched and began moving forward.


    She was fiercely clutching at Ardwella''s back, though, as the massive black Dragon took a running leap and propelled herself upwards through the air. Even from where he sat on Candasar, still firmly on the ground, Lothinar could feel the massive wind generated by ferocious thrusts as the Dragon shot away, gaining altitude rapidly.


    "I''ve seen you fly," Lothinar said to his bond. But can you carry me as well?"


    Candasar chuckled


    "Esmarilla says I''m near a ton and a half. How much did you say you weigh?"


    "Lothinar laughed." I didn''t. Well, I guess my weight is pretty insignificant when you put it that way."


    "Yeah, that''s right, but do hold on tight. I''d hate for you to fall, and then I would have to find a new bond after just one flight."


    Lothinar gulped, and Candy laughed.


    "I''ll let you in on a little secret that Esmarilla passed on to me this morning during the flying lesson."


    " Secret?"


    " Yes, through the bond, you and I will remain so closely connected that you will know exactly what aerial moves I will be making as, or even before I make them, allowing you to adjust your positions and grip seamlessly."


    " Well, that sounds helpful "


    " It may even provide the feeling that you are doing or at least participating in the actual flying. Esmarilla said that the first time can be somewhat of a sensory overload as you adjust to co-controlling my body"


    "I have co-control??"


    " Let''s just say that I might be extremely open to instantaneous suggestions, but don''t get too distracted."


    "I''m still kind of upset you took off and learned to fly without me being able to watch."


    "Sorry about that. Wasn''t much to see. I don''t think taking you along would have been a good idea, especially riding, although Esmarilla would probably have been willing to let you ride her. I swear, that dragon half thinks that she is somehow bonded to you instead of me. I''m kind of impressed that your mom doesn''t get at all jealous, the way Esmarilla is always going on about you with her"


    "We have a unique relationship, as you know"


    "I know, I know. For nine months in the womb, you were suckling off her magical teat".


    "I''ve never heard it put quite that way!"


    " We dragons do not nurse our young, so the analogy must have come from your mind and experiences. I try to use the information from the bond that is the closest fit. It will take some time to integrate the different life lessons we have experienced."


    "Lothinar, you need to get Candasar in the air now! There are two Elven Archers approaching your position!" Came the Basso mental projection of the already airborne Esmarilla. Fly now, talk later!


    It had to be the strangest sensation Lothinar had ever experienced as he suddenly felt his body tense and surge forward, Charging powerfully on his four legs. He felt his/their wings unfold and snap into position, and his strong shoulders began pushing violently down on the air beneath them. He could see from both his own and the Dragon''s eyes as she chuckled gleefully and threw herself into the sky. He watched the home and barn that he had been born and raised in shrinking rapidly as he turned his elven head around for a last look.


    " Now that''s very helpful," said Candasar. "Flying with you, it''s like I have a second set of eyes in the back of my head! The situational awareness should be excellent "


    Lothinar did not see the archers that Esmarilla had warned them about. However, he did see a neighbor hanging out her wash on a clothesline about thirty seconds into the flight. She looked upward, mouth hanging open, as Candasar flew rapidly overhead. He couldn''t resist waving. He could see her snap out of her shock and begin to run quickly into the house as they flew onward and out of sight.


    A little ways ahead of him but higher in the sky, he saw Esmarilla slowly circling an area on the forest road that could only contain Tundor, the wagon, and his father. They were a fair distance away from the village and had made good time, but Lothinar was suddenly painfully aware that they were the weakest link in this plan. He really wished they had gotten an earlier start.


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    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    Cantrell had listened just about as long as he could to the pompous elf Quinton disparage his sister specifically and females in general for trying to do the work of males. He had heard it all before. Cantrell had always believed and had found from real-world observation that people and their abilities fit on a bell curve of competency. It just wasn''t fair to outright dismiss someone for a task just because they happened to have their sexual organs on the inside. There might be a smaller number of females that had the physical prowess to hike endlessly through the wilderness, recording wildlife populations and fighting an occasional forest fire, but Ardwynn had more than proved herself every bit as competent as any of the males in his crew. Except, he realized now, possibly Lothinar. Now as he thought about it, Lothinar had always been a standout. Ridiculously handsome, tall, and muscular, he attracted attention everywhere he went. His magical ability was off the charts.


    Everything Cantrell had ever asked of his subordinate, he had delivered. And Cantrell had asked a lot. He had put him on the most strenuous assignments. Testing and probing for weaknesses or faults, he found nothing significant. Cantrell had seen others with some of his attributes, but most seemed to have at least one weak point. To top it all off, Lothinar seemed to be one of those genuinely humble and helpful people who seemed unaffected by his ego. Hearing how his mother had planned and implemented her pregnancy, empowering his gestation with dragon power, now it all started to make sense. Was his mother trying to make a superwarrior, or was she planning something grander for her son? Cantrell did not see Lothinar as much of a killer, and he had met more than a few.


    "Are you even listening to me!?"


    Cantrell looked at the red-faced elf sitting in front of him. "Sorry, my mind drifted off."


    "I will be sure to mention that when I speak to the Emperor about your job performance!" the envoy hissed.


    Cantrell was spared further recriminations regarding his job inadequacies by hurried steps on his porch and a sweaty and out-of-breath warden as he ran into the office. "


    He only had to say one word. It was the word that Cantrell had expected to hear all morning.


    "DRAGONS!"


    ------------------------


    Just a few days ago, when Alberad had traveled this road, he had been on foot, chasing his impossibly fast wife. They had been moving flat out. It had taken a little more than an hour to make the almost twenty-mile distance. Alberad speculated that it would take the horse and cart about six hours. He hoped it was fast enough.


    Ardwella had decided that she should be there for her Dragon''s awakening. The transition from Esmarilla''s state of hibernation to active had been eventful. Unmoving but not unaware, the old priest in charge of the temple had been doing things that displeased her. Showing her dissatisfaction with his corrupt management style, she started to take it out on the temple structures and ornamentations. Ardwella had arrived just in time to prevent the worst from happening. Her presence had immediately settled down the understandably disoriented Dragon.


    The Temple of the Dragon had held the statuesque Esmarilla for over five hundred years, while Ardwella had made the world safe for her return. All of the elves that knew the spell to use the Dragon''s fire against them were dead. The knowledge of the spell was destroyed. Alberad wondered if those in charge of such things had realized that henceforth they would have to resort to killing dragons in more normal ways. There was still plenty of elven magic around, but the Dragon''s fear of death by internal fire seemed to be resolved for the immediate future.


    ----------------------


    "Can you see anyone following us?" called Ardwynn to her co-rider.


    Ardwella looked back over her shoulder at the forest passing below them as they moved in gentle spiraling circles above the road and moving wagon. Candasar was doing well and had caught up with them. She and Lothinar seemed lost in the bond, enjoying their first flight together. She was glad for them both.


    "Not since those two archers just outside of town. I suspect they were wardens returning from patrol."


    "Yes, I saw them, Cenderick and Amstell," said Ardwynn, "Two of my co-workers. We regularly patrol armed with bows, as you probably know. They were scheduled to return this morning"


    "I have seen Lothinar''s kit, yes," said Ardwella. "You were scheduled to go out as one of their replacements...Did you pack your bow?"


    "Yes, I have it." Said Ardwynn," gesturing to the unstrung wooden recurve that stuck out of the top of her pack. "It is quite a bit shorter than Lothinars"


    "Good, I have a bad feeling that we might need it."


    "I might have some additional information on who might eventually be pursuing us." Said Ardwynn, "But it''s a story that is going to be very difficult to tell, considering the circumstances...."


    Ardwella blinked, then narrowed her eyes at the other elven woman. "I hope I won''t be too disappointed in what you tell me..."


    "I guess I had better start by admitting that even though I didn''t want to, I lied to Lothinar about something yesterday"


    Ardwella scowled, "You are not inspiring confidence here..."


    "First, I want to say that I have never eaten one... EVER!"


    Ardwynn heard the great Dragon beneath her snort in what had to be shock and anger as she figured it out before the elf beside her.


    "You''re not..." said the elf.


    "Yes," said Ardwynn. I''m a royal duchess once removed. My mother is the one working for the Emperor. She is the one harvesting the magical dragon eggs from the lake."


    "Your mother is the egg thief!" bellowed the Dragon.


    Lothinar and Candasar, distracted as they were in exploring flight for the first time together, could not help hearing the massive Dragon''s psychic shout. The blue Dragon wobbled and then righted herself. Lothinar looked over in confusion.


    "My mother, the Dutchess, has only done this for five years since the last person who had the job moved on to other tasks.


    When we moved to this town five years ago, I honestly earned the warden position. I just wanted something to do that would get me away from her and them. Working in the field for so much of the time was how I survived!"


    "Why should I believe you?" Asked Ardwella with narrowed and angry eyes.


    "I have watched Imperial Royalty hoard and use the eggs of your kind my whole twenty-five-year life. It makes them beautiful, strong, fast, and extends their lives for the ancient ones. I have always observed that although the benefits seem obvious, they are HOLLOW!" They are fake, having an image of power, strength, and beauty that is stolen and false. If they stop eating them they revert to empty shells, even weaker than before. Somehow I have always been able to sense this about them. What they are doing is deplorable. It made me hate everything about them! Once, they tried to pressure me to give in to consuming one of the eggs myself, but I swear I refused. I didn''t want to become like them.."


    "And then I met your son. Everything that they pretend to be want to be, he actually is."


    "When you have been looking at counterfeits your whole life the real thing must be more than appealing", acknowledged Ardwella.


    "I am, more than anyone else, convinced of that!" Said Ardwynn passionately.


    Ardwella sighed a sad sigh. "Ok, Duchess," said the Elven Valkyrie, "Why don''t you tell me what we might be up against from the Capitol?"


    "Well, I think the one we should be the most concerned about, for now, will be my brother..."


    ----------------------------------

 Chapter 27: Putting the Cart Before the Horse

    ***************


    Chapter 27


    **************


    A second set of footsteps crossed the threshold, and another warden entered the office. It was Cenderick. Before speaking, He looked smugly at the first, who was silent except for his ragged breathing.


    ¡±I told you that you were running too fast. You need to save enough of your wind to be able to deliver the necessary information, Amstell¡±


    ¡±He at least managed to get out the word ¡®dragons!¡¯ Said Quinton, having leaped from his chair with a very alarmed look on his face.


    ¡±This is important information for Cantrell,¡± said the second elf. ¡°Just exactly who are you?¡±


    ¡±He claims to be an envoy from the Imperial palace.¡± Cantrell replied, ¡°But all I¡¯ve been able to really confirm is that Ardwynn admits that he is her brother¡±


    ¡±You dare question my position!?¡±


    ¡±You know, boss, if Ardwynn actually had connections to the palace, what would she be doing out here in the sticks, hiking all over the countryside? Asked Amstell, who had finally caught his wind enough to speak.


    ¡±I want to know about the Dragons!¡± Quinton practically screamed.


    Cenderick raised an eyebrow toward Cantrell, waiting for confirmation to continue.


    ¡±I suppose we can give him the benefit of the doubt for now¡­.¡±


    ¡±Enough of this. Tell me! ¡± Said Quinton.


    ¡±We saw two. Not the swimming type. The old-fashioned flying type. A smaller one and a great big black monster. The kind you read about in the history books. It must be hundreds of years old, at least! I had no idea anything like that had survived the war!¡± Said Amstell


    Quinton paled.


    ¡°Looked to me like they were flying over the road in the general direction of Delora Natine. They didn¡¯t attack anyone, just flying slowly away.¡± Said Cenderick.


    ¡±I was going to try and take a shot at them,¡± said Amstell. Gesturing at the longbow still slung over his shoulder. ¡°But Cenderick told me not to.¡±


    ¡±Sounds like a brave thing to do. Why did you stop him?¡± Asked Quinton angrily.


    "Well, it crossed my mind that it might not be a good idea to make them mad," said Cenderick. "And they hadn''t really done anything yet."


    ¡±That''s not the reason you told me." said Amstell.


    Cenderick looked quickly between Cantrell and Amstell. He tightened his lips and shook his head slightly as if appealing to Amstell to be silent.


    "What was the real reason he gave you?" Insisted Quinton


    Oblivious to the hint, Amstell continued..... ."On account of not wanting to accidentally hit one of the elves.¡±


    ¡°Why would he be worried about you hitting an elf?¡±


    ¡°Well, you see,¡± said Amstell awkwardly. ¡°There were elves riding the dragons. One of them I''ve never seen before but the other two looked an awful lot like Lothinar and Ardwynn!


    "I guess, Quinton," Said Cantrell with a wry grin. "Ardwynn actually decided to take the day off like you suggested. You should be careful what you ask for. You just might get it."


    "Some sort of response will be required," said the envoy. "I must go now and speak with my mother."


    Cantrell observed that he did not look very happy.


    "By the way," he asked, stopping just before walking out the door... "Who is this Lothinar?"


    ----------------------------------------


    At the Dragon Temple, once again, Starett was having a conversation with the dairy farmer. This time he had brought along his wife. Scarlett couldn''t help but notice that she had dressed up for the occasion, and for a middle-aged lady, she was still very pretty. Drinking all that milk must be good for the skin, he thought.


    "So I brought you another one of those Dragon I.O.U''s said the grizzled dairyman. This one is for three cows. And it looks like the Dragon also left some additional information."


    "Are you sure it''s from the black dragon?"


    "Yep, I saw her write it herself. I didn''t know dragons could write, but she just started in on that log with her front toenail like she had been doing it her whole life. Amazing, really!"


    "What does it say?" asked the priest.


    "Read it for yerself" said McDonald. Do you want to borrow my glasses? The writing is a little small."


    "I''m 19 years old!" said the priest taking the piece of wood from McDonald''s outstretched hand. "I think my eyes still see well enough to read."


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    Starett followed the descending spiral of words, written in the human language, as they wrapped around the piece of circular firewood. It read:


    "COMING FOR VISIT SOON. BRINGING FRIENDS. WILL BE STAYING AT TEMPLE. PLEASE PROVIDE SNACKS. TOOK 3 COWS IN ADVANCE. THANK YOU. THE DRAGON GOD.


    Starrett just shook his head and got out his pocketbook.


    The Dairyman and his wife were smiling happily.


    "I think you are about to have a lot on your plate for someone so young." said the still-beautiful milkmaid.


    ---------------------------------


    They had packed way too much, thought Ardwella. The horse was doing his best but the loaded wagon would be no match in speed for the Warden¡¯s elves if they chose to follow. Even if Cantrell delayed pursuit as long as he could, Ardwynn¡¯s brother Quinton would eventually force his hand. When he attacked, the wagon on the road would be a sitting duck.


    That he was an ¡°egg eater,¡± both infuriated her and worried her. The magical dragon eggs were fairly rare as not every water dragon could lay them. Each one was a dragon like Tundor, taken before it could hatch. It seemed that the royal family committing this racial atrocity had at least a few to spare to enhance the magical prowess of their foot soldier enforcers like Quinton. Most of the harvested eggs, however went towards extending the life and youthful appearance of the ancient emperor and his closest cronies who had begun this farce of a war so many hundreds of years ago.


    The emperor that she remembered from her youth had been a foul, evil elf with self-serving ambitions. She recalled his callous regard for both his fellow elves and dragons. He had watched from afar when Lothinex and his family, through their magic, had begun to form symbiotic bonds with the great creatures. When the dragons had been approached by his entourage the young elven leader had insisted that he had wanted to bond with Vanador. Only the great white dragon was up to his standards.


    Not only had Vanador refused, but all of the other dragons had as well. What they saw inside his soul was a foul stench of greed and deceit and they had wanted no part of it. Apparently, he had then decided to hatch the plan to use the dragon''s eggs to obtain a semblance of the things that bonding with a living dragon would have given him. He had made up lies about the dragons, declared war, and employed a new type of spell caster to destroy the dragons who had spurned him. After almost all the dragons were destroyed, he had employed his best flesh sculptors to change the majestic creatures into a shadow of their former glory, ensuring his eternal access to their magical eggs.


    ------------------------------


    In the elf capitol, hundreds of miles to the south of Tasumakoji, stood a great white tower. On its roof stood the statue of a great white dragon. For over seven hundred years, it had withstood rain, snow, lightning strikes, and the indignities of thousands of birds whose droppings covered it. Throughout all the years, the statue had not weathered or aged. It looked as lifelike as the day it was placed there.


    In a dark and dingy chamber within the tower was a prison cell. A female elf of exceptional beauty lay naked on a dirty mattress in the corner of the cell. She was Ardwella''s sister Siophra. Currently, she was unable to stand because her lower leg was missing. As usual, it was growing back. It was an incredible sight to see. It defied all reason and logic how fast the healing was occurring. This was not the first or even the thousandth time she had regrown an extremity. It had become so routine that the savagery and brutality of what happened to her each day had lost most of its shock value.


    When Ardwella had worked out the word spell that placed Esmarilla in a form of hibernation it had saved her from being killed by an elven spell. The hibernation ceased all the dragon''s internal bodily processes. Had they been active, the spell would have caused her dragon to burn up from the inside. Ardwella''s discovery of that solution had been late in the war. She had only been able to share her solution with one other person. Her sister. She had sent her a message and never heard back from her. Siophra on one last mission from their grandfather to try and reach a peace, had traveled on Vanador to the elven capital to try and reason with the selfish young emperor. When that mission failed, one of the emperor''s magicians had tried to burn Vanador. Out of options, Siophra had cast the hibernation spell. They had obviously been captured and held ever since. It had been a lifetime of suffering for the female elf.


    Each day, at noon, the emperor would climb the stairs to her tower and demand that she relinquish her bond with the white dragon Vanador. Each day, when she refused, he would send in his royal torturer to provide a severe beating and then hack off a limb. Then when they were done, it would begin to grow back. Thankfully the emperor had given up on the occasional rapes about a hundred years ago.


    "I guess he finally did start to get too old for that..." she thought. I might actually someday outlive him.


    On the roof, the white dragon, immobile and impotent, silently wept while his immense magical power poured healing into his bonded, named Siophra, the other granddaughter of Lothinex.


    ------------------------------------------


    Harvey had left the walls of Delora Natine early this morning. It was his day off. He was done worrying and waiting. He wanted to see if he could track down some information on where the Dragon God had disappeared to. He had lived in the town his whole life and had taken it for granted that the temple was a grand and special place. Now it seemed empty and Harvey had realized that he missed the dragon. He knew that others did as well.


    Now on the road for a few hours, Harvey could feel his excitement growing. He also seemed to have a great deal of curiosity about the beautiful female elf. Maybe that sweaty elf with her had not been her husband. He had been with her, of course. But sometimes being with someone didn''t automatically mean you were "WITH THEM," if you know what I mean, thought Harvey. Elf and Human relationships were rare and from the elf''s point of view, rather short-lived, but Harvey could learn to deal with that, at least as long as he lasted. She seemed really nice.


    Up ahead on the road, he heard the clatter and thump of a wagon moving at a fairly fast speed. He turned the corner to see something beyond his wildest imaginings. A Dragon was hitched to a cart. He was lumbering along at an extremely rapid pace. The sweaty elf from the other day was sitting on top of the cart piled high and covered with a thick tarp. He looked terrified and about to fall off any second.


    Looking up, Harvey saw not one but two dragons in the sky. One was a beautiful blue and was being ridden by the most handsome male elf that Harvey had ever seen. Harvey didn''t swing that way, but if he did, that elf would be the one to change his mind. The other dragon had two beautiful elven females riding her. It was the Black Dragon God! Held gently in her claws was a large horse. Harvey knew horses. This horse did not look happy.


    Harvey just stood there, his jaw hanging open as the group in the sky and the wagon on the ground thundered past where he stood.


    "Hey, human!" yelled the handsome elf on the blue dragon.


    "Yeah?" said Harvey, somehow finding his voice.


    "You might not want to stay there much longer. There are a bunch of elves coming, and they are not in a good mood!"


    "Is there anything I can do for you, Dragon God?" Yelled Harvey up into the sky.


    "As a matter of fact, there is," said the beautiful elven dream girl on the back of the huge black dragon.


    The great black swooped and turned, flying low. Amazingly she began to hover, her wings pounding furiously at the air like a mammoth hummingbird. She gently lowered the struggling horse to the ground, where it stood still in obvious shock.


    "Do you think you could watch my horse for a little while? I might have to do a little fighting, and he might get shot at." asked the elf of his dreams.


    "I''ll do anything!" said Harvey. "Where can I meet up with you later to give you back the horse?"


    "We will be staying at the temple. I''ll meet you there."


    "It''s a date!" said Harvey with a big smile. This was working out better than he could have imagined.


    ------------------------------------

 Chapter 28: Waking the Duke

    **************


    Chapter 28


    **************


    The Song of Siofra and Vanador


    This place we share is just for us. A place that can not be reached


    The evil ones try, they can only find frustration . They assault our bodies


    but can not reach our minds. Our commitment to each other is unending


    Yet trapped we are, a pair of fools bound with our love


    For if one fails and loses heart, the other will surely perish.


    so we continue in the unmoving dance of our bond that shall not fail.


    The wounds and indignities we have borne will fade and be meaningless


    Lost to time and forgotten¡­.


    until at last one day we can be free. Together.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-


    ¡°I guess we figured out what Lothinar has been doing and why he might have missed the meeting the other night, ¡° said Amstell cheekily once Quinton had finally left the warden''s office.


    ¡°Is that all you have to say for yourself?¡± Exploded Cenderick?


    ¡±What are you mad at me for?¡± asked Amstell.


    ¡°You have no idea who that guy is, or his motivations regarding our team, yet you went straight away blabbering warden information in front of him. That¡¯s obviously Cantrell''s decision to make,¡± said Cenderick.


    ¡±But dragons!¡±


    ¡±I don¡¯t care! Your boss is standing right there, and you know we must report to him first. Privately! What if that guy runs out of the building and starts screaming ¡®dragons¡¯ at the top of his lungs, and people panic? What if someone gets hurt because of that?¡±


    ¡±Someone gets hurt? Duh. Dragons!¡±


    ¡±Did you see them hurting anyone?¡± Asked Cenderick.


    ¡±No,¡± replied Amstell sulkily. ¡°They were just flying¡±


    ¡±With two coworkers that you trust. Hells, you would have put an arrow in Ardwynn¡¯s back if I hadn¡¯t stopped you!¡±


    ¡±Look, guys,¡± said Cantrell, butting in. ¡°This situation is about to get seriously out of hand. I really need to fill you in on some things that I have learned since I finally tracked down Lothinar yesterday. This will probably go faster if we can get everyone together. I know that you both are just coming in off a few days of patrol, but can you help me gather everyone on the team that you can find for an emergency meeting?¡±


    ¡±Ardwynn was originally scheduled to go out on area upkeep watch this morning. Lothinar too, but when he ¡®no showed¡¯ that meeting, you bumped Jontain into that spot, remember?¡± Said Amstell.


    ¡±Ugh, it slipped my mind that I shouldn¡¯t put them in the field together. They don¡¯t have a good working relationship, ¡° said Cantrell


    ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s her fault, boss. He just won¡¯t stop hitting on her. It¡¯s seriously creepy, ¡° said Cenderick.


    ¡±Only about as creepy as the way Ardwynn flirts with Lothinar. Seriously, that love triangle has some really sharp pointy corners. If Lothinar were just a little less oblivious, somebody would already be stabbed and bleeding,¡± said Amstell.


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    ¡®We have to assume that Jontain is already out in the field, Ardwynn and Lothinar are somehow out flying dragons or whatever, But I think we can round up everyone else in just a few minutes, boss,¡± said Cenderick.


    ¡°I¡¯ll get Dahlweil and Fensterly,¡± said Cantrell. ¡°Amstell, you get Bondine and Califer¡±


    ¡±And I¡¯ll find Telehalla and Yewstrong,¡± said Cenderick. Meet back here in fifteen?¡±


    ¡±Thanks, as soon as you can. I appreciate you guys,¡± said Cantrell. ¡°Hey, do you know if anyone on the team eats eggs?¡±


    ¡±Not my thing,¡± said Cenderick.


    ¡±I think I saw Jontain eating one quite a while back. Why?¡± asked Amstell.


    ¡±I¡¯ll tell you when you get back, ¡° said Cantrell nervously.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-


    ¡°I¡¯m quite disappointed in your sister,¡± said Claire. ¡°She has obviously run off with that boy and his family¡±


    ¡±You know she has never really been on board,¡± said Quinton. ¡°You should have seen this coming¡±


    ¡°Yes, unfortunately, she has seen far too closely some of the rare but unfortunate side effects of dragon egg consumption ¡°


    ¡±What I want to know is where they got the dragons!¡± Asked Quinton. ¡°Did you miss one of the magically viable eggs?¡±


    ¡±Please!  I¡¯ve only been here and on collection for five years. From the description you gave me, the dragons we are dealing with now have to be much older than that. Besides, nothing that could come from that lake should ever be able to fly. They must have been brought in, and for that, they had to have help¡±


    ¡±Who would help them?¡± Asked Quinton skeptically.


    ¡±Well, obviously, someone from the original family of Lothinex has managed to survive!¡±


    ¡±How is that possible?¡±


    ¡±I¡¯m not entirely sure, but I think I know where we can start to find some answers. Their ancient homestead is in this town, you know¡±


    ¡±I don¡¯t know how much actual help we are going to get out of the wardens,¡± said Quinton. ¡°As calm as Cantrell seemed about everything, I somehow think he might be in on this.¡±


    ¡®It won¡¯t matter once we wake your father. We will have all the magical muscle we need to deal with dragons ¡°


    Quinton gulped


    ¡±I have to admit that I don¡¯t really look forward to that¡±


    ¡±How do you think I feel?¡± Asked Ulaire. ¡°Besides the eggs that we don¡¯t really have enough of to go around right now, don¡¯t forget about his other appetites.¡±


    ¡±I¡¯m surprised that you didn¡¯t have at least a few more kids,¡± said Quinton, actually blushing.


    ¡±Well, you know me, son,¡± Ulaire replied. ¡°If nothing else, I¡¯ve always been a planner.¡±


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    ¡®Nine wardens, including himself, stood in a circle in the office and listened to Cantrell explain what he had learned about the water dragons of Tasumakoji. None of them looked happy, and several of them looked either either sullen or angry. In his current state of mind, it was difficult for Cantrell to tell. It was going to be an important distinction.


    They had not said much while Cantrell had spoken, and although he appreciated the respect, now that the story was coming to a close, he really was starting to wonder how many of his team would see the situation the way he did. They had not met the reasonable and intelligent flying version of dragons or even Tundor. He was wondering if his trying to glean sympathy for the boorish water types was a bridge too far.


    ¡±So you are basically saying that this whole water dragon sanctuary is nothing but a magical egg farm for the Imperial elites.¡± Said Amstell.


    ¡°Who have changed and then enslaved the original types here not because they were dangerous to elves, but to harvest the magical properties of dragon eggs.¡± Continued Cenderick.


    ¡±And Lothinar¡¯s family has actually descended from the Traitor, ¡®¡°said Bondine. ¡°His mother is super good-looking, by the way; I have seen her over at the market,¡± he faded out, stammering a bit.


    ¡°Not that it matters¡­.¡± Said Califer. ¡°We need to do the right thing even if she was ug-a-ly¡±


    ¡±That huge black dragon statue in the human temple was actually her dragon? She can¡¯t possibly be that old¡­¡± said Fensterly


    ¡±That¡¯s just it. Apparently, Dragon magic, even from consumed eggs, vastly extends the lifespan of elves. She must be ancient and doesn¡¯t even look thirty,¡± said Bondine again, this time blushing a bit.


    ¡°That¡¯s got to be why Lothinar is so ridiculously good-looking.¡± Said Yewstrong.


    ¡±He¡¯s not that great,¡± said Telehalla


    ¡°Seriously, we are talking about Lothinar here,¡± said Yewstrong. ¡°You have seen him, right?¡±


    ¡±Yeah, sighed Telehalla. ¡°Ridiculous. It makes decent-looking male elves everywhere look bad. It¡¯s not fair, I tell you!¡±


    ¡±I think we are getting a bit off topic,¡± interjected Cantrell.


    ¡±How old do you think the Emporer really is anyway?¡± Asked Dahlwell, finally speaking up.


    ¡±My brother and I are over eight hundred years old,¡± said a new elf as he stepped through the door into the crowded office. But that is not really the question we need to be concerned with today¡±


    ¡±What question should we be concerned with? Asked Cantrell, looking at the truly massive elf in alarm.


    ¡±The question of ¡®How many of you are going to do your jobs and help me hunt down and kill some rogue dragons or how many of you are going to die right now? The Elf named Tempton said with a stone-cold face as little arcs of lightning danced across his huge fingertips.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-


    ¡®She had just been hanging out her laundry to dry when that ridiculously handsome elf that lived just up the road had surprised her by flying over on a beautiful blue dragon. He had even waved! That was more than promising. She was sure glad that she always bothered to put on a little lipstick before going out the door. Now she had finished getting ready and was wearing one of her cutest outfits. Today was the day she was finally going to introduce herself. He had waved, after all. He must be back by now.


    Mavis wondered if the wardens had tamed and used those beautiful blue dragons for aerial forest reconnaissance. Maybe he could take her for a ride. Ooh, she practically swooned. He was so very good looking and what a body! The house seemed locked up tight, but the barn door was ajar. She took a little peek inside and screamed¡­.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 29: Riding the Lightning

    *************


    Chapter 29


    *************


    "Despite your gigantic sparkly hands, we are disinclined to respond well to threats like that," said Cantrell as bravely as he could. Still, it even sounded to him like it came out as a bit of a croak.


    Surprisingly the giant elf laughed. The voice was deep, but somehow underneath, Cantrell thought he could hear something else. The crackling timbre of great age.


    "My daughter said that you were brave and a good leader. You can thank Ardwynns opinion of you that I haven''t already killed you where you stand." said the giant. "Perhaps your men will not be so willing to make a hasty and misguided decision to die"


    "You are Ardwynns father?"


    "Yes, I am Duke Tempton". "My brother is Emperor Argent. He will not be pleased by what I have observed here today."


    "Did you hear that? Ardwynn''s the daughter of a duke!" said Yewstrong. Who knew?


    "It wasn''t on her resume'' " said Cantrell.


    "I haven''t seen you around here, and I make it my business to try to keep track when royalty is slumming in this little town. Not to mention being concerned about overly large elves that boast of being able to kill more than a half dozen wardens at once."


    Tempton smiled. It didn''t reach his eyes.


    "Yet you seem to have been unaware of a great many things lately, said the giant. There are reasons for our anonymity. My wife''s duties are specifically designed not to attract any special attention, and what''s more, I personally sleep most of the time,". He continued. "It preserves certain bodily functions so that my time awake is much more fulfilling."


    "It probably makes it hard to hold down a real job!" said Telehalla.


    "Eating dragon eggs does seem to have a few limitations. " agreed Amstell sarcastically before suddenly realizing who he was talking about and dropping his eyes to the floor.


    Cenderick reached out and quickly pulled Amstell and Telehalla behind him as Duke Tempton raised his right hand and started to point it at the previously snarky elves. Electricity crackled. Cantrell realized that this situation could get worse very quickly. He also was once again reminded that Cenderick was very brave.


    "Hey, none of that now! Why don''t you explain to us why we should help you? Maybe you can convince us," he said, stalling for time.


    "Indeed, although my patience is growing very thin," said Tempton. looking strangely at Amstell. "Very well. One last chance. Know that I only indulge you for my daughter''s sake. Follow me."


    The entire assembly began filing out of the office behind the overly large elf.


    Cantrell was beginning to grow concerned as the group crossed town and came to a stop near the barn of Ardwella and Alberath.


    "A female neighbor found something horrifying in the barn and fled down the road screaming. It attracted some attention, including my own. That and the reports of dragons flying overhead this morning forced me to draw an obvious connection. Open the door and take a look inside."


    Impetuous Amstell, seeming to have forgotten his recent close brush with high-voltage death, ran to the door and looked inside. He turned back to the group with a strange look on his face.


    "Cantrell, It''s Jontain! He''s dead. His whole arm has been bitten off! There is a lot of blood in here!"


    Cantrell jogged over and took a look for himself. Huge quantities of blood and a little vomit covered the straw. Were those buckwheat cakes?


    "Uh oh," thought Cantrell silently. "Lothinar, this doesn''t look good. What happened here?"


    As Cantrell returned, the rest of the rangers also rushed forward to look inside the barn. They came back quickly, obviously shaken, to form a semi-circle around Duke Tempton, who had not moved.


    "It is obvious that one of your own, I believe his name was Jontain, must have stumbled across something nefarious. He was caught investigating. He was summarily killed by one of the bloodthirsty dragons sheltering here." said Tempton.


    "It definitely looks like a dragon bite," said Cenderick, but the arm is still there. The dragon obviously didn''t eat it. From the stories, I thought that was a given."


    "Then there is the rest of the body too! Untouched," said Telehalla. "I thought dragons found elves delicious."


    "Hey, it is Jontain we are talking about here said Bodine. We all know he could be pretty nasty. What an epitaph! ''Even a dragon wouldn''t eat him''."


    "Way too soon, Bodine!" Said Cantrell.


    "So have I made my case?" asked Tempton.


    "Maybe you had better spell it out one more time, clearly," Said Cantrell, "So that everyone here will be on the same page"


    "Fine then. Regardless of how you feel about the policy of gathering dragon eggs, it should be clear that dragons on the loose are far too dangerous to be allowed to live. I expect you to do your job and help me track them down and kill them."


    "Why do you even need us at all?" asked Cenderick. "You and your sparkly hands."


    Tempton rolled his eyes.


    "I could hit them with overwhelming force, yes. I have a vast reservoir of unused power at my disposal. But, don''t forget that one of them is my temporarily misled daughter, I''d like to try and take the elves alive. "


    "I guess that we had better come along then, said Cantrell".


    The other wardens nodded their heads cautiously but somewhere in the back of the group he could hear whispering....


    "And you wanted to ask Ardwynn out.." someone said to Califer. "Can you imagine how it would have gone if she had taken you home to meet her parents?...."


    "It would never have happened anyway." He hissed. "You know she has always had a thing for Lothinar."


    ----------------------


    Ulaire and Quinton stood by the lake. They were talking to Benedar and Killingsworth.


    "We have searched thoroughly. Candasar and the freak Tundor are no longer within the lake. Nor are they on the shoreline." said Benedar.


    "We have had reports of two airborne dragons flying in the area. What are your thoughts on this? asked Quinton. "Could it be these two?"


    "Impossible!" exclaimed Killingsworth. "We are all that remains of our kind. You have seen to that thoroughly throughout the years"


    "I have pruned the vine these last five years, yes." Said Ulaire. "But it seems that some of your more devious females have been breaking our contract"


    "Yes, A few of your females have hidden away eggs that should have been surrendered!" said Quinton hotly.


    "Candasar and Tundor have not had the time to make winged dragons come forth again. This, you know!" Shouted Benedar. "We have disclosed everything"


    "Someone has obviously found a way to interfere!" said Ulaire. "My understanding is that one of the flying dragons is blue"


    Killingsworth looked at Benedar and then back to the elves.


    "Candasar is a blue. It is a rare color among our kind. This is one of the reasons she attracted the attention that she claimed to hate so much," said Killingsworth, blinking his single eye.


    "Can such a thing be possible? A reverting?" asked Benedar.


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    "This may change things between us!" said Killingsworth starting to swim off.


    "Listen, you two!" Said Quinton. "You will keep this to yourselves and continue to behave as before. You will continue to surrender your abnormal eggs!"


    "Or what?" Asked Killingsworth.


    "Or I will kill every dragon in this lake!"


    "You would not do this!" the water dragon hissed. "You would also guarantee the end of your ancient emperor when he is deprived of our eggs" Then he swam away.


    "Well, you sure told him, Quinton", said his mother. "Way to call their bluff. Now what are we going to do?"


    "Don''t worry, I''ll think of something!"


    "If they start hiding their eggs from me this situation will land you in a great deal of trouble!" said Ulaire. "Trouble I don''t even think your father can get you out of!"


    ---------------------------------


    Esmarilla could feel them coming. The elves. There were many of them and they had a monster with them. She could feel a strange throbbing power as he approached. Alberad and Tundor had gotten close to the human town but still needed some more time to get within its walls. She was glad she had been able to set down the horse. Unburdened now, except for the elven riders, she would be much more nimble in the air. As a matter of fact, she could probably do better yet. She quickly landed.


    "They are getting close. Get off!" said Esmarilla, directing her thoughts to Ardwynn.


    Through the bond Ardwella was provided the explanation for her dragon''s thoughts. She spelled it out.


    "We need to buy Tundor and my husband a little more time. We must fight. We have fought on Dragonback before. You have not. You will slow us down. You do not have a bond with Esmarilla, and in our rapid maneuvers, you will most likely fall off. "


    "What is going on?" Exclaimed Lothinar as he brought Candasar to earth and slid to a halt next to them. "I don''t think we have time for this!"


    "I have given you Esmarilla''s reasons. You must climb down!" said Ardwella. "The warden elves are coming. I do not know how Cantrell was turned against us, but they will be here soon"


    Lothinar gazed back toward the elven village from whence they had come, peering through the trees as if trying to see something. Suddenly his eyes flew open wide.


    "Who is that? The energy surge is huge!" he exclaimed.


    "That is what happens when you spend hundreds of years eating more than enough magical dragon eggs," said Ardwynn. "My father is coming. He is also the reason you definitely want me in the air with you"


    "Not with me!" said Esmarilla, tipping suddenly and spilling the younger female elf onto the ground below where she landed on her backside with a small thud. "I will not hide in battle behind a hostage"


    The black dragon quickly backed away and once more leaped into the air. On her back, Lothinar could see his mother drawing her white sword as they headed back the way they had come.


    "Ouch! That hurt," said Ardwynn. "And I am not a hostage! I am a volunteer!"


    Looking down Lothinar asked the unspoken question of Candasar.


    "Yes, I can carry her too," but somehow Lothinar knew that the answer that appeared in his mind did not sound very confident.


    "I will be much slower," came the explanation. "And you had better hold on to her very tightly if I have to dodge arrows"


    "Get on!" he said, holding out his hand as she climbed up.


    "I want to apologize in advance. Candasar says I must hold on to you tightly so that you will not fall off"


    Looking back at him, Ardwynn rolled her beautiful eyes.


    "I''ll try to endure that" Then she chuckled.


    Candasar ran forward and launched once again into the air. Slowly she turned and followed after the great black dragon god on her way to do battle with an ancient evil elf.


    ------------------------------------


    They were slower. As they closed on the conflict up ahead, Lothinar could see his mother astride her dragon, her white sword gripped tightly in her outstretched hand. There was an enormous crackle and flash as a huge bolt of lightning jumped up from the huge elf upon the road. It struck the outstretched sword instead of the dragon. Ardwella twitched and jerked but stayed astride the black dragon. Her hair seemed to stand out from her head. Then she began to slump on her dragon''s back. The sword began to slip from her grasp. She caught the sword and herself, but just barely. The great black dragon continued her plunge toward the elf on the road. The monster elf pushed forward with his hands as a purple power built and grew once more. He prepared to strike again.


    "NO! cried Lothinar, too far away to do anything but watch his mother''s impending death. Suddenly Cantrell was there. He swung a knife at the huge elf, who flung out his arm at him, sending the lightning intended for his mother straight into Cantrell''s body. The elven warden crumpled, flopping to the earth where he lay twitching. The other wardens nearby could only look on in shock. At least none of them had yet fitted arrows to bows.


    The black dragon arrived, pounding down upon the overly enlarged elf. Raking her talons across his face and body intending to snatch him up, but he eluded her grip and left her strafing past, beating her great wings to prepare to come around for another pass.


    "Shoot them, you fools!" screamed the large elf to the rest of the wardens. Lothinar could feel the energy flow and heard the word Heill being self-cast. The terrible wounds on his face and body, though still bleeding, had already begun to close. The wardens hastily began to comply, taking a bead on the large black dragon and her rider now circling for her return. Ardwella seemed slumped and unresponsive. For some reason, the wardens hesitated and did not seem willing to fire.


    From behind a tree Lothinar suddenly saw the human male that they had met on the road earlier. He carried a longsword. He was trying to sneak up on the huge elf, whose attention was obviously focused on the great black. Perhaps it was because he was human and insignificant to the elf, but he seemed to be able to close unnoticed.


    "Dodge this!" screamed Harvey as he struck for the neck of the giant. The sword was swung incredibly hard, but it only went halfway through, stopping at the spine. Still, the large elf grunted and swayed, putting one hand on his neck and the other forward to magically blast the human. The man glowed for an instant like a torch before falling and rolling around screaming upon the ground. "Heill," the large elf gurgled out again, and the gruesome half-decapitation unbelievably began to swiftly repair.


    Then Candasar was there in the air above it all. Lothinar and Ardwynn upon her back. The giant elf Tempton, the brother of the emperor, looked up at the blue dragon bearing down upon him. He looked and saw the terrified face of his daughter astride her. He lowered his hand. Candasar breathed out heavily and all at once. The air ignited with flame. Intense fire fell upon the huge elf. Tempton stood there silently, burning for over twenty seconds before he finally fell to the ground.


    Candasar had flown past but swung around and rapidly settled near the burning body. She seemed surprised at what she had done. She still watched the flames cautiously as if the elf could somehow have survived even that. Lothinar was vaguely aware of Esmarilla landing next to the blue dragon. Ardwella, with serious burns on her arm and hand, managed to slide off her back and onto the ground. She staggered over to the fallen human and Cantrell, who both lay nearby. For some reason, Ardwynn seemed to be crying. None of the warden elves fired their arrows, pointing them away and relaxing their pull. Everyone seemed stunned, unable to process what they had just seen.


    Ardwella reached the human first. She gazed down at his charred face. He managed a twisted smile.


    "I got your horse tied up behind some trees over there" He pointed with his eyes. "I''m sorry, but I don''t think I''ll be able to make that date at the temple later"


    "I''m sure that I would have enjoyed meeting you under better circumstances. Thank you for what you did," Said Ardwella.


    "So, I was curious... " came the gasping words as the man''s life began to fade. "Are you married to that sweaty elf that was with you at the gate?"


    Ardwella looked down at him sadly.


    "Yes, I''m afraid that I am."


    "Kind of figured that, someone as beautiful as you...." breathed out the man as he slumped and closed his eyes for the last time.


    -----------------


    Lothinar found himself standing over Cantrell. Surprisingly, the warden was conscious. He looked up at him with a curious expression on his burned face.


    "So, about Jontain? What happened"


    "He followed Ardwynn to our house and then followed my mother out of the village where I was waiting for her with Candasar. We were trying to sneak in. Things happened fast. We had to knock him out and tie him up."


    "How did he die?"


    "The next morning, after I untied him, he jumped me with a big knife. Almost killed me. Tundor grabbed him by the arm...."


    "Ok. I think I get it." Said Cantrell. That makes sense. I¡¯m glad you are alright.


    Lothinar could tell that the warden''s strength was near the end.


    He noticed that while he had been talking, the other wardens had gathered around. They had been listening. They looked somehow satisfied. They did seem to get extremely nervous when Candasar finally finished looking at the cremated elf and walked over to stand next to him. Ardwynn remained kneeling by the pile of ashes. He wanted to go to her, but the faces of his co-workers held too many questions.


    "Guys, this is Candasar" She used to be a water dragon. We kind of fixed her up." said Lothinar. In spite of what you may have heard, you have nothing to fear from her.


    That earned him some dubious glares.


    ¡±I¡¯m sure she¡¯s harmless, ¡° said Yewstrong.


    "Can you heal Cantrell? asked Cenderick. I don''t think he''s going to make it."


    "I''m sorry guys, my magic is kind of broken right now..."


    "Heill!" said Candasar and a cooling blue light began to flow into Cantrell''s body. His ragged breathing began to stabilize and he began to look immediately better."


    "That will get him stabilized for now," said Candasar. Let¡¯s load him onto Jamison and get him into town. We can do some more healing later. He¡¯s going to make it.


    "Did you know that they could do that?" asked Telehala.


    ¡±I think that there are a lot of things about dragons that we do not know,¡± said Amstell.


    -------------------------------------


    Starett heard a commotion over by the temple entrance. A large wagon was trying to squeeze inside the courtyard. Ridiculously, It was being pulled by a dragon. A dragon without wings. Starett sighed. This was the dragon temple, after all. He would have to see about widening that hallway. Walking behind the wagon was one of the elves that had come to calm down the dragon god on that fateful first day. He was the one who had given Starett half of his wedding gift for future expenses. Starett sure had appreciated that. Very useful. The elf looked exhausted.


    "You may leave your wagon here. It will not be disturbed. I already have quarters prepared. The dragon god said that you would be coming." said Starett.


    "Thank you so much. My name is Albarad, and this is Tundor. The dragon god and the rest of our party should be here soon."


    Starett looked over and happened to notice that the old priest Womber had suddenly become very interested in the brickwork. He was mixing some mortar.


    ----------------------------------


    Ardwynn looked at the pile of ashes. She was having a hard time accepting it. He hadn''t been that much of a father, really, sleeping most of his life away. And yet, Ardwynn knew that there at the last, her presence on the blue dragon had stayed his hand of death. She didn''t know what to think. Her father had lived his life both empowered and enslaved to the magic of the dragon eggs. Somehow their use forever changed him. The lure of easy power and near immortality had its costs. She wondered how her mother and brother would take the news. Now all she had were the frustrated tears for what might have been.


    She looked over at the elf that represented the new life that she had chosen. A life that represented the best that an elf could be. Even now, she could see him looking her way, trying to close out his secondary conversations with the other wardens and come to her. To offer her sympathy and love. But even now, his sense of duty made him wait. She understood duty. She could live with that. She had made the right choice. As soon as the dragon was ready, she would ask Tundor for his bond. Together the two couples would change the world.

 Chapter 30: The Wisdom of the Blue Dragon

    ****************


    Chapter 30


    ****************


    In the center dais in the dragon temple courtyard, the statue of a huge black dragon had stood for five hundred years. Now, at least on this occasion, it held a platform. Today the dragon had other duties to perform. The platform was supporting the body of a town gate guard named Harvey. His body had been wrapped in fine linen and surrounded with flowers and ornamental garlands. The large skylight that illuminated the courtyard during the day had been temporarily removed for what was about to occur.


    An honor guard of Harvey¡¯s friends and co-workers stood at attention as the huge black dragon entered the courtyard and moved gracefully to sit respectfully near the wrapped body. Scores of humans seated on benches almost completely filled the courtyard. One of them looked especially young. Lothinar wondered if Harvey had much of a family. Probably a sister, he thought. Scattered among them were at least a few of Cantrell¡¯s warden team. At some unseen signal, a beautiful elven woman, his mother, stood and walked to a small podium. At her waist was strapped a beautiful white sword. Her arm was wrapped in a black full-length bandage. She looked at those assembled and began to speak, not in elvish but in the speech common to men. Even in that language, her voice was melodic and sweet. She seemed to have a lot to say.


    "What is she talking about ?" said Alberad to his son.


    "Ssshhh." whispered Lothinar. "You are being too loud".


    "She is describing the other elves'' part in all this and my father¡¯s actions," said Ardwynn, seated next to Lothinar but even farther yet from Alberad, meaning the commentary was louder.


    ¡°Quiet!¡±


    ¡°Now she is talking about Harvey''s part of the battle and extolling his bravery," she continued in a softer whisper


    "Ssshhh!"


    "Look, I know that you are working wardens need a solid knowledge of human speech because you often interact with men that might be running around in the shared woods, but I don''t think that it''s right that I''m the only elf in the place that doesn''t speak human," said Albarad loudly.


    Lothinar just glared, glad to be well to the side. His seats were blocking a main hallway, having needed considerable room for the two smaller dragons, Tundor and Candasar, who sat behind them. This passageway appeared new and fairly wide. It looked like you could probably fit a good-sized wagon through here. In fact, some of the brick mortar still looked a little wet. He looked over and met the eyes of an older man standing nearby who smiled at him nervously.


    Ardwella seemed to be finishing up. She stepped back, removed the podium, and threw a single red rose onto the wrapped body. The black dragon inhaled, then gently sent a stream of liquid fire into the pyre, igniting the body and the wood stacked strategically underneath it. It caught rapidly and burned hot. The smoke began to rise and pass through the hole in the roof. The temple priest stood and began to make a final speech to the crowd.


    "Now, what''s He saying?"


    "He''s actually trying to inspire a new partnership and cooperation between men and the elves that revere dragons. He is reminding the crowd that men have always done so, but now even some of their elven brothers have found the truth and want to embrace the beauty and majesty of being on team Dragon," whispered Ardwynn.


    "That''s not what he said!" said Lothinar. "Not exactly, anyway..."


    "So I''m paraphrasing... I''m trying to keep the noise down." giggled Ardwynn.


    Suddenly the gathered crowd gave a mighty shout.


    "Now what?" asked Alberad.


    "He asked how many gathered here would commit to this new partnership. I guess their strong response means yes."


    "That''s good news, right? I mean, we are probably going to need all the help we can get," said Alberad.


    The smoke continued to rise and go out the hole. It was a beautiful send-off for Harvey.


    -----------------------------------------------------


    "I don''t think your father is coming back." said Ulaire. ¡°It¡¯s been three days.¡±


    ¡±Maybe he dozed off somewhere¡± said Quinton with a smirk, then cast his eyes downward when his mother shot him a dirty look.


    ¡±Cantrell and the rest of the rangers have not returned either. They provide the vast majority of working infrastructure for this preserve. That they are gone too leaves this town vulnerable.¡± Said Ulaire.


    ¡±Vulnerable to what exactly?¡±


    ¡±Oh I don¡¯t know, an attack from those fanatical dragon worshippers over in man town, or better yet, some righteously angry water dragons slithering up here somehow and biting our arms off. Did you see that poor elf?!¡±


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    ¡±Mother, you are becoming hysterical!¡±


    ¡±Am I? Ardwynn is still missing, and your father has not come home before!¡±


    ¡±You know he is more than capable of taking care of himself ¡°


    ¡±I don¡¯t know. He was going after Ardwynn. He¡¯s always had a soft spot for that girl, not that he would let her see it¡±


    ¡±He always pushed me pretty hard¡±


    ¡±That¡¯s because you are like me, conniving and sneaky. Ardwynn has always been right up front and in your face. Just like him¡±


    ¡±You don¡¯t think she actually turned on him?¡±


    ¡±No, not directly, but she was probably with those he was fighting, and somehow it might have made him hold back¡±


    ¡±I have a hard time believing anything could actually kill him,¡± said Quinton.


    ¡±How much do you actually know about dragons? Real ones I mean¡­.¡± asked Ulaire.


    ¡±Obviously, not nearly enough.¡±


    ¡±We are probably going to need some help and there is still an egg delivery to make, even if it¡¯s short a few. We will be leaving this afternoon for the capital.¡±


    ¡±You are coming with me this time?¡±


    ¡±After what you said to the water dragons, I certainly don¡¯t feel safe down by the lake¡±


    ¡±Oh yeah, that. I¡¯ll go get the horses ready¡±


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-


    The crowd had dispersed, and the pyre had been removed. The floor was swept. The great black dragon sat once more upon the granite slab that had been her resting place for many centuries. Now restored to full wakefulness, sitting here felt very strange. Her bonded elf Ardwella sat by her side, softly stroking her front claw.


    ¡°You are still in a lot of pain from your burns, ¡° said the dragon. ¡°Why did you not heal them or allow me to? You risk a scar¡±


    ¡±It is a reminder, ¡° the elf said, ¡°of the painful price that human man Harvey paid to help save our lives and bring us this small victory ¡°


    ¡±He wasn¡¯t that small for an elf,¡± commented Esmarilla


    ¡°That¡¯s not what I mean and you know it,¡± said Ardwynn


    ¡±Yes, I know we have a long way to go in the struggle to free my people,¡± admitted the dragon. ¡°Harvey was very brave. But I¡¯m sure he couldn¡¯t see the danger in the glare of your beauty ¡°


    ¡±Things like that shouldn¡¯t be happening,¡±  said the beautiful elf sadly ¡°¡± Perhaps carrying a few scars would be a good thing ¡°


    ¡±I don¡¯t think Albarad would agree,¡± said the dragon.


    ¡±No, probably not. We fought, but I think Ardwynn and Candasar actually won that battle,¡± said Ardwella. ¡°Did you know that she admitted to Lothinar that she didn¡¯t even know she could breathe fire until it happened?¡±


    ¡±The blues have always been better at everything,¡± said Esmarilla a little jealously. ¡°I wonder if she knows how rare she is?¡±


    ¡±She would never have been able to get that close if the Duke had not held back his lightning ¡°


    ¡°Because of Ardwynn, yes.¡± Said Esmarilla. ¡°It was foolish of me to leave her behind ¡°


    ¡±I don¡¯t think even the duke¡¯s affection for his daughter would have stayed his attack if Ardwynn had been with me, riding you. You are just too massive and dangerous. He probably didn¡¯t expect as much from Candasar. She is so newly returned to being an actual dragon and inexperienced. It was a lucky break.


    ¡°How is Ardwynn holding up? I don¡¯t really get a good read on her emotions for some reason.


    ¡±Better than expected. Lothinar has all her attention right now. I¡¯m sure it will come up again when she decides to deal with her mother and brother, ¡° said Ardwella.


    ¡±Her mother is an elf that really deserves to be dropped into the middle of the lake and let the dragon mothers go after her¡±


    ¡±You have a very creative mind Esmarilla.¡±


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    Cantrell was feeling better, but he was still a little sore. It was a deep internal crispy feeling like his internal lubricants had run dry. Everything creaked. His tissues were restored, but the underpinnings were obviously going to take more time. He had received almost constant visits from his warden staff, although his status as their official leader was now presumably up for further review. Candasar had come by with Lothinar once more, but the blue dragon reported that she had done all the actual healing she could.


    He felt it was high time to get out of bed and head back to Tasumakoji to see what was happening. Cenderick and Amstell had made the trip a day ago and reported that everything had looked surprisingly normal. Even quiet. He found it hard to believe that Dragons in flight and a dead ranger in a barn would allow things to remain essentially status quo. He would have to see for himself. The room was nice. Apparently, an old priest had retired recently, and it had somehow been available.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-


    Lothinar, Ardwynn, Candasar, and Tundor had all bunked down together in a huge empty storage room outside the temple but nearby. As such, being in essentially a warehouse they were subject to the foot traffic and noises as goods came and went from the neighbor''s daily activities. The dragons obviously drew a lot of attention as well. People were almost constantly poking their heads through the large doors and asking if they needed anything. The lack of privacy seemed to be bothering Ardwynn a lot more than Lothinar for some reason. As a few days and nights passed, she seemed increasingly frustrated.


    ¡°What is it?¡± He finally asked as Ardwynn began yelling at a delivery man who was bringing them a couple of beautiful salads and a cow. She had, for some reason, been fiddling with the dress she was wearing.


    ¡°She wants to mate with you,¡± said Candasar abruptly. ¡°Can you really not tell? Have you always been this oblivious?¡±


    ¡±Yes, he has! Yelled Ardwynn, as she broke into tears and went running from the room.


    ¡±Even I could tell!¡± Said Tundor.


    ¡±Listen closely, my elf. You will need to follow her. You will find her in a quiet and private place. You must calm her down and tell her that you indeed love her. You will kiss her. Then you will give her what she needs. You will do this immediately. More than once if you are able¡±


    Lothinar¡¯s eyes grew wide. He gulped. He looked at the two dragons. Candasar smiled. Then he ran quickly from the room.


    ¡±Wow, you sure told him,¡± said Tundor.


    ¡±Yes, my mate, and now that I finally have you alone¡­..¡±


    ¡±I guess the cow can wait,¡± said Tundor.


    Mooo!


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-


    The two water dragon elders, Killingsworth and Benedar, approached the blue female while she was gathering foxtails and water fronds for a new nest. She looked at them with reproach and disdain.


    ¡°What do you want now?¡± Have you come to insist that I must surrender my child to you? Do you seek to drown her as you tried to drown Tundor? I heard what happened. He is alive. My cousin Candasar saved him!¡±


    ¡±We were wrong. We apologize! we want your children to live,¡± said Killingsworth


    ¡°What has made you fools change your mind? Why should any of the mothers trust you?¡±


    ¡±We have heard that somehow Candasar has grown back her wings!¡± Said Benedar.


    ¡±That is very interesting. Leave me alone, then. I must have peace and quiet to try and focus my magic!¡±


    ¡¯¡± You will go and tell the others¡­¡±


    And they did.


    The news spread like wildfire


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-

 Chapter 31: What a Fool Believes

    **************


    Chapter 31


    **************


    Cantrell and several of the other wardens made the trip back home. Ardwella had asked him to try and find out what kind of response they might expect from the Elven village. Since that is exacly what he had wanted to do himself, it was an easy thing to agree to do. The wardens had taken up various observational positions on the outskirts of Tasumakoji. before finally heading into town for a closer look.


    It was a strange feeling to consider the town where he lived as hostile territory. He had to assume it was possible as he had no idea what actions Quinton and Ulaire might have taken since the battle near Delora Natine five days ago. He supposed it might even be possible that they thought the Duke was still alive. He certainly had been hard to kill. Now the members of the team were coming together to make their reports.


    "Warden''s office is still locked up as we left it, said Dahlwell


    "Absolutely nothing going on over at Ardwella and Albarad''s barn. Jontain''s body has been removed and its been cleaned up very thoroughly.. It''s like somebody is hiding that it ever happened." said Cenderick."I did run into a neighbor of theirs named Mavis. She looked relieved to see me and said that she would like to speak with you."


    "Hooper over at the general store said that Quinton and Ulaire came by for some supplies and then left on horseback two days ago. They are obviously long gone." said Bondine.


    "It''s a three-day ride to the capital on horseback from here," Said Cantrel. I wish I could guess what the emperor is going to do."


    "I don''t think he''s going to allow his brother to be killed without a major response. I wouldn''t," said Telehalla.


    "I''m not sure that they even know he¡¯s dead. Who was going to tell him?" Asked Bondine.


    "He set out to kill some dragons. Not coming back sort of leads to the obvious conclusion," answered Yewstrong. That¡¯s why the Dutches and her son blew town.¡±


    "Well, the rest of you check in on your own living situations, and I''ll talk to Mavis," said Cantrell. "Where can I find her Cenderick?"


    "She lives just a few minutes from Ardwella''s place. Come on, I''ll take you," Said the elf.


    Cantrell and Cenderick found Mavis in her yard, taking some clothes off a clothesline. She ran up to them, holding a laundry basket, when she saw them approach. She looked extremely overdressed to be doing laundry.


    ¡±Chief Warden, I¡¯m so glad you¡¯re back!¡± She looked around a bit. ¡°is it just the two of you?¡±


    ¡±Yes, Who were you expecting ?¡± Asked Cantrell, a little confused.


    ¡±Well, I thought Lothinar might be with you. He is my neighbor, you know.¡±


    ¡®Cenderick raised his eyebrows and shot the Chief Warden a bemused look¡±


    ¡±Yes, I realize that he and his family live just down the road there¡­¡±


    ¡±Do you know he flew past this very spot about a week ago on one of those beautiful blue dragons your team must use for patrols? He waved to me!¡±


    ¡±Well, I guess that there is no use denying it then,¡± said Cantrell trying to ignore the strange feeling that the cat was quite out of the bag regarding Candasar.


    ¡°I hope you have those valuable dragons safely secured somewhere because I think Ulaire and her son might be trying to steal them. Are all of your dragons already bonded?


    ¡±We actually just have the one flying one so far¡±


    I saw Quinton at Lothinar¡¯s barn earlier in the week, trying to hide evidence of a murder. One of your wardens, I believe. I couldn¡¯t see that well ¡®cause I was trying to stay out of sight. But only the guilty try that hard to cover up a murder. He snuck out the body and was washing down the walls and everything!¡±


    ¡°I see said Cantrell. We were aware something like that must have happened. Did you see what he eventually did with the body?¡±


    ¡±Yes, I can be pretty sneaky when I want to be. I¡¯ve had some practice secretly watching Lothinar.¡± Then she realized what she was saying and blushed furiously. ¡°Anyway, he threw the body into the lake!¡±


    ¡±You¡¯re sure about that?¡± asked Cenderick


    ¡°Oh yes. I hid in some tall bushes right down near the water. I saw him throw that poor dead elf in. I got one of my good pairs of shoes all muddy and everything ¡°


    Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    ¡°Well, thank you for letting us know.¡± Said Cantrell. ¡°We appreciate the help.¡±


    ¡±Wait, I haven¡¯t even gotten to the interesting part,¡± said Mavis.


    ¡±There¡¯s something more interesting than disposing of a body? Ok then, what¡¯s that¡±


    ¡°Well, while I was standing there trying to scrape the mud off my best shoes, a big blue water dragon came right up to me. She was almost the exact color as the flying one that I had seen earlier. Even though I think I peed myself a little at first, It was a little surprising. I told her so. I mean, not about the pee, but that I had seen the blue flying one too. She seemed really happy to hear about it. She was actually very polite. I think someone has been spreading incorrect information about their dangers.¡±


    Cenderick and Cantrell exchanged strange looks.


    ¡±Anyway, the water dragon¡¯s name is Aleena. She said the one that was flying around was her cousin Candasar. She really wants to talk to her again. She asked if there was any way I could help make that happen.¡±


    ¡±What did you tell her?¡± Asked Cantrell.


    ¡±I told her that I would talk to you.¡± Then she batted her eyelashes.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-


    ¡°One of the logistical challenges we are dealing with is that Esmarilla, the dragon god, eats about three times as much as the other two,¡± said McDonald. If we are going to have sustainable herds we are going to need another source of protein. At least until we can import some more cattle ¡°


    ¡±Food requirements are abnormally high for various reasons right now.¡± Said Ardwella to the other three. ¡°Once we are sure about a response from the Elves and the Emperor we can go back to foraging for wild deer about half the time. That¡¯s going to be easier for Candasar and Esmarilla than for Tundor, of course. Just because of the distances involved. ¡°


    Starett, the priest, McDonald and his wife, and Ardwella were having a meeting in the high priest¡¯s office about the food supply situation.


    ¡±The two smaller dragons are still rapidly growing, but that will begin to slow down a bit soon. Esmarilla is really gobbling down the cows because not only was she hibernating for a very long time, but she just put a huge demand on her magic reserves bringing back Candasar from being a water dragon.¡± Said the beautiful female elf. ¡°Neither Esmarilla nor my son will be able to do that again soon, but we will get there¡±


    ¡±The more she eats the faster her magical reserves replenish. You may have noticed that while she used to be jet black, lately, she is a little more grey.¡± She is starting to darken back up, but it will take a bit longer before she¡¯s at her best.


    Ardwella had finally removed the black bandage, and although her arm still looked a little pink, Ronette McDonald, the milkmaid, was happy to see that there didn¡¯t seem to be any permanent scarring.


    ¡°I see your arm is better,¡± said Ronette.


    Ardwella smiled.


    ¡°Thanks for noticing. Have we met?¡±


    This is my wife Ronette. I¡¯m Mike McDonald. We¡¯ve been made the official cow suppliers to the temple since our involvement on almost day one when your dragon first visited our farm. It¡¯s been ¡®minute by minute¡¯ ever since. She¡¯s very polite. I really appreciate that you have always paid your bills. Were you the one who taught her how to write?¡±


    ¡°Well, it¡¯s the nature of the bond, actually. We¡¯ve been together for such a long time. Just about everything I know, she knows.¡± I appreciate that we¡¯ve been ¡®depending on you¡¯.¡±


    ¡±It keeps you running,¡± said Ronette, ¡° but we are honored to help.¡±


    ¡°I really want to thank you also, Priest Starett, for the way you have welcomed and taken care of so many things for us,¡± said Ardwella.


    ¡°Well, I grew up watching Esmarilla, the statue version in the temple.¡± Said Starett. ¡°I used to fantasize what it would be like if somehow she was real. How it would be to interact with such a wonderful creature. Now all my dreams have come true. Thank you for that!¡±


    ¡±We appreciate your service. Perhaps sometime soon, I can ask Esmarilla to take you for a little ride. You are not afraid of flying, are you?¡±


    ¡± Definitely not.¡± Said the priest excitedly.¡±


    ¡®You know, Mike, I couldn¡¯t help noticing that for an older couple your wife is still very pretty.¡± Said Ardwella.


    ¡±Coming from you, that is quite a compliment, ¡° said Ronette. I don¡¯t know if you noticed, but one reason I have aged so well is, of course, that I¡¯m half-elf.


    ¡°Of course you are,¡± said Starett smiling. So obviously not the milk, then."


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-


    Emperor Argent looked at his nephew and his brother''s wife as they knelt before him in the throne room.


    "The quota for dragon eggs has once again not been met. I sent you and my brother there to resolve the shortages, and yet it has gotten nothing but worse. I don¡¯t think I need to tell you what will happen if you do not get this situation in hand."


    Ulaire looked at her son.


    "Do you want to tell him, or am I going to have to do it?¡±


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    Candasar stood on the cliff overlooking what had once been her cove. Next to her was Lothinar, her bonded companion .behind them both crouched the small black mountain that was Esmarilla, Ardwella sat astride her with a grinning young priest.


    They had just flown in at the request of her cousin Aleena, who now seemed to have a strong leadership position among the dominant females that, for the first time, had filled the recent vacancies on the leader''s council. In the waters below swam over three hundred dragons. All that were able to make the trip down here near the town of the men. Delora Natine, the town named for the tears of fire.


    Together with Lothinar, Candasar was able to broadcast her thoughts to all those gathered below.


    ¡°We will be moving the nests far away from the elven outpost. We will stay at this end of the lake where our friends, the humans, can help protect our young and our eggs. We will no longer be surrendering them to the elves. Many will continue to hatch into swimming dragons, but as our magic grows and returns, more and more will be born with wings. Then our people will return to our place in the sky. We will have to fight, but soon we will again be free. The water dragons howled their approval.


    Candasar smiled.


    Lothinar thought that it was one of the best smiles he had ever seen, even if it was on a beautiful blue dragon.

 Chapter 32: Take These Broken Wings

    *************


    Chapter 32


    **************


    Tundor was down. Obviously. Ha Ha. No wings, he thought.


    The airborne dragons had fought and somehow killed the Emperor''s Brother, His own mate had reduced him to a pile of ash with her fire. At the time, he had been running away, pulling a cart.


    He knew it was important, but somehow it felt cowardly.


    Then, because it was last minute and he couldn''t fly there himself, he missed Candasar''s speech at the lake where the dragons had honored Candasar and celebrated her rebirth.


    It would have really been great to see those elders who had tried to kill him bowing and asking for her forgiveness. What about HIS forgiveness? Nobody had even mentioned it.


    It was humiliating. Nobody seemed to give him a second thought. They didn''t seem to expect much of anything from him at all. He had seemingly missed everything.


    Well, he had bitten off the arm and finished that nasty elf Jontain in the barn and saved Lothinar''s life. But even that had seemed to be a questionable thing to the rest of the wardens


    As bad as that guy seemed to be, Tundor would have thought the elves would have been a bit more picky about having him on their team. It was very confusing. He just didn''t know where he fit in.


    These days, when he was confused, he went to talk to the oldest dragon he knew. That, of course, was Esmarilla.


    ------------------


    "I sense that you are troubled, young dragon," said the giant black.


    "You are right, honored elder," Said Tundor.


    "You may, of course, call me Esmarilla or ''The Great Dragon God. '' We are friends after all. "Then she laughed. It was a low, booming chuckle. Call me Esmarilla, please. Do you wish to share your thoughts, or should I guess?"


    "It''s just that I feel so useless, so much like a failure. I want to help, and I''m trapped in this maimed and underdeveloped body!"


    "Do you not believe that I and Lothinar will restore your normal dragon body just as soon as we are able to?"


    "Yes, I trust you. it''s just that things are happening so fast. I''m missing so much. What if the Emperor shows up, and you all need to fight, and I''m still stuck this way?"


    "Are you sorry that you missed the battle the other day? Because, honestly, you shouldn''t be."


    "But why? If I had been there, I would have fought! I am brave enough!


    "And you would be like Harvey the brave gate guard. Dead. Smoke up the chimney. That is if we had survived to provide you a ceremony."


    "You don''t know that!"


    "I do know that. We were very lucky. Candasar was only able to get close because Ardwynn was on her. The big elf hesitated because of that. Ardwella would not have survived another strike of that lightning. The sword absorbed much of the first attack and gave her one more chance. Even I would probably not have survived a direct hit of that monster''s first blast. A one-hand half-blast killed Harvey, and a similar one almost killed Cantrell. Lothinar''s magic is still out of commission. If Candasar hadn''t healed him, he would have died.


    "What about you? Couldn''t you do it? Heal him, I mean..."


    "Oh, child. Do you see me? I''m better now than I was a few days ago, but I don''t think even Ardwella realizes how low my stored magic is right now. "I''m practically a grey!"


    "Is that bad?"


    "You have no idea. It takes very little magic to throw fire, but it does take some. When we passed over the battle, I didn''t even have enough magic to attempt it. I was down to trying to grab him, and I missed"


    "Grey''s are dragons with almost no capacity for magic, They can be fierce physical fighters but use almost no spells. I will recover soon, but Greys never develop much magic capacity"


    "Bringing Candasar back took that much out of you?"


    "Nobody has ever even attempted it before" Ardwella and I could not have done it ourselves. It took all three of us and extensively relied upon a unique partial bond that I have with Lothinar because Ardwella is his mother. I participated in forming him before he was born. This activity, restoring dragons, is what he was born for. How he was specifically made.¡±


    "Does he realize that? That you changed him? Gave him special powers?¡±


    "I''m sure he does. If he does not speak of it, then it is because he is abnormally humble"


    Candasar almost completely emptied my reserves, but Lothinar loves you like a brother. As soon as we are able we will fix you right up! Why do you think I''ve been eating three cows daily for a week straight?"


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    "Yeah, I kind of noticed that. It is impressive!"


    ¡±They even brought me an old horse the other day. He was a little tough, but I¡¯m currently focusing on quantity over quality. Don¡¯t tell Albarad about that, by the way. I think he¡¯s still worried about me eating Jamison for some reason. He¡¯s still trying to figure out how he fits into my very long-term relationship with Ardwella. Males can get so jealous!


    Tundor nodded.


    Uh, Esmarilla?


    Yes Tundor?


    "What color dragon will I be when you fix me up? Am I a grey?"


    She laughed hard at this. The noise shook the brickwork a little and a small piece broke off over by the hallway.


    Esmarilla scowled and then yelled, her voice carried throughout the temple.


    "Send me the old priest Womber!" Then she looked down and nuzzled Tundor affectionately.


    "Don¡¯t worry so much. You can already use magic. This you must remember from earlier when you were hunting deer."


    "Yes, said Tundor, I remember"


    "Do the other male dragons that you know use magic? Believe me, some definitely can,¡±


    "They are all water types, but no". But Candasar could use magic when she was still a water type"


    "Blue females are a special case. I''ve been trying not to be jealous of what she will eventually become"


    ¡°I¡¯ve already had to deal with jealousy of my own with Candasar. A couple of young males have already died because they would not leave her alone.¡± I want to be worthy of her. That¡¯s partly what this conversation is about.


    "Don''t worry, Tundor. You may not be able to see it clearly right now because, of all the colors, it is the lightest, but Tundor, you are definitely White. Just like my brother Vanador."


    "That''s good?"


    "Yes, Tundor. My brother had the strongest magic anyone has ever seen."


    "Better than blue?"


    "We will have to see. In Candasar''s case, she has an abnormal advantage."


    "What''s that?"


    "A bond with Lothinar"


    -------------------------------


    Someone else had been bonding with Lothinar. As often as she could convince him to over the last several days, and that was a lot. It was a different type of bond than Candasar had formed with Lothinar. It was definitely more physically hands-on. Because of that, Ardwynn just couldn''t stop walking around with a silly grin on her face.


    Most wardens had decided to return to their residences in Tasumakoji. It just seemed more natural for them than staying with the humans, even as accommodating as they had been. This freed up the room Cantrell had been using to convalesce right off the courtyard. Alberad and Ardwella had been given permission to move into that room by the young priest and that had freed up the room in which they had been previously been staying. Ardwynn had quickly requested it. This afforded Lothinar and Ardwynn a great deal more privacy, and she was very grateful for that. It actually seemed to be working out better for the dragons too. It seemed that there were plenty of silly grins to go around.


    Lothinar had surprised her just a day later by asking to make their arrangement permanent. Although she had previously joked about the priest in the human temple, she never expected him to remember that. She had been chasing him for so long that she hadn''t really thought about what he might do when he finally caught her. It was romantic, really. He had gotten down on one knee and formally asked her to be his wife. She wasn''t about to say no.


    He had also presented her with a ring that had belonged to his grandfather. A simple but beautiful white gold band that Lothinar had worn on his little finger. It was something Ardwella assured her that she had given to Lothinar many years before. A mysterious family heirloom. It fit her surprisingly well on her marriage ring finger, well, at least once she wrapped a little twine around it. They could sort out a resizing later.


    Lothinar had approached Starett and asked him to perform a ceremony uniting them in the temple. Ardwella and Albarath would gladly serve as the witnesses. There was a slightly hollow feeling as Ardwynn realized that of course her family wouldn''t be around to see her joined. Her father''s ashes were spread around in the local forest by now and it was definitely for the best that they hadn''t heard from her mother and brother. Although she had met him once or twice, she had never dreamed of inviting her uncle. Ever the pragmatist, Ardwynn embraced this opportunity to start her new life with the man of her dreams.


    In spite of their desire to keep it small, the ceremony ended up spilling out of the priest''s office and into the main courtyard when the whole group of wardens showed up to attend and bear witness as well. They could hardly tell them no. The townspeople had again decorated the central area with flowers. It wasn''t as crowded as it had been for Harvey''s funeral, but surprisingly, many humans were in attendance. Ardwynn thought it might actually be that they wanted to see the dragons. The ones without flippers that could walk right up to you were still a novelty to most of them.


    The McDonalds even came. Apparently, Starett had asked them to provide the food for the reception. They brought some uniformly round hot sandwiches filled with beef for the humans and some salty crisp fried potato strands served in a sweet tomato sauce for the elves. They even provided a few cows for the dragons. The elves were then introduced to something called ice cream. It was all strangely delicious.


    ----------------------------


    Early the next morning, after another night of privacy that somehow was even more rewarding than the ones before, Ardwynn and Lothinar were surprised to find Tundor sitting just outside their room. He had obviously been waiting for them. Ardwynn was getting much better at interpreting the expressions that might be available on a dragon¡¯s face, but this morning, he had a look she hadn¡¯t seen before.


    Picking up on that immediately, Lothinar asked.


    ¡±What¡¯s going on Tundor?¡±


    ¡°We have a serious problem over at the lake,¡± Replied the dragon.


    ¡±Candasar! What¡¯s the matter?¡± Called Lothinar over the bond. He felt her self-imposed privacy barrier shatter like tinkling shards of glass


    ¡±I am over by the lake, my bond, and uninjured. Esmarilla and I were, of course, the first to arrive. We dealt with the situation. I was loathe to invade your bliss on your special night ¡°


    ¡±What is going on?¡± Asked Ardwynn trying to read Lothinar¡¯s eyes for answers.


    Candasar sent him pictures of what she was seeing. Esmarilla had her front leg firmly pressed onto a figure squished almost entirely under the water and mud just off the shore. Lothinar was dismayed to see some bleeding cuts on her chest and arm. Behind the dragons, he could see at least three human guardsmen. They looked burned, although two were still moving, plastering their exposed reddened skin with cooling lake mud. Candasar herself was firmly holding down another elf on the shore just out of the water. Lothinar could actually see that one. She was squirming and cursing. Candasar was holding a large blue toenail claw against her throat.


    ¡°You will stop speaking!" Said the blue dragon


    Lothinar¡¯s heart sank as he suddenly realized that Candasar''s prisoner looked far too much like his new bride.


    ¡°Let me finish her!" said another nearby voice in the speech of the water dragons. Candasar translated it for him through the bond. ¡°It is my right. She has taken my eggs for years!¡± Candasar¡¯s gaze swiveled to a large blue water dragon that was standing protectively over a nest.


    ¡±Yes, but we may be able to get some information out of them first,¡± replied Candasar.


    ¡°Ardwynn,¡± said Lothinar, ¡°Your mother and brother are back. It looks like they were caught trying to steal some eggs¡±


    ¡±Oh no,¡± she gasped. ¡°Are they still alive?¡±


    ¡±Your mother definitely appears to be. I can¡¯t be sure about him. He¡¯s currently mostly underwater. We had better hurry.¡±


    ¡±And I missed it again!¡± Lamented Tundor.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 33: Dragon Justice

    ***************


    Chapter 33


    **************


    Because Aleena had moved the location of her new nest closer to the man village the attempted egg napping was not far. Still, it took the Lothinar, Ardwynn, and Tundor about fifteen minutes at a fast run to arrive. Somehow Lothinar''s mother, Ardwella, had managed to beat them there. She had Ulaire trussed up with a rope that Lothinar thought looked suspiciously like the one that his father used to lead Jamison around. The female elf was also quite thoroughly gagged. Apparently, Ardwella knew that allowing a spell-casting elf to use her vocal abilities was unwise. The blue water dragon Aleena was snapping and reaching for her, but Esmarilla''s much larger bulk seemed adequate to keep Ardwynn''s mother away from the blue mother''s angry efforts. As long as she remained interposed, the elf would remain alive for at least a little longer. The fact that Esmarilla had the freedom to move around, blocking the snarling water dragon, gave Lothinar an uneasy premonition.


    "Uh, Esmarilla?" asked Lothinar. "Where is the other elf, the one you were squashing into the mud earlier? I believe that was probably Quinton,  Ardwynn''s brother."


    "Chip off the old block, that one, but not nearly as powerful as his father, Although he managed to cut me with that sword. That actually surprised me. I don¡¯t cut that easily.¡± Said the black dragon.


    Lothinar observed that dark blood was still flowing from the wounds. The sword shoots fire too. He killed a guardsman with the flames and badly burned two more. That¡¯s a dangerous sword. I couldn¡¯t afford to try and take him alive. I got lucky and squished him and left him and the sword in the mud hole. If we had been fighting in a dry place, it would have gone a lot worse.¡±


    Lothinar looked over at the place he had seen Esmarilla standing over Quinton when Candasar had sent him the mental images. Ardwynn was just standing there pale and shaking slightly. He took her hand and walked over to the spot. Water had filled in the depression completely. If Ardwynn''s brother was still down there, Lothinar was pretty sure he wouldn''t be coming up alive.


    Ardwella stepped away from the female elf that she had bound and came closer, a look of sorrow on her face.


    "This war has already taken a huge toll on your family. Are you going to be alright?" she asked.


    Ardwynn''s slack and shocked face grew firm with resolve.


    "I only have one male in my family, and that''s your son! Quinton was the worst sort of bully growing up. He made my life a living hell. I was relieved when he became the liaison to the capital and was called away so much of the time. My mother favored him, and I think it was probably only the fear of my father''s wrath that kept him from trying to rape me." She turned a heated look on her mother and walked over to the prone female elf who looked so eerily like herself. "Esmarilla did the world a favor tonight."


    The two beautiful elven faces swapped matching glares.


    "It is difficult to look sufficiently haughty wearing a gag," thought Lothinar, but somehow Ulaire managed to pull it off.


    "So what do we do now?" Lothinar asked his mother.


    "Well, let''s dig him out and take his body and his mother back to the temple. We can figure out what to do when we get back and can calm down. Oh yeah, when you are digging, don''t forget to retrieve that sword. I want to see the inscriptions on it."


    "You will not be giving her to me!?" asked Aleena.


    "We ask for your patience, cousin," said Candasar. " There may be more to gain here than the satisfaction of a quick death"


    "I put my children''s justice in your hands. Please do not disappoint me." Said the other blue


    "Were you the first nest that was attacked? Did they harm any of the other dragon''s eggs?" asked Tundor


    "No, I was the first. Apparently, my eggs are glowing with a special magical power, even more so than usual," said the blue.


    "You finally decided to take my advice?" asked Candasar.


    "You and Tundor are falling behind!" laughed the other blue.


    Tundor looked over with a snort...


    "It''s definitely not for lack of trying," he said.


    "The problems of the young,"... snickered Aleena.


    "We had some setbacks due to some overzealous healing I attempted," said Candasar, looking at Lothinar strangely. "At the time, I was furious, but now that I realize how important this elf''s life is to all of us, I realize the correct decision was made"


    Candasar smiled at her bond fondly.


    "Come on, let''s get this elf back to the temple and find out what she knows...." said Ardwella


    Lothinar really wished he had brought a shovel.


    And a bucket.


    ----------------------------


    From the way Esmarilla described it, I had a feeling that it was the same sword." Said Ardwella.


    The group had reconvened in the high priest''s office. Two swords lay side by side on the desk. One was white, and the other was black.


    "These are the two swords that were given to my sister and me by my grandfather when we bonded with our dragons. "The white one is mine. The black sword was given to my sister"


    "I don''t understand," said Ardwynn. You carry the white sword. Esmarilla is black"


    "It''s about balance; at least that''s what my grandfather said," said Ardwella. "The sword I carry, ''Curacion,'' means healing light. It counterbalances Esmarilla''s black. Black dragons can send power to someone like Lothinar, who can do healing, but they do not have the ability to heal someone directly. Therefore I have the white sword. When I cut Candasar, if you remember, she did not bleed. The sword is primarily defensive and has vast healing properties. It took the blast from Ardwynn''s father''s lightning and kept me alive.


    "This other sword, '' Mortimer,'' as I suspected, was my sister''s. It means ''Death Bringer" The Emperor''s family must have found it or taken it from her somehow. "


    "You have never heard anything from her at all?" Asked Lothinar.


    "Not for over three hundred years," said Ardwynn. I was sure that she must have died with her dragon.


    "Perhaps she did," said Ardwynn. "I have never seen that sword before today. I have no idea how my brother came to have it."


    "I kind of hate to ask this," said Lothinar, "But why wasn''t Quinton able to kill Esmarilla with that sword or more of the guardsmen?"


    "These swords are semi-sentient." Said Ardwella. "Perhaps it recognized the dragon it was supposed to cut was Esmarilla and failed to comply completely with its wielder''s wishes. Cuts made by Mortimer usually do not heal. It is an extremely dangerous sword against even the magically enhanced.


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    "It seemed to be willing to burn the guardsmen just fine," said Lothinar. "Although he wasn''t able to burn her, he was able to cut her with it."


    "Perhaps it takes some time to be able to wield such a thing properly," said the Starrett butting in. "If Ardwynn''s brother only recently came into possession of the sword?"


    "Maybe Ularie will have some of the answers we seek," said Ardwella. "Can you have one of your men bring her in?"


    "Certainly." Starrett nodded.


    The bound and gagged female elf soon appeared. Although still gagged, she looked at the two swords on the table, and her eyes grew wide"


    Ardwella removed the gag, saying


    "We will kill you immediately if you so much as begin to cast a spell". She picked up Mortimer and swung it about swiftly, ending her sweep with the point directly in front of the elf whose hands were still securely tied. "I have used Mortimer before and know how to end you before a single syllable leaves your lips! "


    Ulaire''s eyes, if possible, grew wider.


    "I love Curacion," said Ardwella winking at Lothinar. "But have to confess that wielding Mortimer has certain advantages in the area of intimidation."


    "It is you!" said Ulaire, The other granddaughter of Lothinex. "It was your black dragon that killed my son!"


    "Don''t dish it out if you can''t take it!" Said Starett, surprising everyone. He blushed. "If I understand the situation correctly, this elf has been killing baby dragons for years. Not only killing them but sending them off to be eaten by an old emperor that doesn''t know when it''s the right time to die naturally"


    Ardwella raised an eyebrow at this but answered straightforwardly,


    "Bonding with a dragon can allow both the elf and the dragon to exceed normal lifespans, but it doesn''t require the death of the dragon to achieve this. The emperor was refused by the dragons because he was judged to be evil. He did not take that rejection well and decided to find a way to get what he wanted anyway."


    "Your dragon must have been in stasis as well..." said Ulaire suddenly.


    "What do you mean as well?!" asked Ardwella, suddenly razor focused. "Do you know of another dragon in stasis?"


    Ularie looked down.


    "I have never seen him," she said. "But I have heard that there is a huge white dragon on the roof of a prison in the emperor''s private citadel"


    "My sister''s dragon, Vanador," Ardwella whispered, her face scrunched up in confusion and what Lothinar thought must be hope.


    "There are things we must know," said Lothinar.


    "I don''t think I will be telling you anything more," Said Ularire. "I''ve already said far too much"


    "You would not bargain information for your life?" Asked Ardwynn


    Her mother looked back at her coldly.


    "You, of all people, should know, my daughter, that there are greater things to fear than death by an angry blue dragon. When I do not return with eggs, your uncle the emperor will be coming, and none of you will survive!"


    ------------------------------


    "It took a while for the lightning damage to finally abate, but I think I can heal you now," said Ardwella to Esmarilla.


    "Thank you," said Esmarilla as cool white light flowed from Curacion and flowed across the cuts on the dragon''s chest and legs. The cuts seemed slow to close, and Ardwella scrunched up her pretty face with additional effort. A few long minutes later, the dark blood stopped flowing.


    ¡°Put Mortimer somewhere safe,¡± said Esmarilla. ¡°We can¡¯t let that sword get into the wrong hands again. I¡¯m very lucky that Quinton hadn¡¯t bothered to make friends with it yet. I could have been permanently missing some body parts.¡±


    ¡±Of course. I¡¯m sure that the emperor will be trying to get it back. I don¡¯t even know why Quinton had it.¡±


    ¡±Perhaps he was feeling desperate and ¡®borrowed¡± it without Argent knowing. Guessed Esmarilla.


    "When you are feeling up to it, I have a task for you," said Ardwella.


    "I can read your thoughts, my bond. You know that originally when I suggested this, It was almost in jest"


    "I know, but I told myself when we started this that there would be no half-measures. If we wish to succeed in restoring your race, they must be empowered to make their own decisions about justice"


    "As you wish. I''ll tell Candasar to gather her cousin and any of the other mothers who want to participate in the lake. I''ll bring Ulaire out to them."


    "Fly low, Esmarilla, when you drop her among them. I wouldn''t want her to die when she hits the water"


    ----------------------


    "You know, I realized that I would have to leave my family behind when I set out to pursue you, my husband. I just didn''t fully understand that it would be because they would all be dead"


    Ardwynn sat with Lothinar on their bed in their room. She had been crying. They were more tears of frustration than those of sorrow.


    "You must think that we are heartless monsters!" said Lothinar.


    She looked at him. She had a complicated look on her face.


    "No, I think that you are probably the cure for the ''real'' heartless monsters. I am the perfect wife for you, Lothinar. I have always known it somehow deep in my soul. It is only now that I have begun to put the pieces together that it makes complete sense. I''ve been raised to have a very high tolerance for monstrous behavior. I somehow can probably justify almost anything if it''s for the right reasons. You are my right reasons."


    "What do you mean by that?" Asked Lothinar looking at her strangely.


    "Think about it. I WANTED to fly with you on Candasar the day she killed my father. It is strange. Even though he was trying to kill us all, he was the hardest one to part with. He was so powerful, so twisted by that power, and yet somehow, he held on to enough of his love for his daughter to hesitate. His old self was still able to provide some sort of moral compass." I think he slept so much because he could not deal with who he had become. In some way I knew that I was freeing him from his pain.


    "That''s starting to make sense," said Lothinar.


    "The other two, my brother and mother, would never hesitate. My brother was not a good person Lothinar. My mother, if anything is worse. Right now, Esmarilla is flying her out to drop her in the middle of a bunch of water dragons who will feel completely justified in ripping her limb from limb because she has systematically been killing their children for years. "


    Perhaps she did not understand the dragons were ''people too''? That they have feelings and love their babies.


    "She totally knew Lothinar. She just didn''t care. I thought I was ignorant of the family business. I certainly wanted nothing to do with any of it. With them. But when Cantrell and I finally put it all together, what they were doing... Out on the beach that night, it was like I had somehow always known. I think my mother put some sort of geas on me so that I wouldn''t give her a hard time about it or try to stop her. She is a powerful magician in her own right. Too powerful to be allowed to live and report to the Emperor about what we are doing here. As it is we probably only have a few days until he gets personally involved. I don''t know how we can even try to prepare for that!"


    "It''s really freaking me out because when I think about what is going to happen to her, all I can see is your face. You look a lot like her."


    "Bred for beauty," she said, then she chuckled darkly. "I thought I was hot stuff til I saw your mom. I couldn''t figure out why I couldn''t dazzle you!"


    "You don''t remind me of my mom at all!" he said. "I''m actually quite relieved about that..."


    "Do you know why I think that is?" asked Ardwynn


    "Why"


    "Because, my dear husband, you don''t have a superficial bone in your body. Most men look at the hair, the beautiful skin, the.... more than ample curves"


    "I can see curves!" he protested. "I found them just this morning!"


    "Yes you did," she smiled. Thanks again for that.


    "What I was trying to say is that you, Lothinar see a lot deeper than most. When you bother to look. I hate to tell you dear, but often it seems. you have other things on your mind. I think you find people attractive for who they really are inside. It''s very frustrating for a beautiful girl to chase after an elf that doesn''t work in that economy," she said, pouting a little. "I tried everything, but nothing worked. I even watched Baby Bears!"


    "Whatever happened to that baby bear anyway?"


    "Fensterly''s got him. He''s doing great. He loves that kind of thing"


    "You mean I could have gone straight to him?" Saved all the trouble of having to deal with you?"


    "Hey!"


    Seriously, What are we going to do if the Emperor decides to show up? he asked. "I''m assuming he is actually more powerful than your father was," said Lothinar.


    "Without a doubt, he is. If we had more time, we could use your powers to convert as many of the water type as possible and try to run. Disappear somewhere."


    "That would really be bad for the dragons that we couldn''t convert and got stuck here when he showed up," he said. "Do you think that he would kill them all?"


    "He is so old, he probably needs their eggs every few days just to survive. Without them, he will probably just wither up and die."


    "I thought he didn''t really care about them, except for the ones that can lay the magic-infused eggs," asked Lothinar.


    "Those are the only eggs with significant magic, but even the low-magic dragons have some. If he kills all the dragons, he might as well sign his own death warrant.


    "If we could get most of the high magic ones out of here somehow, we might be able to starve him out, greatly reducing his power," said Lothinar. "But the only way I can think of to move dragons is to give them back their wings and I can''t even get Tundor in the air yet.".. sighed Lothinar.


    "Candasar?"


    "Yes, my bond, I have been quietly listening".


    "How are things going out at the lake?"


    "Aleena has had her satisfaction"


    "It is done, Ardwynn, I mean with your mother," Said Lothinar.


    Ardwynn nodded and leaned against him.


    "We will move on together my husband. I will teach you to be more sure and singleminded and you will teach me to show flexibility and feel compassion. "


    He looked at her for a long time until she began to feel slightly uncomfortable


    "Yes, I am sure that together we will be much stronger together."


    She smiled


    "Thank you for keeping my mind occupied while all that was going on with the dragons and my mother"


    "You are welcome. How about I figure out something else to keep the rest of you occupied," he said.


    "I thought you''d never ask"


    -----------------

 Chapter 34: The White Dragon

    **************


    Chapter 34


    **************


    Cantrell lowered his head.  He wanted to hide and slink away.  What was she doing here?


    ¡°Oh, Warden, Yoo-hoo! Cantrell,¡± the female elf called again.


    Cantrell had just turned around from locking the office, and the sudden onslaught of femininity made him jump and cringe. It was Mavis. Again. He could see her walking up towards him on the path. She was, of course, batting her eyelashes.


    ¡°I mean, honestly!¡± he thought to himself ¡°Who even says, ¡®Yoo-hoo¡¯ anymore?¡±


    Apparently, Mavis did. Quite a lot. Not that he had not been at last slightly flattered at her recent attention. She was much younger than him and pretty. Not in the way Ardwella was, of course. That was a ridiculously high standard for anyone to measure up to. The warden had been a job-oriented confirmed bachelor for his entire life. He supposed that he had eventually hoped to share his life with someone. Not in the frenzied passion of a youthful relationship but a steady friendship with someone that might bloom into something more. The warden shook his head. ¡°Oh no!¡± He mumbled. It wasn¡¯t at all like him to spend so much time comparing every woman he met to Lothinar¡¯s mother. This could be a problem.


    "Good morning, Mavis, " he spoke, forcing a smile. "How can I help you today?"


    "I was just speaking with my good friend, the blue dragon..."


    "Is this Aleena we are talking about?"


    "Yes, I don''t really know Candasar, but maybe someday you could introduce me. I understand that she is bonded to my neighbor. Do you know that she''s pretty much a hero to the other dragons now?"


    "I can imagine"


    "Did you know that he got married? That was a major disappointment!"


    "Yes, I was fortunately able to attend the wedding. He married one of my other wardens"


    "Yes, Ardwynn. She certainly worked hard to get him. Well, there are other fish in the lake, as the dragons say! You aren''t by any chance married, Cantrell?"


    "Um, eh. No. I''ve been too busy with my career. Before this, lots and lots of traveling..."


    "Don''t you think a fine gentleman elf like you should take some time to settle down and smell the roses, so to speak?"


    "I''m not sure any of the wardens are going to have a job here in a few days. We will all probably be running for our lives if it goes the way I''m thinking with the dragons. The emperor....."


    "Oh yeah! That''s what I was going to ask you...."


    "What''s that?"


    "Did you hear about the big kerfuffle over at the lake this morning?" asked Mavis.


    "No, what are you talking about?"


    "Apparently, the dragons caught a couple of the royal family trying to steal some more of their magical eggs. They executed them both!"


    "You sleep in one morning!" thought Cantrell to himself.


    "That sounds kind of urgent! Excuse me, please, Mavis. I have to go talk to Ardwella over in Delora Natine. Gotta run!"


    "Oh, just call it Delora. All the dragons are... I''ll be seeing YOU later. Maybe dinner?"


    Cantrell could only shrug as he ran toward Ardwella and further information as fast as he could. He was sure that it was for only the right reasons.


    "Men!" thought Mavis. She would have to do something to increase her appeal. They seemed so hard to please. It couldn''t be the clothes. They were perfect. Perhaps she should take Aleena up on the offer she had made. She had always wanted to bond with a dragon. Which one would be best? The way things were starting to happen it wouldn¡¯t do to wait too long.


    ---------------------------


    "So Ulaire and Quinton are dead?"


    Cantrell was sitting on a large couch in the front room of the temple suite that he had recovered in after being electrocuted in the battle with Tempton. Ardwella and Alberad were sitting across from him on a loveseat. They had just finished telling him what happened.


    "They are," said Alberad. Quinton was smashed and suffocated by Esmarilla being subdued, and Ulaire was captured and turned over to the dragons. They administered their own justice.


    "How is Ardwynn? That couldn''t have been easy for her.


    "I was actually rather impressed," replied Ardwella. She has been unwavering in her commitment to our cause and probably, more importantly, to Lothinar."


    "She must have had a very different upbringing. From what I briefly saw of her relationship with Quinton, they didn''t seem to like each other much," commented Cantrell.


    "I''ve heard the same." Said Alberad.


    "How are you feeling? Your injuries... I''ve just recently been able to heal again after my own electrifying experience and wondered if there is anything I could do for you?" asked Ardwella


    "Candasar says it''s just going to take time. She worked on me a couple of more times after the initial battlefield triage."


    "I don''t think I actually thanked you for what you did for me out there". Said Ardwella. "An oversight. Without your interference, that second blast would have certainly left me dead"


    "You''re welcome, of course," said Cantrell. "Anyone would have done the same"


    "Yet only you and Harvey acted," said Alberad. "I am in your debt for the life of my beloved." He smiled warmly at the warden, then at his lovely wife. "Thank you as well.... from me."


    As Cantrell nodded and began to rise for his exit, the other male elf reached out to shake his hand.


    "I think Ardwella and I have figured out Harvey''s motivations for heroism, but Cantrell.... Why are you here?"


    "What do you mean?" asked the warden. "I needed to find out what happened...."


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    "And yet you came here... not to your own wardens, Lothinar and Ardwynn, just a few doors down. They also could have provided the answers you needed," said Alberad.


    Ardwella looked down and away, a strange expression on her face.


    "Well shit," thought Cantrell.


    "You are right of course, Sorry for the intrusion. I''ll go and speak with them immediately. Candasar and Tundor too. That probably makes more sense." He finally said.


    "It certainly does," Said Alberad.


    Cantrell showed himself out. He knew the way.


    ---------------------------


    As Alberad had suggested, he found Lothinar and Ardwynn just a few doors down. It was incredible how accommodating the high priest and temple staff had been with the intrusion of elves and dragons into their human environment. They all decided to meet and discuss developments in the appropriate warehouse where the dragons had taken refuge. That way, the dragons could fully participate. Cantrell observed that the area was surprisingly clean and odor-free.


    Hey Tundor, Where do you do your business these days? Asked the warden. "They are feeding you, right? I did see those piles you left up in the woods. What''s changed?"


    "We have a room for that down the hall. McDonald''s has a deal going with a couple of the vineyards in the area. Apparently, our ''products" excel at making healthy grapes and what McDonald calls ''fine wine. We go into that room, and when we are done, they have a team come in afterward and take care of everything."


    Candasar appeared a bit flummoxed but added her own commentary.


    "As a lifetime ''aquatic pooper,'' it seems very messy and untidy to not have water present for the process. You know... swim your problems away...."


    Cantrell laughed. "I guess I can understand the benefits of that sort of system".


    "It''s all in the way you arch your back, Candasar," Tundor said sincerely. "Oh, and good tail management. You''ll catch on in no time"


    "I''m sure," said Candasar. "I have yet to attempt the so called ''airborne drop'' that Esmarilla is so fond of.... But it does sound exciting! I can''t wait to try."


    "I''m sure that there should probably be some rules about the ''when and where'' of that sort of thing!" said Lothinar with a strange grin.


    "Again, it feels like I am going to be missing out on all the fun," said Tundor sadly.


    "Soon, my friend. I''ve been feeling a lot better. I was going to check in with Esmarilla and see how well her power has recovered. Maybe this afternoon?"


    "Oh wow," said Tundor. "That would be wonderful!"


    "To think that the greatest motivation for getting his wings fixed would be so that he could take a poop from the sky," said Ardwynn rolling her eyes.


    "Hey, I could save McDonald some time. Do you have any idea where those specific vineyards are located?"


    "Ardwynn, Why don''t you catch Cantrell up on the situation with your mother and brother and what we might expect from the Emperor, and I''ll go check in with Esmarilla and set things up."


    "You can''t talk to her from here?" asked Ardwynn.


    "Well, certainly not as well as I could if she was a full bond like Candasar. I think this is something I had better do in person. I have some further questions about the process... I don''t want to find myself out of magical commission for such a long period of time ever again. I think I''m going to need to have some defensive options with my magic soon. "


    "If and when the Emperor shows up, that would probably be for the best" she agreed.


    He left them talking...Cantrell was asking her about her brother.


    ---------------------------------


    Lothinar found Esmarilla in the indoor central temple courtyard with his mother. It was really the only internal structure large enough to accommodate the giant black dragon. Lothinar was pleased to see that her skin was as shiny and black as the first time he had laid eyes on her. Ardwella, on the other hand, looked a little sad. His father wasn''t around at the moment. Lothinar figured that he might be caring for his horse.


    "You ok, mother?" You don''t look happy.


    "A lot has happened. How is your wife? She has had a strange time of it, don''t you think?"


    "Ardwynn seems to be ok. She is very strong and determined. Surprisingly resilient." Lothinar answered. "But it has not escaped me that you avoided my question."


    Ardwella sighed.


    "It''s probably easy for you to forget, my son that I have lived several normal lifetimes before settling down with your father and having you."


    "I remember it came as a bit of a shock. I don''t think it''s something that I could easily forget"


    "Knowing it intellectually is a lot different than having lived those years, son. Would it surprise you to find out that I had been in love before I met your father? That I have had other relationships?"


    "I suppose it makes sense," said Lothinar.


    "The great majority of all those years, I was on my own. Yes, Esmarilla was still my bond. Her magical energy still could find me, but often I had to be so far away from this temple that we were cut off from communicating"


    "There were many lonely times," Agreed the dragon.


    "I was on my own, trying to avoid being recognized, searching for the elves that carried the knowledge of the word that made the dragons vulnerable. Made them burn themselves. After the war, these people went back to their homes. These places were all over the continent. I watched. I waited. I struck when no one was looking. It took its toll on me."


    "I can see why you are so determined to do anything it takes even now," said Lothinar, not understanding where this story was going,


    "I was always beautiful...." said his mother. "But I found that channeling Esmarilla''s magic in certain ways would enhance that even more."


    "Well, I can see that it obviously worked," he replied.


    "What I did to myself. To be able to get close to my targets,,, Its not just what you can see externally that appeals to men. My voice, my mannerisms. The way I smell..."


    "They call them Pheromones," said the dragon. We saw it in that book you were reading... remember?"


    "Yes, I remember. My memory is perfect also. Far beyond normal. I can remember the face of every one of them that I killed. The utter and complete surprise when I ended them."


    "Mom, you need to start forgiving yourself. Let that time in your past go... I think the rest of us have."


    "Well, it still has some unintended consequences."


    "Like what?" Asked Lothinar.


    "Like Harvey. I''m pretty sure I somehow bewitched him. Unintentionally. I had been running, perspiring a little. He stopped your father and me at the gate."


    "The Pheromones!" said Lothinar with the dawning of understanding. "Look, we don''t know that Harvey wouldn''t have helped anyway... He might really have wanted to do the right thing!"


    "No, he was out there looking for me. He was headed to Tasumakoji when he met your father and Tundor on the road. Why else would he be going there?"


    "Ok, well, I can see why that would bother you, sure," said Lothinar. But it''s over. Sadly he''s gone.. We move on... You''ve done it before. What''s different now?"


    "A couple of things, actually: said Ardwella,


    "Ok, what are those things? Maybe I can help,"


    "First, there is Cantrell. I think he somehow got a dose of Pheromones. I don''t even know when it happened"


    "Cantrell? my boss?" he asked


    "Yes. He threw himself in front of Ardwynns father''s lightning strike, for me, fully knowing he would be destroyed in the process. His actions don''t make sense otherwise." "Do you know he came to me first when he ran into town this morning? Not to you... That''s where he should have gone... But he came to me," Your father called him on it. It didn''t look good.


    "Ok... We can tell him... He''s strong. He can overcome it... He will get over it.."


    "Probably, in time," She said sadly. "We will definitely need to part ways, But yes, he should recover. "


    "You said that there were a couple of things?" said Lothinar.


    "In your times working with Ardwynn in the past, were there occasions when you were intensely physically active, or there was a lot of ambient heat?"


    "You mean like when we first met or on the job? I''ve obviously been pretty physically active and close to her lately... " he said, blushing...


    "Didn''t you say that you fought a forest fire together and then worked to restore the area?" his mother asked.


    "Why would that matter?"


    "Because my son, I passed on to you an incredibly handsome face and a fully functioning set of Pheromones. It may very well be why Ardwynn has been willing to put aside everything she has ever known to pursue you!"


    "What can I do? I didn''t ask for this!"


    "Neither of you did. It''s my fault. If you want me to, I will tell her for you."


    "What do you think she will do if she finds out?" asked Esmarilla.


    "I honestly don''t know," said Lothinar. His voice was hollow and empty.


    "You know you could take the easy way out and not tell Ardwynn at all," said Ardwella.


    "I don''t think I could do that to her," Said Lothinar.


    "Of course, you couldn''t," said Candasar, entering the courtyard with Tundor, Cantrell, and Ardwynn. All of them except Candasar looked confused.


    "My bond is the kindest elf that has ever lived. He will take the hard way. He will do the right thing. This is who he is..."


    "Tell me what," said Ardwynn, flashing a genuine smile at her husband. "Sorry for butting in, but suddenly Candasar just got up and told us to follow her..."


    "Well, the good news is that we will be able to put some functioning wings on Tundors back this very afternoon!" said Esmarilla.


    "Yea!" said the white dragon.


    Lothinar looked at his mother standing next to the black dragon and frowned.


    Gazing at Ardwella, Cantrell was suddenly gobsmacked.  "She looks so beautiful standing next to her dragon," Cantrell thought,  And she smells fantastic."


    ---------------------------------------

 Chapter 35: The Fight for the White Dragon

    ***************


    Chapter 35


    **************


    Cantrell had both arms crossed in front of his chest.  He looked conflicted and a little angry.


    "You are saying the reason I have these feelings for you is because you smell good?" he asked. "Because I''ve been around a while, and I''m sure that isn''t all there is to this."


    "I didn''t say that it was just the way I smell," Said Ardwella. Think of it like a drug. It''s a very addicting one. The fact that it comes in pretty wrapping paper is just a bonus"


    "And you did this to yourself? On purpose?" asked Cantrell.


    "It was very useful," Ardwella replied. "In my previous line of work..."


    "Killing the dragon killers... Yes we know" He snapped..


    "Does your husband know about it?" Ardwynn asked. "Did you use it on Albarad, too?"


    "Never intentionally or for selfish purposes, but it is a part of me. Like your own beauty is a part of you. Did you ever feel bad when the other wardens like Jontain chased after you because of the way that you looked?" That you were being unfair or taking advantage of them? I did not make Alberad marry me. I''d like to think pheromones didn''t play a part"


    "But you can''t be sure..."


    "I suppose not. But Ardwynn, even unenhanced, you and every other elf. female or male, have some sort of pheromones'' in your system. You probably have more than most.


    "Jontain was a pest. He was extremely sexually aggressive. I hate to think that I was bringing all that unwanted attention upon myself!" Said Ardwynn.


    ¡±Everyone needs to be personally responsible for their own self-control.¡± said Cantrell, self-consciously. He glanced at Ardwella.


    She frowned. ¡°It has been my observation over time that certain people have a greater susceptibility to pheromones.¡± Said Ardwella. ¡°Jontain¡¯s reactions seemed highly abnormal around me. He was in some sort of default rape mode¡±


    Ardwynn nodded. ¡°And now you are saying that the reason I might have fallen in love with Lothinar so completely is because of his ability to make super pheromones?"


    "I never knew anything about it," Lothinar protested. "Sure, I realize that I have always gotten a lot of attention from females, but I never took advantage of anyone!" If anything, it got in my way! I tend to get unwanted attention¡±


    "Coming from you, I actually believe that," said Ardwynn. looking at him. She blinked. ¡°I certainly felt unwanted for a long time.¡± She turned and wiped away a tear.


    Lothinar reached over to take both her hands and looked her in the eyes.


    ¡°It must be something about how the dragon magic made me¡­ I¡¯m different¡­and I''m still trying to understand how. When I looked at you before¡­..Everyone before¡­It¡¯s like I saw them through a veil. They were fuzzy. I mean, my vision was clear¡­ ¡° He stopped.


    ¡±I think what is most important now¡­that you completely understand now¡­ is that I definitely like what I see. Inside and outside. I¡¯m totally in love with you! I hope that you can feel that now!¡±


    Ardwynn seemed to melt. ¡°Yes, I do. It is very compelling. I kind of want to run off somewhere with you right now. But what if I was willing to see my family killed just because I was under some sort of involuntary mind control? How am I ever going to know?"


    "Well, I''ll tell you that no matter how bad you might know them to have been, watching your family all die within a few days and not completely falling apart is not normal," said Cantrell. "As a manager, I should automatically require you to take some time off to process all this and grieve. But I doubt you will listen to me."


    "That is because we do not have time for that," Said Candasar. "The Emperor will be coming"


    "I just feel numb about them,¡± said Ardwella. ¡°I think I let go of my family a long time ago."


    "Was that when you first met Lothinar?" asked Ardwella


    "No, It was a lot farther back than that."


    "Well, that probably means that your feelings about them, at least, are unaltered," said Ardwella.


    "Or that she was more than ready to get away from them, and Lothinar just gave her the destination," said Tundor. "But how are we ever going to know for sure?"


    "There is actually a way, young dragon," said Esmarilla.


    "I knew it would come down to this," said Ardwella. I just hoped we would eventually have more dragons available."


    "What are you two talking about" asked Cantrell. "I just want to know if I can have my life back"


    "That. I believe it is going to be up to Tundor," said Esmarilla.


    "Me? I just wanted to drop a big flying poop this afternoon on the male council members that tried to drown me!" grinned Tundor. "I''ve been saving up!"


    Everyone in the room just stopped and stared at him. Seconds went by. Finally, the silence was broken by the ear-splitting, coughing roar of Esmarilla¡¯s unbridled laughter. The huge black dragon collapsed to the floor, shaking. Pots and decorative urns were thrown about, and bricks cracked. Everyone fled from her immediate vicinity to avoid being smashed. Temple staff and Starett himself began peering around corners in great concern as the great dragon finally stopped and caught her breath.


    Ardwella smiled sadly. ¡±I think some of us may have minimized how badly you were treated, Tundor¡­..and Candasar, by your own people,¡± she said.


    ¡±There will indeed be a reckoning and some necessary restructuring of leadership. I felt it was best to wait until after the threat of Imperial retaliation was behind us.¡± Said Candasar.


    ¡°Certain elves were pulling their strings,¡± said Ardwella, flashing an apologetic look at Ardwynn, who could only look down embarrassed.


    If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    ¡±And all of that under my oversight as the one maintaining status quo in the region¡± admitted Cantrell, joining in the blame.


    ¡°The time was not right, but now we have started this, and we must see it through!¡± Said Ardwella. ¡°We won¡¯t get another chance."


    ¡±Let¡¯s take this outside and let the staff clean up in here,¡± said Esmarilla. ¡°WOMBER!? Where are you?¡±


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-


    The group had made their way from Delora back to the beach, where they had fought the water dragon elders and later restored Candasar to flying dragon form. They had actually walked. That included Esmarilla, which was unusual for her. Her size made certain parts of the journey a bit circuitous as the larger trees were not as accommodating as the saplings, which she just pushed over, allowing them to snap back after her passage. The smaller dragons and the elves could just go around.


    ¡°I actually like walking,¡± she had observed, ¡°I just hate having to scratch pine sap off my underparts!¡±


    Candasar smiled, and Tundor grimaced knowingly.


    ¡±It¡¯s good to get outside.¡± said Ardwynn. ¡°It¡¯s a beautiful day.¡±


    ¡±Yes, it is,¡± agreed Alberad, who had seemingly finished his duties elsewhere and rejoined the group.


    Lothinar noticed that his father seemed to be keeping a wary eye on Cantrell, who was walking with his wardens. Perhaps he was imagining it.


    Because Candasar had made her original nest far from the other dragons, it was among the closer places on the water to Delora. It had just felt right to Lothinar and Candasar to restore Tundor to the place it had all started. His first hunt had begun on this beach. This is where Candasar had been reformed and reborn. It was a place of violence and change.


    ¡°Let me explain why Esmarilla said that it was going be up to Tundor,¡± said Ardwella.


    "We have discussed how Lothinar feels about his new bride....and how It took him some time to come around to this realization." Said Ardwella. "This is a contrivance of mine and, to a lesser extent, Esmarilla''s."


    "You blinded him to women?" asked Cantrell


    "What would you do if you could shape a child and give them every advantage? Knowing that their extremely attractive physical attributes would have a huge effect on those they would come in contact with...That they would be a distraction.?"


    "You make it sound like you were making a tool and not having a child," said Ardwynn.


    Ardwella grimaced. "That is probably a fair critique of my actions in this regard"


    Alberad was beginning to look a little angry. "I was not consulted in this" he said.


    Lothinar just stood there. It was difficult to accept that his mother''s passion to help the dragons had taken such extreme turns and that those turns included making him into a tool for their restoration. Yet he found himself opening his mouth and speaking the words... "I really don''t mind. It actually makes me happy to help." He found himself gazing into the eyes of his wife, who was looking at him with a faint expression of surprised horror. "I''m really glad that I was able to finally see you Ardwynn. You make me so happy!"


    She took his hand and looked him in the eyes. "What do you think finally made you see me?" she asked


    "I did, of course," Said Candasar interrupting. "I broke Ardwella''s spell"


    "Yes, it is the bonding, of course," Said Esmarilla. "It makes both the dragon and the elf stronger together than they ever were apart; anyone that bonds with a dragon will, of course, see things in a whole new way. Their whole physiology changes. If Cantrell were to bond with Tundor, it would break any hold that Ardwella''s pheromones have over him. "


    "Wait a minute" Said Cantrell, "I had always assumed that since Lothinar bonded with Candasar and they were a pair, it would make sense that Tundor would bond with Ardwynn."


    "It does make a nice tidy set," said Alberad.


    "You know, nobody has even discussed this with me," Said Tundor stiffly. "It''s like you all think that I don''t have any feelings in the matter!"


    "It''s just that you are young, Tundor. Sometimes the young don''t really know what they want or what''s best," said Ardwella.


    "Is that how you justified what you did to your son?" Ardwynn almost screamed at her. "Tundor has a right to make his own decisions. It''s his life"


    "You are saying that if Tundor chooses to bond with me," said Cantrell, "That this... artificial ....infatuation that I feel for you will be cured?"


    "You can get on with your life, probably yes," Said Ardwella


    "I''m for that then... I don''t like the way he''s been looking at you," said Albarad.


    "You should be used to stuff like that, Albarad. Even without the pheromones, it must be something you''ve had to deal with. Gods. How do you even let her out in public?" said Cantrell.


    "My public appearances are entirely up to me!" said Ardwella. I''ve been making my own way since before both of you were born."


    "Freakin'' succubus! I need to take another walk," said Cantrell, stomping off toward the water.


    "I don''t really want to put Tundor in the position of having to make this sort of decision on the day we restore him," Said Lothinar. "How about we focus on that first"


    "This is my wish as well, my bond," said Candasar.


    "I am ready" said Esmarilla.


    "This will be quite a bit different than what we had to do to Candasar, for obvious reasons," said Ardwella. "First, I won''t have to be cutting big chunks off of him. He''s more or less right on the outside"


    "I figured that, but I have to say that it''s a relief to hear you say it" said Tundor.


    "Also, as you requested, you will not be binding today," said Candasar. Lothinar and I did this. We bonded when he healed me of my water dragon underpinnings. It did make the transition substantially easier at least for me. It was quite painful. But Lothinar would not be bonding with you anyway, so it is a less significant part of the process for you"


    "One more thing". Asked Lothinar. "Fixing Candasar left my magic severely burned. Please tell me we won''t be going that far today. I think I need to keep those pathways available."


    "I expect not," Said Esmarilla. "But we will have to see. This is still new for everyone involved. In addition, your pathways should be stronger now. Pain brings gain."


    "No use putting it off any longer," Cantrell said, walking up from the beach.


    "You came back," Said Ardwynn.


    "I wouldn''t miss this. I think I''m going to write a report or something when this all settles out. It''s for science." Then he winked.


    "Are you ready, buddy?" Asked Lothinar.


    "You know, I think I was born ready," Said Tundor. Esmarilla chuckled at that.


    "Yes, you probably were. OK. Hold still. The ebony blackness on her skin began to stir and swirl like little ripples on dark water.


    Lothinar grunted as if picking up a heavy weight. Then he put his hands on Tundor and started to push on his back. Tundor began to glow. It was a white light.


    ----------------------


    Old One Eye, the dragon formerly known as Killingsworth, and his new fishing partner, Benedar, were arguing.


    "Those new females on the council sure are making big changes!" said Benedar. "And I, for one don''t like it"


    "Things are going to change, and you know we have to start setting an example for the rest," Said Killingsworth.


    "But fishing? The council members have always been exempt from these menial chores.."


    "You want to eat, don''t you, and it won''t be for long. We will get our wings eventually. You do want that don''t you?"


    "Yes, of course, but if Aleena has her way, we will be among the very last.."


    "We can''t help that those elves took advantage and tricked us!"


    Killingsworth suddenly squinted as a shadow fell across the sun. Then he was hit by a horrible-smelling pile of something that fell from the sky. His fishing partner likewise was almost simultaneously covered in a similar foul substance.


    He could hear a high cackling laugh as he looked up to see two dragons flying away. One was beautifully dark blue.


    "Candasar!" he thought. He didn''t recognize the other, but he was glowing a dazzling white.


    -----------------------------


    Back on the beach, Cantrell watched as Ardwella and Albarad climbed upon the back of the black dragon. She didn''t look too bad.. She wasn''t jet black but had not reached the level of grey that she had been after Candasar. The dragon rapidly flapped her huge wings, and soon they were gone. Somehow his mind was clearer with Ardwella out of sight.


    Candasar and Tundor had flown off together. "Flying lessons" was all they had said. Lothinar seemed ok. He and Ardwynn were starting back to Delora. They were walking hand in hand and headed up the path through the bent and broken saplings. They were smiling. So far, so good, he thought. Perhaps Ardwynn wouldn''t push as hard to claim Tundor if she was unwilling to upset her marital bliss.


    It would be a big adjustment to bond with a dragon, but he was willing to do it if it got him one step closer to being with Ardwella. Cantrell turned and started to follow after them. He was whistling.


    "Yoo-hoo! Cantrell" came to a strange call from the lake. Cantrell pivoted and looked at the water. His jaw dropped in shock.


    It was Mavis, astride a big blue female water dragon. She was wearing, of all things, a Bikini swimming suit.


    "Cantrell, my dear, have you met my new bonded dragon Aleena?" I think she is a relative of Candasar. She has the strangest stories to tell. I can''t wait to share them with you!"

 Chapter 36: More Than You Bargained For

    **************


    Chapter 36


    **************


    When Argent was angry, he made sure the whole palace knew it.


    "What do. you mean the backup scrolls are missing?" roared Emperor Argent.


    The clerk who had been sent from the archives looked terrified. He had been sent, instead of his boss to deliver the unhappy news. Dewey, the head librarian, having a highly developed sense of self-preservation, had already left for the day, not bothering to tell his subordinate how the message would likely be received. Dewey had checked the private stacks twice before declaring them missing.


    "These things happen from time to time. You seem to have misplaced your copy, so surely you must understand. I will send the message to pull a copy from one of the auxiliary libraries."


    That had not appeased Argent as, unfortunately, they had also reported the scrolls missing from their archives.


    Upon further inquiry, old Talmadge, one of the curators, seemed to remember one of his younger associates showing a pretty young thing around in the restricted area a hundred years or so ago. He had seemed quite enamored with her at the time. He was willing to break the rules about unauthorized visitors just to impress her with the private collection. The fool had fallen down some stairs a short time later. Certainly a tragedy. The young woman had been devastated. Dewey had put the matter out of his mind as nothing important had gone missing.


    Now the Emperor was all in a bother about some obscure scroll that nobody even used anymore. Why could it possibly matter? He was sure the information was out there somewhere. Someone had to have a copy lying about. If not, he would find someone who knew the requested spell and have it transcribed.


    Apparently, the Emperor hadn''t been that angry. The clerk had been offered a tour of the citadel. There was probably a lot to see there.


    ------------------


    Albarad was talking with his wife. It was a tense conversation. Ardwella hoped the room she and her husband were currently occupying at the temple was well soundproofed. He was yelling.


    "If I am to understand you correctly, not only did you make huge changes in our son Lothinar, which I can''t even begin to fully comprehend, you are now doing things to our unborn daughter!?"


    I am not changing her very much. I can''t help it if she will be beautiful. That is something that would be her birthright naturally because we are her parents.


    ¡°More like because you are going to be her mother. How could I ever have believed that what was going on with you was somehow normal? That Cantrell fellow is right. It¡¯s unnatural.¡± She¡¯s going to be just like Lothinar!¡±


    "No, Lothinar is a one-off. The circumstances that allowed me access to so much of Esmarilla''s power have changed. I wanted this daughter to be.... well, for you. To make up for things¡­¡±


    "For me? That doesn''t make sense. What''s my son all about then?"


    ¡±I was selfish. I had all that power just sitting there. I wanted to find a path forward to restore the water dragons. I changed him too much. I made a useful tool. I know it was unfair to both of you.¡±


    ¡± I¡¯m surprised he isn¡¯t angrier at you,¡± said Alberad. ¡°Ardwynn seems to be¡±


    ¡±His anger with me will come eventually, but I am willing to pay that price. That¡¯s when he will need you the most, Alberad¡±


    ¡±To talk him out of vengeance?¡±


    In the courtyard, Esmarilla rumbled.


    ¡±Hopefully not only that, but also to remind him that he is at least half good¡±


    Alberad sighed


    ¡°Exactly what changes are you making in our unborn daughter?¡±


    ¡±Only making her oblivious to the effects that she will have on the opposite sex naturally and slightly slowing the onset of her extreme femininity. Delaying her developing those very popular extra curves. It will make her teen years much easier.on you raising a tomboy. You can do fun things together.


    ¡±I¡¯ll still probably have to keep boys away with a stout stick¡±


    ¡°You can probably count on it. It¡¯s a good thing I¡¯ve already given you lots of practice in that regard, ¡° she said, smiling and giving him a devastating wink.


    ¡±Well, it¡¯s not like I can stop you anyway¡±


    ¡±No, but I would like your blessing¡±


    ¡±Fine,¡± he said. ¡°But that¡¯s it¡±


    ¡±Yes, Darling.¡±


    Alberad grimaced and looked about. ¡°That sneaky Cantrell was probably around here somewhere, he thought. I wonder if Starett could lend me a stick?¡±


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-


    Cantrell was not around. He was on his way back to Tasumakoji. Mavis had offered him a ride on Aleena. Apparently, Aleena had her male dragon partner at home guarding the nest and was enjoying a brief reprieve from egg-watching. Cantrell tried to avoid ogling, but the young female elf did look extremely nice in that swimsuit. She leaned pleasantly against him as the dragon swiftly swam through the smooth waters.


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    Being on the lake reminded him of a song he had heard as an emissary on one of his trips. It was to some islands inhabited by humans far out in the ocean. Another lifetime ago, it seemed. The humans had sailed on tall wooden boats. He somehow found himself singing the song now, his voice soaring with emotions he didn¡¯t fully understand.


    ¡°Beyond the windswept cliffs with gulls in flight


    The shining sea stretches her long luminous legs


    Sparkling in the sunshine, her gaze is turned away


    Hiding her surely present sweet, but salty smile


    Mortal men have foolishly set their hearts on wooing her


    Throwing themselves wildly into her deadly depths


    The flames of their passions were extinguished early


    A meager flicker of life¡¯s candle quenched in the questing


    The heat of their passions, unseen, unknown, and unfelt


    In the icy heart of her final embrace, feeding squids and snails


    Leaving only the songs of mothers and jilted lovers


    To mark the places they used to hold between the sea and sky¡±


    His voice faded off, a slight echo returning as they neared the shore.


    ¡°That was amazing, Cantrell¡±! Swooned Mavis. ¡°Where did you learn that song?¡±


    ¡±The sailors of Savintra taught it to me. It seems so long since I have even thought of them.¡±


    ¡±Is sailing dangerous? It sounded that way from the song¡±


    ¡±Yes, I wonder how many of them were eventually able to return home¡­¡± He finally said. ¡°One of them helped me translate it into Elvish. I think it¡¯s prettier that way, of course, but it was nice in the human language too.¡±


    ¡±Perhaps if I can not find a way to break this power Ardwella has over me I will travel again to those islands. And if that fails to ease this compulsion, then I will cast myself into the salty sea.¡±


    Mavis caught him with a strange look


    ¡±Lothinar¡¯s mother has power over you?¡±


    ¡±Forgive me, Mavis, I didn¡¯t think that I had said those words out loud. I am not at all myself today¡±


    The bikini-clad elf scrunched up her face in a dramatic pout.


    ¡±Warden Cantrell, we are almost back. I¡¯m going home to get out of this suit and into something nice. You are going to dress and pick me up for dinner. You are taking me somewhere fancy. Then afterwards, I am going to take you home and make you completely forget about that old lady Ardwella forever!¡±


    ¡®Hey,¡± he thought. ¡°It''s probably worth a try.¡±


    The water dragon grinned in agreement. She had been taking smiling lessons from Candasar but still needed more work.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-


    Tundor and Candasar flew swiftly over the forest. They were hunting deer. Suddenly a herd, spooked by ancient instinct broke from the trees and into a meadow. The dragons swooped quickly down, each pummeling their respective prey into the rocky hillside. The struggles ceased almost instantly.


    Tundor looked at Candasar and grinned. ¡°It sure is easier this way than trying to sneak up on them¡±


    ¡±The fact that you could hunt these animals without wings is pretty amazing, Tundor¡±


    ¡°The elven magic helped a lot,¡± he said. ¡°You missed out on that hunting style going straight to wings. Although, from what I could see, I had a much easier transition.¡±


    ¡±Without Lothinar¡¯s bond, I don¡¯t think that I would have survived it,¡± said Candasar. ¡°I don¡¯t know if the other water dragons will either unless they have a bond first to help with the agony. Our race¡¯s future is going to be the eggs. Dragons like you that continue to hatch from now on. We absolutely must keep them from the Emperor. You have shown us all the way¡±


    ¡±Without you, I would have been at the bottom of the lake. Come on, let¡¯s eat these deer. I¡¯m starving. Then I want to get back ¡°


    They finished in just a few minutes.


    ¡±Deer don¡¯t seem as big as they used to be, do they?¡± Asked Candasar, ¡°Do you remember when we would split one?¡±


    ¡±Of course, ¡° said Tundor. ¡±What do you think I should do? About bonding ¡°


    ¡±Do you want me to tell you what I think, or would that be too pushy?¡± asked Candasar


    ¡°I asked, ¡° he replied.


    ¡±Well, I always assumed it would be Ardwynn," Candasar replied. ¡°After all, I am bonded to Lothinar. It makes all four of us a nice pairing. With your bond with her, all four of us will probably be able to live for a very long time, if not forever¡±


    ¡±Forever is a really long time.¡±


    ¡±Are you not sure of me? Asked Candasar ¡°Our great age difference will be meaningless soon¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think we will be the problem, ¡° he replied. ¡°Second, we have to survive what is coming. This calm can not last.¡±


    ¡°And what is to be done first?¡± She asked, amused at the juxtaposition.


    ¡±First, we need to ensure that Ardwynn doesn¡¯t fall out of love with Lothinar when my bond rearranges her senses.¡±


    ¡±Well, that might make things awkward¡­..¡±


    ¡±I¡¯ll try to do what I can,¡± Tundor said. ¡°Hopefully, your elf¡¯s masculine charms will hold up under new, more severe scrutiny ¡°


    ¡°Come on, Tundor, Have you seen him?¡±


    ¡±Yes, but I have different standards¡±


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-


    The dragons returned to find Lothinar and Ardwynn waiting for them in the dragon''s spacious room. They dragged over a couple of chairs and finished eating soup and bread.


    ¡°Thanks for letting us know through Lothinar¡¯s bond that you were coming back,¡± said Ardwynn to Candasar ¡°I wanted to talk to Tundor about the bonding¡±


    ¡±Don¡¯t worry, we talked about it, and I feel that it¡¯s best to choose you for many reasons,¡± said Tundor.


    Lothinar and Candasar exchanged an awkward look. Ardwynn looked down apologetically.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Tundor I just don¡¯t think that I can go through with it¡±


    ¡±Really? Why not?¡± I¡¯m housebroken. ¡°You''re kidding, right?¡±


    ¡±Fundamentally, she is afraid. Afraid that it will make her feel too different about me.¡± Said Lothinar.


    Tundor blinked as he realized it.


    ¡°You know, I don¡¯t think it¡¯s Ardwynn who is the one who is afraid. I think it¡¯s you, Lothinar. If her feelings change, it¡¯s not Ardwynn that will be hurt. She will just be angry. You have the most to lose! She is turning down dragon bond immortality to cover for you.¡±


    Lothinar looked at his bride. She had tears in her eyes.


    ¡°Is this true? Did you lie to me?


    She nodded. ¡°I don¡¯t want to lose what we have now, but if it¡¯s just pheromones and I break free, I¡¯ll probably not even care. I¡¯ll just take Tundor with me and go. ¡°


    ¡±We don¡¯t even know that¡¯s going to happen,¡± he protested. ¡°I¡¯d like to think our relationship is based on more than that!¡±


    ¡±Can we take the chance?¡± Asked Candasar.


    ¡±I think we have to,¡± said the handsome elf.


    Tundor walked over to stand next to Ardwynn


    ¡±Are you willing to bond with me now?¡±


    Ardwynn nodded her head but did not raise her eyes. She turned and placed her forehead against his face. He felt magic begin to flow from her. It was strange but sweet. Tundor began to answer back with his own considerable magic. It was white as snow. Soon it became a blizzard.


    Ardwynn¡¯s legs began to buckle, and Lothinar was there catching her and helping her get to one of the chairs. She looked into his eyes and smiled warmly. He looked frantic and anxious.


    ¡±It¡¯s fine¡­It¡¯s fine. I still totally love you, you big handsome elf. Everything is wonderful!¡± But I think you need a shower.¡±


    Lothinar laughed in relief. Yeah, I¡¯ll have to be more careful of that. Then he spun her around and kissed her soundly. She kissed him back.


    Tundor, the white dragon, watched the display of affection between the two elves with relief. Everything had worked out for the best. But strangely, instead of the warm feelings of gratitude, love, and affection he had once had for the slightly ugly elf Lothinar, he now only felt a cold apathy and a little unspecific irritation. He hoped that they could continue to get along. They would be spending a lot of time together. For some reason this particular elf seemed to always push his buttons.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-

 Chapter 37: Cheesecake

    *************


    Chapter 37


    *************


    Dinner had been good, but dessert had been even better. Cantrell couldn''t help but feel strange accepting Mavis''s invitation to spend the night. It was like having a vast, overwhelming craving for chocolate and someone serving you the very best strawberry cheesecake you had ever tasted. There was a lot of cheesecake. Somewhere around the third helping, Cantrell decided that chocolate might be over-rated.


    "My goodness, my dear Cantrell," the beautiful elf had finally said breathlessly and with a smile on her face..."You certainly seem to be grateful for my offering you a ride"


    Cantrell wasn''t sure how the pretty young elf fit into his future plans, but he had to admit she seemed to have solved his Ardwella. problem. There had been a haunting ache every time he had thought of the dragon rider. Now he was just angry. His affections had waned. He didn''t think she had deliberately drawn him into this situation, but Ardwella was a menace to male elves everywhere. She had deliberately turned her body into a weapon of seduction and control to accomplish her tasks. Mavis had somehow overwritten the dose of pheromones he had received accidentally, with her own natural pheromones delivered vigorously and purposefully. It had taken repeated and intense exposure to someone else to break the addiction Ardwella had created. He had to appreciate that Mavis seemed to genuinely care about helping him break free of the bondage.


    Cantrell slipped out of the sleeping Mavis''s bed, found his clothes, and silently left her house. He didn''t intend to make this a one night stand, but Mavis was still a puzzle to be solved. How had she managed to form a bond with the water dragon Aleena? What did that mean for the rest of the lake-bound dragons as plans went forward to restore them to dragons like Candasar and Tundor?


    Cantrell stood by the shore of the lake in the moonlight and thought about it. How did he fit into what was going on here? Did he really want to help the dragons, or had he been dragged into it by Ardwella''s attractant powers? What was he going to do when the Emperor came calling?


    The last few days must have inoculated him to surprise because he didn''t even jump when a large dragon-shaped silhouette rose from the dark water directly in front of him and began to speak.


    "Are you free from your addiction, or have you just replaced one with another? Came the chuckling voice of Aleena the blue water dragon. "I can smell my bond all over you."


    "I think so," Cantrell said awkwardly, trying not to blush. I guess it will take seeing Ardwella in person to really know. Do I have you to thank for the special attention Mavis provided?"


    The blue water dragon laughed... It was a low hissing chortle,


    "Mavis is complex. Young and impulsive. She is driven by her love of fun and a fascination with the world she lives in. And, of course, she appreciates handsome elves such as yourself. She is often misunderstood. I did not interfere. You should assume that her feelings and actions are genuine."


    Cantrell nodded, She was certainly kind to humor a well seasoned older elf such as myself".


    "Mavis chooses who she wishes. It seems that among those who will bond with dragons, age becomes much less of an issue. Ardwella was one of the first to bond over seven hundred years ago, and yet you still desired her."


    "I did indeed, but that infatuation was a terrible idea for a lot of reasons"


    "Mavis and you are much closer to the same age. If you bond with a dragon, it will not matter."


    "There are not a lot of extra dragons to go around. Before I left, Ardwynn and I argued about Tundor"


    "That is no longer in dispute. I spoke to Candasar my cousin. Tundor has chosen Ardwynn, and they have bonded"


    "How did that go? Did Ardwynn and Lothinar''s relationship disappear once her feelings for Lothinar were disturbed?"


    "They are still together... but there are some issues to solve. It is complicated."


    "I can only imagine."


    "Do you think that you are in love with Mavis?" the water dragon suddenly asked.


    Cantrell paused. He wanted to be as truthful as possible. He felt gratitude for how the beautiful young elf had helped him. She was a lot more than he expected. Deeper and more insightful. He wondered how much of that was due to her new bond.


    "I think I need to get to know her a lot better before answering that question," he said. "I am very grateful for her help with my difficult problem."


    "It is probably wise that you did not immediately say yes; it shows honesty and maturity."


    "Maturity I''ve got in spades"


    "From what I can tell, you would be a good match for her"


    "If you say so..."


    "I do. but before we go any further on this subject, I would like you to meet someone. First, I would like your permission to carry you back over toward my nest, and then I wonder if I could ask you to take a short walk in the woods"


    "You are not really able to go into the woods. What''s there? Who am I meeting?


    "My mate has come down from his hidden place in the hills. He has visited me many times over the years. It was he that watched over our eggs on the shore yesterday while I brought you and Mavis here"


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    "He walks?"


    "He has always walked. He is not of the water. But, he can not fly. We hope for that to change soon."


    "Well, I look forward to meeting him. What''s his name"


    "His name is Mo-rung. "He is also a lot older than I am."


    "Mo-rung... Why did that name sound so familiar?" Cantrell thought.


    When they reached Aleena''s nest, Cantrell jumped off her back and onto the shore.


    "Which way should I go?" he asked.


    "Head uphill and in the direction of Delora. You will come to some caves. It is several miles"


    Cantrell was starting to wish that he had gotten a little more sleep. It had been an eventful day and evening.


    "I''ll be fine," he said, then thought to himself. "Everyone should have the kind of problems that kept me awake last night."


    Cantrell never made it to the caves. Just a mile from the lake a huge red dragon appeared before him standing on the rocky path as it made a switchback on the uphill slope. The dragon was not as large as Esmarilla, but he was a close second in size, much larger than even Tundor. He looked a bit like Tundor had before today. He had wrinkled and unformed wings. Cantrell had expected to meet a dragon. What he had not expected was the half dozen grizzled and roughshod men that came forward to encircle him on the path. They appeared as if by magic from among the trees. The looks on their faces were not exactly friendly.


    "Warden Cantrell, We meet at last," one said in the human language with a scowl.


    "Yes, it is Cantrell the Warden", rumbled the dragon. "He is the one that has been in charge of discouraging your hunting deer in the forest and is largely responsible for making hunting deer for me more difficult."


    "I had no idea your men were trying to keep a dragon fed," replied Cantrell, beginning to feel extremely nervous.


    "I have heard that Cantrell has had a recent change of heart in that regard", said the red dragon. "Perhaps we should give him the benefit of the doubt."


    "I would appreciate that," said the warden. "It would seem a bit hypocritical at this point to write you a poaching ticket."


    Cantrell heard a couple of the men chuckle.


    "You could try..." one of them said gruffly.


    Then the dragon surprised him again.


    I hear you are friends with my granddaughter, Candasar. I would like to send her a message. Do you think you could deliver it for me?"


    "She is staying in your human village in the dragon temple," said Cantrell. "I am sure I can deliver the message in the morning"


    One of the younger-looking men stepped away from the semi-circle and reached forward to peer into his face.


    "We would like it delivered before dawn"


    "I am Irvine. Harvey was a friend of mine. I understand you were with him at the end and almost had the same fate. I will escort you there to make sure you don''t get lost along the way"


    "Elves never get lost in these woods," said Cantrell, then he laughed. "At least not accidentally. Can one of you get a message back to Aleena for me?"


    "I will do that," said Mo-Rung. "What is the message?"


    "The message is actually for her bonded Mavis. Tell her not to worry and that I''ll be back as soon as I can," Cantrell replied. Also, please tell her, "Thank you!"


    The dragon nodded.


    "Follow me!" said Irvine. "I will make sure you get back to Delora Natine."


    "I believe that I know the way well enough," said Cantrell


    "Yes, but after you deliver your message, there is someone there that I want you to meet," said Irvine.


    ------------------------------


    The two elves had left. Lothinar said he wanted to take a shower. They were smiling and seemed so happy together. Finally, the dragons were alone.


    Candasar looked at Tundor with a frown.


    "Something has changed. I can tell by the way you were looking at Lothinar"


    "Of course, something has changed. I''ve just bonded. You should understand this. You recently just did it yourself. Bonding is a blending."


    "Yes, but you looked like you wanted to bite his head off."


    "I know you needed to choose that elf to get your wings and be healed from having water dragon parts stuck all over you, but those were desperate measures. A difficult time. Are you sure that choosing him was the best idea?"


    "What has gotten into you? Candasar asked angrily. Lothinar is a very fine elf. I can feel his heart. He is much more like his father than his mother. I have no regrets. Then she stopped. "What is happening, Tundor?"


    "I think I may have made a terrible mistake," the white dragon said. "It is confusing because my memories tell me one thing about Lothinar, and my feelings tell me something completely different. I have no reason to feel this rage, and yet it is almost out of control."


    Candasar was silent for quite a while.


    "I am concerned," Candasar said. "Could it be that you have taken all of Ardwynn''s repressed anger and absorbed it into yourself and, in turn, given her all your positive feelings for Lothinar?"


    Tundor nodded as he suddenly realized what he had done. What he had been forced to do by necessity"


    "She was so angry when we bonded, Candasar. I had to protect him. I had to protect us. She would have split us up. I told you that I would try."


    "I took all of her anger and gave her back every good feeling I had for him. Now her cup is full, and my cup is empty. I am worried that she might be much more like her father than we thought!"


    "You would never know that from her previous behavior." Said Candasar. "Lothinar''s pheromones must have been very powerful. Well, let''s hope you are strong enough to overcome that. I think you are going to need to be Lothinar''s friend to survive what is coming."


    "I just hope Lothinar never really makes her mad because the way I''m feeling now he might not survive it. You can never tell him about this, Candasar"


    "Tundor, now that you are bonded, you must realize how difficult that will be to do," she replied.


    The two dragons decided to get some sleep. The day had slipped away. It seemed forever since their walk down to the lake for the transformation. Tundor was still adjusting to it all. He had never even thought about how wings would keep you from sleeping on your back. He had enjoyed doing that, although Candasar had told him that it made him snore.


    In the middle of the night, they were awakened by a soft knocking on their door. It was Cantrell. He was accompanied by a hard-looking human. For some reason, Candasar thought he smelled a little bit like Harvey, the gate guard who had died. Cantrell smelled like he had fallen into a vat of sexy female elf. That definitely brought up a lot of questions.


    "What is it? she asked.


    "Candasar," Cantrell asked. "Can come with me to a place outside of the village?"


    "What for?" She asked.


    "Your Grandfather would like to talk with you," he said without a hint of mirth.


    "Have you been conversing with the dead? Warden Cantrell," she asked suspiciously.


    "No," he said. "I think you will be surprised to find out that your grandfather is very much alive."


    -----------------------------------------


    Mavis woke up alone.


    "Drat!" she said. "I thought I was off to a good start!"


    She couldn''t help but smile as she remembered the way Cantrell had sung her a song of faraway places and lost loves. She hoped that she would not become one of them.


    "An elf like that I could really fall for." she thought.


    Aleena broke into her thoughts through the bond with a message.


    "Cantrell had to go and do something for me. For us. He said to thank you and for you not to worry. He said that he would be back as soon as he could"


    "He''s so sweet," then she smiled. "Everyone always wants seconds on cheesecake!"


    ------------------------------


    As Tundor, Candasar, Lothinar, and Ardwynn were hurrying out of the temple for their meeting with history, they passed Ardwella in the hallway. Cantrell didn''t give her a second glance. She was quite surprised. "I guess Albarad wont be needing that stick...." Then surprisingly, she frowned. "I must be losing my touch,"


    --------------------------------

 Chapter 38: The Cannibal

    ****************


    Chapter 38


    ****************


    It had been over a week since anyone had shown up to torture her, and for some reason, that made Siophra very uncomfortable. With Vanador¡¯s vast magical powers to heal her being unneeded, the excess energy was building up within her body. It had been a long time since she had felt this good.  A very long time indeed. A few days ago she had heard some clanking and shouting in the passageway outside of her cell. A heavy door had slammed. Now there was only silence in the tower. They had even stopped feeding her. At least her cell had indoor plumbing. a small sink had provided water and a toilet allowed her the small dignity of returning the water sitting rather than squatting once her kidneys had finished processing it. When your captors keep you locked up naked in a cell, dignity is a rare commodity.


    It was ironic how much use one could make of their childhood studies of elven biology when parts of your body were maimed or chopped off on a regular basis. At the moment Siophra was working on improving her hearing. Improving it substantially might help her figure out exactly what was going on. This had backfired on her before. She had learned to enlarge and sensitize her eardrums only to have them explode in agonizing rupture when one of the jailers had entered abruptly and slammed down a metal tray. Thankfully she had been able to grow everything back, eventually.


    Not having anything to eat was pretty disgusting but she had played that game before as well. It had proved impossible to starve someone to death who had an inexhaustible supply of stomach lining and intestine to digest and magically grow back.  She had the same aversion to meat eating that most elves shared, and digesting herself for sustenance not only made her a carnivore but a magically powered autotrophic cannibal.


    "A girl¡¯s got to survive." She said to herself.


    There were long-term nutritional limitations to the self-digestion strategy. Right now she really had a craving for mung beans. Oh, and a banana. A banana would really hit the spot. Maybe a pickle. She really missed salt.


    She would never recommend the process of self-digestion to anyone, even if somehow they had the magic to pull it off. The heartburn was terrible. It was a good thing her pain tolerance was high. With all the rest, she had strategically changed her nerve clusters and pain receptors over the years so that the torture she regularly endured now felt more like getting a haircut. That was a handy survival skill to employ when regularly losing body parts.


    All this body sculpting had made her feel more like she inhabited a wooden puppet rather than a body of flesh and blood. She had often wondered when having a limb hacked off why blood and not sawdust came out. Wet red sawdust. It just didn¡¯t phase her anymore.


    Siophra had realized hundreds of years ago that she was quite insane. She wasn¡¯t worried. She would fix that, too, if she were ever able to get out of here. For now, it was very convenient. It certainly helped pass the time.


    Right now she just wanted to figure out what had gotten the imperial compound so riled up. Her superior hearing was finally ready. Gingerly she opened her mind to interpret the faint sound waves that penetrated the cell walls. Finally she had made sufficient changes to be able to make out a conversation.


    ¡°How could this have happened, Dewey?¡± came a voice.  It was Argent!


    ¡±Sire, I have told you time and again that my name is not Dewey. I am only a clerk. My name is Romer. Dewey just sent me here to deliver his message ¡°


    ¡±Where are the dragon scrolls, Dewey? This is a matter of National Security!¡±


    ¡°If you will just allow me to return to the Library, I¡¯m sure Dewey will have found them by now, for your Highness.¡±


    ¡±You keep saying that you are not Dewey, but when I ask for him at the library, everyone over there keeps telling me that Dewey is already here. What am I supposed to believe, Dewey? I have made inquiries. Not only are the dragon defense scrolls missing from the main library but did you know that all of the backup scrolls are gone as well?¡±


    ¡±I have no idea about any of that, Sire, being only a humble clerk. Can we not find someone to transcribe a new one for you from memory? I¡¯m sure that there must be someone¡­..¡±


    ¡±No! That¡¯s just it! The whole team is gone.  Everyone that we used to bring down the dragons! They are all dead or missing. There were over a hundred of them. How can this have happened? The spell is apparently lost. It is strangely difficult and I can no longer remember it myself. I can¡¯t be bothered to keep track of all these things. I need some answers, Dewey!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid that I don¡¯t have them, Your Majesty. I am not your librarian. As I said, my name is Romer.¡±


    A loud bang came as what had to be the royal torturer slammed his tray of implements down on the table in Romer¡¯s cell. The abrupt noise popped Siophra¡¯s eardrum nearest her own cell door. It was, of course, agonizing.


    With the one remaining eardrum, Siophra could just hear Argent say, ¡°Well then, I hope you don¡¯t mind losing a finger or two as we get started. Maybe that will improve your memory!¡±


    Romer¡¯s shrieking blew out the second eardrum pretty quickly after that.


    It was a good thing Siophra didn¡¯t need eardrums to talk to her Dragon.


    ¡°Vanador, my darling, I am going to release the hibernation spell. We are leaving. I am two floors down and in the cell block on the right. Do you think you can dig me out of here without bringing down the building?¡±


    ¡°Why now? Not that I¡¯m complaining. It has just been so long. What has changed?¡± The dragon replied.


    ¡±I¡¯ve just learned that somehow, the spell that attacks dragon fire glands has gone missing, and there is no one alive who remembers it.¡±


    ¡±How is that possible? Asked the dragon. She couldn¡¯t actually hear it with her eardrums broken, but she could feel vibrations and shaking as the dragon began slowly but violently clawing his way through the roof and floors above her.¡±


    ¡±If I had to guess I would expect that somehow Ardwella was involved.¡±


    ¡±Took her long enough!¡± Complained the dragon. ¡°Oh there you are!¡±


    Siophra could see his head and face poking through a large hole in the ceiling. She jumped up and grabbed his white beard as he pulled back his head, lifting her from the cell.


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    ¡±Ew!¡± she said.


    ¡±Is it the dust?¡± he asked


    ¡±No not that, your beard is full of bird droppings. Is that a nest?¡±


    ¡±Yes, more than one, I¡¯m afraid, ¡° He said sadly.


    ¡±We will have to get you a good wash later. We are heading back to the house at the lake, anyway. We need to hurry. It wouldn¡¯t be good to get hit by a lightning bolt while trying to escape. I¡¯m sure Argent still has a few of those up his sleeve!¡±


    Siophra slid around to the dragon''s back.


    ¡°You know, the bird poop''s pretty thick up here too. You poor thing!  I really wish I had some clothes on!"


    ¡±I feel so stiff!¡± The dragon complained as he flapped and bird droppings shook loose like disgusting dandruff.


    ¡±No flying for centuries, and the first thing we do is set a goal of three hundred miles. I hope you know that I¡¯m stopping for snacks!¡±  Vanador said.


    The dragon suddenly dodged as a huge purple lightning bolt shot past him and impacted the roof of the library building nearby. It looked like there had been a few people up on the roof arguing about something. They had disappeared after the flash. The roof had apparently caved in.


    ¡°That was way too close,¡± said Vanador.


    ¡±Shake it off and get flying. We can¡¯t afford to get hit by one of those. I wonder what happened to my sword?¡±


    Siophra could not hear, but somehow she felt an intense magical surge behind them.


    ¡±Dive Vanador!¡± she screamed.


    He complied instantly. The bolt passed over them by mere feet.


    ¡±I wonder how many of these he can shoot and what the range is?¡± Asked the dragon.


    ¡±Hopefully, that¡¯s an answer we won¡¯t find out today!¡± she replied, hanging on tightly as the dragon bobbed and weaved through the air.


    Vanador kept flapping. An hour later, they finally felt safe enough to land. They were flying over a forested area, and Vanador had spotted a few deer. He couldn¡¯t resist taking a pair. He ate them quickly. A few miles further they passed over a clear mountain lake. Both the elf and the dragon stopped for a quick rinse-off.


    Coming out of the water and running around a bit to get dry, Siophra said,


    ¡°I suppose that I am eventually going to need to find some clothes.  When we get home, It would be best not to shock the neighbors.¡°


    ¡°I¡¯m sure Ardwella will have something for you to wear,¡± said Vanador.


    ¡°I¡¯m sure that her clothes will fall off of me. I¡¯m skin and bones. I haven¡¯t eaten anything in a week. I can¡¯t hear; my eardrums are ruptured and over-modified. I can¡¯t really feel my arms and legs correctly, and I¡¯m obviously  insane from years of torture.¡±


    ¡±It¡¯s always going to be something negative with you, isn¡¯t it, Siophra,¡± said Vanador. Then they both laughed.


    The dragon continued. ¡±Don¡¯t forget that you managed to save me from a fiery death, and we have finally escaped from the private prison of the Insane Emperor. For that, at least. I must give you high marks."


    ¡°Just a minute. I can at least fix your ears."  Vanador said.  The dragon sent a powerful white pulse of magic at her head. ¡°Ok, your ears should be back to normal, and I repaired a bit of the mental trauma while I was inside your head.  There is much more to do in there, I¡¯m afraid.¡±  That¡¯s all I can do for now.  I''m going to need a few more deer or maybe some cows. We need to find a human settlement for those though. You know we dragons should find a way to bond with humans. Their dietary preferences are much more similar¡­..¡±


    Siophra began to cry. It started with tears in the corners of her eyes. Then the dam burst, and great heart-wrenching, gut-wracking sobbing began pouring out of the slim, frail, still somehow hauntingly beautiful elf.


    ¡°Hey! I was just joking! It¡¯s the cow craving talking.¡± Vanador said guiltily.


    ¡°E..el. Eh¡­Elves have done nothing but destroy your people." she said with her voice catching. "You should absolutely find a way to bond with the humans."


    ¡±It¡¯s not really fair, I suppose, but they have absolutely no magic. They can be good friends with dragons, but communication between us is difficult and very limited. They can¡¯t even eat dragon eggs to become more magical. I think some of them actually may have tried. It is not the kind of thing I like to think about. Some of them worship us, not that we try to encourage that, usually. Do you know that they were starting to build a temple to dragons just before we left? Vanador had tactfully carried on the conversation. deliberately prolonging it to give her a little time to cry it out a bit.


    Siophra shook her head.


    ¡°Your sister and Esmarilla were trying to talk them out of it. We¡¯ve been out of the loop for a long time. We need to see what¡¯s been going on. We need to get back and find some answers.¡±


    ¡°And some clothes," she said, looking down at herself. "We need to get home. But that is, unfortunately, exactly where the emperor is going to come looking for us¡±


    ¡±Yes, we will be leading him and his magical troops directly to anyone who still might be willing to help us!¡±


    "Going by air, we at least will get there a few days before he does. Let''s hope your sister has something planned for his reception," said Vanador.


    "Thanks for fixing my ears. It''s nice to hear the birds singing again!"


    "Sorry, but I''ve had it up to HERE with birds. It is going to take me some time to appreciate them again." said the big white dragon quite seriously.


    ----------------------------


    "You faked your own death?" asked Candasar.


    "I''m sorry, Candasar. I had outlived my first mate, your grandmother, by too many years already. You know that water dragons have very short lifespans. I''m sure that you were already feeling that time was slipping away from you. It''s part of what Argent''s magicians did to us. I just couldn''t take being mocked and disrespected any longer. One day I was walking around in the woods here and one of these men offered to help me hunt. As you obviously know, physiological changes begin to rapidly occur inside our bodies when we go back to the diet that is most normal for us."


    "You just couldn''t go back," said Tundor. "I understand."


    "But you could have let me know!" Candasar exclaimed.


    "What would you have done, granddaughter?" the red dragon sighed. "We were both playing the cards we were dealt"


    "What are these cards?" asked Tundor.


    "Sorry, I''ve watched these men who help feed me for years as they have played various games around the campfire with little white paper emblems. It seems to bring them some relief from the boredom. They are sorted and handed out randomly. Although I think Arnold over there somehow cheats"


    That earned Arnold a dirty look from several of his buddies.


    "What is it you want to do now?" asked Lothinar. "I assume you asked my bond out here so that we could talk about how you might get your wings¡±


    ¡±Got it in one,¡± said Mo-rung.


    "You are large" said Lothinar. . "The amount of flesh sculpting that Esmarilla and I will have to do will be difficult. We just brought Tundor to flight ability yesterday morning"


    "He was easier than I was, right?" asked Candasar.


    "By an order of magnitude, yes," said Lothinar. "But his sheer size is going to make things more difficult"


    "What if I am willing to bond this dragon before we begin?" asked Cantrell. "Will that make it easier?"


    "We will be able to add your magic to the process, yes. It all depends on what kind of power reserves you have," Said Lothinar.


    Cantrell''s fingertips began to crackle and sparkle with a purple energy. Ardwynn gasped.


    "You can probably tell that I wasn''t as afraid of your father as I wanted him to think," said Cantrell.


    "That''s how you survived his blast," she exclaimed.


    "I distracted him with the knife attack and kept the magical energy as my defense," Cantrell admitted.


    "How did you get that powerful without eating dragon eggs?" asked Candasar suspiciously.


    "Some elves are just born with a little extra oomph," said Ardwynn. "Or a lot." Many of the Royal family are an example of this even without adding in magic from dragon eggs. Of course, they primarily use them for life extension. "What did you say that you did before this posting in regard to the Royals?"


    "Ambassador, Emissary, Explorer... I recently did a stint as the warden of Captive Dragon Lakes... The usual."


    "Those with job titles like that are usually chosen for high ambient magic levels. " Ardwynn said guardedly.


    "I get by," said Cantrell. "If your grandfather wants to bond with me, I''ll augment his transition. I recently became rather attached to his mate Aleena''s bond. Her name is Mavis.  She''s a sweet girl. She helped me out of a bad situation. That helped me decide what side of this conflict I wanted to belong to."


    Cantrell looked around and found that the entire group was looking at him as if he had suddenly grown a second head.


    "You were still in doubt?" asked Lothinar.


    "Well, your mother really did a number on me. I had some things to work through."


    "Should we trust you now?" asked Tundor.


    "Come on, It''s still me. Your good friend Cantrell. I just thought we should get all of our ''cards'' on the table." Then he gave Arnold the card playing dragon guard a very dramatic wink.


    "Welcome back, Grandfather," Said Candasar. "I, for one, have missed you. And welcome to the family, Cantrell."


    --------------------------------------------

 Chapter 39: Homecoming

    **************


    Chapter 39


    *************


    Cantrell had wanted to go home to get some sleep. He thought it unwise to try doing anything magically strenuous as tired as he was right now. Lothinar, Ardwynn, and the other dragons had returned to Dellora-Natine to inform Ardwella that the reports of Mo-Rung¡¯s death had been, as they say, greatly exaggerated. The big red dragon had accompanied Cantrell as far as the nest of his mate Aleena. He had a fresh arrow-shot deer clamped in his jaws as he stomped his way down toward the shore of the lake.


    ¡±This deer is for Aleena." said Mo-Rung. It will give her magical strength. These humans have allowed me to survive and thrive on land. I would never have been a successful hunter or been able to feed myself without them. As the one in charge of limiting their deer hunting activities, you have been one of the largest hindrances to my progress ¡°


    ¡±The irony of that is not lost on me.¡± said the warden. ¡°Some parts of my job description only really make sense with the possibility of a dragon such as you escaping from the water in mind. I¡¯m surprised that the emperor allowed men to keep living in the local town and didn¡¯t drive them away from the area.¡±


    ¡±You do realize that Delora Natine was here long before the elven outpost?¡±


    ¡±I suppose that makes sense,¡± said Cantrell.


    ¡°The men that hunt for me have told me on multiple occasions that we are In what was originally shared dragon and human territory. Elves are the interlopers here.¡±


    ¡®Cantrell tried to remember if he had seen any maps of the territory from before the war. His memory was drawing a blank. Perhaps subjugating the dragons had been enough for the emperor. Risking and enduring a full-scale conflict with the humans by driving them off their own land might have been more than the empire had wanted to tackle at the time.


    With his egg supply shut down there wasn¡¯t much of a chance that the Emperor was going to delegate his dragon problems any longer. The humans seemed a loosely associated bunch. He wondered if an attack on Delora would have large scale repercussions in other parts of the empire. He hoped that the humans were more organized than they appeared to be.


    Aleena had immediately started her deer feast, so Cantrell had walked. He chuckled to himself how quickly he had become accustomed to water taxi service as he finally trudged up to the door. Without any conscious thought, he suddenly realized that he had not gone to his own place but back to Mavis''s house. She was making breakfast. She was wearing the cutest little apron and absolutely nothing else. A brisk morning walk can surely make you hungry.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-


    Argent awoke screaming as usual. His mind was buzzing from the events of yesterday. He had become overly obsessed with Dewey¡¯s deceptions and briefly allowed Siophra and Vanador to slip his mind. Somehow, she had overheard him admitting that the dragon-killing spell was missing. Without the threat of her dragon being incinerated, she had taken the opportunity to escape. He had tried to hit them with multiple lightning bolts, but somehow, they had dodged them.


    That dragon by his birthright should have been his! Lothinex ''s granddaughter had protected the dragon from his incineration spell, and as long as she remained alive, he couldn¡¯t burn the dragon. It was as if it existed in a place outside of time and was impervious to any injury. Siophra had been at his mercy, but the dragon¡¯s magic had preserved her life despite his best attempts to kill her.


    He would never forget the day he had decapitated her, only to watch in horror and amazement as her body rejoined her head and fused back together. She was unkillable. Fortunately, a dragon could only send such powerful energy to a bonded elf while in hibernation, or he would have never won the first war.


    He had tried to break her mind and spirit as well, but nothing seemed to work to sever her bond with Vanador. After their escape, several more elves at the library were dead, and he was never going to find those fire scrolls. With all he had going on no one could possibly expect him to keep track of everything.


    The eggs helped. At least, they seemed to. Not only did they give access to a lot of restored power, which made throwing lightning bolts a breeze, but they also helped keep the dark thoughts away. Quickly he pulled yet another from his dwindling supply and picked away at the thick shell. He had always preferred his dragon eggs hard-boiled. He consumed the egg quickly. He needed access to more very soon. Now, though, Tempton, Quinton, and Ulaire were missing and presumed dead. These losses could not go unanswered. The supply of eggs must not be stopped. His life and sanity depended on it. He could already feel the effects of trying to ration and cut back on his egg consumption.


    The thoughts rose, like a behemoth from the deep places, huge and impossible to ignore A monster, having slept its fill in a dark and distant lair, now surfacing, The force of it¡¯s movement casting waves upon the beaches of his mind. It filled the tranquil bay of his ruminations like a mountain. It was a Leviathan suddenly thrust up from the bottom of the sea. The great eye, black and cold, stared unrelenting as it pierced through his sunny day and drove a blade of ice deep within his heart.


    Argent shivered in the sudden gloom. The memories of all the good things that had happened in his life slipped from his grasp and faded into a distant memory. A story he had once told to his daughter before bedtime now became the onset of a nightmare. One from which there would be no awakening.


    His mind was a vast sea. At the water''s edge, the ripples of memory gently ended their lives, tumbling the tiny grains of sand before flowing silently back into the black depths. They deceive those ripples. They seemed violent and strong. The current was calling his name. His hands covered his ears, but he could not shut out the sound or the afterechoes of such power. The power of thousands of dead baby dragons. He thought that power like this could not be silenced by the means available to mere mortals. Like a tuning fork, his entire soul began to hum and then form the words of a dark song. He lowered his head and closed his eyes. The words to the song came unbidden, filling his mind.


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    The vibration reverberates and brings dark dreams ¨C squandered, youth and aspiration lies broken and shattered upon the floor


    Years have drained away like the water through the sand and they ever return to the relentless sea, always waiting in the dark.


    The cold current always calling.


    Time and biology conspire to end the hopes of the eternal soul that lives within the frail and broken bodies we wear on this earth


    Each flawed and failing in its own time


    We all must face our turn at the well of the spirit, looking deep within at the icy water.


    We must drink of it to live, but each sip further quenches the flame of our youth and steals


    another day from the storehouse we so carefully have guarded. All too soon, the shelves are bare.


    Wire racks standing in an empty room under the harsh artificial light. The glare burns our eyes


    Yes, we are mortal, and though we rise up like the tender shoot in the morning,


    our slender roots do not find their way through the hostile stony soil. The flesh is weak, and the ground is hard.


    The living water lies far too deep below.


    The morning dew does fall on us in the end. It has insufficient moisture to sustain our immortal thoughts'' hopes and dreams. Eventually, the disappointed soil that craves our decomposition must be satisfied.


    We must, at last, face the end of ourselves and hope that somehow we can let go without screaming.


    As usual, Argent awoke screaming. The white dragon had left, but he had a pretty good idea of where he would find it.


    "Call my Generals. We are marching at dawn!" Argent yelled.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    Starett was in his office trying to make sense of the current budget. Feeding dragons was expensive. He was glad that the wardens led by Cantrell had relaxed the restriction on taking deer from the local forest. He was beginning to think Farmer McDonald had been overcharging him somehow. Other local suppliers seemed much more reasonable in the price of cattle. The elves needed a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables too. He never thought that he would have had to deal with so much so soon when he had apprenticed to the temple. Duty is its own reward, he thought to himself. Someone knocked on the door. One of the messengers poked his head in and handed him a letter. It had gold trim on the envelope. It was from the Capitol in Savintra. He opened it with shaking hands. He began to read.


    From the Court of His Majesty,


    It has come to our attention that the Great Dragon in your temple has finally reawakened. We have hoped and prayed for this. We have begun a pilgrimage to your temple and will arrive within the month. Please provide accommodations for the duration. Our party will consist of approximately three hundred souls.


    King Enderline


    "Womber!" We are going to need to get started on some extra rooms!"


    Maybe he could get some of the elves to move back home...


    --------------------------


    Siophra saw the house from the air. Not much had changed with the house itself in the hundreds of years since she had been here, although someone had added a large barn out back.


    "That barn is new. It will be a convenient place to hide you." She told Vanador.


    The house of her Grandfather Lothinex had once stood alone in these woods, but now Siophra could see that there were other homes and structures that had been built nearby in the same area. She was currently flying over one on her approach that had a large clothesline. Colored skirts and blouses waved in the breeze.


    "Looks like we have found some clothes," Said Vanador, smirking. "And you were worried"


    After landing, Siophra checked the doors and found her Grandfather''s house was tightly locked. She patted herself all over.


    "I think I have the key on me somewhere." Then she giggled.


    Vanador was beginning to think a few clothes would substantially ease his bond''s transition back to sanity.


    The barn door was open. It was nice and clean inside. The naked blonde elf looked around nervously.


    "Wait inside there, said Vanador. I''ll be right back!"


    Siophra scurried inside, obviously embarrassed about possibly being caught in the nude. Vanador didn''t understand Siophra''s reluctance to nudity, but he was a team player. He began stealthily sneaking toward the neighbor''s clothesline. He hoped that the clothes he was going to borrow from the clothesline would fit Siophra.


    He had just grabbed a couple of pairs of everything when he heard a shriek. A pretty young elf was looking at him out the side door of her home.


    "Cantrell! There is a big white dragon stealing some of my clothes!" she yelled.


    Another elf appeared and stared in surprise. He was surprisingly fast for an older gentleman, and the next thing Vanador knew, he was right up in his business. Vanador dropped the clothes.


    Mavis rolled her eyes at that. "Don''t get them dirty. I just washed them. Everyone always wants to borrow my clothes. They are the latest fashions. Sure, go ahead and take what you need. It''s ok, as long as I get them back.¡±


    "Thank you both. It''s an emergency. I was hoping to borrow these for a friend." He scooped up his prizes again and started to make a fast retreat. The clothes flapped in his teeth. Then he had a thought.


    "Hey! Do you know an elf named Ardwella? She used to live around here," he asked.


    The elf that had to be named Cantrell began nodding his head. He had a strange look on his face. He looked the dragon up and down, narrowing his eyes.


    "Yes, I know Ardwella. Her husband and son too. If I''m not mistaken, your name is Vanador, isn''t it?" he finally asked.


    Vanador eyed him suspiciously.


    "I''ve never heard of him" said the dragon.


    These clothes you want to borrow. Could they be for Ardwella''s sister Siophra? Cantrell asked suspiciously.


    "Siophra... Hmmm. That''s a name you don''t hear every day," said the dragon.


    Ardwella is really going to want to see her. Siophra''s been gone a long time.


    Vanador figured out that the jig was up. His deception had been discovered.


    "Yeah, that''s us," he admitted.


    Mavis took a second look. Then she shook her head.


    Then she surprised everyone.


    "That can''t be Vanador, Cantrell."


    "Why not? It certainly must be!" he said.


    "Vanador is the name of a dragon statue with bird poop all over it at the top of Daddy''s office building back in the capitol."


    ---------------------------

 Chapter 40: Ancient Sisters

    **************


    Chapter 40


    **************


    "You want to move out?" Asked Ardwynn


    ¡°I know that we really just moved in here, but I think Starett was hinting that he wanted the room back,¡± said Lothinar. ¡°He said he was expecting some important visitors¡±


    ¡°I guess now that my father isn¡¯t trying to hunt us down and kill us, we could go back to Tasumakoji. At least until my uncle, the Emperor, arrives to hunt us down and then kill us.¡± Said Ardwynn. ¡°I''m sorry again, by the way, that my family seems to always focus on this hunting down and killing sort of thing.¡±


    ¡°It does seem to run in the family, present company excepted,¡± he agreed.


    ¡°I suppose it comes from associating with dragons so much. Your family kind of started that. I think the emperor is the only one who really has it out for them, and that¡¯s only because they completely rejected bonding with him. He was filled with jealousy and bitterness.


    ¡°What kind of twisted mind must he have had, even as a younger elf, to cause a dragon, all the dragons, to utterly reject him?¡±


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t know. You¡¯ve met him, right? What did you think?¡±


    ¡±Briefly, once or twice. He¡¯s very old and crazy. My father was quite a bit younger than his brother. It would be a gap, something like you will have with your unborn baby sister. For humans, that¡¯s a whole generation. He didn¡¯t really want any of us around him. He is very volatile. My Uncle didn¡¯t insist on really knowing us. Being female made it easier. The emperor really only has one use for the opposite sex. He''s had more than a few wives.


    I¡¯m rather surprised my mother was given responsibility for the egg supply. My father slept so much that she probably had to get involved. Quinton had many more expectations laid on him. He was a jerk, but now that he¡¯s gone, I actually feel a little sorry for him.


    Ardwynn got a strange look on her face.


    Lothinar realized that this was the first time she had started to open up about her family. He was trying not to feel this way, but hearing her talk about them made him nervous. He realized that their whirlwind relationship was still very new. A lot depended on it. He would have to tread carefully. If she suddenly started blaming him for what had happened it could destroy their relationship. He felt more than a little agreement from Candasar about that. She was now always a part of his thoughts, even as he was part of hers.


    "If you really want to know more about what my uncle the emperor is going to do or what he may be thinking, then you should ask his daughter Mavis."


    "Mavis? The young elf that''s dating Cantrell right now? She''s his daughter? The emperor''s actual daughter? Didn''t you think it might be a good idea to mention that?!"


    "I didn''t want to draw any of your attention to her. She''s pretty cute. She''s been stalking you, in case you didn''t notice. And until very recently, I would have considered her the competition."


    Lothinar scowled at her just a little.


    She shrugged. ¡°You''ve got to remember what kind of strange hold you had on me. Tundor bonding with me has made me less needy. That¡¯s a good thing. But maybe I should have let Mavis have you. Then you could have used her as leverage to buy yourself some time." said Ardwynn.


    "I could never do something like that!"


    "The leverage of my being with you bought us enough time for your dragon to incinerate my father. That was certainly convenient!"


    "Candasar was saving our lives!"


    "I know, I know. I''m sorry. It just all feels so different now."


    "Anyway, Cantrell is in a relationship with my cousin Mavis. She is Argent''s daughter. It''s a real mess. For what it''s worth, I think Mavis is a nice girl. I''m sure she has no idea how bad her father is or what he''s been doing to the dragons."


    "Does Cantrell even know how much trouble he''s in?" asked Lothinar, trying to process it all.


    "Remember, Mr. Oblivious. You had no idea how much trouble you were going to be in when you got together with me." She laughed.


    There was a long pause as Ardwynn seemed to be listening to something.


    ¡±Oh! Big surprise, Tundor says he¡¯s hungry again!¡± Said Ardwynn. ¡°He wants deer, but Mo-Rung told him that the ones farther from the lake taste different. He thinks it¡¯s because they eat some dark berries that grow up there. Mo-Rung only had them a few times because the men had to carry them a far distance. They resorted to hunting on the other side of the mountain when the warden patrols at the lake were cracking down on ¡®deer poachers¡¯ more aggressively. He and Candasar are going to fly out a bit and strengthen their wings before they hunt. Are you coming?¡±


    ¡±Yeah, it¡¯s strange, but of course, I got all that at exactly the same time from Candy. I¡¯m realizing that us being together and bonded to a mated pair of dragons is going to make for a lot of redundant conversations¡±


    ¡±It must be strange for them too. Did you want to break up?¡± Is it too much to handle? She asked, apparently joking


    ¡°Of course not,¡± he exclaimed.


    ¡°Just checking, ¡° she said with a sly smile. "Then let''s go take a flying lesson with our dragons!"


    "We are waiting for you just outside the town gate," Said Candasar. "Better hurry. We are attracting a crowd."


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-


    Vanador had rushed off with his mouthful of the latest fashions leaving Cantrell staring at the young elf woman that he was falling in love with. The one that apparently was the emperor¡¯s daughter or at least one of them.


    Cantrell remembered hearing that the emperor had children, but with his advanced age he had assumed that they all had to be much older. Another thought rushed into his mind and he found himself backtracking the last week wondering how it had never come up..


    ¡°Mavis, do you know a female elf named Ardwynn?¡±


    ¡±Of course I do. She is my cousin. Somehow she outmaneuvered me and got to Lothar first. I thought he would never take her seriously, but then suddenly, they were married. I didn¡¯t even get invited to the wedding! How can you not know this? We even talked about it.¡±


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    She must have misread his shocked expression because she smiled warmly at him and pulled him in for a kiss.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be jealous of past infatuations, sweetheart. I think I got the better man with you. All those pheromones Lothinar was throwing out can really mess with a girl''s mind. I think falling in love naturally and sharing common interests has much more appeal, don¡¯t you?¡± Then she kissed him again. ¡°You are going to be such a wonderful tour guide as we go through life. You have been practically everywhere, and I¡¯m such a curious girl. You have the answers to the questions I haven¡¯t even thought about yet and a very beautiful singing voice I might add. Once you¡¯ve bonded, our age difference won¡¯t even matter.¡±


    ¡±What originally brought you out here so far from the capitol? Why are you at this outpost, Mavis?¡± He finally managed to get out.


    ¡±Well, obviously, this is the only place that I was ever going to be able to bond with a dragon. Daddy has always been so obsessed with them. The added lifespan alone. This world is such a big place, so much to see. You need a lot of time to travel, apparently even on a dragon''s back. And the idea of even thinking about eating their eggs just makes me want to hurl. You know, throw up. Ew! Gag me with a wooden spoon and twist it.¡±


    ¡°Daddy made a big mistake. It only makes sense to be friends with dragons."


    Cantrell just couldn¡¯t stop staring at her. She began to blush a little.


    ¡°People do gag, you know¡­ it happens ¡°


    Cantrell stopped her right there.


    ¡°Look, Mavis¡­that¡¯s not at all what I¡¯m talking about, at least not right now.


    ¡°Just what is it that you actually want to know, sweetheart? Just ask your question I¡¯ll answer the best I can.¡± Mavis said.


    Their conversation was interrupted by crashing sounds as the white dragon returned, running fast and knocking over a few smaller trees as he tried to stop. He was wheezing a little. At least he missed the clothesline. On his back was an impeccably dressed, wild-eyed, yet beautiful elf. She gave Mavis a curious look before yelling at Cantrell.


    ¡°Vanador says you know Ardwella. Take me to her. It¡¯s urgent!¡± ¡°Uh, please?¡±


    ¡±Should I climb up?¡± Asked Cantrell. ¡°So that you know, I¡¯m not going anywhere without Mavis.¡±


    That earned Cantrell another radiant smile from the beautiful elf at his side. Cantrell loved Mavis''s smile.


    ¡°Fine, fine, both of you then. Vanador can handle it.¡±


    The white dragon winced and rolled his eyes.


    ¡°Siophra, It¡¯s a good thing that you were on a diet recently¡± he said. ¡°These running take-offs from flat ground aren¡¯t easy. Did you not notice there are some pretty big trees around here? This wood is thick with them!"


    ¡±Just take a second and catch your breath, sweetie,¡± said Mavis, looking at Vanador as she started pulling a few more things off the clothesline. "I need to get dressed first. I¡¯m not getting up there wearing just an apron."


    Cantrell watched in amazement as Mavis color-matched and accessorized. She was ready in no time.


    "Siophra," Mavis asked suspiciously, "you aren''t getting bird poop on my good clothes, are you?"


    "She is not!" Said Vanador, defensively. We both bathed on our way here!"


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    Down at the lakeside, Aleena and Mo-Rung had been watching the egg wobble and shake for a couple of hours. Finally, there came a little pop and crackle, and a hole appeared in the shell. There was more violent wiggling. A little snout poked out. It drew back inside, followed by the appearance of an eye. It looked about. Seeing its mother, the little dragon gave a mighty shove, and the egg cracked in two. The small dragon flopped exhausted into the soft ferns of the nest. Aleena could see small wings and normal dragon feet and breathed a big sigh of relief. A few minutes later, it looked up expectantly.


    "What do you have to eat around here?" she said in a squeaky little voice.


    "Your first meal will be something called deer," said her father. We have been waiting for you, little red dragon... Your name shall be Firestorm"


    On the back of Vanador, Mavis began squealing.


    "Hey, I missed that tree by a mile!" said Vanador crossly. His great wings pumping frantically for altitude. They had decided to trot back over to the barn for a bigger break in the trees that provided more runway for takeoff. Vanador had reluctantly admitted that he was a little out of shape.


    "It''s not you, Vanny, said Mavis excitedly. I just got some great news! Aleena, just send me a message! Cantrell and I just became aunt and uncle to a new baby dragon named Firestorm!"


    "Things sure have changed around here," thought Siophra. These apparently stylish new clothes barely cover up anything at all!"


    ------------------------------------------


    Esmarilla felt something strange. It had been so long since she had felt this presence that, at first, she didn''t even know what it was. It was like someone threw a warm blanket over her chilly soul.


    At almost the same second, Ardwella jumped up from the couch where she had been studying a book on ways to protect homes from lightning strikes and said abruptly.


    "Albarad, I''ve got something urgent to take care of. I think my sister is back.


    "Your sister that has been missing for like five hundred years?"


    "I have to go to her. She and her dragon are landing right now outside the city gate," she said urgently.


    She sent a message to Esmarilla.


    "I don''t know how, but Vanador and Siophra came back! You are closer, Esmarilla! Go outside and greet them. I am going to gather a few things, and then I''ll meet you there."


    Esmarilla didn''t hesitate. Of course! The warm feeling was Vanador!. She barreled out of the courtyard and past the startled temple staff almost plowing over farmer McDonald pulling a reluctant cow down the main passageway. She stopped for a second, backed up, and addressed him.


    "Would you mind bringing Bessy here out to the front gate? I''d like to give her to my brother as a welcoming gift"


    "No problem, Dragon god.. Just put your mark right here"


    Esmarilla scratched an "X" on a wooden shingle. Be a dear and get me a couple more for later please? And tell Starett that I have a very large guest. He will be sharing my courtyard.


    "Yes, Maam," said McDonald marking down two more X''s and pocketing the shingle.


    Esmarilla and arrived at the front gate at the same time Vanador touched down in a cloud of dust. There were three people on his back. Having recently been a dragon god statue herself, Esmarilla thought she saw the signs of dragon hibernation. He didn''t look great, but it was nothing a few cows couldn''t fix.


    Esmarilla couldn''t be sure, but it seemed that there were a lot of extra humans hanging around outside the city gates this morning. They clearly had been there before Vanador had arrived. It was a big gathering. Did they know he was coming? "Oh well, It must be market day," she thought.


    Siophra looked terrible. Esmarilla had seen her when she was young. If anyone had ever been more beautiful than Ardwella, it would have been Siophra. The gaunt elf slid slowly down Vanador and moved stiffly. Her face was locked in a strange rictus of unreadable emotion. She had obviously been through a lot. Cantrell and Mavis jumped down beside her.


    "I''ll be expecting a finder''s fee," said Cantrell smugly to Esmarilla.


    "I actually found them," Said Mavis. The dragon was taking my clothes, remember?"


    Siophra was staring back toward the gate. The guard there winced. Then Cantrell saw Ardwynn. The crowd of humans parted respectfully as she appeared. She was walking out of the gate and slowly toward them.


    "I got your message Ardwella. It saved Vanador''s life. But the Emperor caught us. He kept me in a prison cell all this time". said Siophra "He tortured me for hundreds of years!"


    Tears were streaming down Ardwella''s face.


    "I had no idea where you were. How to find you? I''m just so glad you are alive and that you and Vanador made it. "


    "Were you the one that killed Argent''s soldiers that burned the dragons? Did you somehow destroy all the scrolls? Asked Siophra.


    "Yes, I killed them all. I got the last one about fifty years ago."


    I just heard the news about that today, and once I realized Vanador was safe, I came straight here. Thank you for that."


    "What do you need most right now? asked Ardwella. "What can I do for you?"


    "Do you have my sword?"


    "Yes, it''s right here".


    Siophra reached out and took the offered black blade. She ran her fingers over the runes. A flame burst forth along the blade. In its glow, you could really see the crazy in her eyes.


    She looked at Mavis, and a strange look passed through her almost vacant eyes.


    "There are a lot of things I want. I want to get my revenge for all the things Argent did to me."


    "I want some clothes that don''t make me look like a floozy"


    Mavis gasped.


    Siophra swung the black sword around until it was pointed at Mavis.


    "Thanks for the clothes."


    "Of course," said Mavis. "It was the right thing to do"


    "Loaning them to me just probably just saved your life". said Siophra.


    "Well, I appreciate you not killing me". For what it''s worth, my father is a disgusting pig!"


    "I''m glad you see it that way," said Siophra. Her face was a wooden mask. Her dragon shifted awkwardly from foot to foot.


    "Uh, Ardwella, I''d appreciate it if you could attend to your sister. She''s going to be ok in time, but she''s been through a lot," said Vanador.


    Siophra nodded as if in agreement. "That would be great. Thank you."


    The flaming sword extinguished with a pop. A little smoke rose from the tip.


    The human crowd sighed in relief.


    "Does anybody know where I can get a banana? Oh! and maybe a pickle?" said Siophra longingly.


    "Come on inside," Said Ardwella. I''ll introduce you to Starett. He has everything!"

 Chapter 41: Mung Beans and Broken Dreams

    *************


    Chapter 41


    *************


    The dragons and their riders had traveled quite a distance. The elves had dismounted and watched from afar as the dragons had killed and fed on the two of the deer. Tundor claimed that Mo-Rung had oversold the whole experience. It wasn''t worth the trip. Candasar disagreed and thought that they were delicious. She admitted that it probably wouldn¡¯t make sense to make the long trip out here on a regular basis just for the additional flavor. Lothinar brought up the fact that with the pressure that an increasing dragon population would bring, it was good to have options.


    Lothinar wondered if it might be a genetic thing. She might have something different about her tastebuds that Tundor did not. After all, Candy was Mo-Rungs granddaughter. They were red and blue dragons. Perhaps there was a genetic predisposition to enjoy darkberry mountain deer.


    Lothinar had heard of this kind of thing before. He loved Mung beans, and so did his mother. His father couldn¡¯t stand them. He said eating them hurt his stomach. Ardwella never even thought of cooking Mung beans for Alberad. Instead, when Lothinar was a small child growing up, it had become one of their little things to do together. Sneaking off to the Mung bean vendor, soaking them and then cooking them on the stove at the house. Mung bean feasts with his mother were fondly remembered.


    "Well, the dragons needed the exercise anyway. You know, it seems really strange, but since I''ve bonded with Tundor, the thought of eating meat isn''t quite as revolting to me as it used to be. Don''t get me wrong, I''m not going to do it anytime soon. It¡¯s the ethics. I think that really was what held me back from the eggs as well. Although those grilled cow sandwiches with the round buns that the humans were eating at our wedding looked interesting. I think they had pickles on them.


    Lothinar had to agree. The pickles were great.


    "We''d better get back". Said. Lothinar. "I don''t like to be gone for a whole morning like this. Who knows what''s happened since we left."


    "Don''t worry". Laughed Ardwynn, "Until the Emperor shows up, it''s probably going to be very boring around here. Just look at the crowd the dragons attracted at the city gate just before we left. All those people standing around wanting to see dragons, then we came out, climbed on, and off we flew."


    "I hope that they weren''t disappointed, leaving them nothing to see." agreed Lothinar.


    "Hey, on the way back do you want to stop and get some mung bean soup?. I know a place."


    "I can''t stand Mung Beans said Ardwynn." But. you can get some if you want. Just don''t expect me to ever cook them for you!"


    ------------------------


    Cantrell watched as Ardwella led Siophra and her dragon into the human city through the main gate. The humans bowed reverently as the two largest dragons in existence walked past. Vanador and Esmarilla already seemed lost in their own private conversation. The black dragon was making some pretty horrible angry faces. Cantrell was glad that they were not directed at him. A bird flew near the pair and looked as if it might land on Vanador. His head and neck snapped out in a flash, obliterating the avian trespasser from existence. A cloud of feathers fluttered to the ground.


    "Never again," Cantrell thought he heard the white dragon say"


    He turned to Mavis about to comment on the bird''s demise and found her staring thunderously at him. Her hand was on her ample hip, and her face was compressed into a serious pout.


    "So what? You were just going to stand there and let that prudish ancient elf fry me with her fire sword? I thought you and I were in this together?"


    Cantrell immediately realized that he had made a grave mistake.


    "It totally caught me by surprise! I had no idea she was angry with you, personally!"


    "I don''t think she really was, even if she has no taste in clothes... She is obviously quite peeved with my father. Not that I can blame her. Still I thought you might take an interest in somehow keeping me alive. Sort of jump in front? Wave your arms? Say something like... "No, please don''t shoot my sweetheart?" What were you thinking?"


    "Well, she had just been handed the black sword. She seemed rather calm up until that actual moment. Perhaps having the sword in her hand again triggered something. said Cantrell thinking it through


    ¡°Siophra has obviously been through a lot. Ultimately she didn''t hurt you just to get back at your father. That says a lot about what kind of person she is deep down inside. In spite of all that your father put her through. I¡¯m sure she¡¯s not completely sane. Vanador is probably the only thing keeping her together.¡±


    "Well", Mavis finally smiled, "Aleena thinks I should give you another chance. It¡¯s a good thing that I love you because I could take you not speaking up for me as a bad sign for our relationship. ¡°


    "Don''t take it that way," said Cantrell. "I definitely want a future together enough to jump in front of a flaming sword for you. I have an excellent history of doing heroic things like that. Ask anyone."


    ¡±I already have,¡± said Mavis. ¡°That¡¯s why I was surprised when you didn¡¯t do that this time¡±


    ¡±It happened really fast, and I must be tired. You haven¡¯t really let me get much sleep¡±


    ¡±I didn¡¯t hear you complaining last night!¡±


    ¡°The way she swung around that black sword actually caught me by surprise too,¡± said Mavis. ¡®I¡¯ll try to be more aware of it. It looks just like one my father used to own¡±.


    ¡°My father isn¡¯t known for being subtle. When he comes after us, you will know he¡¯s coming. I¡¯m sure his generals are the same way. They are all his sons.¡±


    ¡°They will probably try to kill me on sight if he suspects me of being involved with you.¡±


    Mavis actually paused on that, giving it some thought. "Perhaps we should prioritize getting wings for both our dragons. We might need to get out of town quickly. With dragons we should be able to go somewhere that they can¡¯t find us.¡±


    "What about the nest and baby Firestorm?"


    "Don''t worry, darling, she''s still small. We will bring her and the eggs with us! We can start a new dragon enclave way up in the mountains somewhere. I¡¯m going to miss clothes shopping, but I know how to make sacrifices!¡±


    This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    Cantrell was starting to realize how much the new post-bond Mavis was being affected by Aleena.


    "I''d like to have a long talk with you about just exactly what you think your father the Emperor, is going to do"


    "Like I''d know". My father''s daughters are not privy to such matters. "I do know that he won''t be happy about not getting all the dragon eggs he can"


    "Are any of your brothers more reasonable?"


    "Hmm.. Maybe one." All the brothers are from different mothers. I only have one full brother. I don''t know him that well. They took him away at birth. We were actually twins." We are the youngest of all of the emperor''s children. Apparently, it was a big deal because my parents had relations so infrequently. According to my mother, my father had been slowing down in that regard.


    "Now that''s some information we might be able to use." Said Cantrell. "Just in case, I''d better start working on mobility as a backup plan. Mo-Rungs conversion is going to be a lot like Tundor¡¯s. He at least has all the right parts. He¡¯s just larger. He¡¯s a big investment in power but a dragon his size should be useful in a fight¡±


    ¡°Aleena told me that red dragons excel at fire.¡± Said Mavis.


    ¡°Aleena is going to take a serious amount of physical changing. You were not around to see when Lothinar and Ardwella were working on Candasar. I was there. It looked violent and painful.¡± Said Cantrell.


    ¡°Perhaps we can convince the large white dragon to help us. He still owes me for the clothes.¡±


    ¡®I think we are probably well past the value of a few clothes¡±


    ¡±You don¡¯t know where I shop. It''s quite an expensive place.  You¡¯d be surprised ¡°


    ¡°I suspect knowing that information might curb my enthusiasm slightly,¡± said Cantrell jokingly.


    ¡±Did I tell you that the whole Royal family is rich?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I suppose you probably are. But it is starting to seem like we come from rather different worlds¡±


    ¡°You still haven¡¯t bonded with Mo-Rung,¡± Said Mavis. ¡°If you are having second thoughts about me this would be the time to say so. Before you bond with Aleena¡¯s mate¡±


    ¡°There is another thing,¡± said Cantrell. ¡°I don¡¯t know if I could just run away from these people. They still need my help.¡±


    "For a world traveler, you sure seem reluctant to get out of here. Is that the lingering powers of Ardwella talking?¡±


    "I really don¡¯t think so. It just feels wrong to leave everyone else in the lurch," said Cantrell. "I''d better talk to Lothinar. I wonder where that boy went off to?"


    Cantrell heard the murmurs of the crowd first. They were looking into the sky. Two dragons approached low and fast. They were landing in front of the gates. It was Candasar and Tundor. Lothinar jumped off his dragon and headed over. Ardwynn was close behind him. The dragons followed after.


    "Cantrell. What are you doing out here?" Lothinar asked.


    "Big news!" said Mavis. "Your Aunt just got back with Vanador. Your mom took them all inside. Your Aunt isn¡¯t well. It''s quite a story. Actually, your aunt tried to kill me. She had this flaming sword and everything. I think she hesitated mostly because of all these human witnesses. It¡¯s lucky that they were here. Mavis sniffed again, and then she smiled.


    "Hey, is that Mung Bean soup?"


    Yeah, it¡¯s from a place in Tasumakoji. said Lothinar. I picked it up on the way back. Take it if you want it. I got extra. I''ve already had some."


    "Oooh! Goody," said Mavis. "Mung Bean soup has always been one of my my favorites. I make a great version myself. I was going to bring you some the day I saw you flying past my house!"


    Ardwynn just stared at Mavis and shook her head. "I don''t know how you and I can be cousins!"


    "What? said Mavis. Anybody who doesn''t like Mung Beans has a serious character flaw."


    Lothinar had a strange look on his face. "I Hope not. I guess I should go and meet my Aunt"


    ---------------------


    Apparently, being the Emperor of the whole Elven nation could get you a steak dinner, even in a nation of vegetarians. There were even a few human sellouts brownnosing in the Capitol that were willing to butcher a cow and cook it for him. It could not, however, get your army to move on one day''s notice.


    Argent sat at the head of the table, looking at his five generals. Each of them was a son from a different century. Each of them had been born to different mothers. Argent liked his wives young. He could have all the daughters they would bear him, but once he had a son, they were moved on. He didn''t discard them like unwanted trash, but each of them was tucked nicely away in a corner of the kingdom so as to not be able to use the son they bore to threaten his power.


    Each of his sons had specific duties in his military. They all wore their father''s hard countenance and handsome physical traits like a badge of honor. The first and oldest was in charge of Troop physical training, The second, Weapons procurement, The third Magical training and spells, Fourth was Supply Logistics and his youngest, the fifth, the one that didn''t look anything like him... was Payroll and records.


    Argent had been suspicious when he was born as a twin. That had never happened before, at least to him. He and his sister didn''t really look that much like Argent, but their mother was a rare beauty. That could skew things. She had most of the staff at the palace trying to earn her favor. Argent was the suspicious type, so he had double-checked. He had the children tested to make sure that they were indeed his. The bespectacled but gorgeous genetic researcher who had performed the tests had come with the highest recommendations from the scholar Talmadge. Talmadge had never been wrong. It was a pity he had been killed when the library roof had caved in.


    Now all of them were arguing about why they would not be ready to do the emperor''s will and march tomorrow morning toward battle and glory.


    It seemed some of the payments for supplies had been lost or somehow delayed.


    "My troops can''t march on an empty stomach!" said the first.


    "The supplies are in the warehouse," said Fourth. "We just don''t know what is in the boxes. All the labels are switched around. We have to open each one and check"


    "I can''t even find all the spears," said the second.


    "Boys! said the Argent. When can we be ready to go?


    "It''s going to be at least a couple of more days," said the Fifth.


    "Damn if he didn''t look just like his mother." thought Argent. Mandel''s twin sister, Mavis, had inherited her mother''s beauty. I haven¡¯t seen that girl in a while. It¡¯s about time I find a husband for her and get her married off. She has always had a tendency to be strong-willed.


    -----------------


    Siophra had devoured the Mung Bean Soup. She had cried when Starett had actually produced a banana. McDonald, the farmer, had been called and had rushed over with a barrel of pickles. Siophra had pulled one out of the barrel and just stared at it with her whole body quivering.


    She had devoured the banana and one pickle and then closed her eyes in obvious exhaustion. Now she had fallen asleep right on the bare floor of his office. Apparently, the poor abused elf had been accustomed to sleeping in less-than-ideal conditions. Starett bent over and scooped her up and was amazed to notice that she weighed almost nothing. Ardwella, who had been watching her sister with a sad expression on her face, suddenly stood and motioned the priest to follow her. They walked to Womber''s old suite where Ardwella now resided and tucked her sister into bed. She smiled as she pulled the covers over her.


    ¡±You¡¯re safe now, Siophra,¡± she whispered.


    "Thank you Starett,¡± Ardwella said. ¡°My sister has been through a terrible time"


    "Am I to understand that your sister was a prisoner of the elven emperor for over five hundred years?"


    "Yes, as impossible as that sounds, that is correct."


    "What kind of monster is he?"


    "I''m sure we all will be finding out soon enough," said Ardwella sadly. It''s time that I have a long talk with Mavis."


    --------------------------------


    Enderline watched the sails swollen with the wind as they drove the ships forward. The flagship he traveled on was one of ten. Each held thirty warriors. His elite troops. The very best the kingdom had to offer. He would have brought more but he only had so many of the tall wooden ships. Right now, he was praying to the dragon god for good weather. Storms this time of year could be treacherous. He intended to help the dragons in any way he could.


    He was a young king but knew his duty. The dragons had been good friends to his kingdom. Communication had always been a challenge, but now Enderline had a secret. Standing at his side was his bride. He blushed at her beauty and to know that she was his. She was a half-elf, and her name was Pricilla. It was her sister Ronette who had sent the message letting them know that the great black dragon had awakened. She smiled up at him, thrilled to be on their way.


    She could help him speak with the dragons. It was impossible to believe that one of his ancestor kings had allowed so much of the human territory to be absorbed by the elves. Enderline knew that once the dragon protectors had fallen to the twisted elven magic, the kings of old had retreated to the archipelago and licked their wounds. Now it was time to take back what was theirs. The dragons would surely help drive the elves off their lands!


    ------------------------

 Chapter 42. The Turn of a friendly card.

    ****************


    Chapter 42


    ****************


    ¡°The emotional transfer has failed."  Said Tundor. "I barely dislike Lothinar anymore. Actually, I kind of admire him, and yes, he¡¯s handsome for an elf. Most of what has to be Ardwynn¡¯s hostility towards him has slowly seeped from me and obviously back into her.¡±


    ¡±I can tell,¡± said Candasar. ¡°The problem is that Lothinar¡¯s feelings for Ardwynn, now that they have awakened, are not that easy for him to rationalize away. He is loyal to a fault. He took it very badly when she moved back into her parent''s house. At least she still kept his ring.¡±


    ¡°I know. It''s hard on her too. Originally, she actually needed to put her parents¡¯ things in order. She is the only remaining member of that family, after all. Then she said that she needed some time to process all the losses she¡¯s been through,¡± said Tundor. Going through their things refreshed a lot of memories. Good and bad. She is very confused right now."


    ¡±Lothinar and I are hoping that the backlash of anger is from the withdrawal of her being addicted to his pheromones. She was originally distanced from her family and took the job with Cantrell as a warden just to get away from being near them. Once she gets back in balance, chemically, she may feel differently about him. She may be able to love him again.


    His body obviously still makes pheromones.¡± Said Tundor. Those things are very powerful. Ardwella unintentionally attached Cantrell. I think when Ardwynn is around him, they are actually working backward on her, making her dislike him more than she normally would. It''s kind of a backlash. Lothinar could accidentally very easily make someone else become infatuated with him. Males generally sweat more than females. You are going to have to keep your eyes open for that. Unless they are already dragon bonded, females around him are going to possibly be affected. That''s practically everyone.


    "It''s good this is an outpost town with many male elves around. At least so far it''s only the female elves that are interested in Lothinar. I¡¯m hoping that regular bathing mitigates the effects.¡± said Candasar. ¡°It¡¯s turning into a logistical problem more than anything else. Starett told me that humans use something called perfume to mask body odor, but covering up the pheromones doesn¡¯t eliminate them entirely.¡±


    ¡®Starett is aware of the issue?¡±


    ¡±Yes, He¡¯s been so helpful with everything else so far¡±


    ¡®The two dragons were flying back from feeding. Their magically enhanced growth, though steady, had begun to slow. Candasar was actually about the same size as Tundor now. According to Vanador, the other rare white, he was back on the correct track for a normal dragon his age.


    "I just thought of something," said Tundor, flapping a bit harder to come up next to her in flight to look Candasar in the eyes. "Harvey, the human guard, was overcome by Ardwella''s attractants. He got a case of that so bad he was willing to risk everything and get himself killed trying to save her."


    "So you are thinking that human females are going to be just as easily affected by Lothinar? I haven''t seen it yet, but I''ll try to keep it in mind."


    The dragons had arrived over Tasumakoji and were circling above the elven settlement. Below they could see the home that had belonged to Ardwynn''s parents. Knowing that the dragons were high above her through the bond, Ardwynn had stepped out onto a back porch and was waving at her dragon. At least she was smiling.


    ¡°How is staying there?¡± Asked Candasar.


    ¡°They have a barn, so I¡¯ve actually been pretty comfortable," said Tundor. "They had horses, if you remember. Three of them. They needed them because Quinton was always making trips back and forth to the capital. Ardwynn didn¡¯t want them, so she asked Albarad to take them. He came by and collected them when he and Ardwella moved back into their lake house. It was a good thing that Ardwynn¡¯s parents had a couple of people on staff to take care of the home upkeep, or those horses wouldn''t have survived locked up in their stalls while we sorted this all out.


    I saw the extra horses in Albarad''s barn when Lothinar and I stopped by to talk with his parents. They were nervous around me, so obviously, I stayed out of the barn." said Candasar. They seem fine now. Beautiful animals. Sometimes I kind of want to eat them, but obviously that would not be a good idea. Ardwynn might decide she wants them back for some reason. Jamison doesn¡¯t seem to mind the company.¡± continued Candasar. I think Albarad really loves horses.


    Despite Starett''s assurances that it wasn''t necessary, Albarad, Ardwella, and Siophra had all moved out of the temple and back home. The extra horses seemed to make pulling the wagon a lot easier. They all seemed more comfortable there, especially while they were trying to get her healed and recover from what she went through. She is staying in Lothinar''s old room. Being in a familiar place like her grandfathers''s old house seemed to really help her.


    ¡±Yes, Esmarilla decided to stay in the temple with Vanador for now," said Tundor. Esmarilla said that It¡¯s not far by air if Ardwella needs her. Both Esmarilla and Vanador go over to the house every day to spend time with the sisters. The humans practically begged them to stay, and they just had more room, at least for dragons. Apparently, the whole human town is preparing for a big shot''s arrival. It''s a big deal. Did you know the humans are calling the two big dragons by the nicknames of Salt and Pepper.!" Can you believe that?


    ¡±Only humans would nickname their gods,¡± said Candasar. I''m glad that they don''t think I''m one of them yet. "I''d probably be nicknamed blueberry!"


    "Well, Ardwynn''s calling for me to come down. We need to talk through some things privately."


    "It was good getting out and hunting with you today Tundor. I really miss not having you around!"


    "Until we can patch up this broken relationship with our elves, that''s how it''s probably going to be". said Tundor.


    "This is definitely not the way I expected this to go when I told Lothinar to choose Ardwynn," said Candasar. "She seemed so deeply committed to him."


    Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    "Things change," said Tundor, tipping his wings and descending toward the house."


    "Yes, they sure do," said Candasar to herself. Then she turned and headed back toward Delora Natine, the city of men where her bonded was waiting.


    -------------------


    It had been three days. Siophra had been convinced that the emperor would be hot on her heels and yet there was no sign of him or his army of warriors and magicians. Ardwella didn''t know what to think. The emperor had to be running out of dragon eggs at this point. Soon, if she were not mistaken, he would begin to die without the dragon egg magic to keep him alive. He was even older than she was and unbonded. To try and figure out what to expect Ardwella had called a meeting between herself and the two elves within reach that probably knew the emperor best. Mavis and Siophra. That Siophra had threatened to kill Mavis the last time that she had seen her didn''t make setting up the meeting easy.


    Siophra was easy to find. She lived in the house. She shrugged and said she would be there. Mavis was harder to track down. She had been spending a lot of time down by the lake playing with a new baby dragon. She didn''t even seem to mind getting mud on her shoes these days. Mavis had insisted that she wasn''t getting anywhere near Siophra without Cantrell around. If Mavis had been hard to find, Cantrell had been almost impossible. It had taken Lothinar''s soul seer sense to find him.


    Candasar and Lothinar had flown out over the hills behind and above the lake until they sensed him and Mo-Rung. Cantrell had been up in the hills scheming with the big red dragon and the hardened well-worn men that attended him. They had hit it off, apparently. It had only been three days, but Cantrell had combined his years of experience, the tough human hunters, and his own small group of warden elves into a fighting force. He had blended into the scenery and had been making defensive plans to defend the dragons of the lake if and when the emperor arrived. Ardwella was impressed, especially since Cantrell wasn''t even bonded to Mo-Rung yet. Lothinar and Esmarilla had offered, but they both seemed hesitant to finalize their relationship by bonding for some reason. That didn''t mean that they couldn''t work together in other ways.


    Mavis had insisted that they hold the meeting in the neutral ground of the temple courtyard. The sister and brother pair loomed over the courtyard as the parties involved all came together. Starett stood next to them nervously. Ardwella had asked him to preside over the meeting as a dragon-interested neutral party. The young man looked like he would rather be anywhere, and Mavis shot an angry glare at Siophra as she walked in. Siophra had a small bundle in her hands and tossed it to the flouncy elf.


    "These are your clothes, cleaned and pressed. They were missing a lot of important fabric when I got them. They don''t cover much at all. but thanks for the loan of them."


    Mavis deftly caught them.


    "They were nicer than what you were wearing... Which, if you remember, was NOTHING!"


    Cantrell scowled at both of them and then walked slowly and carefully toward Siophra who still wore the black sword strapped to her waist.


    "I don''t think we should start out criticizing someone else''s fashion choices. The gods know you have been through a lot at the hand of the emperor..."


    "Her father!"


    "An accident of birth," said Mavis angrily.


    "Cantrell looked at Siophra. "You are what? asked Cantrell. Seven hundred or so years old. She is like twenty-five."


    "I was just a little more than her age when I got thrown into her father''s jail!" I spent most of my life so far in there"


    "You''re proving my point," said Cantrell. She wasn''t a part of any of that. I know it was impossibly hard but you are bonded to a wonderful dragon. Your life is just beginning."


    "Siophra nodded." You''re right. I will have a long life to get over it. as long as Argent doesn''t show up and throw us all back in prison!"


    Siophra took a good hard look at Mavis. Then she blinked and looked away.


    She doesn''t even look like him. Are you sure that she is his daughter? "Who is your mother Mavis?"


    "That''s part of what we want to discuss today," said Ardwella.


    ----------------------------


    Lothinar had given up the suite and moved into a small room on the second floor of the warehouse that Candasar and had been staying in. It wasn''t fair or right to take up all that room just for himself. He couldn''t go back home with his parents, and he sure wasn''t welcome where Ardwynn was staying at this point. He hoped that would change. He had thought about taking Candasar out into the mountains to be a part of what Cantrell was putting together. That seemed worthwhile. He and Candasar were both used to living without amenities, but he wanted to be close enough for Ardwynn to find him if she had a change of heart and came looking for him. He could tell that Candasar really missed Tundor. Lothinar missed the goofy young white dragon too.


    The people around here were nice, though. They were regular humans who had made big changes to their lives and how they did things to accommodate him and Candasar. He found it comforting that even after finding out that dragons were more than great statues and beings of legend and mystery, the humans still held the dragons and the elves that bonded with them in high regard.


    A soft knock came on the door. Lothinar opened it to find Ronette, the still pretty wife of the dairyman. She looked troubled.


    "Can I help you with something?" asked Lothinar.


    "I brought a cow for your dragon, but she said that she has already eaten today. What do you want me to do with it? It''s already paid for."


    "Have you tried to take it over to the temple? I''m sure one of the big dragons over there could use a snack"


    "They are all busy in some big meeting that''s going on" she frowned. "I already checked. My husband isn''t going to like having to write out a refund slip. "This is distressing! - Is it hot in here?"


    "A little," admitted Lothinar.


    "Hey Candy, I know you just got back, but do you think we could make a quick run out to the place where Mo-rung is staying and drop off an extra cow? I bet he''d really like one"


    "Sure, I''d like to see Grandpa anyway," said Candasar.


    "Hey!  I see a cow down here. Is it the one that someone tried to drop off earlier?"


    "Yeah, she''s right here. She''s Mrs McDonald. Remember, she catered my wedding." Then he got a very sad look on his face.


    "You just got lucky, Ronette!" said Lothinar. My dragon and I are going to take that cow out of the city to a relative of ours. It''s much appreciated. Thanks.


    "You know it''s always been my dream to get to someday ride on a dragon. Do you think you could give me a ride and drop me off back at the farm on the way?"


    "Don''t see why that would be a problem, said Lothinar." "Just a second. I''m discussing it with my dragon and working out the details."


    "Get ready, Candasar, we will be right down"


    "I''ll meet you outside. If you can lead the cow back outside the gate, you can get on, and I''ll get airborne. We''ll be able to grab the cow up before she runs off. I''ll try at least.  A cow should be slower than a deer!"


    It went exactly as expected. Ronette was surprisingly spry as she jumped up onto Candasar. Lothinar put his arms around her to steady her.


    "The first time they jump into the air, it can be a little terrifying," he admitted.


    "Ronette let out a little squeak, but he didn''t lose his grip on her as they lifted quickly, circled around, and Candasar grabbed the cow. It let out a very startled moo.


    The flight to the farm was fairly short. Unfortunately Candasar had to drop the cow to land. Lothinar hoped that Mo-Rung didn''t mind his meat tenderized. Ronette gracefully jumped off. Candasar and Lothinar were soon airborne again, and this time, the cow made no attempt to flee while being grabbed.


    Ronette watched the whole thing with amusement as they flew away with the dangling cow.


    "That was amazing," she thought. "Dragons were amazing. And that elf. The one that smelled so good. He was amazing too."


    ---------------------------

 Chapter 43: Embers of Empathy

    ****************


    Chapter 43


    ***************


    Lothinar and Candasar started their search for Mo-Rung up near the caves. Flying low they were able to see some of the men that usually accompanied him, she dropped the cow a second time making sure not to hit anyone below. The men had an almost invisible presence when they wanted to disappear into the woods. This time, though, it looked like she had caught most of them playing cards around a campfire. The now twice-dropped cow landed on a large, open, flat spot near their gathering place. Lothinar didn''t see any of his fellow wardens.


    "Whoo hoo! Steaks for dinner," Lothinar heard one of the men yell.


    "That''s for Mo-Rung," said Lothinar, jumping off Candasar and walking up to them.


    "I''m sure he wouldn''t mind if we whittle off a few pieces first, seeing you already ended the poor thing''s life by almost dropping it on us."


    "That''s actually the second time Candasar dropped it," said Lothinar. We made a quick stop on the way out here and dropped it once before landing there, too. Don''t worry. She is still pretty fresh. Candasar informs me that landing with a cow in your claws is almost impossible without flipping over"


    "Why didn''t she carry it in her jaws?" asked one of the men that Lothinar thought was Arnold.


    "Tell Arnold that flying with that much weight in your mouth doesn''t work. I''d be too heavy in front. I can, however, carry a deer in my mouth when I walk. Tundor did it many times before he could fly. A cow would be a real strain. Much heavier. I might pull a neck muscle."


    "You know, I don''t really think he really cares about the logistics,"  said Lothinar through the bond. "I''m glad you explained it to me, though..."


    "Where is Mo-Rung?" Lothinar asked instead.


    "He''s back down near the lake with his new baby dragon and her mother," said another one of the men.


    "Terrific, back we go! I guess you guys can have the cow, then. I don''t think Candasar''s going to want to carry it a third time."


    "No, I do not. Twice is enough."


    "Yippee!.. and Thanks!" one of the men yelled.


    Now that they knew where to look, they found Mo-Rung and Aleena at the nest. The two parents looked up in alarm as Candasar flew overhead and descended but visibly relaxed after identifying Candy and her rider.


    "What brings you down to my nest?" asked Aleena. "Not that you are not always welcome"


    "I brought a cow that somehow ended up being extra up into the hills for my Grandfather. We left it with his sworn men, but I''m afraid that they were threatening to eat it themselves!"


    Mo-Rung chuckled.


    "I suppose they deserve a reward for all they constantly do for me. I''ll have to make a big show about being cross with them."


    "Perhaps we can have what they can not finish for the young one," said Aleena to Mo-Rung hopefully.


    "I will need to go back to check in with them and our new friends, the elves, soon. When Cantrell is finished with his meeting, we will have much to discuss"


    "Don''t worry Aleena, the men will not be able to finish a whole cow, nor do they eat all the parts as we do. I will bring some meat with me when I return," said Mo-Rung.


    That seemed to appease the little dragon''s mother. Soon Mo-Rung headed out on his way back to the hills.


    "I assume this is your new hatchling Firestorm," said Lothinar, bending down to look at the young dragon. She had a slight reddish hue. The wrinkled wings lying stuck to her back were almost pink. "She is so small!"


    "This is only her second day out of the egg!" said Aleena, "Already she is hopping around so much I''m afraid she is going to fall out of the nest and into the water and drown; it is nerve-wracking! I have other eggs to tend to. She gets away from me sometimes."


    "Is there anything I can do to help? asked Candasar.


    A huge wave of something that felt a lot like regret washed over Lothinar through the bond. The longing for Motherhood. Grief for an unlaid egg that had died. There was no condemnation in Candasar''s emotions directed toward him, but he could not help remembering that he had something to do with that. Candasar had used her healing to save his life before they were bonded. She had used healing that was empowered by sacrificing a magic-infused egg. She also missed Tundor and wanted to try again. He and Candasar were not together right now. That, too, was at least partially his fault.


    "How old do baby dragons have to be to fly?" he found himself asking. "Perhaps if her wings were formed correctly, it would keep her from falling into the lake so easily."


    Candasar and Aleena looked back and forth between themselves. They seemed to be communicating in primal dragon. They stopped whatever private speaking they were doing and looked back and forth between themselves, a little surprised.


    "We actually do not know the answer to your question Lothinar. sent Candasar. Neither of us has ever seen a newly hatched dragon with functioning wings. Much of what we know about eggs and baby dragons is based on the water types, like the one that I once was and Aleena still is. There is no instinct that we can draw on to answer this. We will have to wait I suppose and see."


    "But she still does not have healthy wings," said Lothinar. "We don''t know if she might be able to fly now?"


    "I doubt it. She lacks the strength to flap strenuously. Perhaps she could glide if dropped from high enough"


    "You are not going to be experimenting on my child in that way!" Said Aleena. "I was almost ready to let you babysit her over in the human town, Candasar, but now I don''t think I trust you anymore!"


    There was a long pause. Lothinar gulped.


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    Then Aleena laughed uproariously. Candasar laughed too.


    "You should have seen your face, my bond!" said Candasar, still chuckling. "Like I would fly up and drop a baby dragon..."


    "Ok, you two got me." Said Lothinar, his face reddening.


    "Anyway, That seems to be a low priority considering how many other dragons we still need to ask you and Esmarilla to fix," said Candasar.


    "Yes, Lothinar, if you don''t mind me asking. Who are you going to try and restore next?" asked Aleena. "I know that Mo-Rung is not ready to ask you yet, but there must be others willing"


    "He and Cantrell are still working some things out, yes. I think you probably realize that it has something to do with Cantrell and Mavis," said Lothinar.


    "Yes, you, of all people, certainly know that bonding too hastily can be problematic."


    Lothinar blushed again but didn''t say anything. Suddenly he was very angry. The feelings felt overpowering. He had done everything they asked him to. He had followed the rules and played nice. Where had it gotten him?" Ardwynn had left him. Tundor had chosen to follow her. Candasar had lost her mate. He was angry at everything.


    The little dragon was so small. How could it hurt? He could fix at least this. He began pushing the power of change into the little dragon. He pushed his power into her wings. He pushed hard. She squeaked and then stood still and began to vibrate slightly. He began to fix more of her. He was going to make her perfect like she always should have been. Before the emperor had screwed everything up!


    "What are you doing, Lothinar?" yelled Candisar. "Esmarilla is not here!"


    Aleena moved between Lothinar and the little dragon as if to protect her, but it was too late.


    From her back, bloomed normal healthy dragon wings. They were beautiful and red. She trilled in pleasure, flapping them. She hopped up and down. Of course, she didn''t fly, but it was cute.


    Then Lothinar felt a wave of dizziness and exhaustion pulling him down. He fought it. He reached inside, looking for just a little more power. He didn''t find it. He swayed and staggered before falling face-first into the lake. He knew no more.


    ----------------------


    "The emperor obviously has not come, but we have received a message," said Starett. "It came to Womber at the temple. The old coot almost didn''t give it to me, but I suppose a sense of self-preservation finally overcame his anger and jealousy"


    "His crimes continue?" asked Esmarilla in disbelief.


    "Who is this Wonger" asked Vanador


    "It''s Womber, and I''ll tell you all about it later, brother," said Esmarilla. "In fact, I''ll introduce you to him!"


    "Is he the old guy over at the temple that keeps trying to flirt with me every time I go over there to visit Vanador?" asked Siophra.


    "I truly hope not," said Starett.


    "It can''t be your clothes," said Mavis. Then she blushed when nobody laughed.


    "Please read us the message Starett," said Ardwella


    "I can do that," said Starett. "It is written in the human language"


    "Not both?" asked Cantrell.


    "No, only in human, I can translate. I will read it in to you in elvish. I happen to speak both. "


    "We are grateful that someone as young as you can," said Cantrell


    "I spent my entire childhood preparing to serve in the dragon temple. My curriculum included elvish. It was always assumed that when the dragons returned, at least some elves would accompany...."


    "Please read it already!" said Ardwella being uncharacteristically brusk. "You are stalling"


    "Yes, quite. Right, as usual. Sorry."


    Starett''s voice started out shaky but got more firm as he found his way.


    From the Emperor of the Elven empire, Argent the First, To the human temple priest Womber. We. understand that a dragon statue in your temple has recently awakened doing damage to your fine facility. We have experienced an unrelated but similar event in the Elven capitol where a library was damaged. These dragons are dangerous to both humans and elves and a previous war we fought to control them has brought peace to the region for hundreds of years. We understand that you have a sentimental attachment to these creatures but don''t be deceived. They are very dangerous. I am sending a portion of my army headed by three of my sons to assist you in bringing this menace under control once again. We have begun to mobilize and should be there within one week. I expect your cooperation in the fullest to put down this threat. Any of the human population that assists or abets these rogue dragons will be considered hostile combatants and dealt with accordingly. Other representatives will be dispatched immediately after the dragons are subdued to manage the lake-bound members of their race in a more restrictive manner so that this kind of thing can not happen in the future. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.


    Emperor Argent the First.


    Mavis made a face. "Sounds like daddy." She continued. "That''s not good, but honestly, I''m surprised he gave us so much time."


    "You are saying ''Us'', said Siophra.


    "Hey! I''m bonded to a dragon too!"


    "She is? really? Which one?" asked Siophra, clearly surprised. "I haven''t seen one around her"


    "She''s a water type... She''s down at the lake. The dragon is a blue," Said Cantrell. "One of Candasar''s cousins"


    "Barely a dragon, but Whew!" said Siophra. "I''m frankly shocked. The emperor''s daughter. Did you know this Vanador?"


    "It''s rather new, but yes," said the white dragon. "You have been preoccupied and not really yourself. I''ve been filtering things that might upset you..."


    "Don''t you all see? Siophra shouted. "This proves what I was saying earlier". There is no way Mavis is Argent''s real daughter. "If she were, her blood would be tainted!"


    Mavis looked thoughtful. Then suddenly hopeful. Then she ran over and hugged Cantrell. She had tears of joy in her eyes.


    "And that means that my brother, one of Argent''s generals, isn''t either!"


    "Do we know which ones are coming, Starett?" asked Cantrell, trying to hold down the bouncing young elf.


    The young priest flipped the letter over, examining both sides.


    "It doesn''t say. It just has the Emperor''s signature"


    "Let me see that!" said Mavis, grabbing the letter.


    "It has a watermark right here. It says ''From the desk of Mandell, Records General''"


    "Now that''s my brother," said Mavis grinning broadly.


    "Well, let''s just hope he likes your father as much as you do!" said Cantrell.


    "I wonder who my real father is?" said Mavis. "I just love a mystery!"


    "I could be wrong, but I might have a suspicion," said Siophra.


    ----------------------------


    Lothinar groaned and opened his eyes. The place he was in was dark, and he was alone. He couldn''t feel Candasar. That by itself was terrifying. He had become used to Candasar¡¯s constant presence. Suddenly a red glow appeared outside through what had to be a shuttered window. In the slight glow, he could see that he was on a bed of straw in a large barn. There were stalls but no horses in sight. Farm implements were hanging on hooks on the walls. It looked like a couple of low stools were scattered about. Outside he heard the nocturnal murmurs of cows. The large door at the end of the barn creaked open a small crack. He saw movement, and a feminine figure squeezed through and rushed to his side. She knelt next to him. She held a small lantern in her hand.


    "You are awake," she said. "I have given you something for the pain. Unfortunately, it may have a side effect of cutting off communication with your dragon for a time. You severely overtaxed your magical pathways healing that little dragon and collapsed. You were lucky I was there."


    "Who...?"


    "It''s Ronette, my love. I have chosen to spend the rest of my life looking after you. Protecting you. I don''t know what I ever saw in Michael. I was going to outlive him by hundreds of years anyway".


    "Wait... no," he mumbled.


    "Sssh! do not speak. You are still too woozy. I know it is confusing. You almost died. Candasar was frantic. She flew away to get help, and Aleena went chasing after that little dragon Firestorm, who flitted off into the bushes somewhere. Where you fell in it was very deep. It''s a good thing that where I am from, we are good swimmers"


    "I thought you grew up here?"


    "No, of course not. I am from Savintra, the human capital. The kingdom of Silvantra is on an Island. Some of the elves, including my family, fled there when the dragons lost the war. My sister is a half-elf like myself. She is actually married to the King of Silvantra.  He is coming here soon and bringing her with him. They are bringing a fighting force to help the dragons. They will no doubt bless our relationship. Ardwynn is a fool and blood-related to the emperor. You must give her up. It was never meant to be. Not like we are."


    "Lothinar''s head was whirling. He felt sick. He coughed up some water. It stank of the lake. His head fell back into the straw and he felt the darkness closing in again."


    "Yes sleep now, when you awake again we will leave this place. I will take you to a secret place that I know. McDonald does not know of it." We can be together...."


    He felt the waves of darkness rush over him again. Candasar would have to find him eventually. That is assuming she knew that he was still alive.....


    ---------------------

 Chapter 44: The Missing Elf

    *************


    Chapter 44


    *************


    When Lothinar suddenly started healing the baby dragon Firestorm, Candasar didn''t know what to do. Every time she was a part of Lothinar doing this kind of thing, it was a group effort. They had planned it and had the giant black dragon Esmarilla there. Lothinar was the conduit, but Esmarilla supplied the majority of the power. This time, he must have lost control. He had been so upset. She could feel that. His relationship with Ardwynn was falling apart, and everything that went along with it had taken him into an angry despair. Candasar had never felt such anger in him before. He had lashed out in what he must have felt was a positive way. He had tried to heal Firestorm. And with Candasar''s help, he had succeeded.


    Candasar had instinctively shared power with the reckless elf, and together, through their bond, they had made the necessary changes. She had felt her magic bottoming out, but Lothinar kept going. His anger and frustration powering his desire for perfection. Candasar needed more power but remembered her eggs. She had been magically enhancing them for almost her entire adult life. She just couldn''t dip into those magical reservoirs a second time. She cut the flow of her power into Lothinar leaving her eggs untouched but her natural magical reserves empty.


    Lothinar was so lost in the process that he hardly noticed that he was magically alone. Recklessly he continued until she could feel his mind shutting down. Blackness filled his thoughts. The bond snapped shut, and he was mentally gone. His unconscious body toppled and fell into the lake with a huge splash.


    Candasar called to Aleena to try to get the water dragon to pull him from the water, but the baby dragon was clearly pleased with their efforts, hopping about and trying to fly. Her new mobility allowed her to quickly speed out of sight. This caused her mother, Aleena, to panic, flopping forward on her fins and chasing after the little one.


    "Wait!" Said Candasar, "I''ll get Firestorm, Please get Lothinar! He fell into some very deep water!"


    It was too late. Aleena had already run off, chasing her child. For some reason, there was a solitary human nearby at the lake. She had probably been gathering reeds or something because her presence had been unnoticed up til this point. She had a large sun hat on made of the same woven reeds. Without speaking at all, Candasar watched her run towards where Lothinar had fallen into the water. She threw off her hat and dove smoothly into the depths. She must have been in good condition for a human because she soon had Lothinar pulled to the surface. Lothinar was very pale. He was not breathing. Dragging him up onto the shore, the human female placed her mouth over his in what resembled a kiss and began to blow deeply into his lungs with her own air. She struck his chest and did some more air forcing. Lothinar wasn''t responding.


    Stopping her actions for a few seconds, the human asked, "Can you heal him? Her long, wet hair completely hid her face.


    Candasar realized that she could not. Her magic was completely spent. She felt confused and disoriented from her empty power reserves.


    Candasar could only shake her head for no.


    "Go get help! said the human female. Try the temple. They should know what to do. Go quickly!"


    Candasar turned and began to move shakily away. She tried to run and knocked down a small tree. Somehow she managed to leap into the air and fly. It was worse than her very first time.


    The human gate guards did not interfere as she crashed to the ground in front of them and then fell.  She saw people dodging out of her path as she ran, stumbling toward the temple entrance. Esmarilla and Ardwella were in the courtyard with the large sibling dragons and most of the others. They seemed to be having an intense conversation. She barged in anyway, tracking mud behind her.


    "I need help! Lothinar is dying!"


    That broke up the meeting fairly quickly.


    They all arrived back at the lakeshore just five minutes later, with Ardwella riding Esmarilla, who thundered in for a landing right behind her. Candasar had interrupted their meeting but she didn''t care. Ardwella didn''t seem to care either. Lothinar meant the world to her and her dragon.


    They all looked around. Except for a few muddy footprints that looked deep, Lothinar and the human were gone. Esmarilla tried to follow the single set, but the footprints suddenly disappeared when they traveled over some hard ground and rocky places.


    Lothinar had been unconscious. How could a single human have carried him off?


    Just then, Firestorm flitted up with her breathless mother flip-flopping after her. Aleena snatched the baby dragon up, pushed her into the nest, and leaned against her. The little dragon complained loudly. She fluttered her wings.


    "Your bond sure is unpredictable, but thanks for healing my little one!" said Aleena. "Hey, where did Lothinar go? I need to thank him!"


    Ardwella ignored the interruption.


    "You said a human pulled him out of the water? Do you know who she was?" she asked.


    "Female, young and pretty, but you know humans all kind of look the same to me," said Candasar. "It all happened so fast!"


    Neither Candasar nor Esmarilla could feel Lothinar at all. This was very bad.


    "We need to check back over at the temple. Maybe she took him there"


    It turned out that she did not. Lothinar and the human female were missing.


    They searched the lake shore again. They got all the water dragons involved. They searched the whole area.


    Lothinar and the mysterious girl were not in the city. Guards and temple staff assured Ardwella of that. His room above the warehouse had not been entered.


    All the flight-capable dragons, including Tundor, had flown all over the area. There was no sign of him or his abductor.


    Even Ardwynn looked worried. She left Tundor with the rest of the group and walked off with Mavis. Mavis had speculated out loud that Lothinar had probably secretly fallen in love with her after all and was waiting for her over at her place. Ardwynn was going along to mock her when she discovered that she was actually wrong.


    This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    "That is one strange family," said Cantrell. His ardor for Mavis seemed to have cooled sufficiently to allow him greater objectivity.


    Ardwella seemed to be trying to keep a respectable physical distance between herself and the elven warden leader.


    "How could this happen?" asked Ardwella. Albarad had a horrible sick look on his face. Candasar realized that it was helplessness.


    "I don''t know," wailed Candasar, leaning on Tundor, who suddenly spun his long neck around to look into her eyes.


    "Do you remember what we were talking about yesterday, Candasar? When we were flying back after hunting?"


    "Is this about me thinking about eating Albarad''s horses because I haven''t even been in the barn!" "Do you think Lothinar is hiding in his father''s barn because I bet Albarad has checked," said Candasar.


    "He did!" Said Ardwella.


    "Nobody had better try to eat those horses!" Alberad said sternly, glancing around at the dragons.


    "No, not that," said Tundor. "I am talking about how you were going to have to watch out to make sure Lothinar didn''t affect anyone with his pheromones. Do you think that could have happened with the human that pulled him out of the water?"


    "How could a human collecting reeds at a lake become obsessed with Lothinar? Oh wait, she put her lips on his and blew into his lungs, trying to revive him. That could have exposed her to pheromones, I guess"


    Cantrell had been listening in.


    " That is a technique I have seen humans that populate some distant islands use. It can bring someone back after drowning. Not many that live around here should know about it." he said. "There has officially, up till now, been no swimming allowed in the lake."


    "Um, speaking from my personal experience," he gave Ardwella a strange look, "It takes a bit longer than that for the effect of the pheromones to become fully active. At least a few hours. That is, if Lothinar''s pheromones are anything like yours?"


    "Yes," she said. "that sounds about right"


    "Speaking from your vast history of infecting others?" asked Cantrell.


    "We don''t have time for these recriminations," said Ardwella.


    "Your meddling with people''s feelings and giving your son that same ability is probably what got us into this mess," said Cantrell.


    " She shrugged."


    " Based on how quickly you got over me, they must not be that bad"


    " If Mavis hadn''t been so energetic and enthusiastic¡­.." he stammered.


    "So," interrupted Tundor. looking unhappily at them both. "Has there been anyone exposed to Lothinar perhaps yesterday or several hours ago that might have developed an abnormally high interest in him"


    "Not really", said Candasar. We just delivered a cow out to Grandpa. There were some burly men playing cards that wanted to eat the cow... Wait, you don''t think one of them secretly swings that way? A bunch of men out in the woods together for months at a time? Poor Lothinar! But wait... the person in the reeds was female."


    "Again, not enough time,"...said Cantrell, rolling his eyes.


    "Hey, where did you get a free cow?" asked Tundor. "I''d like to get in on that!"


    Tundor suddenly got a very strange look on his face. He seemed to be in pain.


    "Oh, it wasn''t free. said Candasar. "The McDonalds charged us for it. I''d already just eaten, as you know. So Lothinar and I flew it out to the caves for Grandfather. She wanted a ride, so we dropped Ronette off back at the dairy."


    "Hey, I have to take care of something. Ardwynn is calling me," said Tundor.


    " Is he going to be alright?" Asked Cantrell looking at the quickly vanishing Tundor


    " All this talk about a cow probably made him hungry," said Candasar.


    "I think'' said Cantrell suddenly. "that you have been looking in the wrong barn!"


    " Ronette!" Said Cantrell and Ardwella together.


    Ardwella and Candasar bolted to find a place to get airborne.


    "Do you mind giving me a lift? asked Ardwella


    "Just this once," said Candasar. "I don''t want to make Esmarilla any more jealous than she already is with me."


    ---------------------------------


    What is this elf doing sitting in the dark in our milking barn? Came a familiar voice.


    Lothinar just couldn''t remember who it was. His head was fuzzy, and it hurt. The nice girl who said she was his girlfriend had brought him more medicine. It tasted like milk but with something much stronger in it. He choked it down. He was glad he had someone who was trying to help him get better, even if he couldn''t at the moment remember her name. She was very pretty. She pushed the much older human male out of the barn through the door while asking him to be quiet. She gestured to him and pulled him far enough away that Lothinar couldn''t hear what they were saying. He closed his eyes and laid his head back on the straw pillow. He felt so strange. He would probably feel better tomorrow.


    Somewhere in the back of his mind, he could hear someone calling. More than one someone. Their voices seemed strange and yet familiar. They were starting to become annoying because they were keeping him awake. Now someone was rolling a large wagon through the doors and right up to him A very large bull was hitched up to it. How could anyone possibly sleep with all that going on? Well, he observed groggily. The previously noisy man obviously could. He was lying immobile on the straw nearby.


    "So noisy." Murmured Lothinar.


    "Climb up in the wagon, darling and we can find a quiet place for you to rest and get better"


    Lothinar unsteadily climbed into the back of the wagon. It was piled high with clean straw. The woman closed the tailgate and climbed onto the front bench. She clicked her tongue a few times and the bull pulled the wagon out the barn doors and into the night.


    ---------------------


    Aleena Mavis''s dragon had agreed to carry both of the cousins back over to the elven outpost to check again if Lothinar somehow had turned up there. She dropped the elves on the shore.


    "I''ll wait here," she said, looking sadly at her flippers.


    "Thanks for bringing us," said Mavis


    "Well, I feel partially responsible for what happened to Lothinar. He was trying to help my daughter, after all."


    Mavis had been a little disappointed when Lothinar was not hiding in her house.


    "Don''t be disappointed, cousin; he was not hiding in mine either," said Ardwynn.


    "Now that I actually have you by yourself, do you mind if I ask you something" asked Mavis.


    "I can probably guess, but go ahead," said Ardwynn.


    "What the Hell is wrong with you? Both of us have been chasing Lothinar since we moved into this town. You finally catch him and then drop him. It doesn''t seem fair. To him or me!"


    "Cantrell seems like a great catch. What are you complaining about?" said Ardwynn with a scowl. "I don''t think Lothinar even knew that you existed. Look at all I went through to get his attention, and he barely even noticed me, even when I worked with him."


    "Is it that you finally won? Now you just throw him away? I got a dose of those pheromones, too, you know. They lost their effects when I bonded with Aleena but it didn''t make me loathe him like you seem to. He''s still a very kind and good-looking elf."


    ''Is that why you and Cantrell don''t seem to be together right now? Because you still have a thing going for my husband?"


    " You don''t seem to want him!"


    " We don''t even really know if he is still alive!" Said Ardwynn feeling her eyes well up and surprising herself. She choked it back hard.


    " Actually, in spite of all my efforts, I think Cantrell somehow still has some feelings for Ardwella," admitted Mavis. "It''s perplexing!"


    " That''s going to be increasingly awkward, "said Ardwynn.


    "Just exactly what are you up to ditching Lothinar after all of that?" Asked Mavis again angrily.


    "It''s different for you. Haven''t you figured it out yet? They told you everything, but you just don''t seem to understand! You may be Argent''s daughter on paper, but it''s pretty clear you are not really one of the royal bloodlines."


    "And I''m relieved! You are all so nasty."


    " Yes, we are," said Ardwynn. "There is a darkness deep inside. We have learned to celebrate it"


    "Tundor would have never bonded with you if you were not deeply under the power of Lothinar''s pheromones." Gasped Mavis, suddenly realizing something. "It''s like now you are a totally different person"


    " I''m getting there," said Ardwynn. "somehow, Tundor interfered and slowed down my return to me. My natural charms"


    " Now, I need to go before Siophra realizes what is really going on"


    " Go? Where would you be going?"


    ''To deliver a new white dragon to my uncle, the emperor. I can force the bond now that I''m inside. White is the color that he''s always wanted"


    " You''re mad! I have to warn the others!"


    Mavis ran quickly from the house and right into Tundor, who had just landed in the yard. His flight path had taken down the clothesline. Tundor grabbed her and violently shook the pretty young elf, instantly snapping her neck and dropping the body. He looked horrified.


    Down by the lake, Ardwynn could hear the blue water dragon screaming.


    " Let''s go, Tundor; we are flying to the capitol today," Ardwynn said, stepping off the porch. Then suddenly she turned around and went back into the house. She took off the small ring Lothinar had given her and left it sitting on the table.


    "I''d say this qualifies as stating my intentions for a divorce"


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 45: The Other Shade of Pale

    **************


    Chapter 45


    **************


    The little dragon Firestorm was bored. Her mother had taken the two pretty elf ladies for a quick trip to the other end of the lake. Of course, she wanted to go, but her mother had said no. Instead, Firestorm was told to wait around the boring nest. She had spent the time watching the "water dragons" swimming around. A lot was going on, including fishing and minor fighting, but none of it interested her. Nobody had wings. She would like to practice her hopping and flying. Two more eggs rested in the nest next to her broken shell. They were future brothers or sisters. They were no fun at all right now. It was getting a little chilly. Mother should have been back by now. The little dragon let out a little burst of warmth. She did not use a flame, just comforting heat. She directed it at her future siblings. She was sure Mother would appreciate her keeping them warm. Where was Daddy?


    She absentmindedly flicked out the last remaining part of her old shell and watched as it swirled in the water and sank. Her mother, Aleena, had warned her not to fly off like yesterday, right after that handsome elf Lothinar had given her new wings. When her mother left, she asked another younger female water dragon to watch the nest and keep an eye on Firestorm. The water dragon''s name was Penelope. Penelope liked to suck up to Firestorm''s mother and do her favors because Aleena was now on the elder council. However, Penelope was ignoring Firestorm and flirting with a young male water dragon that had swum by. From what Firestorm had overheard, his name was Rolf. Rolf must have said something wrong because Penelope turned and swam away from him and returned to the nest in a huff. Rolf swam away angrily. He was muttering something.


    "All he wanted was for me to try and use my influence with your mother to get him higher up the list." Said Penelope angrily.


    "What list? Asked Firestorm.


    "The list to determine when individual dragons get their wings. It''s an unofficial one," said Penelope. "I must be near the top after watching you for HOURS! Where is your mother?"


    "My father should be back soon," said Firestorm. "He always comes around this time. Who keeps this list? What would we even use to write it on? Did you know Lothinar''s mom has a dragon that writes? She is black. I wonder if only black dragons can write¡­.."


    "I don''t think I have the time or the patience to explain everything to children," interrupted Penelope. "Perhaps I should put off motherhood for a few more years. I can be unobtainable and mysterious like Candasar was."


    "I know Candasar," said Firestorm. "She and Lothinar gave me these wings!"


    "Did you realize that he has gone missing? Nobody can find him, even Candasar. She can''t even find him through the bond."


    "I know where he is! said Firestorm excitedly. "Candasar should ask me! He finished moving a little while ago. He is far away, but I can still sense him. He is in a little cabin way up in the mountains. He''s sleeping now."


    "Children sure have vivid imaginations," said Penelope.


    ---------------------------


    Esmarilla had been frustrated by the quick departure of Ardwella and Candasar. The smaller blue dragon still had the luxury of using several different doors to get outside. Esmarilla had to use the large main gate. Ardwella also couldn''t seem to wait. She and Candasar had left the temple together to fly to the dairy farm. Ardwella had done the unusual thing of riding her son''s dragon. They wanted to see if Cantrell''s suspicions about Ronette were correct, and time was of the essence. If she had been exposed to Lothinar, she might have become obsessed with him enough to spirit him away. Esmarilla hoped that they would at least find out what happened to Lothinar. As soon as she could get out of these narrow passageways full of enthusiastic dragon worshippers, she would fly to the dairy farm and catch up with them there.


    Esmarilla had never even made it to McDonald''s farm. Once airborne, She had felt an unfathomable psychic wail of anguish echoing down the lake from the elven side. Feeling she must investigate, she had veered from her course and, in just a few minutes, found Mavis''s dragon, Aleena, screaming in fury and dragging herself toward a cluster of nearby homes. Her stumpy fins were very ineffective as she tried to run across land.


    "He killed her! He killed her!" was all Aleena could say. Nothing else was coming out. She had stopped moving forward. Her jaws clenched in fury and unseen effort. Esmarilla recognized the area. They were near Ardwella''s house. It was also where Mavis and Ardwynn had been going to search for Lothinar. Esmarilla''s blood ran cold.


    Leaping ahead, she arrived at a horrible scene. Beyond the broken and snapped clothesline, the elf Mavis lay on the ground just off her back porch. Mavis''s neck was bent at an impossible angle. She wasn''t bleeding much, but it was clear she had been thrown violently around. It was now still. What was strange was that her eyes were moving about rapidly. Her face looked terrified! Esmarilla was surprised. There was no way that this elf should still be alive!


    Esmarilla bent close to try and make out what she was sending. It was weak and barely reached her.


    "Ardwynn! Evil. Traitor. She made Tundor attack me. She said she is taking him to Argent."


    "How are you alive?" asked Esmarilla.


    "Aleena!" She''s giving me her magic. It won''t be long. Not much left! We will die together!"


    "I''m sorry, Black dragons can not directly heal. I require an intermediary. There is nothing I can do!"


    "I... Understand. Thanks for being here with me."


    Mavis''s eyes began to blink. Water leaked out. They started to close. Esmarilla suddenly realized that she could not this happen!


    "VANADOR! I NEED YOU! COME QUICKLY!"


    -------------------------


    The dairy looked quiet from the air. Ardwella clung tightly to the neck of the blue dragon. It had been so long since she had ridden any dragon but Esmarilla. It was kind of nice to cling to a smaller neck. Esmarilla required a pretty wide stance. It tended to chafe her thighs, especially in her leather skirt.


    It was also more difficult to ride any dragon now that the baby had started showing.


    Candasar dropped rapidly for a landing. The cows were milling about. It didn''t seem normal. Also, they were mooing oddly.


    "I don''t recall them making quite that noise before," said Candasar.


    "I''m no expert on cows, but I suspect that they haven''t been milked." said Ardwella. "Speaking as someone who has been a mother, unused milk can get fairly uncomfortable. A dairyman never lets his cows go un-milked. It signals to the animal to reduce the production. They dry up. That''s not a good business decision for him. It probably means Lothinar is here somewhere!"


    In the barn, they found the dairyman. McDonald was trussed up tightly. His hands and feet were tied behind his back. He was swearing furiously. He stopped when he saw them come in.


    "Thank the gods someone''s here! I never saw it coming. "Ronette, my wife, hit me from behind with a manure shovel! Of all the sneaky underhanded tricks!"


    "Have you seen my son?" Asked Ardwella as she pulled a small knife from her boots and reached down to cut his bonds. The rope parted instantly.


    "Yes, Lothinar, your son was here. He looked hurt or possibly drugged," said McDonald.


    "He''s alive!" said Candasar excitedly.


    "Thanks for cutting me loose! McDonald said, standing unsteadily and then rubbing his wrists. It looks like the wagon is gone. And one of the bulls. Your guess is as good as mine, where she''s gone off to. Lothinar looked like he was out of it, though. What happened to him? He was sleeping or unconscious when I saw him. I didn''t see much! The damn manure shovel took care of that! What is that woman thinking?"


    "Could she be a spy or an assassin for the Emperor?" asked Ardwella.


    "No chance. Ronette hates the elven emperor! He apparently killed some of her family. It was a long time ago."


    "How did your son come to be with her? It didn''t look like he was here on purpose..." asked McDonald.


    "There was an accident while he was healing someone. He passed out," said Ardwella. "Do you know where she might have taken him?


    Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    "No idea, She''s not originally from around here. I can''t believe I was betrayed!"


    McDonald looked at Ardwella again. It looked like he was doing an appraisal. She obviously passed. Whatever criteria he was using clearly recognized Ardwella''s beauty.


    "Too bad you''re married." Then he looked down. "And pregnant."


    "I''m too old for you anyway," said Ardwella. There was no hint of a smile. "How long were you tied up?" she asked.


    "I''m not totally sure since I was knocked out. It had to be hours. She could have gone quite a ways. They have a big head start on you even if you can fly on that thing," McDonald said as he rolled his eyes toward Candasar, who was standing in the doorway to the barn.


    "That thing is named Candasar. She is Lothinar''s dragon and a person. We are both very interested in anything you might know about this."


    "Oh yeah, almost forgot. She''s been saying for a while that her sister married a king or something. That''s a likely story! The sister is supposed to be coming to visit soon. If there is any truth to it at all, then I''m sure Ronette will come back for that. It seemed important to her to see her sister again."


    "We will keep looking," said Ardwella.


    "If you find them and get your boy back, tell Ronette to keep going. I''ll never take her back.


    "McDonald." Ardwella said coldly.


    "What now?" the man snapped.


    "Your cows need milking," said Ardwella.


    "Double damn. I hate milking cows! That''s the only other thing that woman was good for"


    He walked out into the yard. The cows crowded around him.


    "I don''t know", said Candasar to Ardwella as they also left the barn. "What he said didn''t seem fair. Ronette was a good swimmer and excellent at what Cantrell called mouth-to-mouth resuscitation."


    "You just can''t please some men," said Ardwella. "Well, unless you are talking about ''that other thing." I''m pretty good at that."


    "Let''s just hope she is being good to Lothinar," said Candasar.


    "The pheromones will practically guarantee it," said Ardwella.


    Ardwella climbed back on Candasar. Then Candasar felt her tense up.


    "Oh no!" Said Ardwella. "We need to get back right away. Esmarilla just contacted me. Something terrible has happened. Stay calm, Candasar. Tundor attacked Mavis. He broke her neck. Vanador is working on her now, but it doesn''t look good!"


    "Tundor wouldn''t do that!" exclaimed Candasar. "There is just no way!"


    "Ardwynn has shown her true colors. She has forcibly taken control of Tundor through the bond. I don''t think Tundor had a choice!"


    Candasar jumped into the air scattering the cows. One of them kicked over McDonald''s milk bucket. She could hear him cursing as she flew away.


    --------------------


    Lothinar awoke with sunlight streaming through the window of a small bedroom. The bed that he was lying on was very comfortable and covered with quilts. He was between the brightly colored covers. The patterns of the quilts were odd and showed pictures of sea shells and tall sailing boats with full sails. He didn''t remember how he had come to be here. He could hear the noise of pans rattling and the sound of someone moving about. A bright and beautiful face attached to a beautiful body walked into the bedroom bringing in the smells of delicious sizzling vegetables. The human girl smiled warmly and sincerely. No, not human, he thought. No, not completely elf, either. She must be half elf. This was so strange. She spoke elvish so he answered in the same.


    "I''ve made us some breakfast, dear. Are you feeling better? Are you hungry?"


    He grunted in affirmation.


    "Yes, I think I can keep something down."


    He went to climb out and realized that he was naked. He froze, not knowing what to do. Who was this woman to him? Should he allow himself to be seen naked in front of her?


    "Oh, I removed your clothes and washed them... Just a minute."


    She returned with his clothes. They were folded in a neat pile. She held them out to him.


    She looked down, seemingly embarrassed.


    "I can leave while you change into them. If you want me to..." Then she blushed.


    "I''m sorry, I''m still a little groggy and confused," He said, looking out from under the covers. "Maybe you could help me with your name. Perhaps it will jog my memory somehow"


    "Are you serious? You don''t know who I am?"


    "No, I''m afraid I don''t"


    "Of course," she said with a sad smile. "You''ve been through a lot. You were drowning, but I saved you. Then you were unconscious. There might be after-effects"


    "Well, thanks are in order I guess. Maybe I hit my head or something... Who am I thanking?"


    She giggled, then grew serious.


    She looked forlorn somehow. Conflicted.


    "My name is Ronniflass. I am the daughter of an elven ambassador. Our family fled to the human island of Savintra when the dragons were defeated" My mother was killed by the emperor''s soldiers during the battles. My father married again on the island. He married a human wife. I am a half-elf. But you really should know all this."


    "And who owns this bed that I am sleeping in?" he asked pleasantly.


    "I guess I do, and my sister. We are staying in my father''s ancestral home.


    "I am very pleased to meet you, Ronniflass. Thank you for saving me, I guess, and for the breakfast. Oh, and the clothes you washed for me."


    "Now, if you would be so kind as to tell me who I am?"


    Her eyes got very big.


    "You are Lothinar, my fiancee'' You do not know your own name?"


    Lothinar tried to process this. He knew somehow that he had been in love. This woman''s face seemed very familiar. Lothinar pulled back the covers, stood up, and pulled on his pants. Then his shirt. She didn''t seem bothered by it at all. Her eyes drank him in.


    "Do I like dragons too? It really seems like I must. I am thinking about a little red dragon a lot for some reason"


    She looked a little puzzled by that but then quickly smiled again.


    "I''ve seen you with a little red one like that before"


    "I''m sure it will all come back to you soon," she said.


    "How about some delicious breakfast" she asked with a bigger smile.


    "I''m sure we will get to the table eventually," he said.


    ------------------------


    Firestorm had been yelling and shouting at him, but he didn''t seem to be able to hear her. That frustrated her. It frustrated her a lot. Her mother hadn''t come back, and, to make matters worse, Penelope had taken off.


    "Your father will be back any minute, I''m sure." She had said. then she just left.


    Firestorm flexed her wings and gave them another flap. She lifted off the ground a little more every time she did it. It was time. She was done waiting. She was going to find her bond. She had eaten all the cow pieces her father had left for her yesterday. It was going to be a long way for someone as small as her, but she was crystal clear on exactly where he was. She could see it perfectly. It was like a map in her brain. She took a running start and lifted into the air, flung her wings wide, and began to glide. She did it again. She went farther every time.


    "I''m coming, Lothinar!" she chirped in her little voice. "Don''t worry, I will find you!"


    --------------------------------


    The great white dragon was glowing. The black one next to him was grey as ash. Power flashed and surged as the siblings pushed power into the dying elf girl. Her neck fracture had been the easiest part. The nerves that had been severed had to be meticulously reattached and grown together before her lungs would ever work again. Her bloodstream was full of toxins that had built up in minutes since her spine had been severed. Only the fading magic of Aleena had kept Mavis alive long enough for the other two dragons to make a start in healing her.


    Now tragically, Aleena seemed even closer to death than Mavis. Aleena had truly given her all. Someone had gotten word to Mo-Rung. He had come crashing through and around trees, as he arrived at his mate''s side. She looked up at him, said something softly to him only, and then the light went out of her eyes.


    Ardwella stood by with Candasar, They had flown in from the dairy to watch a spectacle that she hoped to never see again. Around them had gathered most of the elves involved. Siophra and Cantrell were also there.


    "They must have come on Vanador". Ardwella thought.


    Mo-Rung was just sitting there. He had a terrible look on his face.


    "Do dragons always die when their bonds do? asked Cantrell.


    "That is often the case," said Ardwella. "An exceptionally strong elf or dragon will sometimes survive alone. I think more elves die when the bond breaks than dragons, If that makes you want to change your mind about bonding"


    The warden nodded. "I''m still thinking about it. Things have changed."


    "It looks like Aleena was the one who made the choice of who would die this time." Said Siophra. She poured all her life force into Mavis. She held nothing back. I must have seriously misjudged the girl if Aleena felt so strongly about her. Perhaps she has a destiny"


    "Do dragons have some sort of precognition about destiny?" asked Cantrell, intrigued.


    "My own Grandfather Lothinex thought so," said Siophra. "As far as we know, most of the old dragons except those bonded to me and Ardwella are dead, so there is no one to ask about such things anymore"


    "You know that the number of dragons and elves that have bonded is actually a very low number. There are not a lot of good statistics," said Ardwella, watching the big dragons as they continued to heal Mavis. The glow was starting to fade slightly from Vanador.


    "If it was widely known that as a downside of a long life, you risk immediate death if your bond dies, then I bet a lot less pairing would occur," said Candasar.


    "What you are seeing now is definitely an upside. Mavis really should be dead. Dragons have given her another chance at life." said Ardwella.


    "White dragons like Vanador, and yes, Tundor are by far the best healers". That''s the only thing that is making this attempt possible at all." said Siophra.


    Mavis was breathing on her own now.


    "They are always born in pairs. A black and a white," said Ardwella. "The white gets all the ability to heal. The black gets none. She has more power, and of course, that can be used for healing, but she can only use it through a suitable vessel. In this case, her brother Vanador. I''m actually not that great at healing myself. That''s why I set out to make Lothinar the way he is."


    "I''m sure he appreciates all you gave him right about now," Cantrell said with a strange frown. "Getting kidnapped because of his pleasing male scent"


    "Why can you not leave this alone?" asked Ardwella, grimacing.


    "I guess it''s still eating at me for some reason," said Cantrell. "It''s hard to let it go."


    Candasar tactfully tried to change the subject.


    "What happened to Tundor''s sibling? If they are always in pairs, then where is the black dragon he would have been born with?"


    "Probably in an omelet by now," said Ardwella sadly.


    "How could I forget?" said Candasar. "The emperor will pay. I promise you,"


    "We are in agreement about that. I made that promise a long time ago. I intend to keep it". said Ardwella.


    "I think I''m beginning to understand you better every day, Lothinar''s mother," said the blue dragon.


    Ardwella managed a smile. "Few have seen what you are seeing now. This is one for the history books"


    Mavis coughed severely several times. Then she sat up. The glow surrounding her and the white dragon finally stopped.


    The elf girl stood and tottered over to the place where her dragon Aleena was lying and gazed into her lifeless eyes.


    She fell to her knees and began to weep inconsolably. Cantrell went over to kneel beside her. He held her and hugged her but it was like he was invisible.


    "I''m really worried Lothinar might be dead. Said Candasar. I really can''t feel him at all! but somehow, I''m still alive!"


    "Something has definitely changed. said Siophra. Perhaps he completely burned out his magic. Maybe it will come back. It might not be that bad. Let''s try to keep our spirits up, A life was saved today"


    "And a life was lost. I had better go and collect little Firestorm. I''ll raise her as my own if Mo-Rung will allow it. She will need a mother who can fly."


    "Tonight, we must mourn Aleena. Tomorrow we will go looking for my son."


    Candasar returned to Aleena''s nest. It felt very strange to be there and not see her. Much to her dismay, Firestorm was not there. The eggs were barely warm. She sighed and seated herself gingerly upon the nest of her dead cousin and began protecting and warming her unborn children. Young Firestorm could not have gone far.


    ----------------------

 Chapter 46: No Use Crying Over Spilled Milk

    ***************


    Chapter 46


    ***************


    ¡°We need to get something to eat.¡± Esmarilla said to Ardwella. ¡°That healing took a lot of magical energy. Vanador and I are going over to McDonald''s¡±


    ¡±Don''t pay him full price. He probably has more cows than he can easily milk by himself right now, so remind him of that before you take one. You had better leave Siophra here with me. McDonald is probably going to be looking for a new wife soon¡±


    ¡±You can¡¯t think I would be interested in a relationship right now, especially with a human dairy farmer!¡± Protested Siophra.


    ¡°No, but he seems quite angry right now." Said Ardwella. "Beautiful elven women might bring out the worst in him. I think everyone but the dragons should give him some distance. They will be doing him a favor by eating some of his surplus cows.¡±


    The two large dragons lumbered into a position to make a run and quickly jumped into the air, furiously beating their wings as they swung out over the lake and headed for Della.


    ¡°Ronette took one of the bulls, so make sure to leave the other one alone,¡± sent Ardwella through her bond with Esmarilla.


    ¡±No problem. Don¡¯t eat the Bull. They can be a lot of trouble anyway, ¡° sent Esmarilla


    Ardwella looked up from being distracted by her thought communication with Esmarilla just in time to see a huge red dragon bearing down on her at speed. Mo-Rungs sudden motion had caught her totally by surprise. He looked furious. The loss of his mate had clearly caused him to snap. He would have quickly reached her but somehow got tangled in the fallen clothesline. That tripped him up, and he fell. He rolled forward, and the line snapped. He got up and headed for her again, dragging clothes, only to pull up short as Cantrell jumped between Ardwella and the angry dragon. The elf looked small, standing before the furious red dragon, but he positioned himself to block him. The dragon looked like he would plow through but suddenly hesitated, stopping with mere inches to spare.


    ¡°Why are you stopping me?¡± Asked Mo-Rung angrily.


    ¡±I¡¯m saving your life! Do you think Esmarilla and Vanador would let you live if you laid a claw or tooth on her?¡±


    ¡±They are not here. Only my poor dead Aleena is here. This is my only chance. Elves have taken everything from me!¡± He swayed precariously. It looked like he might fall over.


    Ardwella watched in delayed shock and amazement as the big red dragon''s anger broke, and he began to weep.


    ¡±Not all elves. Only those aligned with the emperor! The royal family is the problem,¡± said Cantrell. ¡°Since we met, you and I have become friends ¡°


    ¡±Yet you will not bond with me,¡± said Mo-Rung.


    Cantrell looked awkwardly over at Mavis, who still seemed lost and broken, kneeling next to Aleena¡¯s body.


    ¡±We are all learning that bonding and friendships can be very fluid and complicated matters,¡± said Cantrell.


    An immense boom and the sound of shattering wood blasted them, and Cantrell ducked below a flying tree branch. Esmarilla and Vanador crashed through the foliage and together pounced and pinned the somewhat smaller red dragon to the ground. He whined pathetically. Esmarilla was snarling something angrily in Dragon.


    ¡°Esmarilla! Vanador! It¡¯s alright. Cantrell stopped him,¡± said Siophra


    Esmarilla looked at Cantrell in disbelief.


    ¡°It is lucky that he did! Said Esmarilla. ¡°It is only because he lost his mate that I haven¡¯t already gutted him¡±


    ¡±Please do not do that,¡± came a quiet voice. ¡°Aleena¡¯s children will need their father¡±


    Mavis walked shakily over between the two huge dragons, pinning Mo-Rung to the ground, and grabbed a black talon. She tugged at it, and in surprise, Esmarilla allowed her to pull it off the red dragon¡¯s shoulder. Vanador stepped back too. Mo-Rung rolled to his feet. Whipping line and clothes about haphazardly. Mavis bent down and began to pick some of them up. Siophra walked over, bent down, and started to help.


    Together they gathered all the remaining clothes and walked into the house.


    ¡°I must check the nest,¡± said Mo-Rung as he shook himself off and stalked away stiff-legged toward the lake.


    "Again, you have placed yourself between me and death," said Ardwella as she stared at Cantrell.


    "Don''t get used to it," replied Cantrell. "I did that more for Mo-Rung than for you."


    "So you say," said Ardwella. "That dragon''s charge caught me by surprise. But not you. You seem to be paying quite a lot of attention to me"


    "You thrive on that, don''t you?" said Cantrell. "What are you doing, building a fan club?.... Wait! You are! You are so vain."


    "Let us just say that no one has ever become detached from my influence as fast as you seem to have. I am just surprised."


    "And it hurts your ego to think that I don''t......"


    "Ardwella! Come and see this," came Siophra''s call from the house...


    "I suppose this discussion must be delayed," said Ardwella walking away.


    Cantrell watched her go. He watched until she climbed the porch and went inside. He didn''t want to. But he did.


    Esmarilla watched Cantrell as he watched Ardwella.


    "This will not end well for you," she said. "Ardwella loves her husband"


    "Has she done this to a lot of people?" He asked


    "You are the only one that I have ever seen that has managed to break free," the dragon answered. "You should bond before you fall back under her spell. It is the only way."


    "I refuse to believe that," said Cantrell. "Esmarilla, you and Vanador should go finish getting something to eat"


    "I wanted to thank you before we left." said the black dragon. "For saving her again. You jumped in front of Mo-Rung."


    Cantrell nodded. "Yes, I did. It was probably a stupid thing to do."


    "Cows are waiting," said Cantrell. "After all you have done, you will need to eat. You are looking a little grey. Thank you for saving Mavis. She is special to me."


    "And unmarried," chuckled the dragon. "Think about what I have said"


    The two large dragons jumped and then climbed into the air again. The flapping of their wings blew a small recognizable apron out from under a fallen tree branch. Cantrell picked it up and got a strange look on his face. He smoothed it out and tucked it away. When did life get so complicated?


    ----


    In the house, Ardwella looked at her sister.


    "You called me?"


    "Put out your hand..." said Siophra. "It''s grandfather''s ring. The one Lothinar gave to Ardwynn. She is sending him... and well, us.. a message."


    Ardwella took the ring shaking her head. She tucked it into a pocket.


    "Where is Mavis?" she asked.


    "She has some sort of magic clothes cleaning machine in the back of the house somewhere. I think she is washing those clothes we just picked up," said Siophra. "And crying"


    "I may want to get one of those," said Ardwella. "A magical washing machine! Who knew?"


    "You probably have to be one of the imperial family to get one. I didn''t have a reason to do much laundry while I was being held captive in my cell.....naked!" shouted Siophra as she grew angry at the memory.


    This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    "Again, I am so very sorry. I didn''t even know you were still alive," said Ardwella.


    "Yes, I know. I don''t mean to complain to you about it. I guess I just have unprecedented deep-seated clothing trauma. I should probably talk to someone about it. Perhaps a dressmaker"


    There was an awkward pause. Ardwella didn''t laugh.


    You know Ardwynn played this very smart." said Ardwella. This whole attack on Mavis might have been a big distraction to keep us from chasing after her by air"


    "She couldn''t have known that Mavis would have survived, even if Vanador got involved"


    "Perhaps she didn''t actually care. She couldn''t know we would actually try to save the Emperor''s daughter; that was a long shot, but it sure distracted us long enough to make sure she could get away. We are pretty low on dragons now that could pursue her," said Ardwella. "And she now has a good head start."


    "She also chose to take Tundor while we were distracted by Lothinar''s disappearance," Siophra reminded her.


    "I don''t know how I could have misread that girl so badly. She is clearly the Emperor''s tool. The whole family was. What was I thinking?"


    "She assisted in killing her own parents. I don''t think there is anything that says that you are loyal to a cause more than killing your own parents for it. I can see how you might let your guard down.¡±


    "I don''t think Ardwynn even realized how much she had been affected by Lothinar." There is no way that this whole scenario was planned by the emperor." said Ardwella. Yet now he has the white dragon he has always wanted," said Ardwella. "Except it will be Tundor and not your Vanador"


    "And if this succeeds, he will gain immortality through the dragon bond. Our hope of killing him by cutting him off from the eggs may no longer work," said Siophra. "Well, we can hope that somehow Tundor can break free or resist the switching of the bond. If he''s anything like Vanador was, then I don''t think he is going to give in willingly,"


    "I just realized something. Argent has had access to viable eggs this whole time. I wonder why he never tried to hatch one and try and get a young dragon to bond with him?" pondered Ardwella.


    "Perhaps he did, and they rejected him. We don''t know much about how very young dragons think or how old they have to be to form a bond. Perhaps we should have a talk with Mo-Rung''s daughter Firestorm"


    "Candasar should be watching her by now, along with the unhatched eggs." Said Ardwella. "I will go over to the nest in the morning. Right now, I''m going to ask Cantrell to get some wardens together and see that Aleena''s body gets a proper burial."


    "Do you think he will do as you ask?"


    "That''s a question that I am very interested in the answer to," said Ardwella. Seeing what Cantrell is going to do has become a recent hobby of mine."


    "You''ve changed," said Siophra.


    "Haven''t we all?" said her sister.


    -------------------------------


    The little kitchen was comfortable. They had finished breakfast and were still sitting at the table. A fresh cup of pine needle tea sat steaming in Lothinar''s right hand. Sunlight streamed through broad windows that had pictures of dragons flying on the trim. It looked like someone had tried to make it beautiful as well as functional. It didn''t look lived in, however. Lothinar observed that there was a place for an herb garden in a box below one of the larger windows. The place where the herbs might have been growing was empty. Ronniflass caught him looking at it.


    "She was not my mother"


    "What''s that?" asked Lothinar.


    "The one that decorated this house. This kitchen especially. She was not my mother. I have heard stories about her my whole life from my father. She was beautiful and had powerful magic. He never really got over her."


    "That must have been hard for your own mother." said Lothinar.


    "She was only human." Ronniflass smiled at the joke.  "She fell deeply in love with my father.  He didn''t try to hide anything from her. My mother knew she was never going to take her place. She accepted this. As I do."


    "What do you mean by that?"


    "I lied to you. I am not your fiancee''"


    He nodded.


    "Why did. you feel the need to do that?"


    "You seemed like you had forgotten her. Your wife. I thought, with a little push, a few omissions.... I could somehow take her place in your heart. But when you didn''t take me up on my suggestions in the bedroom.....I knew that it wasn''t going to be that easy to win you over. I understand what it is to be second to someone else.¡±


    "It''s not you...You are certainly beautiful"


    She looked down. Doubt clouded her eyes.


    "She left you. Do you remember that?"


    "I remember being sad and angry, so that seems to make sense. How did I come to be here with you?"


    "You really did drown. You must have overextended your magic when you were helping Firestorm. You fell in the water. I really did save your life!"


    "That name, Firestorm. It seems familiar. I guess I was lucky that you were there"


    She blushed.


    "Well, I might have been following you. Stalking you.  I don''t ever remember doing anything like this before. I don''t know what''s come over me, It''s like you are my whole life."


    "I don''t understand," said Lothinar, but perhaps we can unravel this mystery together. Friends? For now?"


    She nodded, dropping her eyes.


    "Her name was Ardwynn... Your wife. And your dragon''s name is Candasar."


    "And she is little and red?"


    Ronniflass looked puzzled.


    "No, she is large and definitely blue. You gave me a ride on her recently. She must be looking for you"


    "I appreciate you telling me the truth about all of this Ronniflass, but I still don''t remember any of it"


    "Perhaps, then, there might be hope for me," she said smiling, "Because I''m not going anywhere unless you make me."


    Lothinar didn''t answer because just behind the glass in the broad sunny window box, a little red dragon''s face was peeking in.


    The face was scowling.


    -------------------------


    "Sitting on eggs all night on the side of a lake can make you cranky," said Candasar as Ardwella and Siophra approached the nest.


    "Where is Mo-Rung?"


    "Firestorm wasn''t here when I got back. Mo-Rung''s out looking for her"


    "All night?"


    "Yes, he hasn''t come back yet. It''s frustrating because I think I could do faster searching from the air"


    "It''s unfortunate that Cantrell hasn''t bonded with him. We could ask him for an update through the bond," Said Siophra.


    "I think I''ve learned an awful lesson about encouraging someone to bond before they are fully ready," said Candasar. I told Lothinar to have sex with Ardwynn and then strongly suggested Tundor bond with her. I did it for selfish reasons. I wanted to have the perfect double pairing"


    "It did make sense at the time," said Ardwella. "I didn''t disapprove."


    "You must have known that Lothinar had influenced her with his natural pheromones"


    "Yes, but that was always going to be the case with anyone else as well. I''ll admit I should have been more suspicious about her family connections. She did originally hide them from us."


    "Wait a minute," said Siophra in a shocked voice, "You mean you knew Ardwynn was related to Argent..."


    "A niece"


    "...You knew she shared blood with that monster and still allowed her to marry your son?"


    "I know, it seems impossibly stupid now. The dragons could not sense the problem either. Something about how Lothinar affected her acted like a perfect camouflage. She helped us in the battle against her father! It''s almost like we were played."


    "I don''t know any other way that Argent could have gotten his hands on a white dragon. Perhaps you were. It actually would make me feel better than to realize you were just that foolish," said Siophra sadly.


    "What am I going to do about these eggs?" asked Candisar. "I can''t just stay here all day?"


    Ardwella laughed


    "Why do you think I waited so long to find a husband and have Lothinar? It is very hard to set aside the things you want to do for others. Even your own children. I thought this is what you wanted?"


    "Maybe if I had a little help!" Where is Mo-Rung!?"


    Three water dragons approached. Candasar recognized them. They swam up to the nest, and if Ardwella were any judge of dragon''s expressions, she would think that they looked embarrassed and ashamed.


    Candasar snorted and rolled her eyes.


    "Ardwella, I''d like to introduce you to Maud and Clay. They are Tundor''s parents. The little one there is their daughter Vanessa."


    "These are the ones that left him to drown?" Asked Ardwella.


    "The same"


    The water dragons seemed to squirm and began to hiss.


    "We are S-sory for what we did Candasar" said Clay. "The council forced us! You know this is true"


    Candasar sighed. "Perhaps you can make it up to me."


    "Yessss. Anything," said Maud.


    "You heard that Aleena was killed yesterday? She died a hero trying to save her bond". She left these eggs unattended and she has another daughter that I need to go looking for. Can one, or all of you take turn watching and protecting this nest until Mo-Rung or I come back?"


    "We will do this. I have no eggs of my own right now." said Maud.


    "I will help also" said Vanessa.


    "I know that you love your son, Maud. said Candasar. "I watched you swim around frantically on the night the council tried to drown him. They really didn''t give you a choice."


    "I told you she would say that," said Clay.


    "You were no help at all, Clay!" Even after everything Grandfather told us about where we came from you still listened to the council"


    He hung his head and didn''t say more.


    "Well, nice to hear the family has made up!" said Siophra cheerfully. "Perhaps if we can GO FIND LOTHINAR! we might be able to actually get wings on some of these water dragons before Argent arrives!"


    "He may delay now that he has the opportunity to bond with Tundor," said Ardwella. "He''s still going to want the eggs, but it''s not going to be as urgent as before"


    "Did you hear that Maud? Our son is going to bond with the emperor! We''ll be related to royalty! How exciting," said Clay.


    "Listen, you idiots!" cried Candasar, "That is going to be very, very bad for Tundor. We need to try and stop that if we can!"


    Clay and Maud hung their heads.


    "It sounded like a good thing," said Vanessa.


    "It''s not!" said Candasar. "Just watch these eggs. I''ll be back as soon as I can. Mo-Rung is their father."


    "Like our grandfather Mo-Rung? I thought he died," said Clay.


    "It''s obvious we need to start getting information out to the dragon population about what is going on," Said Siophra. "Who is left on the council?


    "You should probably talk to Killingsworth," said Clay. "You fought him. You took his eye, Just in case you forgot"


    "Great. Yeah, I remember that," said Candasar. "Ok. At least I''ll recognize him. One of you go and find him and tell him to meet me here tomorrow morning"


    Vanessa looked at her parents and began to swim away. Maud climbed up onto the nest as Candasar hopped off.


    "Thanks for watching these eggs Maud. They are all we have left of Aleena. She put a lot of herself and her magic into them. I''m sure that they will be special"


    ------------------------


    The elven capitol was ablaze with lights as Ardwynn directed Tundor toward the palace. She had forgotten how beautiful true elven construction could be. The small outpost in the mountains that had been her home over the last five years or so just could not compare. She landed before the great golden doors that swung open silently when she and Tundor landed in the courtyard. Tundor was terrified. He had never seen anything like this. He could feel it through the bond. She soothed him and forced him forward. He was getting stronger, but she still had the upper hand. She walked through the doors and down the various well-appointed halls until she reached the throne room. There, on a raised white marble dais, sat the emperor on his throne. He raised a grey eyebrow as she approached and knelt before him.


    "You¡¯re very, very late, Ardwynn. I didn''t think that you weren''t going to make it!"


    ¡±Getting the dragon to bond with me was challenging, Uncle, but the ability to control people through pheromone magic was a harder task.¡±


    ¡°You have this information now?¡±


    ¡±Not yet, but we will be able to experiment on the elf that does¡±


    ¡°Why would he choose to come here and risk capture?¡±


    ¡±He will come when he learns that I am carrying his child, and to save its life, he will surrender to us¡±


    ¡®Excellent! The prison tower is almost repaired. Now you should introduce me to Tundor. We have a great deal to discuss.


    -------------------

 Chapter 47: Love and Sex: A Tutorial

    *************


    Chapter 47


    *************


    Mavis couldn¡¯t stop crying. There was a reservoir inside her that was filled with grief. It was overflowing and seemed to be leaking out of her eyes. She had stayed in the back room while Siophra and Ardwella were discussing Ardwynn¡¯s motives for having Tundor attack her. She had heard their theories but rejected the idea that it was to avoid pursuit. Ardwynn had wanted her dead for personal reasons. Growing up in the court as two girls of similar age, they had a long-standing rivalry of sniping at each other. Ardwynn had a mean streak, just like the rest of her family, but had never dared to take it this far before. Now that she had every reason to believe that Mavis and her twin had been illegitimate, she could act as she wished. She had tried to kill her.


    Actually, by most metrics, Ardwynn had succeeded. If not for the black and white dragons and the sacrifice of her own bonded dragon, her dead body would have been taken away by Cantrell''s men, just like Aleena''s had. She cried some more. She cried on her clean laundry, and her black mascara flowed down and dripped on some of her favorite skirts. She threw them away. Her tears of sorrow turned into ones of cold fury. She had better things to do than wash clothes. She needed to find Mo-Rung. She was ready to make some changes. The big red dragon wanted to vent his rage and get revenge for Aleena''s death, and she was the elf who was going to help him get it. He just needed a little help to find the correct recipient of his rage.


    It was a long walk back to the nest. Mavis hadn''t realized how spoiled she had become by Aleena''s carrying her back and forth. She had taken so much for granted. Her elite upbringing had somewhat inoculated her against feeling gratitude. Now she was seeing things in a new way. Not only was she grateful for her life, but she had a vast debt to repay. Aleena would be avenged.


    Staying out of sight behind some tall reeds, Mavis spotted Candasar sitting on the nest. She was talking to Mo-Rung. The red dragon seemed to be describing the confrontation between Esmarilla, her brother, and himself. Candasar was trying to calm him down. She was too far away to hear everything, but Mavis thought that she heard the word Firestorm mentioned several times. Mavis didn''t see the little dragon anywhere. That was concerning. Mo-Rung suddenly headed off away from the shore. Mavis slipped out from behind the reeds and went after him. He looked like he was trying to follow tracks but then stopped, confused. She took the opportunity to sprint up behind him and jump up on his back. He spun his head around. His teeth were bared in a mask of surprise and fury.


    He stopped short of biting off her head.


    "What are you doing, Mavis?" he said angrily. "Warn a dragon before you jump on him. I could have killed you all over again."


    She shuddered involuntarily, remembering her brief and violent encounter with Tundor.


    "I am going to help you look for Firestorm."


    "I do not need your help! I don''t know why Aleena chose your life over her own, but that choice does not make me more fond of you."


    Mavis, in spite of herself, began to cry again.


    "I don''t understand it either. I didn''t ask her to, I promise! But I can''t just sit around feeling sorry about what happened. Let''s go find your daughter together. I want to help!"


    Mo-Rung rolled his eyes.


    "Yes, I, too, need to be doing something. Candasar wants me to sit on the nest. I refused. If you feel that you must come, then I will allow it."


    "Aleena loved you very much, you know." said Mavis.


    The dragon scoffed.


    "Do you even know what love means?" he asked.


    That stung her. The old Mavis would have taken offense and argued about definitions. But the new Mavis decided to think about it before she answered. She thought about it while the big red dragon prowled through the hills and low scrub, occasionally stopping to sniff. He checked the ground. Sometimes he doubled back and started off in a slightly different direction.


    At last, Mavis replied. "I used to think love was about emotional and physical passion, but now I think that love might be putting the welfare of someone else above your own."


    Mo-Rung snorted. "Using that definition, do you still think Aleena loved me? Giving her life to you. Leaving me to care for our children alone, without her?


    Mavis decided to think about it some more. She rode along in silence. The dragon''s broad red back bounced and shifted as his massive muscles moved up the mountain.


    "I thought I loved Cantrell for a while. I even had sex with him because he seemed so lost and unhappy. He was in love with Ardwella. I thought that physical act would help him break free."


    She paused, "But sympathy is not really love, is it?"


    The dragon laughed at this.


    "I think Cantrell would be offended if he thought that you slept with him for charity."


    "I told him as much! I barely knew him at the time. He was considering killing himself to be free of her." she answered angrily.


    "That''s pretty extreme. It''s a good line, though. I''ll have to remember it." Laughed the dragon. "Have sex with me, or I''ll kill myself!"


    "He didn''t even ask! I was the one that suggested it." she protested.


    "You sure are easy!" said the dragon. Then he laughed again.


    "It was sex for medical purposes! said Mavis. "I provided the cure! It worked, didn''t it?"


    "Hooray for you!" said the dragon. "I''m sure he is grateful."


    "That''s where it gets kind of confusing" said Mavis.


    "Why is that?"


    "Because," she blushed. "The sex was good. Really really good. I had only been with younger elves before. They didn''t really seem able or willing to take the time to..."


    "Spare me the details of your elven sex partners," coughed Mo-Rung.


    "Anyway, Cantrell was very thoughtful and considerate."


    "That''s good to hear," said Mo-Rung laughing. "My interests in him differ quite substantially from yours. He seems a sound tactician"


    "I suppose that must play into it, somehow," said Mavis thoughtfully.


    "I mean militarily. Militarily! You know, regarding fighting and battle strategies!"


    "Ok," Mavis said. "Now we are back talking about the kinds of relationships I''ve had with males before. One of us was always trying to outmaneuver the other. Win the conquest. Defend the castle."


    "Your relationship with Cantrell isn''t like that?" asked Mo-Rung.


    "No, I think Cantrell really wants what''s best for me. For you. For us. That''s why we kind of broke up and he wouldn''t bond with you just because Aleena was bonded with me. He has enough integrity to not take the easy way out if it hurts his friends."


    "Are you going to try and go after Lothinar a second time then?"


    "Surprisingly, no. I''m certainly not planning on it. I was interested in Lothinar, just like Ardwynn was. We have always been in some sort of rivalry. Even as kids.  It was an unspoken challenge between us. She won." said Mavis.


    You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    "She told me just before she killed me that he never even knew that I existed. I think she might have been right."


    "Ouch," said the dragon


    "But that''s exactly what I meant when I said that my relationships with males were ones of conquest and defense," Mavis continued, "I was trying to take Lothinar''s castle, and he just ignored me. It was kind of humiliating for a princess of the crown,"


    "So that you know, Candasar says that Lothinar is oblivious," said Mo-Rung.


    "I''ve experienced that, yes. Now, I realize that my being with Lothinar would cause him more problems. I''m a mess right now and probably will be for a while. My father will certainly disown me just as soon as Ardwynn tells him that I''m not really his daughter. " I wouldn''t want to put anyone through that."


    "Not being the Emperor''s daughter counts as a good thing with just about everyone around here right now...."


    Don''t forget that who you end up with isn''t just up to you. Ardwynn captured Lothinar''s heart. I heard she was very persistent even if ultimately she wasn''t entirely sincere."


    "Yes, but for me trying to consider other people''s feelings like Cantrell does is going to take some getting used to."


    "It sounds like you may be off to a good start. said Mo-Rung. "Let me tell you something else that you should consider"


    "I''m listening," said Mavis.


    "You said that Aleena loved me. But that''s not exactly true."


    "Then why were you together?"


    "There are a few reasons, but they involve a lot of water dragon politics. It comes down to Aleena''s commitment to choosing a good male to have children with. She is... or was.. a lot like Candasar. She wanted to have children that would not be trapped as mere water dragons. I could give her those,"


    "Oh, exclaimed Mavis. It''s like when Candasar waited for a dragon who was like Tundor before she chose a mate..."


    "I actually gave her that advice," said Mo-Rung.


    "Allena didn''t have passionate feelings for me. Respect yes. I am quite a bit older, remember? But she asked to breed with me to achieve her goals. She wanted that more than any feelings she might have had for other choices more her own age. She was largely an outcast before. She was a lot like Candasar, but perhaps not as famous.." he chuckled darkly.


    "And now she is dead. Someone is going to pay for that. After I find my daughter, all I am going to want is revenge."


    "Well, actually, said Mavis. "That is actually the thing I wanted to talk to you about."


    --------------------------


    They really needed to make bigger doors in this place, thought Esmarilla. It''s just not fair that there is only one way in and out for those of us in plus sizes. Living in this temple and town could be inconvenient. It didn''t seem to have been constructed for active larger dragons. It really wasn''t Starett''s fault. with visitors from the human capital coming soon, they were doing all the construction they could. She walked into the dragon temple to overhear a loud conversation in progress.


    Vanador was having an argument with the old priest Womber. The old man looked more than a little afraid. The fact that Vanador had just confirmed that Womber had been talking to Siophra on her visits to the temple had infuriated the white dragon. The fact that Siophra had not shared her thoughts about that happening also confused him. Siophra wasn¡¯t herself. How could she be after her ordeal? He would have to pay closer attention to her.


    "You must realize that she has been through unbelievable horrors during her captivity". Vanador said.


    "I didn''t realize that she is the one that was held c-captive by the emperor. ¡± Womber stammered.


    "Then you are in the habit of making sexual advances to unknown females in this temple, those that possibly would feel uncomfortable refusing you due to your position?"


    "My position isn''t what it once was.¡± He said glumly. ¡°I have far less influence than you think¡±


    "Perhaps that is for the best," said Vanador.


    "But I feel that I must clarify," said Womber, not leaving well enough alone. "They were not necessarily sexual advances. Perhaps we should call them friendly advances. And then, uh, technically, she isn''t a young maiden, but a very...um..Well, she''s older than me. You know she''s not likely to make friends her own age around here. Perhaps she would appreciate an older man''s perspective...."


    Vanador just stared at him. A thread of smoke began to waft from one nostril. Womber''s knees began to knock together.


    "In her present mental state, I would advise you not to do anything to cause her to take offense," warned Vanador. "She is quite capable of taking care of herself and has a very good backup plan if that doesn''t work out"


    "Ah, I see, you are referring to your very large self? Because you are intimidating ¡°


    "No, actually. I might kill you if I caught you harassing her. She is not in the emotional condition for it, and my tolerance for people abusing my bond is long past. I had to endure that for far too many years and was unable to take action. I''m afraid I have what some people might call a very bad temper for things like that. As you mysteriously still live, my sister Esmarilla has already shown exceptional restraint in not removing the problem. If you bother her again, then I will give you to her for judgment"


    "How is she going to get back to normal and heal if you prevent anyone from talking to her?¡±


    ¡±Her family is doing that. As am I¡±


    "Really, because I was a priest for a long time, and I think she looks lonely. Very well, I will keep my distance," sighed the ex-priest. "I had hoped you might be the nicer one...."


    "I usually am." said Vanador.  "This time, I am making an exception."


    -------------------------


    Lothinar ran outside the cottage and around to the little dragon peeking in the window. She dropped to the ground and then jumped at him. It caught him off guard, and it knocked him down.


    "I''ve been calling you and calling you, and you have not answered!" exclaimed Firestorm, "I hopped and glided all the way up here to find you. It''s a very long way, Lothinar. Do you know that?"


    "I''m sorry little one. If you let me up, I can try to explain. Well, actually, I''m not sure that I really can. Perhaps Ronniflass can do a better job."


    "She had better start ''splaining'' then. I got hungry coming all the way up here. Do you know that skunks are terrible to try and eat?  That''s a smelly snack!"


    The half-elf was staring at the little dragon in shock and surprise. She looked anxiously at the skies and into the nearby woods.


    "How did you find us, Firestorm? she finally asked. "Are more coming?"


    "I followed Lothinar''s thoughts to locate him. When I go in his direction, they are clearer and louder. " the little dragon said smugly. "I can even follow him when he is having a dream! By the way Lothinar, that dream you were having last night was sure exciting. All of those images of you playing leapfrog under the blankets with Ronniflass were fascinating."


    The half-elf blushed brightly. She looked away, not meeting his eyes.


    "I was asleep. I thought we didn''t...." Lothinar stopped, then looked questioningly at Ronniflass.


    "I''m sure it was just a dream, Lothinar.... don''t give it another thought," she said with a goofy smile.


    "Everyone is looking for you!" said Firestorm. Why did you leave without at least telling Candasar where you were going.?


    Ronniflass looked very uncomfortable.


    "It is my fault. I was very selfish and wanted a chance to talk with Lothinar alone," she said.


    "Oh, that''s right Candasar said that you are the one that fell in love with Lothinar because he far moans. I think I heard him doing that last night. It didn''t sound that interesting to me."


    Lothinar was shaking his head. "I think some of this I''m starting to remember...."


    "If Candasar is bonded to me, why were you able to find me and not her little dragon? he asked.


    Firestorm stopped and thought about it for a second.


    "I don''t really know, but since you gave me wings and that healing, I''ve been able to hear all your thoughts. I think we are bonded."


    "I''m sorry, Firestorm, I didn''t ask you if you wanted to do that. I suppose that when I healed you, I bonded with you."


    Ronniflass gave him a confused look. "That''s not possible"


    "It''s usually not" Said Candasar as she flew in over the trees and made a quick landing in front of the cottage, skidding to a stop. "Only Lothinar could somehow find a way to bond with two dragons at the same time! Somehow, at least for the moment, only one of us can communicate over a long distance through the bond at a time. This little one has been taking up all of Lothinar''s communication ability"


    "How did you find us then, Candasar? Asked Ronniflass.


    "Easy! I just followed them," said Candasar gesturing over toward the trees which were being pushed aside in front of a lumbering red dragon. On his back was a beautiful elf.


    "That''s not fair, Candasar!" Mo-Rung called out. "I did all the hard work tracking this little imp! and you beat me to her in the final uphill stretch."


    "We really need to get you some wings, Grandfather!" said Candasar smugly. "Now that Lothinar has been found that''s a possibility again."


    Lothinar was still looking at the beautiful elf on the dragon back. She looked very familiar.


    "Are you Ardwynn? he asked her, his eyes full of hope.


    Mavis looked surprised. Then she shook her head.


    ¡°No, I¡¯m not, and you should definitely know the difference,¡° said Mavis.


    "Lothinar has not been himself since I pulled him from the water," said Ronniflass.


    "Ronette said Candasar, You may have saved him, but you are in a good deal of trouble back home. McDonald is furious!"


    ¡±He is no longer my concern,¡± said the ex-milk maid.


    ¡°Well, I suggest you don¡¯t go asking him for a referral when you are looking for your next job, then.¡± Scoffed Candasar.


    "We have been able to figure out that this all started when we gave you a ride the other night. You were exposed to a chemical Lothinar has in his sweat. It made you fall in love with him."


    The half-elf looked confused. Her face fell. She ran back into the house. Lothinar thought he heard her crying.


    "Look Lothinar", said Candasar. "This is quite a mess and is going to take some unraveling. We should go back to let everyone know what is going on and that you and Firestorm have been found"


    "She told me her name is Ronniflass. She is half-elf and very nice."


    "We need to go home," said Candasar.


    "I''m staying here. I like it here. They have dragons carved into the window box. And quilts"


    He turned and walked back into the house.


    "Ok. Well, this is going to be a problem," said Candasar. "I can''t fit through the door"


    "Perhaps I should go and talk with him," said Mavis.


    "Oh no! You are not going anywhere near him. All we need is another elf female getting exposed to pheromones falling in love with Lothinar." said Candasar.


    "That won''t be a problem," said Mavis.


    "And why not?" asked Candasar.


    "Because on the way up here Mo-Rung and I bonded. Lothinar''s pheromones will no longer work on me."


    "That was fast!" said Candasar. "Why did you do that?"


    "Because we both want the same thing said Mo-Rung... Revenge!"


    ------------------------

 Chapter 48: Horsing Around

    **************


    Chapter 48


    **************


    Four wardens helped Cantrell bury Aleena the blue water dragon. They had found a good place. It was a beautiful sunlit glade halfway between the lake and Mavis''s yard. Cantrell suspected the elf would not object to having her bond''s final resting place near her house. Most of the water dragon''s bodies, when they died were left to feed the fish of the lake. That had certainly been the case during Candasar''s battle with the previous elders. It just seemed right to Cantrell that this dragon that somehow seemed to span both worlds should be buried between the water and the home of her elven bond. With magic, they lifted the body, slowly and respectfully hovering it between the trees into the glade. That was the most difficult part. It took all five of them. The rest of the work they did with shovels taken from the warden¡¯s shed. The five of them made fairly quick work of digging and filling the hole.


    Cantrell thanked each of them individually for helping him put the dragon to rest.


    "Cenderick, Amstell, Caliber and Yewstrong. Thank you for coming and assisting me," said Cantrell. It means a lot."


    "Not a problem, boss, but do you mind if we have a quick meeting?¡± asked Cenderick. He looked uncomfortable.


    Cantrell had been leading men for a long time. He had known this conversation was coming.


    "We all got swept up in this when it first started," began Cenderick. "That asshole Tempton came into your office threatening everyone and throwing his power around"


    "That Asshole was the Emperor''s brother!" said Amstell, needlessly reminding all of them.


    "We''ve been talking to the men that have been feeding the big red dragon up in the hills. They have family in town. They say the Emperor and his troops are eventually coming," Said Yewstrong.


    "To squash us flat and kill anyone that resists!" said Caliber.


    "Exactly. And so... the other guys, and us.. well...we have some decisions to make," said Amstell.


    "You want to know if this really is your fight? Should you stick around and possibly get slaughtered along with the humans?" guessed Cantrell.


    "Fighting with the dragons against the emperor doesn''t seem to be in doubt for the humans. Those humans really love their dragons!" said Caliber. "And yet...Even some of the townspeople are wondering what their part is in this conflict."


    "The priest and the temple acolytes are doing a good job with the dragon-worshipping faithful.. but the average human in the city seems like they are just trying to live a peaceful life," said Yewstrong.


    "I think everyone wishes for that," said Cantrell. "Even the dragons. They would be happy if the emperor just left them alone."


    "What have the dragons really done for the humans anyway?" asked Cenderick., "Or even the average elf for that matter.. I understand that there is a special relationship if you bond with one of them...but.." he tapered off.


    "But you couldn''t help but notice that I had not bonded to one yet..." said Cantrell. "Even given every opportunity"


    "A couple of the guys, yeah, I''ll admit, felt a little sorry for Mo-Rung. They wondered if they should offer. "Not me, of course..." said Caliber.


    They didn''t want to step on your toes, boss." said Yewstrong.


    "And with Lothinar missing, they don''t know if there is any way to return these dragons to flying status. You would think Mo-Rung would be about first on the list for that..." said Caliber.


    "I just have a feeling that Mo-Rung and I wouldn''t have been a great fit... for a lot of reasons, actually," said Cantrell, looking at the grave. Things may have changed now."


    "Yeah, that, of course. We know about Mavis and you. That has to be very complicated." said Yewstrong sympathetically.


    "Mavis is devastated. We just buried her dragon. Ardwynn''s actions came as a shock." said Cantrell. "It seems like the Emperor can reach us even out here."


    "The Capitol is far away, and being away from the politics and ugliness of the big city is kind of why most of us took this kind of job". Said Cenderick.


    "You mean the abundance of fine dining, loose ladies, and luxury accommodations in the elven village of Tasumakoji wasn''t what brought you all here?" laughed Cantrell.


    "We all love what we do, boss. Or we wouldn''t be here in the first place. Perhaps somehow, the stories of the dragons and the war had a greater impact on us growing up. I just kind of wanted to see the dragons and was curious what happened to them." said Yewstrong.


    "Now everything we were all told turns out to be a big lie," said Amstell. "It makes you wonder about a lot of things!"


    "Well, one of the things I was wondering about was if we were still going to be getting paid as wardens," said Cantrell. "That was answered this morning. The payroll funds for all of us showed up at the office this morning by courier. I put your portions in your storage lockers in the office. I really don''t understand that. Someone in the Capitol is still making sure we have our payroll is met. Make sure to tell the other guys to pick up their portion. I know you all still have ongoing expenses."


    "It makes you wonder who is really running the government doesn''t it?" said Cenderick.


    "I think that the payroll department is one of the responsibilities of Mavis''s brother Mandel. He''s one of the five generals. We just recently learned that he''s not really the emperor''s son." said Cantrell.


    "That might explain a lot," said Yewstrong.


    "If you or the other wardens feel that you would like to take the money and run, I would completely understand," said Cantrell. "It''s probably not going to stay quiet around here much longer"


    Yewstrong looked at the large pile of dirt left over after filling the hole.


    "I''d hardly say it''s been quiet," he said.


    "I, for one, think I''m going to stick around and watch history in the making," said Cenderick. "Maybe I can find a dragon to bond with and get a chance to really have a really exciting life!"


    "From what I''ve seen, it hasn''t worked out that great for the elves that have done it," said Cantrell. "Ask any of them."


    When they got back to the house, Mavis was gone.


    -----------------------------


    Tundor stood in the putrid throne room. The stench was overwhelming. Lately he had been noticing that Ardwynn had a faint reek about her. It reminded him of that garlic plant that the humans liked to eat. Strong but not nasty like this. This was garlic, yes, but something infinitely worse. It smelled like an abandoned bird''s nest he had stumbled into once while hunting, just infinitely worse. He had stepped on the eggs releasing a terrible smell. The birds had been small. This was the olfactory onslaught of thousands upon thousands of rotten dragon eggs that had all gathered together in one place. The white-haired emperor gazed at him with half-lidded eyes. Tundor realized that the smell he was experiencing was not really in the air. It was the putrid magical force that kept the emperor alive. The psychic screams of consumed baby dragons.  His black sister was probably one of them.


    "Come closer, dragon," he commanded. His voice was more the rush of air than vibrating vocal cords.


    Tundor dug his claws into the stonework beneath his feet. Behind him, he heard Ardwynn moving up. He felt the pressure of her thoughts through the bond pushing him forward again, but loathing and disgust were on his side. They fortified his resistance. He was unable to flee, but he stayed stock, still resisting the emperor''s order. He could feel her straining.


    She was not only trying to make him get physically closer to the emperor, but she was also subduing Tundor''s loathing and hatred for this horrible smell.


    "What is going on here, Ardwynn? came the crackly voice.


    "I must be tired. It has been a long day. If you allow me to rest... Perhaps in the morning."


    The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    "My patience has grown thin, my niece".


    Ardwynn must have felt some desperation because she played her trump card.


    "There are probably more important things. you should attend to right now than trying to break this dragon," she said


    "You would instruct me in my duties?" came his surprised reply


    "You have a traitor among your generals, my Emperor!"


    "You know that they are all my sons. This accusation is a bold thing!"


    "I have been bolder still. Before I came here, I killed Mavis. She was not your daughter."


    "How do you know this to be true? The emperor asked, enraged. "Know that your life is forfeit, dragon or not if your answer is a poor one."


    "She bonded. Easily, in fact."


    "The emperor''s eyebrows raised in surprise". Then her brother....."


    "A twin, yes. Not identical, no, but a very, very low chance that you are his father."


    "There is a wolf in the woodpile!" said the Emperor darkly. "If you have lied to me in any way concerning this..."


    "Check your own sources, Uncle. But you should work quickly to root out this problem before it becomes our undoing!"


    "Take this dragon and teach him some manners. Come back and see me tomorrow morning. We will have our answers."


    Ardwynn turned to leave.


    "Ardwynn... If you are wrong, you will be taking up residence in Siophras old room in the tower"


    "I would expect nothing less, my emperor, but I am not wrong."


    ---------------------------


    Enderline and Pricilla stood on the deck and watched as nine of their ships entered the bay. Just out of sight behind the headland, he knew lay the port city of Dween. It had been a difficult crossing, but only one ship had failed to make it. It had been attacked by a great Kraken of the deep. The creature had risen from the depths without warning. The Beaufort had been pulled apart, spilling its crew and his troops into the sea. Thankfully twenty-two of the thirty on board had managed to swim to an accompanying vessel. They had lost all their gear but that which they carried on their backs but they were alive. The rest had become the Kraken''s feast. Eight of his best had gone down the gullet.


    This was his first time making the journey himself, but Enderline had heard stories of much more costly crossings. The ship that had made the rescue was his own flagship, the Sinspirilla. The ship''s pilot had panicked and initially refused to turn back into the blood-tinted water until he himself had held a sword to his neck, compelling the rescue. The attack of the Kraken had happened only two days from land. Rations were stretched, so nobody had starved. At last, they were near their goal. Enderline looked down at his half-elf wife holding onto the railing as the ship chopped its way through the sea. Pricilla was clearly excited about coming to the mainland. Perhaps it was her impending reunion with her sister. Once they docked, they would obtain hoses and supplies before heading to Della Nadine. He sincerely hoped he would be able to acquire enough horses to outfit his men. Horses would get them there in a couple of days. Marching all the way to the dragon temple would take forever.


    ---------------------


    Mavis followed Firestorm into the house. The little dragon had not hesitated to flee from the possibility of Mo-Rung''s yet unexpressed anger at her running off after Lothinar. Mavis wondered how Mo-Rung felt about suddenly having his daughter bonded to the elf along with his granddaughter Candasar. Mavis didn''t feel any anger in Mo-Rung regarding Lothinar''s actions. Through her relatively new bond with him, she actually felt relief. She realized that Mo-Rung really didn''t want to be responsible for raising a little flying dragon. He had two eggs in a nest back at the lake that he needed to worry about for now. He trusted Candasar and would have probably accepted her offer to raise Firestorm as her own. It was actually much simpler this way for the old red dragon.


    Mo-Rung''s bond felt so very different than Aleena''s. He was a lot older and she hated to admit it, a lot smarter than Aleena. No, perhaps it wasn''t intelligence, just that Aleena had been focused more heavily on different things. Motherhood and her children. She had a sense of destiny and purpose. Mavis wondered again why the blue water dragon had offered to bond with her and then heroically kept her alive when Aleena had so many of her own responsibilities to live for.


    Mavis had heard the word destiny a few times. She hoped that wasn''t the reason Aleena had acted the way she had. Mavis didn''t think she would ever be able to live up to those kinds of expectations. Right now, she had a broken-hearted elf and his chemically infatuated kidnapper to deal with.


    Lothinar was sitting at the table. Firestorm was standing on it, licking his face. It was cute, but Lothinar was clearly not in the mood for the rough dragon tongue trying to see what he had just eaten for breakfast.


    "Is that buckwheat cakes?" I know what they are from your memories but have never tasted them before. They are definitely better than the skunk flavor. I don''t recommend those at all." Firestorm prattled.


    Lothinar pushed her back but gently.


    "I think what you are tasting is honey," said the elf. "I must have still had some on my lips. You kind of interrupted my breakfast by appearing in the window"


    Mavis decided to let them talk and went into the bedroom to deal with Lothinar''s lonely fan club.


    The elf, previously known as Ronette, was sitting on the bed sulking. Lothinar was right. It was a pretty quilt. Mavis sat down on the bed across from her.


    "You know I have lived my whole life in the shadow of people like you!" she suddenly said bitterly. "Perfect and beautiful elves that think that they can take anything they want from me"


    "What have I taken from you... Ronniflass?" Mavis tried using her elven name to soothe her.


    "I bet you think I''m ridiculous using even using an elven name. It really is my name, though. My father was an important ambassador. He was the elf that named me. Only my mother was human."


    "She must have been extremely beautiful," said Mavis. "Personally, I think that blending the races makes half-elves look very exotic. But do you mind me asking? How old are you?"


    Ronniflass shot her a dirty look. Then looked away. "I''m probably way too old for Lothinar, actually. I''m almost fifty."


    "For an elf that''s still pretty young, but for a human...."


    "I know. He''s just so beautiful. Did you know that he''s kind too? Really sweet. I know that what I''m feeling is caused by some sort of chemicals, but I don''t care! I love him!"


    "Yes, he''s quite a catch. I''ve always thought so... Even after being bonded and supposedly immune to his chemical charms"


    "Now you are here to steal him away from me!"


    "No, surprisingly not. I''ve kind of had a change of heart about that. It''s very complicated, but I was just about dead yesterday, and I''m seeing life in a whole new way. "


    "You almost died? How?"


    "Lothinar''s wife Ardwynn sent her dragon Tundor after me. He violently broke my neck," said Mavis,


    "Does Lothinar know this? asked Ronniflass


    "He does now!" said Lothinar walking into the bedroom, followed by Firestorm. "Perhaps you should tell me more about what happened."


    "Oooh!. Nice quilt," said Firestorm leaping onto the bed.


    "Watch the claws!" said Lothinar. "Dragons can be so destructive even when they don''t really mean to be. In fact..."


    Lothinar scooped Firestorm up into his arms and sat next to the half-elf on the bed. Mavis thought that he was going to put the little dragon outside or at least on the floor, but he didn''t. He continued to hold her in his lap. The little dragon initially squirmed a bit but settled down. Lothinar began petting her gently, almost like a cat. A little rumble actually was coming out of her throat.


    "See what I mean! said Ronniflass.


    Lothinar blushed a little.


    "Ronniflass," he began. "Ronni, look, what happened to you is not your fault, and now I''ve kind of ruined your life. It''s the way my mother made me. I''m not even sure why."


    "It was a largely unhappy marriage," she began. But he interrupted her.


    "It doesn''t matter. Even if McDonald were the best guy in the world, you would have become involved with me anyway. It''s just the chemicals"


    "So you are throwing me away?" She almost wailed.


    "No, I''m not!" he said. "I know what it''s like to have been left... abandoned and thrown away. and it''s a terrible feeling. I may never get over it."


    Ronni nodded. She was waiting for the rest of his words like her life depended on them. Maybe it did, thought Mavis. Yes. it probably did.


    "I think, though, that what is most important is that you get a choice. Like Mavis did. She used to be infatuated with me before, too, but she''s not anymore. Right?" he said, looking at her.


    Mavis could only nod at his very handsome face. This Elf. My goodness! He wasn''t just pheromones, thought Mavis.


    "So I think the only way that you and I can decide where this relationship should go is for you to get a bond. Then you might feel differently."


    "I won''t! I know it!" said Ronni.


    "I know that you feel that way now, and I''m promising you that I won''t leave you or forsake you."


    "You won''t?" she asked breathlessly.


    "Not unless you tell me to," said Lothinar. His gaze never wavering from her eyes.


    Mavis felt herself melting.


    "We will get you a bond. Even if I have to call in a few favors. And then, if you still think that you love me, we won''t have to be concerned about any age differences."


    "Mavis suddenly felt overheated. These quilts were very warm. She stood up and walked out of the room. She left the house and walked right into a couple of dragons with expectant faces.


    "Is he coming home with us? Asked Candasar. "Did you convince him?"


    Mavis was just staring into space. Her beautiful face was going through strange permutations.


    "Uh oh" . said Mo-Rung. "Candasar, I think we have a problem!"


    "Don''t tell me." said the blue dragon.


    "Yes, Mavis is falling for Lothinar again, even without the pheromones." said the red dragon.


    "I warned you!" Candasar said, shaking her head. "When are you going to start listening to me?"


    -------------------------


    Starett had called Alberad into his office to ask for a favor. The usually pleasant and polite elf that was Lothinar''s father didn''t seem to be very happy about it.


    "It''s only for a few days," continued Starett. "We''ve had word that our king is coming to Della Nadine. His ships are supposed to arrive soon at our port in Dween. He''s trying to move about three hundred men at arms up here to our little town. You know how helpful they will probably be when the emperor''s troops show up.


    "So you want to borrow my horses"


    "Yes. That''s about it," said Starett. "It''s just to move the men quickly. I''ll re-emphasize it''s not a permanent requisition. It''s just a loan. We will take them down to the port, load the men and supplies and turn right around and come back here."


    "They aren''t even all my horses!" said Albarad. "Three of them belong to my daughter-in-law."


    "I spoke to Ardwella first about this, and she said that she didn''t think that Ardwynn would be coming back for them any time soon."


    Albarad nodded sadly.


    "I suppose she''s right, as usual"


    "But you know, she entrusted them to me personally and to make sure they get the best of care, I think I should go along to watch out for them."


    The priest looked surprised.


    "Well, that would be fine. Terrific, in fact. That will free up one of my acolytes to continue with our building project. Can you be ready to go by this afternoon?


    "Sure. I''ve hardly unpacked from our last trip," said Albarad.


    "I appreciate it so very much. Thank you!" said Starett.


    "You know, this will be the first time I''ll have been away from Ardwella for more than a day since before we were married". said the elf frowning.


    "You don''t have to go," said Starett. "If you are worried about something."


    "I just hope she doesn''t get too lonely without me," said Albarad. "You''d never know it but she''s kind of needy and insecure"


    "Well, I''d never have believed that unless you''d told me," said Starett. "I''ll make sure someone looks in on her"


    "As long as it''s not Cantrell," said Albarad with a frown. "I don''t trust him very much"


    "He seems to be the very finest sort of gentleman," said Starett.


    "That''s the kind you have to worry about," said Albarad.


    -----------------------------

 Chapter 49: No Bull

    ***************


    Chapter 49


    **************


    When Tundor felt Ardwynn''s compulsion to approach the emperor ease off, he swiftly turned and scooted back away from the putrid elf and his psychically bloody throne. His claws scrabbled for grip as he tried to break into a run and get away from the horror of the experience he had just been through. Ardwynn had used a lot of magical energy trying to get him to comply and her current weakness had sharpened his wits. He had felt like he was in a fog until now. Grabbing and killing Mavis seemed like it had happened in a dream. He felt enraged and violated that he had been forced to become a puppet to Ardwynn''s will.


    How could he and Candasar have been so deceived as to feel that it was ok to bond with her? He thought about it.


    Her deception had been well played.


    First, she had allowed herself to fall under the control of Lothinar''s chemistry. She had set out to be and actually become a perfect example of someone in love. Her single-mindedness, in that regard, had masked all of her other personality traits. It had made her seem committed to the cause of the dragon''s freedom as well. Tundor didn''t think anyone could pull off that solid acting job if they didn''t really have feelings for Lothinar. The pheromones were indeed powerful. They had completely changed her personality. She had been willing to sacrifice her own family to achieve her goals.


    Then she had played them all again. She told Tundor that she refused to bond with him, so she practically made him choose to do so. Tundor had almost insisted upon it. The ideal relationship pairing of Tundor and Candasar being bonded to the married elves Lothinar and Ardwynn seemed mythic and predestined in some way. Candasar and he had bought it. Hook, line, and sinker.


    Tundor had even pushed past her reluctance smokescreen and forced his own high opinions about Lothinar through the bond. It had only delayed the inevitable. It only took about a week for her natural state to reassert itself. She had come to herself, left Lothinar and started making her plans.


    Plans that he now knew had been in place since before he was hatched. Plans to acquire a new white dragon for the emperor.


    Tundor realized that the usual two-way communication through the bond had been locked down for some time. She could read him, but he had no idea what she was thinking. A neat trick and something he hoped he could soon pull off himself. His every thought now seemed open to her scrutiny and inspection.


    He thought about sending his outrage and anger across the bond but reined it back. It might be better to keep his outrage to himself and try to exploit some sort of opportunity to escape. To do so, he needed information. He felt it was safe to ask a question or two.


    Where are we going now?


    "My family has a small estate here in the capitol. Or rather, they did. Now with their recent deaths, it is, of course mine"


    "Will we need to fly?" asked Tundor, speculating on his chances of briefly gaining the upper hand while in the air.


    She smiled wickedly.


    "You are clever, but you are not getting a chance to toss me off your back. The house is close. We will walk."


    Tundor realized that with the bond, even in her tired condition, she could understand what he was thinking. It was a pity that whatever she was still doing prevented him from being able to go the other way and read her thoughts in return.


    "My mental barrier is too strong for you, Tundor. My thoughts shall remain my own."


    They walked along in silence. The beauty of the capital''s fountains and broad well, paved streets was completely lost on him as he contemplated his fate if he should be forced to bond with the emperor.


    "What will you do when you finish presenting me to the emperor?" he finally asked


    She laughed.


    "This has been a long and difficult mission. I think I deserve a little time for myself after all that don''t you think?"


    "I heard you speak of Lothinanr''s child," Tundor said apprehensively. "Do you really intend to use your own flesh and blood as ransom to force his compliance?


    "The secret that Ardwella discovered with the pheromones is the kind of thing that can change kingdoms. I was held in its power for so long that I almost forgot who I truly was. I have a great deal of anger about that. But as you can see, it worked out for the best"


    "You stink now! Your soul is foul and evil," he said.


    "Lothinar''s influence over my heart was a great disguise, don''t you agree?" she laughed. "No one related to the emperor has ever been able to bond before. That is why no one has been allowed to. It is why the dragon population has been sequestered.


    "There is something rotting and evil deep in your soul, Ardwynn," said Tundor angrily. "It makes me sick to even be around you!"


    "Don''t worry, you will be free of me soon!" she said merrily. "Remember, I am giving your bond to the Emperor tomorrow. Then you will come to miss my relatively pleasant smell.¡±


    She laughed wickedly at her own joke.


    Tundor understood the double entendre. None of the souls of anyone related to Argent would fail to stink of evil. Perhaps he would find Ardwynn¡¯s, of all of them, was actually the least offensive.


    They soon reached the gates of a great estate. A guard behind the gates jumped in surprise as Ardwynn walked up with Tundor.


    He eyed Tundor speculatively. Assessing the threat he might represent. Apparently Ardwynn¡¯s mysterious control over the odd situation satisfied him for now.


    "Young Miss!" He exclaimed. ¡°I did not expect you to be coming home today." he turned a key in the lock and pulled the gate open


    "Shall I have your quarters prepared?" he asked.


    Ardwynn looked at the dragon and then back at the guard.


    "No, unfortunately, I don''t dare let this dragon out of my sight. If I were to release him from my control, he certainly would cause a great deal of trouble. I will be taking him to our barn and staying with him there. Send a cot down from the house along with some blankets."


    Tundor felt the compulsion to step through the gate and did so following Ardwynn.


    "What was your name again?" Ardwynn asked the guard.


    "It''s Clarke, Young Miss!" he said, blushing.


    "Well, Clark, I don''t know if you have heard, but my parents and brother will not be returning. Ever. They gave their lives in the glorious service of our emperor. Please send the Steward out to the barn as soon as possible. There are going to be some changes around here that I want to advise him of."


    "It shall be done! Young Miss!" Clark said, saluting. He closed the gate behind them and prepared to follow her instructions


    "He''s kind of cute, don''t you think?" Ardwynn asked Tundor.


    "I hadn''t noticed," replied the dragon.


    "I suppose now I must live my life measuring all males against Lothinar," she said with a sigh. "Everyone else will, no doubt, suffer in comparison"


    "I hope that haunts you," said Tundor. "Lothinar gave his heart to you, and you threw him away!"


    "I may yet get him back," she said wickedly. "If the Emperor allows it, he will be my plaything. I will have to get Candasar out of his mind first to truly break his will.


    "You will be giving up your dragon-sourced immortality if you break our bond and give me to the emperor,¡± said Tundor, trying to appeal to her baser survival instincts.


    "The Emperor would only accept a white dragon," she said with a frown. "We do what we must."


    The large barn door was before them, and Ardwynn slid the bolt and pulled it open. All the horses, it seemed, were back in Tasumakoji, yet the straw was clean and fresh. It was if she knew that they were coming. She must have somehow sent a message.


    "Get some sleep, Tundor. You are going to have a big day tomorrow," said Ardwynn.


    A short time later a cot, blankets a small meal were delivered. Ardwynn set it up and sat upon it.


    Later, she had a long conversation with an older man who was no doubt the steward of the estate. He bowed and scraped like a true professional. Then he left. Ardwynn closed the barn door and ate a bit of the food before laying down on the cot and immediately falling asleep.


    Tundor lay awake, trying to overcome the clamp she held on his will. Even in her slumber, it defied his breaking it. He wanted to leave her behind and fly away from this place. He did not succeed. Finally, exhausted, the dragon yielded to his fear fueled fatigue and also fell into a troubled sleep.


    --------------------------------


    "I told you that I''m not leaving this place," said Lothinar. "This is Ronni''s home, and now it is mine too."


    The half-elf beamed love at him. Mavis looked down, trying her best to avoid saying anything at all.


    Candasar just stood there glaring between the three of them. It was Mo-Rung that broke the silence.


    "I must go back. I have other obligations. I think it is best that I take Mavis with me." said the red dragon.


    Mavis started to protest, then shut her mouth and nodded.


    You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    "Please tell my mother that I am well," said Lothinar.


    "I will deliver that message," said Mo-Rung. "Candasar, are you coming?"


    The blue dragon sighed.


    "No, my place is with Lothinar. I don''t want to let him out of my sight again for the foreseeable future. He always finds a way to get into trouble," She said, glaring slightly at Ronni.


    Ronniflass cringed but then squared her shoulders.


    "Do not forget that I am not just a useless appendage. My sister is a half-human queen. She and her husband will be arriving at Della soon. We will come to see her when they arrive."


    "Your mother will probably not like or understand this Lothinar," said Mavis, not sure at all why she felt compelled to say it.


    "My mother has a lot to answer for," said Lothinar. "Please tell my father that he is welcome to visit any time."


    "I am staying as well, father," said Firestorm to Mo-Rung.


    The big dragon nodded.


    "This is how it should be. I did not have a chance to tell you yet, but your mother has died. I have entrusted Candasar and Lothinar to raise you."


    The little red dragon looked stricken.


    "My mother? How! Why?"


    "She gave her life for me. She kept me alive after Tundor''s attack," said Mavis.


    "Then she must have made a terrible mistake!" said Firestorm. Then she ran into the house.


    "For what it''s worth, I agree with her'' said Mavis.


    "I will go and comfort her," said Lothinar. "Perhaps Candasar can explain the details to her after she has had time to process this."


    "Hey! Where am I going to sleep?" asked Candasar suddenly.


    "We have a barn," said Ronni. "Be careful. There is a wagon and a very large bull in there. Then she laughed. "He is not fond of company unless you offer him certain incentives"


    "Oh great! A horny bull," said Candasar. I''m missing Tundor, but not that much."


    "There is a pasture off the barn. The grass is a little high, so he will have plenty to eat, and the weather will be warm tonight., I will move him outside. We will figure out the rest as we go." said Ronni.


    "As long as there are deer in the forest around here, I promise not to try and eat him," said Candasar.


    "Esmarilla tried, but she quickly changed her mind," Laughed Ronni. I think you might be trying to bite off more than you can chew."


    "Oh, I''d roast him first, don''t worry," said Candasar.


    Ronni looked at Lothinar.


    Please tell Candasar not to try and kill my bull. He may be able to hurt her. I''m going to go put him in the pasture right now." she said, heading quickly toward the barn.


    Suddenly Mavis ran and jumped up onto Mo-Rung. "We had better be going. Take care of Firestorm," she said.


    Her eyes lingered on Lothinar. Her gaze was intense. It made him feel uneasy.


    "Good to see you. We will pass along your messages,¡± said Mavis, then paused, considering something.


    ¡±You realize that you will need Esmarilla and probably Vanador¡¯s cooperation if you want to continue to put wings back on the dragons?¡±


    ¡±I am aware of my limitations. Firestorm''s transformation made me painfully aware of that." He said. "Don¡¯t worry Mo-Rung¡¯s wings remain very high on my priority list¡±


    ¡±Thank you Lothinar. The two of us have become quite goal-oriented due to recent events, and the added mobility would be a huge help¡±


    Lothinar thought about that for a few seconds.


    ¡±Given the opportunity, would you try to even the score with Ardwynn?¡± He asked.


    ¡±Are you thinking that you should protect her? Do you not understand who she has now become?¡±


    ¡±It is difficult for me. I keep remembering our time together and who she was.¡±


    ¡±You are loyal, and it is clear from your interactions with Ronniflass that you keep your commitments. It¡¯s a very attractive quality, I might add.¡±


    Lothinar looked down awkwardly, avoiding her eyes.


    ¡±My biggest concerns are for Tundor, actually,¡± he said, looking at Candasar thoughtfully. "It is Candasar¡¯s opinion, and mine, that he would not have attacked you unless forced to do so.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t Tundor the one that killed that other ranger in the barn? Wasn''t his name Jontain? I found his body and later watched Ardwynn¡¯s brother throw it into the lake to hide the evidence.


    ¡®That happened when he was protecting Lothinar!¡± Protested Candasar.


    ¡±I will try to give him a chance to explain himself,¡± said Mavis. ¡°But as long as he is under Ardwynn¡¯s influence, you should not trust him, Lothinar. Speaking from experience, It will get you killed. The longer he remains with her, the harder it will be to redeem him¡±


    ¡±I¡¯ll try to remember that. Thank you, Mavis¡±


    "Now we must go." she said.


    The red dragon turned and lumbered off into the forest, leaving Candasar and Lothinar alone.


    "Mavis surprised me," he said. "She is a lot more insightful than I thought"


    "Being murdered changed her, I guess," said Candasar with a sad chuckle.


    ¡±I am going to check out the barn,¡± said Candasar. ¡°I kind of doubt they have quilts. I hope the straw is at least fresh. You should go talk to Firestorm.¡±


    Lothinar walked into the house and found Firestorm crying on the quilts.


    "I can''t believe my mother gave up her life for that elf!" she said vehemently.


    "Your mother must have had her reasons," said Lothinar. ''Perhaps we can find out why together. Then maybe you can forgive her."


    "Now she is bonded with my father! I do not understand how all of this could have happened so fast!"


    Lothinar scooped her up again. She did not resist. She leaned into him. Wet dragon tears soaked his shirt.


    "We will get through this together. You, Candasar, and me. We are a family now."


    The little dragon looked at him.


    "Are you sure you are doing the right thing with Ronniflass?" I can tell you still have feelings for Ardwynn.


    "I am doing my very best to shut those down," he said sadly. "I''m going to be counting on Candasar and you to help me through this"


    The little dragon snuggled up to him. Lothinar could feel the heat of her internal fires.


    "I have not been out of the egg for very long, but my mother did speak to me about destiny.." she said.


    "Really? What did she say"


    "She said we make our own. but don¡¯t fail to notice others on your way that you feel something special with.."


    "I don¡¯t even know how I was able to make such a deep connection with you, my little one.¡± Said Lothinar. ¡°Elves supposedly can not bond with two dragons at the same time. You must be very special, my bond. Candasar is doing her very best not to be jealous. There is more going on here than any of us understand."


    ¡°When you were giving me wings, I felt something strange. Well, I suppose having my wings fixed should be dramatic enough, but this was more happening than that.¡±


    ¡±I remember wanting to make you perfect.¡± Said Lothinar trying to remember. ¡°I was angry and sad. I didn¡¯t hurt you, did I?¡±


    ¡±No,¡± said Firestorm, ¡°but it¡¯s pretty obvious that what you did somehow hurt you. You blacked out and suffered acute memory loss. I think somehow, not only did we bond, but you transferred some of your actual soul into me.¡±


    Lothinar thought about it for a bit.


    ¡°I do seem to be missing some things. Memories are just part of that. I may have to break down and ask my mother and Esmarilla about some of the odd abilities that they gave me when they were messing around with me in the womb. I should do an inventory of sorts¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m still pretty young and don¡¯t know the differences between my abilities and another hatchling.¡± She admitted.


    ¡±Your vocabulary is getting better by the minute, for one.¡± Said Lothinar.


    ¡°I have nothing to compare it to,¡± said Firestorm. ¡°We will have to pay some special attention to my siblings when they hatch.¡±


    ¡±¡®I¡¯m feeling a little better all the time,¡± said Lothinar. ¡°Maybe we should go check out the barn and make sure the bull is minding his manners with Candasar¡±


    ¡±Ronni put him out of the barn, but he is obviously unhappy about it!¡± Said Candasar. ¡°When you finish your father-daughter talk, send Firestorm down here. I need to start teaching her how to hunt.¡±


    ¡±Are you doing all right, Candasar? This is a big change!¡± Asked Lothinar.


    ¡±You realize that since just about the time we met, my life has been nothing but change, don¡¯t you?¡±


    He laughed morosely


    ¡±I suppose it has,¡± he replied.


    ¡±Lothinar? I¡¯m worried. How are we going to get Tundor back?¡±


    ¡±I don¡¯t know exactly, but it will probably take a small army!¡±


    -----------------------------


    Cantrell stood outside the door and asked himself once again what he was doing here. He was standing on the front steps of the Ardwella''s and Albarad''s home. He felt ridiculous. He felt foolish. He turned to leave. Ardwella opened the door.


    "Warden Cantrell, why are you standing on my porch?"


    "Esmarilla warned me not to come. But there is something that I need to know," he said.


    She arched her elegant eyebrow.


    "You want to know if your feelings for me are real or if I could possibly love you back. You should have bonded. It would have cured you of your compulsions. Then you would already have the answer that you seek," said Ardwella.


    "That was not the question," he replied.


    "Then I am surprised. A new question after all these many years of men throwing themselves at me. You are an interesting elf, Cantrell. Ask away.


    "Does your husband Albarad know that he is Mavis'' father? Because if he doesn''t I think you should let him know. You should let all of them know."


    The far too beautiful elf just stared at him. She clearly did not expect that. Finally, she answered.


    "You are clearly insane. How could you come up with such an idea?"


    "It was Siophra that got me going in the right direction, actually. She is the one who confided in me that there was a third sister. One that happened to be your identical twin. Of course, she hasn''t augmented her beauty as you have. But she is still most likely very beautiful. An original you. I''d kind of like to see how you started out. In the right light, in bed in the dark... Mistakes can be made.


    "This is preposterous! My twin died long ago. During the war.


    "Mavis is a twin. They tend to run in families, you know. And you were sneaking around the capital... making sure those that knew the dragon killing spell were dead. You had access, and you certainly had the time."


    Ardwella just stared at him.


    "You helped her catch Argent''s eye. He was always shopping for beautiful new girls. Got them married somehow. Then I figured that you must have somehow got her to visit you here. Gave old Albarad a good meal and some huckleberry wine and took him off to bed. Except it wasn''t you. It was her. Then you sent her back to the capital full of Albarad''s seed. It caught. It was a great plan. A new general to help bring down your ancient enemy Argent.


    She turned to go back inside.


    "Esmarilla knows, obviously. Siophra and Vanador have their suspicions. Why else would your dragon move heaven and earth to heal a person like Mavis from certain death? Unless she was Albarad''s daughter and your sister''s own flesh and blood. This baby you are carrying. It is to replace the daughter that he never knew that he had. Isn''t it?


    Ardwella stood in the doorway. The lights from inside the house framed her beautifully.


    "Your silence tells me everything that I need to know," said Cantrell.


    "My other sister''s name is Muina. It means hidden."


    "I speak elvish," Ardwella. I know what it means. You have to tell Mavis, at least. We can''t have her falling for Lothinar now that Ardwynn is out of his life."


    She sighed heavily. "I will speak to her. Her mother''s life, as well as that of her son Mandel, are certainly in peril now that Ardwynn has returned to the capital with knowledge of their true pedigree."


    "Thank you for telling me the truth,¡± said Cantrell. "That is why I was standing on your porch."


    Ardwella started to close the door. Cantrell stuck his foot in it. Ardwella looked at him with annoyance.


    "Is this where you try to convince me to leave my husband?"


    "No", replied Cantrell. "This is the part where I ask you where you hid the other dragon."


    "Ardwynn smiled. This time it was one of respect.


    "You don''t miss a thing, do you, Warden"


    "There is no way three of you old ladies made it all the way to my century looking as good as you do without your sister also being bonded to a dragon."


    "She is a blue. My sister''s dragon. Like Candasar. Her name is Vanquish. I think you have just convinced me that it''s long past time to check on her."


    -----------------------------


    Enderline looked at his small army camped on the hillside just outside of Dween. The small port city didn¡¯t have enough spare rooms to house all his men. He, of course, could have put people out of their homes or insisted on accommodations for at least himself and his queen, but she had been characteristically unassuming and gracious, moving into a field tent with him. She was both lovely and kind. He had made an excellent choice. By that and other actions, she had won the hearts of the Dweenish people and their leadership. Every effort was being made to raise the needed supplies and horses for their journey to the Black Dragon Temple. He would speak with the dragon and pledge his support. Now, they needed a few more horses, and they would be ready to go. From his clear vantage point on the hill, the king observed a small troop of four horses leaving the town and coming up the hill. The king observed that they were fine animals.


    ¡°Ho, the camp!¡± Came the call of the man, no the elf, riding the lead horse. His queen Pricilla joined him as the elf grew near.


    ¡°You must be King Enderline. I can tell because you are standing next to your beautiful queen.¡±


    ¡±I am indeed. Enderline replied ¡°


    ¡±I am Alberad, and I am at your service. I hear you have need of a few more horses before you can begin your journey.¡± Said the handsome elf smiling broadly.


    ¡±Yes we have a dozen more coming in from Bolimor, up the coast this afternoon. With these and those, we should probably have enough to start our journey. Most of course, will be ridden, but this fine fellow here looks like he might excel at pulling a wagon¡±


    ¡±You have a good eye for horses, your kingship,¡± said the elf. ¡°I brought these four from Della Nadine at the behest of the high priest there.


    ¡°The actual temple at the Tears of Fire lake?¡± Asked Pricilla excitedly


    ¡°Yes, the same¡±


    ¡°Have you actually seen the Great Black Dragon?¡±


    "I have made her acquaintance," grinned Albarad.


    "You must tell us about her!" said the King. My kingdom has waited so very long for her to reawaken."


    "I guess everybody needs a hobby. Dragons are interesting, but they''re not reliable, like horses."


    ------------------------

 Chapter 50: Weaseling Out

    **************


    Chapter 50


    **************


    Mo-Rung and Mavis had descended the mountain and returned to his usual stomping grounds up at the cave. Cantrell had been there waiting for the red dragon. For some reason, he had not been overly surprised to find Mavis with him or disappointed to find that Mo-Rung had allowed Mavis to bond with him.


    ¡°I laid Aleena¡¯s body to rest in an open space, a pretty glade actually about halfway between your hose and the lake,¡± said Cantrell. ¡°Four of the other wardens assisted me.¡±


    ¡±Thank you, Cantrell.¡± Said Mo-Rung. This burial on land is somewhat strange to my thoughts but I grew up and spent the first part of my life in the water dragon culture. I prefer what you have done to just allowing Aleena to decompose in the lake.¡±


    ¡±I think I know the location. It¡¯s lovely. I think she would be pleased with your choice of the spot.¡° agreed Mavis.


    ¡±Dragons have lost so much of their lore and ways due to Argent changing them said Cantrell. ¡°Because elves identify so much with the land, it is most common for our race to choose burial. Returning nutrients to the soil. Most of the humans burn their dead, as we saw with the gate guard Harvey.¡±


    ¡±Water dragons have not had much of a choice before in this matter of the disposing of our dead,¡± said Mo-Rung. ¡°They have no fire, and the thought of going onto land and trying to form a hole large enough with flippers seems impossible.¡±


    ¡°Because the elven way is burial, it feels right to me for you to have buried Aleena as you did,¡± said Mavis. ¡°I add my thanks as well.¡±


    Mavis observed that Cantrell seemed to be watching her more intensely than usual and found herself self-conscious because of it.


    ¡°You have a strange look on your face. Are you angry at me for bonding with Mo-Rung, Cantrell?¡±


    ¡±Oh, was I staring? I apologize. It must be all this talk of death and, I suppose, your recent brush with it. If Esmarilla and Vanador had been delayed I could have just as easily been burying you next to Aleena. That would have been terribly hard for me.¡±


    ¡°Of course. That makes sense. Thank you for your concern for me, ¡° said Mavis


    Cantrell tried to meet her eyes and see her choice of that particular word was a brush-off, but she looked away.


    I¡¯ve recently figured out some things and have a lot on my mind. ¡±he said. ¡°No, of course, I''m not angry. I clearly had my own opportunity to bond with Mo-Rung and let it pass me by. I have no hard feelings whatsoever.¡±


    The large dragon grunted.


    ¡°I must concede that your reluctance was well founded. It never felt quite right for us. I can see that more clearly now. Thank you for not rushing into things,¡± he said.


    ¡±Regarding things like burial, I think that it is important to also consider that with regard to dragon culture and traditions that with the bonding you are actually forming a third race." said Cantrell. "The original dragon culture, whatever it looked like, is more or less extinguished. We may find evidence of it as we move back into their original territories. Certainly there will be dragons that choose not to bond. They will have to find their own way... But the new race, the bonded, will be a mixture of dragon and elf. A gestalt culture. Hopefully, the best of both.¡±


    ¡±Will you seek out another dragon to bond with?¡± asked Mavis.


    ¡±I think it is somewhat different for me than for you, honestly.¡± He replied. ¡°You are still very young and willing to embrace change. It seems you throw yourself fully into such things, in fact.¡±


    Mavis found herself blushing, thinking about what he might be referring to.


    Cantrell seemed to be able to ignore the heat in her face


    ¡±I am quite a bit older. I guess it might be that I am fairly satisfied with who I am and the way that I think and approach life. A bond would certainly change that. I don¡¯t know if I could get used to dragon thoughts crowding into my mind. As stimulating and exciting as that might be.¡±


    ¡±Immortality doesn¡¯t tempt you?¡±


    ¡±Of course it does, but I have long ascribed to the belief that it is not how long you live that is most important but how well you live. That you leave the world a better place for having been in it.¡±


    ¡±I suppose the elf that I used to think of as my father is a good example of how extending hollow years can turn out very badly.¡±


    ¡±Argent. Yes, exactly.¡± He agreed.


    ¡±Though achieving quality does have a better chance if has some quantity to work with¡± said Mo-Rung.


    Cantrell took a deep breath and held it for a moment before looking at her.


    ¡±Do you think that you could be in a relationship with an elf that is not bonded, Mavis?¡± asked Cantrell, suddenly very serious.


    She looked away.


    ¡±I¡¯ve recently been thinking a great deal about things of that nature.¡± She said. ¡°I don¡¯t think I told you that we found Lothinar.¡±


    ¡±Is he all right?¡±


    ¡±He was injured trying to restore Aleena and Mo-rung¡¯s daughter Firestorm.¡±


    ¡±I was aware of that much. Why couldn¡¯t Candasar find him?¡±


    ¡±Somehow, what he tried to do also created a second bond with the hatchling Firestorm. Her thoughts, being extremely young, didn¡¯t understand what was going on. The telepathic bond was formed but Lothinar¡¯s confused mental state kept him from communicating with both dragons simultaneously. Candasar got locked out.¡±


    ¡±That elf exceeds at new ways to get into trouble!¡±


    ¡±What made it so much worse is that somehow the half-elf from the dairy¡­¡±


    ¡±Ronette.¡±


    ¡±She is embracing her elven heritage now and calls herself Ronniflass. Somehow a day or two before this happened, she got too close to Lothinar. She got exposed to his pheromones.¡±


    ¡±I, of all people, know how powerful a compulsion like that can be."


    ¡±Yes, of course,¡± she nodded and blushed a little.


    ¡±She was stalking him and, luckily, was right there when he passed out and fell into the water. She saved his life, which I¡¯m sure we all appreciate, but then took him away to a family estate up on the mountain.


    ¡±She kidnapped him? Is she going to give him back?¡±


    ¡±No, not really. That''s just it. Lothinar doesn¡¯t seem to want to come back. He feels guilty about accidentally causing her to fall for him. He¡¯s prepared to stand by her regardless of how they came to be together or how he really might feel about her.¡±


    Cantrell considered this for a few moments.


    ¡±You do realize that he did the exact same thing when Ardwynn fell in love with him?¡± said Cantrell.


    Mavis looked a little shocked at the realization.


    ¡±Something¡¯s got to be wrong with him. Nobody¡¯s that nice!¡±


    ¡®Lothinar actually is. He seems to be genuinely self-sacrificing.¡± Cantrell observed. ¡°I have to assume that the things Ardwella did carrying him and raising him caused him to have that characteristic. He just showed us something like that again when he almost killed himself fixing Firestorm.¡±


    ¡±Lothinar wants to try and find a way to get Ronni a bond. She¡¯s only half-elf! I don¡¯t think anyone half-human has ever tried to bond before.¡± Mavis said with frustration. ¡°I think he realizes that only a bond will give her the opportunity for choice. He wants to give her that choice but he made a commitment to stay with her until she releases him. She might never bond, Cantrell! She might not be able to!¡±


    ¡±You seem upset about that, Mavis.¡± Said Cantrell. ¡°And don''t think I didn''t notice that you didn''t answer my question earlier about being in a relationship with someone who isn''t bonded. You started talking about Lothinar instead." he paused. "You¡¯re in love with him now? Is that what you are trying to tell me?"


    "Of course not!"


    The red dragon coughed.


    "Look, don''t you start in on me to Mo-Rung! There is a big difference between feeling an attraction for someone and being in love. Lothinar is very handsome, yes. But I walked out of there. I practically ran. Mo-Rung, were you actually listening to me on that talk we had going up the mountain?"


    "Um.. yeah.." said Mo-Rung. "Mostly"


    ¡°My observation is that Lothinar seems to have made a major commitment to a non-dragon bonded individual. He¡¯s probably going to have to watch her grow old and die while he stays forever young. ¡°That¡¯s probably going to be very hard,¡± said Mavis.


    ¡°Accidents happen. Nobody gets a sure thing.¡± Said, Cantrell. ¡°Even if you are bonded. Remember, I just watched you almost die. Aleena did die.


    ¡±I don¡¯t need you to remind me of that again!¡± she said angrily.


    ¡°Look, I¡¯m sorry. I know that you have really been through a lot. I¡¯m not trying to pressure you. About your potential feelings for Lothinar or even about me. I¡¯m normally not the jealous type. I just need to start making some decisions and didn¡¯t want to leave you out if you wanted to be in.¡±


    The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    She raised an eyebrow.


    He continued trying to put it into perspective. "Argent is going to have to make a move soon. Albarad is off helping transport the human army, and I am pretty sure Lothinar¡¯s new half-elf is sister to their queen. My wardens are getting restless, and I think Ardwella is about to go to the capital to try and find another ancient dragon¡­¡±


    ¡±Another dragon?¡± Asked Mavis in surprise. ¡°Who are we missing?¡±


    Cantrell looked uncomfortable. He obviously hadn¡¯t intended for that last part to come out.


    ¡±I misspoke ¡°


    That is not like you at all, Cantrell." Mavis said. "What is going on? What are you not telling me?"


    "I can''t tell you. It''s a secret that is not mine to share," he finally said. "


    "You won''t tell me?" she asked heatedly. "I think you might owe me a little consideration, don''t you think? Didn¡¯t I help you get over Ardwella''s unwanted influence?"


    "What you did was kind, and I appreciate it more than you can ever know. I¡¯m here right now, asking these questions and trying to figure out where that puts us. But answering that question is going to get very complicated, and I don''t think you are going to like hearing what I have to say." Cantrell said, looking her squarely in the eyes. The answers will probably change your life, and giving them to you now feels entirely too self-serving. It is important to me that you find the answer to how you feel about us without you knowing.


    "OOOH! You make me so mad!" exclaimed Mavis stalking off angrily toward the lake.


    "Have you ever noticed that she kind of looks like Ardwella when she''s angry?" asked Cantrell.


    "Sure," said Mo-Rung. "But all you elves look almost the same to me."


    ---------------------


    ¡°I¡¯m going with you,¡± said Siophra.


    "If this goes badly, I can''t let you be captured by Argent again. I won''t let that happen!"


    "At least I''m prepared for what he might do. I''ve practically developed an immunity to it through the years"


    "I''m going in fast, just Esmarilla and me. I''m going to get Muina and Mandel and get out of there as fast as I can."


    "I want to help. She''s my sister too!"


    "I need to leave right now if this is going to work at all. You and Vanador are not ready"


    "That is because you sprung this on me just this minute! You did that on purpose. What am I supposed to do?"


    "You are going to do me a favor," said Ardwella


    "What''s that?"


    "If we don''t come back, tell Albarad that I''m sorry and that I love him!"


    "Ok, sighed Siophra. ¡°I guess I have no choice¡±


    "Thank you, sister! Ardwella looked over her shoulder and called out to the large black dragon Esmarilla. "Ok, we need to get going!"


    Ardwella never saw Siophra step back and swing the black sword so that the flat of the blade hit her in the back of the head. There was a resounding thwack. The beautiful elf crumpled to the floor."


    Esmarilla jumped toward Siophra.


    "Hold it, dragon! She will be fine. You already knew I wasn''t letting my pregnant sister go into a situation where she could be captured by Argent, didn''t you?" said Siophra.


    The black dragon nodded and looked a little abashed. "I was hoping you would feel that way. That''s why I told Vanador. I knew he would have to tell you. I was counting on you to stop her. When she took that last lightning blast, it was very hard on her unborn child. I don¡¯t think she could survive another.¡±


    "She is going to be very angry with you. And with me."


    "She has a husband, a son, and an unborn child." I just couldn''t let her do this. She will have to understand.


    "Siophra bent over and looked at Ardwella. She pulled back her eyelids and looked into her eyes. Call the priest and get her into a bed. She will wake up with a headache but should be fine. Then she unbuckled the white sword at her sister¡¯s waist and attached it to her other side. ¡°Since she refused to let me come, I guess I¡¯ll be borrowing her sword. Now tell me where I am going."


    "Your sister Muila is in the imperial palace. She can probably help you find Mandel. If you can get to her, you can have her release Vanquish from her slumber. The chaos that ensues ought to provide enough of a distraction for you to try and get into contact with Mandel. Both Muina and Madel have been warned that something like this could happen at any time. Ardwella still has a secure contact in the capital. His name is Talmadge.


    "How can I get in touch with him?"


    "He works in the library."


    "Is this the same library that had its roof cave in when Argent shot lighting at us?" asked Vanador


    "Let''s hope not. That would be really bad luck."


    "Vanador, we are leaving," said Siophra as she slipped her sword into its sheath and ran up her dragon''s front flank, threw a leg out, and straddled his neck.


    "I''m glad I wore pants today," she thought to herself. "This was so much more uncomfortable naked!"


    Esmarilla watched as her brother Vanador and Siophra climbed into the sky and flew away into the night. Then she called for Starret. As usual, the human priest was entirely accommodating.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-


    ¡°Can you hear me, Dragon?¡±


    Tundor was awakened by a whisper. It was Clark, the elf that had unlocked the gate. Tundor looked over at the cot where Ardwynn was still sleeping in alarm. He was exceedingly relieved to see that she hadn¡¯t moved.


    ¡±I was able to sneak a sedative into some food that was sent down earlier, but it was a weak dose. Just before waking you, I poured a stronger one into her sleeping mouth and made sure she swallowed it. It should take her deeper into unconsciousness and allow you to temporarily break free of her compulsion.¡±


    ¡±Aren¡¯t you taking a big risk testing my loyalty to her by doing this?¡±


    ¡±I suppose so, but she told me at the gate that her sleeping on a cot in the barn was to stop you from causing trouble. I took a chance. Tell me I didn¡¯t make a mistake.¡±


    ¡±You didn¡¯t. She tricked me into bonding with her. I am her prisoner."


    ¡±Ok then. Let¡¯s get out of here. That sleeping drought won¡¯t keep someone with magic as strong as hers down for very long¡±


    ¡±You¡¯re not going to kill her?¡± Asked Tundor feeling strangely guilty for even suggesting it.


    ¡±Do you want me to? I don''t know if you realize this, but it might kill you too, or at least seriously incapacitate you through the bond. We need mobility right now. If you want me to take a chance, I certainly could be talked into ridding the world of anyone related to Argent.¡±


    Tundor thought about Ardwynn¡¯s claim that she was carrying Lothinar¡¯s child. He considered how she had forced him to kill Mavis and showed absolutely no remorse. He wondered, for his own safety, if the bond should send Ardwynn¡¯s dying energies back to kill him.


    ¡±I guess we should leave her, Clark. Perhaps the emperor will solve this problem for us.¡±


    The elf provided a grim smile.


    ¡°You may be right, but you can¡¯t easily predict Argent¡¯s whims¡±


    ¡±What do you know about breaking a dragon bond Clark? Ardwynn and the Emperor were going to do that to me. switching my bond to Argent. This morning, in fact.¡±


    ¡±it sounds like I made the right decision to act immediately then,¡± said the elf. ¡°I don¡¯t know how to break such a bond, but I may know someone who can. We must hurry. I gave Ardwynn a strong dose, but if she awakens, she will be able to find us through your bond. That would undo everything.¡±


    Tundor followed Clark out of the barn and across the darkened yard. There he stopped.


    "I''m assuming you can fly. I saw you walk here."


    "Yes, I can. She was afraid I''d toss her off on the way"


    "Look, if you are in the habit of doing things like that to your passengers, this whole rescuing your thing isn''t going to work out," said Clark. He seemed a little nervous.


    "First-time flyer?" asked Tundor


    "Um, isn''t just about everyone... At least in this century?"


    "I suppose you¡¯re right. Hey," Said Tundor. "You kind of look like a good friend of mine. Everyone thinks he¡¯s handsome. I think Ardwynn even mentioned it."


    "It opens up doors," said Clark. Then he laughed. "Or gates". Then he became serious. ¡°I managed to get this job by stringing along the head housekeeper. I¡¯ve just about run out of excuses not to bed her. She is probably looking for me right now.¡±


    "We really, really need to get out of here. She or someone else on the household staff could find us at any minute. How do I... Climb up?"


    "Just grab on anywhere, jump up, and swing your leg over. You can''t really hurt me."''


    The elf did so, leaning forward awkwardly on Tundor''s neck.


    "Ok, what do I hold on toooooo!" was all that the elf could get out as Tundor jumped into the sky.


    He was not staying around here any longer. He had a feeling that Ardwynn was going to wake up in a very bad mood.


    ------------------------------


    We need to find out if you can bond. Said Lothinar. That means we need to go down to the lake and introduce you to some dragons.


    "I''ve met Firestorm and Candasar," said Ronni. They have been around me. Can''t we ask them what they think?"


    Ronni and Lothinar were in the barn. Lothinar was changing out the hay where Candasar would be sleeping tonight. The bull had made a mess of it. He assumed he could still find a place inside the house for Firestorm.


    "I know it seems simple, but it''s really not," said Lothinar. Dragons can be kind of particular. I''m hoping I can incentivize them with some priority healing.


    Candasar had Firestorm out in the nearby forest, trying to give her hunting lessons. They were working on small game, which Candasar didn''t have a lot of experience with. Lothinar could feel through both their bonds that it wasn''t going very well. It was a very strange experience hearing two dragons argue through the bond he had with both of them.


    "Every dragon and elf pairing is different. Do you remember that ice cream you served at my wedding reception?"


    Based on her face, that was definitely the wrong example to bring up.


    "Yes, I remember," she said. Her lip quivered.


    "There were several flavors. Some liked one kind more than another." Elves apparently have flavors.


    "I bet you are delicious," she said, smiling.


    "Hey Lothinar. I just caught a weasel!" Said Firestorm. "Two weasels. Now that''s a supper!"


    "Glad to hear it!" said Lothinar. "Did Candasar help you?"


    "No! She''s off flying around looking for deer." Said Firestorm. "She said she doesn''t do weasels well. I figured it out for myself. They were hiding under a rock pile. I''m getting much better at pouncing."


    "I''m proud of you!" he said. "Come back when you are done, please? I don''t want you out there alone. There are definitely some animals bigger than weasels in the forest."


    "Sure. I''ll be back soon!" said Firestorm.


    Ronniflass noticed his distraction and walked up next to him. She tried to kiss him. He let her, then when she stepped back, he sighed.


    "Uh-oh," she said, trying to force a smile. "A kiss isn''t supposed to elicit that sort of response."


    "I''m sorry, Ronni, I''m having a hard time trusting your feelings"


    "Is it because Ardwynn betrayed you?"


    "It''s very complicated. She, like you, fell in love with me due to the chemicals that my body makes. It isn''t real love"


    "It feels real to me." She moved closer to kiss him again.


    He put out his hand. The look on her face almost broke his heart. He was trying really hard to figure out a way to explain how he felt without hurting her more. Suddenly she brightened.


    "I''ve got a great idea. I''ll go inside and get started on making us some dinner. They say a way to a male''s heart is through his stomach!"


    Ready to take any respite from her overt attention, he could only nod.


    "Sounds good. I''ll check up on the dragons and come inside in a few minutes."


    "Candasar, I''ve changed out the hay in the barn. It''s nice and new!"


    "Oh my. Thank you! I thought I was going to have to sleep on that straw," she said. "I just finished killing a deer. It was a pretty small one."


    "Don''t worry. You won''t have to share it with Firestorm. She''s having weasel." he said.


    "What are you having for dinner Lothinar."


    "I don''t know yet; Ronni''s making something," he replied. "I''m worried she has me on the menu for dessert."


    "You know, you don''t have to do this. Say the word, and I''ll fly you and Firestorm out of here right now." said the blue dragon


    "She saved my life. I at least owe her for that," he said.


    "Lothinar, if she gets what she wants, then you will be paying for that for a very long time."


    -------------------------------


    Jamison pulled the wagon over the top of the rise. The wagon was carrying supplies, and naturally, he had fallen slightly behind. Albarad didn''t mind and wasn''t in much of a hurry. He had seen it all before. Below and off to the right, he could see the lake shimmering in the moonlight. Ahead of him almost three hundred men at arms had descended the pass and gathered around the human city of Delora Natine. Albarad''s elven eyes, sharp even in the dark could see the priestly delegation coming out of the gate to stand awaiting the king. Standing outside the gate and off to the side was a large black dragon. Esmarilla. She looked fearsome and beautiful. The king approached her and raised his sword in salute. The dragon nodded and blew a trumpeting blast gouting a flame into the sky. It was spectacular in the darkness. Albarad could see the human priest Starett kneel in supplication. He raised his head. Even from this distance, Albarad''s marvelous elven ears could hear the sounds of a human conversation. It was a pity that he still couldn''t speak the language of men. He would have to try and remember to do something about that. Something began nagging at the back of Albarad''s mind. It started as a whisper and sprang full-throated into his consciousness. Esmarilla was there! But where was Ardwella? He slapped the reins, and Jamison broke into a gallop and thundered down the hill. Cookware and weapons carefully stacked and tied for transport began flying off the wagon. He skidded the wagon to a stop in front of the king and his assembled troops. Ignoring them, he ran up to Starett. Somehow, to Albarad''s eyes, the priest looked extremely guilty.


    "Where is Ardwella Starett? You ask me to deliver some horses and when I return, my wife is not here!"


    "Yes, um... said Starett. She is here but in the temple. I''m very sorry. A situation has developed, and there has been an accident"


    Albarad, usually a man of calm consideration, didn''t hesitate. He punched the priest right in the mouth.


    ---------------------------

 Chapter 51: Vanquish your problems.

    **************


    Chapter 51


    **************


    Vanador had flown through most of the night. He had flown fast because he and Siophra had hoped to reach the capital while still under the cover of darkness. Though she had been a prisoner in its finest jail for a very long time, Siophra wasn''t very familiar with finding her way around the actual city. She was looking for a place to hide something the size of a large white dragon. He had done some hard flying and so he was going to need to rest. It seemed a little foolhardy to try and park him on a roof somewhere. Besides, they had tried that before, and it hadn''t worked out too well. There were not that many doorways that could accommodate something his size. It was ironic that the buildings closest to Argent''s palace seemed to have the highest probability of having a door that would suffice to allow Vanador to get inside and out of sight. Since her best information was that her sister Muina was supposed to be in the city center somewhere, it seemed that they were going to have to take some chances. Dawn was upon them. She finally settled on the library. The roof was caved in, so it was likely that not too many people would be inside. Luckily the ground floor had some rather ostentatious doors. Argent loved to impress. The lower main lobby was still in pretty good shape. The books had been removed, probably to ensure that they would not be destroyed if the roof finished coming down. Workmen''s bootprints could be seen crisscrossing the carpeted foyer. The prints likely were from the crews stabilizing and repairing the damage incurred when Argent had hit the building with a powerful lightning bolt. That it had done this much damage to the building and had missed them by a very small margin was not lost on Siophra. Vanador had just found a place to wiggle himself down into a sitting position when Siophra heard footsteps approaching down the staircase that led to the upper floors.


    An older elf on a crutch and with bandages over many parts of his body stopped at the bottom of the stairs and was staring at her.


    "I was thinking you might be Ardwella," he said. "And the black dragon"


    "Sorry, she came down with a headache. Said Siophra. You must be Talmadge.


    ¡°Yes, I am,¡± the banged-up-looking elf said. Incidentally, I happen to be the very last elf that knows the spell that self-immolates dragons,¡± he said with a twisted smile.¡± He looked at Vanador. ¡°If your dragon is going to survive, you are going to have to do exactly as I say¡±


    ¡± It¡¯s a pity it takes so long to cast that one,¡± said Siophra, leaping forward while simultaneously drawing the white sword. The lightning bolt that flew out from Tamadge¡¯s hand impacted the blade, and it lit up brightly. With her other hand, Siophra had already drawn the black sword from her other side. She swung it swiftly and cleanly severed Talmadge¡¯s head from the rest of his body. His head bounced on the floor, and the rest of him soon followed. His face briefly looked up at her in shock, having surprisingly landed in a position to do that. The light soon left his eyes.


    ¡±Ouch ouch, hot!¡± yelled Siophra, dropping the white blade where its heat quickly started the library carpet on fire. Siophra stomped out the flames.


    ¡°Did you see that Vanador?¡±


    ¡±Of course I did,¡± said the dragon. It¡¯s a good thing you had both swords.¡±


    ¡±Not that! The fire stomping. It emphasizes the reason for wearing sturdy shoes, don¡¯t you think?¡±


    ¡°It does at that,¡± observed the dragon


    ¡±I¡¯m pointing this out because I think you are still on the fence about the importance of wearing clothes and, of course, practical shoes.¡±


    ¡±You have to admit that they wouldn¡¯t do much for me,¡± said Vanador.


    ¡±I probably wouldn¡¯t have been as eager to stomp out that fire barefoot. You understand that, don¡¯t you? Or even in those little things with the fancy heels that Mavis wears. A female elf needs to wear good practical shoes.¡±


    ¡±Well, I could have done it for you,¡± said the dragon


    ¡®I can¡¯t have you doing every little thing for me, Vanador. That¡¯s pathetic. I¡¯m a self-sufficient elf!¡±


    ¡±Besides can you imagine the noise it would make with you stomping around in here? That would draw unwanted attention!¡±


    ¡±You mean like him?¡± Asked the dragon, gesturing to the severed head and body on the floor.


    ¡±Exactly! You know he didn¡¯t seem as friendly and helpful as Esmarilla seemed to expect,¡± said Siophra. ¡°If that was really Talmadge.¡±


    The pooling blood had reached the still, very hot white sword, and it began to sizzle on the floor within the circle of burned carpet. Siophra wrapped her hand in a cloth and picked it up carefully.


    ¡°Burning blood smells so nasty,¡± she said.


    ¡°It certainly paid off for us to have worked so much on your body and nerve clusters. Your movements when fighting were very fluid and smooth.


    ¡°Thank you for all the help with that. I agree that it is time to start living my life.¡±


    ¡±I completely agree, sister,¡± came a voice from the top of the stairs.


    A female elf that looked shockingly like Ardwella, Beautiful but in a much more believable way, began descending the stairs.


    ¡±Muina!¡± Said Siophra. You just saved us a lot of time. I was just about to go and look for you¡±


    The elf named Muina approached the body on the floor. She looked down upon it. Her face was an unreadable mask.


    ¡±I can¡¯t believe he is actually dead!¡± Said Muina with a quiver in her voice. ¡°I can finally be free!¡±


    Suddenly she pulled back a leg and let loose with a savage kick that sent the head flying through the air and bouncing off a few empty bookshelves before falling with a strange splat that remained Siophra of a summer mellon being dropped.


    Siophra looked appraisingly at her sister and nodded knowingly to Vanador.


    ¡±See what you can do when you don¡¯t bow to fashion and are willing to wear sturdy shoes?¡±


    ----------------


    Tundor flapped hard for quick altitude. The elf on his back was hanging on the best he could, but it was not a smooth ride. He shouted something to Tundor but the sound was torn away in the wind. Once Tundor reached a height from which he could temporarily glide, he rotated his neck and turned so that he could see the elf. Clark looked a little green. His eyes were wide, and his lips were closed tightly as if he might violently expel something from his digestive tract. Tundor didn''t remember Ardwynn having problems when first flying on his back. Thinking about it for a few seconds, he supposed that the bond probably smoothed out some of the anxiety.


    "Where are you going?" called Clark loudly through the wind.


    "Not sure yet," said Tundor. "The farther I can get from Ardwynn, the better!"


    "We need to break the bond!" yelled Clark. "I can take you to someone, but we have to hurry!"


    "Who?"


    There were a few moments of silence while Clark seemed to be considering something.


    "If Ardwynn wakes up and you know the answer to that question, she might be able to drag it out of your mind. I can''t tell you. If you want me to take you to someone who can help you, then you are going to have to trust me."


    Tundor had to start flapping again. His glide was running out of altitude. He began flapping again for lift as he thought about his options. He believed that Esmarilla would probably know how to break the bond without killing him or causing him excessive damage. Yet she had not offered to do so when it seemed that Ardwynn was starting to show her true self.


    Through all of this, now that he considered it in retrospect, the large black dragon and her rider Ardwella had made some very bad decisions. The worst seemed to be saying nothing and even offering tacit approval while their son Lothinar married the niece of Argent. Her pheromone camouflage might be one thing, but after smelling Argent''s true bloodline, Tundor wondered how Ardwella could have ever accepted that. Something devious and unsettling was going on. He didn''t know what it was, but Clark had come through for him in a big way.


    He stopped flapping and began to glide again.


    "Tell me where to go. Just keep pointing, and I''ll get you there," said Tundor.


    "Good choice! said Clark. "Thank you for trusting me!" Clark began pointing off to Tundor''s right. Tundor adjusted his course accordingly. They continued to fly into the night, Clark squinting for a landmark, pointing, and Tundor making adjustments. Around dawn, they left the forested lands and began to fly over what looked like almost completely overgrown farmland. Trees that had to be hundreds of years old were spreading through what had been irrigated fields. Tundor could still see the patchwork of farmland and outbuildings that looked largely crumbled and decayed. Soon they reached the ruins of an elven city. Burned-out shells of buildings lined what originally must have been wide, beautiful streets. They spread out from a huge central building in the city center like spokes on a wagon wheel. The destruction went on for miles.


    "The dragons did manage to fight back when Argent and his forces initially attempted to enslave them," said Clark gesturing to the destruction below them.


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    "How many of them did it take to do this? To destroy this entire town?"


    Clark laughed evilly. "Only one! And you are just about to meet her!"


    Tundor looked down and couldn''t miss what Clark had to be talking about. A blue dragon was poking her enormous head out of the ruins in the center of the wrecked elven city. Tundor had thought Esmarilla and Vanador were large. This dragon made them both look small. She obviously saw Tundor and his passenger because she quickly excavated herself from the hole her head had previously occupied and stepped into the open space next to the temple. The wall proceeded her as it explosively got out of her way. The large central building''s roof, deprived of its support on one side, began to sag. The dragon shrugged it off as large roofing tiles tumbled off her. She shook out her wings, flinging dust.


    "Ooh. It looks like we actually caught her by surprise," said Clark. "She was keeping the rain off with that roof. She''s always been very careful not to knock it down before."


    Tundor changed course and prepared to flee. It was not a conscious decision. Something deep and primal in his brain was calling out for a self-preserving quick retreat. His only hope was to try to get some distance before she got into the air... Nope.  He was too late,  As big as the dragon was, she moved fast. Her jump took her a full thirty feet off the ground, and she pounded the air with her mighty wings. Tundor instinctively knew that there was no way he was going to be able to outfly her, even with a head start.


    He tried anyway. Beating his wings frantically like a bird terrorized by a huge cat. A cat with three-foot fangs could fly. Clark was strangely silent. Tundor felt enough impending doom for the both of them.


    The dragon closed, but just before swatting him from the air with a huge talon, she stopped.


    "Where did you find this beautiful little white dragon Mandel?" came her huge but surprisingly sweet voice.


    "I rescued him from where Argent''s niece Ardwynn had him held captive in the capital Vanquish. He needs your help right away. Somehow he got bonded to her. He will have to explain how that happened. She''s going to be waking up any minute now. Can you break the bond? It''s probably going to have to be quick!"


    "I can do it," said the dragon. "But quick is going to hurt. No doubt quite a lot! Little dragon, do you want to be free?"


    For Tundor, it really wasn''t much of a choice. If Ardwynn somehow got control over him again, he knew he would end up bonded to Argent"


    From terror to hope. Tundor''s feelings were in turmoil.


    "Yes, please. Quick would be fine. Thank you!"


    "You had better land then." said the dragon that Tundor had only now processed that Clark had called Vanquish.


    Tundor turned in the air and dropped quickly. Clark let out a little yelp but held on. Once on the ground, the white dragon cringed as the huge blue pounded into the ground near him and quickly closed the distance. Tundor was quivering. Is this what Candasar would eventually become?


    "Are you ready little one? This is probably going be pretty painful."


    "Do it!" said Tundor.


    Vanquish drew near and somehow surrounded him with some sort of spell. It washed over him. It peeled back the layers of his soul like flaying skin. Could a body survive this much pain? Just before Tundor passed out he had a last thought....


    "Wait... who is Mandel? He said his name was Clark!" Then someone turned out the lights.


    --------------------------


    Three of Enderline''s men had tackled Albarad to the ground. There had been a lot of shouting. Then, the heavy footfalls of a huge dragon vibrated through the earth. Albarad had felt them through his left cheekbone, which was firmly pushed into the ground where he had been forced down. More men had yelled, and an ear-shattering roar had ensued. A gout of flame had shot out once again into the air. Albarad had felt the heat on his back and had been suddenly grateful for the humans between him and the flames.


    The pressure of the three men holding him down had vanished, and then Albarad had felt himself snatched up quickly in the mouth of his wife''s dragon. Her long and pointed teeth had grabbed him but did not pierce his skin. Belatedly Albarad had come to the conclusion that he might have acted hastily in striking the priest. In all the excitement and getting shaken around that came with flying in the mouth of a giant dragon, he might have passed out.


    Now it was the next morning, and Albarad found himself waking up in a strange room. The bed was covered with a very beautiful quilt. Just as he was about to call out, his son Lothinar walked into the room.


    "Hello, father," he said with a smile. "Thanks for coming to visit!"


    "What are you smiling for? Something''s wrong". Said Albarad. "When I got back, your mother wasn''t there. They said that she had been in an accident. She is very important to me, son. I kind of lost my temper"


    "Esmarilla told me what happened, and don¡¯t worry, Mother is fine. She is tougher than she looks.¡± Said Lothinar.


    His father looked at him skeptically.


    ¡±I let you sleep because I didn''t think that there was much we could do about it last night. Some tempers needed to cool. Esmarilla and Candasar are out hunting this morning. Oh, and this is Firestorm"


    A little red dragon was poking her head around the corner of the doorway. She walked over to Albarad and gave him a little sniff. Then she turned around three times and flumped down on a small but plush rug by the bed.


    Albarad heard some movement from outside of the room. He cocked his head and looked at his son as if asking a question...


    "Oh! That''s Ronni moving about. She''s probably making breakfast for us. She''s very kind and really good about things like that. She made me Mung Bean soup last night for dinner, even though I don''t think it''s her favorite. I know it''s not yours either."


    Albarad realized that he had made a slight face at the mention of the soup.


    "That''s not what''s for breakfast, is it? I mean, I''m not trying to be picky or anything...."


    Lothinar laughed. "No, don''t worry. Ronniflass has plenty of other things as well. I had buckwheat cakes for breakfast yesterday."


    Lothinar grew serious.


    "Listen, I know that you are worried about Mother, but you need to know that what happened wasn''t Starett''s fault. Something happened between the sisters. Mom and Aunt Siophra. They had some sort of an argument. Esmarilla wouldn''t tell me what it was about. She said Ardwella would have to do it. Siophra smacked Mom on the back of the head with her sword and then flew away on Vanador someplace. I couldn''t get where they went out of Esmarilla either."


    Albarad looked shocked.


    "Ardwella got hit on the head?"


    "Yes, I guess it was just supposed to knock her out for a little while, only maybe Siophra hit her harder than she thought. She hasn''t woken up."


    "We need to get down there....find out what¡¯s going on with your mother ¡°


    ¡±Esmarilla can still feel her through the bond. She told me that mom and the baby are fine.¡± Said Lothinar. ¡°Esmarilla thinks that somehow, subconsciously, Mother doesn¡¯t want to wake up yet. It¡¯s like she is concentrating really hard on something she forgot about until now¡±


    ¡±Am I ever even going to be able to go back to Delora?¡±


    "Well, you are in a lot of trouble with the King and most of the city right now. A few of the men got some minor burns when Esmarilla pulled you out of there. It wasn¡¯t the welcome from the ''Dragon God'' that the king was probably expecting. Perhaps I should go alone and leave you here while I see if I can smooth things over"


    "I''m so worried about her son!"


    "Me too, Dad."


    Albarad started to climb out of bed, then stopped in confusion.


    "Why do I have no pants?"


    Lothinar looked troubled for some reason. He almost laughed but pulled it back. He looked apologetic.


    "We are kind of making a new tradition that the men of our family have to wake up for the first time in this house naked."


    "What? asked Albarad.


    "No, I''m joking. Believe it or not I found myself in a not too dissimilar situation only yesterday. Your clothes... at least the pants, they were..uh..wet. We cleaned them. I¡¯m sure they are almost dry. I''ll go get them. Oh yeah, you are also going to have to apologize to Esmarilla."


    "What for?"


    "Apparently, your hasty rescue and departure in the mouth of an enormous dragon caused you to lose control of your bladder."


    "NO!"


    "I''m afraid so. It''s perfectly understandable. It was probably terrifying."


    "So I wet myself while being carried in Esmarilla''s mouth?"


    "I''m afraid so. I''m sure she will forgive you."


    "This is terrible. Nothing like this has ever happened¡­..I wonder how I can make it up to her..." said Albarad.


    Albarad was surprised when a young dragon¡¯s voice piped up from her resting place on the rug.


    "If I were you, I would never even bring it up." Said Firestorm sincerely. "Ever!"


    -------------------------


    Ardwynn woke up hard. Her head was throbbing. Standing over her were two anxious faces. They peered down at her sympathetically. One of them she recognized as the Steward of her father''s estate back in the capital. The other was dressed as a housekeeper. How did she get here? Why was she lying on this uncomfortable cot? She struggled into a sitting position. Her mouth felt like it was full of ashes. Where was Lothinar?


    No wait... Not Lothinar... Where was TUNDOR?"


    "Tundor?" she called, sending out the bond. She called again. There was only silence. It was so strange. It was like her memories had huge gaps and holes in them.. Her brain didn''t seem to be working right. Trying to push through the bond just made it worse. She tried anyway but soon fell back. Her body slumped back onto the cot.


    "Are you alright, Miss?" Can I bring you anything?" asked the housekeeper. She was a fairly plain looking middle-aged elven woman.


    "Did you sleep poorly, my Lady? Echoed the Steward. I was surprised that you wished to sleep here. This cot seems barely suitable. We didn''t wish to disturb you this morning, but your uncle has been sending messengers around since very early asking for your presence in the throne room. At first, it all seemed fine, but the last one was rather insistent. I sent them away, of course, but I''m sure you know that one does not say no to your uncle, the Emperor, for very long without repercussions. I certainly hope the messengers understand that my saying no to them, on your behalf, was not me... but you, of course, by proxy and in your name. That is... I would never be so bold on my own. But since you left word through Clark that you were not be disturbed...."


    "Clark said that I wasn''t to be disturbed?"


    "Yes, my lady," grimaced the housekeeper. "He indicated¡­.rather¡­We assumed that you had been enticed by his charms. He is very persuasive and quite a handsome devil." Then she smiled dreamily. "I can even see that myself."


    "Let us not discuss our Lady''s proclivities!" said the Steward. "She is entitled now as the inheritor of this estate to sample..."


    "ENOUGH!" shouted Ardwynn. "I did not sample Clark or anyone else!" I think someone drugged me! I had planned to wake up early. I have an appointment with the Emperor. What time is it now?"


    "It is after Ten." said the steward.


    "My appointment was for eight!" groaned Ardwynn.


    Even though her thoughts were cloudy and unfocused, the thought of angering Argent seemed to spike enough adrenalin into Ardwynn''s system to cause her to stand, though she swayed unsteadily.


    "Where is the white dragon? Have you seen him?"


    "I assume he is doing what dragons do." said the housekeeper. "Flying about hunting dragon food perhaps? My kitchen staff certainly has nothing to feed a beast of that size!"


    Ardwynn was starting to realize that Tundor was gone. Somehow he had broken the bond and fled. It seemed that someone in the capital had managed to help him by drugging her. Who could it have been? There was probably a very short list of suspects.


    Ardwynn slumped back down on the cot. Outside, she heard shouting and the sound of running feet. She curled up into a fetal position and pulled the blanket over her head. She knew that hiding wouldn''t do any good. The Emperor''s men would certainly find her. Once they had searched the house, the barn would be next.


    ¡°My lady, please tell us what to do,¡± came the Steward''s voice from the other side of the blanket.


    Ardwynn did not reply. Where was the confidence she had felt only yesterday? She tried to think.


    That guard Clark. Hadn''t he looked an awful lot like Lothinar? How was that possible? Lothinar was back in Delora Natine with his family. Her eyes started to water. She refused to call it crying. She wiped them and rubbed her nose on her sleeve. The sleeve on the blouse that she had last worn while dancing with Lothinar at the wedding reception. They had worked up a little sweat celebrating. That sure had been a good time. He had looked so happy. She remembered being happy too. She hadn''t had time to wash anything in the chaos that had followed. It didn''t smell bad, she observed. It just smelled a bit like him. That was fine. He always did smell good, she thought....Thinking about him always made her smile. Where is my ring?


    When the emperor''s men found her, surprisingly, she was smiling. One of the grim faced soldiers had asked her why. She didn''t want to tell him that she had just remembered that she was going to be having Lothinar''s baby. ¡°He''s the best!¡± She thought. ¡°He''''s going to make a great father. I need to get back to him as quickly as possible.¡±


    Argent¡¯s men seemed to have other plans. Her reunion with Lothinar would have to wait.


    ----------------------------

 Chapter 52 : A Dragon History Lesson.

    ****************


    Chapter 52


    ****************


    Hours earlier...


    Mavis was furious. She stomped dramatically and kicked at pine cones as she traveled on the trail. She realized that punting pine cones with these thin but pretty shoes hurt her toes. That even made her angrier. Here, she thought that she had made so much progress. While searching for Firestorm up on the mountain, she had pontificated to her newly bonded dragon, Mo-Rung, about her recently obtained maturity. Almost dying had changed her, she had said. Now, it all had come flying back in her face."


    "Do you even know what love means?" Mo-Rung had asked her as she had ridden on his back"


    "I used to think love was about emotional passion, but now I think that love might be putting the welfare of someone else above your own." she had answered.


    So cocky. So sure. Loving someone like that was incredibly hard work! She felt so incredibly stupid. Despite being bonded and supposedly immune to Lothinar''s pheromones, she instead had fallen for Lothinar''s other charms. Candasar had warned her not to spend time with him. She had never intended to. Yet she had been drawn in. She had only watched as Lothinar showed emotional kindness and tenderness to Ronniflass. A woman who had just practically kidnapped him! He had let her off the hook for her behavior because he knew she had fallen under the sway of his pheromones.


    Mavis had merely been a spectator to the conversation. Yet somehow, it had inflamed her with jealousy, and if she had to admit it, probably a little lust as well. She had fled, embarrassed at losing control and fearful of what she might find herself saying or even trying to do with Lothinar. Not that Ronniflass would have let her!


    Continuing to try and maintain a little discretion, she had come down the mountain she had run right into Cantrell. Someone that she had once thought she had feelings for. Someone who had proved that he was more than able to satisfy her physical and emotional needs. Yet, she had brushed him off. He had been so polite yet firm and unyielding. He had asked her questions that made her face her own hypocrisy. Yet even while doing that he had maintained the integrity of keeping secrets from her that were not his to share. In spite of her putting pressure on him to the contrary. She had been raised a privileged royal princess. She didn''t like people calling her on her behavior or saying no to her one bit! She suddenly realized that she was still very spoiled.


    She found herself smiling and then laughing at her own emotional antics. Her own entitlement and hubris were the target of a strange inner scorn. The fact that she could see herself from an external perspective was new. Being bonded certainly brought a lot of change. The thoughts and feelings of another being lived and spoke right inside your head. She realized that she not only had Mo-Rung''s'' very sharp and long-lived perspective with her, but distantly, like a strange echo of a faraway sound, she could still feel Aleena''s influences. It felt like a warm blanket of tenderness and motherly wisdom.


    That sudden realization brought Mavis a great swell of happiness. Some part of Aleena still lived inside her. The way that the blue water dragon had poured her life force into Mavis''s dying body, buying her time, probably had something to do with it. What was the blue dragon trying to tell her by making that sacrifice? Had Aleena somehow adopted Mavis as if she considered her as one of her own children?


    She considered Cantrell again. His reluctance to bond with a dragon. He was missing out on so much. She had never realized that relationships could be so very difficult. She had to admit thaCantrell''s''s way of approaching life had encouraged her to try to be a better person. She continued her walk and thought about it some more. Eventually she had to confess to herself that she really wanted more out of a relationship than swooning over anyone. She continued her walk, now with far less angry stomping, and it soon became a bit of pleasant exercise as she walked through the pine-scented hills and down towards the lake.


    Being raised in Argent''s court by nursemaids and ladies-in-waiting left Mavis without knowing her mother well. It was the way the paranoid, mentally unstable elf that she had always assumed to be her father insisted that it should be. He did not want outside influences to have undue sway over his progeny. That was especially true with the male children. Mandel must have had it much worse. It was such an impersonal upbringing. Mavis suddenly realized that it would have been very helpful to her to have had someone to ask questions about life and love. She had never had anyone willing to risk growing close to her due to her father''s cruel instructions. Aleena bonding with her was probably the first time she had felt that she had a real friend.


    There were so many questions" "How does Ardwella cope with having a husband that isn''t'' bonded"?" Mavis wondered" "What does it feel like watching him growing older? What will she do when he dies?" Even though they didn''t look like it, Mavis was suddenly struck with how incredibly old not only Ardwella but Siophra really were" "Could she have been married before"?"


    Lothinar sure grew up lucky"," she thought to herself. Good parents like Albarad and Ardwella raised him in a loving home. Now that she had found out that Argent wasn''t her real father, it gave her hope that somehow, whoever he was, her father could be found and become a part of her life. She was going to make it a goal to track him down. Her mother was just going to have to come clean with her about who he really was.


    Just as she was about to open her front door to go inside, she suddenly stopped. Her face clouded up in confusion. Could she have been that self-absorbed? Shdidn''t''t know how she had never noticed it. There were definite differences, but Ardwella looked far too much like her mother. Coincidences like that just don''t happen. How could she have missed it? Could Ardwella be related to her mother?"


    -------------------------


    Tundor woke up on the ground right where he had passed out. The big blue dragon had moved off a short distance but was looking at him curiously"


    "How are you feeling," she asked. Her voice was a strangely alluring feminine basso"


    "Ug"." he groaned" "That was terrible"!" He rose unsteadily to his feet and walked around a bit to shake it off.


    The blue dragon chuckled a little, but it still rattled the pebbles on the ground near his feet"


    "I warned you. Getting un-bonded is terrible. If it makes you feel better, I took a pretty good look inside your soul while you were unconscious. I can happily verify that you are clear of all Ardwynn''s mental manipulation." That''s a strange way to put it." He said.  But now, deep in his soul, he realized that his connection to Ardwynn was gone. It was a big relief.


    "Bonding with an elf changes you in ways you probably can''t really understand," said Vanquish. "They don''t tell you that. Or at least they never told me before it was done to me. Then, once it happens, you are changed, so you kind of lose the perspective of who you were before because the new you is now the one doing the evaluation. It gets complicated."


    "I think that I got some bad information somewhere along the way...or rather no information."


    "Who did you expect to warn you? Esmarilla? She belongs to Ardwella."


    "You really do mean'' ''belongs to'', don''t you," said Tundor. "I was led to believe it was more of a partnership. You make it sound like slavery.  By the way, you seem to know a great deal about me."


    I have to admit I was curious about where you came from and how you got into this situation, so I took a good, long look."


    "What do you mean?" asked Tundor growing a little nervous. He wasn''t sure he was happy about Vanquish reading his memories like a book"


    ¡±I know your story Tundor. It is the price that I have charged for your freedom from your elvish slave masters. Considering that your slave master would soon have been the evil elf Argent, I think that the price was more than fair. What I did was magically complex. It was blue dragon magic. Esmarilla couldn''t have completely removed your bond, in case you were wondering about that. She could only have switched your bond to another elf. You probably would have had to accept someone Ardwella chose for you. Only a free blue dragon could have completely liberated you. It must be your lucky day!"


    The big blue dragon laughed, but it was filled with bitterness. It shook the entire area. A few ceiling tiles that had not initially fallen, when she broke through the wall, clattered in the courtyard"


    ¡±And what do you think now? Now that you have seen that Ardwynn was able to make you do such unpleasant things. Did you feel like her equal partner? I saw what you were forced to do to Mavis",¡± The huge blue dragon said with a malevolent growl."


    "I didn''t want to do that! You must have seen that in my memories."


    "Of course I did. I just bring it up to remind you what a bound dragon can be made to do. How far against their own free will they can be pushed!"


    "But not all elves take over their dragons will. Candasar is bonded with a good one!"


    "From your memories, I can tell that he is better than most. Why do you think that is?"


    "Ardwella made him special?"


    "That is probably the case. Although, in many other ways, he seems ill-equipped. He is certainly a tool for a purpose. He seems to lack a sense of self-preservation, and that makes him vulnerable to exploitation. Perhaps that, too, was by design. Ardwella has been on a mission to bring back the dragons. I have to give her credit for that, at least. Her plans and motives, though, are harder to explain...Perhaps that is a conversation for late"."


    That gave Tundor something to think about.


    Vanquish then changed the subject"


    "I was able to see a lot while I took the bond of the elf called Ardwynn out of you. She is a bad one, Tundor. You are fortunate that she is gone. All of her. It took a little bit longer, but I felt it was my duty. If you had bonded someone else, another kinder elf, it might have been less harmful to leave traces of them behind...but you, more than anyone, must realize that carrying bits of her around with you for the rest of your life would probably not be good for you. Just breaking the bond does not always undo the changes"


    "Thank you! Now that you mention it, I do feel better!" said Tundor" "I was so angry! I had started to get used to it, I think... I had no idea what I was doing when I bonded. I just got caught up in what some of my friends seemed to think was expected of me" "


    The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.


    Vanquish sighed. It was deep and slow. Her breath was warm"


    "It does have benefits, but you can lose yourself. So can the elf, for that matter. Ardwynn was strong, and you are still very. young. She took advantage. She was able to completely take control. That had to be very unpleasant." said Vanquish"


    "It didn''t happen immediately, but as she came back to her original self, it was terrifying," said Tundor. You must have been able to see, then, that she was going to force me to bond with Argent."


    "That would have been extremely unpleasant. Mandel was right to bring you to me. We can never allow Argent access to a dragon. Ever. His path was never a good one, but now with what he has done by consuming so many of our unborn young, he has become more than a monster. He has been insane for hundreds of years. Even his own advisors know this."


    "Why don''t they do something?"


    "He is too powerful at this point. don''t''t think he actually could be killed by any physical means. I have heard rumors of his experiments. Actually, cutting body parts off one of his prisoners to test the limits of dragon magic healing on elves. I heard that removing the head of the victim was not enough to kill her. Dragon healing magic can be that powerful, especially in the white dragon."


    "You''re talking about Siophra!" whispered Tundor.


    "Yes, I was glad to hear that she had finally escaped."


    "Argent has spent hundreds of years feeding a reservoir of dragon magic by consuming the magic-infused eggs of dragons. We can''t possibly fathom his limits. Our only hope has been recently, when the egg supply was reduced. If he doesn''t get them, his great age will eventually catch up to him, and he will die. It will hasten his demise if we can drain off some of his power by drawing him into a fight, but there is certainly the risk of getting ourselves killed."


    Vanquish paused, then continued" "Now that we have foiled his plan to bond with you, he will move rapidly against the water dragon revolt. We must reinforce them to prevent him from getting control of the lake and the eggs again."


    Tundor looked about." "You said that Mandel Is the name of the elf that brought me to you"?" asked Tundor" "He had told me his name was Clark!"


    "More stealth and misdirection, I''m afraid." He was actually very afraid that Ardwynn was still able to communicate with you. He couldn''t really afford to take the chance of giving you his real name"."


    "I kind of thought he might be bonded to you."


    The big dragon laughed again. "He''s just a child!" No, I am not bonded. Well, I was, but I have not been for several hundred years. I wanted my freedom, and actually, so did my old bond. We parted amicably and are actually still very good friends. Mandel is her son."


    "You broke your bond with your elf, just like you did for me!" said Tundor, suddenly putting the pieces together"


    "Yes. It was not done as a rushed emergency, and therefore, it was not as painful."


    You are very large. Um, actually, it is extremely large. I have seen Vanador and Esmarilla. I thought they were full grown."


    "I forget that you have no basis for comparison with the dragons you have seen with the dragons of old. Before ending the bond, I was about Esmarilla''s size, but my energies now are entirely my own. I do not have an elf that I am sharing them with. She has begun to age normally again. A bond takes a lot out of a dragon. I have grown substantially since ending it. Also, I am a blue dragon. We tend to be large."


    "I know a blue dragon. Her name is Candasar. She is my mate."


    "I also saw this in your memories. She has a compelling story. She is also very brave. She is fortunate that Lothinar is much more likely to be a good partner to her than your bond was."


    Tundor liked Lothinar. He was glad his feelings were not wrong about that"


    "Where is Mandel now?" Tundor asked.


    He''s in the temple there behind us. The one with the roof about to come down."


    "Yes, observed Tundor. I hope it does not fall and smash him. It looks a little quite dangerous at this point."


    "He doesn''t come to see me very often. Almost never, in fact. This place is a long way from the capital without a dragon to ride. Also, until very recently, he has had many other responsibilities as Argent''s youngest general. His actions have subverted Argent''s orders and delayed the attack on the lake. You probably owe him your life in more ways than one." Said Vanquish" "But don''t feel too obligated. I am certainly not asking you to bond with him! If I had to guess, rescuing you was on his agenda because he actually hoped to hitch a ride out here."


    Tundor pondered this. It kind of disappointed him that Clark, no... Mandel had rescued him for less than completely altruistic reasons. Well, for whatever reason, he had done it, and Tundor still appreciated it. If he hadn''t, his morning would have gone quite differently"


    "I don''t think I am going to rush into another bond. If I ever bond again."


    "I can''t say that I''m surprised to hear that," said Vanquish.


    Mandel is also kind of a history buff. He seemed convinced that there was some weapon hidden inside the cathedral behind us somewhere that he wanted to try and find before the roof fell down. I told him it was probably just a rumor and that I had been staying in there for years... Of course, can''t fit into many of the small places that he can.


    Vanquish rumbled again. "He''s probably almost done with his search. You were out for a while. He has to give up soon."


    "What do you think is going to happen to Ardwyn"?"


    "Do you care?"


    Tundor did a dragon shrug. "Ardwynn''s probably in a great deal of trouble." She has blown the best chance the emperor has had of getting a dragon, let alone a white one since this whole business started. I don''t think it''s going to go well for her."


    The big blue dragon moved away a bit and snaked her head behind an outbuilding. She pulled out the carcass of a cow. She reached back again and pulled out a large bull"


    "Are you hungry?" While you were out, I flew out and got these two. There were some humans raising cattle in the area before I burned it up and knocked it down. I let the cattle run free. They still occupy the nearby area. I don''t feed from them every day as I don''t want them to go extinct here, but I did today because it''s so very convenient. I brought you one. I''m sure you must be hungry."


    "That''s very kind"!" said Tundor. "It''s not every day I see one of our kind. I''m especially pleased that we have stolen a prize away from Argent. I''m considering it a celebration feast." said Vanquish.


    Tundor blushed a little at being called a prize. The two dragons quickly began eating their meals. It was still very fresh"


    "How long was I actually out"?" he asked as they finished" "I was hungrier than I realized."


    "I worked on you for about three hours. You were unconscious for a couple of more. You got here at dawn. It''s still early afternoon."


    Tundor squinted at the sun. It looked consistent with what she had said. He had another thought"


    "Why is Argent so intent on a white dragon?"


    "Since the beginning, there has always been something very wrong with him. A mental congenital birth defect. A hereditary based insanity. The wrong combination of elven genes. They are probably from the royal family, historically inbreeding with each other so much. I''m not an elf, so I don''t completely understand their inner workings. I think he even realized that he had some problems himself when he was young and slightly less insane.


    The prevailing thought of Argent''s family at the time was that bonding with a white dragon would help balance that out. Possibly heal him. He wanted Vanador from the very first. Now I think that it''s just stubbornness. People in his position don''t like being told no. He couldn''t get Vanador, so he decided to try to get you."


    "This is starting to make sense"," he said" "Did the Emperor plan for me to hatch and not be taken away in the egg, or was that an accident? Was my mother in on this?"


    "You have to remember that there are factions even within the Emperor''s government and that Argent himself is neither sane nor completely in control. I think your egg not being harvested and your eventual hatching was initially just a mistake on the part of Ardwynn''s mother Ulaire. Your mother probably had the best of intentions.


    Eventually, when Ulaire saw what had happened, She and the emperor started making plans to see if they could get control of you. They needed you to bond with someone in his family. Someone must have had inside knowledge about Lothinar''s genetic changes. They are unique and hard to duplicate. Ardwynn was sent in on a deep. long-term undercover mission. She needed to find a way to make herself acceptable for bonding."


    "That seems like a big gamble. She initially turned me down when I suggested that she bond with me," said Tundor. "I''m struggling to understand why Ardwella didn''t say something!"


    "Well, it should be pretty obvious to you by now that Ardwella is severely compromised"," said Vanquish" "We are going to have to figure out a way to deal with that very soon. My understanding is that she is either already in the elven capital or will be on the way shortly. She will be meeting with Argent''s right-hand man, Talmadge, but I don''t think he really has Argent''s interests at heart. He''s been playing both sides for his own reasons. I personally think he wants to be the next emperor. He has held my old bond Muina hostage to keep Ardwella in line ever since, just after the twins were born"


    "Muina?" asked Tundor"


    "Yes, Ardwella''s twin sister. Mavis and Mandel are her children. Albarad is their father."


    Tundor just stared at Vanquish for almost a minute. His head was spinning. No wonder Mandel looked so much like Lothinar"


    "And I just killed Mavis under Ardwynn''s command. Does Mandel know about that?"


    "No, he doesn''t, and don''t recommend that you tell him. I will deal with Mandel and Muina. I will explain what happened. They will blame Ardwynn as I do."


    "Does Ardwella know that her husband Alberad fathered her sister''s children?" asked Tundor. "


    "Of course. She set the whole thing up."


    Tundor was denied a reply to this because suddenly Mandel came running out of the ruined building. He was waving a rune-covered red sword. It gleamed brightly, augmented by the red afternoon sun"


    "I found it. The old stories were right. I told you it was still in there!" He shouted" "I found Crimson! My mother''s sword!"


    "Well, that''s going to complicate things," Vanquish sent telepathically so that only Tundor could hear her. "I thought I had hidden that cursed thing better than that."


    ----------------------


    ¡°Even unconscious, Ardwella could tell when it happened. She didn''t know how Siophra had accomplished it, but she had done the impossible. She did what Ardwella, under Talmadge''s compulsions, could never have done. She had killed the Grand Chamberlin. She had felt Talmadge die. Her mind was free. She felt the strange compulsions and power he had placed on her fade. It was safe to wake up. She sent the all-clear to Esmarilla, and the dragon began channeling power, and Ardwella allowed healing to flow to the area in the back of her head. A half-hour later, she opened her eyes. Starett was looking down at her. The young man looked very concerned.


    "I''m so glad that you finally woke up. Are you feeling better?" he asked.


    "Where am I?"


    "You are in the temple. One of the anterooms."


    "Ardwella observed that the young priest had a swollen lip, and his hair looked a little burned."


    "What happened to you, Starett?"


    Another man stepped into the room"


    "Ardwella, this is King Enderlin." said the priest"


    "Your Majesty, I apologize for not greeting you formally and appropriately! What can I do for you?"


    The King grimaced" "You can start by telling us the truth about how you were actually injured."


    Ardwella was surprised at the tone of the question.


    "I must have been struck from behind. I assume it was my sister Siophra. We had just had an argument. She didn''t like something I told her."


    "Why, then, did she flee with her dragon?" asked the King" "Starett tells me that Siophra was under Argent''s influence for a very long time. He also said that her sudden appearance here was somewhat mysterious. I have found myself wondering if she might have been turned and allowed to escape from prison to act as a spy for Argent. That she might have been working in tandem with your husband to undermine our efforts her"."That''s just not possible!" she said.


    "If that is true, then no doubt you will be able to convince your husband to turn himself in." Said Starett.


    "What? Albarad? What has he done?"


    "He attacked me, the king, and his entourage. The queen is severely injured. Somehow, he has taken over control of the black dragon."


    "That doesn''t sound like Albarad at all!"


    "I have issued a warrant out for his arrest," said Enderline" "Until he turns himself in, I''m afraid you are not going anywhere. I''m afraid you must remain my hostage."


    "Esmarilla! What is going on?"


    -----------------------


    Vanessa was getting tired of this. She was too young to be tied down to a nest. Her parents had been trying to gain favor with Candasar by volunteering to watch over Aleena''s nest. Now they were not around, seemingly having better things to do. Their father, Mo-Rung, seemed too preoccupied with other matters to sit here long. Such irresponsibility! Maybe they were all punishing her for accidentally betraying the secret of oTundor''s existence. Surely, that wasn''t entirely her fault.


    Suddenly there was a cracking sound. She jumped straight up off the nest, lost her balance, and fell into the water. Pivoting around she could see, in the exact place that she had been sitting a large crack in one of the eggs. Had she accidentally broken it? She didn''t think so. Another cracking noise came soon after the first. This time, she watched in fascination as the pair of large eggs shifted and wobbled.


    Soon a little white head was poking out of one of them. Then another crack. The second egg split apart, revealing a black-crowned little dragon face. Both little dragons eventually shook off the shells, revealing legs and vestigial wings. Aleena had done it! thought Vanessa. She had laid a black and a white pair of dragons. They looked at her expectantly. They seemed to be asking for food. Vanessa started to panic. All she could probably get was some fish. She was going to be at this all day!


    -----------------------

 Chapter 53: Monumental

    *****************


    Chapter 53


    ****************


    Siophra looked at her sister Muina.


    "Do you feel better?" she asked. "That looked kind of satisfying."


    ¡°That kick was just in case¡­His head could still be trying to reattach.¡± Said Muina.


    ¡°I''ve experienced that personally but really doubt it was going to happen.¡± Said Siophra. ¡°If you remember, things cut off with Mortimer usually stay cut off.


    ¡°It''s always better to try and be sure with someone as powerful as Talmadge......was. And yes, kicking his head across the room was pretty satisfying,¡± said Muina. ¡±You got Mortimer back! I thought Argent had that sword locked up somewhere after he captured you¡±


    ¡±His nephew Quinton decided to ¡®borrow it¡¯, and Ardwella got it back somehow. I''m certain that Quinton didn¡¯t give it up willingly. I wasn''t there. I heard that Esmarilla stomped him."


    ¡±You have Ardwella¡¯s blade, Curacion as well. You are obviously lucky that you did!¡± Said Muina staring at the white sword. "I heard the lightning crackle from upstairs. Talmadge still managed to get off a blast."


    Siophra nodded, still holding the white sword''s hilt with a towel. She waved it around, trying to cool it. It was obviously still too hot to hold with her bare hand. "Do you know if there is any water around here? This sword feels like it''s not cooling off."


    ¡°I¡¯m surprised Ardwella was willing to loan it to you,¡± said Muina.


    ¡±Ha. Well, Siophra laughed sheepishly. About that, I will probably be in a lot of trouble when I see her again. I didn¡¯t exactly ask permission. I knocked her out and took it.¡±


    Muina gave her a questioning look. ¡±Esmarilla was there and let you get away with that?¡±


    ¡°Actually, she did. Esmarilla even helped me."


    "I find that hard to believe," said Muina


    "It''s true! Vanador confided in me that Esmarilla is quite unhappy with Ardwella right now. She is asserting herself and pushing back."


    "We''ve seen that before with Vanquish. As grandfather used to say, ''The stronger the dragon, the stronger the opinion'' That''s why I eventually had to set her free." said Muina."


    "Esmarilla has reasons for her disappointment. Good ones. Things have been going very badly. It''s a long story. A white dragon named Tundor got bonded by Ardwynn. You must remember her, Argent''s niece?"


    "Yes. In Argent''s court, Mavis and Ardwella always seemed to be competing with each other over something. I had no choice but to stay out of it. Argent insisted."


    "Hey!, Where did a new white dragon come from?"


    "An egg must have been overlooked by Argent''s egg patrol." replied Siophra. "It''s happened before."


    I''m very surprised that Ardwynn was able to bond with a dragon. Argent''s bloodline is supposedly un-bondable."


    "I''ll get to that in a minute. Lothinar''s involved...." Siophra scrunched up her face in concern. "Damn, this sword is still very hot! She walked over to a marble bench and set the sword down on it before turning around and casually continuing. "Anyway, Ardwynn compelled Tundor to attack Mavis."


    "My daughter Mavis?" asked Muina with growing concern.


    "Yes, your Mavis. Don''t panic! She is fine," said Siophra. "Esmarilla intervened, and Vanador was able to heal her completely! She was only dead for a few minutes."


    "Dead?" she shrieked! "What happened to my daughter? Tell me, Siophra!" said Muina furiously. "When it comes to taking injuries and healing, I think you might have lost all normal perspective!"


    "Are you going to stop talking and let me tell you what happened?" asked Siophra.


    Muina fumed but stayed silent.


    "Anyway, Tundor was a friend of Esmarilla''s. They had grown close. Ardwella is at fault for letting both of those things happen. The white dragon bonding, and the attack on your daughter. It made me suspicious. Ardwella''s can be impulsive but she''s just not fool enough to let Argent get a hold of a white dragon."


    "But killing my daughter is fine?"


    "Of course not. But she did recover. Although sadly, we did lose her bonded dragon at that point...."


    "My daughter bonded a dragon, and that wasn''t one of the first things you told me?"


    "I was getting there... Anyway, Esmarilla really didn''t want Ardwella meeting with Talmadge," said Siophra as she gestured toward the decapitated body on the carpet. ¡°Esmarilla has been pushing back on the bond. She informed Vanador, and of course, he told me. Ardwella and I argued about it because I wanted to come along. Esmarilla gave me a brief opportunity to act, so I made the most of it¡±


    "By slugging her and taking her sword.?"


    "It worked out didn''t it?" You can''t argue with the results." said Siophra. "I came here hoping to kill Talmadge, but I thought I''d be looking all over the capital for you. I need to get you and Mandel out of here. Ardwynn knows that Argent is not the father of your children, That''s why she felt free to attack Mavis and settle old scores. If Ardwynn knows, then you can be sure Argent knows or is going to soon."


    "I''m feeling something new and very bad coming from that sword!" Vanador said, suddenly interrupting. "I feel danger!" he said.


    Siophra waved him off. "It''s been through a lot. It''s been catching lighting bolts all month. It should be fine...."


    "Argent knows about my children. Ardwynn told him last night," said Muina narrowing her eyes. "Talmadge himself told me about that before taking me hostage. It made Talmadge furious because he''d been involved in addressing Argent''s paternity concerns since they were born. He had been blackmailing Ardwella for a long time with the threat of releasing that information himself to Argent. He knew that Argent would have us all killed. He could control Ardwella with that threat," said Muina. "That''s what this meeting was supposed to be about. That''s why Talmadge brought me here today. As leverage over her."


    The marble bench on which Curacion was resting suddenly cracked and fell into separate pieces dropping the sword onto the floor. The carpet underneath once again burst instantly into flame. The fire began to spread quickly. The white dragon began moving so as to put as many bookcases as possible between himself and the sword. Unfortunately he knocked a few more of them down in the process.


    "We need to get Tundor away from Ardwynn before she transfers the bond," said Siophra, waving away the smoke. "If she hasn''t already."


    "Mandel is working on that. He is hiding from Argent as well. He''s posing as a guard at Ardwynn''s estate and trying to get access to the dragon." Said Muina. "If he can''t get the white dragon on our side, then he''s going to be forced to kill Ardwynn, so she can''t make the transfer."


    "He''s pretty smart hiding as a guard for Ardwynn''s property. They will never think to look there."


    Vanador was beginning to look more than a little alarmed. Siophra could tell that the dragon wasn''t pleased. Wasn''t it getting really hot in here?


    ¡°How are you doing, Vanador?¡± asked Muina, walking over to the very large white dragon that had been quietly observing the sister¡¯s conversation while scrunched between two bookcases on either side of the lobby. ¡°It is good to see you¡± She said and patted him affectionately.


    ¡°I was actually quite relieved that Siophra was able to stop Talmadge from burning me up. I watched many dragons die by fire during the war.¡± Said Vanador.


    ¡°Yes, we all saw too much of that,¡± commiserated the elf.


    "But now, unfortunately, I suspect that we are all going to die when that magical sword explodes." said the dragon.


    ¡±Uh, guys,¡± said Siophra from where she was standing. She seemed to finally be paying attention, squinting into the light of the glowing white hot sword. ¡°I think maybe that last lighting blast that I caught with Curacion might have broken something inside it. All the magic it absorbed is about to come out. Probably very violently!"


    "That''s what I have been trying to tell you!" said Vanador.


    This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.


    "Well, you need to learn to speak up," said Siophra. Nobody really appreciates a shy dragon. Then she had the nerve to wink at him.


    ¡±I think Argent is going to need a whole new library after all,¡± she said, stepping back even more quickly as another wooden bookcase began to blacken and then burst into flame. ¡°We need to run!¡±


    ¡±But It¡¯s dawn outside. The sun is actually up. I¡¯ll be visible and very hard to miss. Someone is going to notice me running around.¡± said Vanador.


    ¡°I¡¯m sure that the library actually exploding will provide enough of a distraction that we might be able to slip away.¡± Said Siophra. ¡°Plus, we don¡¯t really have a choice. That sword is going to blow!¡±


    The big dragon shoved down a bookshelf and plowed through the big library doors and out onto the early morning street knocking them off their hinges in the process. He startled a group of elven workers carrying toolboxes as they seemed to be headed toward the just-opened doors. The sisters quickly followed and joined the dragon on the street.


    ¡°It¡¯s the Empress!¡± Said one of the workers in surprise, somehow recognizing Muina in spite of the distracting presence of a white dragon.


    ¡±Work is canceled for today, men!¡± Muina shouted, hurrying past. ¡°The emperor has decided to demolish the place and start fresh. Don¡¯t go in there. It won¡¯t be long now!¡±


    The workers looked at her in surprise but then hurried away as a glow brighter than the sun illuminated the area in a harsh glare. The building began to sway. Sirens began sounding as the sisters climbed quickly onto Vanador, and he once again leaped into the sky. Behind them, they heard a huge roar and could see a giant dust cloud as the library finally exploded. A few bricks impacted where they had been standing on the street.


    "That was fun!" grinned Siophra. "But I think Ardwella''s going to be mad about the sword"


    "I lost mine a long time ago. She''ll get over it," said Muina. "Where are we going?"


    "We need to find Tundor. Where is your son Mandel?¡± Yelled Siophra over the wind.


    ¡±I have no idea! But if anyone knows, it¡¯s going to be Vanquish!¡±


    ¡±I was hoping you were going to say that.¡±  Said Vanador changing course. He seemed to know exactly where he was going.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    Esmarilla and Candasar had just finished hunting. They were cleaning the deer residue from themselves and having a little talk.


    "I am so relieved to finally have that strange taste out of my mouth," said Esmarilla.


    Candasar grimaced. "I can only imagine. To be fair, you took Albarad by surprise when you carried him that way. It had to be terrifying and at least somewhat painful!"


    "He took ME by surprise, driving that wagon right up into the middle of the king''s guards and punching the priest right in the mouth! I think the guards would have killed him. They were on high alert and in a strange new place. I had to do something! I think Albarad is one of the most decent elves I''ve ever met. I''ve grown quite fond of him!"


    "I''m actually kind of surprised that he resorted to violence at all," said Candasar.


    "It wasn''t his fault. He was going through pheromone withdrawal symptoms and then got triggered." sighed Esmarilla. "Ardwella really has a hold on him. She''s married to him, after all. She should have known better than to let him go so far away from her. Ardwella made a serious mistake, Yet again."


    "I have been thinking the same thing, but it seems strange to hear you say it," said Candasar.


    "She has been trying to communicate with me did you know?"


    "And you are actually ignoring her? I bet that really bothers her. I know how I felt when I was cut off from Lothinar when he first bonded with Firestorm. It made me frantic."


    "Not quite the same." said the black dragon. "She knows I can hear her. I''m just not answering. I''m showing her my vast displeasure!" Then she laughed. Deep and loud. A flock of birds roosting in a nearby tree took flight at the sound.


    "It''s Tundor, isn''t it?" said Candasar. "You are worried about him too!."


    "Of course I am. I feel like she sold him out. She never intended for him to go to Argent, but she was willing to let Ardwynn take him to the capital. She was working with an elf in the government named Talmadge. He had a plan to overthrow Argent at last. A white dragon bond would have made that possible."


    I really like Tundor. I owe both of you an enormous apology. "I should have fought harder against the bond. It''s just that, if you remember, I just came out of a very long un-natural hibernation. It took a while for me to feel like myself again."


    "And then things were moving pretty fast. Fighting Ardwynn''s parents, healing me, then Tundor... "


    "It''s not an excuse." said Esmarilla sadly. "I should have been thinking of you and Tundor as my children and protecting you!"


    "Neither of us are your children, Esmarilla, and until Vanador showed up, you were pretty much alone," said Candasar.


    "I was a little jealous of you. Actually, I still am," admitted Esmarilla.


    "I don''t understand," said Candasar, confused.


    "Listen. You don''t know any other way. You''ve been bonded since you got your wings and left the water behind, but when this all started, bonding was rare. Most of the original dragons wouldn''t do it."


    "I enjoy being bonded to Lothinar. He is very kind. He educated me about so many things. I can''t imagine not being bonded with him!"


    "Of course he did. He would probably die for you..."


    "Actually, he did kind of already say that. Remember, as a water dragon, my lifespan was over half gone. He actually thought that he would die much sooner if he bonded with me. He thought he would be giving me some of his own years. He still did it anyway."


    "Of course he did." The big dragon sighed. "Listen Candasar, never forget this..... Lothinar is different. It''s not really fair to him but Ardwella made him to be the messiah to all dragon kind. She did this while he was in the womb. She was kind of making it up as she went along. I know because I helped by providing the power. Other elves are much more selfish. They have a tendency to make the dragon subservient to them after the bond. Look at how quickly Ardwynn took control of Tundor. Most of the dragons bonding don''t even realize that it''s happening.


    Candasar pondered this for a few minutes. "People are going to walk all over him, and he''s going to let them. Like Ronniflass is doing right now."


    "Well, that''s actually. your fault Candasar."


    "How is it my fault? Oh. you may be right. I let it happen. I wasn''t paying attention. I let Ronni get too close to him. She asked for a ride and he almost doesn''t know how to say no."


    "I think you are starting to understand," said Esmarilla. "It''s actually a very good thing that you are going to have Firestorm to help you. It''s going to take both of you to watch over him and keep him from being taken advantage of."


    "But she''s just a baby." Protested Candasar. What help can she be?"


    "Don''t underestimate her. She found him. She is watching over him right now. She has grown very quickly in intelligence and knowledge being bonded with Lothinar."


    "You said you were jealous of me. Other than getting an easy-going bond, I''m still not sure why."


    "You''re a blue. Blue dragons are the only ones that develop enough magical potential and power to fully break their bonds and become free again on their own."


    Candasar looked at Esmarilla. She seemed to pause as if communicating with someone.


    "Can blue dragons also do that for others? Do you want to be free, Esmarilla?"


    The black dragon looked stricken, almost terrified to answer. Finally, she managed a little nod.


    Candasar seemed to stand a little straighter. Her voice took on a somber tone. "Then Lothinar and I both promise you that when we can find a way and have the power to accomplish this, then you will indeed be free. "


    Esmarilla seemed to cringe. "We will have to discuss this later," she said.


    Candasar could almost imagine hearing Ardwella''s voice saying the words and shook her head.


    "Ardwella has much to answer for," she thought.


    "Let''s get back. I think we need to have a long talk with Lothinar and his father," said Candasar.


    The dragons jumped into the air.


    "Please don''t mention the pee in the mouth thing to him," said Esmarilla. "I''d rather pretend it never happened."


    ------------------------------------------


    "You betrayed me," Shouted Argent. "The white dragon is gone, and someone blew up the main library this morning. A white dragon was seen by workmen in the area at the time of the explosion. Tundor is under your control. I can''t believe you don''t know anything about that. The blast even reached our armory. Weapons and supplies were destroyed, and we need those to retake the lake. My egg supply is almost completely gone!


    Ardwynn looked at Argent''s red and sweaty face. The way his thin grey hair was sticking out all over his head. How could she ever have thought to betray Lothinar''s or his child to this evil elf?


    ''I have already explained to you that I had been drugged and was unconscious until about ten o''clock." Uncle. "My Steward and Head Maid have confirmed this."


    Ardwynn looked over at her two employees who did not at all look happy to be here in front of the emperor. Their heads and eyes were pointed at the floor refusing to look up and corroborate her words a second time.


    "You claimed my own children were not mine and that you killed Mavis yourself despite my High Chancellor Talmadge assuring me ONCE AGAIN to the contrary. I will admit that Mandel has disappeared, but perhaps he feared your machinations. Just who am I to believe?


    "If you will allow it, I will go and retrieve the dragon and bring it back to you...."


    "You''re not going anywhere!" shrieked the emperor. "Guards! Take her to the tower! and her servants too!"


    The maid and steward began wailing pitifully.


    Ardwynn smiled. At least he hadn''t killed her yet. She just knew that Lothinar would find a way to rescue her. She just had to let him know where she was. She suddenly remembered something her father had said to her in confidence some time ago. Her father had thought that Talmadge had wanted the crown for a long time. He just might be the type to discuss plots against the emperor. Perhaps she would be able to get word to him and convince him to help her send a message. If anyone knew Lothinar, she did. He would come. If not for her, then certainly for his unborn child.


    ----------------------------


    Mavis had freshened up and was about to head over to speak with Ardwella when Mo-Rung sent her a message through the bond.


    "Get to the lake. The Nest! They''ve hatched!"


    She bounded out the door, Aleena''s joy spurring her on. Then she stopped. It was a long way to the nest. Aleena had always carried her. So much for freshening up, she said to herself and started running. The path wound through the trees and she was making good time. Suddenly she realized where she was and stopped. Faced with a new shock. There had been obvious signs of digging in one place and fresh earth had been carefully spread about so as to not leave unsightly piles. Near the grave was a monument. A statue of a dragon. It looked like Aleena. There was carving at the base. She didn''t know it well, but it looked like Cantrell''s lettering. It said:


    Aleena. Mother and Friend. We shall never forget your sacrifice.


    She fell to her knees in the dark loamy soil. Cantrell. When had he had time to do this?


    As if summoned, the elf stepped out from behind a tree.


    "I''m sorry for disturbing your grieving. I had just finished the marker and put it there when you came running up. You startled me. I jumped behind the trees..... then realized I was being ridiculous. You were going to figure out it was me eventually. For what Aleena did, I thought that she deserved a decent stone."


    "Who are you? Cantrell? How do you always know how to do or say exactly the right thing? I just keep messing everything up. I almost ran right through here without remembering what you told me. How you put her here. What is wrong with me!" She was sobbing now.


    Cantrell stood there awkwardly, his hands at his sides. He didn''t know what to do.


    Finally, he said. "You have had a lot on your mind. I''ve already seen you make so much progress. I''m proud of you for that."


    "There it is again.. " she said. "Another confirmation"


    He looked puzzled. "Another confirmation of what?"


    "That I have been a complete fool!" she said, rushing into his arms and hugging him like her life depended on it.


    "I don''t know," he said with a wry smile. "Hugging the non bonded elves....What will the dragons say?"


    "Oh, shut up and kiss me!" she said, pouting and wiping away tears. "But do it fast because I''ve got to go see some baby dragons!"


    He didn''t do it fast at all. He even did it more than once.


    Then, together, they went to see the new baby dragons, Aleena''s last gift.

 Chapter 54: Splashdown

    ***************


    Chapter 54


    ***************


    Tundor and Vanquish looked at the excited elf with the red sword. Something unspoken seemed to pass between them. They stood there, not saying anything.


    Mandel looked at Vanquish. His face began to pinch in puzzlement.


    ¡°I thought you would be happy, Vanquish. Why aren¡¯t you happy? My mother lost this a long time ago We can use this in the fight against Argent.


    ¡°Lothinex made the four swords for different purposes. I like that one the least. For obvious reasons. ¡° The dragon replied.


    ¡±But it has to be useful!." he argued. "It does other things too. It still feels super sharp even after all these years, and Mother said it can shoot lightning!¡±


    ¡±Yes, the runes on it are basically the same ones as the spell some of the more powerful elves use to launch a bolt of electricity. I can actually do that spell too. It has a much longer range than Mortimer¡¯s fire, but it¡¯s not very magically efficient. It is a wasteful use of power, in my opinion.¡± she paused.


    ¡°That it can do those other things is not really my problem with it.¡± Said Vanquish.


    ¡±That other function was just a rumor. The telepathic attribute of the sword wasn¡¯t real, was it?¡± Asked Mandel.


    ¡°It is not a rumor. I can assure you. That sword can amplify elven thought telepathy. It has the power to help a pushy elf that knows what they are doing force a dragon to bond against the dragon''s will to the contrary. It would not work on me of course. At my size, my magic is quite resistant.¡±


    ¡±But I could just hold this sword and focus on Tundor here and¡­¡±


    Tundor felt a strange feeling wash over him. Mandel suddenly seemed even kinder than Lothinar. He had helped him escape. That was all he needed to know. He needed to find someone to bond with anyway.


    Vanquish reached out with a claw and quickly struck the red sword out of Mandel¡¯s hand. Tundor jumped back in surprise and fear as the overpowering feeling quickly faded.


    ¡±Oops. I¡¯m really sorry, Tundor.¡± Mandel said ¡°I can see how that sword could be dangerous, in the wrong hands.¡±


    ¡±There are no ¡®right hands¡¯ for that sword. said Vanquish. It is Crimson the enslaver of dragons. That¡¯s why I hid it away so many years ago. I should have flown out over the ocean with it and dropped it in deep water.¡±


    ¡±Why didn¡¯t you?¡± Asked Tundor, shuddering at how fast he had felt so overwhelmed by the sword''s influence.


    ¡±Muina made me promise not to and I keep my word. She has a sentimental attachment to it. Unlike the other swords, It was her Grandfather¡¯s personal weapon before he passed it down to her.


    "The magic for making these swords died with him. In spite of how I felt about it, she just seemed to feel that someday it might somehow become useful,¡± said Vanquish.


    ¡±I still think it might be.¡± Said Mandel somewhat defiantly. Then he lowered his eyes at Tundors withering look.


    Tundor couldn''t help but be curious. "Why did she ask you to hide her grandfather''s blade?"


    "You mean besides me asking her every day to do so? snorted the dragon. "But, of course, you don''t know Muina and Mandel''s story."


    When Muina took up the horrible job of trying to become Argent''s next bride, she went to live in the elven capitol. Naturally, she attracted a lot of attention. Including that of lecherous old Argent. That was, by the way, long after we ended our bond. I don''t think I could have been part of that." said the dragon with obvious distaste. "It would be ghastly to be one of his wives. I don''t think I could have been bonded to her while she went through all of that. At least Argent was well past his prime at that point, and her having to have sex with him was very minimal.


    Mandel looked uncomfortable as Vanquish discussed his mother''s sex life. Tundor tried not to enjoy his embarrassment as retribution for the previous emotional onslaught.


    "Argent has always wanted someone that looks good on his arm at social functions," said Mandel, attempting to change the subject away from the frequency of intercourse.


    "It was part of their plan to use a surrogate to fake a pregnancy and then, after a male child was born, infiltrate him into the government as a false son of Argent. They wanted to infiltrate the power structure from the inside. It complicated things immensely because the pregnancy ended in twins. I really don''t know how Ardwella and Talmadge talked Argent into believing it."


    The dragon sighed. "Muina obviously couldn¡¯t keep the sword with her through all that. There was too much chance of it falling into the wrong hands. I hid it here."


    "My mother was always told to keep her distance from Mavis and me. Argent always believed that even those in his own family might conspire against him. He moved her out of the capital for many years. Mavis and I were largely raised by wet nurses and courtesans. If Talmadge hadn''t been smuggling us around behind his back I would barely know my mother.


    "Why would Talmadge go to the trouble to help the sisters?" Asked Tundor. "What was in it for him?"


    "Talmadge was a schemer. He wanted someone to control inside Argent''s close family. He obviously thought it would eventually get him on the throne."


    ¡±Thank you, Vanquish. Explaining that to Tundor helped me better understand how the sword came to be here. So what now?¡± Asked Mandel, eyeing the red sword in the dirt.


    Vanquish just looked at him. Finally, she said. "I didn''t want that found, you know..."


    Mandel was looking increasingly agitated. "Are you trying to tell me that I can''t keep it?"


    The big blue dragon and the elf just stood there staring at each other. Finally, Tundor could take no more of the tension.


    ¡°I am very grateful for what you both have done for me.¡± Said Tundor. ¡°Really grateful. But I should probably get going ¡°


    ¡±I think you picking up that sword and experimenting with it on Tundor may have just ruined your chances to ever have Tundor trust you." said Vanquish to Mandel. "That''s what the rest of your life is going to look like if you keep that sword."


    "That''s a risk I''m willing to take!" said Mandel defiantly.


    "Out of love for your mother, I will not stop you," said Vanquish turning her back on him. She looked at Tundor.


    "I will go with you, Tundor. It is time to go and find Esmarilla and Vanador. It has been too long since I saw them and no doubt you could use my magical assistance at the lake restoring dragons to their full potential."


    "I''m sure you would be a big help with that," said Tundor.


    "I would also like to meet this Lothinar that you think so highly of," said Vanquish with a sniff. She shot a cold glare at Mandel. "He sounds like an elf I might actually respect!"


    "You are leaving me here?" asked Mandel in disbelief. "Come on, Vanquish! It''s a really long walk,"


    "My price for a ride... anywhere is that you give up that sword and let me hide it again." said the huge blue dragon.


    "I researched it, I dug through the ruins for it. The sword is MINE!" shouted Mandel. He seethed with anger.


    "No, it is MINE!" said a forceful female voice from above them, and Tundor ducked as Vanador passed over them and dropped from the sky. He landed fast and hard right next to them, dropping into a crouch. On his back were two elves. Siophra and Ardwella.


    No. Tundor realized after a second or two that Vanador¡¯s second rider was not actually Ardwella. It could only be Muina. Ardwella''s twin. This must be what Ardwella had looked like before working on her physical characteristics with magic. There were a few more lines around the eyes and mouth. She has begun aging again since the bond was broken. The breasts were less full. The hair was a bit shorter. She was older but still very beautiful, thought the dragon. No wonder Argent had fallen for her. And I killed her daughter! Tundor was suddenly reminded of his actions while under Ardwynn¡¯s control.


    "I wonder if she knows that?" he said to himself. He tried to shrink down and make himself less visible.


    "I recognize the dragon. You must be Aunt Siophra," said Mandel, ignoring his mother''s words about the sword.


    "Thank you for getting Tundor away from Ardwynn," said Siophra jumping off her dragon. "How did you do it?"


    "I drugged Ardwynn. The rest was mostly Tundor. He was able to overcome her orders when she was deeply unconscious. He must have really wanted to break the bond. We were able to fly here, and then Vanquish did her blue dragon magic on him." said Mandel.


    Siophra walked slowly up to Tundor. "I need to tell you something, Tundor. It will ease your guilt. Mavis is alive. Vanador and Esmarilla were able to get to her and heal her."


    Tundor felt tears welling up in his eyes. He choked them back as unseemly.


    ¡°I am grateful for that. Thank you,¡± he said softly.


    "Did you know that this dragon attacked your sister, Mandel?¡±


    "He didn''t mention that!" said Mandel.


    "I didn''t know she was your sister! You didn''t tell me who you were! You said your name was Clark!" cried Tundor.


    "He was in bondage, but now he''s free," said Vanquish. "I can not speak for Mavis, but nobody here will blame you, Tundor, for what Ardwynn made you do." Her large eyes passed over each of them in turn but then locked on Vanador. They lingered there. They seemed to be sharing some sort of unspoken thoughts together. As soon as Muina also jumped off his back, the blue dragon quickly moved over to Vanador and began nuzzling him.


    Tundor suddenly realized that these two must be lovers.


    "You are mated with Vanquish?" Tundor asked Vanador in surprise.


    "What? Do you think you are the first white dragon that ever fell in love with a blue dragon?" asked Vanador. "It''s very common."


    "Don''t pull the child''s tail, my mate," said Vanquish. "It is not very common at all, but I thought it was a strange coincidence, Tundor, that your relationship with Candasar is a lot like our own."


    "It''s very good to be near you again, Vandador," said Vanquish with a sultry expression. "So tell me the truth. Do you think I''ve gotten fat?"


    Mandel looked at the obvious size difference between the large white dragon and the larger blue dragon, then began laughing. Tears began flowing from his eyes. He laughed hard and long. The laughter was infectious. Soon Siophra and Muina joined him. When they finally stopped laughing, Mandel handed the sword back to his mother.


    "If this sword is going to make dragons not want to be around me, then I''m definitely giving it back. I wouldn''t want to miss any of this. It¡¯s just too entertaining.¡±


    ¡±And it sure beats walking,¡± muttered Tundor under his breath.


    ---------------------------


    They were all at the barn. Arberad, Lothinar, Ronniflass, and the three dragons. Technically, Esmarilla was in the pasture just outside the barn, but the big doors were open. The bull was as far away from Esmarilla as he could get in the pastured area, and Lothinar was sure, in spite of his grazing, that he was keeping one eye on the big black dragon. Little Firestorm kept running in and out of the barn, hiding from him and then reappearing. She would prance around a bit, then turn tail on him and pretend to run.


    "I don''t think that you are correct about bulls being attracted to the color red Lothinar. He''s not chasing me at all."


    "That''s because he''s actually a very smart bull, and he wants to live," said Ronniflass, laughing a bit at her antics. "Esmarilla is probably just looking for an excuse to eat him"


    "I just finished eating," said Esmarilla, actually burping. The smell of smoke and brimstone was pretty strong. "I''m not even interested at the moment"


    If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    "He didn''t seem to be afraid of me!" said Candasar a little indignantly.


    "Well, look at the size difference," said Lothinar. Esmarilla is ten times bigger than he is"


    "Indigestion? Asked Alberad looking at the black dragon.


    "I''d rather not talk about it" said Esmarilla. Then both she and Albarad blushed.


    "I told you! said Firestorm."


    "Moving along... " said Lothinar. "I''ve got to go back to Della and try to figure out what happened between the King''s men and Esmarilla. I''d like to take Ronni with me because she''s related to the queen. But I think the rest of you should stay here until I figure out what to do about all this misunderstanding¡±


    "You are not leaving me behind!" said Firestorm. I can fly. Well, I can hop really far and glide. I just ate a couple of more weasels, so I insist on going along."


    Lothinar looked at Candasar. "Can you carry all three of us?"


    "Probably for part of the way,¡± she said, but she didn''t look comfortable. "That little dragon is already getting much heavier. Just leave her here. You''re spoiling her!¡±


    ¡±But I wanna go!¡± Pouted the little dragon. ¡°Lothinar loves me too!¡±


    "I could solve this easily," said Esmarilla. I could at least get you a lot closer and then turn around and head back up here."


    Candasar looked at the big dragon with concern. "Would being closer to town cause you to be more under a certain unwanted influence?"


    "Ardwella! You are talking about Ardwella right?" asked Albarad with some confusion.


    "Unfortunately, yes," said Candasar, somewhat surprised at Albarad¡¯s perceptiveness. ¡°Esmarilla recently has been reluctant to do as she''s been told. I don''t think Ardwella is very happy about that."


    "Well I am." said Albarad. "Ardwella has not been acting right for some time. I appreciate that you are at least giving her a different perspective, Esmarilla. For some reason, I don''t ever seem to be able to do it." Then he frowned. ¡°I wonder why?¡±


    "It doesn''t exactly work that way, but thank you, Albarad.¡± Said the black dragon.


    "You saved my life last night. At least, I think you did. Being away from her to deliver the horses made me nervous. I don''t really know why I acted that way, but when the priest told me she had been injured, I was furious and lost control. He was the one who wanted my horses and asked me to go. Because I struck him, I could tell those men were going to kill me."


    "That is actually why I could act," said Esmarilla. "Even unconscious, Ardwella has powerful protective feelings about you, Albarad. In her own strange way, she does love you very much. Her desire to protect you overcame her desire to control me.... and it actually gave me an opportunity to rescue you and get both of us away from there. That the added distance reduced her persuasiveness didn''t really occur to her until she actually woke up."


    "She''s finally awake then? asked Albarad. "I need to go to her."


    "The king is going to throw you in prison, if not outright kill you on sight." Said Esmarilla. "I didn''t mean to, but I burned some people a little and did a little trampling when I pulled you out of there. One of them was the Queen."


    "You hurt my sister?" yelled Ronni, not taking that new information well.


    "Unfortunately, yes. She deliberately jumped in the way. Perhaps she thought I wouldn''t hurt a half-elf. I didn''t really mean to, but she was wrong. I had to get through her or they were going to kill Alberad. "


    "We need to go now! Lothinar, please!?" Ronni begged. ¡°You need to heal my sister!¡±


    Lothinar hesitated. "What is my mother telling you, Esmarilla?"


    Ardwella wants me to come back so she can get better control of me, but she wants Albarad to stay far away for now."


    "Well, then, keep ignoring her. You are both staying away. You will both have to keep each other from doing something foolish. The rest of us are going. Firestorm if you want to come then I''ll be holding you for as long as Candasar can manage it. Then you are going to have to fly on your own. Or at least glide. Whatever it takes."


    ¡°Hooray!¡± Yelled Firestorm. ¡±I get flying lessons!¡±


    "At least it''s mostly downhill," said Candasar rolling her eyes.


    Esmarilla consulted with Candasar, and the dragons decided on a plan that reminded Lothinar of the mean joke that Candasar and Aleena had tried to pull on him recently. Thinking about it made Lothinar sad at the passing of Candasar¡¯s cousin. It helped reinforce his resolve to stay angry at Ardwynn.


    They were going to attempt a modified flight plan. Candasar was going to use most of her energy early to gain as much altitude as possible. Then she was going to try to rest and glide most of the way in. The aerodynamics were terrible with the little dragon aboard, so somewhere along the way, Firestorm was most likely going to be dropped. She would see if she could glide alongside her new surrogate mother. It was a dangerous first flying lesson. After everyone was in position on her back, Lothinar could only observe as Candasar took a brief run and flapped her way into the air. She was working hard. Her wings became great fans, and her lungs were mighty bellows. They climbed for quite a long time. Lothinar had never been this high. If not for the furnace of heat coming off Candasar¡¯s back, it might be quite cold.


    "I remember. you saying something like you would never drop a baby dragon from high in the air!" said Lothinar.


    "I did say that didn''t I, You know you didn''t have to bring her. You need to learn to say NO Lothinar. Firestorm is going to walk all over you."


    "And you don''t? "


    "No, I do not! Also, Esmarilla and I had a talk. You are going to have to check with me before you start making promises to anyone!"


    "Now that doesn''t sound bossy at all,"  said Lothinar smiling.


    They were finally gliding. Candasar had climbed strongly. Rising out of the forest and high into the sky. Candasar had been flying much more of a sprint than a marathon. She was still breathing heavily from her exertions. Ronniflass actually sat behind Lothinar this time. She was holding on to him tightly. In front of him, just over Candasars neck Firestorm crouched backwards. Her wings were tight against her body, trying to minimize drag. Her eyes were wide at being up so high. Her bravado was gone. She looked a little worried. The forested mountains looked very far away. The air was thin. They continued to glide. Occasionally, even in her fatigue, Candasar would beat her wings a few times for course correction.


    They went quite a long way. But suddenly, Candasar confirmed Lothinar''s suspicions by proclaiming that they were not going to make it. Firestorm was going to have to get off. Firestorm''s eyes got bigger.


    "You can do it!" coaxed Lothinar to the little dragon.


    "When it comes to flying, I would hardly call you an expert, Lothinar," said the little red dragon.


    "Get off!" said Candasar. "You''re slowing us down too much!"


    "Don''t wanna!" said Firestorm.


    "You will be fine, Firestorm. Just remember what I told you. Hold your wings out flat and twitch the edges when you want to turn. It''s actually pretty easy!" said Candasar.


    "Fine!" she said angrily, leaning out and jumping off. She actually fell about thirty feet spinning wildly which terrified Lothinar, Ronniflass actually started shrieking. But she moved her wings correctly and dropped into a stable glide."


    "Hey, this is fun!" she giggled.


    "Don''t get cocky, pipsqueak! We''ve still got a ways to go," said Candasar.


    Lothinar could see the lake glistening in the distance. It was still quite far. They were way too low. Candasar began pumping her wings a bit but Firestorm was struggling. Her wing muscles were not really strong enough. She tried gliding again, aiming downward, sacrificing altitude for speed. Gliding downhill toward the near side of the lake. Lothinar watched, terrified, as she barely cleared the last of the trees and then ran out of momentum and plunged from height. She splashed in about a hundred yards out into the middle of the lake.


    "Dragons can''t swim," he thought. "How am I going to rescue her before she drowns?"


    "Well, that went fantastic! Said Candasar. "Next time, maybe you will listen to me!"


    She pumped her wings and swung out over the water. She was very tired but determined to find Firestorm. Lothar could swim. If she could get him out to the little dragon, he might be able to¡­.Suddenly her blood ran cold. Out in the lake, she saw one of her least favorite water dragons. It was one-eyed Killingsworth. The dragon she had maimed in the fight weeks before. He was one of the elder council dragons that she and Tundor had defecated upon in their childish urge for revenge. She could see him bearing straight toward the little red dragon flailing in the water. She looked like she was going under. It looked like Killingsworth would finally have an opportunity for his revenge.


    Candasar gouted fire in her frustration. Lothinar and Ronniflass ducked quickly as Candasar flew through her own flames. There was nothing she could do! He was upon the little red dragon!


    The water dragon grabbed Firestorm in his mouth and gently placed her on his back. He began swimming to shore. The red dragon looked like a half-drowned cat, but she was smiling.


    "Whoo wee! That was a close one! Thanks, Killingsworth! I appreciate the save!" she called out.


    "Do you two know each other?" asked Candasar. She was very confused.


    "Of course I know him!" asserted Firestorm. He''s one of my favorites! He''s on the list!"


    -------------------------------------


    Cantrell was standing next to Mo-Rung. They were looking at two little hatchling dragons and an extremely pretty but slightly deranged elf. One of the dragons was black, and the other one was white. Mavis, the aforementioned pretty but deranged elf, had climbed right into the nest with them and was rolling around among them, petting and caressing them. She was making strange cooing noises. The little dragons seemed to love the extra attention.


    "You know, Mavis," Cantrell said with amusement. "A dragon''s nest is not the cleanest place in which to roll around. You have dragon eggshell in your hair."


    "But they are so cute!" said Mavis. "You need to climb in here and see for yourself!"


    "I can see just fine from here." Said Cantrell with a smile. "Besides I see fish bones and stuff down in the bottom there. Don''t poke yourself on something sharp."


    "I thought it smelled a little fishy in here," said Mavis.


    "Vanessa fed them right after they hatched," said Mo-Rung. She did a remarkably good job for someone so young. Newly hatched dragons can be quite ravenous. Firestorm ate quite a bit of a cow when she first hatched. Of course, we made sure she got it in small pieces. Vanessa was a little panicked when the eggs hatched and she was here all alone. I wonder where her parents went off to?"


    "Vanessa is Tundor''s sister, is that right?" said Mavis with a strange look on her face.


    "Yes, that''s right. And I know what you are thinking," said Mo-Rung. "I''m angry too. What you went through was terrifying and horrible, but I don''t think Tundor is to blame for it."


    "I might understand that he was under Ardwynn''s control but I''m having a hard time separating the attacker from the one doing the actual attacking. The attack should have killed me. Indirectly the attack killed Aleena as well. I know I''m sitting here alive and talking about it, but...."


    "For all we know, he might be bonded to Argent right now. From everything I''ve been told, that would be a terrible fate for a dragon," said Mo-Rung.


    "Mavis nodded and tried to consider what he had said. In her mind, though, the images of Tundors jaws grabbing her head and neck, then violently twisting still remained."


    The mood was spoiled, and she climbed out of the bottom of the nest, leaving behind a couple of disappointed little dragons. She stood next to Cantrell and then hugged him tightly. She noticed that he didn''t pull back or even seem to mind when she pressed her fishy-smelling clothing against him. He tenderly reached over and pulled a bit of eggshell from her hair. He looked deeply into her eyes.


    "Are you all right?" he asked


    "No, but I will be. Cantrell, I think this may be rather forward, but I think I want to take you home and have you make love to me," said Mavis suddenly.


    He stood there. He seemed deep in thought.


    "That''s not the reaction I was hoping for," she said.


    "Please understand that I''m not saying no." said Cantrell, "But I think its important for me to understand what that means.... Going forward from here..." He looked a little worried.


    "I was as good as dead. Now I''m alive. I want to celebrate that. I want to feel alive. I know that you can give me that Cantrell. You have before."


    "And after that... Does it continue? Will we be together? "


    The big red dragon had been watching his children rolling around together in the bottom of the nest but he suddenly started paying a lot of attention to the conversation.


    Mavis smiled slyly. "Are you feeling the need to do something as old-fashioned as proposing Cantrell?"


    "I am." he said, "If it puts this matter of my loving you and wanting to be with you to rest. I want to marry you. If you are willing. Can you say the same to me?"


    There was a huge splash out in the lake. A gout of fire appeared in the sky. A blue dragon was circling low. On its back were two riders. It had to be Lothinar on Candasar. Out in the water, Cantrell could see a water dragon closing on something small and red that was struggling in the water.


    "Its Candasar and Lothinar. Probably his new half-elf girlfriend, too!" said Mo-Rung. That''s pretty poor timing for you, Cantrell. That''s my girl Firestorm in the water. It looks like that Bastard Killingsworth is here too.


    The water dragon grabbed up the red dragon which Cantrell now could see was definitely a soaking wet Firestorm. Killingsworth quickly paddled his way over to the nest. He nodded to the three of them as Firestorm jumped off his back and into the nest. She squealed in happiness to discover the new hatchlings there.


    "Father!" she said happily. I see they finally hatched!"


    "Yes, they did," said Mo-Rung proudly. A pair. A black and a white. It''s a great occasion!"


    "I flew, did you see? I flew!" yelled Firestorm.


    "It looked like you were learning to swim, not fly," laughed Mavis. It''s a good thing Killingsworth was there to pull you out. Thank you, Killingsworth." said the pretty female elf.


    Everyone looked up and ducked involuntarily as Candasar passed low overhead and landed nearby on the muddy shore. She looked exhausted. Lothinar and Ronni jumped off. Ronni especially looked very happy to finally be on the ground again.


    Candasar looked sadly at Killingsworth. "I thought the worst of you," she said. "I am ashamed to admit that I expected you to commit violence on Firestorm. I am sorry."


    "We have both come a long way since we fought, and you took my eye." said the large water dragon. "I, too, have many regrets for my ignorant actions. We dragons have a long way to go, and we must all work together!"


    "He''s on the list, Lothinar! Can we give him wings soon?" asked Firestorm excitedly.


    "I didn''t know that there even was a list until just now," said Lothinar. "But I have a question of Killingsworth."


    "Speak your question. I will answer. You are a dragon friend." said the one-eyed dragon.


    "This woman here. Her name is Ronnifalss. She is half-elf and half-human. Do you know any dragons that might be willing to bond with her?"


    "Not now, Lothinar!" exclaimed Ronni. "We can ask those kinds of questions later. We need to see about my sister!"


    "NOBODY MOVE!" came a shout. Lothinar looked up to see that the shore of the lake on which they were standing was surrounded by dozens of men in armor. They were carrying long spears. They were led by a large, angry-looking man who closed with Lothinar. Another moved to position himself to block Ronni from escaping. Two more approached Cantrell and Mavis, and although they didn''t point spears at them, the threat was clear.


    "You dragons are free to go. You are, of course, our revered ones. But you elves must come with us. We are in a state of war with the elven kingdom. If you resist, then you will die."


    Candasar and Mo-Rung moved to intercept the men, Mo-Rung snarling in outrage. The men pointed their spears...


    "STOP!" came a loud feminine shout. It was Ronniflass. "I am the queen''s sister. I command you to stop this foolishness. You are about to make a terrible mistake. You will lower your weapons, and you will politely take ALL of us to King Enderline. I will explain everything when we get there!"


    The human men looked at her in surprise. They looked at each other. Something passed between them. Their leader took another look at Ronniflass. He squinted a bit, looked again, and then mumbled something to the soldier standing near him.


    "Yes, she does look a lot like the queen." the other replied.


    "Very well. My apologies, then. Please allow us to ''politely'' escort your party to the city. We appreciate your cooperation."


    "Firestorm, stay here with Mo-Rung. And this time I really mean it" said Lothinar as the group began to walk toward Della. "If I need you, I will call for you."


    The little red dragon nodded. Her eyes were wide again. She dropped back down into the nest with her siblings. Mo-Rung grunted his displeasure but stayed with his children.


    Cantrell, along with Mavis, joined Lothinar and Ronniflass as they began to leave the lakeshore. Candasar walked beside them. The group was loosely but politely surrounded by armed human men with spears. Cantrell noticed that some of the men were watching Candasar in amazement. They had not seen many dragons before. How had he become so used to their presence in such a short time? Lothinar was holding Ronni''s hand, helping her over the rough terrain. Thank you for speaking up and diffusing that dangerous situation he heard him say to her. She smiled at his praise. Cantrell could tell that she was in love with him. It showed clearly on her face.


    In annoyance, Cantrell suddenly realized that he had never gotten an answer to his proposal. He looked over at Mavis. She had been watching him. She met his eyes. "Do you want to hold my hand too, Cantrell?" Then she smiled. "I think I would like that."


    He walked closer to her, taking her hand. She leaned in.


    "Yes. The answer is yes. I will marry you. But you really need to work on your timing Cantrell."


    "Oh, I don''t know." He said with a smile. "I can''t think of a faster way to get you in front of the priest."


    ----------------------------------

 Chapter 55: Changes

    ****************


    Chapter 55


    ****************


    Mo-Rung and Killingsworth watched as the humans "escorted" the elves and Candasar away.


    "Are you going to stand there and let that happen?" asked Killingsworth incredulously. "I don''t have any real legs to stand on, but I almost jumped out of this lake to fight those soldiers anyway."


    Mo-Rung shrugged. "I don''t think that would have worked out well for you. Those spears were long and sharp. And yes, I wanted to fight to defend my bond. I wouldn''t say I like it one bit. Mavis asked me to stand down, though, so I guess I will."


    "Is that what bonding does? Does it take away your self-will? Because that doesn''t sound very appealing to me!"


    "That was Cantrell''s position on the matter. Dragon or Elf. If you bond right, then bonding seems mostly positive, and both are enhanced. The pair learns to compromise. If you somehow get the wrong one..."


    "Like Tundor." interrupted Killingsworth.


    "Yes, like Tundor, then they take control of you entirely. I am pretty sure Tundor didn''t want to do that to Mavis. I don''t think Ardwynn give him any choice."


    "Can a dragon dominate an elf?" Asked Killingsworth. "Make them do the dragons will instead of their own?"


    "I''m sure it is possible. It would have to be a big, powerful dragon. The elves seem to have a magical advantage. Perhaps it is education or spells learned. There is not a lot of book learning happening in lakes, as you know." speculated Mo-Rung. I am farther ahead in that area since bonding with Mavis. She filled in a lot of my gaps and continues to do so.


    "And why were almost the first words out of Lothinar''s mouth that question he asked me... Do I know any dragons that would bond with the half-elf? Are these elves that completely fixated on bonding one of us?"


    "He has reasons for that. The woman is under his influence. She thinks she is in love with him. He thinks bonding will cancel the effect."


    "Wouldn''t most males want to be in that position? There are obvious advantages," he said, grinning.


    "I think Lothinar is more concerned about how she came under his control. He would not want to take advantage of the situation," said Mo-Rung.


    "She claimed to be the sister of the human queen," said Killingsworth. "I heard her say that."


    "I believe that she is,¡± said Mo-Rung.


    Killingsworth pondered that for a minute or two. "Perhaps I should try to bond with her myself. It may have political advantages."


    "You are always scheming, aren''t you, Killingsworth? We don''t even know if a bond is possible with a half-human elf.


    "I would be willing to try if it helped Lothinar out of a problem. I think he''s the key to us dragons getting our wings back."


    Firestorm had sat silently in the nest, listening to the conversation with great interest. Killingsworth had almost forgotten she was there.


    "There are excellent advantages for dragons that bond," Firestorm said suddenly. "You just need to choose a good elf like Lothinar."


    "What would you know about this subject, little one?" Killingsworth said, quite amused.


    "Don''t underestimate her. Firestorm already bonded, and surprisingly, it is with Lothinar." Said Mo-Rung.


    "How Is that possible? Asked Killingsworth. "I thought he was already with Candasar."


    "I am also curious about that." said her father, Mo-Rung. "Would. You explain to me how that happened, Firestorm?"


    "I''m not completely sure." The little dragon replied. "It happened on the occasion during which he was augmenting me with these wings..."


    "She uses really big words for a little dragon," commented Killingsworth.


    Firestorm scowled at him. "That is part of what I was trying to communicate to you before you interrupted me, although my theory is purely conjectural."


    Mo-Rung coughed, and Killingsworth nodded chagrined. He looked askance at Mo-Rung and mumbled, "I think I''m going to want a bond."


    To Firestorm, he said. "I see. Please continue..."


    "You will not get what I received from a regular bond. I''m less than a week old. I know that this is not normal. I somehow got part of Lothinar''s intelligence or his mind."


    "How could that possibly happen?" asked Mo-Rung.


    "Don''t get the wrong idea. I''m still me. But a newborn dragon''s mind is a blank canvas. Almost everything I''ve learned and experienced since I left the egg has had Lothinar''s experience to interpret it and guide me. From this, and what I can piece together, his intelligence and magical abilities are far above average. He was angry and wounded by what Ardwynn did. He was passionate about making me perfect while mending my wings and didn''t just stop there. During the wing augmentation, he transformed my entire construction. He enhanced me.


    "Are you still even a dragon?" Asked Mo-Rung, growing concerned for his daughter.


    "You might as well ask if Lothinar is an elf. Of course, he is. But he is more. As I am more than just a dragon."


    "Does Lothinar realize what he has done?" questioned Killingsworth.


    "That is a fascinating question," Replied Firestorm. "Lothinar''s mind was previously so overwhelmed with everything inside that it was almost too crowded in there to be efficient. Ardwynn called him Oblivious, but that wasn''t accurate. During gestation, his mother was meddling with things she didn''t understand. Esmarilla kept providing her with more magical powers, and she kept finding what she thought were more advancements. There may be such a thing as too much.


    "And him giving some of that to you somehow made him better?" asked Killingsworth.


    "He seems to think so," said the baby dragon. "Of course, I didn''t know him before."


    "I''m not sure how I feel about this," said Mo-Rung. "I think you should be allowed to be a regular child and grow up normally without the added pressure to be perfect.¡±


    "I departed the nest and found my bond on my second day out of the egg. I flew by myself soon after that. I will never be normal, but I wouldn''t want it any other way. Would you want to break your bond, Father? Would you give up half your intelligence, Killingsworth?¡±


    "Half?" he said indignantly. Do you think that you are that much smarter than me?¡±


    She looked at him. She then smiled.


    "How do I know? I''m just an infant. Thanks again for saving me out on the lake, Killingsworth. I''ll make sure Lothinar gets you those wings soon."


    Then Firestorm dropped back down into the nest and began snuggling with her little siblings. Suddenly, she popped up again.


    "What are you going to name these two, Father? If you haven''t decided yet, I have a few suggestions."


    --------------------------


    Candasar and the Elves were "escorted" to the city gate. There was a definite tension from the city guard as they approached. Lothinar thought that he recognized a few faces from Harvey''s funeral. A few smiled at him, but most maintained a stoic demeanor. The gate opened at their approach, and Starett stepped out to greet them. He looked them over. His face gave nothing away.


    "Where is Albarad?" he asked.


    "My father is in a secure place. I have come to try and make this situation right," said Lothinar.


    "It can never be right until he answers for his crimes," said a voice stepping out from behind Starett. It was Enderline.


    Ronniflass came forward and looked at the human King. "What are you doing, Enderline? "This isn''t like you," she said.


    The King looked upset. "Let''s take this inside. All of you, please come with us to Starett''s office." It was a reasonably short walk. Once inside, they continued.


    "This is a mistake," Enderline said to Ronni.


    Enderline did not seem surprised to see his queen''s sister among them. "I heard you had taken up with the elves, Ronette," he said bitterly.


    "Where is my sister?" asked Ronniflass. The King did not answer.


    "And you dragon. "The king said, turning and speaking to Candasar." Where do you stand? Are you truly with the elves that killed your people and banished your remaining ancestors to this lake to live like water beasts? We humans have served you faithfully, awaiting your reawakening. Now, we are repaid by treachery! The Black Dragon has attacked her own faithful. We can only believe that she is somehow being controlled."


    "The only one controlling Esmarilla is Ardwella, and I am told that she was unconscious at the time of the attack," said Cantrell. "You must understand that this is some terrible misunderstanding."


    "Her husband went berserk and made an unprovoked attack against our priest, and then the dragon began trampling and burning us!" yelled the King.


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    "How many were injured? Asked Lothinar. "We may have the ability to heal them."


    "Five," said the priest. "Not counting my minor injuries. Four soldiers and Queen Pricilla."


    "Then take us to them!" said Lothinar. I will do what I can."


    "That will not be possible," said Enderline. "My men died the night of the attack."


    "Take me to my sister, please," cried Ronni. "Lothinar can heal her!"


    The King had a strange look on his face. "That would be something to see, indeed," he said. "She also finally died about an hour ago."


    Ronni burst into tears and fell to the floor in a heap. She looked up at Lothinar. It was the first time she had ever looked at him and been so clearly furious.


    Lothinar could only look back at her hopelessly. There was nothing he could do now.


    "I am executing Ardwella for her murder tomorrow morning. That should free the dragon from her evil influence."


    The soldier in charge of the detail that brought them to the city slipped into the room. He gestured to Starett, who went to him. They spoke in hushed whispers. It went back and forth for quite a while.


    "My King!" the priest said, bowing. "I must report that three more dragons have been spotted. They have just landed near the front gates. One matches the description of the white dragon Vanador. We know him. He is previously known to be peaceful. He is carrying two female elves. Another appears to be a smaller one, also white. We believe his name is Tundor.


    Lothinar could not help but smile. Tundor must have somehow avoided the emperor.


    The priest continued. Tundor was last known to be associated with the elf Ardwynn, She is part of Argent''s extended family and not to be trusted. Ardwynn does not appear to be with him, though, and Tundor arrived with a young male elf on his back. And I probably should have mentioned this first... There is another dragon. An immense blue one. She is almost half again the size of any dragon that has ever been seen before. I have not idea who that dragon might be.


    "Are they hostile? asked the King. "Any of them?


    "They do not appear to be," said the soldier." And I don''t think we want to try and fight them. We would take heavy casualties. The blue dragon alone appears capable of easily leveling the town.


    "I will go and see what they want." said the King. He looked at the soldier. "Make sure everyone else stays here"


    "Have they said anything yet?"


    "Um, actually," said the soldier, "The big blue one said that she wants to speak with Lothinar"


    "Well then, said the King looking at Lothinar skeptically. "I guess you are coming with me."


    "I''m coming!" said Candasar.


    "Why should I allow that?" asked the King.


    "You need me," said Candasar. "I am fluent in blue dragon." The King didn''t see it, but she winked at Lothinar.


    "Come then," said the King as he walked quickly out of the room.


    Lothinar and Candasar followed quickly after him.


    "Got to give him one thing," said Cantrell. "He''s brave."


    "How''s that? Asked Mavis.


    "The King. He just condemned Ardwella to death, and he''s going out to talk to her sisters."


    "Sisters? asked Mavis confused.


    "Siophra is back, of course. That explains Vanador. But the other female elf with her has to be your mother. Siophra left to go rescue her and bring her back from the capitol. It looks like she was successful."


    "My mother is here?"


    "I bet your brother is too. But I''m just guessing. The other young male elf could really be anybody. The blue dragon must be your mother''s bond."


    "My mother doesn''t have a dragon. I think I would know about something like that," said Mavis.


    "Of course she does. All of the sisters did." then he smiled and waited.


    The gears were turning. Mavis''s face was in a very funny position. Her thin and delicate eyebrows were climbing into her hair.


    "My mother looks a great deal like Ardwella. I noticed that."


    He waited some more.


    "Lothinar is my cousin? Ew." She said. "Looks like I got smart just in time". She squeezed Cantrell¡¯s hand and then pulled him close.


    "It gets worse, actually." He said.


    "How could almost falling for my cousin get worse?"


    "Albarad is your father."


    "You are telling me that Lothinar is my half-brother?"


    "Yep"


    "Ugh. That would have been so very bad. This is what you didn''t want to tell me? Why not? It would have made things so much easier."


    "But I would have always had questions. It might have been selfish, but I wanted to know that you would choose me over Lothinar without knowing that he was your brother. That I wasn''t your second choice. It was important to me. It gives me the confidence to know that you loving me was a decision."


    "A decision?"


    "Yes. People fall in and out of love all the time. I''ve seen it my whole life. Feelings don''t tend to last. The best and most enduring relationships are those that start with a decision." he said solemnly. "A true commitment to choose the other person because they are good for you and you are good for them."


    "I can''t believe you are romancing each other in here when my sister just died!" yelled Ronni.


    "I''m sorry, Ronni, that was insensitive of me," said Cantrell. "I think my happiness just overflowed a little bit. I wouldn''t worry too much, though...."


    "What are you talking about? My sister is dead!"


    "Well, apparently, a huge blue dragon just arrived outside. If I''m not mistaken, that will provide new options. She also has Vanador with her."


    "Dead is dead!" she cried.


    "Well, I think as my soon-to-be bride just recently discovered... If it''s dealt with soon enough, dead is a relative term."


    Ronniflass jumped up and ran out of the room, screaming for Lothinar. Cantrell and Mavis looked at the priest. They were the only ones left in the room.


    "So I overheard. said Starett. "Did you want to get married now?"


    "I do," they both said at exactly the same time. They looked at each other. Then they smiled.


    "Your mother might be upset if she misses this," said Cantrell.


    "This is about us," said Mavis. "I barely know my mother, and I''m not sure I really want to."


    "That''s probably a good decision," said her soon-to-be husband.


    -----------------------------


    "That''s a really big dragon!" said Lothinar.


    "Wow," said Candasar agreeing fully. They had just run out the main gate following the King. He had been running in a rather undignified manner but stopped and collected himself before proceeding. out of the gate.


    "Where is the elf named Lothinar?" asked the blue dragon a third time. "I grow weary of these delays"


    Lothinar looked up at the blue dragon''s back and did a double take. Sitting behind his Aunt Siophra was his mother. But not his mother.


    Both of the elven ladies jumped off Vanador and walked toward him.


    The King seemed to be hanging back. He seemed willing to let Lothinar do the talking for now. Even with the recent death of his wife, Lothinar assumed that he didn''t become King by acting like a fool. There was a lot of dragon flesh in the immediate vicinity. Discretion seemed a good decision.


    "Things have gone to hell here, Siophra," said Lothinar.


    "He is a handsome one" said the female elf that was not his mother. "Ardwella really must have put some effort in."


    "There is no time for this," said the big blue dragon. "You are Lothinar?"


    "Yes, and this is one of my bonds, Candasar," he replied.


    The dragon seemed a bit surprised by that but continued. "I am Vanquish the mate of Vanador. If you trust him, then trust me. I am the eldest and most powerful of the remaining dragons. There may be a prophecy concerning you. I must verify this."


    "Verify what?"


    "Verify that you are the one. The dragon messiah, some might say. He that will bring the dragons back from the brink of extinction."


    "How do you intend to do this verification? asked Lothinar.


    "We must do magic together. Only then can I truly see inside your heart and spirit."


    Suddenly Ronni came running out of the gate screaming Lothinars name. Several of the soldiers jumped and made a grab for her but missed. She grabbed Lothinar and clung to him in hysterics.


    "Cantrell, he said... " She looked at Lothinar, and then her eyes shifted to the Vanquish. They opened wide in surprise... "Cantrell said that it might not be too late for my sister. That a blue dragon might still be able to bring her back."


    "What is this woman talking about?" Asked Vanquish.


    "Her sister was trampled and burned by Esmarilla. I was too late to save her. She died a while ago."


    "How long?"


    "Does it matter?"


    "Yes, it actually does. How long"


    The King finally spoke up. "Just under two hours"


    "It has been too long. A blue dragon can not do this," said Vanquish.


    The King''s hopeful face fell. Ronni began to weep.


    "But two blue dragons can!" Vanquish said smugly. "Come, sister, I am going to teach you something." Vanquish gestured, and Candasar followed her away a few yards. They began to speak dragon rapidly. In a few minutes, they stopped.


    "We are ready."


    "Lothinar, I said that we must work magic together for me to search your heart and spirit. This will be a true test. You can not fail. The powers we will be using will kill you if you are not who I think you might be."


    "I am ready as well," said Lothinar.


    "Somehow, I knew you were going to say that," Said Candasar rolling her. eyes. "We will stay outside and send you our power through my bond. It is going to hurt Lothinar. Take Ronni with you. You may need her to support your body so it does not fall over afterward.


    "I will take you to her," said the King, who had been watching all this with fascination. "I think I am beginning to understand why we worship these creatures as our gods."


    He took Lothinar and Ronniflass to a small bedroom. A body was under a sheet.


    "I will leave you here." He looked at Lothinar. "Whatever happens, thank you for trying," he said. Lothinar nodded and approached the bed. He lifted the sheet and looked under it. The body was badly burned. There were obviously also some bones that were broken. Ronniflass gasped as she saw the extent of the damage.


    "I appreciate that you are willing to try Lothinar, but this is too much. It will kill you. I know I was angry before, and...I actually still am. But it''s not your fault. If you try this, it will probably kill you,"


    Lothinar smiled gently. "Vanquish has a lot of power. It''s going to be fine. More than that, Candasar believes we can succeed, or she wouldn''t let me try. It''s probably going to hurt, but it''s not going to kill me. I can promise you that."


    "I don''t want to lose you too... Please be careful, Lothinar!"


    "Vanquish has a new word spell for you, Lothinar," said Candasar through the bond. "Heil is not going to be enough for this one."


    "Yes, This is definitely new. She is dead. There is a great deal of damage. "I''m having a hard time accepting that Esmarilla did this..."


    "Do you think your mother was able to force her even while unconscious?"  asked Candasar.


    "We are going to have to talk to her about that. Esmarilla has been ''off'' ever since the attack." said Lothinar.


    "Vanquish says we don''t have much more time. This spell can only work if the subject hasn''t been dead that long."


    What is it then? He asked. "She''s pretty cold already"


    "You will speak the word and then trust yourself to me and Vanquish. We will push the power through you. It will be like when you gave me wings but the amount of power that Esmarilla pushed through you then is nothing compared to what this will feel like. Tell Ronniflass to be ready if you begin to fall."


    Lothinar looked at Ronni. "Apparently, I might pass out," he grimaced. "I''m supposed to tell you to catch me before I fall."


    Her eyes grew wide, but she nodded. Her eyes were brimming with tears and admiration. "Thank you for doing this for my sister!"


    "The words.. there are two. They are ''Restituet Vitam''. You must speak them together without stopping." said Candasar through the bond.


    Lothinar didn''t hesitate. He spoke the words. Then it felt like his insides began to burn. He held tightly to Pricilla''s dead body and began to scream. A bright blue and white began to spill out of him. It spun like a small whirlwind around the dead queen, gently lifting and moving her body.


    Out in the nest at the lake, Firestorm startled her dozing father, Mo-Rung, as she jumped into the air and began flying as fast as she could toward the human town. "No, Lothinar, No!" she cried.


    As the power flowed around and through him, Lothinar thought he could feel a presence. Even through the burning it seemed like he could once again see the huge eyes of Vanquish as she sifted through the crackling fire that was his soul. She was searching for something. The pain went on and on. Finally, it stopped. He looked down to see smooth flesh and the naked half-elf. She looked a lot like Ronniflass. The woman opened her eyes and smiled at her sister. Ronniflass smiled back tenderly. She looked as if she had never been injured. Then the queen turned her gaze to Lothinar. Her face reacted in shock.


    "Who is this Ronni?" she asked with alarm.


    Ronniflass looked at Lothinar as well and then suddenly jumped back. She put her hand over her mouth as she registered her own shock. "No... No.. Oh Lothinar!"


    Lothinar stumbled away and towards a mirror on the wall across the room. His eyes looked illuminated and strange. One was red as fire, and the other was shining a vivid bright blue. Along with the glowing eyes, a strange creature had appeared in the mirror. Lothinar realized that he could only be looking at himself. His hair was completely gone. Raised ridges went across the top of his skull, starting where his eyebrows used to be. They looked like the ones on dragons.


    He swayed and started to fall but felt Ronni try to catch at him, she slowed his fall but he still hit the floor. Then he only knew darkness.


    Outside the city gates standing next to Vanquish, Candasar asked her a question.


    "I lost track of what you were doing there at the end. It seemed very complicated." She said. "Did he pass your test?"


    "He did," said the big blue dragon. "He is worthy to wield the red sword Crimson. He will save our people!"


    "Is he going to be ok right now?" asked Candasar. "I felt him pass out."


    "Trust me, little one. He will soon wake and be better than ever," said Vanquish. "You''ll also be pleased to know that I''ve also made him much more handsome."


    ------------------------

 Chapter 56: A test of Loyalty

    ***************


    Chapter 56


    ***************


    Ardwella was trying to talk to the black dragon again. She was feeling desperate.


    "Esmarilla, please! The King said he was going to execute me! It''s happening tomorrow morning! You need to return and get me out of here right now!"


    "If I just go charging in, some good people will die. Most of those humans have been nothing but helpful to us."


    "This isn''t like you at all. You must honor the bond! What happens to me affects both of us!"


    You should just let Lothinar work on the problem. We still have time. I''m sure it can be solved without resorting to more violence." said Esmarilla.  "Lothinar and Candasar just left. He will solve this. He brought Ronni with him. She is the King''s sister-in-law.¡±


    "Esmarilla. You must realize that the Queen died! The King is furious!. Ronni will probably be angry too."


    "You know that I didn''t want that to happen. I was just doing as you told me and getting Albarad out of there."


    "You need to get me out of here too!"


    Lothinar suggested that I should stay here for now." Said the black dragon.


    "Since when have you been listening to Lothinar over me?" she asked angrily.


    There was a long silence. Ardwella tried a different tactic.


    "Esmarilla, is Albarad is there with you right now?"


    "Yes. Actually, he''s in the house. I''m out by the barn. But he''s here."


    "Tell him I¡¯m in big trouble. Please. I know he will come and save me!"


    There was an awkward silence through the bond. Esmarilla was struggling to resist.


    "You know the humans will certainly kill Albarad if he tries to save you right now? He will rush down there without a plan, and he will die! You are being very selfish!¡± Esmarilla said disappointedly.


    "Not necessarily, Alberad is resourceful....¡± There was a pause. "I just heard voices outside my room... We'' will continue this discussion later!¡± Ardwella cut the link.


    Esrmailla looked at the bull across the pasture, sighed, and jumped into the air. She flapped her wings and headed out over the forest. Arguing with Ardwella always made her hungry. Deer again. Lothinar had better rescue his mother and hurry back soon, or that Bull''s days were numbered. She wasn''t going to allow herself to worry. Lothinar knew what he was doing.


    Back In her room, Ardwella was panicking. She was pacing rapidly. She had worked up a sweat. She felt flushed. Her black dragon was too far away. Ardwella¡¯s control over her was far too weak at this distance. Esmarilla was not coming. Ardwella suddenly realized that she was on her own.


    The door creaked open. An old man''s face was grinning at her. It was Womber, the priest, who had been caught embezzling from the temple. He leered at her.


    "I could not help overhearing that the King has sentenced you to die in the morning for your many crimes," he said, gloating. "I will enjoy watching that. I was demoted and shamed because of you!."


    ¡±I didn''t make you steal money from the temple.¡± Ardwella replied.


    ¡±The dragon hadn¡¯t moved in hundreds of years. I suppose that I had lost faith it could ever happen. Besides, what would a dragon do with gold? It must have been you that actually cared about that.¡±


    ¡±You clearly don¡¯t know much about dragons, do you? Don¡¯t you have some old texts around here somewhere? Educate yourself.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps I shall. Now that real dragons are actually back, some of that information might once again be useful. It will be interesting to see if your dragon will come to save you. It should hurry! From what I¡¯ve heard, I believe the king intends to follow through with your sentence.¡±


    "As I told the King,¡± Ardwella retorted. ¡°This whole thing is ridiculous. I was hit in the head. I was unconscious during the attack. Esmarilla acted without my control."


    "We humans are having a hard time accepting that one of our revered dragons would behave such as yours did without elven outside influence," he smirked. "You must be able to understand this. The example of Tundor attacking Mavis is a recent example of that. As far as I know, no one is blaming Tundor.¡±


    "It was a terrible accident. I told Esmarilla to always protect Albarad if she could. She took it too far. I explained all of this to the king."


    "It does not explain why your husband attacked the priest and the king¡¯s party. The horses ran right through the gathered assembly. Their were other injuries besides the men that died by dragon fire. The queen died as you probably know."


    "Yes, that is very unfortunate and sad."


    "Yet you still refuse to admit that you were involved in the situation?" he asked, raising a bush white eyebrow.


    The beautiful elf did not answer but approached the old priest.


    "I''ve seen you watching me," she said.


    I was watching your sister, but Vanador put a stop to that.¡± The old priest admitted. ¡°Both of you are quite lovely.¡±


    Ardwella stepped up close to the old man, surprising him. She pulled him in, pressing herself against him."


    "What are you doing? he said. ¡°I¡¯m complaining, but it is a surprise.¡±


    The old priest suddenly belatedly remembered the warning all the guards had been given.


    "Do not let her touch you," Starett had warned everyone.


    Womber suddenly felt his pulse racing. She was so warm. Her fragrance was so sweet...


    "Guards... " he managed to choke out. Then his eyes glazed over with lust. He no longer wanted anyone to interrupt them.


    "You''re so beautiful!" he said, staring at her with a twisted smile. "Even prettier than your sister."


    "Now that I have your undivided attention, let''s see how creative you are at getting me out of here," she said softly. "I''m sure you will find that the rewards are worth the risk."


    Womber knew all of the secrets of the temple. He did know a way out. There were passageways and secret doors throughout the place. Nobody even saw them leave.


    -------------------


    Argent''s troops were finally on the move. It was actually much easier when they were able to cut through all the delaying tactics that Mandel had placed in the way. The information Ardwynn had given had been right about that, at least. Unfortunately, his fifth son and general were not to be found. As his other sons had reexamined the evidence, it was quite clear that Mandel had been hindering them.


    Subsequently, the city had been swept and Mandel and the Queen were found to be missing. Being discovered for what they actually were, they had fled. Argent regretted his mistake. How could he have allowed such a flagrant infiltration within his command structure? Talmadge had to be part of this treachery. The elf that had been his second in command also could not be found.


    Argent had promoted his oldest son, Buscoe, to the position. Watching him now astride his horse, Argent could feel that his power was almost, but not quite equal to his own. He had lived far longer than a normal elven lifespan and was heavily augmented by the dragon eggs. Argent made a mental note to keep his eye on him. If he should turn on him as well, he would be a difficult adversary to defeat. That was especially true now that the dragon egg supply had dwindled and then stopped. That Argent might be considered paranoid never occurred to him. Everyone actually was actually out to get him.


    Victory in such an internal conflict would probably come down to the judicious management of stored magical power. Each of the remaining generals commanded a Century group of one hundred mounted elite soldiers. All of them were chosen for their magic. Of course, none of the soldiers were dragon egg-enhanced. That was his family¡¯s private little secret. Along with his own two hundred magical personal guards, that should be more than enough to crush this rebellion and return the lake and valuable eggs to his control. He was definitely feeling the need for them.


    ----------------------


    Deep under Delora Natine in a dusty and partially collapsed tunnel, Ardwella followed the priest as he held up a candle to find his way through the darkness. The tunnel, Womber assured her, led to a secret exit near the lake,


    At what she had to assume was approximately the halfway point in the tunnel, Ardwella was surprised to come upon a small alcove set back from the main passageway. In it, a strange blue light was glowing. It seemed to form a translucent barrier. She reached out a hand to touch it and got a little shock.


    "Ow!" she yelled.


    "Don''t you know better than to touch things?¡± said Womber, who had pulled several yards ahead when she had stopped. He walked back, unfortunately leering at her a bit too long in the candlelight."


    "Do you know what this is?" she asked. ¡°This blue light?¡±


    "It''s been here longer than anyone in the priesthood can remember." The old man said. "My predecessor was a lot more curious about it than I am. Nobody has ever been able to get past it. Let¡¯s move along. It¡¯s not far now.¡± He wiggled his bushy eyebrows.


    "Can we take a look? I''ve got a hunch about this..." Ardwella asked hopefully. The older man rolled his eyes.


    "Look, this isn''t a guided tour we are doing here," he said impatiently. "I told you I could get you out of the city. Then I expect to collect my reward."


    "Why wait?" said Ardwella in a sultry voice, grabbing him and pulling him close. The priest was still holding the candle. He licked his lips and started to put his hands on her body. She let him. The candle he held was getting in the way. He quickly looked for a place to set it down. There was an old broken wheelbarrow near the alcove. The priest bent down to put the candle on it. When he did, Ardwella gave him a push from behind. He tumbled forward and screamed as he fell into the blue light. His body began writhing and jerking violently. Arcs of energy flashed. About a minute later, he finally became still. His clothes were smoking. The blue light stabilized. It looked just as it had before. Ardwella picked up the candle and stepped nearer to the translucent barrier. She touched it again, barely touching it this time.


    "The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese," she said. "Open the barrier for me, Blizzard. It''s Ardwella."


    "THE PASSPHRASE HAS BEEN ACCEPTED," came a strange metallic voice.


    The blue light of the barrier went out abruptly, leaving Ardwella holding the glowing candle in the dark. She stepped forward into the darkened space and held the candle high. She could see row upon rows of shelves. Hundreds of niches were covered with a soft straw material. Each niche held an individual dragon egg. She stepped forward to touch one. It felt warm. It was alive. She. moved through the shelves until she came to an open area in the center of the alcove.


    You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    "So, Father," she said. "That''s what you were doing after the war. I wondered why no one could find you."


    In a chair, sitting at a table in a space near the center of the alcove, was the mummified body of an elf. He looked dignified even in death. a blue sword was near his hand. Ardwella picked it up and used her dress to wipe off the dust.


    She looked at the runes carved into the blue blade. It seemed familiar to read them once again.


    BLIZZARD - SO THAT SOME MIGHT BE FROZEN IN TIME


    Below the name inscription were the words of the spell that her father had taught her. The same spell that had used to save Esmarilla and Vanador from their own fire. This is how it all started. Her quest to save the dragons. A normal elf could cast a difficult spell on only a single creature. It took a lot of power. Using Blizzard her father had cast it on hundreds of dragon eggs.


    "You did a good thing here, Blizzard,¡± Ardwella said as she slowly walked among the crowded shelves. There must be several hundred baby dragons here, All somehow stolen from right under Argent''s nose. They were all perfectly preserved. It must have taken her father hundreds of years. ¡°This will give the dragons a real chance at a future!"


    "Esmarilla! You''re not going to believe what I''ve found?" she sent to the black dragon. ¡°I found dragon eggs! Hundreds of them!" That should get her down here," she thought to herself.


    She was suddenly struck from behind. She fell forward and landed face-first, scraping her arm and elbow as she tried to catch herself and protect the baby. The candle flew forward and rolled to the side, miraculously not going out, its flame sputtering and smoking. The sword clattered to the ground and skidded away across the stone floor. Her attacker was Womber. Growling, he grabbed her and flipped her over. He was surprisingly strong. He smelled like smoke, and his partially melted and burned face was contorted in a strange mixture of lust and fury. He forced his mouth to hers. His lips were blistered and tasted like ashes. His bony fingers began working at her clothing. There was nothing she could do. She began to mentally prepare to pay the consequences.


    His burned body was reducing his dexterity in undressing her. She continued to struggle, not making it any easier. She heard a rapid scratching sound coming from down the passageway. Something was coming toward them fast. The meager candle flickered in the breeze of something in motion. It fell, rolled over, and finally went out. The old man paused his attempts. He was listening as well. There was a strange high-pitched growl, and the disgraced priest was knocked from on top of her. He yelled something incoherent.


    Ardwella scrambled to her feet, trying to distance herself from what was happening as Womber and his unknown assailant rolled around between the shelves in the dark. There was a small burst of red flame. It allowed Ardwella to see again. The flames came from the mouth of a small red dragon. The dragon fire hit Womber directly in the face. He screamed and began swatting at the fire that was consuming his beard and hair. There was no way his eyes would have survived that. Ardwella and the dragon watched him burn for a few more seconds. The small dragon turned towards her as Womber slumped after finally extinguishing himself and was hidden by the darkness once again. The smell of burned hair and flesh was awful.


    The dragon spoke. ¡°You are lucky I came along. I was trying to get to Lothinar but my wings still aren¡¯t quite strong enough. I had to run, and then I realized this passageway would get me inside the city faster¡±


    ¡®How did you know about the passageway?" Asked Ardwella.


    A dragon that I know named Vanessa took shelter inside the lake end opening during a rain storm a while ago. She mentioned it. She said it went back a long way. I figured out the rest. It was a gamble, but I was in a hurry. I didn¡¯t want to have to answer a lot of questions from the humans. Lothinar is in trouble, and, as usual, it¡¯s your fault.¡±


    ¡±Why is it my fault?¡± Ardwella asked.


    ¡°Absolutely! You¡¯re the one that made him so self-sacrificing and compliant, aren¡¯t you, Ardwella? Candasar and I have to deal with that sort of thing far too often.¡±


    "That seemed to work out pretty well for you, little dragon. I must assume that you are Firestorm.¡±


    "Of course I am, and you are Ardwella, Lothinar¡¯s mother. Regarding Lothinar overdoing it on me, It''s not like I had a choice in the matter. I''m trying to help him and make the best of it. I got so much from Lothinar. Yes, It did work out well, now that you mention it. But doing the sort of things like resurrecting Queens is going to get him into a lot of trouble. People are going to start expecting it all the time! Worse trouble. I don''t think you are going to like these last changes he just went through.


    "He was created for desperate times.... " said Ardwella. "There are risks that need to be taken."


    "What were you even doing down here? Why was that old man on top of you?" asked the little dragon.


    "Trying to solve my own problems was also very risky it appears." said the beautiful elf.


    "Nice find here, by the way," said Firestorm. "The eggs, I mean. Not the crispy old priest. It¡¯s a good thing for you that I came along. Unless somehow you have an attraction for old men. I hope that I did the right thing there and didn''t interrupt anything you were actually interested in...."


    Ardwella shuddered and nodded. ¡°No, thank you. You did the right thing"


    Firestorm pondered for a few seconds. "Was that your doing too? Did you control him with your pheromones?"


    "Finding these eggs changes things," Said Ardwella, not answering the question and reaching for the nub of the candle. She could see it in the light blue glow of the sword she had also just picked up.


    She walked over to the old priest to make sure that this time he was actually finally dead. He was. She stuck the sword in him a few more times to make sure, but she did it without yielding to her urge to do it with undue enthusiasm. She didn¡¯t want to make a bad first impression with this strange uncannily smart little red dragon.


    ¡°Would you mind lighting this candle for me? A bit less fire than last time."


    The dragon produced a small flame from the tip of her snout. Ardwella lit the candle again.


    "Thanks. she said. "Now, tell me what is going on with Lothinar.¡±


    ¡±No time for that now,¡± said Firestorm, turning and hustling away back up to the tunnel the way that Ardwella had just come from. ¡°Lothinar just woke up. I have got to see this¡­¡±


    Ardwella sighed and used the sword to reset the barrier.


    ¡°Raise the previous barrier. New password." ¡°Firestorm,¡± she said.


    ¡±Firestorm accepted, ¡° said the metal voice.


    Ardwella sighed.


    If the king still insisted on killing her, then someone needed to be able to get back inside. To make sure that the dragon eggs waiting inside get a chance. Firestorm would probably be the one showing them the way. She began trudging back, following the speeding dragon the way that she had come. She would have to trust Lothinar too.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-


    ¡°You interrupted our wedding vows by passing out Lothinar,¡± said Mavis looking down at him. "Ronni came running to find us. asking for help," Cantrell stood beside her. Lothinar realized that he was lying in a bed. It was the same bed that had recently held the hall elven queen. The sheets smelled a little smoky and had a faint hint of an exotic perfume.


    ¡°Hate to break it to you, but you¡¯re a sight. It¡¯s pretty shocking,¡± said Cantrell.


    Mavis shoved him.


    "Give him a minute at least!"


    ¡±Somebody had to tell him. I thought you would appreciate me saving you from the difficult task,¡± said Cantrell.


    Lothinar groaned. ¡°I¡¯ve actually seen it.¡± He said, pointing to the mirror on the wall. ¡°Just before I passed out. Where are Ronni and the Queen?¡±


    ¡±I think they are outside talking to the big blue dragon. Ronni is not happy,¡± said Mavis


    ¡±The king is ecstatic though,¡± said Cantrell. ¡°Nice work there, by the way. Hard on the hair, though ¡°


    Mavis shoved him again.


    ¡°Hey! Is this what marriage is going to be like?¡± Cantrell asked.


    ¡±Don¡¯t push your luck, buddy. We are actually not quite married yet. I could still change my mind.¡± Said Mavis smiling.


    ¡°Your mother somehow escaped.¡± Said Cantrell. ¡°That has the whole town in an uproar. I heard someone say it was shortly after Womber went to visit her. Starett is pretty concerned about that.¡±


    ¡±He¡¯s worried about Womber?¡¯ Asked Lothinar, surprised.


    ¡±That man knows things. Starett doesn¡¯t trust Womber. He may have been after revenge. But perhaps he just wanted to gloat at her misfortune. Your mother and Esmarilla exposed him after all.¡± said Cantrell.


    ¡®¡¯The Queen? She¡¯s really ok?¡±


    ¡±Yes, she actually is. Although I heard Ronniflass telling her that she thought her ears were pointier. Did you give her more elf parts when Vanquish started giving you dragon parts?¡±


    ¡±I really don¡¯t know. I was just the conduit.¡± Said Lothinar. ¡°You¡¯ll have to ask Vanquish.¡±


    There was a very loud bumping sound behind a bookcase. Some books fell off.


    ¡°Lothinar! It¡¯s me, Firestorm. Can you figure out how to open this secret door? There must be a switch somewhere.¡±


    Cantrell walked over to the bookcase. He started pulling books out and putting them back. Mavis joined him. She was looking at a candle holder on the wall. She lifted a candle out. The whole bookcase swung around, leaving a very surprised little red dragon in the room and Cantrell behind the wall.


    Lothinar decided that it was time to get out of bed. Firestorm had come over and was just staring at him.


    "Oh my," the small dragon finally said.


    Behind the bookcase in the tunnel, Cantrell was shouting in the dark.


    "Put the Candle Back!"


    Suddenly he felt someone tapping him on the shoulder. He jumped. He turned around and looked in surprise as Ardwella stood there grinning at him. In her hand was a glowing blue sword.


    "What are you doing here, Ardwella? Nice sword. Uh. Are you ok? You don''t look too good." His eyes were not mocking. They looked genuinely concerned.


    Ardwella realized that her clothing was torn and covered with soot and ashes. Her face must be filthy as well. The enormity of her recent experience washed over her. The terror of the King''s sentence, Finding her dead father, and almost being raped. In spite of herself, she began to cry. Reflexively, Cantrell stepped forward, closing the space between them to an intimate level. Catching himself, He stopped just in time.


    Abruptly the bookcase spun. Mavis stood there looking at the two of them. She frowned.


    "Just what do you think you are doing with my husband Ardwella?


    Ardwella''s eyes, though, were fixed across the room on her son.


    She walked over to him.


    "You know, my son, I wish I still had a portrait of him to show you. Every day you seem to look more like your grandfather." She said, wiping her tears on her dirty sleeve.


    "He''s very handsome," agreed Firestorm. "For an elf. Obviously, I had nothing to worry about."


    King Enderline and his half-elf, Queen Pricilla, walked into the room. Ronniflass followed them.


    "We thought we would come and see how you..... Oh." The King tapered off. He seemed surprised to see Firestorm. His eyes moved over the room.


    The King grimaced when he saw Adwella.


    Queen Pricilla, however, showed no hesitation and came directly up to Lothinar. Ronni followed her and came to stand next to him too.


    "I am sorry for my reaction to your appearance earlier. The big blue dragon explained to me what she did. She said that through you, she and Candasar were able to somehow revive me when all hope was lost! I wanted to thank you."


    "Yes, Thank you mumbled the King. But I see Ardwella is here. While I was outside, I was able to speak with Tundor. His story is interesting. I have some questions about Ardwella''s involvement in all of this. There are a few things that I do not understand about a bonded dragon''s free will."


    Ronni''s eyes were wide as she looked at Lothinar again. Her gaze moved from the ridges on his bald head to his mismatched eyes. "What did those blue dragons do to you, Lothinar?" she asked.


    "A red eye and a blue one. One for Candasar and one for me," said Firestorm appreciatively. I wonder if they give you special abilities? Vanquish really did a good job!"


    Lothinar felt like he was starting to panic. Everyone had such different opinions and expectations.


    Cantrell stepped up and cleared his throat. "Ahem. Beauty is in the eye or should I say, eyes of the beholder" he said. "Perhaps we should give Lothinar and his family a few minutes to sort this all out before we inundate them with questions. I think he has earned that"


    "Do half sisters count because if they do, then I''m staying" said Mavis giving Ardwella a dirty look. "Yes stepmother. The cat is out of that bag. I know Arbarad is my father!"


    "Mavis is my sister?"


    "Lothinar! I want to see what Vanquish did to your head. Could you please come out here? sent Candisar.


    "FREEZE" yelled Lothinar. He didn''t intent to do it but the word came out as a magical spell. He felt a lot of power coming out of him. It was a spell that he didn''t even realize that he knew. He realized that it was the same spell that lived on Blizzards Blade.


    The force of the blast spread out like a huge rock had been dropped into a lake. Force of magic took hold of every living creature as it passed from the room Lothinar was in and out through the walls. Even the birds in the nearby trees stopped their singing and were frozen where they perched.


    The room was completely silent. The people in it were as if frozen in time. Even Firestorm wasn''t moving.


    "Well that was something" said Ardwella as she walked around the people in the room to get near to her son. If I hadn''t been holding this blade I would no doubt be as immobile as the rest of them.


    Lothinar looked at the king. He was still scowling at the place in the room where Ardwella had been standing. Mavis was looking at the same place with a frown. Cantrell had his hands up in front of him, obviously trying to placate her.


    "Well that shut everybody up" said Ardwella. "What do you want to do now my son?"


    ¡±I think I want to talk to Vanquish. Let¡¯s head outside. But first¡­¡±


    Lothinar reached over and touched Firestorm. She stumbled and almost fell before catching herself. She looked very surprised. "What happened?" she asked.


    "My son is using spells that he didn''t even know he any knowledge of." Said Ardwella. "Vanquish must have downloaded them directly into his brain. If I hadn¡¯t been holding Blizzard here, I¡¯m sure I¡¯d look like the rest of them right now.¡±


    ¡±Just dirtier.¡± Said Firestorm with snark. ¡°Rolling around in secret passageways fending off a rapist must be hard on your wardrobe.¡±


    Ardwella sighed. ¡°Yes, in my numerous experiences it always has been.¡±


    Lothinar seemed to take that one in stride. I would think he would be more upset. Perhaps, thought Ardwella, Firestorm had already told him about it. He probably had guessed correctly about how she had attracted Womber. He probably knew about the eggs too, So much for breaking the big news.


    ¡°Lothinar must have a lot more power at his disposal than before.¡± Said Firestorm as they walked down the hallway and outside. "Everyone in the whole town is frozen"


    "Everyone but Vanquish, it seems." Said Ardwella as they exited the gates. The blue dragon was just sitting there, just outside. She had not been frozen by Lothinar¡¯s spell but she did look a little sleepy. She was watching them.


    Lothinar walked up to Candasar, apparently caught in mid conversation with Tundor. It was good to see them together again. He touched her and she broke free of the spell that had held her. Twisting and looking around she ogled the sudden appearance of her bond.


    ¡°What happened? Why is everyone so still? She asked anxiously.


    "What I did must have worked. Vanquish said to Candasar. Lothinar has finally come into his powers. That was an ambitious spell he just cast. The whole town was affected.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to do this.¡± Said Lothinar. ¡°I am going to have to be more careful. Someone could get hurt.¡±


    Esmarilla passed overhead, made a hard turn and landed next to Vanquish. Albarad was on her back.


    "What happened here? Esmarilla rumbled. I was flying in and felt a strange shockwave. It almost knocked me out of the air."


    ¡±See what I mean!¡± He cried.


    Albarad jumped down off her back and gave Ardwella a huge hug. "I''ve missed you so much!" he said. But we have a big problem.


    ¡°What is it this time?¡± She asked.


    Albarad¡¯s eyes crinkled in worry. ¡°The Emperor¡¯s army is only a few hours away. They should be here before dark. They are riding some really beautiful horses. We won¡¯t have to attack the horses will we?¡±


    ¡±I¡¯m sorry but probably yes.¡± Said Vanquish. But we will try to minimize their losses. I prefer not to eat them. Cows are better. I think I saw a dairy when I was flying over here didn¡¯t I?


    ¡°I agree! Said Esmarilla. I just finished a bull that was quite delicious¡±


    --------------------

 Chapter 57: Frozen -Let it go!

    ***************


    Chapter 57


    ***************


    Lothinar was a little peeved.


    "You ate the bull anyway?" Asked Lothinar incredulously. "I don''t think Ronni will be pleased about that. She''s probably going to be furious."


    "It seemed like a waste to leave him up there when I could bring him with me..." said Esmarilla, stifling a burp. "Besides, he was going to be alone and unattended. He''d probably starve. Everyone has come down here now."


    "Ronniflass is probably going to want to stay here with her sister anyway," said Firestorm. "A colorblind bull will probably be the last thing on her mind."


    "We have to get ready for Argent''s arrival." Said Ardwella. "I don''t think this conversation is the best use of our time right now."


    Lothinar sighed. "You right, of course. Still!" he said, glaring at the black dragon. "You are going through a rebellious phase."


    "I believe you have just stumbled upon the most important conversation we need to have right now," said Vanquish. She looked poignantly between Ardwella and Esmarilla. "Lothinar, since your spell put them in stasis, would you please release Vanador and Siophra so they can also weigh in?


    "What about Aunt Muina?


    "Yes, it''s probably a good idea. Oh, and Tundor, too. I believe he will have some important insights," said Vanquish.


    "Well, we might as well wake everyone up then," said Firestorm.


    "We will very soon, but we must get this settled first. It''s important to me," said Vanquish.


    ¡±Are you thinking about breaking up with me?¡± Ardwella asked Esmarilla.


    ¡±We do have some issues to resolve.¡± Said the black dragon. ¡°I think that is pretty obvious by now.¡±


    Lothinar felt awkward overhearing them and quickly walked over to Siophra and Vanador, touching them both. They both began to move.


    "Lothinar? is that you? his Aunt asked. "What is going on here? You look so different. I see Esmarilla. She wasn''t here before."


    "We were put into suspension." Said Vanador. I recognize the feeling after coming out. Not very long this time, I believe. Just a few minutes."


    "I overreacted and froze the whole town," Said Lothinar. "I''m sorry. I didn''t mean to hit you with the spell. It seems I now don''t know my own limits."


    "He''s unfreezing some specific individuals first," said Ardwella, walking. up to her sister. "For an important conversation. It''s obviously going to be about the dragon bonds".


    Siophra turned to look at Ardwella and paled. "Uh, sorry about the crack on the head."


    "You are not sorry at all. I know you too well. " retorted Ardwella. "Just give me my sword back," she said, holding out her hand.


    "What''s that sword you''re carrying now? It''s blue! Is that Father''s? Is that Blizzard? It sure looks like Blizzard." said Siophra, grinning excitedly.


    "I see you have Mortimer right there. Where is Curacion?" said Ardwella, not to be distracted.


    Siophra paused. She looked left and right. "Funny story. The sword kind of exploded," said Siophra. "It was pretty impressive. It took out most of a city block!"


    "That sword was a priceless artifact made by our Grandfather! How did you blow up my SWORD!?"


    "It was actually Talmadge that blew it up. Not my fault at all. You are the one that was always so willing to deal with that creep!"


    Ardwella sighed. "Is he at least permanently dead? There is no way he might come back, is there?¡±


    "Definitely not,¡± said Siophra. "If you don''t believe me ask Muina."


    "I certainly will, right after Lothinar wakes her up, but what were you thinking...."


    Lothinar had been standing there completely engrossed in the interesting conversation between his mother and aunt. He suddenly remembered he had a lot to do. He stepped away from the arguing siblings and found Tundor. He touched the white dragon. Tundor unlocked and began to move. He recovered quickly, then turned to Lothinar.


    "I''m so sorry, Lothinar!" the white dragon said. "I tried, but I could not hold her off. She was too powerful. She took me over"


    Right. Of course, Tundor was talking about Ardwynn. Lothinar''s grief came flooding back. It had been temporarily held at bay by the immediate crisis. Now he felt the betrayal all over again.  However it had happened, he did know that Ardwynn''s betrayal hadn¡¯t been Tundor¡¯s fault.


    Lothinar threw his arms around the white dragon''s neck and hugged him as best he could. Tundor had gotten a lot bigger.


    "It is I that should be apologizing to you, Tundor," said Lothinar, trying to find a smile and failing. "We all thought we were doing the right thing. We were wrong.¡±


    ¡±Is Ardwynn still alive?" He found himself asking the dragon, trying to make himself not care.


    "She was when I last saw her. I imagine that Argent probably has her locked up somewhere.¡± The dragon evaluated his face with sympathy.


    ¡±Vanquish broke the bond completely. I can''t feel her, so truthfully, I''m not really sure if she''s even alive. But Lothinar..." The white dragon hesitated. "There is something you should know, but I really don''t want to tell you."


    "What is it, Tundor?" asked Lothinar, growing cold inside.


    "Ardwynn was talking to Argent. She said she is pregnant and that you are the father"


    "I suppose that makes sense," said Lothinar, his eyes misting up. "Things were pretty good there for a while. Before they weren''t."


    "Do you still love her?" asked the dragon. "I don''t know how you could after what I''ve seen inside, but I would try to understand."


    "No, I don''t love her. Not exactly. It''s more like I feel responsible for what I put her through."


    "Stop it!" said Tundor. You have to believe me. She knew what she was doing. She was working for Argent the whole time. It wasn''t real."


    "It felt pretty real to me, Tundor."


    "She buried her motives and true personality under a false pheromone haze." She deceived me, too.  It was a good plan for them. It almost worked. If your cousin hadn''t come along..."


    "Ha, he''s not my cousin.  He''s actually my half-brother," said Lothinar.


    Tundor grimaced. "I didn''t know that. Mandel is not exactly one of my favorite people right now."


    "And Mavis too. A half-sister as well, said Lothinar, thinking about it. "It¡¯s new and confusing. My father is their father. I think you use the closest label.¡± He shook his head. ¡®Our family tree is really messed up. I''ll try to explain it to you later."


    ¡±Does your father know about that, asked Tundor. ¡°That they are his?¡±


    ¡±I don''t know how he could have fathered children without knowing something about it.  If he doesn''t know, then he¡¯s probably going to figure it out soon. That conversation is going to be an interesting one for my mother,¡± said Lothinar.


    ¡°How would he not know? Asked Tundor, You know, never mind. Don¡¯t worry about it." "Dragons are not nearly as concerned about staying clear of near relatives while breeding."


    "I bet you are glad to be able to see Candasar again," said Lothinar, feeling appreciative and smiling at the amicable white dragon that he remembered had been his first dragon friend.


    "You know that I am!" said Tundor with a knowing smile.


    "Oh, I need to wake up Muina too," said Lothinar remembering his tasks. "Esmarilla said Argent''s only a few hours from getting here on horseback. We are pressed for time."


    ¡°I¡¯ve actually met him.¡± Said Tundor with a shudder. ¡°I¡¯m not looking forward to the reunion.¡±


    Lothinar then moved to touch Muina. Now still frozen, it was easy to see how much she looked like an older version of his mother. She was the twin that had been in the bed of Argent. He cringed. She had apparently been willing to do anything to achieve her goals. That single-mindedness certainly reminded him of his mother. He touched her and canceled the spell. He realized that he had become distracted by difficult thoughts and quickly looked up to see her staring at him. His appearance might come as a shock. He prepared himself for revulsion.


    ¡±Do you hate me?¡± He heard her say instead.


    He paused, considering his answer.


    ¡±It¡¯s complicated. Hate is a pretty strong word. I think it might help me if I could understand better what you and my mother were thinking when you started putting all of this together. Deceiving my father, selling your souls, and lying to people. I don¡¯t even really know you. I probably blame my mother more than you. I feel sorry for you if she put you up to all of this!¡± He finally finished.


    He suddenly realized that he had raised his voice considerably during his tirade. Everyone was staring at him.


    ¡±I know we have a lot to answer for,¡± said Muina, looking at everyone. ¡°But it all comes down to defeating Argent. I, of all people, know how important that is and how very difficult it is going to be to do.¡±


    She looked at Vanquish, and something unspoken seemed to pass between them. The huge blue dragon moved closer to them.


    ¡°If we are going to have a chance then you are going to need Lothinex¡¯s sword. Give it to him, Muina.¡±


    If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    His aunt seemed to hesitate for a moment or two, then reaching for her waist, unclasped the sword hanging from her belt.


    ¡±There is no scabbard. I¡¯m afraid that really was lost. Be careful around others with it, It¡¯s still extremely sharp, but it¡¯s never cut its owner, which has been me. Up until now, I suppose.¡±


    Lothinar hesitated, then started to reach for the pommel of the offered red blade. He was surprised to find Tundor moving to stand between him and Muina. The dragon had a very concerned look on his face. Lothinar stopped.


    ¡°What is it, Tundor?¡±


    ¡±That sword overpowers a dragon¡¯s free will. I know because Mandel tried to use it on me. That specific function is very powerful. I¡¯m not sure, but I suspect it might have been used to help your mother bond with Esmarilla. Perhaps Siophra bonded Vanador with it as well. These older dragons may have certain pent-up resentments that might come out if that sword suddenly changes ownership.¡± He looked at the three big dragons. Tundor stared at Muina. ¡°Am I right about that?¡±


    Esmarilla and Vanador did not answer. The immense blue dragon laughed. It shook the area.


    ¡°You are very intuitive, Tundor. Yes, changing the sword''s ownership resets all the bonds made under its influence. I believe Lothinex added that feature to help inspire additional loyalty within his own ranks. Resetting it will give Vanador and Esmarilla a genuine chance to be free. But only if they want to take it. They might not. It¡¯s time to give them an actual choice.¡±


    ¡±Couldn¡¯t you free them like you did for me? From Ardwynn? Asked Tundor.


    ¡±It¡¯s been far too long. The dragons and the elves are far too intertwined. Like two plants in the same pot, their roots have grown together." said Vanquish.


    "If it is too late, then why must you disturb the situation now?" asked Ardwella. "My sister should keep the sword. at least until the battle with Argent and his army is concluded.¡±


    ¡±Lothinar will need to bond with the sword to win this battle. That is our best hope for victory.¡± Said Vanquish.


    ¡±So, this sword. You called it Crimson, was used to dominate dragons and force them to bond with elves that they didn¡¯t really want to bond with?¡± Asked Lothinar trying to understand. ¡°And it¡¯s verified user is the only one of Lothinex¡¯s granddaughters that lost her dragon bond?¡±


    ¡°She was a big blue. Strong-willed even when she wasn¡¯t as big as she is now. We disagreed constantly. She really didn¡¯t want me moving to the capital to begin working my way into Argent¡¯s government. I couldn¡¯t give that my full attention and keep fighting with her about it so I had to let her go.¡± Explained Muina. She was also willing to keep the sword safe until Ardwella could finally finish making you, Lothinar. You are someone specifically made to use that sword far more effectively than I ever could.¡±


    ¡±You lied about wanting to drop it into the ocean!¡± Said Tundor looking at Vanquish.


    ¡±Oh, she probably wanted to but knew it was the key to eventually freeing Vanador and Esmarilla,¡± said Muina, smiling at the big blue.


    Vanquish rumbled. She sounded annoyed.


    ¡±I don''t want to be free,¡± said Esmarilla suddenly.


    Siophra glared at Ardwella. ¡°Really? Are you forcing words in her mouth?


    Ardwella at least had the decency to look a little embarrassed. His mother''s attempt at deception finally did it for Lothinar. Esmarilla deserved a choice. He stepped around Tundor and grasped the sword. Muina nodded at his sudden decision and spoke some words.


    ¡±Lacero Ligumen¡±


    He felt a crushing weight fall upon his soul. The weight of dragons in bondage. He let it go.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    Mo-Rung had been sitting near the nest, trying to think of good names for the new hatchlings. He really liked Salt and Pepper but Candasar had mentioned that the townspeople had been calling Esmarilla and Vanador that when they had first appeared together. He hated to be thought of as unoriginal. Mavis had asked him to stay here with them when she had been taken off with everyone else back to the human town by the soldiers. Killingsworth had complained some more and then headed off into the lake to catch some fish.


    Mo-Rung had just been sitting near the nest when a strange thing had happened. Without any warning, he had fainted. He woke up lying on the ground. Nothing like that had ever happened to him before. The little white and black dragons in the nest were curled up asleep, just as he remembered He gently reached out to touch them. They wouldn''t wake up. They were not breathing! He started to panic but then realized that in every other way, they looked fine. This had to be some sort of magic. He reached out to Mavis through the bond. She was there, but it felt like he was hearing her underwater.


    "Help me Mo-Rung!" was all he could make out.


    The big red dragon thundered off toward the town. Not for the first time. He really wished he had wings.


    He burst out of the tree line into the clearing that surrounded Delora Natine to be met with a strange sight. Two dragons were fighting. It gave him a strange feeling because they were gigantic versions of the two hatchlings he had just minutes before left in the nest by the lake. One was white, and one was black. The black one looked like she was trying to get to a female elf that was cowering behind Lothinar and Candasar. Just behind them, observing with obvious interest, was a truly large blue female. Even the stories of old had never mentioned a dragon this size. The dragons struggled for supremacy, pushing and shoving each other. He realized that the black one was Esmarilla. The white one who was stopping her was her brother Vanador. Mo-Rung quickly realized that it wasn''t really a fight but more of a holding action. No actual blood was being spilled by either combatant. He ran up into the fray, disrupting their positions and timing. Mo-Rung was far bigger than the lake dragons, even the biggest ones, but he felt small next to the fighting giants.


    Some dynamic seemed to change between the combatants as he closed the distance, and suddenly, the black dragon stopped her assault. She looked at him with interest and stepped back. She gained some distance from her brother and jumped into the sky. She flew quickly away. Soon she was out of sight. Vanador looked visibly relieved.


    "What is going on here!?" Yelled Mo-Rung. "I got a message through my bond with Mavis to rescue her and arrive to see two of our elders fighting."


    "That was not fighting," said the very large blue. "That was a lively discussion."


    "What were they discussing? Because I''m glad they stopped and didn''t crush me by accident," said Mo-Rung.


    "Esmarilla wanted to teach Ardwella a little lesson," said FIrestorm cheerfully. "Vanador is more the forgiving type it appears."


    "I can understand revenge." Said Mo-Rung. "It''s kind of become a hobby of mine recently."


    The blue dragon drew near him. "I sense that you are bonded..... but not by force. You were willing?"


    "My bond and I decided that we have the same goal. My Mate and Mavis''s first dragon bond was killed. We want our revenge on Ardwynn and Tundor......" He paused, suddenly realizing something; His head swiveled around as his eyes locked on the smaller white dragon who had committed the assault on Mavis that led to his mate''s death. Tundor was here! He leaped for him.


    Tundor did not step aside or avoid the attack. He seemed to brace himself. There was a flash of blue, and Candasar interrupted the charge, crashing into her grandfather and pushing him aside from his path of destruction. They tumbled together and rolled to a stop a few yards away.


    "Mo-Rung rolled to his feet. His eyes were wild and furious. "What have you done to Mavis this time, Tundor? You will pay dearly..."


    "Stop this, Grandfather!" yelled Candasar. Jumping up and positioning herself between him and the white dragon. "Tundor was being controlled. It was Ardwynn. He did not want to do it. He has not hurt her now. She is fine!"


    "I can confirm this," rumbled the larger blue. "I have seen his story as it is written in his soul. There is no deceit in him in this matter."


    "Where is she then?" exclaimed Mo-Rung. "She called for me. She was in trouble of some kind."


    "An oversight on my part Mo-Rung. It''s my fault," said Lothinar. "She''s just inside. If you give me five minutes, I will bring her out to you. Cantrell as well. I know he is also your friend."


    Mo-Rung looked at Tundor, then at granddaughter Candasar. "I will wait five minutes," he said at last. Lothinar moved quickly away with Firestorm quickly following him. They really seemed almost inseparable. He was glad his daughter had such a bond.


    The large blue dragon moved in closer. "My name is Vanquish. While we are waiting, why don''t you let me read your story" she asked.


    "Read my story? Do you want me to tell you about myself?" asked Mo-Rung.


    "No, that would take far too long. I can absorb it directly from your memories. I''m sure I''ll get more accurate information."


    "I''m not so sure about letting you do that..." said Mo-Rung.


    "I don''t think you could really stop me, but I''ll be polite. How about I make It the price for those wings you''ve always wanted" asked Vanquish.


    "Well, why didn''t you say so? Read away," said Mo-Rung. "I''m an open book"


    ------------------------


    Mavis found herself staring at Lothinar''s very strange but smiling face. Cantrell was looking at both of them with great interest.


    "Sorry," said Lothinar. "I should have woken you both up right away. Things have been very busy and confusing. for the last half an hour or so. I accidentally blasted the whole area with freeze magic."


    "I don''t feel cold," said Mavis.


    "It''s not that kind of freeze," said Cantrell. "It''s a spell that puts you in a kind of stasis."


    "I noticed he woke you up first," said Mavis suspiciously. "Anything you didn''t want to tell me, dragon-browed brother?"


    "Uh, " said Lothinar guiltily. "Well, I thought you might be angrier... uh, less reasonable than him. I was hoping he could keep you calm."


    "Hmmph!" she exclaimed. "I can certainly be reasonable too."


    "Well, then, Actually, there is something really important I''d like you to take care of right away," said Lothinar.


    "I knew it!. What is it, then? Maybe I''ll help you out."


    "Your dragon is outside. He''s looking for you. He''s got blood in his eye and has started to attack Tundor."


    "Tundor, the dragon that Mo-Rung and I swore to get revenge upon? Tundor''s out there!?"


    "Yes, he is. Is that going to be a problem for you?"


    "He''s just the dragon that grabbed me by the neck and swung me around until I kind of died. Why should that be a problem?"


    "Tundor did not come back alone. He''s got a really big dragon on his side that sincerely believes Tundor was forced to do what he did."


    "I''m sure Mo-Rung can hold his own." Wait a minute...." she seemed to be in communication with Mo-Rung.


    "Wow. She''s really big!"


    "I think I did say that," said Lothinar smiling again. Mavis seemed both excited and conflicted.


    "Let''s go out and see what they all have to say," said Cantrell. "It will be a good chapter in my book. You really should have woken me up earlier. I''ve already missed quite a lot."


    "I''ll fill you in later boss," said Lothinar.


    "I think we are probably past the point when you should be calling me boss," said Cantrell.


    "I like that name. ''BOSS'' If you don''t want it can I use it, Cantrell?" asked Firestorm excitedly


    "I am not going to start calling you "Boss" Firestorm." Laughed Lothinar. "Do you even know what that means.?"


    "Of course I do," she replied. "It''s the person in charge. In our relationship, that''s definitely going to be ME," she said. "You¡¯re way too much of a pushover!"


    Lothinar rolled his eyes as Cantrell and Mavis chuckled at her statement. Little did they know.


    They walked back outside to an amazing sight. Mo-Rung was glowing. He also had great big red wings.


    "It looks like Father is finally going to be able to fly," said Firestorm happily.


    Mavis ran quickly up to him. They seemed to be speaking quickly, mind to mind. They were looking at Tundor. Finally, Mavis nodded. She walked over to him. She hesitantly patted him on the nose.


    "That''s a huge relief," said Lothinar.


    Cantrell looked at Lothinar and nodded. "She''s grown up a lot." He then looked at the assembled dragons. It didn''t take him long to count them. "Where''s Esmarilla?"


    "That''s going to be a problem," said Lothinar, "She''s very angry at my mother. Vanador had to get between them to save Ardwella from a possible squishing. I don''t know what''s going to happen. She flew off. She might not come back."


    "Her bond with Ardwella is broken?" Cantrell asked with concern.


    "Yes, apparently, it was made with this sword," said Lothinar, holding up Crimson. When I took possession of it. Not just physically, but somehow spiritually, the bonds created with it were all severed. Those bonds were Vanadors and Esmarilla''s."


    "Vanador is still here. Is that a good sign?" asked Cantrell.


    "Well, his bond was broken too, but he''s obviously not mad at Siophra, They might even re-bond. There is another thing that you should know. Vanador loves Vanquish. They are a mated pair and she is sticking around. I''m sure that his remaining has something to do with that." replied Lothinar.


    "What''s next then?" asked Cantrell.


    "I think I need to go wake up all the humans. Especially the king and queen. We are starting to run out of time and need to make at least some rudimentary plans for defending this place."


    "There are a lot of them. It''s going to take some time. Can''t you delegate or something? You froze everybody all at once. Can''t you just do the same thing in reverse?"


    Lothinar sighed again. ''I''m sure there is a way. I''ll go ask my mother. She is holding the blue sword that was the origin of that spell. If she is over the shock of losing her dragon, perhaps she can even help me."


    He turned to look for her, but Ardwella and Alberad were gone.


    Vanquish knew how to reverse the spell. Candasar and Lothinar flew over the city, sending out waves of wakefulness. The rest of the town began to wake from their magical suspension. They didn''t realize that in a tunnel halfway between the lake and the city, hundreds of dragon eggs also came out of their slumber and continued their gestation journey. The oldest ones began to wiggle and shake. They were beginning to hatch.


    ----------------------


    Esmarilla only had to fly a few minutes away from the town before she once again saw Argent''s army. The mounted troops were only about an hour away from being able to overlook the town of Delora Natine. Several of the elves shouted and pointed at her as she circled them from a wary distance. She was probing for an opportunity. All the frustration and anger that had been stewing inside her needed a place to go. She had eaten that magnificent bull and was filled with magical energy. She lined herself up for a strafing run. She flew toward the head of the column. A lighting bolt crackled and whizzed past close, but it missed her. She filled her huge and mighty lungs and sent a sheet of flame downward, enveloping dozens of elves and horses. There was screaming and death. She grinned. Again! She wheeled in the sky, making two more passes and dealing death before a huge flash filled her vision, and her wings locked in agony. She fell from the sky.


    --------------------

 Chapter 58: Letting Sleeping Dragons Lie

    *************


    Chapter 58


    *************


    Ardwella had taken Esmarilla¡¯s departure very hard. She had expected her to have a conversation and demand some concessions, not sever their bond completely!


    Didn¡¯t Esmarilla realize that every complicated and painful thing that Ardwella had done was for the sake of the dragons? When she had charged at her, it was a shock. What had she done to illicit such rage in the dragon? Esmarilla might have tried to hurt her if Vanador had not gotten between them. The attempted assault had come so suddenly that Ardwella had not even had time to pull out her father¡¯s sword. Freezing the dragon in place would have been her only defense. Having a dragon as giant as Esmarilla unbound and angry at you was a new experience. It was terrifying! Albarad''s standing next to her at the time probably made the black dragon hesitate long enough for Vanador to intercept her charge. For some strange reason, at least lately, it had felt like Esmarilla was fonder of him than of her. She smiled at her husband, who never hesitated to give her his support, well, at least now that he was back in her presence.


    Now, she was in Starett¡¯s office dealing with the dragon egg crisis. She had a strange feeling that the usually helpful priest was, for unknown reasons, stalling.


    "We need to act immediately. Dragon lives are at stake." Said Ardwella.


    "Why should I be listening to you?" asked Starett. "I''m not sure the King has decided to change your sentence."


    "Are you the Priest of the Dragon Temple or not!" Ardwella said heatedly. "I''ve told you I found hundreds of baby dragons still in their eggs in a passageway below the city. Lothinar has inadvertently restarted their biological clocks. Some of them are going to be hatching soon."


    "That is unfortunate timing with the Elven Emperor just hours away." Said Starett. "Your father must have gathered them. They have been safe for hundreds of years. Shouldn''t we leave them where they are?"


    Ardwella thought about it. "If there was a way to determine how long they were away from hatching, we might be able to do that. I might even be able to renew the stasis spell now that I have the blue sword. But some are about to hatch. Albarad and I just returned from down there, and many of the shells are already starting to crack."


    "Before we discuss this any further, there is the matter of Womber," said Starett. "We know he helped you escape but hasn''t been seen since."


    Ardwella gave Starett a strange look. "I didn''t think you were that interested in his whereabouts. You are aware of his moral shortcomings.¡±


    "Nonetheless, I am responsible for his well-being. He was in charge here for a long time, and I strongly suspect his going missing has something to do with you."


    "If I told you I paid him off, and he took off with the money, would you believe me?"


    "Is that what you are telling me?" the young priest asked.


    Ardwella looked at her husband, Albarad. She shook her head. "No. Womber is dead."


    For some reason, Starett didn''t look all that surprised.


    "He attacked her in the tunnel. He tried to rape her!¡± said Albarad. "If it hadn''t been for the timely arrival of Lothinar''s dragon Firestorm, he would have succeeded. The young dragon killed him with her flame."


    "He was an old man!" shouted Starett. "Do you expect me to believe he would lose control of his passions like that?"


    "I''m getting dangerously close to losing control of my passions, priest!" said Albarad angrily.


    "That would not surprise me considering your past behavior," snipped Starett.


    "Someone may have incentivized him," said Ardwella cooly. "I was just trying to convince him to help me escape, but the attempted raping that came later was all his idea."


    "You are a danger to males everywhere!" yelled Starett. That finally drew a physical reaction from Albarad. He rapidly closed on the priest and threw a series of blows to his face and body. They all landed hard. The Priest rocked back and fell to the floor, gasping for breath.


    "Albarad, please stop!" yelled Ardwella. "We still need his help."


    "He was the one that convinced me to leave you here and deliver the horses!'' shouted Albarad. "He is responsible for you getting injured! He must be working for the Emperor!"


    "First, your husband attacked me at the gates, now in my own office," Wheezed the young priest as he climbed to his feet. "You are no longer bonded to Esmarilla. I don''t see why I should give you any further consideration. I''m calling the guards!"


    "You want the eggs for Argent!" said Ardwella, suddenly reconsidering Albarad''s outburst. She narrowed her eyes at the Priest. "You''ve been bought. Albarad is right!"


    "That''s crazy!" said Starett.


    "No, it is starting to make sense! The letter you read us that you said came from Womber. You met with the emperor''s agents. Yourself. They threatened you or bought you. That has to be it!" she exclaimed.


    "I didn''t even know about the eggs until a few minutes ago!" protested the priest.


    "You didn''t know about them when you took over, but since then, you have had time to read over the temple history left by your predecessors. Womber knew about the tunnels and the hidden cache. He didn''t know what was in there or didn''t care, but you are much smarter than him. More motivated to study the information. There must have been notes..."


    The young man who had inherited the job of high priest had a strange look on his face. He looked guilty.


    "You don''t seriously think we will be able to fight the emperor and defend this place from his magic, do you? I''m still young. I decided a while ago that I don''t want to die when the Emperor takes this place." he finally said. "You can''t blame me for making a deal."


    Ardwella pulled the blue sword free. The priest''s eyes grew wide. "You wouldn''t!"


    A blast of blue flame shot out of the sword, freezing the young priest mid-stride. He had started to run. Starrett''s front leg was outstretched, so his body was out of balance. When he seized up, he toppled to the floor.


    "That was a handy trick!" said Albarad. "Much better than killing him."


    "It doesn''t solve our immediate problem, though," said Ardwella. "We need to talk to Lothinar. We must assume that Starett has told the Emperor about the dragon eggs by now. Argent also probably knows where they are. They need to be moved. If Lothinar can''t get the queen''s cooperation, then it looks like the humans won''t be helping. Those eggs will hatch soon, and if they don''t get cared for, then we will start losing dragons."


    "But how do we move and hide two hundred dragon eggs? He asked.


    "With two hundred dragons, of course. The lake end of the tunnel is open. Let¡¯s see if some temple staff can still be reasoned with. Perhaps the queen can persuade them.¡±


    ¡±Let''s find our son and tell him what''s happened. If she owes anyone a favor, it''s him.¡± Said Albarad, sliding the prone body of Starett out of the path of the door.


    -------------------


    Vanador was talking to Mo-Rung. "I''m sorry you almost got caught up in my disagreement with my sister Esmarilla."


    "Well, I ran into the middle of it. Probably not the smartest thing to do." The red dragon said. "You could make it up to me, though."


    "You know, that was more of a ''polite conversation-starting sorry'' than an ''I owe you one sorry,''" said the big white dragon laughing.


    "I sort of figured as much," said Mo-Rung. "But I hoped you could give me a quick flying lesson anyway. I think I''m going to need to know how to do that soon."


    Vanador chuckled. "Yes, you''re probably right. We all should probably consider an exit strategy if things go badly. I am worried about my sister. I wouldn''t say I like that she has just disappeared on us. Especially her being all by herself with enemies around. Perhaps if you don''t mind accompanying me on a quick search for her, we can do both things simultaneously.?"


    "Do you need to check in with Siophra?" asked Mo-Rung


    "Actually, for the first time in a very long time, I do not." answered the big white with a smile. "But I will anyway. She and I are actually still friends. I wish Esmarilla could find it in her heart to feel that way about Ardwella. They have a lot of history. Of course, I wasn''t there for most of it."


    "Would you mind if I asked if Mavis could come along? It''s kind of something she''s been looking forward to," said Mo-Rung.


    "Suit yourself," said Vanador. He quickly approached Siophra and explained what he was about to do.


    "Be careful out there," Siophra said. "The Emperor is probably closer than you think. Also, thank you for stopping your sister Esmarilla from stomping on my sister Ardwella."


    "It probably would never have happened. I know Esmarilla. She probably just wanted to scare her a little. If she really wanted to get through me, you would have known it. You would have seen blood."


    "Maybe there is hope," said Siophra.


    Soon the two dragons and Mavis were ready to go. Siophra watched Mavis climb up.


    "Don''t worry. It''s much easier to stay on when you are bonded. You can anticipate the dragon''s movements better. It''s also easier wearing good, thick sturdy clothes." Then she smirked. "Miss Latest Fashions," She couldn''t help but add with a smile. "Oh, and get some good boots."


    "Mavis grimaced. "Point taken. Thanks."


    "Be careful!" said Cantrell as he watched Mavis sitting on Mo-Rung''s back. "Maybe I should come along."


    "I''m not carrying two elves on my back for my first flight," said Mo-Rung."


    Vanador looked at Cantrell and smiled a knowing smile. "I''ll take you if you want," said Vanador. "It would be a shame to break up the newlyweds so soon after their wedding."


    "We actually didn''t get to finish the ceremony," said Cantrell


    "That might be a good thing, actually," said Vanador. "The last two people that Starett married did split up pretty quickly afterward."


    "Ardwynn and Lothinar!" That''s right. Maybe we should find somebody else. That sounds pretty unlucky," said Mavis.


    Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.


    "You''re actually going to need to find someone else to perform the ceremony," said Ardwella, walking up. She had Albarad with her. "Starett is not going to be doing weddings for a while. I just froze him in his office for selling us out to Argent."


    "What?" exclaimed Cantrell.


    "I''ll have to explain later. I''m looking for Lothinar right now. Have you seen him?"


    "I think he''s talking to the King and Queen," said Cantrell.


    "Perfect!" said Ardwella. "I''m looking for them too."


    "Are you sure you want to find them? Has the king actually rescinded your punishment?" asked Cantrell. "I mean I think the whole thing was a big misunderstanding but I''m not the one you have to convince."


    "The last human that tried to stop me from doing what I have to do to finish my father''s work is frozen in his office lying on the floor as a doorstop. I''m not letting what my father spent his life to accomplish be undermined by ignorance," said Ardwella with fire in her eyes.


    "Then I''m coming with you," smirked Siophra. "Don''t you dare say no. The last time I said those words you know what happened."


    Ardwella grinned and rubbed the back of her head. "Ok. This time I actually would appreciate the help."


    Mavis and Cantrell watched the sisters walk off back toward the gates. Cantrell shook his head as he climbed up on Vanador''s back.


    "I hope the king is accommodating," said Cantrell.


    "Why''s that?" said Mavis.


    "Both of those sisters are carrying legendary swords," he replied. "I don''t think they are going to take no for an answer."


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    "Hold on said Mo-Rung suddenly, spreading his wings. I''m going to jump!"


    "Why don''t you take a run up to it" said Vanador. "It''s a smoother lift for your rider, and you have the room. Run that way," he gestured. "it''s into the wind"


    "Good point. Thanks," said Mo-Rung, and he started a forward run. In a few seconds, he spread his wings and pushed off. He got airborne in seconds.


    "Whooweee" yelled Mavis.


    Cantrell looked down at Vanador, who still had not moved. "Are we going to follow them?"


    "Yes,." said Vanador. "But I''m a little choked up. It always makes me really happy when a dragon takes its first flight. They are usually much smaller. Babies, in fact. He''s waited a really long time for this."


    "You are a really nice dragon. Did anybody ever tell you that?" asked Cantrell.


    Vanador looked once again at the elven sisters, who were still walking away. His eyes lingered on Siophra. They finally went inside the city gate. "Yes, someone tells me all the time. Hold on, please." He took a short run and lifted into the air as gently as possible. It didn''t take him long to catch up with Mo-Rung, who was still flying a little wobbly. Mavis didn''t look like she minded at all. She grinned like a maniac at Cantrell as they pulled alongside.


    "And you don''t want to bond with a dragon!" she shouted.


    "I never said that I wouldn''t," he shouted back into the wind. "I just think I need to be sure that it''s the right fit."


    "What?" she shouted.


    Cantrell shrugged and smiled. It was the best he could do under the circumstances.


    "You are a very nice elf. Did anybody ever tell you that? asked Vanador with a chuckle. His voice rumbled through Cantrell''s whole body in a way that he could understand in spite of the blowing wind."


    Cantrell didn''t bother to answer because, off in the distance and to the side, he could see a plume of smoke. He pointed. Mavis turned to look and said something to Mo-Rung. They changed course. In just a few more minutes, they could see Argent''s army. Both dragons veered to the side, circling wide around the main body of soldiers. Below them, there were fires burning, and the bodies of horses and elves were scatted among the tall grasses of a huge field.


    In the middle of the field, encircled by elves carrying long spears, was Esmarilla. She wasn''t moving. On a hill a short distance away was an elf clad in very fancy silver armor. It could only be Argent. He was arguing with another elf and pointing at the black dragon. Suddenly, he spotted them and spun towards the flying dragons, lining up his outstretched arms for what could only be a lightning bolt shot. Vanador dived instinctively, but Mo-Rung did not have those reflexes. He flew in a straight line with Mavis on his back. An easy target. Suddenly the elf that had been arguing with Argent pushed him. The shove disrupted something, and the lightning scattered ineffectively. Argent appeared furious and turned on the elf that pushed him shoving him back and to the side. He prepared to fire again, but by then Mo-Rung had followed Vanador into evasive movements. The two dragons seemed to share some very fast unspoken communication and they turned away from the field of battle. They furiously beat their wings as they gained altitude and distance from the threat. A few short minutes later, Vanador gestured for them to land. They quickly did.


    "That could have gone much worse," said Cantrell.


    "Why did that elf block Argent''s shot?" asked Vanador.


    "I''m not sure, but I think we owe that one to Mavis," said Cantrell. "Mavis, could you see who that was?"


    "I think that was Buscoe," she said. He is... well, was one of my brothers. A different mother, of course. He''s the oldest son. It was hard to see from that far away, and it happened pretty fast."


    "They were already arguing. Probably about Esmarilla. Hopefully, deciding if they want to take her alive or not. She''s obviously at least badly stunned. He must have hit her with lighting too." said Vanador.


    "It looks like she did some damage before he knocked her down," said Mavis. "Maybe a hundred dead?"


    "Less than that," I"m afraid said Cantrell. "Why would Buscoe intervene for you against his father?"


    "Knowing Daddy... Argent, I mean, He probably never told everyone about how he got tricked into raising two illegitimate children in his courts as his own children. He''s pretty proud. It would be embarrassing. Buscoe probably didn''t know about that. He thought Argent was making a mistake."


    "I bet he knows now!" said Cantrell.


    "We have to go back!" Vanador said. Esmarilla might still be alive!"


    "We will," said Cantrell. "But we need to be smart about this. We don''t want to get ourselves shot down like Esmarilla. We need help. It''s not that far. Let''s go back and get some.!''


    "How do we deal with that lightning?" asked Mavis.


    "We need Lothinar," said Vanador. "That sword Muina gave him shoots lighting too. It should also be able to absorb it. Anyone carrying it is pretty much going to be immune to Argent''s lightning attack."


    "We need Vanquish too!" said Cantrell.


    "What are we waiting for?" said Mo-Rung, and he jumped into the air.


    Vanador was right behind him. This time, Cantrell could barely hang on.


    -----------------------------


    Argent was furious. His son Buscoe had spoiled the shot. He had also missed earlier in the day when the black dragon had first attacked. That had cost lives. Most of the losses were from his own elite guard, which had been leading the column. The dragon had gotten off three separate blasts killing over fifty troops and about twice as many horses. Argent had been forced to bring the black dragon down with his own magic. He had been trying to save his own power reserves for later or not use them at all. That priest in Delora Natine had promised him a new supply of already gathered eggs to replenish himself, but he had to get there first and gather them. The priest claimed that there was some sort of magical barrier preventing him from doing it himself.


    "You saw that the rider on that red dragon was Mavis, didn''t you?" yelled Buscoe. His nose was bleeding from the backhand that Argent had smacked him with after interfering with his aim. He quickly used his magic to stop the blood flow but it had soiled the front of his fancy uniform. Not for the first time, he considered retaliation for one of Argent¡¯s fits of pique.


    "Never interfere with one of my spells!" yelled Argent back. "


    "I didn''t think you would want to kill your own daughter? retorted Buscoe."


    Argent seethed. He had exposed Mandel''s disloyalty but not his pedigree. That had been too embarrassing. He had not even brought up his twin Mavis at all. He had presumed her dead, as Ardwynn had reported. His secrecy had led to Buscoe''s error. He decided to lie his way out of it.


    "I was targeting the white dragon! He''s the one that escaped from my rooftop several weeks ago. He freed one of the prisoners that I had held for a long time when he escaped."


    "It looked like you were targeting the red dragon. My apologies," said Buscoe. "It won''t happen again."


    "See that it doesn''t. Besides, if that really were Mavis riding that dragon, it would seem that she has joined her twin in acts of disloyalty. I owe her no mercy, and neither should you!¡±


    ¡±If one of our bloodlines has found a way to bond or even ride a dragon, then that information seems to be worth knowing,¡± said Buscoe. ¡°There may be another way to the immortality we seek besides relying on the eggs. This very conflict emphasizes just how dependent we are on their constant supply.¡±


    ¡°Your cousin Ardwynn and I were working on that solution. She did manage to bond a dragon but couldn¡¯t hold him.¡±


    ¡±And now she is in one of your cells. Is this how you reward the loyalty of your family, Father?¡± Buscoe dared to ask.


    ¡°That brings up another concern of mine. Why did you miss earlier when the black dragon first attacked? I''ve been wasting my own power because of your ineptitude." snarled Argent. ¡°I¡¯m starting to believe that was not an accident. Perhaps you are in league with the traitors!¡±


    ¡°You know that I am not!¡± Protested Buscoe.


    "Then you tried to insist on trying to capture the black dragon alive. Why not immediately finish her?¡±


    "She may have information that we can use to determine what we will be up against when we get to the lake!" said Buscoe. "That''s three very large flying dragons we''ve seen now. There may be more. Where did they come from? I thought this was a mission to kill a few elven rebels and recapture the water dragons of the lake. Did we bring enough soldiers?"


    "The troops are here to deal with the human king and his men." hissed Argent. "Our magic will bring down the dragons and their riders. Just as I brought down that big black one over there that is now surrounded by your forces."


    "Yes, I have to admit, she fell quickly when hit by your bolt," said Buscoe. ¡°But all of us are aware that there are no more new eggs to replenish our power. The delay in retaking the lake may prove costly. We need options.¡±


    "The probability of getting information out of her is very low. She fell pretty far and hit very hard, not even taking the electrical damage into account. She won''t regain consciousness." boasted the emperor. "Stab her a few times to make sure she¡¯s dead and be done with it."


    "Do you mind if I give it a few more minutes to wait and see? It might save lives at the lake," asked Buscoe.


    "Lives that you squandered here with your own misplaced shot, Buscoe." said Argent, reminding his new second in command once again of his shortcoming. "I will give you twenty minutes. It will take us that long to calm the horses and reorganize our forces. Then we will finish the dragon and move on."


    The Emperor stalked off leaving Buscoe nursing his pride. He turned to his younger brother Byron who had watched the exchange with interest. He looked at him and grimaced with what appeared to be genuine uncharacteristic sympathy.


    ¡±I assume you have a few unaccounted-for eggs in your private stash somewhere.¡± asked Byron.


    ¡®Buscoe looked down on his bloody uniform and nodded, ¡°A few.¡± He watched as his father continued to walk away. He looked very angry and very old.


    ¡°As do I. Save them as long as you can.¡± He said. ¡°I think we are going to need them. None of us are safe. Father has really lost it this time."


    ¡± I would just like to know how many more of those big dragons we are going to have to fight. The only thing that seems to work against them while they are in the air is lightning. That¡¯s a very power-hungry spell.¡± Said Buscoe.


    ¡±Our supply of longbows was burned up when the library exploded and caught the armory on fire. That was bad luck.¡± Said Byron.


    ¡±Or very well-planned strategic sabotage.¡± Replied Buscoe. ¡°The armory had guards and would have been hard to hit. The library was a soft target and unoccupied. We don¡¯t even know what caused that massive explosion!¡±


    ¡°Are these dragons that smart? Could we be headed into a trap?¡± Asked Byron nervously. ¡°I don¡¯t think father has told us everything. Nobody has had to fight them In hundreds of years.¡±


    ¡°I hope she wakes up because those are some of the things that I really want to find out.¡± Said Buscoe as he climbed back on his horse and started riding quickly to where the black dragon had fallen. Then as he suddenly realized how big she actually was up close, he wondered if trying to speak with her was a good idea at all.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-


    Lothinar was waiting for a chance to talk with the King and Queen. Firestorm, as usual, was sticking with him. She seemed more than willing to give Tundor and Candasar a little bit of privacy. Lothinar was trying to be patient. Since raising the queen from the dead and then inadvertently shutting down every living thing in the entire town, he imagined they had a lot to discuss.


    There was a small room off their suite that he was sitting in. They were inside and had not come out for quite a while now. It suddenly occurred to him that they might be renewing their vows of love for one another and expressing them in physical form. He blushed involuntarily. He was probably wrong. He would have to ask Mavis what effect being dead or almost dead had on a woman''s sexual libido. Then he changed his mind. He wasn''t sure he could ask Mavis that sort of question, even if she was his half-sister. Maybe Cantrell would give him some insights on the matter., for scientific purposes of course. An elf that went around resurrecting folk should probably know things like that.


    Ronni was keeping him company while he waited in the ante-room. He had found her here. She, too, had been barred from the inner chamber earlier, reinforcing his suspicions that they weren''t just discussing the weather in there. Ronniflass kept looking at him. Her eyes kept traveling from his eyes to his forehead, now covered with dragon bone ridges, and then ending up on his bald head. Then she would guiltily look back. Lothinar had never been particularly self-conscious, but her gaze was making him uncomfortable.


    "What''s wrong?" he finally asked.


    There was a long silence.


    "Why did that dragon have to change you? she finally asked. "Was it the price that you paid to..." She paused. . "raise my sister from the dead? It hardly seems to have been necessary."


    "I don''t know," said Lothinar, slightly amused. "Raising someone from the dead isn''t something that I''ve ever done before. Now that you mention it, It seems like there probably would be a cost."


    "Don''t misunderstand..."Ronni said. "I''m very grateful... And so is she. The King obviously is too. But...You... You were so very handsome before!" she practically wailed.


    Suddenly his mother walked into the ante-room. She was followed by his Aunt Siophra.


    "Lothinar!" she exclaimed. "What are you doing just sitting around here? We have important things to do!"


    "I''m just waiting for the Royalty." He pointed. "They are in there."


    His mother didn''t hesitate and started moving toward the door. Aunt Siophra followed in her wake.


    Ronni jumped up and tried to bar their way, but she was far too late.


    "I wouldn''t go in there..." Lothinar''s warning was unheeded.


    Bang! The door was thrown open. His mother and aunt quickly disappeared inside. There was some shrieking and then some yelling. Then there was silence.


    "Oh well," said Lothinar as he raised his impressive eyebrows at Roniflass. Then he smiled. "I guess if they really didn¡¯t want to be interrupted, they should have posted a guard."


    ¡±Uh, I think that was supposed to be me.¡± Said Ronni.


    ¡°A guard less easily distracted then.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s true. You still smell fantastic.¡± She said. ¡°I think I¡¯m really starting to get used to the new look¡±


    ------------------------

 Chapter 59: The Battle Begins

    ****************


    Chapter 59


    ***************


    Vanador out-raced Mo-Rung back to Delora Natine by over a minute. Despite the unknown fate of the black dragon Esmarilla lying in the field, Cantrell couldn''t help smiling at the exhilarating speed the white dragon was capable of. Landing near Vanquish, Vanador swiftly explained Esmarilla''s plight to her. Cantrell slithered down off his back and waited for Mo-Rung to land with his bride to be on his back. After they stopped, she jumped off Mo-Rung and into his arms. He caught her and swung her around before setting her down. She kissed him enthusiastically.


    "Tell me you don''t want to fly on dragons!" She said with a huge smile.


    "It¡¯s a rush,¡± He admitted. ¡°Vanador is pretty fast. He''s a nice dragon, too, but I think he''s spoken for."


    "So you admit you are willing to look for another one?" she asked.


    "Ones ready to fly seem to be in very short supply around......"


    Cantrell¡¯s sentence was interrupted because Lothinar had just exited the city gate and ran directly past them. Firestorm was hot on his heels. He headed for Candasar, standing near the other blue dragon, Vanquish. Cantrell observed that it looked like he had found some sheath for the red sword, which hung unobtrusively at his waist as he rushed past. The glowing red blade was no longer visible.


    Cantrell watched as the four of them began a rapid conversation. Except for the overflight when Lothinar dispelled the whole town stasis effect, the two blue dragons had not been apart since they had healed the queen together. They had been discussing many things since their first meeting only hours before. Candasar must have been learning a lot about Dragon history. He thought that would have been an exciting thing to listen in on. He wondered how much of what Candasar learned Lothinar would also know. That telepathic link was a compelling advantage to being bonded. Lothinar¡¯s haste and rapid arrival were undoubtedly due to Candasar updating him on Esmarilla¡¯s plight.


    ¡±That telepathic connection Lothinar shares with both his dragons has its benefits as well.¡± He commented to Mavis .¡±He got the message about Esmarilla as soon as Candasar heard it.¡±


    "I''ll have you bonding with a dragon yet," said Mavis.


    Human soldiers soon came boiling out of the city gates, reminding Cantrell of bees exiting a beehive. They were armed and armored. Someone had told the human forces that the enemy was close at hand.


    ¡°There is my brother, Mandel,¡± said Mavis, pointing to an elf that was surprisingly climbing on Vanquish. ¡°I haven¡¯t talked to him in a while.¡±


    One of the soldiers ran up to them. He was the same one who had escorted them back to town after confronting them at the lake. Instead of his aggressive attitude, he dipped his head respectfully before speaking.


    "Dragon riders," he began. "My name is Conner. I was told that you have first-hand knowledge of the forces on their way to us. Can you give me an idea of the direction and distance?"


    "You are not planning to ride out to meet them in the field, are you, Conner?" asked Cantrell, "Because I think it would be a terrible idea to leave the protection of the city walls."


    The commander grimaced. "You are probably right, but we have orders to slow them down. We need to try to delay their arrival if we can. There is an evacuation in progress."


    "That''s probably a good idea. Get the civilian humans out while you can. Where are you taking them?"


    "We are not evacuating the humans of Delora Natine. They intend to fight. We are evacuating a large cache of ancient dragon eggs that have just been found under the city. The Dragon priestess Ardwella needs some time to do this."


    Cantrell''s eyebrows raised at Ardwella''s sudden promotion to priestess.


    "How many eggs are we talking about?" asked Cantrell. "It can''t take that long."


    "Several hundred, it seems," said Conner.


    "Hundreds of eggs!'' Whispered Mavis. "We can''t let Argent or the other egg-using magicians get a hold of those. We can''t let them have access to that kind of power."


    "We plan to get in their way, engage them, and slow them down so those dragons can hatch. They are the last of their kind. With the Queen''s restoration to life, we have recently seen firsthand that they are all that our forefathers thought they were."


    "They are really your gods then?" asked Cantrell somewhat skeptically. "I''ve been to your islands. I''ve seen the temples there, but I didn''t think anyone took that old superstition seriously."


    "Our gods, yes, that is a term that can be so easily misunderstood. We have had a pact with them and have served them since the earliest days of our history. There is a prophecy. We believe they will find a way to bond with us, as they already do with you. That''s why we are here at this temple at this time." said Conner.


    Cantrell nodded. ¡°I understand. I respect your prophecies and want the best for dragons, too. But I must remind you that they are mere flesh and blood like you. Don''t throw away your lives cheaply on the battlefield today." he said sincerely. I was there when Harvey, one of the town guards, was struck down. I will never forget that.


    Mo-Rung, who had been standing and listening to the exchange, rumbled his agreement.


    "We will fight with our human allies today. Dragons have long memories, and we will not forget your sacrifices to save our children. I will fly above you and lead you to the enemy." the red dragon said.


    "I want to come too!" said Mavis.


    Lothinar had come up to them while they had been talking. He looked like he was in a hurry.


    "This whole thing is becoming a tactical challenge, he said. "I need a favor, Mavis."


    "I''ve heard that line before," she said. "Recently."


    "Look, we''ve got no time. We need to slow the Emperor''s forces down. My mother is trying to get a couple hundred baby dragon eggs out of a hidden chamber beneath the town. We are going out to fight Argent but need to know when the egg task is done so we can begin a strategic retreat back to the better fortifications of the city. When we meet the Argent and his other spell casters out in the open, Enderline¡¯s men will likely take heavy casualties. Did you see the damage to Esmarilla?


    "Not really, but she came down hard,¡± said Mavis. "Argent almost got a shot off at us as well."


    "We can''t just take the dragons and fly in there without expecting the same. Except for me, apparently. If they shoot lighting at me, they might not have enough juice left to use it on the human troops."


    "You and Candasar are going up against those lightning strikes alone?" asked Mavis incredulously


    "Crimson, the sword your mother bequeathed to me supposedly can take a direct bolt and absorb it. I can probably shoot it back, too. As soon as I figure out how it works." Lothinar said sheepishly. "No time like a battle to learn to do crazy advanced magic."


    "How many of those can you take... before you die?" asked Cantrell. .¡±What if you miss one, and it hits Candasar? Seriously, Lothinar, this doesn''t sound like a good idea."


    "I need to bleed down their power. Use up the reserves. It''s the only way we are going to have a chance. The other dragons and riders are going to emphasize trying to rescue Esmarilla. Only after I try to draw the lightning casters off." said Lothinar. "Esmarilla is going to need major healing if she is still alive. Vanador and Vanquish are going to try and do that."


    "So what do you actually need me for?" asked Mavis finally.


    "Communication. Mo-Rung comes along with us,¡± he paused awkwardly, ¡°and you stay here. You tell us when the eggs are safely moved and secure. Then, we can all disengage and try to make it back. Hopefully, in one piece and with Esmarilla."


    "I don''t want to miss this!" said Mavis. "It''s going to be amazing!"


    "It''s probably going to be terrible," said Lothinar. People are going to die. Dragons may die. Nothing good is going to happen in this fight today. Save yourself the nightmares, sister."


    "If this works and you get Esmarilla out of there, managing to bleed down some of their power, why is bringing the fight here going to be better?" asked Cantrell.


    "I had no idea she was doing this, but Ardwella has been setting up some long metal poles she calls lightning rods on the city walls. They are supposed to be able to help absorb lightning strikes. It might save some lives."


    "All right, I''ll stay here and be your communication relay," said Mavis, blowing her bangs out of her eyes with a loud exhale. But Cantrell..."


    "What?" he asked.


    "Can you go with Mo-Rung? I don''t want him out there alone. I think you two going together might be important. I just have this feeling..."


    "What do you say, Mo-Rung? You want to take me along?" asked Cantrell. ¡°For history? I¡¯m going to write a book, you know.¡±


    "Thank you, Mavis.¡± Said Lothinar. ¡°Decide fast, you two because we are leaving. Immediately, if not sooner!" He ran off towards his mount and quickly climbed onto her.


    This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    ¡±Has he always been that crazy?¡± asked Mavis. ¡°Or is it a new bald-induced thing?¡±


    ¡±No, I think he¡¯s always been that brave.¡± Replied Cantrell. "Now, at least he won''t have to worry about his hair getting in his eyes!"


    The King''s soldiers were already moving out quickly and with precision. They rode in a loose formation on the horses they had brought from the coastal city of Dween. Their faces were grim but eager. One even gave her a saucy wink as he passed. Some things never change, she thought.


    Dragons began leaping into the air. Vanador carried Siophra. She carried the black sword in a sheath at her waist. Candasar and Lothinar were next. He was similarly armed with the red blade. Vanquish''s huge body leaped high into the air as her wings opened. Mandel was still seated on her. Mavis wondered what was going on between them. The next to jump was Tundor. He was flying with what looked like the Human King, Enderline, on his back. That was new. The king looked a little terrified. Mavis thought his nerves were understandable for his first time on a dragon.


    "Get on!" said Mo-Rung to Cantrell. "And hold on tight! This takeoff is not going to be like the last one." Cantrell displayed his still fine physical abilities and was quickly seated. The red dragon also jumped. He spread his wings and lit out like he had been doing it his whole life, not just for the first time today.


    Mavis felt pride and concern as she watched the two most important beings in her life as they flew quickly away from Delora Natine. She hoped she would see them again. There was a bump on her leg. It was a Firestorm.


    ¡±Hey!¡± She suddenly realized and asked crossly, ¡°Why did I have to stay behind? You can relay the information to Lothinar yourself!¡±


    The little dragon sniffed and looked sad.


    ¡°You realize that Lothinar may not survive this battle today. He wanted to ensure everyone knew when to retreat if he and Candasar went down. Mo-Rung is in a much better position to make it back. I also think he is trying to protect you, Mavis."


    Mavis gulped. ¡°Wish him lots of luck from me.¡±


    "Come on, Mavis," the little red dragon said. "We''ve got a lot of work to do. Mavis looked at the little red dragon and couldn''t help but feel that Aleena would have been proud of how far she had come. She realized that, in many ways, she was very connected to Firestorm. She had been bonded to her mother before her death. She was now bonded to her father, and the dragon''s bond was her half-brother. That was a lot of connections. She didn''t want to let her down now.


    "Where are we going?" she asked.


    "Eventually, to the lake. By way of the hidden tunnel. For now, we will collect the eggs from the chamber and disperse them to the water dragon nests. If the emperor takes the city, he will have to find each egg individually. He would also have to deal with angry water dragons to get to them. That should slow him down. Hopefully, it never gets that far."


    "Who worked this all out?" asked Mavis.


    "Ardwella and Ronniflass, of course," replied the Firestorm. "They are the new Priestesses of the dragon temple since Starets''s betrayal was discovered."


    "I understand, Ardwella, sort of..." said Mavis. "But why Ronni?"


    "The King and Queen made the decision. The mother and the betrothed of the Dragon Messiah were the obvious choices," said Firestorm.


    "Dragon Messiah? You mean Lothinar?"


    "Of course. Who else?" replied Firestorm.


    "Does he know people are calling him that?" asked Mavis.


    "We are nearly there,¡± said Mo-Rung, interrupting from afar. "We are circling a long way out of range, but Candasar looks like she is going closer!"


    Mavis didn''t think she would be able to concentrate on anything but what Mo-Rung was sending through the bond, but she let the little red dragon lead her away toward her necessary tasks. Those eggs needed to be moved.


    -------------------


    Esmarilla was in agony. She could feel her body was severely injured. Things shifted inside her. Broken things.  She opened an eye and saw that the Emperor''s soldiers had her completely surrounded. They had long and wicked-looking spears pointed at her. She was lying in a long furrow that she had dug with her body as she crashed to the ground and slid to a stop. She had been frozen in electrical agony at the time and barely conscious. She was somewhat surprised that she was still alive. She almost wished she wasn''t because she hurt so bad. She had been angry and foolish. Now, she was going to die. Childless and alone. She was keenly aware of her inability to reach out to contact Ardwella.


    It had seemed such a normal part of life, that instant communication. It''s useful most of the time but so painful. Ardwella probably didn''t even realize how much her current pregnancy had dredged up such huge frustrations in her dragon. Esmarilla had been frozen when Ardwella had carried Lothinar. At least during that pregnancy, Esmarilla mentally felt like she was part of it. She felt like she had put a part of herself into that baby. Her magic. This current pregnancy, the daughter, was a hollow mockery of Esmarilla''s unfulfilled longings to be a mother herself.


    She had been kept from ever having that. First by the war, then by being frozen into a statue for those hundreds of years. She longed for a chance at motherhood herself. There seemed no way at all for that to happen. She wanted a male companion. All of the male dragons her size and age were dead. Tundor had briefly crossed her mind, but he had already committed to Candasar. She had enjoyed his male companionship nonetheless. Mo-Rung had been mated to Aleena. There was no one for her! Strangely, that''s why Esmarilla was so fond of Albarad. He wasn''t a dragon, but he was always there for his mate. It was admirable. Esmarilla wanted a relationship like that as well. Her anger at Ardwella stemmed from these jealousies and more.


    When Aleena had sacrificed herself for Mavis it had seemed far too insensitive to approach Mo-Rung. Ardwella had also had her own agenda. Other plans. Things for Esmarilla to do. Ardwella had never really considered how important these things were to Esmarilla. That, above all else, was the reason Esmarilla was so angry at her. Now, she would never have the chance at being a mother, which had been all she had ever really wanted.


    "I see you have finally awakened, dragon," came a voice from outside the circle of spears. "I would speak with you."


    "What do you want, child of Argent?" Esmarilla asked. "I can smell your reek from here."


    "That hardly seems a way to begin a civil conversation," he laughed. "Are you so ready to die?"


    "We both know that I am dead already," said Esmarilla. "I am far too broken to even stand to try and defend myself"


    "You attacked us! Eighty-four of my father''s best men and almost twice the horses died from your flames," he said. "Before my father took you down."


    "Wish it could have been more." said the dragon. "How many hundreds of our children have you personally devoured while still in their eggs?"


    The elf did not seem to have an answer for that. Finally, he spoke again.


    "We saw two other dragons earlier. While you were snoozing." Then he laughed. "We blasted them from the sky as well."


    Esmarilla started to panic.


    "Were they as big as me? What color were they?" she asked hesitantly.


    "About your size, yes approximately I would say. A white one and a red one. The red might have been slightly smaller. They crashed into the forest a mile away or so. They, unlike you, are dead. Impaled upon some tree fragments. Quite a sight. I''m sorry you missed it."


    Esmarilla began to suspect that he was not telling the truth. The white one he mentioned could have been Vanador. Mo-Rung, at least the last time she had seen him, didn''t yet have his wings. It seemed very unlikely that Mo-Rung could already be flying by now. That eased her mind and her conscience. Her brother was probably safe. If he had been killed while out searching for her, that would have tormented her. Vanquish was blue and enormous. There was no mistaking her. That just left Tundor and Candasar. They were quite a bit smaller. Her thoughts confirmed again that Argent¡¯s spawn had to be lying.


    "It''s no matter. There are hundreds more where they came from." She lied back. "They will burn your pitiful army to the ground. You will never leave this field alive!"


    "They will have to fly through lightning to do that," The elf smirked. "It didn''t seem to be very easy for you, so I hardly think so."


    The elf laughed, but Esmarilla thought that he sounded nervous.


    Esmarilla remembered the story Vanador had told her about the Ardwella''s sword blowing up. She decided to use that.


    "How did you like our little explosive demonstration that destroyed several buildings in the Capital the other day," she asked. "I heard that it was something to see."


    He didn''t like that very much, it seemed, because someone poked her with a spear. She struggled to move away from the pointy tip. She failed. Her body just wasn''t working. Her back might be broken. The spear poked around some more in the meat of her hind leg. In spite of herself, she whimpered. She tried to turn it into a growl.


    "The obvious inaccuracies in the information that you have provided and your general lack of repentance for your actions have convinced me not to offer you a clean swift death." the elf said haughtily. "We will be going to retake back the lake and retrieve more eggs containing your unborn children. I prefer mine hard-boiled." The elf said angrily. ¡°With salt!¡±


    To the ring of soldiers, he added. "Each of you gets to stab her once. But not too deep. I want her to suffer for as long as possible. We are leaving."


    The elven soldiers enthusiastically carried out his wishes. Esmarilla once again blacked out from the immense pain.


    Buscoe turned his back on the grisly display and looked at his brother. He frowned.


    ¡±You didn¡¯t get the information you wanted?¡± Asked Byron.


    ¡±I suspect even more, now, that Father has not told us the truth about these dragons, ¡° answered Buscoe. ¡°They are smarter than I was ever led to believe.¡±


    "Yet, it appears that you left her alive.¡± Said Byron. "Father had better never find out!"


    "She will be dead soon enough" said Buscoe. "But I''m worried about something else she said."


    "What''s that?"


    "That there are hundreds of dragons. Big ones, just like her, waiting for us at the lake," said Buscoe.


    ¡±I hope you are wrong,¡± answered Byron.


    "Here comes another one!" shouted someone. "It''s a blue one, but it''s a lot smaller!"


    "I guess it''s time we get some practice with our aim" said Buscoe. "I hope that I can pull this off because Father''s not going to tolerate me missing again."


    ------------------------


    Mavis joined Ardwella in the tunnel under the town. A temple acolyte had handed her a lit candle, and she had followed the small red dragon into the darkness behind a bookcase. When Firestorm had led her to where the eggs were stored, it was clear that something violent and dirty had happened there. Recently. Someone had moved the burned body of a man off to the side and covered it with a blanket, but there were marks in the dust that showed a struggle had taken place. Thankfully none of the eggs had been broken. Large, long-burning candles had been set up all around the area so at least Mavis could see. She set her own candle nearby. There were a few extra holders. Ronni was looking through the shelves for the eggs that seemed farthest along toward their hatching. Firestorm soon began consulting with her. She seemed to know quite a bit about it, which probably should have been expected. Mavis suddenly had a thought.


    "I know that this is really a bad time to ask, but has someone taken over caring for Mo-Rung''s and Aleena''s new hatchlings in the nest at the lake."


    "Of course," said Firestorm, coming back over to her. That was the first thing I did when I came back down here after running through. They are my sister and brother, after all. They were frozen when Lothinar cut loose, but they woke up fine when everyone else did. They are staying with Tundor''s family for now. Their place is quite a bit farther from Delora Natine. I really wish Mo-rung, I mean Father, had named them. It''s long overdue. I may have to intercede. I kind of like Salt and Pepper."


    Mo-Rung seemed extremely busy but Mavis got a strong impression that those names were fine with him. She told Firestorm so.


    "That''s great. Thanks, Mavis. I''ll let Maud know next time I see them. "


    "Are they getting enough to eat? Anything besides fish?" asked Mavis.


    "Yes, the wardens are involved. A couple of Cantrell''s rangers. Cenderick and Amstell I believe. Yes, that''s what Lothinar''s memories tell me. They got a deer for them and cut it up into dragon baby-sized portions. Pretty nice of them, considering they don''t go anywhere near meat for food themselves."


    "I think we elves that become bonded are all going to have to adjust to living with dragons that can eat more than fish," said Mavis. "Mo-Rungs been eating red meat for years. Aleena used to like a deer when she could get one too."


    "I''ve caught my own weasels!" boasted Firestorm. ¡°I am not at all fond of skunks, as you can probably imagine."


    "Ardwella, come quickly. This egg is hatching now!" Ronniflass suddenly yelled from among the shelves.


    "Bring it here to me. where we have more light!¡± yelled Ardwella, who was using a quill and notepad to categorize the eggs.


    Ronni set the egg down in front of them. It was already shaking. It gave a little pop, and a chunk of shell popped off.


    "Oh my," said Ronni, reaching down to pick up the piece of shell. "Is he going to be all right?"


    "How do you know that it''s a he yet?" asked Mavis.


    "Can''t you hear him? He''s already talking to me," said Ronni. "Oh my! I think I just accidentally got bonded!"


    "Are you serious?" exclaimed Ardwella.


    ¡±I believe so, yes.¡± said Ronniflass in amazement.


    "Kids grow up so fast these days," said Firestorm.


    ¡°Cinnabar says that he¡¯s at least a few hundred years older than you and very tired of waiting around down here.¡± Said Ronni laughing.


    ¡±Great, another red dragon then.¡± Said Firestorm ¡°And he even named himself. It''s just what we need. Reds can be so very cheeky.¡±


    -------------------------

 Chapter 60: Child of Destiny

    **************


    Chapter 60


    **************


    Tundor had to hold himself back as he watched Candasar fly away. The current battle plan had him very concerned for both her and Lothinar. What they were planning to do seemed like a suicide mission. Deliberately drawing lightning attacks seemed too perilous, even with the red sword. Now Tundor was carrying a man on his back that he had never even met before. They had only very recently been introduced. His name was Enderline, and he was the human King. Tundor had no idea how a human would become a king, but it must be not easy, or more humans would do it. Vanquish had asked him to carry him as a personal favor to her. Even though Tundor still felt somewhat obligated to Vanquish, he regretted saying yes. They were flying relatively low and watching the forces the king had brought to Delora Natine from across the sea. The troops on the ground were riding horses. The king was gesturing and signaling to his sub-commanders by pointing and using his hands in mysterious ways. They seemed to understand what he was urging them to do because they were at least headed in the right direction.


    Tundor had to keep circling back around, making sure not to get too far ahead of the king''s men while the other dragons and their riders quickly flew out of sight. Horses sure seemed slow. He tried to have sympathy by remembering the times running around without wings. He had even pulled a cart. He realized that the horses were not actually moving that badly, even though they were on difficult terrain. Having the king directing them from the air seemed to be helping. One of the most annoying things about the king being on his back, though, was that he was, without a doubt, far more used to riding horses. He kept trying to use his legs and knees to press against Tundor, apparently trying to urge him in one direction or another. He was not a horse! He knew where he was going without his kingship trying to squeeze him uncomfortably with his knees.


    Vanquish must have felt it was important to offer Enderline this advantage. But he couldn¡¯t talk to him while in the air, and those bossy knees were hard to take. The next time, if she wanted him to fly, then she would have to carry him herself! Tundor also wondered why she was so concerned about Mandel coming along. Vanquish had admitted that Mandel had been a bit upset when he learned that Lothinar would inherit his mother''s sword instead of him. Tundor thought that they had resolved all of that back at the ruined city. Suddenly Tundor got a strange thought. If Lothinar and Candasar fell and perished while carrying the sword, could Mandel, riding Vanquish, then pick it up and continue to fight with it? That must be it. It seemed the big blue dragon had planned for just such a contingency. That lightning attack was certainly devastating. Understanding that made Tundor even more concerned for his mate and his friend. He blew a blast of fire into the sky as he came up behind the troops on one of his spiral loops. "Hurry up, horses!" He thought. Perhaps a little fear would get them moving. Enderline ducked his head as the fire passed over them and squeezed him even tighter with his knees. He was definitely walking home.


    ---------------


    Lothinar was reaching out through the bond. Firestorm immediately connected. She felt distracted.


    "Candasar and I are about to get a lot closer, Firestorm. How are things going with the eggs? Lothinar asked the busy little dragon.


    "If you''re asking me how many lighting bolts you and Candasar are going to have to take before we can tell you that the eggs are secure, then it''s going to be a lot," she replied. "It''s crazy around here."


    "What''s happened?" he replied. "Do you have enough help?"


    "That''s not the problem. Many of the eggs have just started hatching. Not just a few. About half of them. All at once. And Lothinar, they are not all wingless dragons like I was when you found me. At least not the ones that have already hatched, these dragon eggs are older.¡°


    "I thought my mother said that her father had gathered them from the dragons of the lake, then hid them there," he said with surprise.


    "That''s what she initially thought. She assumed he was outsmarting Argent''s agents by beating them to the best eggs before they found them. "Ardwella is just not sure anymore. Some of these might have been laid by full-fledged dragons even before the end of the war and then hidden away down here by her father somehow."


    "He did have the blue sword the whole time," said Lothinar. ¡°He probably knew a lot of real dragons that wanted a way for their children to survive. Even if the parents could not.¡±


    I seem to be the only one that they are willing to talk to." said Firestorm. "Ronni and your mother are doing their best but these older dragonets seem to inherently distrust elves. Some of them have even started following me around like I''m their mother! I''m way too young to be dealing with motherhood issues, Lothinar!" said Firestorm. "Are children always so dumb? How did you ever put up with all my questions?" she said with exasperation.


    Lothinar couldn''t help but smile and imagine the scene. It was a scene worth fighting for.


    ¡°Ronni and the Queen just left to make a deal with McDonald for all the cows. She said half should be hers anyway. We have to feed the babies soon. A bunch of townspeople went along to help them walk the cows back. Mo-Rung¡¯s men are helping, too. Ardwella didn¡¯t want Ronni trying to deal with McDonald without some backup.¡±


    "Lothinar, your mother says we need some additional time to sort this out. The little dragons being mobile helps immensely, but it¡¯s much harder to take care of a baby than an egg, especially when they will almost immediately start trying to fly. The water dragons are freaking out."


    "I''ll do what I can to get you more time. This is actually really good news. The dragon population can be restored much more quickly now, Most of them won¡¯t need actual healing. Thank you, Firestorm." said Lothinar.


    "You really didn''t just contact me to find out about the eggs, did you, Lothinar?"


    There was a pause.


    "No Firestorm," he admitted. "This probably isn''t going to go well. I wanted to say goodbye, just in case we don''t make it back."


    "You have to come back, Lothinar!" said Firestorm. "Ronni just got bonded to a dragon! He''s a spunky little fellow. He''s the smartest one in the group. He''s just hatched, and he is actually trying to help me. That''s exceptional. You don''t want to miss that... Please, Lothinar, Don''t die! I need you to come back!" cried the little red dragon.


    There was no answer. Lothinar had pulled the red sword from its sheath. Candasar was in a dive. The blue dragon had heard everything. She also was very willing to fight so that baby dragons might survive.


    ----------------------------


    "Our advance scouts say that there are humans on horseback approaching this position," said Byron.


    "How long until our main forces make contact?" he asked.


    "They are about fifteen minutes away. They are moving fast. There is another dragon, a white, with someone on his back circling above them, sending hand signals. He is apparently in charge."


    "That must be the human king. They do seem to have a few dragons to spare, after all. How could this have happened? Someone on the egg team must have really screwed up! One of us needs to take a small group out ahead and see if you can drop that dragon carrying the king out of the air with a lightning bolt."


    "I''ll go said Byron. I''ll take twenty elves as an escort. "I''ll bring him down."


    "What''s father doing?" Asked Buscoe.


    "He seems to just be watching us. He is sort of smirking. Is this a test or something?" Replied Byron.


    "Or something" said Buscoe. "Go take care of that white dragon carrying the king for me. Then hurry back.¡±


    "My escort is ready; I''m leaving now," said Byron.


    Buscoe had found a small cairn of rocks sticking up from the large and fairly level field that Esmarilla had attacked them in. He climbed upon it to get a better view of the shape of his forces. It also looked like the blue dragon he had seen earlier had finished delaying. The mounted elf on her back was starting a run. He had pulled a really large red sword out of somewhere. The other dragons that were hanging back also concerned him, but he would deal with them later. This blue one was definitely the closest.


    Buscoe reached for his magic, corrected his aim again, and fired. A huge crack and snap lanced out from his outstretched arms. He felt his power drop. The lightning raced out right on target. Then, unbelievably, the blue dragon dodged, dropping almost to the height of the field. The lightning had missed. It dissipated into the distance, finally hitting a tree at the edge of the meadow. The tree unsurprisingly caught on fire. Buscoe cursed. The blue beat her wings rapidly, and Buscoe felt he could almost reach out and touch her as she whizzed past. A bald-headed elf sat upon her. He had a ferocious tattoo on his head. No, those were not tattoos. They were some sort of bony growth. They went over his skull. Then they were suddenly past and climbing away.


    Buscoe heard a secondary crack, and another lightning bolt shot toward the flying dragon from the other side of the field. This one is obviously from one of his brothers. It had to be Fignair. He was the third of the brothers that could throw lightning. To Buscoe''s amazement Fignair''s bolt did not miss, The bolt flew straight and true. But at the last second, the bald elf held up the red sword. It caught the lightning on the blade. It flashed and glowed even a brighter red. The flying elf quickly pointed the sword back at Fignair. A huge thundering blast flew out from his outstretched arm, holding the sword. Buscoe blinked, trying to dispel the blinding he had received from the bright flash. When he looked again at Fignair''s position he was just gone. There was a huge crater in the field where he had been standing with a few of his personal guards. Suddenly, blood and body parts began raining down into the hole left behind. That got his father''s attention. He began screaming at Buscoe to shoot at the rider again. Belatedly Buscoe realized that if he had any hope of surviving this then his father was probably right. But why did he suddenly hope that his father fired his own lightning next?


    The blue dragon climbed back into the sky. No one else, including Argent, seemed brave enough to fire lightning again. The dragon and her rider regained some distance and began to turn back toward the field of battle. The troops were scattering. They climbed on their horses and began racing around. Fignair''s troops, now leaderless, seemed the most chaotic. Nobody wanted to be a standing target. Buscoe sure wished they had been able to bring some more bows. The few that they had were out with the scouting patrols. His father was still screaming at him when the blue dragon began her second run.


    --------------


    Siophra was concerned. She had seen a small party of elves slink away from the main body and quickly make their way toward Delora Natine. It looked like they had one of Argent''s sons among them. Tundor was back that way, flying with the King. That was a high-value target for these egg eaters. She was no longer bonded with Vanador but decided to make an appeal.


    "Did you see those elves slinking away? I think they are going after Tundor and the King."


    "You''re probably right," he replied. "What do you want to do about it? Lothinar is about to start his first run."


    "I''d like to go back and at least warn them about it," said Siophra.


    "One of those stinky slinky elves probably shoots lightning. We will be making ourselves a target," said Vanador.


    "Once they get out of that field, they are going to be in a heavily wooded area. That''s going to stop most of the lightning casts." Siophra said.


    "We won''t be in the trees. We will be in the sky. I don''t know if you noticed, but there are very few trees up here," said Vanador. "Also, I want to be available to help Esmarilla if I can."


    "Ok, let''s go quickly then. Warn Tundor, and then we can get back here fast," said Siophra. "It was much easier when you just listened to me."


    "I''m still listening." Said Vanador. "Just need to understand and agree first. It''s a healthy change, in my opinion."


    "This must be how you felt when I was ignoring you about that sword exploding," said Siophra with a groan.


    The big white dragon banked hard and turned back toward the human troops that were still on the way. As long as it didn¡¯t take too long, he was more than willing to warn the King and Tundor of the possible ambush. He smiled. It was good to be free.


    It didn''t take the fast dragon very long to make it back to the humans. Siophra gestured to the king, and both dragons made a quick landing. The mounted men rode up quickly after that.


    "What is it?" asked the king. "Has something gone wrong?"


    "No, but there is a small contingent on its way out here to intercept you. I am pretty sure they must have advanced scouts that have spotted Tundor and you in the air. They probably aim to shoot you out of the sky."


    The King paled.


    "I''m not used to riding on this dragon!" He doesn''t seem to go anywhere that I tell him to!"


    "He''s not a horse," said Siophra. "He has a mind of his own. A good one. Leave the flying to him. Plan your battle."


    Just then, an arrow whizzed past the King. It somehow missed him striking one of the men in the throat that had ridden up near them. The man went down gurgling blood.


    "Get Down! said Siophra, drawing Mortimer and running into the trees. A minute passed. There were sounds of fighting and screams. In a few minutes, Siophra came limping back. She had an arrow in her thigh. She yanked it out but then dropped to one knee.


    "I got two of them, but there is one more. He ran off. They must be the scouts that spotted you. We are not safe here. Damn, having all my sensory nerves back really makes these wounds more painful. Could I get a little help, Vanador?" she said, gasping a little.


    A white light flowed out of the large white dragon. The bleeding stopped as the wound closed. Vanador looked concerned.


    "I might not always be around, you know?" he said. "You need to start being more careful!"


    "I''ll try to remember that," said Siophra with a grin. Perhaps you should have left me a little injured so that I would have a scar. That would remind me."


    Vanador looked at the king. The King was looking at his dead man. The one with the arrow in his neck.


    "I am reminded that you can''t scar if you are dead," Enderline said. "We must be closer than I realized. I''ll do the rest of this from the ground. Thank you for the ride Tundor, but I''ll be taking this poor dead soldier''s horse instead."


    "I told Vanador that he could go back, but I''ll stay with you here on the ground, your Kingship." smiled Siophra. I think you still might need my help.¡±


    "Thank you. From what I just saw, you are more than capable," said Enderline. "Mount up. You can ride with me."


    "I will take you," said Tundor suddenly. He realized that Siophra had probably just saved his life from an unexpected lightning attack as well. He didn''t want to leave her here alone with strangers. no matter how closely their goals might align.


    "I don''t think we should fly until we deal with the lightning caster," said Siophra to Tundor. "It''s really not a good idea."


    "You probably know this, but I''m really good at walking, too," said Tundor. "I started out without wings, you know. I got a lot of practice."


    Siophra smiled. She really was beautiful. It was too bad that Ardwella and Muina got most of the attention.


    "I will accept a ride from you, Tundor. Thank you."


    "Sure, just don''t accidentally poke me with that black sword," he said.


    "Got to go now. I¡¯m going to be late,¡± said Vanador. "Glad it worked out." Then he leaped into the air. He was quickly gone.


    "That just feels weird," said Siophra. "He and I have been together for a very long time."


    "I wasn''t with Ardwynn for that long, and it still feels weird to me, too," admitted Tundor.


    The human army started to move out. Tundor was out front with Siophra on his back. He realized that when they met Argent''s lightning-casting son, it would necessarily be on the ground. It didn''t sound like something to look forward to, either way.


    ¡®The humans began moving on, trying to find a suitable path through the trees. For Tundor, that seemed substantially harder. He began flattening saplings. He noticed that quite a few of the men began following in his path of destruction.


    ¡±Great! More twigs and pine needles in my nether regions,¡± muttered Tundor.


    Siophra laughed. ¡°My grandfather was a renowned elven smith. Maybe I can help design you a codpiece or something. That''s armor for your tender bits, in case you don''t know the word. I wonder how something like that would attach?¡±


    ¡°Uh, no thanks,¡± Tundor replied. ¡°That sounds very restricting and would block the special pine fresh scent that Candasar has grown so fond of.¡±


    Siophra laughed out loud. Then, she checked herself, looking around guiltily.


    ¡°I should be more quiet. Enemies are about.¡±


    Tundor nodded and moved ahead, squishing small trees and circumventing the larger ones. Suddenly, there was a bright flash off to his right. A tree directly in front of Tundor shuddered and then exploded, flinging wood chips everywhere. Siophra jumped off his back in the direction of the flash and disappeared into the trees. The front part of the king''s forces quickly followed after her. Tundor snarled as he went crashing after them. He suddenly realized that his chest and front legs were impaled with large wooden slivers. That really hurt! He kept going. He came upon a sight. There were eight dead elves on the ground. It was a little hard to tell because several of them appeared to have been cut in two. Another ten had Siophra surrounded. She was, however, still fighting.


    The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    The black sword Mortimer flashed out like a snake, and another elf went down. The humans had arrived and rode through the circle, stabbing out with spears and swords, whichever they carried. Another elf fell, but six humans died, and their horses ran on riderless. More humans and horses tried again. Siophra was definitely wounded. Every time she spun to face another attack, blood would fly off her body from some hidden wound.


    Tumor could see three elves off to one side. Two were obviously guarding the third. He must be important. Tundor went for that one. The two guards jumped in his way when they noticed him changing direction. He blasted them with fire and ran through their crispy remains before they even had time to fall. He was inhaling for a second breath when there was a huge flash. The world went white. His momentum carried him forward even as his body locked up in electrical agony. He felt something crunching beneath his body, but he was blind and couldn¡¯t see what it was. He made sure that when he finally fell, it was on that crunchy thing. It smelled a little bit like Argent. That made him happy. He tried to rake it with his talons. He succeeded. It smelled like blood and wet meat. He bit down on something. It must have been an elf. As expected, It tasted terrible. Then there was only darkness.


    ------------------------


    "That worked out better than I hoped," Said Lothinar to Candasar. "I think we actually got one of them."


    "You know, when I was living alone in the lake, I could never have imagined I''d be doing something like this," said Candasar.


    "You know that when I was a warden guarding water dragons, I never dreamed of this either," he replied.


    "Vanquish says that you are a Child of Destiny," said Candasar. ¡°I am beginning to agree.¡±


    "She probably knows a lot, but she doesn''t know everything," Lothinar replied. ¡°You could have let me die back in your cave, and then none of this would have happened. The Emperor would still be collecting and eating your people¡¯s eggs.¡±


    ¡±We are going to stop him today,¡± she said.


    ¡±We might be able to try that, stopping them all. Like we did before when we froze the town of Delora Natine.¡±


    ¡°You had just been overfilled with power to raise the queen by Vanquish and me. Just to be clear, that was mostly her. I don¡¯t think that spell is going to be nearly as powerful the next time you try and use it. It¡¯s the same spell that your mother used to put Esmarilla to sleep.¡±


    ¡±Well, maybe I can at least stop one of them.¡± Said Lothinar. ¡°I probably should try to freeze one of the lightning casters.¡±


    ¡°Vanquish didn¡¯t mention that as part of our strategy, ¡° said Candasar. ¡°It could create some unknown problems. ¡°


    ¡±The sword can probably only hold the energy of one lightning bolt at a time. If you hadn¡¯t dodged that first one, and they both had hit the sword, it might have blown up with me holding it.¡± He reminded her.


    ¡°Fine, we can always try. Who are we going to target? It looks like chaos down there. Our last pass really upset them!¡± She chuckled.


    ¡±That elf on those rocks definitely shot the first bolt. Let¡¯s try him.¡±


    Candasar began her next dive.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-


    Esmarilla awoke to the sounds of chaos and battle. Horses screamed in fear. That sounded promising. She groaned and managed to turn her head to see what was going on. Candasar was flying toward her fast. Lothinar had a big red sword out. It was Crimson, the sword that had bonded her so long ago. She hated that sword but had to acknowledge that if someone was going to have it then it should be a person as selfless as Lothinar. He was flying towards a big pile of rocks on which an elf crouched. The elf could probably shoot lightning but seemed hesitant to do so. Yes, the sword. That had probably caught the egg eaters by surprise. The return fire was probably devastating. The elf on the rocks seemed to make a decision. He looked over at her. He began to run towards her. Oh no! You are not going to stand next to me and shoot lightning at my friends using me as a shield, she thought. The elf came close.


    ¡±Still alive, dragon? It seems I have one last purpose for you,¡± he smirked. Esmarilla, not for the first time, regretted not being able to Heal by herself. She still had some power. If she could just fix the nerves in her back¡­


    The stinking elf leaned his arms against her to steady his aim and prepared to fire lightning at Lothinar. She shook herself. It was the best that she could do. The elf grunted and pulled out a sword. He intended to finally finish her off. He swung for her throat. Suddenly, he glowed blue, locked up solid, and toppled over. He had a weird look on his face. Candasar blasted past overhead. Lothinar had the red sword held high. Lightning from somewhere out of her field of view lit up the sky. It found the sword. There was a red returning flash and an explosion. Horses screamed. In spite of her terrible situation, this was turning out to be a pretty good day, she thought. Uh oh. There were more soldiers riding up to see what had happened to their general. They had those wicked-looking spears that had poked her before. This time, they didn¡¯t look like they were going to leave her alive.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    Mo-Rung had seen enough. Even from this distance, he had watched Lothinar and Candasar fly across the huge battlefield twice. His grand-daughter was making him proud but he felt angry and helpless sitting out this battle. Now it looked like Spearmen were closing in on Esmarilla. He couldn''t allow that. She was an elegant, ancient, and beautiful remnant of their race. He would not allow this to continue. His wings beat furiously as he closed the distance to the down black dragon. He had almost expected his rider, Cantrell, to object to this impulsive action, but Cantrell was pointing at the spearmen too. They seemed to be in agreement on the issue. His movement in that direction seemed to stir something in Vanquish because she also turned toward Esmarilla and began to dive. On her back, Mandel was grinning ferociously.


    There was a flash from far below. Because they still had some distance from the field, it appeared that the lightning was moving in a long, lazy arc. Mo-Rung realized that this couldn''t possibly be the case, and there was an impact close by him. Mo-Rung could not, in the chaos, see which elf had cast the bolt. They had been targeting Vanquish. They did not miss. She wobbled, but somehow she shrugged off the direct hit and kept flying. Mandel looked slightly stunned but was still ok. Then Mo-Rung saw Candasar. She was climbing toward them. Another flash streaked from the ground, but it bent around, seemingly attracted to Lothinar''s blade. The red sword caught it and sent it thundering back down, shielding the flying dragons as they closed on Esmarilla''s position. A boom sounded on the other side of the field and once more dirt flew up, however no one on the ground appeared to be hit by Lothinars electrical riposte. The elf responsible had fled after casting it. They were getting smarter.


    Mo-Rung had arrived at Esmarilla''s side. He crashed through the spearmen, ripping and tearing at them with jaws and claws. Cantrell jumped from his back upon contact with the ground and began an incredible dance of death with the spearman. He had a long and wickedly sharp knife that he had pulled from somewhere on his waist. The spearmen should have easily been able to deal with Cantrell having greater reach, but he ducked inside the pointy end and began carving them up, seemingly at will. Mo-Rung had no idea that the Elven Warden could fight like that.


    Mo-Rung had been distracted by Cantrell''s fighting but recovered in time to bite at a spear that was coming for him. Breaking it in his jaws, he lunged for its operator. Jumping forward he pulled his back legs up and disemboweled the one with the broken spear and did the same to the elf next to him. A full set of rear leg talons for each one cut into them like paper. There was screaming and death. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Vanquish landing with Mandel. Mavis''s brother, like Cantrell, had also jumped off. He likewise began fighting Argent''s soldiers. Some of them must have been confused to see that someone that they once knew as their elven general had turned on them. They hesitated, and it cost them their lives. Mandel picked up a dropped sword and continued his onslaught with it. Beside him, the huge blue dragon roared, then whirled and breathed fire. A torrent of flame, a firewall forty yards across, engulfed another group of spearmen running towards Mandel. When Mo-Rung could look again through the haze and smoke, there were only twitching ashes in the places where they had been.


    A crackle resounded from across the field, but Lothinar was still in the air, circling nearby. The lightning that had once again been heading for Vanquish impacted the red blade. It flashed brightly, absorbing the power. He threw it back. There was a boom and then another. It seemed that Lothinar was now fighting Argent himself. Across the field, a grey-haired elf was screaming in frustration. They traded blows several times before the Emperor seemed to break it off. Mo-Rung saw him recalling his troops to himself and trying to get off the field. He was leaving.


    Mandel ran up to Mo-Rung. "You''re my sister''s dragon, right? Her name is Mavis?"


    Mo-Rung grunted his ascent, but his eyes remained locked on Esmarilla. He could tell that she was hurt. Someone had stabbed her. A lot of someones.


    Cantrell had just finished wiping off his blade and looked up. "I am here with Mo-Rung in your sister''s stead. My name is Cantrell. Your sister and I are to be wed."


    "Congratulations, I''ve never known Mavis to want to settle down. You must be something special to her......"


    Leaving the elves to their introductions, Mo-Rung ran to Esmarilla''s side. She grimaced as she tried to turn and speak to him.


    "You came for me! That was foolish. Mo-Rung."


    "We are going to get you out of here. I can''t let someone as beautiful as you die!"


    Esmarilla laughed and then groaned in pain.


    "Are you flirting with a dead dragon Mo-Rung? Because that would be a very poor use of your time."


    "I am unworthy of you," said Mo-Rung, "or I certainly would."


    Esmarilla looked sad.


    "I''ll make you a deal, handsome red dragon," she said. "If I can fly off this field, I will be yours but don''t get your hopes up. I am very near death."


    "Vanador will be back soon. He came here with us. I just don''t know how he could leave at a time like this!" groaned Mo-Rung. "Wait, there is someone else!"


    Mo-Rung ran to Vanquish who was pacing back and forth and roaring, apparently encouraging Argent''s troops to rapidly leave the battlefield. As if her huge, imposing presence was not enough, she was occasionally shooting a blast of dragon fire toward the retreating forces. With the threat of lightning attack temporarily gone, the dragons held a likely, if temporary, victory. Candasar and Lothinar, however, still remained in the air. They were flying a circular route, watching for trouble and preparing for lightning.


    Mo-Rung did not hesitate to interrupt Vanquish''s bravado-filled display.


    "Esmarilla doesn''t have long. She says she is near death! Do something now!" he roared


    "Vanador has not yet returned. Blame him if she dies. I told him to stay with the group!" Vanquish replied in frustration.


    "Does it have to be a white dragon?" asked Mo-Rung. "Can''t I help?"


    "I need a channel and a healer. A red just won''t do," said Vanquish. "I''m sorry."


    Cantrell stepped up, obviously overhearing. he cleared his throat.


    "You raised the Queen from death with Lothinar. Maybe I can help."


    "Lothinar is unique. He was made for many things that regular elves can not do," she replied. "I would need to see deep inside Esmarilla to fix those things that are broken. Can you do that, Cantrell?"


    "Then get Lothinar down here. He''s right up there!" Cantrell gestured upwards.


    "He is our overwatch. He and the red sword. If he comes down here, the Emperor will not hesitate to attack us again with lightning. Would you risk us all?" asked Vanquish.


    "What if I was bonded to her? I could feel a lot more. Perhaps I could at least prolong her life until Vanador returns."


    "She is very near death, as she says. She may refuse to bond. If she dies while I am working through you, then you will die too. You may die from overusing your own power. Do you understand this?"


    Cantrell looked at Mo-Rung, who hung his head.


    "I can not ask this of you, Cantrell. Mo-Rung said. "Mavis says no, and I must agree. It is too big a risk."


    "It is my risk to take." He said. He ran to the dying black dragon. She was fading in and out of consciousness.


    "No!" she said. "I will not bond with you. You will die. I am almost dead already. My heart is barely beating. I can''t feel my body."


    "Please," said Cantrell. "I can''t help but feel that, somehow, this is my destiny. And yours." Mavis said that I needed to come today. I''m sure that this is the reason!"


    "It''s your life, Cantrell," Esmarilla said weakly. "You should know that I''m not that easy to get along with. Not like Vanador at all...." Then she slumped. But somehow, deep inside him, Cantrell could feel her offer him her bond. He took it. He screamed. She was full of pain.


    Blue dragon magic flowed into him, blasting through his magic channels in ways that he had never imagined. It could only go so far, then it hesitated.


    "You must look inside her Cantrell," he could feel Vanquish say. "Tell me where to go. Tell me what to do."


    Through the agony, Cantrell began to look. Her back was broken. He guided the power. It was slow and sloppy. He made mistakes, but somehow Vanquish found her way. There was so much to do, but through the new bond he could begin to see what most needed to be done. Suddenly he realized that he was at the end. He was himself beginning to slip away. There just wasn''t any way to do more. He saw nothing but darkness closing in.


    Then a bright white light began to shine. It filled his soul and body with health and power. He gave it to Esmarilla. Vanador had finally returned. Slowly the burden of the healing shifted from his weakened elf body to the power provided by the great white dragon. He felt his own life returning to him. It had been very close. He opened his eyes and found himself staring into the eyes of a very large black dragon. She was standing. Somehow he was on the ground. Everyone was staring at him.


    "That was very, very foolish, Cantrell," said Esmarilla. "But thank you. I look forward to a new chapter in my life with you as my bond. My brother Vanador speaks very highly of you. He says you are a very nice elf."


    Mo-Rung was jumping up and down. He was obviously very excited.


    "I bet you can fly out of here!" he said happily.


    "Yes, I probably can." said Esmarilla, "But I''ve got something to do first." She walked over to the body of an elf that was also lying on the ground. Nobody seemed to have noticed him before now. He was glowing slightly with a blue light.


    "What is Buscoe doing just laying there? asked Mandel. Cantrell knowing what was about to happen, quickly climbed to his feet. Being bonded was weird. He shared her knowledge. It was going to take some time to process it. She knew a lot of history. That made him very happy.


    "He and I had an interesting conversation earlier. I got the point. I think he was just lying here waiting for me to make an impression." said Esmarilla strangely. Then she began to furiously stomp and pound on the shimmering blue elf. Somewhere about thirty seconds into the furious assault, the blue shimmering stopped. There was a moment when Cantrell thought he could see the elf''s body try to move. It looked like it might be trying to heal. Esmarilla stepped back and poured out fire on the flattened body. It twitched a little, then finally lay still.


    "That should do it," she said. "Now, Mo-Rung, we have a date."


    --------------------


    Argent watched from a distance as the black dragon stomped and burned his oldest son, Buscoe. It made him angry, but it probably served him right for letting the black dragon live. He had told him not to. Things like that happened when people ignored him. Scouts had returned and reported that Byron, son number two, had also perished under the human soldier''s attack and the claws of another dragon. It had been Tundor, the dragon that had been so close to being his own ticket to immortality. His third son, Fignair had taken return fire when he had hit the red sword with his lightning. The return blast completely destroyed him. That was a surprise. It must have surprised Fignair too, Argent thought. That sword seemed to capture the lighting, amplify it and send it back more powerful than before. He had barely survived one of those himself. His own power had taken a surprising drop as well absorbing the blast while dueling with the bald elf on the blue dragon. He needed more eggs! He was losing sons fast, but he could always make more. Only he needed to survive. This field was insignificant. The battle here is meaningless. He called his troops to get moving. Only the human king''s men stood in his way. Once he got past them and to the lake, hundreds of eggs were waiting.


    Myron, son number four, watched as his father began to lead his forces out of the meadow and into the forest. All he could think was that he didn''t sign up for this. Maybe Mandel was right. He rode his own horse toward a tree at the edge of the forest and broke off a branch. He pulled a bandage from his supplies and tied the bandage to the branch. Then he rode slowly toward the dragons still gathered in the field, holding up his white flag of surrender. He looked back. Hundreds of his father''s soldiers were following him. They were surrendering too. When they got to Mandel and threw down their weapons, the fifth son knew just what to do. He accepted the surrender. The dragons growled but surprisingly didn¡¯t try and eat anyone. Argent must have lied about that too.


    ------------------------


    "If you were not a white dragon, you would not have survived that little stunt!" said the voice. Tundor was very glad to hear it. It was Siophra. That meant that she was alive. He still couldn''t see. He tried to get up.


    "Nope. Stay down for now. We can''t have you crashing around and hurting yourself or stepping on me. You are blind."


    "But you can heal me?" he asked.


    She laughed. "I''m not Vanador. And I''m not sure if I have long to live actually. I''m in pretty bad shape myself."


    "Oh. I didn''t know. I''m sorry. What happened to the King and his men? Can they help you?"


    "Argent''s troops have been coming through the forest for a while. The King and his men are tied up fighting them. They are all off over there a ways. Oh, I''m sorry, you can''t see where I''m pointing. Just listen."


    Tundor tried, and he could hear the sound of furious fighting off in the distance.


    "Your pretty calm for someone dying," he said suddenly. "Are you sure?"


    She laughed again. Then came some furious and wet-sounding coughing.


    "Pretty sure. I can tell. Probably better than anyone... anyone that''s still alive. I''ve had a lot of practice dying. I know what it feels like."


    "Oh, that''s right. The Emperor tortured you, even tried to kill you. You''re probably right about that, then. Again I''m sorry."


    "At least I''m not alone. Thanks for waking up. Gives me someone to talk to. Makes it easier somehow."


    Tundor didn''t know what to say. Then he thought of something.


    "For what it''s worth, I think you got the most horrible deal out of all the sisters."


    "Well, thanks. That makes me feel a lot better," she said sarcastically. "Seriously?"


    "I didn''t mean it that way. I''m sorry. You are just so nice and pretty. Your sisters had lives and children. I think you deserved a lot more."


    "They didn''t plan it that way. I was the one who made the decision to go try to talk to Argent one last time to prevent the dragons from being killed. Nobody made me do it. Then he betrayed the truce and attacked Vanador. I froze him to save him. You know the rest."


    "I do," said Tundor. "It still is terrible."


    "If I had a way to do it over again, I would do things differently for sure," she said.


    "Maybe you can do it over again," said Tundor. "I''m a white dragon too. I can heal you."


    "You can''t even see!" said Siophra. She coughed wetly again.


    "If we were bonded, then I could use your eyes," Tundor said.


    "I know what you went through with Ardwynn. I could not ask that of you," said Siophra.


    "You are not asking. I''m offering," said Tundor.


    "Are you sure? Because I heard Vanquish say that you probably would never bond again?"


    "I think with you, it would be very different," said Tundor. "Ardwynn was a liar."


    "If you''re sure, then we can at least try. It might help both of us."


    "What do we have to lose? asked Tundor.


    "We had better do this fast, then," said Siophra. "I''m fading fast. If my eyes close, then you won''t be able to see."


    Tundor offered his bond. She hesitated, then accepted. He breathed a huge sigh of relief. She wasn''t like Ardwynn at all. Her bond smelled pure and sweet.


    Tundor looked at her body through her eyes. It was bad. Tourniquets had been tied on both legs. One arm was also tied. It was cut off at the elbow. There were deep punctures in her abdomen. They still bled. She still held the black sword in her right hand, though.


    "I''m a mess. I told you." she coughed. "We did get all those bastards, though"


    Tundor looked around at where the elven soldiers had fallen. He also observed that there were far more dead humans than elves.


    "If you are going to try to do something, Now would be a good time," she said weakly.


    Tundor unleashed a fury filled with white magic. This beautiful elf had suffered so much, yet she had hardly complained. He began to fix her. He used everything he had. He poured on the power. Siophra moaned and closed her eyes.


    "Open them!" he said. "I need to see what I''m doing."


    "Sorry, she said. "It hurts. You are healing me very fast."


    "I don''t have a choice. You were not lying. You were almost dead. I am fixing the body punctures first. I should be able to get your legs back. Undo the tourniquets. Let the blood flow back into them. It shouldn''t leak out now. The arm is going to have to wait but I closed it off. You might want to see if you can find the missing part somewhere. I''ve enhanced your blood supply, but I don''t think I can do more right now.¡±


    "Where did you learn to do that?" asked Siophra.


    "Vanquish gave me some additional information on elvish anatomy when I first met her. She seems to like me for some reason."


    "I''m impressed. I don''t think Vanador could have done as well. No, I take that back. I was trying to make you feel good, Vanador''s better." she said.


    "Really?" asked Tundor. "Why even say that? He''s obviously been healing you a lot longer than I have."


    "Well, I corrected myself because I wanted to start this new relationship with absolute honesty. I feel it is important. I want this relationship to be a good one. We are probably going to be spending a lot of time together."


    "I can go with that," said Tundor. "I''ll make the same commitment." Absolute honesty, then. "By the way, how do you feel about Candasar? She''s a big part of my life."


    "Vanador''s been mated to a blue dragon for a very long time. I think I''ll be fine with her. Candasar''s probably easier to deal with than Vanquish. Smaller too. Saves on food expenses."


    Tundor laughed. "You might be surprised. Candasar really wants a family"


    "I can do family. I may have one myself. Have you seen that elf Cenderick? "Wow. I hope you can grow that arm back before I see him again."


    "The battle is coming back this way," said Tundor. "I can hear it."


    "Enderline''s troops must be on the run. That''s too bad. That means Argent is probably on his way here." said Siophra.


    "Can a blind dragon and an elf with one arm beat the emperor?" Tundor asked.


    "Probably not, but we are surely going to try," said Siophra. "I''ve waited for a chance like this for a very long time. Let''s just say that I''m highly motivated!"


    "Me too," said Tundor. "But not the long time part... The highly motivated part."


    "This total honesty is going to take work, isn''t it? said Siophra with a smile.


    Enderline grimaced at his losses, but his forces were chasing down the last of the elves that followed Argent. It had been a hard victory, but very few of Argent''s troops had survived the fighting in the woods. Their numbers were not as high as anticipated. They were much lower. Apparently, many of them had surrendered after the dragons had destroyed their leaders in the field. No one had seen Argent yet, but they were going to find him.


    --------------


    Argent came stumbling through the trees. That battle against Enderline''s forces had not gone as anticipated. What had happened? Half of his troops seemed to be missing somehow. His magic was almost empty. He tripped and fell. He got back up. Where did his bodyguards go?


    He never really saw Tundor and Siophra waiting for him. He put up a fight, but there was not much left of him when they were done. They had to kill him twice. Each of them got a turn, so it all worked out nice and fair.


    -------------------------------

 Chapter 61: Epilogue

    **************


    Epilogue


    **************


    Two elves were talking. Both had once been leaders, Generals in the now-dead emperor Argent''s army. They once had been thought of as brothers. The current situation and full disclosure of their accurate pedigrees had now destroyed that myth. They had been the closest in age. Perhaps that was why Myron had been willing to trust Mandel enough to surrender and face the new political landscape. The dragons had returned and the elven emperor that had enslaved them was dead.


    ¡°The elves that King Enderline''s forces captured in the forest are calling me a coward," said Myron. "They are saying things would have gone very differently if I had followed Argent into the forest and battle. Almost all of them saying these things are our father''s..." He looked at Mandel strangely. "um, I mean, Argent¡¯s elite personal guard.¡±


    Mandel acknowledged his former brother''s verbal mistake with a wry smile. "Things would have gone differently, but that doesn''t make you a coward. It makes you the only one brave enough to make the correct choice," said Mandel. "Argent was insane, you know. He had to be over seven hundred years old. Magic obtained by those twisted means gave him power and extended his li,fe but the weight of years took a toll on his mind.¡±


    "I could see that, certainly." Said Myron. "I think the other brothers did as well. They had just gone too far down the path themselves to be willing to turn around. They were trapped. If they gave up the eggs, their lives would have been over. But you could see it in Buscoe''s eyes. He was afraid of him."


    "We all were, and for good reason. Argent hoarded his power and was only concerned about himself," said Mandel. "He certainly didn''t trust anyone. Even his sons."


    ¡±There were only five, well, actually four sons." he paused, looking at Mandel. "Eating dragon eggs changed his physiology somehow. Perhaps it was the dragon''s final curse. He conceived daughters, but Father seemed to only have a son about once every hundred years. Buscoe, Byron, and Fignair were already at the age where the consumption of eggs was the only reason they had not yet died of old age." said Myron.


    "Do you know if any of the daughters ate the dragon eggs?" asked Mandel. "I don''t know any of the older ones at all. Argent married them off, and they have become obscured over time."


    "Did you eat the dragon eggs, Myron?" Mandel asked, "The dragons are going to want to know."


    "There was a time when eggs were not in such short supply. So, yes. I admit I did. I did eat a few. Seeing what the dragons really are, I regret that now immensely. If I''m very careful and don''t use up my magic, I might get an extra hundred years of life from what the dragon eggs gave me."


    "That''s unfortunate,. The dragons will have to judge you. Considering your wise decision on the battlefield, I suspect they will be lenient. They will probably never really forgive you, though. That will make it rough if you intend to stick around and try and help with the new government. I won''t be able to put you in a position of authority and stay in their good graces. They have long memories."


    "As far as I know, only the males got access to the eggs. I know my younger sister Sahar didn''t. She already looks a lot older than me." he said somewhat sadly.


    "I''m still young, so Argent never offered them to me, which was a relief," said Mandel. "It would have certainly been awkward.


    "It used to be a sign that you were in Argent''s favor. Now, it has just become a badge of shame," said Myron.


    ¡±My mother and her sisters are around the same age Argent was. The actual dragon bonds allowed them to hold up better both physically and mentally than he did. Unfortunately, they also have been through some horrible situations. I don¡¯t expect them to see things the way a normal elf would. I will do my best to keep them out of the new government.¡±


    ¡±I heard about the experiments on Siophra in the tower. They were more than rumors. I hope she doesn¡¯t pass a familial grudge on to me. I heard she is a little crazy.¡±


    ¡±Siophra got the revenge that she needed. That should appease her for now. She is the only one of Lothinex¡¯s granddaughters that is currently bonded. She has a new and different dragon these days. He''s one that Ardwynn tried to steal. Neither of them is going to want to see you, but as long as you keep out of the public eye, they probably won¡¯t come after you. I will talk be sure to talk with her about what you did.¡±


    Myron shuddered. ¡°I would appreciate that.¡±


    "Will you take the throne then?" asked Myron. "I won''t stand in your way. You are our best chance to get along with the dragons."


    "It looks like I may not have much of a choice," said Mandel. "Vanquish has asked me to."


    "What is to become of the elven kingdom? Our leaders were corrupted, but I believe that there are a lot of good people there."


    "These lands here, and quite a way south, will return to human control. We will use the borders from before the war. In that aspect, the Human King is being reasonable. Enderline has sent word to the islands. More humans will be coming. The dragons will be enforcing that border as well. They have formed an ''eternal alliance''. It will not easily be broken. The humans have always sided with the dragons. Now the dragons have even more reason to trust them. Believe it or not, some of the humans have bonded with recently hatched dragon young. The King is one of them. A dragon chose the Queen as well, but that''s less of a surprise. She is half elf."


    "But the humans have no magic. How does that work?"


    "I guess if the dragons are young enough and paradoxically old enough, they can make it happen somehow. Many dragons just hatched that are actually hundreds of years old. Dragons back then were very untrusting of elves for obvious reasons. Their parents must have worked some lost magic into their conception that makes that possible. It''s a rare opportunity for the humans. Unless the dragons now can figure out how it was done, that opportunity probably won''t come again.


    "That''s wonderful for them. It must be something the humans have always wanted," said Myron.


    "Yes, there are many happy humans right now. The life extension for them is a really big deal. Humans normally die so young you know." said Mandel. "Enderline and Pricilla both found bonds among the newly hatched dragons. Of course, it will take a long time before they are ready to carry a rider."


    "How many flight-capable dragons did you actually have? Esmarilla told us that you had hundreds," said Myron.


    "She exaggerated, of course. She will be glad to hear that it worked to intimidate you." laughed Mandel. "There are only six, well, seven if you count Firestorm. She''s still too small to carry a person but she is flying herself around now pretty well.


    Except for her, they are all mated pairs. Vanquish and Vanador, Esmarilla and Mo-Rung, and the third pair are Candasar and Tundor. The first three dragons I named are the only old ones. That''s what the young dragons are calling those that were hatched before the war. The others were hatched in the lake fairly recently. They had to be given back their wings. Undoing the way that Argent had the whole race crippled is very difficult.


    "Incredibly, you could beat us with only six dragons," said Myron.


    "The truth is that without Lothinar, even the dragons we had wouldn''t have been enough to beat Argent. He was the key to all of it," said Mandel. "That and the red sword."


    "Someone told me that you were upset about that," said Myron


    "I was, but Vanquish convinced me that Crimson would have gotten me into a lot of trouble. It is better suited for Lothinar. I don''t feel cheated. Siophra gave me Mortimer," he said, patting the scabbard at his waist. It is, in its own way, as powerful. Siophra gave it to me because she said she was done with fighting. She came very close to dying during that last battle."


    Myron looked at the sword. "That''s the sword that finally killed my father Argent," he said. "It''s probably fitting that you should wear it as you establish the new government. It intimidates the hell out of me! I hope you don''t need it very much. There may be some holdouts still loyal to Argent around. You will need to keep a close eye on all of Argent¡¯s daughters.


    ¡°I may try to have Mavis help me with that. She has a dragon and a new husband too. I have to admit, he¡¯s pretty sharp. He¡¯s worked as an ambassador before.¡±


    ¡±From what I remember, Mavis never liked the politics of the capital. It might be a hard sell.¡± Said Myron.


    "I''m going back to the capital soon to draw up some papers for an official peace treaty to officially end the war with the humans. I''d appreciate it, after the dragons talk with you if you could come with me and help smooth things over as I take charge."


    "Of course," said Myron.


    ¡°The elves that followed you and surrendered will be going back with us. The ones captured fighting will be held here for further evaluation before they can be released,¡± said Mandel. "I''ll say this again: you are not a coward, Myron," said Mandel. "You did the right thing. It saved a lot of lives. I''ll make sure the history books know about that."


    "Thank you for not holding my past against me," said Myron. "Is there anything else the dragons want?"


    "They want Ardwynn. She is still locked up in the tower."


    "Oh, that''s right. She failed to bring Argent the white dragon. You would think that the dragons would appreciate that."


    "She failed, but that doesn''t mean she didn''t try. She betrayed her bond. She betrayed Lothinar as well. They were married, you know."


    Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    "Is he angry? Is he going to kill her?"


    "No, I think he''s trying to save her. The dragons want her tried for murder!"


    ---------------------------


    After it had been made clear that Argent was no longer coming for them, The King and Queen had decided that the baby dragons were to be cared for over at the dairy. It was easier to bring the young dragons there, and they had more room. McDonald had taken the Queen''s money and left. He hadn''t even said goodbye to Ronni. He had begrudgingly admitted to the King and Queen that it was Ronni''s money that had paid for the dairy in the first place. The Queen paid him for his half anyway. He said he was going to move to Dween and retire on the proceeds.


    Firestorm had led the procession as the babies had made their way up out of the tunnel, into the city, and then to the Dairy. The townspeople''s eyes were wide as hundreds of the well-mannered hatchling dragons came walking and hopping through the town and straight out the gates. Ardwella and Muina had followed behind making sure not to lose any stragglers. Ardwella was starting to show with her now obvious pregnancy. She had initially been very surprised that Esmarilla had chosen another bond and shocked that it had been Cantrell.


    "You have taken Esmarilla," she said. "Were you still that angry with me that you had to take my dragon?"


    "If I had not acted, Esmarilla would have surely died. You may not believe this, but you played no part whatsoever in that decision," he said sincerely.


    She had made a strange face and walked away, not saying much at all after that. Albarad had come up and patted Cantrell on the back.


    "Don''t worry about it," he said, smiling. "After her pregnancy, I''ll find her a nice horse. I''ve always been a little jealous of that dragon."


    Albarad had been part of the team searching the forest and fields for wounded soldiers and horses. He rode Jamison around the area with parties of the king''s men finding men and horses wounded in battle. They found a few. Argent''s royal guard had not taken prisoners, nor had they usually allowed themselves to be captured. They had fought with a feral intensity. The Humans had overcome them only because Myron''s decision had substantially diminished their numbers. The horses had usually not been targeted directly so there were a few more of them that they were able to save. He brought them back to his house and barn in Tasumakoji. His barn and the one at Ardwynn''s parent''s house were both filled with animals. Their presence seemed to please Albarad very. much. Some of them still had wounds and Albarad had asked Vanador to heal them. The amicable white dragon had been willing to help. The king had requested the use of some of the horses to make his eventual return trip to the coast. He seemed to have forgotten the trouble between them.


    When he had returned from the battlefield Mavis had greeted him with great enthusiasm. They were currently staying in her little house over in Tasumakoji. Esmarilla and Mo-Rung were staying at the dairy with the young dragons. Ronni, her sister Priscilla, and Enderline the King were filling their days, spending as much time with their new dragons as possible. Esmarilla was enthusiastic about her role as a mother to many. Motherhood was what she had always wanted. She was also in love. She and Mo-Rung were inseparable. That gave Mavis and Cantrell a lot of time for themselves. Perhaps it was their bonded dragon''s newfound ardor, but their nights and even their days seemed filled with substantial passion. Cantrell was very glad that he wasn''t going to be getting any older.


    -------------------------


    About a week after the day of the fateful battle, the humans had a service for their dead. There was a lot of smoke. Not counting the King and Queen, of the three hundred humans that had boarded ships in Sivantra, only about half had survived the voyage and the battle.


    Far more elves would be going home than humans. They were the ones who had surrendered. The incorrigible elves, Ardwella, had used the blue sword on. Freezing them one by one, stacking them like cordwood in a temple storage room. They, like Starett, would await judgment until after the time Mandel could take firm control of the elven capital.


    As he prepared to go back, Mandel wanted to speak with Vanquish before he left.


    "Are you satisfied with this outcome? Mandel asked Vanquish.


    This bonding with Humans is unknown. It will also change the humans a great deal. They will probably inherit some magical abilities because of it." Said Vanquish "These newly hatched dragons seem to be the only dragons that can do this. Perhaps their original parents wished to aid the humans in the fight against the elves and passed on human bonding as a desire. The elves were the original oppressors, after all. The humans fought very bravely for the dragons. Perhaps they wanted to reward them."


    "It''s not like we can stop it," said Mandel. "The young dragons are actually older than they look. They seem to know what they are doing."


    "I am still uncomfortable with all this bonding. I prefer dragons to remain free,¡± said Vanquish. "Seven more hatchlings bonded with humans today. I''ve tried to talk to them, but they keep doing it. Almost half of the two hundred hatchlings are bonded now. Most of them to human soldiers." They will leave us and take the dragons back with them. That will reduce the genetic diversity for those that stay behind."


    "A dragon''s life is long. They may fly back and forth from here to Sivantra to mate." said Mandel "I know that is a long time off yet. You will also have the dragons from the lake here once they have finished transitioning them.


    "Lothinar is taking care of that. He has already begun. Killingsworth now has his wings. Tundor has come into his own as a healing white dragon and Candasar has received magical training from me. Together with Lothinar they are visiting the lake every day and restoring dragons as fast as they can." said Vanquish. "Lothinar has the most experience doing that. Candasar was the first water dragon he changed. The two of them know best how to get it done. "


    "Who are they changing first?"


    "I have no idea. Firestorm seems to have made some sort of list," said Vanquish.


    "What is Siophra doing? Myron is afraid she might be after him," asked Mandel.


    "She has been seen with one of Cantrell''s rangers. I think his name is Cenderick. I think she likes his attention." smiled Vanquish. "She deserves some happiness. You should try to leave for the Capital as soon as you possibly can, though. She may have different opinions on his continuing to exist than you or I do."


    "I''ll keep that in mind," said Mandel.


    "Will you be able to peacefully take control of Argent''s government?" asked Vanquish


    "Myron says that I will and that he will help. I am taking Mavis and Cantrell and their dragons along as well. That should ensure success." he grinned. "Argent''s family will never have the throne again. The eggs will never again be taken."


    "We are counting on you for peace," said Vanquish. "It is why you were placed there. It is what your mother made her sacrifices for."


    "I understand that now. I didn''t always. I will have to thank her.," said Mandel.


    "Everyone did their part," said the big blue dragon.


    ------------------------


    Albarad was coming out of his barn. Muina was standing just outside.


    "I''ve been meaning to talk to you," she said.


    He nodded. "I''ve been expecting that you might."


    "I am sorry that Ardwella and I tricked you. That she helped sneak me into your bed, and I used you to conceive my twins."


    "They seem to have turned out to be fine young people, despite the environment that they were raised in. I guess I have to thank you for that," said Albarad.


    "They took Mandel away from me for a long time. Argent had a policy about that. He didn''t want the mother corrupting his male children. Mavis, likewise, was largely raised by nursemaids and nannies. It took a long time for me to be able to work myself back into their lives. It was dangerous for all of us. I was finally able to start to have some influence. I took Mandel to meet Vanquish. He fell in love with dragons, Which helped immensely. "


    Albarad just nodded. "It must have been difficult for you," he said.


    "What I''m trying to say, I think, is that Ardwella told me that you were one of the kindest and decent people she had ever met in all her years of traveling around. We hoped that children raised in the courts would still have those characteristics. We hoped that your goodness would prevail over the self-indulgence that surrounded them."


    "I see," he said. "That''s also why she picked me to be Lothinar''s father. Because I care for people and want to help them. He got a lot of that from me presumably. It made him easy to manipulate."


    "That sounds really bad when you put it that way," she said.


    "It is bad. When people do terrible things for what they consider the right reasons, it kind of defeats the purpose, don''t you think?"


    She looked ashamed.


    "One thing you got wrong, though."


    "What''s that?" she asked.


    "You didn''t trick me. I knew it wasn''t Ardwella. You look like her, but you certainly don''t smell like her."


    "The super Pheromones, of course," she said. "You knew! Yet you went through with it?"


    "Ardwella was obviously in on it, and you are very beautiful. It was very hard to resist. I don''t think any male could, given the circumstances."


    "You''d be surprised. Since I was in Argent''s bed, no male seems willing to even look me in the eye," said Muina.


    "Do you know that Ardwella and I have never even talked about this? said Albarad. "Everyone knows at this point. Don''t. you think she should have at least said something to me?"


    "Perhaps she is embarrassed," offered the twin.


    "I don''t. What I think is that she is so used to me going along with anything she wants that she doesn''t even think about my feelings anymore," he said with some rising heat. "


    "She lost Esmarilla. She is very busy. She has so many things on her mind." said Muina.


    "Sure. Everything but her husband." Albarad said


    "I''ll try to talk with her. You deserve more," Muina said.


    "Well, thank you for apologizing and for the talk," said Albarad. "I think it helped a little"


    She turned to go, then stopped.


    "Is that your barn?" asked Muina.


    "Yes," said Albarad.


    "So, do you want to go for a roll in the hay?" asked Muina. "Just for old times'' sake?"


    Albarad closed and locked the door of the barn.


    "Let''s use the house. Hay can get so scratchy,"


    ----------------------------------


    Ardwynn was still in her cell. She didn''t know what was taking so long. Her love, Lothinar, should have come for her by now. They were treating her a lot better since Mandel had come to visit her a few weeks ago. He had said that they were keeping her here for her own safety. He did come by every day to make sure she was alright. It was amazing how much Mandel reminded her of Lothinar. He just didn''t smell as good. Mavis and Cantrell had come by as well. That was awkward. Tundor must not have shaken her that hard. That dragon had been such a disappointment. She should have never bonded with him. Ardwynn suspected that it was probably better for her at this point that Mavis hadn''t died. She had not said much, just stared at her. Then she left. Cantrell had stayed a little longer. He said that Lothinar was busy but that he was planning to come soon. Apparently, the whole capital was in turmoil. That old fart Argent had finally died, and Mandel was the emperor now. Not everyone was happy about it, but things were going to get better soon. Cantrell and Mavis were helping during the transition. Another week passed.


    The door opened. There was a strange-looking bald elf looking inside her cell. He had strange ridges that went from the top of each of his eyes all the way across his head. What was even stranger was his eyes. One was blue, and one was red.


    "Who are you?" she asked "What do you want?"


    The elf grunted and then waved his hand in front of his face. His face shimmered with magic. His face became the face of Lothinar. Ardwynn walked closer. She sniffed. Then she jumped into his arms and began hugging him tightly. It was Lothinar. She knew that smell.


    "It''s you! You came!" she began weeping on his shoulder.


    He held her for a moment, then stepped back and took a look at her. He was looking at her swollen abdomen. She blushed.


    "I''m carrying our child Lothinar! Isn''t this wonderful?"


    He nodded, but he looked quite sad.


    "Let''s get out of here," he said.


    She followed him up the stairs of the tower until they came out on the roof. Candasar was there. A smaller red dragon was there too. The blue dragon seemed to be quite a lot bigger since she had last seen her.


    "You remember Candasar?" Lothinar asked.


    "How could I forget Candasar? she asked. "Tundor''s not around, is he?" she asked nervously. "I can''t remember entirely why but I don''t think he''s too happy with me for some reason. "


    "Don''t worry, He''s not here," said Lothinar. "The smaller red dragon is Firestorm. We were waiting until she was old enough to make the flight."


    Lothinar climbed back on Candasar, he gestured, and Ardwynn climbed up in front of him.


    "Where are we going?" she asked.


    "I''m taking you on a trip," he said. "We are going to Sivantra. You are going to have our baby there."


    "The human islands? Why there?"


    "There are no un-bonded dragons in Sivantra," he said.


    "Let''s go, slowpoke!" yelled Firestorm, jumping off the roof.


    Candasar looked back at Lothinar.


    "Kids grow up so fast today," she said. Then she smiled.


    Lothinar thought it was a very fine smile indeed.


    The dragons had both been well-rested and fed. Mandel had been a very good host. She went to the edge of the building and jumped off. She spread her wings. It was a long way to Sivantra, but she had Lothinar''s magic to sustain her and the very best directions.


    "Thanks for doing this Candy," said Lothinar through the bond.


    "No problem. I needed a break," she said. "But Tundor had better take good care of those eggs while I''m gone."


    ---------------------

 Volume 2 Chapter 1 PREVIEW - The Family Reunion

    Candasar was very tired. She looked down upon the small house and larger barn that lay nestled high in the mountains about twenty miles from Delora Natine. There was a whisp of smoke coming from the cooking chimney. That probably meant that, as expected, Siophra was now staying there. More importantly that reassured her that her mate Tundor and the eggs she had left in his care were still in the barn.


    The bungalow had been empty for many years before Ronniflass had used it as a refuge to steal away Lothinar in a fit of pheromone-induced passion. An unintentional consequence that had resulted from his accidental contact with her. Candasar aimed her weary wings and set herself down gently in the empty pasture with a tired groan. The big barn door was open. She caught a white flash of movement from inside and Tundor emerged.


    ¡°You¡¯re back!¡± He said happily. They touched noses, and he looked into her eyes, smiling. He struggled to maintain eye contact after a few seconds as she swung her long neck around, trying to peer over his seemingly ever-growing body and into the barn. He laughed.


    ¡±No, you didn¡¯t miss anything! They haven¡¯t hatched. It has only been a month, my love. But go ahead and see for yourself. I need to stretch my legs and get something to eat. Enjoy the view. I will be back in a little while, and then you can tell me about your travels.¡±


    She looked at him with the unspoken question. He laughed again.


    ¡±Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll bring something back for you. You must be very hungry after such a long flight.¡± He said, smiling. "Do you want deer, or... deer? he asked.


    "Surprise me!" she said. "By the way, where are we getting water around here? That stream that we were using at the far side of the property seems pretty low. I saw that on the fly over"


    "Yes, I''ll ask Siophra to pull you a bucket from the well. She won''t mind," said Tundor.


    ¡®Candasar stepped around him and practically ran quickly through the open door and into the barn. There in a sheltered corner and nestled in the clean golden straw were three eggs. Her eggs. It had taken her whole life and unbelievable violent change to find herself here, but looking at them again, it had all been worth it!


    Suddenly a shadow passed across the sunlight streaming through the open door and Candasar turned. A very beautiful blonde elf stood framed in the doorway. It was Siophra. She dropped a large bucket filled with water with a thump and ran to Candasar, throwing her arms around her neck and hugging the large blue dragon as best she could, considering the size difference.


    ¡°I¡¯m so glad to see that you are back safe. You got the package delivered?¡±


    ¡°Lothinar and Ardwynn are in the capital of Sivantra. It¡¯s a nice place. The weather¡¯s a little hot. They are crazy about dragons there, so Firestorm is living it up.¡±


    Siophra grinned, thinking about the perky little red dragon surrounded by adoring fans. Then she grew serious.


    ¡°How was it being around Ardwynn again? That had to be fairly creepy. I know how Tundor feels about her.¡±


    ¡±¡®It¡¯s strange. She feels like the old Ardwynn that I originally met again. She¡¯s enamored with Lothinar. But it¡¯s hard for me, scary actually. It¡¯s like there¡¯s a monster lurking under the skin.¡±


    Candasar moved to the eggs and checked them to make sure they were still warm enough.


    ¡±She makes these little facial expressions when Lothinar¡¯s not looking. I watch her eyes.¡± She continued. ¡°She¡¯s pretty uncomfortable in the warm weather there with the last half of her pregnancy approaching, so I might be wrong.¡±


    "Lothinar decided that his child was worth the risk," said Siophra. "I was concerned that his new appearance might be a problem. It''s quite a change."


    "He''s using illusion magic on his face and hair," said Candasar. "It''s something that Ardwella taught him just before he left. She picked it up when she was traveling into places and assassinating Argent''s magicians while you were locked up in his prison. It does take some magic to maintain it. He tried it out on Ronni before he left. She looked somewhat relieved."


    "That kind of thing might be useful," said Siophra. "I''ll have to ask my sister how it works."


    "I can tell you," said Candasar. "Remember that Lothinar and I share most information through the bond. Spells for sure. It''s a derivative of the invisibility spell we were using when we first tried to sneak back into Tasumakoji after Lothinar and Esmarilla restored my legs. It seems like so long ago now."


    "Ronni''s not here, you know," said Siophra. "She is still spending time with her sister, the Queen, and, of course, Cinnabar down in Delora Natine. She wasn''t that happy when Lothinar went off to deal with Ardwynn. I can''t blame her for feeling jealous. The bonding with Cinnabar broke the pheromone hold on her, but she still claims to love Lothinar, bald, strangely formed eyebrow ridges and all. We shouldn''t be too judgmental if now that he is using the illusion spell, she is a bit happier about his appearance."


    "Vanquish did a lot more than just change his hair and eyes, you know," said Candasar. "He is part dragon now. I can feel it and sometimes see it. He started growing again. He has put on at least an inch in height since he has been in Sivantra. His heart and lungs are bigger, as well as other things." Candasar coughed awkwardly.


    "He''s going to be very popular with the ladies, I''m assuming," said Lothinar''s aunt with a laugh. "Good for him. Not that he needs any more trouble in that department. He will have to be vigilant his whole life to try and keep others from becoming unnaturally attached to him. Ronni was probably just the first to be accidentally swayed."


    "Ardwynn was too, remember. She still is ''swayed''. That is a powerful effect. It''s probably what is keeping her from trying to murder him right now in his sleep." said Candasar.


    "They are not..... uh.. sleeping together, are they?" asked Siophra.


    "Not so far. They have been sleeping in separate rooms and despite Ardwynn''s constant attempts to try to sneak past Firestorm, he has been able to hold her off. That was always kind of the way she was in the first place. She has a very high sex drive. That hasn''t stopped even with the pregnancy." said Candasar. It often made Tundor very amorous." Then she stopped and looked awkwardly at Siophra. "Not that I''m complaining about you being his bond....instead of her. I''m quite satisfied with Tundor¡¯s drive"


    "You, my girl, have been gone for a month. When Tundor gets back here with a deer, I bet he barely gives you time to eat it. I had better be prepared to take a turn in the barn with the eggs. I don''t think he''s going to give you much time to sleep tonight." she said with a smirk. "I''m anticipating a long nighttime walk in the forest for the both of you."


    "I wouldn''t have it any other way," said Candasar. She walked over to the bucket of water and drank it dry. Then she settled in for a quick nap next to her three eggs.


    Siophra looked over at the blue dragon as she was nodding off. Two of the eggs looked extremely healthy but normal. It was usually hard to tell a dragon''s color before they hatched, but the third egg shimmered softly with a golden light in the darkness of the barn."


    "I wonder if she realized how very rare a gold egg is?" she thought to herself. "Genetic dragon royalty. Less than one in a million eggs come out that color. It''s going to be very interesting around here when that little one hatches."


    -----------------------------------


    "Mama. Say Mama," said Queen Pricilla to the dragon. She was at the Ronniflass dairy for her daily time with her young dragon.


    "Don''t be ridiculous. You are not my mother," said Ivy the small green dragon female. "My mother died over five hundred years ago in flames and agony just shortly after she hid my egg with Ardwella''s father Loren."


    The Queen at least had the good sense to look embarrassed.


    "How could you possibly know that?" asked Pricilla. "And what language are you speaking?"


    "That''s a good question. You spoke to me in human," said Ivy. "I replied in bond telepathy. My actual voice is pretty small and squeaky right now. The less I say out loud, the better. It''s probably in human syntax, though, not elf. My parents seemed to believe that we would need to know that language. They imprinted me with the basic vocabulary. I can also speak elf. Since you are half-elf, it could also be that."


    "My elf is a little rusty," said Pricilla. "I''ve been living with humans most of my life. I married one, in fact," said Pricilla through the bond. "Hey, this is pretty neat! We can have secret conversations!


    "I think you need to have another talk with Ardwella or Muina about the many things dragons can do, Pricilla," said Ivy.


    Suddenly, there was a huge roar, and Vanador, who had been resting in the shade cast by the nearby barn, jumped up and trotted out into the middle of the main field. Pricilla looked about and spotted a grey dragon winging in toward the herd of milk cows. There was roaring from the both of them but the grey quickly turned and sped away. The noise had been deafening.


    "What was that all about?" asked Pricilla.


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    ¡°It is a little sad, really,¡± Ivy replied. ¡°Some of those grey dragons have a lot to overcome. They are the ones that had the flippers and grew up in the lake here. They have very little magic, and frankly, most of them are not very smart. They are also somewhat forgetful.¡± Said Ivy.


    ¡°Which one was it?¡±


    "That was Clay, Tundor''s father. He was coming in to try and snatch a cow. Vanquish and Vanador are watching the herd, trying to keep the numbers from dwindling too fast, as we need to save the cattle to feed all the little ones. Vanador told him not to be lazy and go out over the forest and catch himself a deer like everyone else is doing right now. "


    "Why wouldn''t he do that in the first place?" asked Pricilla. "The thrill of the hunt should be appealing to a dragon, I would think."


    "It is getting harder as there are now so many of them. Lake dragons that have been given wings I mean. They are pushing the deer population farther and farther out every day. Fairly soon most of these grey dragons are going to have to cut ties with the lake and move into the mountains where the food is. That''s more like it was in the olden days." said Ivy.


    "Plus cows are very tasty animals. Elves are missing out." finished the little green dragon.


    "Yes, I know," said Pricilla. I¡¯m half human, remember?"


    The little dragon blinked.


    "I guess we are both still getting to know each other," Ivy said. "How about you go get me a cow and we can split it four ways. Enderline and his dragon Night-sky can have the other half."


    "Enderline and I won''t eat nearly that much, even though he is fully human. Maybe we can ask Cinnabar or some of the others to join us," said Pricilla. "But I won''t be getting you a cow myself. I''ll have one of the men at arms prepare it for you."


    "Are Queen''s considered wealthy?" asked Ivy. ¡°You have servants, I mean. That seems odd to me, but I don''t know much about human finances."


    "My picture is on some of the money," Pricilla said, laughing.


    "Get two cows then. I''m throwing a party for all my friends," said Ivy. ¡°Cows are delish!¡±


    -------------------------


    Mavis and Cantrell sat at one end of a very long dinner table. Mandel sat at the head on the other end. He had a very fancy chair. To his right sat Myron. To his left, Myron¡¯s sister Sahar. Spread out between them were fourteen female elves and their twelve remaining husbands. They were all that remained of Argent¡¯s living daughters. It was a family reunion of sorts but with a dangerous purpose. Cantrell reached for his napkin and delicately wiped the remnant of the desert course from his lips. He stood and held his glass of elderberry wine. He felt Mavis reach out and grab his unoccupied hand dangling below the table. She smiled up at him and gave his hand a little squeeze before letting it go.


    ¡±I would like you all to join me in a toast.¡± He said boldly. ¡°To Mandel The First. The new Emperor of the Elven Empire¡±


    Myron immediately joined Cantrell, rising to his feet, glass in hand. Mavis followed and stood next to Cantrell. There were nervous looks around the table. Four of the daughters immediately stood with their husbands.


    ¡°Who are you exactly?¡± One of the still-seated daughters asked Cantrell while beginning to rise with her glass.


    ¡±I am Cantrell the historian. Mavis, who you presumably know, is my new wife. I was there and observed the battle in which everyone who brought arms against the dragons was either killed outright or was lucky enough to be granted a surrender. I am also recording the peaceful transition of government from your father, Argent, to the dragon friend Mandel. Mavis and I, ourselves are bonded to dragons. I am bonded to one of the last remaining ancient dragons. She was hatched even before the beginning of the dragon war. She is Esmarilla the Black. Being immortal now and bonded with her, I will never forget the specifics of how you all responded to my toast tonight.¡±


    The remaining sitting elves hastily jumped to their feet, glasses raised. Cantrell smiled.


    ¡°To Mandel the First. Our new Emperor. May your reign be long and peaceful¡± He downed his glass. Everyone followed but one. It was Byzinth. Cantrell had done his homework. He knew who she was. She was the only remaining sister of Byron. She had come alone, having outlived her husband by over a hundred years. Cantrell suspected that at least one egg had been involved.


    She sat down her full glass and said loudly, ¡°I will never accept this!¡± She then quickly moved to walk out of the room. There were guards positioned at the door, but with a small shake of his head, Mandel signaled them to allow her to pass. The guard opened the door for her but then held it that way. Byzinth could be heard swearing and shouting as she left the hallway and stepped into the flagstone courtyard.


    ¡°One elf female coming your way, Esmarilla, ¡° Cantrell sent to his dragon, who had posted herself outside only after the dinner had begun.


    ¡°Only one?¡±She asked. ¡°That¡¯s better than we thought.¡±


    ¡±The others are either going along with it or will soon be trying to kill Mandel in his sleep,¡± he replied ¡°I don¡¯t want his job¡±


    There was a roar of flame, and a dancing red light could be seen through the open door. There was a sudden unpleasant smell of something burning. The guard hastily closed the door.


    ¡°We appreciate so much your support,¡± said Mandel to those still standing and holding empty glasses. Their eyes were very wide.


    ¡°You will keep your titles and your lands. There may also soon be an opportunity for some expansion. Please contact me if one of your properties is adjacent to the one recently vacated by Byzinth. We sincerely hope that no further consolidations prove to be necessary. Dinner is concluded.


    ¡°I recommend that you leave by the West exit.¡± Said Cantrell. ¡°There was some unscheduled maintenance that needed to be performed in the Eastern courtyard. We will have your carriages and horses brought around shortly.¡±


    The assembled dinner guests quickly collected their things and headed for the west exit. Cantrell turned to his beautiful wife.


    ¡±That went well,¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯ve already asked Mo-Rung to grant safe passage through the west gate. He¡¯s staying in view, however. We don¡¯t want them getting any ideas.¡±


    Cantrell picked up the still-full glass of elderberry wine. The dark red liquid shimmered in the candlelight He dumped it out on the floor.


    ¡±It is a rare kingdom that can be founded without the spilling of much blood, ¡° he said sadly.¡±But I find that I don¡¯t seem to mind so much when the blood is Argent¡¯s. I must be getting hard-hearted.


    ¡°I think what you are feeling is me,¡± said Esmarilla. ¡°You and Mandel are going in too soft. I don¡¯t think anyone from Argent¡¯s line is going to let this go that easily. You should probably have gotten them all while they were in the same room. Now we are just going to be waiting around for one of them to try and stab Mandel in the back.¡±


    ¡°What about Ardwynn?¡± Cantrell asked softly. ¡°And her unborn child. They are Argent¡¯s blood too.¡±


    ¡°Technically not,¡± said Esmarilla. Initially, we had some hope for her. Remember, she is not Argent¡¯s daughter but that of his brother Tempton.


    ¡°But her mother was Ulaire! She was the one who gathered the eggs for Argent. She was pretty bad too.¡± Said Cantrell reminding her.


    ¡±She was very uncooperative during interviews and severely unrepentant for those actions, yes.¡± Said Esmarilla


    ¡°Ardwella believed that Ulaire¡¯s personality flaws were most likely not genetic but environmental. Self-entitled disregard for others can be learned easily in an environment that rewards such behavior as Argent did.¡±


    Cantrell glanced at his bride, Mavis, who once again gave him a warm smile. He then walked over to shake the newest Emperor¡¯s hand, not for the first time being very grateful that the elf Albarad was the real father of those twins.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    ¡°I don¡¯t understand.¡± Said Ardwella to her sister Muina. ¡°You almost seem disappointed that I¡¯m not angry at the both of you.¡±


    ¡±Let¡¯s say I am just surprised,¡± said Muina. ¡°I thought you might be more territorial about your husband sleeping with me again.¡±


    ¡±Why? I love you both and was certainly in agreement with it happening the first time. I think it¡¯s going to turn out very well, in fact,¡± said Ardwella with a smile.


    ¡°I told you she wouldn¡¯t mind.¡± Said Albarad. ¡°You had nothing to worry about, Muina.¡±


    ¡±You are not even telling us to stop?¡± She asked.


    ¡±I suppose that will be up to you and Albarad. With his daughter getting bigger inside me every day, I appreciate the help you can provide to keep my lover satisfied.¡± Ardwella said sincerely. ¡°And I hardly expected you to live the rest of your life with your own needs unmet. I know how other males have reacted to you due to the stigma of Argent.¡±


    Ardwella stepped over to Albarad and gingerly reached over her own very pregnant abdomen to hug him. Then she kissed him. She stepped back and turned to face her sister and twin.


    ¡±In fact, knowing Albarad the way that I do, I would have almost expected nothing less. When you shared your pain and loneliness with him and the reasons for it, he was almost obligated to help ease that.¡± Said the very pregnant elf. ¡°It¡¯s a wonderful part of what makes him the very best husband and, by the way, the best possible father of elves thought to be in consideration for the next emperor. It¡¯s also probably why your daughter Mavis rescued Cantrell from me. My pheromones, at least. However that did have unforeseen consequences regarding Esmarilla.


    Muina had slowly been developing a pained look on her face. She looked down. Albarad quickly went to her and took her hand. He grabbed the second one and then looked into her eyes. His touch was warm. It made Muina tremble slightly.


    ¡°Do not think that the affection and passion I have given to you is somehow out of just mercy or obligation.¡± He said. ¡°You are worthy of anyone. You¡¯re heroic as well as very beautiful. I am very honored that you showed interest in me.¡± Then he smiled.


    Muina nodded and smiled back. She was relieved that Ardwella¡¯s jealousy was not going to be an issue in this unusual relationship. Now she just had to worry about her own.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-


    The Elven ambassador''s home in Sivantra was a much larger version of the bungalow in the mountains that Ronni had taken him to when his memory had been compromised. Lothinar was equally impressed with the decorative designs. The motifs of dragons and sailing ships abounded. It was technically the Queen¡¯s second residence, but she hadn¡¯t stayed here for a long time. She had been living in the Royal palace. The letter that the Queen had provided in way of introduction had insisted that the Kings¡¯ s regent make the house available to them. The house was still staffed and well-maintained. No one had been living there except for the caretakers, and it was relatively private.


    It had beautiful gardens, both decorative and functional. Most of the leafy greens and vegetables that Lothinar was accustomed to could be sourced fresh there. There were also plentiful farm animals on the property. Firestorm had been very excited to discover furry animals called sheeps. Or maybe it was sheep. Some oddities of speaking human still puzzled him. How could many of something have the same spelling as one? It didn¡¯t matter. Firestorm had assured Lothinar that sheeps were delicious. That was surprisingly becoming a problem.


    ¡®Like most Elves, Lothinar had been a vegetarian his whole life. He was alarmed that he found himself craving meat. Vanquish had done something to him inside when she changed his eyes and hair. Lothinar thought about Ardwynn¡¯s father, Tempton, before Candasar burned him to the ground with dragon fire on that fateful day. Tempton had been extremely large for an elf.


    Whatever Vanquish had done to his insides had triggered a similar build in Lothinar. He was correctly proportioned but getting larger every day. Many of the human men could get considerably larger than elves so finding clothes thus far had not become a problem. What was a bigger problem was his craving for lamb chops. Right now he wanted one even more than mung bean soup. The human chef in the kitchen had earnestly told him that he knew a great recipe for a lamb and mung bean stew. He would love to make it for dinner. Lothinar just couldn¡¯t say no.


    Ardwynn had been fantastic. Helpful, sweet, compliant. She constantly looked at him with love in her eyes. When he stayed cool and aloof, he could see how much it disappointed her. It would be so easy and try to forget what she was capable of when not under the sway of his formidable pheromones. They still slept in separate rooms. Firestorm made sure of that. She was constantly stopping Ardwynn from trying to sneak past her at night to join him in his room. It was strange because, on one level, Ardwynn seemed to understand what she had done and that there must be consequences for it. The other Ardwynn just wanted to go back to the way that they had been before. Part of Lothinar did too. After the baby was born would come the extremely hard decisions. Tonight the crisis was the lamb.

 Volume 2 Chapter 2: Sleeping with the Enemy

    ¡°I can¡¯t tell you the reasons why, but it just doesn¡¯t feel right to me.¡± Said Mavis looking at the elegant decor. She and Cantrell were standing inside the huge living room of the home of a large estate. It had once belonged to Argent¡¯s brother Tempton and his wife Ulaire. When they had perished, both slain by dragons, it had hereditarily passed to Ardwynn¡¯s ownership. It would most certainly have been inherited by her brother Quinton instead, but Esmarilla had fought him and stomped him deep into a muddy lakeside hole. He had not survived. He had been trying to wield the semi-sentient sword Mortimer against her at the time. Esmarilla had been fortunate that Mortimer had not been cooperating with him. The sword''s previous and hereditary owner, Siophra, had certainly used Mortimer to very deadly effect since then. Siophra had bequeathed Mortimer to her nephew Mandel after her last fight. Presumably, the sword was in agreement with that. Cantrell could not help but wince as he looked at the sword, now hanging unobtrusively at Emperor Mandel¡¯s waist, as Esmarilla¡¯s memories of that fight replayed in his mind through the bond.


    ¡°What do you think, Cantrell?¡± Mavis asked him. She raised an elegant eyebrow at his apparent zone out.


    He returned to the present, marveling at how beautiful she looked standing in this elegant room.


    ¡±Look, I know it¡¯s not perfect, and how you still feel about Ardwynn¡±, said Mandel, interrupting Cantrell¡¯s answer. ¡°But Lothinar promised me that she¡¯s not coming back. You both have been and continue to be extremely helpful to me here in the capital, and you do need a place to live that¡¯s big enough for the dragons.¡±


    ¡°The barn is too small,¡± protested Mavis.


    ¡±I¡¯ll pull a crew off the rebuilding of the library, and we will have you a proper double-sized dragon barn up in a couple of days.¡± Countered Mandel.


    ¡°Cantrell?¡± Both of the twins said simultaneously, surprising them both and resulting in their laughter.


    ¡°Hey, I moved to Tasumakoji and the lake to avoid these kinds of decisions. I¡¯m a country boy now.¡± He said.


    ¡±You don¡¯t have to stay here year-round. You did hear the part when I said that I was giving it to you, right? Emperors prerogative. You are my sister, and at least until I have children, my heir, Mavis.¡±


    Cantrell looked at his bride. He could tell that the last part had surprised her. It had surprised him. That statement brought Cantrell a cold shiver, especially as he thought about all the implications of Mandel''s vulnerability if Argent¡¯s actual heirs decided to renege on their hasty toast.


    ¡°You had better get busy with having those kids then,¡± said Cantrell. ¡°Or find another less dangerous occupation.¡±


    ¡±What would I even do? I was born for this.¡± Said Mandel with a laugh.


    ¡±Have you ever considered Real Estate?¡± Asked Cantrell. ¡°I think you would be very good at it!¡±


    ¡±I don¡¯t know. This should be an easier sale. I can¡¯t lower the price more,¡± said Mandel with a grin.


    ¡°If the dragons like the new barn, then we¡¯ll take it,¡± said Mavis. ¡®Who are you thinking about marrying?¡±


    The middle-aged housekeeper who had proceeded them into the room and had opened the drapes to let in the light coughed nervously.


    ¡±So far, ¡®I¡¯m keeping all my options open,¡± he said with a wink.


    ¡±By the way, all of the staff have agreed to stay on.¡± Said Mandel looking at the housekeeper. ¡°They all seem to be dragon-friendly. A few of them specifically were very pleased at Argent¡¯s demise.¡±


    ¡°It is hard to find good help,¡± said Mavis.


    Cantrell thought that she sounded a bit too much like the daughter of an Emperor.


    ¡°I thought that WE were the help.¡± Said Cantrell.


    ¡±You both are going to be too busy to be cooking and making beds,¡± said Mandel. ¡°I need you to help keep me alive and give this new government a chance. It¡¯s not just my life that depends on it.¡±


    ¡±I told you that you should have killed them all after that little family dinner,¡± said Esmarilla through the bond. ¡°Mandel is just too nice.¡±


    Cantrell decided not to respond to the dragon, but she might be right.


    ¡°Have I ever told you that you remind me of your father? Your real one I mean?¡± Cantrell asked Mandel.


    Mavis and Mandel exchanged a thoughtful look.


    ¡±After things calm down and become more secure, I¡¯d like to ask him here for a visit. I¡¯d like to get to know him, and I¡¯m sure we both have questions.¡± Said Mandel. Mavis nodded.


    ¡®Are you going to have your mother move to the Capital again?¡± Asked Cantrell


    ¡°That would, of course, be up to her. I don¡¯t think her time here was very enjoyable, ¡° he replied. ¡°She cried a lot when she didn¡¯t know anyone could see.¡± Mandel wiped at his own eyes.


    ¡°She is, in her own way, a hero, you know.¡± Said Cantrell.


    ¡±Yes, but for us to succeed here, most people can never know it.¡± Mandel said, then he suddenly looked at the housekeeper.


    ¡°Is keeping that to yourself going to be a problem?¡± He asked her.


    ¡±Oh no, my Lord,¡± she squeaked. ¡°I got locked up in the Emperor''s tower when Ardwynn did. It was very frightening. Argent was a monster. I will keep your secrets¡±


    ¡±You may go then. Thank you for helping us see the house, ¡° he said.


    ¡°I must tend to the daily shopping anyway. Thank you, my Lord.¡± She scurried away.


    Mandel, Mavis, and Cantrell continued to look through the house aquatinting themselves with the locations of cupboards and closets.


    Suddenly there was a large whoosh outside near the barn. They all three ran to a nearby window and looked out. The barn was on fire. It was fully engulfed. Mo-Rung was standing in the yard looking at it. The three elves quickly ran outside.


    ¡±Did you do that Mo-Rung?¡± Asked Mavis. ¡°I know it has to come down anyway to build the bigger one, but you could have warned us!¡±


    ¡±I was not actually planning to do that.¡± The red dragon replied. ¡°I was killing the spies.¡±


    ¡±What?¡± Mavis shouted. ¡°Are there people in there?¡±


    Mavis appeared to be reviewing Mo-Rungs memories.¡±


    ¡±Yes,¡± said the dragon to Mandel. ¡®They were a couple of the dinner guests from your party the other night. Two of Argent''s daughters I am sure of it. I saw them when they were leaving the party. They walked right by me. Esmarilla was flying over and saw them sneaking into the barn. I only acted after your housekeeper went in there to meet with them.¡±


    "It was Francine and Hellinth,¡± Mavis said. ¡°I saw them in Mo-Rungs memory. They were sisters of Fignair. You know what this means, don''t you?  More property to divide up. Maybe we shouldn¡¯t settle for the first place we see.¡±


    Cantrell gave her a look.


    ¡°Way too soon.¡± He said. ¡°We need to remember to watch what we say around anyone but ourselves¡±


    Mandel looked upset. Then he squared his shoulders and looked at his sister and her husband. He sighed.


    ¡±I guess it is hard to get good help these days.¡±


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-


    Enderline wasn''t at all sure what to think. He came from a long line of Kings that had ruled over the island Kingdom of Sivantra over the last five hundred years. A normal human lifespan was only about a hundred years if you were lucky. A single elf might be able to stay alive for five hundred years but that was a lot of human kings. Kings were born, raised, and trained their successors, passed on the crown and died. Over and over. Now these elves were telling him that due to the previously unheard of occurrence of a dragon choosing a human, he might be immortal, or at least live a ridiculously long time. No one was sure because it had never even happened before.


    What did immortal even mean? He knew the word, but the consequences of the word as it applied to his life were just starting to sink in. Duty was something he understood. Bravery he believed that he had in spades. Love.... He had been overjoyed when the elf Lothinar and the two blue dragons had returned his beautiful half-elf Queen to him. He had gone a little crazy when she died. He had fully expected that she would outlive him by hundreds of years. A black dragon had ended her life, and now he was bonded to another young black dragon. It was just too much to process.


    His own bond, who had named himself Night-sky, was currently out in the cow pasture, crouched in front of a gopher hole. He was waiting for the gopher. It was amusing to watch. He showed such enthusiasm! Suddenly, the gopher poked his head out, and Night-sky pounced with surprising speed. He snatched up the gopher and swallowed it down whole. He suddenly started coughing. It went on for about half a minute. The King watched helplessly. Did one pat a choking dragon on the back?


    ¡±That was a little dirtier than I expected.¡± Said Night-Sky.


    ¡±Are you going to be ok?¡± Enderline asked.


    ¡±Yeah, but would you mind very much getting me some water? There is a bucket over by the pump.¡± Said the dragon as if they were just friends and he was not the king of an entire nation. For some reason, Enderline found the lack of deference refreshing. Enderline went to the pump and quickly filled the bucket. The dragon stepped up and gratefully took a long drink.


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    ¡°Thank you, that was plenty,¡± said Night-Sky. ¡°You can have the rest if you want it.¡±


    Enderline raised the bucket and took a drink himself. He noticed more than a few stares from some of the human soldiers that were standing around. Visiting the dragons had become a new hobby for the troops during their off time. Coming to the dairy and wishing that one of the little un-bonded dragons would notice you. More than a few of his soldiers had found a bond that way. It was like winning the lottery. He set the bucket down. One of the soldiers cautiously approached him. He looked at the bucket near the king''s feet.


    ¡±Your Majesty. My name is Roth. It is an honor to speak with you. May I borrow your bucket?¡± He asked, bowing low.


    ¡°Of course! Help yourself,¡± said Enderline.


    The soldier filled the bucket and started carrying it around in the pasture where the little un-bonded dragons were running around and playing. He had a hopeful look on his face. Suddenly a small red dragon ran over to him. She looked at the bucket. He sat it down hopefully and she took a drink. They seemed to be having a very limited conversation. There was a lot of nodding and smiling.


    ¡±That human is smart,¡± said Night-Sky. ¡°You should probably consider giving him a promotion. Is there such a thing as a Vice King or something?¡±


    Enderline was watching Roth and the red dragon with fascination. Suddenly the soldier dropped to his knees and started hugging the little red dragon.


    ¡±He just got promoted.¡± said Night-Sky. ¡°That¡¯s Ember he just bonded with. She said she was going to wait for an elf. She is very picky. I¡¯m kind of surprised.¡±


    Enderline tried not to, but he found himself bristling at the assumption that somehow elves were superior and preferred by dragons. Night-Sky seemed to immediately pick this up.


    ¡°That is not an indictment against humans. It¡¯s just the natural telepathy issue.¡± Said Night-Sky. Most humans don¡¯t have it. They communicate with voices only. Ember is pretty lazy. She wanted an easier way to communicate. I¡¯ve been working hard to develop my vocal abilities quickly so that I can speak better to humans and you can understand me more easily. Remember how my voice was so high and squeaky when I first hatched?¡±


    ¡±Yes, it is somewhat deeper and much clearer now. That¡¯s not normal?¡± Asked Enderline.


    ¡±Not usually, no. But the others know that I have a very important job representing the rest of us to you, since you are the King and all that. They encouraged me to prioritize my speaking abilities over growing in physical size. Did you notice that I am slightly smaller than the others right now?¡±


    ¡±Now that you mention it¡­¡± said the king. ¡° I also did notice that the other human-bonded dragons don¡¯t talk nearly as much as you do.¡±


    ¡±Exactly!¡± Said Night-Sky. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I will catch up on my size now that my voice and pronunciation are so much better.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m amazed that you can prioritize and choose how you want to develop!¡±


    ¡±You humans can¡¯t?¡± Asked the little black dragon. ¡°That¡¯s very interesting.¡±


    ¡®Another soldier ran over to Roth and asked for the bucket. Roth gave it to him, and the new man ran back to the pump.


    ¡±Your Majesty?¡± He said, bowing. Enderline nodded his nonverbal ascent, and he and Night-Sky stepped away from the spigot. The soldier began filling the bucket.


    ¡°That probably won¡¯t work again,¡± commented Night-Sky. ¡°It¡¯s going to take something new to impress them now and there is plenty of water already pumped over by the barn.¡±


    ¡±How did I impress you? What made you choose me anyway?¡± Asked Enderline.


    ¡±Vanador told me that you decided to come here to help us. I understand your actual kingdom is quite far away. Then you risked everything fighting to protect us in the forest against Argent. That was enough for me. You¡¯re kind of my hero, Enderline.


    The King surprised himself and blushed.


    ¡°All of these soldiers are Heroes.¡± He said. ¡°Especially the ones that didn¡¯t make it.¡±


    ¡±I know. Most of these guys are great, but we are already over the ratio.¡± The dragon said.


    ¡±I don¡¯t know what you are talking about?¡± Said Enderline confused.


    ¡±Dragon females fight alongside their males. Why don¡¯t you have any women in your army Enderline? Some of these dragons want to have a female bond.¡± Said Night-Sky.


    ¡°Are you saying that most of these un-bonded dragons are waiting for human females? Never mind, of course they are. It makes sense. This has suddenly gotten even more complicated. The only women around here are the ones that live in Delora Natine.¡±


    ¡±We saw some of them coming out of the city. We were wondering why you hadn¡¯t let more of them onto Ronniflass¡¯s farm. Some of these dragons would bond.¡± said Night-Sky.


    ¡°I think I need to talk this over with Pricilla.¡± Said Enderline thoughtfully.


    Vanquish snorted behind the barn. She had been listening in on the king''s conversation with Night-Sky. She had of course known that many of these newly hatched dragons would be looking for a female bond. She had been keeping that fact to herself. She could not stop these young dragons from bonding but she was generally not in favor of dragons bonding at all. There was far too much history of abuse and bonding with humans was unknown territory. That information was now known by the king. She wondered what he would do. Would he try to bring un-bonded young dragons back to his island to find them female bonds within the Sinvantra population or give the locals a chance? At least if they bonded with human women who originally lived on the mainland, the rest of the dragon young would most likely eventually stay here. Too many young dragons were already eventually headed for Sivantra as it was.


    Later that evening Enderline discussed his latest findings about dragon behavior and bonding with his bride and her sister. They were having steak and eating it picnic-style on a huge blanket near Ronni''s barn. Several young dragons were gathered around Night-Sky, and as they worked on their small dragon-sized cow portions, they listened intently as Night-Sky described his practice battle with the gophers. He warned them about the hazards of eating dirt. Ivy had bolted her food and was trying to curl up on Pricilla''s lap, but was getting too big for that to easily happen. She seemed satisfied to rest her chin on her leg and was soon asleep.


    "So I need some feminine advice,¡± Enderline said to the two half-elf sisters.


    Pricilla and Ronni looked at each other and then back to him expectantly.


    ¡°Night-Sky told me that the bonding hold-up has been that most of these un-bonded dragons are looking for a female to bond with.¡± Said Enderline.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t think it mattered to them,¡± said Ronni. "Didn''t Mavis bond with a female dragon first and then later with Mo-Rung?"


    "I think those were special circumstances," said Pricilla. "Mo-Rung had revenge on his mind at the time. Didn''t he originally want Cantrell?"


    "The point is," said Enderline, interrupting, "To these little dragons, it does seem to matter. Now what do you think I should do about it?"


    "Are you thinking about restricting their access to the local females? asked Ronniflass. "Because if you are and that information gets out, it''s going to make some of these people very unhappy."


    "I don''t think it''s very fair of me to limit the dragon''s choices," said Enderline. "I already feel bad that I''ve been doing that without realizing it."


    "Then what about elves? Asked Pricilla. "Are you open to them choosing full-blooded female elves? There are more than a few that would probably be willing."


    "Perhaps, if I may interject here," said Night-Sky. The sisters jumped when they heard him speak. Enderline laughed.


    "Yes, Night-Sky has been working very hard on his speaking voice," Enderline said.


    "I''m used to hearing my own dragon," said Pricilla, but it''s usually through bond telepathy. Night-Sky''s speaking voice is very good!"


    "Thank you," said Night-Sky. "I am lucky your husband and king is very wise. I am catching on very quickly to these social quandaries."


    "How much did you pay him to say that?!" asked Ronni, laughing.


    "Nobody paid me," said Night-Sky. Is that a thing? Is my speaking well going to cause people to give me human currency?"


    "Not in this crowd, No," said Enderline. "But after I retire from being king, someday, we may have to take this show on the road."


    "There is much in that statement that I do not yet understand," said Night-Sky. "Nonetheless, I believe I can answer your question about the elves."


    "He sounds just like Firestorm!" said Ronni. "We need to get him and her together in the same place. It would be epic!"


    "She''s in Sivantra right now. In the capital with Lothinar, in fact. That might happen!" said Pricilla.


    "Ssshh," said Enderline. "I''m very interested in what he has to say about the female elves."


    "Thank you... Yes, as I was saying... These dragons are war orphans, as am I. We were the last hope of dragon mothers and fathers that were losing a war and their own death was likely in sight. They were fighting elves, except for a few elves, most of whom were members of one specific family. Most elves were the enemy or at least apathetic to our plight. That reality has had an impact on our genetic memory and our preferences. I doubt very much that any one of us would choose to bond with a full-blooded elf. Perhaps in time and with greater understanding, that may change, but for now, it is unlikely.


    "What about half-elves? asked Ronni, suddenly self-conscious.


    "Ah, From what I have been told, that is indeed rare. Yes, that would be wonderful. The advantages are obvious. A telepathic human, on the one hand, and an elf that would not tend to try to dominate one of us through a misused bond. But," said Night-Sky, "Your rare half-elf condition also presents some problems"


    "Do many elves do that? Dominate their dragons? I heard the story of Tundor and Ardwynn. I thought that was because of Argent''s taint." asked Pricilla.


    "A few. You should talk to Esmarilla about that sometime." said Night-Sky."


    Pricilla paled.


    "I know your history with her," said Night-Sky, but I will say that, at the very least, her bond with the elf Ardwella was not ideal. Esmarilla was very frustrated and often received conflicting information. She is now bonded with another. That is working out better for everyone. But I try to remember that Ardwella is one of the elves that did the most to help my people."


    "Let''s get back on topic," said Enderline. "Just what are those problems with half-elves?" asked Enderline, looking nervously at his wife and her sister. "Since they are kind of in my immediate family."


    "Right, They are almost always completely infertile," said Night-Sky. "That means they can not have children. I thought you knew that."


    Ronni gasped, and Pricilla began to cry. That woke up Ivy.


    "What did you say now Night-Sky?" she asked angrily. "You didn''t tell her, did you?"


    --------------------------------------------


    Lothinar woke up. Something was wrong. For a few seconds, he couldn''t remember what it was. He had been having a dream. A dream from back when he and Ardwynn had been together. It had been a wonderful time. He could almost feel her arms still wrapped around him. He could feel her baby bump pressing against his abdomen. Baby bump!? He jumped straight out of bed, of course waking her up.


    "What are you doing here?" he asked loudly as she smiled up sweetly at him.


    "Are you ready for another round already? Because the first one was fantastic. I don''t even mind that you changed your hair."


    "He gasped and passed his hand in front of his face, restoring the illusion."


    "That is better," she admitted. "But come back to bed. I''ve really missed being with you!"


    Lothinar tried to calm his rapidly beating heart. He took a few deep breaths. The dragon-inspired heart and lungs seemed to help him recover more quickly from his sudden shock.


    Ardwynn was completely naked, and in spite of her pregnancy, she still looked very beautiful. Other dragon influenced parts also seemed to be responding more quickly than he had anticipated. Parts of him were definitely inspired. She looked at his rebellious body.


    "That''s better," she said. "Come back to bed."


    "Firestorm! Where the hells are you?" he asked. "Ardwynn''s in my room!"


    "Why wouldn''t she be? She is your wife." Replied the dragon. "Sounds like you had a good time. Took you long enough. I''m so glad you two are back together!"


    Lothinar squinted at Ardwynn. She blinked innocently.


    "What did you do to Firestorm? She doesn''t sound like herself," said Lothinar.


    "Fine!" she said. "I''ll tell you. That fancy red sword you have. You left it lying in the living room. It spoke to me."


    "What did it say?" he asked in horror.


    "It told me that it could convince dragons of anything," she said. "And it seems that it can. I told Firestorm that I was your wife and that she should let me into your room. The sword did the rest. It was so easy! I should have done that when we first got here. She''s been blocking me for weeks. We''ve wasted so much time."


    "Where is the sword now?" he asked cautiously.


    "I put it somewhere safe," she said happily. "That thing is really useful. A girl never knows when she is going to need something like that with dragons about."


    "You didn''t try and bond Firestorm did you?"


    "Of course not!" She belongs to you. "I would never do something like that," she said. "We both know how that turned out last time. It broke us up. I would never want that. I love you Lothinar!"


    "You took the sword," he said.


    "Insurance," she said. "A guarantee that after I have our child, you will never leave me. I know how easy it is for you to attract the attention of females. I want to stay with you forever! The confidence that Firestorm has that we should be together will soon begin to influence you to feel the same way about me again. Bonds are two directional remember."


    Lothinar started to call out to Candasar and then suddenly remembered that she was too far away. He tried anyway. Nothing came back. Even if she could hear him she was a very long flight away.


    He went back to bed.


    --------------------------------------------------

 Volume 2 Chapter 3: A Change of Loyalties

    Albarad and Muina were riding horseback to the other side of the lake and then a few miles up into the mountains. It was likely to be a two-day trip, and they had packed accordingly. Albarad had done the packing. He seemed to have a barn full of supplies. Muina had asked him to help her see how Pepper and Salt were doing. Tundor''s parents, Maud and Clay, were caring for the young black and white dragons. It was also very likely that their daughter Vanessa was still with her parents and helping them out.


    When Mavis left for the capital with Mo-Rung, she asked her mother, Muina, to look in on them occasionally. Mavis had an almost unique double connection to the little dragons. She had been bonded to their mother, Aleena, who had died, and then subsequently to their father, Mo-Rung. He was still bonded to Mavis.


    Muina knew that the circumstances that had led to that strange arrangement had been traumatic and terrible for her daughter. It had, however, been a crucible for incredible emotional growth. She had not emerged from the events the same person. Muina almost could not imagine the old Mavis caring about the two little dragons or asking her mother to check on them. The indulgent lifestyle of Argent¡¯s family that she had experienced growing up had nearly ruined her. As with the others, Argent had kept her from both of her children as much as he could. At the time, there was not much that Muina could do about it. The new Mavis was on a much better path. How her daughter ended up marrying Cantrell was also a fascinating story. Muina thought that they were good together.


    Muina had been going to see the young dragons every couple of days. That had not been difficult when they had been staying near the lake. Recently, through Lothinar¡¯s seemingly ever-increasing magical abilities, most of the water-bound dragons had been given wings and real legs. They were transitioning to a life more like that of their ancestors. They were hunting from the air and eating deer and other animals in the forest. The local deer population had plummeted as a result. Although many dragons had been reluctant to leave the immediate area of the lake, Claud had moved his family up into the hills where the hunting was better. He had done so as soon as the little ones could safely fly.


    Muina understood the decision but wasn''t confident that the recently converted water dragons would be good parents. Maud and Clay had hidden Tundor when he was young to save him from the then hostile council, only to eventually turn him over when he was discovered. The planned mutilation of the original dragons into the creatures that inhabited the lake just to provide a source of magical eggs for Argent''s family was truly despicable. Muina had been a key part of the plan of secret infiltration that had brought Argent down. It had not been easy. She still had nightmares about the experience. It had been very up close and personal. Until Albarad had begun showing her his tender love and attention she had sometimes wondered if she could even continue. His tender love and attention seemed to heal her more every day that she could spend with him, but she could tell that he was still intensely loyal to Ardwella.


    "Is there even a path where we are headed?" asked Muina.


    "The deer trails through here are pretty easy to follow even though they are fairly narrow. Watch your hair. You should probably tie it up. It might get caught on a low branch." he said smiling at her.


    "Could you help me?" she asked. "I don''t have a hair tie."


    "Never go into the wilderness with a Queen. They will work you to death." he said with a chuckle.


    He wheeled Jamison around and swung back. He turned the horse again and coming abreast of her stopped at her side. She once again noticed that he was an excellent horseman. He pulled a small tie from his shirt pocket and leaned toward her. The near stirrup creaked slightly with the shift in weight.


    "Grab your hair and pull it back. I''ll tie it up." he said leaning in closer.


    He smelled of sandalwood and leather. She felt her heart start to speed up.


    "You have a beautiful neck." he said, gently tying her hair up. "You should wear your hair back more often."


    She flushed. Seeming not to noice, he gently kicked Jamison¡¯s sides and the horse pulled away. Albarad had a broad back. She nudged her mare and followed him.


    They rode a while. The terrain was difficult and the climb at times was steep. The horses were good ones. They seemed to be able to handle it with ease. Mavis had not ridden a lot as her life in the capital had consisted mostly of carriages. Gilded ones. Yet she knew a good horse when she was on one. Before the gilded carriages there had been Vanquish. That was a far different experience. A dragon would have had her to the young dragons in minutes, but spending some time with Albarad and his horses was an opportunity she couldn¡¯t pass up.


    Coming out of the trees into a clearing he stopped and waited for her. She rode up beside him stopping at the meadows edge in the last of the shade. The meadow was filled with wildflowers.


    ¡°We will give the horses a short rest here.¡± He said


    ¡±It¡¯s a beautiful spot.¡± She said, nodding toward the flowers.


    ¡±Yes it is.¡± He said, but he was looking upwards at the empty blue sky than the meadow.


    ¡±How do you like riding Star?¡± He asked.


    ¡±Is that her name? She¡¯s a wonderful mare.¡± Muina replied.


    Albarad frowned.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you her name?¡±


    ¡±I don¡¯t think so¡± said Muina. ¡°I think I would have remembered Star. Is it because of the marking on her forehead? It kind of looks like a star.¡±


    ¡±That¡¯s right!¡± Said Albarad smiling again. ¡°You¡¯re very observant. But I should have told you her name.¡±


    ¡±What? Is it bad luck to climb on a horse without knowing their name or something like that? I really don¡¯t know horse protocol at all.


    Albarad laughed. ¡°No nothing like that. I just feel that it¡¯s important for the relationship. There are people that treat horses like they are just a tool. I have found that both men and elves treat them better when they know their name. They are not just strangers anymore. The horses usually get less abuse.


    "Are you concerned that I might abuse Star?" Muina asked"


    "No, I can''t really see that happening." He said. "At least not on purpose."


    "So accidentally then?"


    "That''s why we are having this little talk. While we are out here you are in charge of this horse. She knows that.¡±


    Muina must have looked a little skeptical, because he added. ¡±Believe me, she does. And she knows her name. She is probably expecting a lot from you. She wants you to help make the decisions. She wants to know that she can trust you.¡±


    I¡¯m lucky I still remember how to ride¡± said Muina.


    ¡°Right now you are following me and Jamison. That reduces her stress. She trusts me. If you tried to take her off on your own you might start to have problems.¡±


    ¡±I¡¯m not planning to do that. Following is fine. I like the view.¡±


    He smiled but it quickly disappeared.


    Things happen. We are out in the wilderness. I might fall off my horse or something.¡±


    ¡®She scoffed and he smiled again.


    ¡°Ok I admit that is probably not going to happen, but let me ask you a question.¡±


    ¡±Go ahead.¡±


    ¡°How well do you trust these dragons? I don¡¯t mean the ones you already know like Maud. The ones that we are going to visit even I probably trust enough. We have a working relationship. But there are a lot more dragons out here than just them.


    Suddenly she understood what he meant. ¡±There are hungry dragons in these mountains that we don¡¯t know." She said looking at the sky nervously. "Dragons that are just learning to hunt land animals. Dragons that might want to try eating a horse for the first time.


    "When you spend a lot of time with dragons that you consider your friends it might be easy to forget that sort of thing I suppose." he said.


    ¡±Why did I think that this was a good idea?¡±she said nervously.


    "I really doubt they would directly attack an elf." said Albard. "But it is possible. Lothinar watched Tundor accidentally take a bite out of a knife wielding elf a while back."


    Muina raised her eyebrows at the word accidentally.


    "It happened in my barn. The elf was trying to kill Lothinar and Ardwella." Albarad explained. Tundor spit out the bitten part instantly. He said it tasted terrible.¡±


    ¡®That¡¯s a hard way for a dragon to gain that important information for the first time. Especially if you are the elf.¡± She said macabrely.


    ¡±Isn¡¯t it¡± he agreed. ¡°Do you want to turn back, or do you think that these wild dragons will recognize the two of us and our horses as part of the do not eat list?¡±


    "I actually think that it might be too late for that already" she said as a huge shadow crossed the meadow.


    Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.


    Albarad grabbed Star''s reins and quickly spurred them into the nearby thick trees and underbrush. He didn''t stop. There was a thud and some crackling branches followed by an ungodly roar. It was a dragon. Muina had not seen it but it couldn''t be anything else. Muina had watched Vanquish hunt and kill her prey thousands of times. This time the terror was hers! Albarad drove them on and the obvious fear of the horses gave them speed but from the sounds behind her, the dragon was gaining. Suddenly Albarad stopped his flight and whirled his mount. Somehow a bow had appeared in this hands. He reached in a pouch at Jamisons side and pulled an arrow. His face looked grim. Star ran past Jamison and pressed on breaking through the brush and weaving around trees. Muina tried to pull on the reins but the horse was terrified. She continued her charge. There was a huge angry bellow and then another. Muina continued to pull on the reins and finally Star began to slow. Muina patted her neck and whispered soothing things. It seemed to be working somewhat. She began to turn the horse. She needed to know what was going on back there!


    "Comon Star! Just a little further!" she said urgently but the horse had stopped. She refused to go further. Muina slipped from her back and quickly tied the reins to a nearby low branch. She continued on foot. The woods were eerily quiet. Even the birds were silent. Muina could see the meadow off through the trees fifty yards away but her path back to the attack had not been direct. She tried to re-imagine their path. She stumbled around a bit but found the trail of destruction at the midpoint. She followed it back to Albarad''s heroic stand with the bow. He was there. His quiver was empty. He was alive but Jamison was not. The horses neck was broken. Albarad was kneeling beside him. He was stroking his bloody mane. He looked up at her and his eyes were filled with tears.


    "I never really liked dragons" he said. "I know for you that is probably a terrible thing to hear me say."


    ""It''s fine. I understand. Where is the dragon." she asked also kneeling beside him.


    "I put all my arrows in him and he just kept coming. He was a grey. He had to be one of them from the lake. I think I got an arrow into one of his eyes. That''s what probably stopped him. But not before he got a hold of Jamison. He killed my horse!" He looked at her, his grief and passion on display. He took a few deep breaths.


    "Are you ok?" he finally asked.


    "Yes" she said.


    "Where is Star?"


    "Back in the trees. I tied her. Not far from here."


    He jumped up. "We need to get to her. There might be more of them. I''m out of arrows. Show me where you left her!."


    Muina could see the adrenaline was still pumping through his system. She quickly climbed to her feet and led him back to the mare.


    Albarad shuddered and breathed a sigh of relief when he saw her still tied to the tree branch. He untied the mare and speaking soothing words led her back through the trees to where Jamison lay.


    "I need a few things from my bags" he said. "I''ll be quick. Then we need to get away from here. The dragons might smell the blood."


    "I''m less worried about that then him telling his friends where to find us. Dragons are not your average predator" she said. "They can communicate with each other in ways that mountain lions and bears can''t"


    Albarad stopped and looked at her. "You are thinking that another one is going to come back. They want Jamison."


    "Probably. They likely think that you deprived them of their kill" she said. " And unfortunately, they will want revenge for those arrows."


    He quickly pulled some things from his saddlebags. He tried to pull on the bag that was pinned beneath the horse out but it was crushed and stuck under the body. He winced.


    ¡±That damned dragon dropped Jamison on Ardwella¡¯s teapot. It was in this saddle bag. It¡¯s broken. She¡¯s not going to like that!¡±


    He fumbled around some more and pulled out a long knife. Then he rose.


    "Lets go."


    "Wait a minute. Are we going back or onwards? How close are we to Maud and Clay?"


    Albarad scrunched up his face and thought about it.


    "You know you''re right. We are a lot closer to our destination than to the lake. Maybe we can make it." he said. Then he shook his head. "I''m not that sure where they actually are. Ardwella said that Vanador did a fly over yesterday and thought that he saw them living with some other dragons. They are in some big rock formations near where the river comes down the mountain. If it''s not them though we will have to keep looking..."


    "The other dragon and his unknown friends may find us first." she said. "Just lead the way. I may have a way to keep us safe."


    "I think Star can ride us double. It''s not that far. he said. "You seem pretty calm. Do you have some way to deal with dragons that I don''t know about?"


    She nodded.


    ¡°What are you going to do?"


    "Let me worry about that. I do have some knowledge about dragons." she said. "I''m truly sorry about Jamison, Albarad."


    He nodded and climbed up on Star, then reached out his hand. She took it and he pulled her up, she settled in back of him as he slid forward in the saddle. They began to ride. His eyes were fixed on the treetops. She closed her eyes and hugged him around the waist as the horse began to move faster. She began to concentrate. She was trying to remember a very difficult spell.


    A few minutes later Star passed through a break in the trees. The path of ahead of them grew wider. Standing on that path were two dragons. One was bleeding and several arrows were sticking out of him. Albarad had managed to hit an eye. Blood was running down his face. The eye was ruined but somehow the arrow¡¯s shaft had been broken off. The other, a female was looking at them with surprise. Star shied away and sidestepped. Albarad regained control and pulled her to a halt.


    "I thought you learned your lesson" Albarad shouted.


    "I see that you are out of arrows." said the Male. The female nudged him. She was shaking her head.


    "We need to leave Rolf." she said. "I recognize that female elf. She is Lothinar''s mother. In case you have forgotten, Lothinar is the one that gave us our wings Rolf."


    "But he shot me Penelope! It hurts! He needs to pay for that." said the dragon that was apparently Rolf.


    "You said you killed his horse. Of course he was going to shoot at you!" said Penelope. "I''m sorry Ardwella. Rolf can be pretty stupid."


    "I am not actually Ardwella. I''m her sister Muina. We just look alike. This is Albarad. He''s pretty upset about his horse so I''m probably going to have to kill your boyfriend Rolf here. Sorry about that."


    The female dragon backed up a few steps.


    Not waiting for the female dragons reply the male growled menacingly. He charged toward the two elves on horseback.


    "Infernium Totalium Draconis!" The words were guttural and harsh. They made Albarad''s ears ache.


    There was a flash and a gurgle. Rolf¡¯s face caught on fire. He spun around. He twisted and turned. Flames were coming out of his mouth and nose. He crumpled to the ground rolling around frantically. He lay their twitching while Penelope watched in horror. Soon he wasn''t moving any more.


    "What exactly did you do?" asked Albarad.


    "Do you remember that spell that ended the first war? The ones that the dragons were so afraid of?"


    "Are you talking about the one that Ardwella spent all that time hunting down and killing everyone that knew it? That spell?" he asked.


    "Ardwella is usually very thorough but she actually missed one of the people that knew that spell." said Muina. She shrugged. "I didn''t have the heart to tell her. When you live in the palace a lot of secret information becomes available."


    Albarad let out a breath. Long and slow.


    "No wonder the dragons lost the war. It almost makes me feel sorry for them." he said. "But not this one. He totally deserved that."


    "You shouldn''t worry. I am probably the only one that could have found that secret scroll in Argent''s things. I destroyed it afterwards. Somehow it stuck with me. I''ve never had any reason to use it before today. It'' is very effective isn''t it."


    His face was unreadable. She started to worry. Then he smiled.


    "Penelope! We need to have a talk. Come here if you want to live!" shouted Muina.


    Penelope looked at the elves. She backed up, jumped into the air and began frantically flapping her wings. She tried to flee but she didn''t make it. Muina cast again. Penelope burst into flames and fell like a meteor somewhere in the distant forest.


    Albarad looked at Muina.


    "I suppose that had to happen.¡± He said. ¡°We need to keep the information about you knowing that spell from spreading."


    He looked at Rolf the dragon who was no longer burning but just smoking slightly. He had been cooked from the inside.


    "It looks like his fire is out," said Albarad. "But lets go check on the other one. We wouldn''t want to start a forest fire."


    Albarad nudged Star with his heels and together they went to find Penelope. It was a good thing they did because she was still burning. After they were sure that she was done they continued riding. Eventually they came to the place where Clay and Maud were staying.


    Salt and Pepper were very glad to see them. Muina checked them over. She inspected their feet for burrs and thorns. They were healthy and well fed. The move into the hills had been good for the dragon family. Vanessa wasn''t there unfortunately. Maud explained that she was out trying to meet up with a couple of her friends. Then she surprised her parents by coming back early.


    ¡±What happened Vanessa? Did you change your plans?¡± Maud asked her daughter.


    ¡±Nope, but I couldn¡¯t find them. I wonder if they are off somewhere experimenting with sex?¡± Vanessa said without embarrassment.


    ¡±Well, then you probably should give them some privacy¡± said Maud. ¡°I think you are still too young for that sort of thing¡±


    Vanessa started to argue.


    ¡°Not now dear. The elves are listening. We can talk about this later.¡± Said Maud.


    ¡±Now doesn¡¯t that sound familiar¡± asked Muina nudging Albarad with a smile.


    He nodded but his thoughts seemed far away.


    That night the elves made their camp a few hundred yards away from where the dragons were bedded down. They made love under the stars and on the saddle blanket of a horse named Star. That night something else also happened. Just like her daughter Mavis had broken the bond Ardwella held over Cantrel, Muina, full of enthusiasm and flushed from a victorious battle broke the pheromone bond that was holding Albarad. He awoke the next morning feeling like a different man. That was after all, exactly what Muina had in mind for this trip all along.


    ---------------------------


    Did you hear what happened to Francine and Hellinth? Sahar asked Myron.


    "I heard." replied Myron. "You have to admit what they were doing was very suspicious. They had no business being in that barn."


    "The other sisters are worried. They say that it''s just a matter of time until a dragon kills them too!" Sahar was practically shouting. "All of our father''s sons are dead, except you. The sisters need to act. I can''t believe you are taking Mandel''s side!"


    "We''ve been over this. Trying to wrest the throne from Mandel is just going to end up costing more lives. We might end up in a full blown civil war." said Myron.


    "They are calling you a coward for your actions on the battlefield, brother." she said with a cruel sneer. "I''m starting to believe that they are right!"


    "If it''s eggs they want then I have to tell you that it''s not going to happen." Myron said. "The lake is off limits to all but a few elves. It''s. human territory now. Their King, Enderline, or whatever his name is, has soldiers everywhere. They are dragon lovers those humans. The dragons seem to love them back."


    "That''s easy for you to say. Look at you. You look younger than me and you are at least twenty years older. Do you still have any eggs stashed away?"


    "You know I don''t sister" he said. "All the remaining eggs were given up during the armistice. It was one of the conditions of surrender."


    "Surrender! BAH! Do you expect the rest of us to just lay down and die of old age. Is that what you want?" she was practically screaming.


    "I think we have been fooled into thinking that we might be able to live forever because of the evil things are father did to the dragons" he said. "That''s just not how life works. It never has been." said Myron.


    "We are going to act." said Sahar. With you or without you. Decide now!"


    Myron formally bowed. "Then I must decline dear sister." he said sadly.


    An arrow bloomed from his throat. He pulled it out. Another hit him in the chest just above the heart. He pulled that out too. Flesh quickly forming over the fatal wounds and closing off the spurting blood. A third, fourth and fifth followed. All struck in vital areas. Myron slumped forward in death.


    A female elf stepped out of the shadows. She had a bow in her hand.


    "Father would have been so disappointed." The elf with the bow said.


    Sahar looked at her brother''s body. She bent over and closed his eyes, locked open in death. She thought that he had a resigned look on his face.


    "Gather the other sisters, Thelma. said Sahar. "We need to make plans. We are going to retake the capital. That''s what father would have wanted. By the way, nice shooting."


    "It''s a shame. It was obviously a waste of perfectly good eggs." Thelma said. "I just need a few. I''m starting to get some bags around my eyes."


    -----------------------------

 Volume 2 chapter 4. Surprise!

    ¡°We need to talk when you can find the time,¡± Enderline said to Ardwella. She had just walked up to her living quarters door in the dragon temple and had found the King, the Queen, and her sister waiting outside. She was holding the sizeable ornate room key in her hand. Her face was a neutral mask. It was, nonetheless, lovely. She looked at the three of them as they stood together in the wide hallway.


    ¡°Now¡¯s good, " she said. I just returned from dinner but always have time for Your Majesties. And, of course, you, too, Ronniflass. We haven¡¯t spoken much since the day you helped me move the baby dragons.


    Ardwella unlocked the door and beckoned the trio to lead the way back into her rooms. She followed after them and gestured to the seating area. Please make yourselves comfortable. Do you need anything, some refreshments perhaps? she asked, remaining standing. The three took seats on a long couch.


    "No, we just ate recently ourselves," said Enderline.


    "Thank you again for what you did rescuing the young dragons, Ronniflass. How is it going with Cinnabar?" Ardwella asked.


    "He is well, thank you," she said, then blurted out. "King Enderline and his men did much more than I did to save the dragons!"


    "I am entirely aware of the King''s heroic actions and those of his brave men," said Ardwella. "We would not have even survived without them." She turned to the King and then knelt to a formal curtsey. Her rounded abdomen did not diminish the grace with which she completed it in the slightest.


    Enderline flushed and the show of deference. He glanced at his wife. She had a pained look on her face. She was looking at the apparent evidence of Ardwella''s pregnancy. She met his eyes, and they exchanged a meaningful look.


    "It seems we got off to an abysmal start, Ardwella. I made mistakes and jumped to conclusions. I want to apologize for that." he said


    The beautiful elf smiled, then shook her head and replaced the smile with a frown.


    "You must be a very wise and good king to be willing to offer an apology so easily. but no, what transpired between us was entirely my fault," she said, looking at the King and Queen. "I put Esmarilla in a very difficult and confusing predicament. I was also inattentive to my husband''s important and particular needs, Albarad. He can be overprotective of me, and he somehow sensed that something was not quite right with Starett. I didn''t see the priest''s betrayal coming at all."


    She paused. "Both of you paid a very painful price for my inattention. I could give you my reasons, but ultimately, they don''t really matter." She looked at Enderline. "If Vanquish had not come back with Lothinar, your queen would still be dead."


    "I am so grateful for what they did," said the King with tears in his eyes. "And the priest''s treachery was not foreseen by anyone!"


    "It is much harder to stop the forest fire than to blow out a small match," said Ardwella. "I allowed things to get way out of hand."


    "You must have thought you were doing your best," said Pricilla.


    "I did, but I let the mission of saving the dragons take precedence over almost every precious thing in my life. Now, I may have lost it all because of it."


    "You saved the dragons," Ronni said. "That''s important."


    "Leaving you to save my son Lothinar. I was not there for him when his anger and emotions took him places he should not go. You were there. You dove into the water to bring him up."


    "I had ulterior motivations, I''m afraid, " the half-elf admitted.


    "Things were set into motion that had powerful consequences. When I think that I actually consented to him marrying Argent''s niece, I almost can''t believe it. Now he is having to deal with those consequences as well."


    "We could go on and on with the mistakes and misunderstandings here," said Enderline awkwardly. "I think it is important, now and going forward, that we decide to work together to try and do better."


    "I would like that very much," said Ardwella. She finally moved to sit across from them. "Now, what can I do for you?"


    "We are looking for information," said Enderline. "We have just learned something from my dragon bond, Night-Sky."


    "The varieties of these dragons are nothing like I have ever seen," said Ardwella. "I wish I could talk to my father about how he came to have the eggs. Dragons have something we don¡¯t. Something that I have started to call a genetic memory. These dragons are like little libraries of information. What the dragon race knew is now spread out among them. They hatched, knowing it. Each holds a part of what the dragons wanted to pass down to their children. Their dragon parents prepared them for this."


    "The entire knowledge of the race!" said Enderline. "That''s amazing. We can''t let anything happen to any of them. They must be protected at all costs!"


    "What did Night-Sky" tell you?" Ardwella asked, leaning forward.


    "There were several things," said Enderline. "They may not be as big a surprise to you as they were to us."


    "I''m listening." said the beautiful elf.


    "All the young dragons that wish to bond with males have probably already done so," said Pricilla. "The rest want females. Since Argent''s troops are all male, we must decide where the females with access to them will come from."


    "Would you let the regular townspeople visit with the remaining unbonded dragons? That should help. I always thought that it was more about an individual and their personality than the sex that they were that mattered to the dragons. I do have to admit that I don''t know as much as I should about that. Not many of the bondings I witnessed were what you would call naturally occurring."


    "Did that have anything to do with Crimson?" asked the King.


    "Unfortunately, yes. As you have surmised, it created some problems that we are still dealing with until this very day. Esmarilla''s anger was a good example of that. She resented me for it. I understand how wrong it was now, but that was how it was sometimes done. Times were desperate."


    "That brings me to another point, I suppose," said Enderline. Please don''t take this the wrong way..."


    "They hate us, don''t they? The little dragons don''t like elves," said Ardwella.


    Enderline nodded.


    Ardwella sighed. "I''m not surprised."


    "It wasn''t so much the forcing them to bond, but I''m sure that didn''t help. It was the war itself, I am assuming," said Enderline. Elves were killing them in the most horrible ways."


    "They know it wasn''t all elves, just Argent''s magicians, right? I need to remind them of that!"


    "Night-Sky said that they were disappointed that elves, in general, didn''t try to stop the extermination." said the King.


    "A huge lie spread that Dragons were attacking towns and eating humans. Unfortunately, a lot of elves believed it," said Ardwella. My Grandfather stood up for the truth, and he was killed for it."


    "Night-Sky mentioned your family specifically as one of the few that helped," said Pricilla. My father''s first wife also fought for the dragons. She, too, was killed. That''s why my father fled to Sivantra."


    "What was her name?¡± Asked Ardwella.


    "Her name was Cantabell," said Pricilla. "I never did meet her, though."


    "She died here," said Ronni. Our father was almost crushed with grief. Our human mother stepped in to console him much later."


    "I don''t remember her from back then, but that''s an interesting name," said Ardwella. She had an intrigued look on her face. "I will have to look into that."


    "Now we find ourselves at the half-elf problem," said Enderline.


    Pricilla''s face fell.


    "He told us that Half-Elves like my sister and I will never be able to have children. That we are sterile," said Ronniflass. "My father never mentioned this when we were growing up. Is it true?"


    "If you don''t mind, tell me how long you were married to McDonald," Ardwella asked.


    "Fifteen years," she answered. "But McDonald told me that he couldn''t have children. He had a bad fever when he was a young man."


    "Unfortunately, we can not confirm that," said Ardwella. "You were reasonably sexually active with him?"


    "Yes," said Ronni. "Yes, we were." Then she blushed.


    "Don''t be embarrassed. These things must be discussed if we are to have a clear answer to your concerns," said Ardwella. She turned her eyes to the royal couple. "I know that you two have an active relationship, having been born witness to such things when I walked in..."


    "Ahem. Yes. I had almost forgotten about that." said Enderline. "Pricilla and I were very enthusiastic about her being returned to me. The timing could have been better..."


    "So I can assume that it is the same for you two, and that type of display is more or less a regular occurrence?"


    "I would hardly call it a display!" protested the Queen. "We were in our rooms!"


    "Yes, sorry again for walking in on you like that," said Ardwella. I''m afraid I had dragon eggs on my mind at the time. No high fevers?" she asked, looking specifically at the King.


    "No, and we have been married for about five years. Plenty of time to conceive, I would think," said Enderline.


    If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    "Yes, that doesn''t seem promising," said Ardwella. Pricilla began to look once again crestfallen. "But there is a possibility that you may have not fully considered."


    "What is that? Pricilla asked.


    "You were dead," said Ardwella, looking at her.


    "Somehow, I don''t think that is going to help with a conception problem," said Enderline.


    Somehow, Ardwella managed to laugh.


    "It''s not the dying; it''s the work that was done to bring you back!" she said. A lot of things may have been fixed. That doesn''t happen every day around here, you know."


    "I suppose not," said Pricilla.


    "But I wasn''t dead, " Ronniflass said. "Up until just right now, I thought that was a good thing."


    "Do you want to have children with my son Lothinar, Ronniflass?" Ardwella asked with a smile.


    Ronni blushed. "Yes, I do. As many as I can!" she said enthusiastically.


    "Then you should ask him about it." said Ardwella. "I could endorse that. I like you much better than Ardwynn already."


    "I am glad to hear that." Ronniflass said blushing.


    "Do you think the Blue dragon knows anything?" asked Pricilla hopefully.


    "We don''t know for sure yet." said Ardwella, but these little dragons don''t know everything. They were not even hatched until after all that unpleasantness was over. Half-Elf''s are exceedingly rare. I had never seen one before I met Ronni, and I''ve been around for a long time. If it''s true that they are originally infertile, it might be fixable with dragon magic."


    "Do you think she will actually know?" asked Pricilla.


    "There is only one way to find out. I believe that Vanquish is over at your sister''s dairy right now. Perhaps we should take a walk over there and find out!"


    "It''s getting pretty late." said Pricilla. "Perhaps we should do this in the morning."


    "Let''s go now." said Ardwella. "You will probably sleep better with some answers." The four of them left her room and walked over. The stars were shining. It was a beautiful night.


    When they reached the dairy, though things were in turmoil. Vanador was pacing up and down and the blue dragon Vanquish was gone.


    "What is going on Vanador?" asked Ardwella.


    "Candasar just flew in here like she was on fire. She said something about Ardwynn somehow getting a hold of Lothinar''s sword Crimson. That obviously got Vanquish very upset. They both took off out of here at high speed. They are headed to Sivantra!"


    "Oh no!" said Ardwella. You might think that one of them would have told me. I might have been able to help if they had let me come along."


    "Well that''s going to be a big problem" said Enderline.


    "I''ll say," said Vanador. "How am I going to take care of all these baby dragons by myself!"


    ¡±I was talking about Lothar¡¯s problem¡± said the king. ¡°The baby dragons with bonds already already have help. Highly motivated help. We just need to give them the resources and the proper training.¡±


    ¡±And the other half?¡± Asked Vanador. ¡°There are almost a hundred that have refused to bond."


    ¡±We will open the dairy gates and let the townspeople in." said Enderline. "The rest of the dragons have been waiting for females as I''m sure you already know. Once that happens the dragons will probably find all the highly motivated help that they need from the human women.


    ¡±Vanquish has been hoping you didn¡¯t find out about that.¡± Vanador said. "She really wants all the dragons to be free."


    ¡°Why don¡¯t we let the baby dragons decide what is best for them. Nobody is going to make them bond if they don¡¯t want to.¡± Said Enderline. ¡°You know that the Crimson sword is in Sivantra right now.¡±


    ¡±I know that sword made it possible to defeat Argent¡± said Vanador but it still creeps me out. If anyone but Lothinar had it I would be very concerned. Actually that¡¯s exactly why Vanquish and Candasar just left in such a hurry.¡±


    "I am actually very surprised that Lothinar could still contact Candasar from that far away" said Ardwella. "His powers must still be growing."


    "Although I am also very interested in what''s going on in my Capitol and home and how that all turns out, it isn''t going to help solve our problems here today." said Enderline.


    ¡±How about while we are both still sure that no one is being influenced we get some nice human ladies over here.¡± Said Ardwella. "Starting tomorrow."


    She had been standing there watching the King talk to Vanador. While she had been waiting a very small dragon of an unusual color had been wandering around near her. It wasn¡¯t exactly grey. Nor was it the deep black of Night-Sky. Now it was just sitting there sedately staring at Ardwella. She hadn¡¯t really even seemed to notice it at first. It wasn''t jumping about like most of the other young dragons tended to do.


    ¡°No! Absolutely not!¡± Ardwella suddenly shouted. She whirled, turning to address the silver colored dragon. Enderline observed another few seconds of silence. Ardwella''s face clearly indicated that she was not happy. She turned back to Vanador. She had a strange and desperate look.


    ¡±Vanador! can you stop her?¡±


    Vanador looked confused for a moment and then suddenly began staring at the little silvery grey. A few moments passed.


    ¡°Where have you been hiding little one?¡± He suddenly asked.


    ¡±What¡¯s going on!?¡± Asked Enderline. ¡°Not being telepathic can really be difficult at times like these!¡±


    Ardwella grunted and grabbed her abdomen. She began to totter and sway. Enderline grabbed her before she dropped to the ground. She looked into his eyes just before her own rolled up in her head. The king swept her up and held her in a princess carry. She was heavier than she looked.


    ¡±It is done¡± said the silvery dragon. She walked up to Enderline who was still holding Ardwella. ¡°You are going to want to find somewhere comfortable to put her down.¡± The dragon said. Her voice was melodic and every bit as clear and polished as Night-sky¡¯s.


    ¡±I guess that I can take her back to her room¡± Enderline said, looking at the little dragon in surprise. ¡°Men! I¡¯m going to probably need some help here!¡± He shouted.


    Ross and another soldier the king didn¡¯t know personally ran over to help. The three of them juggled a bit with the unconscious elf before settling on a system of carrying her that seemed to work. Meanwhile Ronni had run off quickly and had returned with a small flat cart.


    ¡°Put her down on this. Gently please.¡± She ordered. ¡°Watch out! Be careful now!¡±


    They complied looking obviously relieved. "Good thinking Ronni." said the King.


    Ronni looked at the third man. The soldier that Enderline didn¡¯t know.


    ¡°Are you bonded?¡± She asked him.


    He smiled and nodded.


    ¡±Yes, Ronniflass. My little dragon Murgatroid picked me two days ago.¡±


    ¡±Murgatroid?¡± She asked.


    He nodded


    ¡±Heavens! Some of these names are quite strange.¡± She said. ¡°What is your name soldier?¡±


    ¡±Gustolf ma¡¯am. But most folks just call me Gus.¡±


    ¡±Well Gus, you¡¯re going to be fine since you¡¯re bonded. You too Ross. But you are going to need to go carefully get a bar of soap and go over and jump in the lake. Wash yourselves and all the clothes you are wearing very thoroughly. Don¡¯t let anybody touch you or your clothes before you do that. Do you understand me?¡±


    ¡±Whoops!¡± Said Enderline. ¡°Me too I guess.¡± That was really stupid of me.


    "You could hardly let her fall in her condition" said Pricilla.


    Ross and Gus had continued to look puzzled.


    Enderline looked at his men. He explained.


    ¡°This elf, Ardwella is rather unique. She secretes a chemical from her skin that can cause males of either race to become obsessed with her. They fall helplessly in love in fact. You very likely came into contact with that chemical when you tried to help me carry her.¡±


    "For those times when being outrageously beautiful is not enough I guess." said Gus.


    "I''ve seen her around, but she usually keeps to herself. I guess that''s probably why" said Ross.


    "Down boys!" said Ronni. This elf is married. She is also very pregnant. "The dragon bond is supposed to protect you from the effect of her pheromones."


    "Not everyone is bonded. That''s why she told you to wash yourselves and your clothes." said Enderline. "Also don''t touch anyone. This lady has enough problems right now.!"


    He turned back to the cart to see Ardwella sitting up and looking at him. She looked angry. He flinched. She must have heard the exchange between him and his men. Then he looked at where her eyes were actually focused. It was somewhere over his shoulder. He spun to see the sliver grey dragon looking back at Ardwella.


    "I can''t believe you did that!" she said to the dragon. I definitely told you no."


    "I definitely heard a yes." said the silver dragon."


    "Wait! Did this little silver dragon just bond with you Ardwella?" asked Enderline with surprise.


    "She''s not silver" said Ardwella. "She is Platinum. That is her color and her name. It''s a very rare type. One is a million actually. She''s dragon Royalty."


    "Well," said the King. "That''s quite an honor for you I suppose. Being chosen by a Platinum Queen dragon."


    "Oh, she didn''t choose me." said Ardwella. "She just bonded with my unborn daughter!"


    ----------------------------


    Siophra looked at Tundor. He was pacing back and forth. He was wearing a path into the grass of the pasture just outside the barn.


    ¡°You probably should try to calm down.¡± She said.


    ¡±It¡¯s just that last night when Candasar got that message from Lothinar she and I talked about this.¡±


    ¡±It must not have been a long conversation because she was out of here in like five minutes.¡± Said Siophra.


    ¡±It is just that she was gone for almost a month last time she made that trip and now these eggs are pretty close to hatching. I think she is going to miss it. I like Lothinar but motherhood has always been Candy¡¯s dream. It bothers me that she is going away now of all times.¡±


    Siophra stepped over and stepped directly in front of Tundor halting his pacing. She stepped up on tip toes and grabbed his neck hugging him.


    ¡±You are going to be an excellent father Tundor. I am still here. We are going to do this together. Candasar still may make it back in time as well. I¡¯ll tell you a little secret.¡±


    ¡±Why do you have a secret? What happened to that total honesty arrangement we made with each other?¡± He asked.


    ¡±Well, it¡¯s not so much a secret as a surprise¡± she said smiling at him.


    ¡±Hmph!¡± he grunted. ¡°Isn¡¯t that a convenient subtle distinction. I¡¯ll be sure to use that on you sometime.¡±


    ¡±It¡¯s going to cheer you up big guy!¡± She said. ¡°Unless you don¡¯t want cheering up and want to continue ruining the grass.¡±


    ¡±Fine!¡± He sulked. ¡°Tell me your surprise, but it better be a good one.¡±


    Siophra walked back into the barn. Tundor followed her. She stopped and looked down at the three eggs in the nest.


    "Have you taken a real good look at these eggs Tundor?" she asked.


    "Of course I have. I am the father after all!" he said.


    Siophra reached gently into the nest and picked up the largest egg. It was the one with the golden hue. She placed the side of the egg up to her ear.


    "Well, obviously I haven''t done that." said Tundor. "I don''t have hands like yours, or ears like that."


    "Are you making fun of my ears Tundor?" the beautiful blonde elf asked. But she was smiling. Her eyes were closed and she had a strange gentle look on her face."


    "What are you listening too?" asked Tundor. His voice was a dragon whisper. A strange combination of exhaled air with vocalization.


    "I hear humming." she said. "A beautiful melody in fact. It is the song of a Golden Dragon."


    Tundor tried to put his very large head next to the egg that Siophra was still holding up. It was an awkward position for him. She pulled the egg away from her own ear and very carefully held it out and up to him. Finally he managed to get into position.


    "I hear it too!" he exclaimed. "Wow! Hey what about the other ones?"


    "Well, they are not humming but they are very healthy. Sometimes I can hear movement inside them." said Siophra. "They will probably be hatching pretty soon, just like you suspected."


    "So Candasar might miss it." he said sadly. But then he brightened. "The other one is different?"


    "I''m not an actual expert on them. They are extremely rare. But I''ve heard that they take quite a bit longer to go full term. Weeks longer."


    "So Candasar will probably make it for that one." said Tundor. "I''m glad. At least she will have that."


    "What is so special about a Gold dragon?" asked Tundor. "What can they do?"


    "Everything. Anything. Actually nobody knows. It''s a bit of a puzzle actually and obviously we have nobody to ask. I have even heard rumors that they can actually teleport!"


    "What''s that?" asked Tundor.


    "I think it''s where the dragon puts it in his mind where he wants to go and does something magical. Then he just appears there."


    "That''s impossible!" said Tundor. "Anywhere? He could go to Sivantra to see Lothinar right away?"


    "Just saying that I heard that. We will obviously have to see." said Siophra.


    "A little dragon like that might be hard to keep track of." said Tundor. "It would be much worse than when Firestorm ran away from the nest."


    "Perhaps he will be wise enough not to do anything rash." said Siophra. She gently set the egg back down into the soft hay of the nest.


    "Are you really sure it''s a gold? How could regular dragons like Candasar and me have an egg that is a gold?"


    "Didn''t you tell me that she put years worth of magic into her ovaries and eggs? Even when she was still living in the lake?"


    "She was very committed to them yes. She was just waiting for a dragon like me." he said. "You heard how she rescued me."


    "I have access to most of your memories through our bond Tundor. I sometimes feel like I was there for most of it." she said. "I also know how angry you are with Ardwynn and how it must be so frustrating that Candasar and Lothinar are still having to deal with her." she said.


    "When I look at these eggs, though, "Said Tundor. "It helps me to understand why Lothinar would want to take care of his unborn child. Even if it is going to be with Ardwynn."


    "I''m glad that you can understand that. Tundor. Not every dragon would. That means you are exceptional. That''s another obvious reason why you are the father of this gold dragon."


    "Thank you." he said. "I''m glad to have your help and that you are here."


    She smiled.


    "And it''s probably hard to raise the well bucket with just your teeth." she said.


    "Oh yes, by the way. Before she left on that long flight Candasar wanted to get a last good drink. You are going to have to replace the crank handle." said Tundor.


    "Yes. I noticed." said Siophra.


    "Surprise!" said Tundor.


    ----------------------

 Volume 2 Chapter 5: White Wedding

    The two blue dragons were flying from Delora Natine to Sivantra. They had flown through the night and well into the next morning. They were responding to an urgent request for help from Candasar''s bond Lothinar. They still had a long way to go before they reached him.


    "I learned this trick years ago" said Vanquish. "Watch!"


    The blue dragon Vanquish dove rapidly toward the sea. Candasar thought the big dragon had lost her mind. Suddenly her talons outstretched and dipped beneath the choppy waves of the ocean that they were flying over. She yanked back and pulled out a huge fish. It was as big as a deer. The added weight dropped her further toward the waves. Vanquish rapidly began beating her wings resulting in a steady climb. It didn''t take long for the two blue dragons to be flying side by side again.


    "I think this is called a tuna but I don''t know if tastes good." she said. "But we are a long way from land and need our strength. Do you want to try it?"


    "That fish is probably salty!" said Candasar. "I made the mistake of trying to drink some ocean water the last time I was on the way back."


    "You can''t drink sea water" said Vanquish. "But you usually can eat the fish. The fishermen of Sivantra catch them all the time. Surprisingly they don¡¯t taste bad. Take it!"


    Candasar flew closer and glided beneath Vanquish''s outstretched wings until their claws intersected. She successfully grabbed the tuna and swung back out from under Vanquish. She flung the fish up into her open mouth and bit into it. It tasted great. Candasar couldn''t believe she was enjoying a fish again. She realized that she must be quite hungry. What Lothinar was going through must be really affecting her normal appetite.


    She was worried. She had continually been retrying to establish bond communication. She could feel him but In spite of her asking, he had not sent her any more specifics regarding the incident with Ardwynn. He actually seemed to be calm at the moment. That first message, however, had terrified her. His failure to respond now did not help in the slightest.


    Vanquish seemed to instinctively understand how frustrated she must be and asked her a question not related to Lothinar.


    "What do you think?" asked Vanquish. ¡°About the tuna?¡±


    "Remarkable!" she said, returning to less frantic thoughts. "And I thought I had eaten enough fish to last a lifetime! These are certainly much bigger than those in the lake."


    ¡±Yes,¡± Vanquish replied. ¡°When you are as big as I am you are always on the lookout for something substantial.¡± She gave Candasar a dramatic wink. "I''m going to get a couple more. There is a big herd of them down there. I''m going to try for two this time. After I come back up, you should try."


    "We call them schools."


    "Call what schools?"


    "Herds of fish. We call them schools."


    "Who does?"


    "The lake dragons. You do remember that I once was a lake dragon don''t you? I should know."


    "That can''t be right. They don''t go to school." said Vanquish. "I''ve never been myself, but I know what a school is. You got that school name from Lothinar?"


    "No, I think I actually.called them schools before I met Lothinar All the lake dragons did."


    "Well, don''t take this the wrong way but I don''t think a lake dragon''s vocabulary is particularly trustworthy." said Vanquish.


    "Well its true. The name for a bunch of fish swimming together is a school." said Candasar. "I can''t believe that I actually know something that you don''t. You''ve got hundreds of years on me."


    "Yes, I am many years older than you." said Vanquish. And I am going to continue calling them herds until I get some corroborating facts." she said laughing.


    She dove for the waves again, but still came up with only one fish. It was a bigger one. She gobbled it down.


    "Any energy we can consume will help." said Vanquish. "This long flight will really take a lot out of us. You also just recently did it. You must be exhausted!"


    "I guess that I''m running on worry." said Candasar."


    They flew on for a few more minutes.


    "Hey Vanquish. They call dragons flying together a wing don''t they." Candasar asked. "That sounds right to me, from Lothinar''s memories."


    "There is some debate." said Vanquish. It could also be called a flight. I guess we could keep it simple and just be called a pair."


    "Lothinar likes Pears." said Candasar.


    "You are getting tired and silly. Do you want me to top up your magic?" asked Vanquish.


    "Lothinar did that a lot for me on my last flight out here but I was carrying two elves and their luggage."


    Vanquish laughed. "I assume Lothinar didn''t bring much along except Ardwynn."


    "And the sword." said Candasar. "He also had to give Firestorm some extra energy. It is a long way."


    "Not too many dragons try to make this flight." said Vanquish. "Now you will have done it twice."


    A blue glow encompassed Candasar. She felt energized. Thanks! How much magic do you actually have?" she asked


    "A lot. It''s blue dragon magic. You have it too. I just have so much more. Being un-bonded helps. My magic isn''t constantly leaking out of me and into my bond like yours is."


    "I really appreciate you coming with me." said Candasar. I don''t think I could actually have made this flight by myself."


    "Maybe that''s what Ardwynn was counting on." said Vanquish. "That this trip is too long"


    "At least she won''t be expecting us." said Candasar. "Especially this soon."


    "Fishing during the flight Is a good trick." said Vanquish. "You need to be careful, though. There are some really huge creatures that live in this ocean. Some of them might be big enough to try and grab you back. I overheard one of Enderline''s men saying their ships were attacked on the way over. Some of the men didn''t make it."


    "Well that''s a new concern" said Candasar as she looked at the water somewhat more carefully. "Thanks for the warning. Is there anything up here flying around in the air that I should be worried about grabbing me?"


    "The only thing I can think of is a Roc." Said Vanquish. "It is an enormous bird. I''ve been told they can carry off an elephant! I''ve never seen one and I don''t want to."


    Candasar scoffed. "I can''t imagine anything big enough to carry you off for supper, Vanquish."


    "Now you''ve said it." said the enormous blue dragon. "I''ll probably get killed and eaten by a Roc." She looked forward at the skies and then again back over her shoulder.


    "It would probably take a whole herd of Rocs to eat you." said Candasar laughing. "What would they call a flock of rocs?"


    "I don''t want to find out." said Vanquish. "Being the alpha predator is definitely preferable."


    "This conversation is making me more nervous." Candasar said, looking around. "No Rocs in sight. I''m assuming that they have feathers?"


    "They are birds." said Vanquish.


    "Probably susceptible to fire then." said Candasar. "As long as we can burn them, I''m going to bet that we dragons are going to be the winners in that confrontation."


    "They call a flock of crows a murder don''t they?" asked Vanquish


    "Yes, and that''s what I feel like doing to do to Ardwynn when I get there." said Candasar.


    She dove for a tuna. She got one on her first try. She climbed back up to Vanquish, took a quick look for Rocs and then she swallowed it down. When she had resumed her flying position next to the bigger dragon, Vanquish said something that surprised her.


    "We need to be careful about that. If you kill Ardwynn you will kill the child growing inside her. That''s Lothinar''s child. He might resist us. He has gone to some very great lengths to keep her alive. "


    "Now that she has the sword, don''t you think that things have changed?" asked Candasar.


    "Yes they have and we definitely need to get the sword away from her," said Vanquish. "but perhaps we should consider killing her as our last resort."


    "Let me deal with Lothinar." said Candasar. "You can decide what to do with Ardwynn. But I''ll tell you right now. I''m not coming back out here again. I''ve got three eggs about to hatch. I want to spend some time being a mother."


    ------------------------------


    It had not been easy for Heirwyn since her brother Harvey had been killed. He had died during the fight that brought the first dragons back to Delora Natine. The town had given him a nice funeral and then quickly forgot about him. Only one of the elves had come by the small home that Harvey had shared with his younger sister to personally thank the family for Harvey¡¯s valor and sacrifice. The elf¡¯s name had been Cantrell. He had been deeply concerned when he learned that Harvey''s death had deprived her of her last living relative. Their parents had died young and being almost ten years older, Harvey had practically raised her.


    Cantrell had sat with her and told her of the battle. The battle where he and Harvey had fought the giant elf Tempton from the ground while other elves fought on dragon back from the air. He told her how brave Harvey had been and and how his sacrifice had turned the battle. Harvey had personally saved the black dragon Esmarilla and her rider the elf Ardwella from death. Tempton had been a magician able to throw lightning bolts and winning had never been certain. It had ultimately come down to luck and timing. Harvey''s attack had given them that time. Lothinar''s dragon Candasar had found her fire for the very first time and burned the oversized elf. Their victory, however had come too late for Harvey. Cantrell himself had been badly injured during the fighting.


    Heirwyn had not been able to help herself. She had wept anew at hearing the details of her brother''s death. That he had been fighting to save dragons was not lost on her. Realizing the destitute situation of the young human girl at the loss of her brother and his income as a city guard, Cantrell had seen to it that she had was provided for. He had given her a little money. Actually it had been a lot of money. For her at least. He had pressed a bag of gold coins into her hand. It had felt heavy. She had initially tried to refuse but he had insisted.


    ¡±I know that nothing I can do will make up for your loss but this should get you by for a while¡± he had said. "I realize that I am an elf, and can never take Harvey''s place. but I would appreciate it if you would now consider me to be your family" he had said.


    Later when she had counted the gold she realized that it was more than Harvey would make as a city guard for many years. She had decided that day that Cantrell was an anomaly. A kind island in a sea of greedy selfish men. She had been finding it harder to ignore the cat-calls and whistles as she walked down the street. She had feared that she might have to sell her body as a way of obtaining food and keeping a roof over her head, but now with the money Cantrell had given her, she might have a chance to do something with her life.


    But then a few weeks passed and eventually even Cantrell seemed to forget about her. It wasn''t like she needed more money. She had used what Cantrell had given her as thriftily as possible. But it did disappoint her that hadn''t even come to visit. To be fair she knew that he, and many others had been busy trying to defend the town from imminent attack. She had carried on. It was all she could do.


    Then King Enderline had arrived and the battle for Delora Natine happened. A lot of sisters lost their brothers. Heirwynn''s loss seemed to fade into the background. Somehow, just at the end of the battle, the elf Ardwella, who her brother had saved, had found a hidden cache of ancient dragon eggs. Over two hundred young dragons hatched. Ardwella had brought them up and out of a long hibernation and had begun to take care of them at the dairy.


    Heirwyn continued living day to day in her home, now without Harvey. She could afford simple food and even a rare visit to the second hand store for clothes. It was annoying that she kept rapidly growing out of everything. The pants she bought seemed to quickly become too short. None of her tops even fit anymore. What was a sixteen year old supposed to do about that? Luckily she found an old trunk full of her mother¡¯s things. There was one dress that might fit her. She wanted to look halfway decent for her interview with the dragons. The news had been spreading around the town all morning. The dragons were finally interested in meeting the citizens of Delora Natine. Someone said that there was a much greater chance to bond if you happened to be female. She had heard about it standing in the line to buy milk. It seemed that every day there was less milk to go around. It only made sense. If you ate the cow you didn''t get the milk. If the dragons wanted to meet some nice girls then Heirwyn intended to be one of them.


    ----------------------


    Ardwella opened the door and stepped into her own home. It hadn¡¯t been locked. Her sister Muina had been reclining on the sofa in the front room but had opened her eyes at the sound of the door. She quickly got to her feet and met Ardwella halfway across the floor with a warm hug.


    Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    "You''re looking rotund sister!" said Muina, looking at Ardwella''s abdomen.


    "Bigger every day." said Ardwella, slowly turning around to give her sister a full view. "Things seem to be speeding up in fact. How were Salt and Pepper?"


    "They were fine. Thanks for letting Albarad take me up there" said Muina.


    "We probably could have asked Vanador fly you out there as soon as things settle down." said Ardwella. "I know. you have been without a dragon for a long time, but it''s new for me." She got a pained look on her face.


    "Are you ok?" her sister asked.


    "Actually I''ve got a huge problem." said Ardwella. "There are a lot of very young un-bonded dragons around here. You know, at the dairy. One of them approached me last night."


    "Really?" asked Muina. "I thought they were unwilling to bond with an elf. Not that I''m looking for a bond! Did one of them try to bond with you?"


    "No, not me. But it did bond with someone. The dragon is a Platinum! I can''t imagine where she was hiding. I personally looked at all the eggs myself"


    Muina whistled. "I''ve never seen a Platinum." she said. "She''s a little Queen. They supposedly have illusion magic. It''s like the kind of spells you you taught to Lothinar so he could change his appearance when he needs to. It''s also partly how that invisibility spell works. Those are magically demanding spells."


    "Yes, she must have been masquerading as another type even while still in the egg. She must have been watching us and blending into the crowd. Maybe she was intimidated by Vanquish for some reason."


    "But now that Vanquish has gone off with Candasar, she''s come out to play." said Muina. "Who did she decide to bond with?"


    "That''s why I''m here. I need to talk to Albarad." said Ardwella.


    "She didn''t! Oh no!" said Muina.


    "Yes. She bonded my unborn daughter. They are already talking together telepathically. The girl has gotten extremely active inside me. She''s doing flip flops!"


    "You poor thing!" said Muina.


    "Oh, I''m fine." said Ardwella. "It just caught me by surprise, that all. I kind of swooned."


    "You passed out?" Muina shouted leaping to her feet.


    "I''m really ok. There were some physiological changes I had to adjust to in the baby''s activity and chemistry. I figured it out pretty fast. That''s why I could walk over here first thing this morning. It was awkward though. I had to ask Vanador to stop the young dragon from following me. I need to tell Albarad about this without that little platinum pest around."


    "I don''t think he''s going to be very happy to hear that actually" said Muina. "We had a little incident while we were up in the mountains with a dragon. Albarad''s dragon tolerance is at real low right now."


    "What are you talking about?"


    "We were attacked." said Muina. "A young male grey decided to come after us. I don''t actually think he was hungry for elf but at that moment it was an unimportant distinction."


    "He was probably after the horses." said Ardwella. "I need to have a talk with Killingsworth. He''s nominally in charge of the grey dragon population right now. It''s a mess really. They are all so new to flying and hunting off the water."


    "The dragon killed Albarad''s horse." said Muina angrily.


    "Jamison''s dead? Oh no! This is just terrible news!"


    "You can only imagine that Albarad didn''t let that happen without a fight. He had his bow. He shot the dragon in the eye as well as in numerous other places. . He drove the dragon off." said Muina.


    "He''s lucky that he wasn''t killed! I need to speak with him! Where is he?" asked Ardwella.


    "He''s in the barn, I think..." said Muina. "We both had a long night."


    Ardwella gave her sister a strange look.


    "Thanks for telling me about this. I need to go."


    "I will come with you. You might need some moral support." said Muina.


    Ardwella nodded and the two sisters quickly walked to the barn. They saw Albarad coming out. He was holding a shovel. He stopped when he saw the twins approaching. He looked back and forth between their two faces.


    "Ardwella! Welcome home. Are you planning to stay?" he asked.


    "Muina told me about what happened to Jamison! I''m so sorry Albarad. I know how much that horse meant to you. I mean me too. I loved him too. We had him for a long time!"


    "Muina told you?" he asked. He had a strange look on his face.


    "How you drove the dragon away with your arrows. How you saved me and my horse." said Muina.


    Albarad nodded. He looked at the shovel.


    "You are not planning on going back out there?" asked Ardwella cautiously.


    "Yes, I''m going to go back up there right now and bury Jamison. I can''t have those dragons chewing on him can I?


    "Oh darling, you do know that it might already be too late. If not the same dragon, another or even an animal might have found him." she said with obvious sympathy. ¡°It is just nature¡¯s way.¡±


    Albarad got a strange look on his face. He looked away from Ardwella and looked at Muina.


    "I''m going nonetheless. This time I''ll walk. I won''t risk another horse up there." he said.¡±I do want his saddle and some things that were in the saddle bags. Your favorite teapot got broken in the attack by the way.¡±


    "Oh Albarad!" said Ardwella. "Don¡¯t worry about that. It was just a teapot. Again, I am so sorry a dragon did this. I suppose these kinds of things are bound to happen until we all learn better how to live together."


    "Would you ever consider moving somewhere else? Where maybe there were no dragons?" he asked, looking into her eyes.


    "When Esmarilla first left me that would have been a possibility" said Ardwella. "But not now. At least for a while. Something else has changed. That''s actually why I came over here to talk to you."


    Albarad looked at her with a puzzled expression.


    "What is it?" he asked.


    "Our daughter." she said, and then looked down at her swollen stomach. "She accepted a bond from a baby dragon last night."


    "How is that even possible?" he shouted. "She''s not even born yet!"


    "I don''t know!" Ardwella said with frustration. "I tried to stop it. Really I did. The dragon is a Platinum. She has incredibly powerful magic even as a baby. I wasn''t part of the conversation she had with our daughter, but I felt it happen. Inside me the baby jumped."


    "Can we undo it?" asked Albarad with some desperation in his voice. "It just happened last night. No harm to the child should occur.¡±


    "I talked with the dragon. She said that our baby wanted this." said Ardwella.


    "Which we conveniently can not confirm!" said Albarad hotly.


    "There is nothing we can do right now Albarad." said Muina jumping in. "It is obviously not Ardwella''s fault. She did not want this to happen either."


    "I never even considered my unborn child would be at risk" said Albarad. Then he narrowed his eyes.


    "What if we killed her? Not our child of course, but the dragon."


    Ardwella drew a sharp breath.


    "You can''t mean that husband!" she said. She felt the baby give a strong kick. Then her eyes rolled up and she crumpled towards the ground.


    Muina caught her just before she hit the ground. She gently finished lowering her.


    "Ardwella told me that she also passed out last night Albarad. The baby must be putting a huge strain on her. She''s growing too fast! She wants to be born!¡±


    Albarad grimaced. "We need to put a stop to this." he said.


    Albarad helped Muina move Ardwella back into the house and they laid her on the couch.


    "Keep her here." said Albarad. "There is some rope in the garage if you need it. I am headed over to the dairy. I''ll be back as soon as I can"


    "Are you sure about this?" asked Muina. "It might be a difficult choice to live with."


    "We can talk about it when I get back." he said. "Just don''t let Ardwella get anywhere near that platinum dragon again."


    "What if that dragon shows up here?" Muina asked.


    "She won''t" said Albarad. "I am going to get my daughter back. One way or another. I heard you cast that spell twice. I remember it clearly."


    "We can''t start using that spell again." said Muina.


    Albarad looked at her with surprise.


    "I thought that we already had."


    ----------------------------


    Heirwyn suspected when she stepped outside that she had made a mistake. People stopped and looked at her. Perhaps, she thought, they had not seen her dressed up before. They probably had correctly assumed that she wouldn''t be able to afford something nice to wear. That had to be it. Her mom''s old white dress was certainly pretty. It even had a few fake pearls sewn on the sleeves and upper bodice. But it was nothing that extravagant. She ignored the looks and kept going. Now people were outright staring at her. A few of the younger ones even pointed. She moved forward toward the town gates, falling into the long line of women and girls that were headed for the dairy. Strangely most of them moved out of her way. She moved quickly past them. Behind her she heard a giggle.


    "Is that a wedding dress?" she heard someone whisper.


    "She looks ridiculous!" said another more loudly.


    "Ssshh. The poor girl. It is probably the only thing she has to wear." said someone else.


    A Wedding Dress! Of course. She was wearing a wedding dress! Her mother had obviously saved it for years in that trunk. Being raised by Harvey had obviously left her without much of an exposure to wedding traditional garb. She had never even been to one. She suddenly felt ridiculous. Even her sad old clothes would have been better than embarrassing herself like this. But it was too late now. Looking the fool or not she was not going to miss her chance at meeting the dragons. At least they probably wouldn''t care about her fashion mistake disaster.


    Heirwyn got a lot of funny looks and endured almost non stop whispered laughter as she made her way into the dairy. There were some of Enderline''s soldiers gathered at the gates. Many of them seemed to already have dragons near them. The women of the town, young or old walked past their interested stares. Their eyes seemed to linger sympathetically on the girl that didn''t know how to dress properly. She realized that even after her recent growth spurt, the long hem of the white dress was dragging in the patches of mud. And being a dairy, it wasn''t all mud.


    The King and Queen were there standing next to their dragons. The King''s was a black and the Queen''s was a green. When the hundreds of women and girls had gathered, he cleared his throat and began to speak. Heirwynn noticed his eyes pass over her and then swing back to stare at her. She winced and looked down. When she looked back his eyes had thankfully moved on.


    "Women of Delora Natine." he began. His voice carried clearly. It held power, authority and surprisingly, humility.


    ¡±I am King Enderline. Thank you for coming. I must begin by admitting that a grave oversight has been committed. Not intentionally but out of our abundant ignorance regarding dragons."


    There were murmurs and nervous laughter. Heirwyn remained silent.


    ¡±Finding these young dragons and desiring to keep them safe we closed them off from access to you. Nonetheless they rapidly surprised us by forming a bond with your Queen, myself and many of my men. A human and dragon bond. This of course was unprecedented. Those of us lucky enough to become bonded have since learned a great deal more.¡± He paused, and looked around.


    ¡±I was hoping to have the elf Ardwella, who is now the dragon high priestess in the temple explain more about the reasons for this but she has had her own surprises with this process. This in spite of being one of the most experienced with being bonded herself. For over five hundred years she was bonded with the great black dragon Esmarilla. The very dragon that you know so well from her many years resting in the temple here. What we thought we understood about dragons has changed and we now know that humans can be a much more integral part of their lives.¡±


    He paused and smiled.


    ¡±Their very long lives.¡± That earned a few laughs and some nervous glances at the group of baby dragons standing quietly off to one side. "Yes, there is a lot at stake here for the fortunate few that are chosen."


    ¡±Exactly what makes them choose someone is still a great mystery. I am told by my own dragon Night-Sky that the young dragons themselves may not yet fully understand the forces at work. We seem to be fulfilling an ancient prophecy of sorts. Not everyone gathered here will receive this gift. That is nothing to be ashamed of. Bonding will always remain rare.¡°


    ¡±Why did all your men get to go first?¡± Came an angry call from the back of the crowd. "My husband didn¡¯t get a chance!¡±


    ¡±You certainly may leave and go fetch him now. He is welcome to try¡± said the King. ¡°Each bonding is a meeting with destiny. There may be only one key for every lock or there may be several. It is not up to me but to the dragons themselves. Henceforth we will not exclude anyone. The dragons alone will choose.¡°


    ¡±Send that woman away!¡± came a melodic voice that followed the king''s statement. A dark metallic grey dragon came out of the crowd and spoke again. Her voice was obviously female and rang like a bell. ¡°I will not have any dragon bond with someone that shows so little respect for their King!"


    Enderline appeared to be extremely surprised. He nodded to his men who stepped up to the woman. Heirwyn saw her give him a defiant glare but allowed them to escort her to the gate.


    But then the dragon continued in her song like voice.


    ¡±Those men already chosen by my people have paid a high price in blood and bravery. Many of their brothers and friends were brutally bruised and broken on the battlefield. We acknowledge this sacrifice and this debt to be paid. Their loyalty to us is without question!¡± said Platinum. ¡°That part of your heart that knows your personal sacrifices made on our behalf calls out to us! It is like a beacon in the darkest night!¡±


    There was silence. Someone coughed. Heirwyn tried to lift her while dress a little further out of the muck.


    Enderline spoke again.


    ¡°I can obviously not know your suffering or what you have lost or given up, but somehow the dragons gathered here can. They have weighed our sacrifices. They will make their own decisions. Let us not delay any further. I suggest that you all spread out and leave some room for the young dragons to pass amongst you.¡± Said the King.


    The Platinum dragon moved to the front of the crowd of small dragons. They flanked her and then began moving toward women. In spite of the fact that they were relatively small and supposedly friendly it was somewhat intimidating.


    The crowd began to shift and move apart. Some began to back up. A few turned and outright ran for the dairy gate. Heirwynn found herself standing alone in the mud.


    ¡±WAIT!¡± The Platinum dragon yelled. Heirwyn resisted the urge to put her hands over her ears. The shout had been loud and filled with command. Most of the women stopped.


    "Do not be afraid." said Platinum. She walked up to Heirwynn, who could only stand there wearing a muddy wedding dress, her face a mask of terror and excitement.


    "What is your name?" asked Platinum.


    "It''s Heirwynn" said Heirwynn finding her voice. "I am very pleased to meet you." She tried to curtsey and found herself stepping once again on her long dress. She stumbled. Amazingly she heard an unkind laugh behind her, although it was quickly stifled.


    The platinum dragon looked over Heirwynn''s shoulder. She scowled at whoever had laughed. She returned her gaze to Heirwynn.


    "Did you come ready to wed?¡±  Asked the dragon.


    "No, it was a mistake.  I¡¯m sure that I look ridiculous. I found this dress in an old trunk of my mothers." said Heirwynn. "I was a fool to wear it today. It is a dress for a wedding not bonding with a dragon. I know that now."


    Enderline cleared his throat. "This is one of our human customs, Platinum. This type of dress is worn at human bondings. It represents purity."


    The dragon nodded at that.


    "Once she has bonded you will take her as a second wife Enderline." said Platinum. "This one will be able to bear you children unlike your half elf Queen."


    Enderline began choking and coughing. He turned red. "Give me a minute. I''ll be right back!" he said.


    Heirwynn blushed scarlet but the dragon continued, unaware at the shock she had just inflicted on the two humans.


    "I just want to serve. I don''t want to marry anyone." Heirwynn managed to choke out. "My brother died fighting for Esmarilla and Ardwella before the King even arrived here."


    Enderline came back. He was holding the hand of Queen Pricilla who looked angry. She glared at Heirwynn.


    The platinum dragon turned to Enderline. "This lack of telepathy in your people can be frustrating at times. I can sense her sincere emotions but not read her thoughts as words. It surprises me that she does not want an opportunity to marry a King. What do you know about her?" she asked him.


    Enderline looked at Heirwynn. "This girl is unknown to me, as are most of the townspeople. She will have to tell you what you may want to know herself."


    "That dress will appeal to a white dragon" said Platinum. ¡®I have one in my flight that is not bonded."


    Heirwynn looked around. Behind the King was a black dragon. He looked somewhat smaller than the other dragons that were watching this whole exchange expectantly. The dragon walked forward and spoke to her. His voice was distinct and clear.


    "I am Night-Sky." he said. "I am bonded to King Enderline. I would like to introduce you to my sister Snow."


    Behind the black dragon Heirwynn could see an even smaller white dragon peeking out. She was looking at Heirwynn with great interest.


    "Black and Whites are always siblings born together from the same clutch. It is quite rare actually. They have complimenting magic and spend most of their lives living and working closely with one another. These two dragons come from an exceptional family." said Platinum. "That''s another reason why you should also marry this girl Enderline. Snow already wants to bond with her."


    "This is very sudden!" said Pricilla. "I think you are frightening the girl Platinum." she turned to Heirwynn. "You don''t have to do this. There are other dragons here!"


    "Snow has chosen her already." said Platinum. And Heirwynn suddenly realized that she had. Something clicked inside her mind. The dragon was there. Their thoughts began to combine. She was kind and very very smart. Images began flooding into her. They would do so many things together. Heirwynn and Snow. Night-Sky and Enderline. Heirwynn turned to the Queen. She was frowning.


    "I''m sorry." she said.


    Queen Pricilla''s eyebrows raised to her hairline. She whirled and strode quickly away. Enderline ran after her.


    "I''ll get this sorted out with the King and Queen" said Platinum. Then she followed them.


    The other dragons began moving quickly through the gathered women. There were cries of joy and excitement. The bonded among Enderline''s men moved in with their dragons to help instruct and advise the newly bonded. Heirwynn just stood there. She was looking with amazement at Snow and Night-Sky.


    Someone took Heirwynn''s hand. It was the half-elf Ronniflass.


    "Welcome to the family" she said.


    --------------------

 Volume 2: Chapter 6: An Act of Persuasion.

    Cantrell looked down at the map spread out on the table He then looked up at the expectant face of Emperor Mandel. Cantrell wondered how someone that wanted as little to do with politics as he did found himself in the position of discussing siege tactics with the emperor.


    "What are you expecting me to see here?" asked Cantrell. "I''m sorry but I didn''t grow up in the Capitol so I don''t really know what I''m looking at."


    "Look at the property lines. They mark the great estates." said Mandel. "They are all now held by Argent''s daughters. Except for the small gap where your house sits we are completely surrounded."


    "I knew when you offered me that house for free it would come with problems." said Cantrell grimacing. "Bad Neighbors!"


    "I guess I was overly optimistic when they made that toast." said Mandel. "Now they really do have the city surrounded."


    "And again, why would that matter?" asked Cantrell. We hold Argent''s palace which is essentially the whole city center"


    "It''s my Palace now." said Mandel.


    "Fine, Your Majesty, your palace." said Cantrell trying not to sound sarcastic and unfortunately failing.


    Mandel gave him an amused look so Cantrell continued.


    "The palace is unassailable from what I can see. Argent might have been crazy but in his paranoia he made sure overthrowing the government by breaching this stronghold just about impossible." said Cantrell. "The sisters want more dragon eggs. We just need to make sure that they never get any. They are old and soon will be dying off. You will outlive this problem."


    "We might find ourselves trapped inside those walls for a very long time." said Mandel. "That is no way to run a kingdom. And remember that even though I am younger than them, I am not bonded."


    "Warfare has changed." said Cantrell. The battle of Delora Natine should have taught you that. We have dragons. They do not.¡±


    "Only two that are of fighting size." said Mandel. "Word from Enderline''s latest message says that Vanquish and Candasar flew back to Sivantra to deal with some emergency regarding Lothinar. Vanador can''t leave all the young dragons completely unattended. He''s the only adult dragon left in Delora Natine."


    "Isn''t Tundor still there?" asked Cantrell.


    "He''s watching eggs!" said Mandel. "Siophra is with him. They are up in the hills staying at the place that Ronniflass took Lothinar"


    "At the risk of sounding like I''m going to be a terrible father, why can''t Tundor just move the eggs down to the dairy and let Ardwella and your mother take care of them with the other young dragons?" Cantrell asked.


    "That''s definitely how Argent did his parenting." said Mandel.


    Cantrell winced.


    ¡°Tundor is probably where he needs to be. Besides I can¡¯t begin my new alliance with the dragon kingdom by trying to order them to do my bidding. I might suggest something like that but ultimately it has to be up to him. Tundor and I got off to a rocky start as it is.¡±


    ¡±Didn''t you did help him get away from Ardwynn?¡±


    ¡±I made a terrible mistake soon afterwards though. I was so excited about finding Crimson after all those years that I tried using the sword''s persuasion power on him.¡±


    ¡±Oh! I didn¡¯t know that.¡± Said Cantrell. ¡°What happened?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not really sure how it would have turned out actually. Vanquish knocked the sword out of my hand. Both of them were pretty angry at me. I almost ended up stranded a very long way from home!¡±


    ¡±Then you would have missed all this excitement¡± grinned Cantrell. ¡°And a substantial promotion.¡±


    ¡±My old job was definitely easier.¡± Said Mandel smiling himself.


    ¡°And probably safer.¡± Said Cantrell. ¡°Although you were about to ride off to participate in a glorious fight with dragons. That didn¡¯t work out very well for the rest of your brothers.¡±


    Mandel got a sad look on his face. "I¡¯m actually very upset that they killed Myron. Believe it or not he was a decent elf, even if his father was Argent.¡± ¡°He wasn¡¯t really a brother as you know because Albarad is my real father. But...."


    ¡°Even facing death he didn¡¯t sell you out." Said Cantrell "That showed integrity and a surprisingly low desire for political power. That''s one of my criteria for being qualified as a leader. Not wanting the job. Maybe you should have offered him the throne. Perhaps he could have persuaded his rebellious siblings to behave better.¡±


    ¡±No, I thought about it and he and I even discussed it. Ultimately it was the eggs.¡± Said Mandel. ¡°Anyone that has eaten dragon eggs is never going to be accepted as an Elven leader by the dragons. He was lucky that they accepted his conditional surrender without punishment. He knew that.¡±


    ¡°If he could overcome Argent¡¯s blood curse, or whatever it¡¯s called and say no to an egg addiction then he must have had some good in him.¡± Said Cantrell. ¡°His sister Sahar isn¡¯t turning out to be that easy to deal with. She¡¯s one of the signatories on the declaration that disputes your claim to the throne. She is demanding that you and the elves loyal to you vacate the Capitol.¡±


    ¡°We can hold.... What did you call it?¡±


    ¡±The Unassailable Palace.¡± Said Cantrell.


    ¡¯¡®Right, I rather like that actually. I think I''m going to have some signs made." said Mandel. ¡°We can definitely hold the Unassailable Palace. They won''t dare attack us here and we have enough food stored that they won''t be able to starve us out. Unfortunately we won''t get a lot done and the common people will suffer. But I think the next real fighting will be elsewhere. We can¡¯t EVER let Argent¡¯s daughters have access to dragon eggs again. I don¡¯t know if the Grey¡¯s are nesting up in the hills yet but even those eggs won''t be safe."


    ¡°Do you think they are going to try going back to stealing eggs from the wild dragons?¡±


    ¡±They might, but that is fairly high risk low reward. The eggs they are probably going to try for first are actually Candasar¡¯s. Now those are absolutely filled with magic. They could split one of those thirteen ways and add a hundred years to each of their their lifespans¡±


    ¡±Someone needs to warn Tundor and Siophra.¡± Said Cantrell blanching.


    ¡±I¡¯m glad you agree because that is exactly what I want you to do¡± said Mandel. ¡°But there is going to be a little twist on how we get that done.¡±


    ¡°You are making me nervous¡± said Cantrell. ¡°I can see that look on your face.¡±


    "The point is that it''s really crazy in Delora Natine right now and we need to figure out a way to get updates and information back and forth more quickly. I don''t like this but I need to split you and Mavis up."


    Cantrell frowned.


    "Not like that. You are a great brother in law!" I mean like when you went to the battlefield on Mo-Rung and Mavis stayed behind so that we could know what was going on."


    "Oh right." said Cantrell. "But I have a dragon bond now too."


    "Correct!" said Mandel. "You are going to ride Mo-Rung back to Delora and leave Esmarilla and Mavis here." Then we will have redundant communication between both of you and your dragons just in case something goes wrong."


    "It''s what might go wrong that worries me." said Cantrell. "I want you to send Mavis back and I''ll stay here. It''s getting dangerous here. "


    "I want her to be seen in the city." said Mandel. "She''s my sister and heir. The common people need that confirmation of seeing us both here. Your a good guy Cantrell but you are just not royalty."


    "I married your sister!"


    "Sorry, it''s just not the same. At least not yet. In time yes but right now I need Mavis here."


    "Have you told her about this yet?" asked Cantrell.


    "It was her idea."


    "She''s trying to protect me." said Cantrell.


    "Well, you did put a big target on your back at the family dinner with the ''I will never forget'' speech.''" said Mandel.


    "That was your idea!" said Cantrell.


    "Yes, most of the really great ones are." laughed Mandel. "Thanks Cantrell. Mo-Rung is waiting for you up on the roof. You are flying out immediately if not sooner. I need to know if I can expect any help from Enderline and his troops if things deteriorate any further around here. Go warn Siophra. Also, and this is really important. Please see if you can convince Vanador to come back here. I think he would be more useful when paired with his sister. From what I learned from Vanquish, a black and white pair working together can be a powerful force.


    "That''s probably a good idea" said Cantrell. "Especially since Mo-Rung is leaving with me. I''ll see what I can do" He started up the stairs.


    "Esmarilla? Did you hear all that? asked Cantrel.


    "Vanador will come." said Esmarilla.


    "I hope so. I''m worried." He replied.


    "Don''t worry. I will watch over her." said the black dragon.


    "Watch over yourself too. You also are very precious to me. If things get bad I want you to promise me something." said Cantrell through the bond.


    "What''s that?"


    "That you will take Mavis and get out of here as quickly as you can. This city can fall but I can''t lose you two."


    Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    "I love you too Cantrell. Fly safe." said Esmarilla.


    Mo-Rung didn''t say a word as Cantrell climbed on.


    "I take it that you don''t like this either my friend" said the elf.


    "Not even one little bit." said Mo-Rung as he jumped into the air.


    --------------------------


    Albarad stood near the entrance of the dairy and tried to remain inconspicuous. That was increasingly becoming more difficult because even though there were people everywhere, none of them were elves. He did see Ronniflass the half elf that had begun a relationship with Lothinar. She was talking to a young girl in a wedding dress. Thinking it better to hide in plain sight he walked over to them.


    "Albarad!" said Ronni. "What brings you here? You are not thinking about trying to get a bond yourself are you?"


    "Is that what''s going on right now? No. Not for me. I''m actually looking for a Platinum dragon. I need to talk to her. Have you seen one around here?" he asked.


    Ronni looked over toward the large barn.


    "She actually just left a few minutes ago. I think Platinum is with the King and Queen. Oh Albarad, forgive me, I should have introduced you to my new friend Heirwynn." She looked at the young girl in the wedding dress. The girl seemed a bit out of sorts. Embarrassed even.


    "Very pleased to make your acquaintance." said Albarad as he began to sidle off toward the barn.


    "Heirwynn has a fascinating story!" said Ronni. "She is actually Harvey''s sister! Do you remember Harvey Albarad?" He was the gate guard that died during the fight with Tempton."


    Albarad stopped and turned, taking another look.


    "I heard about that," he said. "But I wasn''t there. I was with Tundor and the wagon at that point."


    He looked at the girl again. She was young. She looked close to tears.


    "I''m very sorry for your loss Heriwynn. Your brother probably saved my wife Ardwella''s life.


    Heirwynn only nodded. That sixth sense that Albarad sometimes felt when there was someone in trouble began to kick in. That feeling that he needed to help. That impulse could be very inconvenient at times. Particularly when his primary goal was to kill a Platinum dragon. In spite of that, he couldn''t stop himself.


    "What''s wrong Heirwynn. Is there something I can do to help? he asked.


    "I DON''T WANT TO GET MARRIED!" she yelled. Ronni jumped back and a couple of dragons standing nearby quickly scurried further away.


    "Perhaps I missed something here." said Albarad. "Why are you wearing a wedding dress?"


    "It was a m-m-mistake." she sobbed. "It w-was my mother''s. I didn''t know what putting on this k-ind of dress r-really meant and n-now that Platinum dragon is trying to m-mary me off to the K-king!"


    Albarad looked at Ronni. "I thought the King was already married to your sister." he said.


    "She is!" said Ronni. "Pricilla isn''t too happy with Platinum right now either by the way Heriwynn."


    "That w-was obvious!" said Heirwynn. "Do you think I would even c-consider being the second wife of a m-married man?"


    Albarad stepped forward and took Heirwynn''s hand. "You don''t have to marry him. We are getting you out of here. Nothing is going to happen to you that you don''t want to. I''ll see to that personally. I''m not very happy with that Platinum dragon either!"


    "Where are you planning on taking her Albarad?" asked Ronni. "I know you are Lothinar''s father but I just can''t let you take this young girl off with you by yourself."


    "Come along if you want Ronni. I think this girl needs some time away from this dairy and bossy dragons. I''m taking her to my house. You know where it is. Ardwella and Muina are already there. We will look after her since nobody else seems to be able to!"


    "Is that what you want Heirwynn?" asked Ronni.


    "Can Snow come?"


    "Who''s Snow?" asked Albarad.


    "Her bonded white dragon." Ronniflass answered.


    Albarad rolled his eyes. He looked around. There indeed was a small white dragon standing there. A black one too. They looked at him expectantly.


    "Snow can come, but she will have to walk."


    "Then I definitely want to go with you" said Heirwynn. She looked at Ronni.


    "Please tell the King, I''m sorry but no." she said.


    "I''m coming too. We can both fly" said the black dragon in surprisingly clear speech. The white dragon nudged him.


    "Snow says we can''t actually fly but... Well, we can run and glide pretty well." he said.


    "Can you keep up with a horse?"


    "Definitely" said Night-Sky. "What''s a horse? I can outrun a cow."


    "Fine." said Albarad with a surprising smile. "I''ll go easy on you."


    "Are you going as well Night-Sky?" asked Ronni.


    "Where my sister goes, I go." said Night sky.


    "Enderline isn''t probably going to like you running off without telling him." said Ronni.


    "I think taking care of Heirwynn is the most important thing we should be doing right now" said Night-Sky.


    "Well that''s settled." said Albarad. "Lets go!"


    He walked quickly to the dairy gates with Heirwynn following on his heels. The black and white dragons trundled after her. He untied a horse. He grabbed Heirwynn by the waist and hoisted her up. Stepping into the stirrup he climbed up in front of her. She grabbed him around the waist. He turned the horse and started to ride away. Heirwynn''s white dress was billowing out behind them. The small black and white dragon began running after him. Ronni was actually surprised to see that they seemed to be able to keep up.


    "That elf just took Enderline''s potential bride and his dragon." Ronni said to herself. "And I just let him. I wonder why? She considered for a moment. Perhaps it''s because he reminds me so much of Lothinar. I''ve always been weak to handsome elves."


    --------------------------


    Ardwynn was doing her best not to feel jealous. It was very difficult. There were several very beautiful ladies wearing very pretty dresses completely surrounding her very handsome husband. What made it worse was that it was very much her own fault. Lothinar had brought her to the island of Sivantra and after an initial very brief meeting with King Enderlin''s Regent had begun a quiet stay in the Ambassador''s mansion. It had been very boring but Lothinar had insisted on keeping her away from almost everyone. It wasn''t exactly fair that when he smiled at her she would just melt. She was so glad to have him back in her life. She would do almost anything to make him happy. She knew that she had almost ruined what they had together when she tried to steal Tundor. That would never let anything like that happen again. It was like she had been another person. His coming back for her had given her the chance she needed to prove herself to him again.


    Then Firestorm had done everything in her power to keep Ardwynn away from her rightful husband. That wasn''t fair at all. She had learned her lesson. It was cruel and a very unnecessary punishment. Then she had figured out what the sword could do. She remembered the night that she had solved the Firestorm problem.


    "Where do you think you are going Ardwynn?" Firestorm had asked. "We''ve been over this."


    "You are still young Firestorm. You don''t know what it''s like to be in love. To love someone as much as I love Lothinar."


    "I think you just want sex." said Firestorm. "That''s not happening. Tonight or ever."


    "What are you going to do? Attack me?"


    "I''m big enough now to block the door Ardwynn. Don''t make me wake him up to give you another one of those talks."


    Ardwynn had stalked off angrily into the common living area. She had been pacing back and forth in frustration when she had seen the red sword poking out from under the couch. She had picked it up. It was pretty heavy. Lothinar must be very strong. She smiled. He had great muscles. She had been surprised when she had heard the sword ask her a question.


    "Who are you?" asked the Sword.


    "I am Ardwynn." she had said.


    "I miss Lothinar." said the sword. "Where is he?"


    "He is in the bedroom sleeping"


    "Take me to him. We should not be separated." the sword had said.


    "I can''t!" Ardwynn had said. "There is a dragon blocking the door."


    "I can probably help you with that" said the sword. "Who is this dragon."


    "Her name is Firestorm. Can you really help me to get past her? I am Lothinar''s wife."


    "Take me to the dragon" said the sword. "I''m usually pretty good at this kind of thing."


    Ardwynn had quietly carried the sword back down the hall to where Firestorm lay across the doorway. The red dragon was dozing.


    "Speak the words that you want the dragon to understand." said the sword. "Beware. I will sense any falsehood."


    Ardwynn thought for a few moments. Then she began. Her voice was filled with emotion.


    "Firestorm, I made a mistake. A terrible mistake. Someone really terrible raised me and always told me what to do. As a child you really want to please your parents, so I did everything I could. I really wanted to please my father. It never seemed to be enough. Then one day they asked me to do a job for my father''s brother. He really wanted a white dragon for some reason. I thought that if I could just do that then I''d finally make them happy. They told me I had to get close to Lothinar. He was the key to making a dragon tolerate me. Maybe even like me. You see there is something wrong with me inside. I didn''t want to be that way but something just seems to take over. I''m sorry, It''s really hard to keep this straight. "


    Ardwynn had felt the tears flowing down her face. The sword remained silent.


    "I finally met Lothinar. That''s when I felt my life actually started. The bad voices inside me were gone! I fell for him hard. I threw myself at him without shame. I thought I was pretty but he just kept being a nice guy. He actually put me in the friend zone. It was breaking my heart. Being around him was the only time I really ever felt right. His family was great! I met new dragon friends and they actually were nice to me. Lothinar finally actually allowed me to love him. I am sure that he loved me back. Then my family figured out that I had changed my loyalties. They came after me. They wanted me to follow through with the plans they had made to get a white dragon for Argent."


    "You have to believe me Firestorm. I never wanted to hurt anyone! I want to just go back to being Lothinar''s wife and the mother of his child! I will never try to bond a dragon again. The happiest times of my life have been when I am at his side. Please Firestorm! Let me be with him again!"


    "Well that should probably do it" said the sword.


    Firestorm woke up.


    "Hi Ardwynn! What are you doing out here at this time of night?" she asked. "Do you need help with anything?"


    Ardwynn sniffed. Wiping her tears.


    "Well you could help me out by not falling asleep in the doorway." she had said.


    "Sorry" said Firestorm. "I must have dozed off." She squeezed past Ardwynn and down the hall. "I may go see if the cook has any of that lamb left over from dinner. He usually sets me out a bit for a midnight snack."


    "Enjoy" said Ardwynn. I certainly am going to."


    "Now take me to Lothinar" said the sword.


    "Well that''s going to be harder than I thought." Ardwynn had said. "I can not really survive anyone having a change of heart about this. It means too much to me."


    Ardwynn had quickly walked out of the Villa and out into the garden. There was a small shed holding gardening tools. She shoved the sword deep in a large drum filled with hoes and shovels. It made a terrible scraping sound. She pushed it down until only the tip of the hilt was sticking out.


    "This will not do at all" the sword had said. "Lothinar will need me!"


    "I need him more" said Ardwynn. Then she had returned to the house. Things got very exiting after that. He had been worth the wait.


    Ardwynn had made the mistake the next day of asking Lothinar to take her to meet some of the Sivantra Islanders. They had been clamoring for his and Firestorm''s attention ever since they had arrived on the island. It had been no trouble at all to get themselves invited to a party that very evening. Lothinar had even taken them out shopping for some new clothes. It seemed the the Ambassador''s villa came with a built in expense account.


    They had walked the streets of Sivantra''s Capitol with people crowding incessantly around them. Firestorm loved the attention. She even gave some of the children short rides up into the air. They shrieked happily as she carried the laughing children from the marketplace and out over the tropical forest that surrounded the area. Lothinar had put a stop to that fairly quickly as he had concerns that one of them might fall off. They even found some fairly attractive clothes that fit her growing belly. He though looked dashingly handsome in what he found. It was a dark green coat and brown leather pants and vest. It had some gold stitching that really set it off nicely.


    They had arrived for dinner at a wealthy nobleman''s house and that''s when the trouble had started for Ardwynn. Firestorm and Lothinar had been the center of attention. Nobody seemed to want to talk to a plump pregnant elf. After dinner there had been dancing. Ardwynn didn''t know that Lothinar could dance. He was fantastic at it. She had been forced to start sitting out the dancing almost immediately as the baby really reduced her mobility and stamina. Ardwynn found herself sitting in a chair watching beautiful women relentlessly hitting on her husband. And it really was very much her own fault.


    She looked across the room and finally happened to catch his eye. Then the most amazing thing happened. He politely excused himself and stepped away from all those beautiful women. He came straight to her. The women looked very upset. Devastated in fact. He came over and pulled her to her feet. His smile was sincere and warm. He gave her a kiss. He smelled fantastic.


    "We are going to need to get out of here very soon" he said. "I hope you are almost ready to go."


    "Yes I am." she said. "I don''t know why I thought that this was going to be a good idea."


    "You were bored. Dinner was nice but I probably should have turned down the dancing." he said.


    "You looked like you were having fun." Ardwynn replied trying not sound too jealous.


    "Yes, I did. But I''d rather dance with you." he said.


    "Let''s go home." she said breathlessly. "We can do a different kind of dancing."


    "I''d like that," he said, "but we may not be able to actually stay in the Villa tonight."


    "Why''s that?" asked Ardwynn.


    "Well those beautiful ladies I was dancing with are going to come looking for me." he replied. "They are not going to be willing to take no for an answer. I''m afraid it''s the Pheromones again."


    "Oh no." How could I forget about that?" exclaimed Ardwynn. "Those women will never leave you alone. I should know. What are we going to do?"


    "I was thinking we might be able to hide from them out in the gardener''s shed." said Lothinar. "At least until they finally give up and go away. Maybe we can count the shovels. The Gardener told me that there seemed to be an extra one."


    Then he winked.


    -------------------------------------

 Volume 2. Chapter 7: Mistaken Identity

    Killingsworth looked at the body of the young male dragon. He didn''t quite know what to think. He knew that humans liked to cook the meat that they ate over a fire. It looked like someone had cooked Rolf but then decided not to eat him. Another strange thing was that nothing except the area immediately under the dragon was burned. There was no sign of external fuel having been employed. Nothing natural was responsible for this. It had to be dragon fire. Killingsworth suddenly got a strange thought. This was like the historical stories that Mo-Rung had been talking about. Stories from long long ago. Before the lake. Before even the end of the war. Dragons had been burned alive with a spell. It had led to the dragon race''s complete capitulation. It had also led to five hundred years of slavery. Mo-Rung had told him that they never again had to be concerned about that spell killing dragons. Ardwella, Lothinar''s mother had spent hundred of years eradicating everyone that knew that spell from existence. She said that she had killed every single one of them. Now this dead young dragon he was looking at was evidence to the contrary. It looked to Killingsworth like Rolf had been killed by elven magic.


    Killingsworth jumped into the air. He needed to talk to someone about this. Ardwella would know. He began flying toward Delora Natine. Ardwella had a position as the dragon high priestess. She was the acting emissary between the dragons and other peoples. She might know something about this. As he flew, he marveled at the changes in his body that made flying possible. How many sad years had been wasted living in that lake. How many years had he tolerated the agents of Argent taking the eggs of his people to steal dragon magic.


    The human King and few good elves had helped the dragons stop the evil Emperor at last. Killingsworth was ashamed that he had been one of the council of elders that had tried to kill Tundor for looking more like a real dragon. He had actively fought against the process of his own emancipation. He would never forget his foolishness. Ardwella¡¯s son Lothinar had set all the lake dragons free. His magic had given them back their wings and their future. He and the other previous water dragons owed that entire family a great deal. Now he needed their help again.


    Arriving at Delora Natine, Killingsworth learned that Ardwella wasn''t currently at the temple so he quickly flew over to the dairy. He knew that she often spent time there as well. He found and spoke with the Half-Elf Ronniflass who owned the dairy that had been turned into a baby dragon nursery. Killingsworth at last learned where he might find Ardwella. Her actual home was just a few miles away in the small elven outpost of Tasumakoji. He found himself following the directions Ronniflass gave him and flying once again to continue his search for answers.


    On his way he saw a very unusual sight. Flying high above the road he saw two small dragons running along behind a horse. Killingsworth found that more than unusual. Flying a bit lower and circling around he saw that on the horse was Ardwella''s husband Albarad. Behind him sat a young girl wearing a white dress. Things could not get much stranger. Killingsworth flew over them again, circled around and landed in the road in front of them. The horse shied and reared almost upsetting the riders. Albarad somehow managed to keep both of the horses''s riders from falling off. He glared at Killingsworth.


    "What do you want?" he yelled at the dragon.


    ¡±You are Albarad. Your mate is Ardwella. Your son is Lothinar.¡± The dragon stated. It did not sound like he was asking questions.


    ¡°That¡¯s right¡± said Albarad. He stared in surprise as the large male dragon lowered his head and dropped himself onto the dirt of the road in supplication. The two small dragons that had caught up and stopped behind Albarad¡¯s horse looked at the much larger grey with obvious interest.


    "What are you doing?" asked Albarad. "Get up. You''re blocking the road."


    "I wished to show my respect." said the grey dragon. "My name is Killingsworth. Your family has done more for my people than any other. We owe you a great debt. I fear that once again we need your help."


    "I don''t know how I can be of any help to you." said Albarad. "I am also rather busy right now."


    "That dragon obviously needs our help" said Heirwynn from behind him. If I understand what he is saying correctly."


    "One rescue at a time Heirwynn." said Albarad with a grin. "In my experience that''s the only way that you can avoid being at the constant beck and call of others."


    "Am I to be considered your only current rescue then?" she asked.


    ¡±Active ones at least, yes. I have a couple of elven sisters and a few more horses that have graduated from active rescue status but are still with me undergoing healing and rehabilitation. I¡¯ll soon have a new baby. That will probably take up some time¡±


    As Albarad did the internal math he suddenly realized that he had broken his own rule of one. Hadn¡¯t he just been on his way to kill a dragon trying to save his unborn daughter? How had he let himself be so distracted? He would need to drop off Heirwyn at home with Muina and immediately head back. He needed to kill Platinum!


    "It wasn''t that long ago that Platinum was trying coerce you into marrying ugly old King Enderline. " he said to Heirwyn with a frown.


    Heirwynn groaned. "Yes it suppose it did appear that I needed some saving." she said. "Thank you for helping a perfect stranger."


    "You are not a stranger" Heirwynn. "You''re just a friend that I hadn''t met yet."


    Heirwynn smiled at that. "Cantrell is going to be glad that I finally made another elf friend." she said.


    "You know Cantrell?" Albarad asked somewhat surprised. "He''s actually my son in law. Although that''s a story for another time. We need to get this dragon out of the road so we can pass."


    "Enderline''s not ugly at all actually" said Heirwynn, "It was just that nobody asked me. They just started assuming. And He is already married. That was a dealbreaker."


    "It does take someone a bit special to keep more than one woman satisfied." said Albarad. Then he coughed nervously.


    Killingsworth had just been lying there watching them. He seemed fascinated, as did the baby dragons.


    "Can you at least take me to Ardwella?" he asked.


    "I can." said Albarad. "But I have to warn you. She is not feeling her best right now. If she isn''t feeling any better I''m not going to let you speak with her. You will have to come back another time."


    "Is it far?" asked Killingsworth.


    "Not really." said Albarad. "We would have already arrived if you hadn''t gotten in our way on the road."


    "Then I will walk.¡± Said Killingsworth. ¡°Perhaps you should introduce me to your other dragon friends here who are obviously not being rescued."


    "We are definitely not being rescued" said Night-Sky. "We are Heirwynn''s backup. Just in case Albarad is not what he seems"


    "HEY!" said Albarad. "I''m trustworthy. "I have a long history of performing successful rescues.¡±


    "He probably is actually trustworthy" said Killingsworth. He and his family have an excellent reputation with all the dragons."


    Albarad got a strange and worried look on his face. "Uh. Thank you Killingsworth."


    Killingsworth got up and shook off the dust. That unfortunately left Albarad and Heirwynn coughing.


    "Sorry!" said the grey dragon. "This dust situation is quite new to me. I grew up in the lake after all."


    Albarad guided his horse around the large dragon. It took some doing. The horse seemed quite nervous about it.


    "Is your horse afraid of Dragons Albarad" asked Killingsworth.


    Albarad nodded. "Star had a bad experience some time back. It was a misunderstanding. Being around you will be good for her."


    The strange caravan of horse and dragons continued up the road.


    "Why are you grey?" Albarad heard Night-Sky asking Killingsworth. Albarad had decided to walk the horse the rest of the way back. He let Heirwynn continue to ride.


    "As I said, I started life as a lake dragon." said Killingsworth. "We are the dragons that Argent had been keeping in the lake to take our eggs and steal our magic. That was before Albarad''s family freed us and gave us new hope."


    "It might be possible for my sister and I to re-infuse you with additional magic. Not immediately of course. We have some other work we will probably have to do first. You could probably get back very close to what you were originally intended to be. " said Night-Sky.


    "Nobody ever mentioned that." said Killingsworth. "What color dragon do you think I am supposed to be?"


    "There is really no way to know at this point." said Night-Sky.


    "Blue" said Heirwynn. "Snow thinks that you are going to be a blue."


    Albarad gave her a look.


    Heirwyn shrugged. ¡°It¡¯s just a feeling I have.¡±


    As they rode up to the barn Muina came rushing out of the house. She looked with surprise at the girl in the wedding dress on Star and the three dragons standing behind her before finding her voice.


    "Thank goodness you''re back! How did you know to bring back a black and white pair? They might actually be able to save the both of them. Ardwella and her baby are in bad shape. Lets get the dragons inside right away!"


    "What happened?" asked Albarad. He felt his panic rising.


    "She had the baby. Not only is the baby too small to be safely born, Now Ardwella won''t wake up!'' Muina quickly dashed back into the house.


    Albarad looked at Heirwynn. "It looks like now I am the one that needs rescuing."


    Heirwynn jumped down off the horse. She walked over to Snow and looked into her eyes. A moment or two passed. Then she turned and pursued Muina through the front door and into the house. The little white and black dragons followed quickly behind her.


    "See!" Albarad heard Night-Sky say. "Except for meeting Killingsworth it turned out exactly like Platinum said it would."


    Albarad felt a chill.


    "Hey Killingsworth." said Albarad. "What do you know about Platinum Dragons?"


    "I heard that they are very smart." said Killingsworth. "Maybe since your wife is busy I should ask the Platinum about how the dead dragon I found up in the hills got burned without any fire around. She might have some ideas."


    "You should do that." said Albarad. "Let me know what she says. It''s sounds like quite a mystery."


    ¡±Maybe you should come with me.¡± Said Killingsworth. ¡°I can offer you a ride!¡±


    ¡±If I wasn¡¯t so worried about Ardwella right now I would probably take you up on that.¡± Said Albarad.


    "I''ll be sure to let you know if I find out anything." said Killingsworth. "I still want to talk with Ardwella about an old spell that she supposedly spent a long time dealing with. I¡¯m sure I¡¯ll be back.¡±


    Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!


    Albarad stepped away quickly as Killingsworth spread his wings. Then the big grey dragon once again jumped into the air.


    ---------------------


    "There it is. The Island of Sivantra." said Vanquish.


    The two blue dragons had stopped their cheerful banter hours ago to save their energy for the last part of the flight. It was always the hardest. They had been in the air for over a day and a half. They had flown very fast. When Candasar had last made this trip with Lothinar it had taken over two days. That was an almost unheard of amount of time to remain in the air. Only magic made it possible.


    Candasar could see the faint outline of the coast far off in the distance yet, but it was at last in sight. They were going to make it. She had thought that, especially as she had gotten closer that she might hear from Lothinar. Instead it was Firestorm that finally made contact through their shared bond with Lothinar.


    "Candasar is that you? I feel you. What are you doing back here so soon?" she asked.


    "Firestorm! Are you ok? Where is Lothinar?"


    "Oh, I''m fine. I''m eating a goat. Have you ever tried goat Candasar. They might be a little small for you, but their just right for me. Really tasty. They live all over the really tall rocks around here. You really ought to try one."


    "Is Lothinar Ok?"


    "Oh yeah, sure. He and Ardwynn went out to a party. Can you believe it? No Dragons allowed. They should be back soon. He''ll be really glad to see you I''m sure. Why''d you come back?"


    "Listen Carefully Firestorm. Something very bad must have happened. Lothinar called for help!"


    "He called you from the party? I let him out of my sight for a a few hours....Wait a minute. It''s a really long flight here. You must have been flying a long time. He must have called you quite a while ago. He didn''t tell me that he needed help and I''m right here! Doesn''t he trust me? I really trying not to be offended right now!"


    "Slow down Firestorm. I need to ask you a question." said Candasar.


    "Sure. Go ahead."


    "How do you feel about Ardwynn right now.?"


    "Oh, she''s fine I mean I had my reservations at first. But after she really explained it me, how she made a mistake. I didn''t think it was worth being mad at Lothinar''s wife. She''s going to be part of his life for a long time, so I did the right thing. I decided to forgive her. It made Lothinar happier. We''ve been good ever since."


    "She explained to you how she just happened to subjugate Tundor and order him to kill Mavis and then subsequently caused my cousin Aleena''s death? "


    "Well it does sound kind of bad when you put it that way, but she''s sorry."


    "Did she have Lothihar''s sword when she was talking to you about that?"  asked Candisar.


    "Well, yes, but she was just bringing it back to Lothinar. He accidentally left it in under the couch."


    "Ok Firestorm. I''ll be there in a few more minutes. Are you and Lothinar still staying at the ambassador''s mansion?"


    "Yes, but like I said neither of us are there right now. He''s at a party and I''m hunting goats. I could bring you one if you want. Your missing out. I''m definitely bringing you one. You''re going to be hungry after your long trip"


    "I will see you at the Villa Firestorm." said Candasar.


    "I was just able to talk to Firestorm." said Candasar to Vanquish. "She''s completely brainwashed. Ardwynn definitely used the red sword on her."


    "Well that was what we expected after all." said Vanquish.


    "Lothinar is out somewhere at a party with Ardwynn." said Candisar, "That doesn''t sound like something he would do without being influenced as well."


    "He''s not enough dragon yet to be susceptible to the red swords influence" said Vanquish. "He must be feeling Firestorm''s recent goodwill toward Ardwynn through their bond. I didn''t think Firestorm had that much influence over him."


    "I don''t think you really understand how much Lothinar wants what Firestorm is feeling about Ardwynn to be true. You were not around when they were actually together. Lothinar didn''t give his heart easily but when he did, he gave it completely. When she showed her true colors it almost destroyed him."


    "That''s going to make what we are probably going to have to do that much worse. You understand that don''t you." asked Vanquish.


    "She may be the only one who actually knows where the sword is" said Candasar. "We can''t kill her until we know where it is."


    "She can''t have hidden it that well. It''s got to be close to the Villa." said Vanquish. "Lothinar might be able to find it if he really wanted to. He and Crimson are linked."


    "Can we use the sword to undo what Ardwynn did to Firestorm? She actually seems to like her now."


    "I could actually do that without the sword." Vanquish asserted. "But it will take more time."


    "Then we don''t give her a chance to use the sword on us. We need to kill her on sight." said Candasar somehow finding the energy to pump her wings a little faster.


    __________________________


    Cantrell had actually never been to the house in the hills where Tundor was staying but Mo-Rung had. He had walked there when he was searching for Firestorm. Technically it was Ronni''s house and maybe the Queen''s. It had been past down to them from their father who had been an Elven ambassador to Sivantra even before Argent had become emperor. Now she and Lothinar planned to make their home their after things settled down. Because of Lothinar''s bond to Candasar Ronni had almost insisted that she feel free to use the place to hatch her eggs.


    Flying over the forest on their approach to the place things looked quiet. Cantrell had almost breathed a sigh of relief when he heard a loud roar from coming just up ahead. It could only be a dragon roar. Mo-Rung had obviously heard it too. He accelerated into a dive. Cantrell saw the door of the house fly open. Siophra came running out at top speed. She was headed straight to the barn. Three dark clad figures were just exiting the main door. From their build they appeared to be elves. Two appeared to be male. One of them that was a lot smaller seemed to be trying to carry something. It looked like a dragon egg. The larger figures flanked her protectively. The center figure saw Siophra running toward them and shifted the egg to a single hand and pointed a finger at the beautiful running elf. There was a crackle and a bolt of electricity shot off her hand. It wasn''t nearly as strong as the ones Cantrell had seen cast during the battle between Lothinar and Argent but the effect was devastating. Siophra went rigid. Her legs stopped running and she fell forward. Her forward movement carried her body to the ground where she slid, eventually un-stiffening and coming to a stop. She didn''t move.


    That''s when Mo-Rung hit the three dark clad elves. They had been watching Siophra and not the sky. From Cantrell''s perspective things seemed to strangely slow down. In slow motion Mo-Rung''s two front talons impacted and completely destroyed the bodies of the two males, rending them into bloody pieces. His jaw bit down on the head and face of the center elf. She was a female. Cantrell only had a gliimpse of her eyes frozen in shock as her head was completely ripped away. Her surprised body stood for a few seconds before it slowly began to crumple down. Cantrell rolled as he was actually thrown forward from the sudden and violent stop. He twisted in the air and tried to get his body beneath the falling egg. Their was a surprising amount of spraying blood about. He was covered in it. It was very slippery. He missed. The egg hit the ground with a loud crack. Cantrell landed flat on his back on the hard ground. The air left his lungs with a loud swoosh. He couldn''t seem to get any of it back. Tundor suddenly ran out of the barn. He had a huge black scorch mark on his chest. He looked dazed and desperate. He looked at the bodies of the three dead elves. He turned to Cantrell and started to charge the downed elf before quickly stopping just shy of stomping on him.


    "Mo-Rung! Cantrell!" What are you doing here?


    Some air finally found its way back into Cantrell''s lungs.


    "Came to warn you!" he gasped.


    "Is that all of them?" asked Mo-Rung."


    "I''m not actually sure." said Tundor. "But I only saw three,"


    "I"m going to search the area by air." said Mo-Rung growling in fury. He leapt into the air. His wings beat furiously as he climbed over the pasture and cleared the trees. An avenging god dripping in bloody red. He began to make a spiral search.


    "Check on the eggs" said Esmarilla through the bond. That startled Cantrell a bit. Esmarilla was a long way away and yet she seemed to know what had transpired without him even telling her.


    "Are the other eggs still in the barn Tundor?" Cantrell asked. "You had three eggs up here right?"


    Tundor looked at the large golden egg laying on the ground next to Cantrell.


    "The other two eggs hatched yesterday." he said. "Siophra had the baby dragons with her in the house. She was feeding them some meat pieces. Only the gold egg was left in the barn."


    "Siophra!" Cantrell shouted. He wobbled to his feet and ran to where he saw her fall. She was unconscious but still breathing. He scooped her up and swayed with the effort. She felt heavy.


    "I''m going to take her in the house." said Cantrell. He swayed his way across the yard and through the still open door. He passed through the kitchen on the way to one of the bedrooms. He disturbed two very small dragons that had been eating some meat pieces under the kitchen table. They looked at him with solemn eyes. Two little blues. A male and a female. Cantrell continued on to the bedroom and as gently as possible laid Siophra on the bed. She still hadn''t moved. Her blonde hair was singed. and there was a nasty burned blister mark on her forehead. As he was sitting next to her and watching her, she suddenly and quietly stopped breathing.


    Tundor was left alone in the yard. He looked at the golden egg. It had a big crack down the side. He positioned himself as best he could to put his ear next to the egg. It took a few tries. It put him in an awkward position. He listened. He didn''t hear anything. He pushed the egg with his snout. It moved easily. Too easily. Tundor pushed the egg again. It was very light. It didn''t seem like anything was inside the shell at all. Tundor extended a toenail and carefully pressed it into the crack. He took his other claw and did the same creating a way to pull at the shell. It resisted but suddenly fell into two jagged pieces. There was nothing inside! Then came another shock. The bond that Tundor had shared with Siophra since that day in the forest when they first joined began to fade. Tundor had been unconscious when Vanquish had ended his bond with Ardwynn so he didn''t remember much about it. He felt this. It wasn''t painful but Siophra''s presence just softly slipped away leaving Tundor once again alone with his own thoughts. He began to weep. Huge dragon tears began to flow. First his egg and now Siophra. This was too much to bear!


    In the bedroom there was a sudden intake of breath. Actually a gasp. Cantrell turned his downcast eyes toward the beautiful elf that he had just watched die. Her eyes were wide open and she was staring at him. Her eyes were gold. They didn''t look like Siophra''s eyes at all. She swung her feet off the bed and onto the floor and quickly stood. There was a mirror on the wall. Golden eyed Siophra walked over to it and touched her face. She looked at the burned mark on her forehead. She pressed her hand against it and in a few seconds removed it. The blistered burn was gone, although a black soot mark still remained. She spun back around and looked at Cantrell.


    She spoke. Her voice was beautiful. It was like a sweet melody. It was haunting and filled with power. It made Cantrell¡¯s knees shake.


    "Thank you for your assistance earlier. It is unfortunate that you arrived a few moments too late."


    "I am sorry." said Cantrell. "We got here as quickly as we could."


    "We have made the necessary adjustments" she said.


    "I don''t understand what you mean?" said Cantrell.


    "All will be explained in time." said Siophra.


    "What can I do to help you now?" asked Cantrell. "Is there anything you need?"


    "Yes, Thank you for asking" she said.


    ¡°Please take me to Tundor" she said. "Take me to my father."


    Cantrell just stared. Then he slowly reached out and gently took her hand. He began to lead her outside.


    "Now that''s a new one" said Esmarilla.


    ----------------------------


    When Lothinar had left the party abruptly. It had caught Michelle by surprise. She had thought that they had found something special while they were dancing together. Their chemistry was undeniable. She had never been quite so attracted to someone. Were all elves this handsome and appealing? There were stories from a while back about the elven ambassador taking a human wife. Enderline''s Queen Pricilla was half elf herself. Michelle could feel the pull of wanting to get to know Lothinar much better. She had followed several of the other girls that had danced with Lothinar back to the ambassador''s villa. They also must have had similar ideas of trying to take things further. All of the ladies had been turned away at the door. It seemed that Lothinar and his pregnant wife had not come straight home. They were told that if they wanted to speak with Lothinar any further they would have to come back tomorrow. The rest reluctantly left, vowing to return. Michelle stayed. She had seen something that they had not. The red dragon Firestorm was pacing around out in the garden. She seemed to be looking up anxiously at the sky. Michelle slipped into the garden and walked toward the red dragon. On her way across the lawn she almost stepped on a dead goat lying in the shadows. Michelle almost shrieked but didn''t. She wasn''t going to let something like a dead goat ruin her chances. She was in love.


    "Hello dragon. Are you looking for Lothinar?" Michelle asked. "Its not easy to see very much standing out here in the dark."


    "Not really" said Firestorm. "Lothinar had to do some work in the garden shed."


    "He''s in there right now?" asked Michelle


    "He sure is. Ardwynn is with him."


    "His pregnant wife?" confirmed Michelle. "I saw her at the party. She''s very pretty."


    Firestorm gave Michelle a discerning look. "It''s probably strange to hear me say this, but I think she looks quite a bit like you." said Firestorm. "I mean your a human and she''s an elf of course."


    "I''m flattered." said Michelle. "She is obviously very beautiful. It''s nice to know that if Lothinar has a type I might be in the strike zone."


    "Are you interested in him too? Wow. All the other women that showed up tonight were obsessed with finding him. It''s probably why he is still hiding in the shed."


    "Why are you out here? It makes it kind of obvious that he''s probably close by."


    "Actually another one of our family is going to be coming back here soon. It is kind of a surprise. I''m not really supposed to talk about it. She wanted to surprise Ardwynn in particular."


    "And you are supposed to get her away from Lothinar for the surprise."


    "Yeah, I''m supposed to see if I can get her to come of of the shed and stand here in the garden. Sort of like you are now in fact."


    There was a whoosh and from the sky filled with darkness a huge blue blur flashed through the garden. Michelle was gone. Firestorm heard an eerie high pitched screaming start and then fade into the night.


    Candasar dropped down next to Firestorm in the garden.


    "We got her!" she said under her breath. "Good job Vanquish!"


    "Vanquish is here too?" asked Firestorm. "Wow. That''s how you were able to make it here. I wasn''t sure how you could do that flight all by yourself. Are you hungry? I brought you a goat."


    "Maybe later. Where is Lothinar?" asked Candasar.


    "He''s in the shed over there with Ardwynn. I''m sorry I couldn''t get her to come out."


    "Who did Vanquish just snatch up then?"


    "A nice human lady named Michelle. Actually I think she might be here because she got exposed to Lothinar while he was dancing tonight. Sort of like Ronni was I guess."


    Lothinar stepped out of the garden shed. He was holding a red sword.


    "Hi Candasar" he said. "I certainly didn''t think I''d be seeing you so soon. How are the eggs?"


    ________________________


    "

 Volume 2 Chapter 8: Goldie

    ------------------------


    Mavis and Esmarilla had been flying a patrol over the Elven Capitol when images and thoughts of Mo-Rung''s battle with the three dark clad elves hit. Rage and anger flooded her. She intellectually could understand that it was Mo-Rungs thoughts she was feeling but it still was hard to process. She had felt him hunt and kill food as prey. It was a necessary part of being bonded to a dragon. Mo-Rung usually killed without anger. Dispassionately. An act of violence that was more routine. This was a far different feral ferocity. The intensity of it caused her cry out with her own rage.


    Because Esmarilla simultaneously had Cantrells perspective on the battle and his part in it was far less violent, the black dragon was able to maintain more emotional control and did her best to not unseat her rider. However not having a bond with Mavis herself she was concerned about the young elf¡¯s unpredictability as she dealt with her bond¡¯s post fight emotions . She swiftly located the capitol building tower and headed for it. A few minutes later she landed and immediately Mavis jumped off. The beautiful elf ran toward the door to the stairway.


    "I need to tell Mandel about the attack" she yelled back over her shoulder at the dragon.


    "Wait! Cantrell is with Siophra. There is more happening! Called Esmarilla.


    Mavis turned back and stood a few feet away from the dragon shifting awkward from foot to foot as she waited for Esmarilla¡¯s update. The dragon looked sad, then perplexed. Finally a strange look of wonder and excitement appeared on her face. Mavis had watched the parade of emotions marveling at how much more adept she had become at reading them since her bonding. It was far easier to understand a dragon¡¯s expressions when you were directly bonded to them as you had the mental link to verify them. She lacked that with Esmarilla as she was Cantrell¡¯s bond.


    ¡±Your Aunt Siophra was killed. I think. Actually I¡¯m not sure.¡± Esmarilla finally said.


    ¡±What!? No! Don¡¯t say things like that Esmarilla, especially when they are so ambiguous. What is Cantrell doing?¡±


    ¡±He¡¯s holding Siophra¡¯s hand and helping her walk. She¡¯s a little unsteady.¡±


    ¡°That sounds like she¡¯s still alive to me.¡±


    ¡±Parts of her definitely are.¡± Said Esmarilla.


    ¡°Your not making any sense dragon!¡±


    ¡±You¡¯re right. I¡¯m sorry. What¡¯s that word Cantrell knows? Flabbergasted. That¡¯s what I am. Flabbergasted.


    ¡±You are also obtuse.¡± Ask Cantrell what that means and tell me in simple terms what is going on. How is a walking Siophra making you think that she died?¡±


    ¡±Do you know how Lothinar is part dragon now?¡±


    ¡±Part dragon? Your kidding! You mean the bald head and ridges? That¡¯s dragon?¡± exclaimed Mavis.


    ¡±Yes, but Vanquish did more than just that to him. He has quite a few internal dragon modifications as well.¡±


    ¡±Ok, that¡¯s pretty weird. Let¡¯s talk about Lothinar later. What has this got to do with Siophra?¡±


    ¡±Hold on a second. I want to pay attention to this. Tundor is going to meet his golden daughter!¡±


    ¡±You know, you are very frustrating to try to talk to at times Esmarilla.¡± Said Mavis. ¡°I¡¯ve got to tell Mandel about the attack. I¡¯m going to try and find him. I¡¯ll bring him back up here to you and then maybe you can tell us both what¡¯s going on.¡±


    Esmarilla only nodded. She had a far away look on her face. Mavis rolled her eyes and blew her bangs out of her face. She whirled and ran for the stairway that would take her off the roof.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    Tundor watched Siophra coming out of the house and walk across the yard toward him. Cantrell was holding her hand and seemed to be steadying her. As she walked she seemed to become more steady and sure. Tundor wondered what had happened to the bond. He had felt it fade and believed the worst. Then Tundor locked his vision on Siophra¡¯s eyes. They were glowing with a soft gold inner light. He looked again at the cracked and opened golden shell laying on the ground next to him. He suddenly remembered his talk with Siophra in the barn. It had been when she had been holding the golden egg. Golden dragons could teleport!


    ¡°Hello Father.¡± Said the golden eyed Siophra.


    ¡±Hello¡± said Tundor. ¡°I¡¯m sorry that I was so bad at protecting you. Both of you.¡±


    Siophra looked at the bloody scraps of elven flesh cooling in the grass of the pasture. She looked skyward. Mo-Rung was making a low pass. He traveled over them and Tundor could see him looking down on the three of them with interest. He banked and prepared to land a distance away out in the grass.


    ¡±Mother was called away. The timing was unfortunate. This elf that gave me shelter seems to believe that mother would have made it back here long before my hatching time if those three elves had not interfered.¡±


    ¡±Shelter?¡± Asked Tundor. ¡°Like an eggshell gives shelter?


    ¡°Siophra¡¯s body is surprisingly well adjusted to being manipulated by magic. She had received thousands of injuries and thousands of healings. White dragon healings. Her pathways are extremely receptive. I could not have done this if they were not. Where is the dragon named Vanador?¡±


    ¡±I¡¯m assuming he is a few miles away.¡± Said Tundor. ¡°He is in Delora Natine. They were no longer bonded but were for a very long time. He did most of that healing you are talking about. . I only did a few things, and that was rather recently.¡±


    ¡±All the work was excellent father. I could barely see the differences when I moved in.¡±


    ¡±Moved in?¡± Asked Cantrell. ¡°Does that mean that you will eventually be able to move out?¡±


    ¡±That rather depends on Siophra.¡± Said Siophra.


    ¡±So is my Siophra ok inside there? I guess I mean the old Siophra. Is she still¡­.her?¡± Asked Tundor.


    ¡±She is resting and healing. The lightning passed directly through her brain. I am doing what I can but it is going to take some time before we know what will happen¡±


    ¡°¡±It just doesn¡¯t seem possible¡± said Cantrell. ¡°When Vanquish started changing him and giving Lothinar dragon parts it was much more obvious.¡±


    ¡±Did you not observe my eyes?¡± Said Siophra. ¡°Can you not hear my voice? These are not Siophra¡¯s. There are also other things happening inside this body that you can not easily observe. I am, however, trying to use restraint.¡±


    Cantrell nodded. Siophra looked at Mo-Rung who had just joined them.


    ¡±Thank you for what you did to end the threat.¡± She said to the red dragon. ¡°Were you able to see anything more from the air?


    ¡±The area is clear, at least for now.¡± Mo-Rung replied. Cantrell smelled something strange. It smelled like blood but worse.


    ¡°It¡¯s a good thing that Siophra already fixed the well crank handle.¡± Said Siophra. ¡°We all need a good wash.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve got a lot of elf blood on me even after flying." Agreed Mo-Rung. ¡°This blood seems to smell worse than most.¡±


    Cantrell suddenly looked down at himself. He was covered in blood as well. His journey being thrown off Mo-Rung''s back and trying to catch the egg had been a messy one. Thankfully none of it was his own. Siophra¡¯s clothes and sides were badly smudged with blood as well from when he had carried her into the house.


    ¡±Ronniflass is going to want to kill me.¡± Cantrell groaned. ¡°I¡¯m sure that I¡¯ve ruined one of her quilts.¡±


    ¡°Who were these three?¡± Siophra gestured towards the bodies.


    Cantrell spoke, ¡°I think that I have seen them before, although Mo-Rung has made it quite a bit more difficult to identify them at this point.¡±


    ¡±Are they some of Argent¡¯s family?¡±


    ¡±The female certainly is. Her name was Thelma. One of the males looks like her husband. His name was Malick I believe. Not Argent¡¯s bloodline but certainly someone that was loyal to him. The third is probably her son. He was not actually at the family gathering I attended.¡±


    ¡®Their names no longer matter¡± said Siophra. ¡°That three less of Argent¡¯s blood exist is what matters.¡±


    Siophra bent down and picked up both pieces of the egg shell. She turned and handed them to Cantrell. He took them. His eyes were asking questions.


    ¡°We need to make sure that this shell is destroyed. These people will stop at nothing. The shell could be dried and finely ground into a powder. It could be sprinkled on food or mixed into a beverage. It has extremely potent magical properties. We don¡¯t want it to fall into the wrong hands after all.¡±


    Siophra began walking towards the well. It was between the house and the barn. The elf and two dragons followed her. The bucket was sitting on the edge of the well. She pushed it in and the crank spun freely as the bucket dropped. Cantrell heard a splash.


    ¡°I am going into the house to change. Most of the blood on me is second hand and only on my clothes. Cantrell if you wouldn¡¯t mind pulling up a few buckets? Get everyone a drink of water and if you don¡¯t mind throw a few bucketfuls over Mo-rung and yourself. I think Lothinar actually left some clothes here in the house that will fit you. I¡¯ll bring something out for you to wear when you are done. Lothinar has no doubt grown out of them by now anyway. ¡°


    Siophra turned and went inside.


    ¡°Are you disappointed?¡± Asked Esmarilla. ¡°Because I kind of am.¡±


    ¡±What? Why?¡± Asked Cantrell. ¡°I¡¯m still not quite used to you hanging back in my thoughts and observing everything that I¡¯m doing Esmarilla. Why would I be Disappointed?¡±


    ¡°Because she is changing her clothes inside and you don¡¯t get to see her naked.¡± Said the dragon. Cantrell flushed in spite of himself.


    The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.


    ¡°You know that I love Mavis¡± said Cantrell. ¡°I¡¯m not a voyeur¡±


    ¡±It¡¯s not everyday you get an opportunity to see a dragon-elf hybrid. Lothinar is the only other one and he''s probably not as nice to look at. At least for you. There are going to be changes, both internal and external. I thought you might be more curious. For entirely scientific purposes of course.¡± Said Esmarilla. Then she laughed.


    Cantrell threw a bucket of water over Mo-Rung. Red rivulets of bloody water ran down the dragons sides and into the grass. Cantrell pushed the bucket in again.


    ¡°Hey, Warn a guy first¡± said Mo-Rung. And save the next one for rinsing and drinking. I need to wash the bad taste of elf out of my mouth.¡±


    Cantrell cranked the handle and pulled up another bucketful of water.


    ¡°Sorry Mo-Rung. Esmarilla is distracting me with strange unnecessary thoughts.¡±


    "I can only imagine" Mo-Rung chuckled.


    ¡±Set that bucket down. Right there is fine. This would be a lot easier if the creek was flowing better.¡± Said the red dragon.


    Siophra came out of the door. She had changed her clothes. She was also holding some more clothes. The two little blue dragons Cantrell had seen inside followed her out. They ran to Tundor who had been standing a short distance away, avoiding the flying water and the rinsed off blood. He nuzzled them both happily.


    ¡°Are the bad elves gone daddy?¡± He heard one of them ask in a squeaky little voice.


    ¡±For now¡± said Tundor. ¡°But we must remain constantly vigilant¡±


    ¡±I like that word¡± said one of them. Cantrell thought it was the male but wasn¡¯t entirely sure.


    Tundor gave the baby dragon a look. "It¡¯s a good word and it might make a good name for you. Although you would have to live up to its high expectations.¡± He said.


    ¡°I can be Vigilant¡± said the little blue dragon. He began looking about. ¡°There are some bloody dead elves over in the pasture.¡±


    Tundor stifled a laugh. ¡°Yes you are right about that. You are off to a good start it seems. Vigilant.¡±


    ¡±I want to be Constantly then.¡± Said the other little dragon. ¡°It means always or all the time.¡±


    ¡±How about Constance?¡± Said Cantrell. ¡°It means steadfast. You could also use another variant of the name which is Constanze, or shorten it to Connie. ¡®


    ¡°I like Constanze very much.¡± Said the little blue female. It reminds me a little of my mother¡¯s name, Candasar.¡±


    ¡±I like it too.¡± Said Tundor. ¡°So it shall be.¡± He looked at Siophra. She didn¡¯t meet his eye but thrust out her hand and handed Cantrell the clothes.


    ¡±Take off those bloody clothes and get washed up.¡± She said. ¡°I have things I want to discuss.¡±


    She turned and walked back into the hose.¡±


    ¡±That seemed a bit abrupt¡± said Cantrell to the two dragons. Mo-Rung nodded.


    Tundor looked at the two blue baby dragons that were now running around chasing each other in the pasture


    ¡±Her childhood was just stolen and she had to make emergency adjustments. She also had had to teleport her fragile premature dragon body and merge herself inside a five hundred year old elf because her egg was stolen and then dropped.¡±


    ¡°I tried to catch her! I¡¯m sorry.¡± Said Cantrell. He started stripping off his blood soaked clothes and pouring water over himself. ¡°I wonder if she has any soap inside?¡±


    A white bar of something flew out of the open doorway and hit Cantrell in the chest. It fell to the ground. He bent down and picked it up.


    ¡±Soap¡± he said sheepishly. He continued washing.


    ¡°There is obviously nothing wrong with her hearing¡± said Mo-Rung with a grin.


    ¡°Nobody is blaming you Cantrell. She was still at least several weeks away from her natural hatching time. I think she¡¯s doing fantastic given the circumstances. She probably even saved Siophra¡¯s life.¡±


    ¡±That she can teleport is very interesting.¡± Said Cantrell. ¡°How do you know about that?¡±


    ¡±Old Siophra told me about it a while ago.¡± Said Tundor. ¡°She wasn¡¯t sure, but apparently she was right.¡±


    ¡±This old Siophra, new Siophra thing is going to be a problem.¡± Said Cantrell. ¡°I think perhaps that is why your daughter got a little upset just now.¡±


    ¡±She saw her siblings choosing names¡± said Tundor. ¡°Of course. She should have her own new name as well.¡±


    ¡°Zinariya¡± said the melodic voice. The beautiful female elf walked boldly out the door of the house leaving Cantrell scrambling for his new clothes. ¡°That will be my name when I am able to return to my dragon body. You may call this elf Zinariya. It will reduce confusion. I will still answer to Siophra as well.¡±


    ¡±It is a fine name.¡± Said Tundor. ¡°I approve!"


    The beautiful elf smiled. Cantrell didn¡¯t think Siophra could have been more beautiful but somehow now she was.


    Cantrell hitched up his pants and pulled on the new shirt.


    ¡°Thanks for the soap. What did you want to talk about Zinariya?¡± He asked.


    ¡±Argents remaining children. How many of them still remain alive?¡± She asked Cantrell.


    ¡±You mean Argent''s actual bloodline? Hmm. Let me think a second. It¡¯s going to be quite a few.¡±


    ¡±Let¡¯s simplify and begin with only those that carry fifty percent of the taint.¡±


    ¡±Oh, that¡¯s easier. The sons are all now dead. Myron was the last and they actually killed him themselves. Mandel was surprisingly upset about that. I can disregard husbands as they don¡¯t actually carry the blood themselves. Although from what I¡¯ve seen most of them were pretty unscrupulous. Friends of Argent. Most likely, most of them married his daughters to gain favor or strengthen alliances.¡±


    ¡±How many actual daughters still remain alive?¡± Zinariya asked.


    ¡±Ten remain.¡± Said Cantrell. ¡°They have substantial personal resources and privately paid security and fighting forces. The city is pretty much cut off from overland access.¡±


    ¡±If we cut off the head of the snake the body will die¡± said Zinariya. ¡°Cantrell can I ask another favor from you?¡±


    ¡±Let¡¯s hear it.¡± Said Cantrell.


    "Siophra and I are going to the Capitol. That is I am going to the Capitol. I am going to finish this quickly. We can not allow attacks on the most vulnerable part of our population to continue. Eventually they will succeed in getting an egg. That will just prolong things."


    "You are starting to sound like Esmarilla," said Cantrell. "She wanted to finish them off when we had them all in one place."


    "You managed to get them all together?" said Zinariya. "I can''t believe you didn''t take care of this when you had the chance. Look at what''s happened!"


    "Mandel wanted to give peace a chance. You can probably blame that on his genetics." said Cantrell. "I didn''t give him strong enough advice to the contrary I''m afraid."


    "If you could see inside Siophra''s mind. See her memories. What she endured. You would not hesitate to kill them all. " said Zinariya. Her eyes flashed a brilliant gold.


    "I have seen these things." said Tundor. "Siophra would sometimes dream." He shuddered.


    "So you are going to what? Teleport Siophra''s body around and kill the remaining sisters as fast as possible? Don''t take this the wrong way, but that might not be as easy as you think Zinariya." said Cantrell. "They obviously still have some power. They hit both you... uh.. Siophra and Tundor with an electrical discharge. A lightning bolt. They must have at least some eggs left. I''m pretty good at elven magic myself and even I don''t have that kind of power."


    "You are bonded to a black dragon. A really big one. You actually do have that kind of power Cantrell."


    That statement stunned the elf.


    "Esmarilla is what she is saying true?" he asked.


    "Uh.. Yes. She''s right." said the black dragon.


    "What the hell!? When Ardwella was fighting Tempton she didn''t do anything like that!"


    "Two things my bond. First, you have to remember that I had just brought Candasar back from being a lake dragon. Just me and Lothinar by the way, and Lothinar was just a channel really. Well, Ardwella helped a little. That tapped me almost all the way out. It took me a while to build up my reserves again. You remember that don''t you?"


    "Oh right. I''m sorry. That was kind of a while ago. I''ve learned a lot about dragons since then I guess." said Cantrell.


    "You have." said Esmarilla. "You are doing great by the way. There is also another thing going on."


    Zinariya was tapping her foot and looking at him. Uh-oh.


    "Hang on a second Esmarilla." Goldie is getting impatient with me!"


    "You didn''t call her that did you?"


    "Hell no. She is actually scaring the crap out of me right now."


    "You are a wise elf Cantrell."


    "Did you feel it necessary to corroborate with your own dragon something that I told you? elf?" asked Zinariya.


    "Uh-no. Well, actually yes." he said.


    Zinariya scowled. Then she smiled and the sun came out. It was dazzling.


    "I like you Cantrell. I like you a lot. You should always check with your dragon. And you didn''t lie to me about it. We can work with that. But it''s a little rude to drop out of a conversation with someone right in front of you don''t you think? I mean I. understand but a lot of people wouldn''t." she said.


    Cantrell nodded. He looked down. "Sorry" he said.


    "Now you look guilty about something." said Zinariya.


    "It''s nothing." said Cantrell.


    "Did you say something to Esmarilla about me? Cause you know that I"m going to find out eventually." she said.


    "I called you something." said Cantrell. "It was just a nickname."


    "What is this nickname that you have bestowed upon me then." she asked. "Quite without my permission." One of her eyebrows was beginning to drop dangerously.


    "I called you Goldie."


    Tundor and Mo-Rung quickly stepped back away from the elf.


    Zinariya paused. Her eyes widened and then.. she laughed. A beautiful bell was ringing merrily.


    "I will accept this nick-name as you call it." said Zinariya. Tundor and Mo-Rung relaxed and stepped back.


    "But only from you Cantrell." Zinariya said and shot a warning look at the two large dragons.


    "Why not from me? I''m your father!" said Tundor piteously.


    "Goldie! Goldie!" sang the two little blue dragons running up and nuzzling her.


    "What have you done?" said Zinariya sadly shaking her head.


    "You needed a favor from me?" asked Cantrell.


    "Yes. Yes I do. Stay here. Watch over my little sister and brother. You and my father are going to try and get them flying as soon as possible. I don''t like you being up here all by yourselves. More trouble is certainly coming. As soon as you can, take them to Delora Natine and meet up with the young dragons there. You will be safer there and Enderline has his troops to help protect you."


    "What am I going to do?" asked Mo-Rung.


    "You are going to give me a ride to Delora Natine. Then you will stay there and relay messages between Enderline and Mandel via Mavis. I am going to ask Vanador to take me back to the Capitol. Then I need to convince Mandel to let me borrow his sword."


    "Wasn''t that your sword?" asked Cantrell.


    "Siophra''s yes. I''ll be giving it back fairly soon."


    "You sure have a lot of confidence for a baby dragon." said Cantrell.


    "I''m a five hundred year old baby dragon with a serious grudge." Zinariya said.


    Cantrell wasn''t entirely sure but he thought he could see a strange look pass over her face when she said that. It looked very much like the old Siophra.


    -----------------------------


    Snow had stopped the bleeding. The placenta had ruptured as well as the uterine wall. At least that''s what she said. Heirwynn could see that color was coming back into Ardwella''s cheeks. The black and white dragons had worked seamlessly together to stabilize and heal both the elf and her baby. Now the baby was crying loudly. That was a good sign right? She was going to have to find some books and learn more about this kind of thing. Heirwynn suspected that being bonded to a healing white dragon was probably going to take her into situations like this quite often.


    Muina was still nervously pacing back and forth. Albarad finally came back in. The two of them were talking in low whispers in the other room. Heirwynn began to suspect that Muina was having concerns taking her in to stay here. She decided to speak up.


    "It''s fine if you are uncomfortable with me staying here." she said loudly. "I''m a human after all. I''d probably eat you out of house and home."


    "Oh sweetie" said Muina. "That''s not what we were talking about at all." she said. "Albarad and I had some other issues that we were discussing. We would love to have you. Really! You can stay in Lothinar''s old room!"


    "Lothinar? Really." Heirwynn said. Everyone knew that name. "What if he wants to come home for a visit or something?"


    Albarad laughed.


    "Then he can sleep in the barn. One of his dragons is pretty big by now. Her name is Candasar. Firestorm is probably getting there too. Unless they are pretty little, like yours, Dragons really can''t stay in the house."


    Albarad just rattled off the names of people and dragons that Heirwynn had only heard in famous stories like they were regular people. She didn''t know what to think about that.


    "Ok I guess. Thank you. Is there anything I can do to help you with those other issues then? I''m a good worker. I actually have a little money if you need some." she said.


    "Where did you find this child? She''s absolutely precious!" said Muina.


    "Platinum was trying to make her marry the King." said Albarad.


    Muina paused, then smiled. "Well He''d be very lucky to get her then." she said.


    "That''s actually the point." said Albarad. "She didn''t want to marry the King. So I had to rescue her."


    "I''m a little concerned that you were able to be so easily distracted from what you set off to do." said Muina. "Not that I thought that was the only path forward at all."


    "Well, yes. I was just about to do that... other thing when all this happened. Ardwella and the Baby. It seems the crisis may now be in the past." said Albarad.


    Ardwella groaned a little and tried to sit up. Muina ran over to her.


    "Lay still sister. Let me get you some water. Your probably very dehydrated." she ran towards the kitchen.


    Albarad went over and looked down into his wife''s eyes. Ardwella looked at him, then she noticed the little black and white dragons that were staring at the both of them.


    "You didn''t?" asked Ardwella.


    "No I did not. Some very strange things happened." he said. "I never even saw Platinum."


    Ardwella looked relieved. Muina returned with some water. Ardwella sat up gingerly and drank some of it.


    "Bring me the baby" said Ardwella.


    Muina picked up the still squalling child and brought it to Ardwella. She opened her blouse and put the baby to her breast. The lack of loud crying that suddenly occurred was a tremendous relief as the baby began to suckle.


    Albarad looked over with a smile at his new daughter. He was more than surprised to see that even while securely latched to her mother''s breast the infant was tracking him with her eyes. Without any doubt she was glaring.


    -------------------------------------

 Volume 2 Chapter 9: Mung Bean Cravings

    Vanquish had realized fairly quickly after lifting her that the woman that she had grabbed in the garden couldn¡¯t be Ardwynn. She was considerably slimmer. And although Ardwynn¡¯s scent while under the influence of Lothinar¡¯s pheromones was not unpleasant, the person screaming in her claws smelled decidedly human. When she had urinated on herself it had removed all doubt. Vanquish quickly began looking for a safe place to set her down. A mile or two away from the villa and up the road she saw a couple of rather ornate horse drawn carriages moving slowly away from the ambassadors mansion. Flying over and past them she circled and gently set the now whimpering woman down upon the road. Vanquish landed softly beside her almost fully filling the paved surface. The carriages were still out of sight but they would be along shortly. The occupants would probably be willing take the young woman to wherever they were going.


    ¡±There you are lady. Down safe and sound. I¡¯m sorry for that. It was a case of mistaken identity.¡± She said as sweetly as she could manage.


    ¡±Compared to Firestorm you¡¯re huge!¡± The woman exclaimed hysterically. ¡°Why did you grab me? Wait a minute. This is... oh no! I¡¯ve wet myself. This is your fault! This dress is ruined! Do you know how much a dress like this costs?¡±


    Vanquish just looked at the woman. It seemed a honest mistake. Even out here with better light she did look a bit like Ardwynn. She could hear the clatter of a carriage and horse hoofs coming closer from down the road. Candasar was now facing Lothinar alone. She didn¡¯t have time for this.


    ¡±You know that I could have dropped you anywhere. I didn¡¯t have to take the time to bring you to a place where you most certainly will soon have a ride home.¡± Said the dragon. ¡°


    ¡°Those are probably the others girls from the party.¡± She said. ¡°You can¡¯t expect me to let them see me like this!¡±


    ¡±Why not? You look fine to me.¡± Said Vanquish.


    ¡±But I smell like pee and day old tuna!¡± She retorted


    Vanquish sniffed her claw. It did smell like fish.


    ¡°You will just have to take a bath.¡± She said.


    ¡±But the dress!¡± She wailed.


    ¡±When I said I could have dropped you, dropped, meant literally. You know, a fall from a great height kind of situation. Things could have gone much worse for you tonight.¡± Said Vanquish.


    ¡±Fine. But I¡¯m coming back to the Ambassadors villa tomorrow and I expect you to tell Lothinar how sweet and reasonable I have been. Mistaken identity my foot! I¡¯m Regent Courtney¡¯s daughter Michelle. While the king is away from Sivantra my father is in charge!¡± She said raising her voice.


    ¡°Got to go now.¡± Said Vanquish stepping away from the angry girl and running a bit to get some velocity before flapping her wings. When she did extend them she felt the tips brush against the trees that came up near the edge of the road. It was going to be a tight squeeze. She managed to get into the air. Wheeling around to head back the way she had come she saw the carriage approaching. Michelle was standing in the middle of the road in the moonlight with her hands on her hips. She was staring up at the dragon as the carriage pulled to a stop in front of her. Vanquish made a turn and the scene disappeared from her sight.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-


    Lothinar stepped out of the garden shed. He was holding a red sword.


    "Hi Candasar" he said. "I certainly didn''t think I''d be seeing you so soon. How are the eggs?"


    She grimaced.


    "Actually I''m not sure because I had to leave them with Tundor when you called for help." she said somewhat snippily.


    Lothinar''s smile evaporated. He looked back at the shed then took a few steps toward the blue dragon.


    "What are you doing with that sword Lothinar?¡± Candasar asked cautiously.


    ¡±Oh, I was just taking it from where Ardwynn had hidden it¡± he said. ¡°It was lucky that the gardener was looking for a particular hoe this morning and mentioned finding Crimson in a barrel. Did you know that they make a special hoe just for weeding mung beans?¡±


    ¡±That sounds perfectly reasonable to me.¡± Said Candasar, nodding. ¡±Mung beans are so delicious that they no doubt deserve their own special gardening tools.¡±


    Lothinar dropped the sword. It fell into the grass with a thump.


    ¡®Candasar shook her head.


    ¡±Hey did you just..?¡±


    ¡±That thing is incredibly dangerous.¡± Said Lothinar with a shudder.


    "Why did you do that? Now I crave Mung-Beans?" asked Candisar. "I don''t even eat beans!"


    Lothinar ran across the lawn and came to a stop just in front of Candasar.


    "I''m sorry." he said. He gently reached up and stroked her face before clinging to her neck and hugging her. She let him. In a few moments she realized that he was crying.


    ¡°Hey! None of that¡± she said. ¡°Big tough dragon-elfs like you are not supposed to cry.¡±


    ¡±It¡¯s just that I don¡¯t see any way out of this Candy. I still love her. I know that I shouldn¡¯t, but I do. She is also carrying my child!¡±


    Candasar was keeping her eyes on the garden shed door. She was also watching the sword lying in the grass. She was trying to decide if she could beat Ardwynn to the sword if she made a grab for it from her hidden place in the shed. With Lothinar now weeping on her shoulder she didn''t think that she now could cover the distance faster than the pregnant elf. She knew that she could not risk Ardwynn handling that sword again.


    ¡°Firestorm would you mind going over to where Lothinar dropped that sword and moving it a little farther away from the shed please.¡± Asked Candasar.


    Firestorm started towards the sword, then she stopped. ¡°It¡¯s lying flat and I¡¯m sure it¡¯s pretty sharp. This might be tricky. Are you sure? Why can¡¯t Lothinar do it? She asked.


    ¡±Yes please. It¡¯s very important.¡± Said Candasar. ¡°Lothinar is dealing with something else right now.¡±


    Firestorm grumbled a bit but walked over to where the sword lay. She grabbed the hilt with her mouth but also came up with a bunch of grass and dirt as well. She walked over to where Candasar stood and glared at her with her teeth clenched on the handle. It was wet with dragon drool. A little mud and a few tufts of lawn were stuck to her chin. She dropped the sword. It fell straight down and hit the ground vertically, blade first. It stopped upright stuck in the lawn quivering. Firestorm spit.


    ¡°Blech! Is that what you wanted because that was harder than it looked. Why didn¡¯t Lothinar just do it. He hands hands and everything! Is this a pecking order thing because you¡¯re back now? Because if it is that wasn¡¯t very nice. I even brought you a goat.¡±


    ¡±It is not a pecking order thing Firestorm.¡± Candasar said.


    Lothinar sighed. He let go of Candasar and wiped his eyes on his sleeve. He took a knee and reached out to embrace the young red dragon.


    "Firestorm, Candasar had you bring the sword over here because she was worried that Ardwynn would pick it up." he said.


    "Why would that be a problem?" the little red dragon asked.


    "Because although you might not remember it, Ardwynn used it on you."


    "I do remember a conversation with her. It happened a few nights ago. For some reason I fell asleep in the hallway. It was a good thing that Ardwynn woke me up."


    "Do you remember why you were sleeping in the hallway Firestorm?"


    "Not really. Its actually a terrible place to try and sleep. That''s actually been bugging me a little." she confessed.


    "Hold on," said Lothinar. "I think that there is probably an easier way to do this." He rested his hand on the pommel of the sword.


    Candasar felt herself involuntarily flinch.


    "I''d like you to try and remember why we came to Sivantra Firestorm. Can you do that?" asked Lothinar.


    "We brought Ardwynn." she said immediately.


    "Why did we bring her all the way out here?" Lothinar asked.


    "To have her baby?"


    "We could have probably done that back on the mainland." said Lothinar. "What lives on the mainland that there are very few of out here?"


    "Duh. Dragons. There are tons of little dragons running around over there right now. I''m not going to be the smallest anymore. I think that''s great!"


    "Why was it important to keep Ardwynn away from them?" he asked.


    "So that she couldn''t accidentally bond with one and break free of your pheromones..... Crap. I remember everything now. She manipulated me didn''t she." said Firestorm. "I mean she had the sword. How could I have missed that?"


    "Its not your fault. It''s mine." said Lothinar. "I got lazy and complacent. I left this sword laying around where she could get her hands on it."


    "But you had to hear what she said to me. Sword or not! It was heartbreaking! I think she really meant it too Lothinar!"


    "I''m sure she did. The Ardwynn that is love with me would never want to hurt me, or you or anyone. But that''s not the real Ardwynn."


    "Why can''t it be?" said a voice from the garden shed. Ardwynn was standing there. Tears were running down her face. "I want to be that Ardwynn."


    "It''s just not real." said Lothinar. His jaw was set in grim resolve. "Do you remember who you turned into when you broke free of my chemical prison? You almost killed Mavis. Actually you did. Then you took Tundor away to give him to your uncle Argent against his will."


    "I do remember doing those things." admitted Ardwynn. "But do you also remember when I fought my own father and was willing to help you kill him?" Do you remember when I acquiesced to the deaths of my mother and brother? That sounds like a pretty solid commitment to us Lothinar. I even tried to refuse to bond with Tundor. You actually made me do it!" she was sobbing. "Why did you make me do that? I was so happy being with you."


    "Life isn''t always simple." he said. "What if I''m killed. What is my pheromones somehow change or lose their effectiveness on you. Who will. you become?"


    "I don''t know!" she wailed.


    "You are Argent''s bloodline" said Candasar angrily. "That will never change."


    "Then kill me now" she yelled. "Me and my unborn child. He''s related to Argent too. You didn''t forget that did you? What are you waiting for? Why prolong this?"


    A dark shadow passed over the garden and in a flash of blue Ardwynn was gone.


    Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.


    Lothinar looked up into the empty night sky. He stood to his feet and pulled the red sword out of the dirt. Without a word he went back into the house.


    "Is Vanquish coming back?" Asked Firestorm.


    "I believe so." said Candasar. "Eventually."


    "Then I had better run out and catch another goat. You two must be really hungry."


    "I''ve actually lost my appetite." said Candasar.


    -------------------------


    Vanador watched Mo-Rung fly over the dairy and make his turn. He was lined up to land in the large open area. It had been a while since he had seen the red dragon. He had accompanied Mavis to the capitol. She must be back he thought. Suddenly he realized that it wasn''t Mavis on his back. That was unexpected. It looked like Siophra was riding him. The large white dragon trotted out to meet them. He was always glad to see Siophra. Mo-Rung landed. Vanador stopped. It was confusing. She looked like Siophra but she was definitely not. He eyed the newcomer warily.


    "What is going on here Mo-Rung? Who is this?" he asked with concern.


    "It''s a complicated story" said the newcomer. "I''d like to tell it once. Are Ardwella and Muina here?"


    "No. They had a bit of an emergency. They are at their home at the other end of the lake." said Vanador. "The Queen is here and so is Ronni."


    "Can you get them for me? I need to discuss a few things with them." said the elf that was no longer entirely just Siophra.


    "I have had a long relationship with Siophra. I consider her a dear friend. I must insist that you explain to me who you are and why you look so much like her.


    "I am Tundor and Candasar''s daughter Zinariya. My nest was attacked up on the mountain by one of Argent''s daughters. My egg was stolen and then broken." she said. "Mo-Rung here saved us.. He killed the perpetrators but Siophra unfortunately was badly injured."


    "I have, more than anyone experienced the numerous ways that Siophra has been wounded. I am the one that healed her most of those times. Said Vanador. Tundor has also healed her. What was different about the injury this time?" the white dragon asked.


    "She was hit by an electrical discharge. She took a lightning bolt directly in the forehead." said Mo-Rung. I saw it myself.


    "She also sustained other serious injuries in the subsequent fall." said Zinariya. "I began healing her almost instantaneously after joining with her."


    "How is her brain?" asked Vanador. "A direct electrical strike could do a huge amount of damage."


    "I was initially unsure, but your friend is incredibly resilient. A lot of that is due to how much healing has been done to this body over the years. All of it is excellent work."


    "Unfortunately, I had a lot of opportunity to practice." said Vanador. "Her brain injury, though concerns me. There are irreplaceable memories in there."


    "It is going to take time, but I''m continuously working on her. I now believe that with some time she will recover. She may have some gaps in her memory." said Zinariya. "Some of them she might even be grateful for."


    "She has suffered more than anyone that I know. I wasn''t able to do much about the memories or the nightmares." said Vanador.


    "I am in a unique position to do her some real good while I inhabit her body."


    Vanador looked her up and down.


    "How is that even possible? A baby dragon is fairly small but not that small. What did you do with the rest of your actual body?"


    "We are sharing the space. I''ve made myself very dense. Mo-Rung can tell you that I''m almost twice as heavy as Siophra was before."


    The Red dragon nodded. "She definitely is heavy."


    "I am surprised that you could do such a thing" said Vanador. "Apparently what I thought that I knew about Gold Dragon abilities has been underestimated. You are a gold obviously. The eyes give it away."


    "You are correct. Now that we have established that can you get the human King and Queen over here? I have some important things to discuss."


    "No." said Vanador.


    "What? Why not?" asked Zinariya.


    "She is a gold dragon. She is technically our superior." Said Mo-Rung.


    ¡±Someday her magic and power will be greater than mine, but she is still a child. Today I am in charge.¡± Said the big white dragon. ¡°I''m not letting you go anywhere until I get to talk to Siophra."


    Mo-Rung bristled. "You are disobeying her?"


    "This is an unprecedented situation and Siophra and I have a long history. I consider her one of my closest friends." said Vanador. "You have taken her body. That does not feel right to me. I insist on speaking with her!"


    Zinariya looked irritated, then her eyes softened.


    "Your loyalty to Siophra is admirable. I therefore will acquiesce. You may speak with her, but we can not do that here. I will need to be lying down. I do not think Siophra will have enough control of this body to remain standing. I also do not know if she will be fully capable of understanding or answering your questions."


    "Nonetheless I must insist." said Vanador.


    "Do you wish for me to lay down in the mud of this pasture then? That would be rather inconvenient."


    Just then a couple of Enderline''s soldiers ran up to them.


    "Is everything alight here Vanador?" one of them asked. He looked at Mo-Rung and Siophra. He looked again. "Your eyes changed. Wow."


    "Do I know you?" she asked.


    He looked surprised and a little disappointed.


    "My name is Ross. We have met before. I was with you when you and Tundor were fighting Byron and his soldiers in the woods. You were incredible!"


    "Thank you Ross. Do you have a bed around here close by?"


    The man blushed furiously.


    "You may be a gold dragon," said Vanador, "But you are still very young. You obviously have a great deal to learn about human customs and innuendo."


    "What do you mean?" asked Zinariya.


    You just asked Ross here a question that could quite easily be misunderstood."


    "What could possibly be misunderstood about that?"


    "Humans and Elves do other things in a bed besides sleep." said Mo-Rung. "Cantrell and my bond Mavis for example..."


    "Lets not get into that right now Mo-Rung." said Vanador. "Lets go to the central courtyard in the dragon temple. It''s large enough for all of us and we can probably find something for you to lay down on so that you don''t get your clothes dirty while you let me talk to Siophra."


    While they had been talking they had begun to attract a crowd. Soldiers and some ladies from the town were starting to surround them. They each seemed to have a little dragon accompanying them. They looked curiously at Ziariya.


    "It is strange to see these young dragons." she said. "Knowing that if I had hatched normally I would have looked like them."


    "Lets go to the temple." said Vanador. "Until I talk to Siophra I''m not sure that I''m going to allow you to keep wearing her body."


    "There''s not much you can do about it." said Ziariya.


    "You might be surprised." said Vanador. "You had better hope that conversation goes the way that you think that it will."


    "I''m sorry you feel that way Vanador. Tundor didn''t seem to mind me using Siophra''s body." said Ziariya.


    "You are his child." said Vanador. "And even then, I''m sure this would not have been his first choice for Siophra. "


    The golden eyed elf looked at the white dragon.


    "Obviously not. Do you think that I wanted this? I had nowhere safe to go and she was dying." said Ziariya. "It was the best option at the time."


    "That is one of the first questions that I am going to ask Siophra." said Vanador.


    The two large dragons, the smaller dragons and all the human bonds began walking out of the dairy and toward town.


    "Why are they all following us?" asked Ziariya.


    "They are curious about you." said Vanador. "You have to admit that it''s a strange situation."


    "I suppose." she said. "I just want to get this over with."


    The procession entered the city and then the temple. The crowds of humans continued to grow. Ross went into one of the side rooms and with the help of one of the other soldiers pulled out a bed. He wiggled his eyebrows at Siophra. She glared at him.


    ¡±Keep an eye on that one for me Mo-Rung¡± Ziariya said.


    ¡±I was just joking ¡° said Ross.


    ¡±Now is not a good time for flirting¡± said Vanador. Ross nodded and stepped back into the crowd.


    Vanador stood close to her and watched as Ziariya lay down on top of the bed. She closed her golden eyes. About a minute passed. When she opened them again, they were green. They looked up at him in confusion.


    "Hey Siophra." He asked. "How are you feeling?"


    She looked at him. She looked at all the people and small dragons surrounding her.


    "Vanador? Where am I? What''s going on?"


    "You were attacked by one of Argent''s daughters. She had some power. I am told that she hit you with lightning."


    ¡±Why are all these others here?¡±


    ¡±They are serving as witnesses. Most of them are just concerned about you.¡±


    ¡±That¡¯s nice, I guess.¡± Siophra said.


    ¡±Do you remember anything about what happened?¡± Asked Vanador.


    "I was feeding the little blue dragons. Tundor was attacked. I ran out of the house. I don''t remember anything after that."


    "The third egg, the golden one was stolen and then dropped. It was damaged." said Vanador.


    "That''s terrible." said Siophra. "Tundor will be very upset." She paused. "Why can''t I feel Tundor Vanador? Did he die?" she began to cry.


    Ross stepped forward quietly and passed her a handkerchief. She took it, wiped her eyes and smiled at him. He stepped back into the crowd.


    Mo-Rung gave Ross a strange look. Vanador rolled his eyes but continued.


    "No no.. nothing like that. " said Vanador. "Tundor is fine. He wanted to be. here with you. He''s watching the baby dragons right now. Cantrell is with him."


    "Who is that? Cantrell? Do I know him? asked Siophra.


    "Yes, you do, or rather, you should." said Vanador. "He''s the one who married Mavis."


    "I don''t know who that is either." she said. She was starting to look upset.


    "Listen Siophra." said Vanador. "Those names are not that important right now. I''m sure that in time your memories will start coming back. I only have one other thing that I want to talk to you about right now"


    "You know Vanador, I can''t read your mind anymore, but I can see it on your face." said Siophra. "Something is bothering you."


    "When the golden egg was dropped, it cracked." said Vanador. "The baby gold dragon inside wasn''t ready to come out and live on her own."


    "Did the baby gold dragon die?" asked Siophra.


    "No Siophra. Somehow she managed to use your body as a shelter. She''s inside you right now."


    "How can she do that?"


    "It''s some sort of gold dragon magic I suppose." said Vanador. "What I need to know, and this is really important, are you willing for this to continue?"


    "Will she die if she doesn''t get to use my body as an incubator?"


    "Lets assume not." said Vanador. "What do you think about sharing your body with a dragon for a few weeks?"


    "Will it harm me? I just kind of got my life back. I don''t want this to hurt me." said Siophra.


    "She claims that she is healing you and that you will be better for it." said Vanador. "The truth is, I really don''t know."


    "She is Tundor and Candasar''s daughter." said Siophra. "I will put my trust in her."


    "Very well, Siophra. I will let you get some rest. "I will talk to you soon." said Vanador.


    Siophra closed her eyes. When she opened them again they were shining gold.


    "Are you satisfied now?" asked Ziariya


    "For now." said the big white dragon. "But I''m going to be watching."


    "Exactly!" said Ziaiya. "I knew that you would insist on it. We need to leave for the Capitol immediately!"


    ---------------------


    "I don''t know much about baby elves, but I''m curious about something." said Heirwyn. She was watching Ardwella nurse the baby. Albarad had just walked out of the room. He had claimed that he needed to see a man about a horse.


    "What is it you want to know?" asked Ardwella.


    "Your baby girl looks so peaceful at the moment, but every time Albarad is close by she seems to be looking at him. It''s probably my imagination but she seems to be watching him closely."


    Ardwella looked at Heirwynn and grimaced.


    "It''s dragon trouble I''m afraid. You''ve met Platinum?"


    "Yes, and it wasn''t that great an experience" said Heirwynn.


    The baby shifted on Ardwella''s breast and gave the young human girl a decidedly unfriendly look.


    "Now that''s just creepy." said Heirwynn. "I''m sorry to have to say that, but it is!"


    "I have to admit that I''ve never seen anything quite like it." said Ardwella. "Yesterday I was over at the dairy and Platinum approached me. She asked me if I would mind if she bonded with my then unborn baby. When I said no, she did it anyway! I''m very upset about it."


    "It certainly triggered Albarad''s protect and rescue reflex" said Muina. "That''s why he went to the dairy."


    "When I met Platinum, she seemed very pushy." said Heirwynn.


    "My baby was not even due to be born for several more weeks yet. Platinum has been hastening her development and birth with magic." said Ardwella. "Its not safe and I have been damaged physically because of it."


    Snow nudged Night-Sky. He looked at her. They shared a long moment.


    Night sky finally spoke. "Snow and I both agree that in this case Platinum may have overstepped." he said. "There were many other suitable candidates to choose from for her to bond with, and bonding now was not even really a necessity."


    "But what can be done now?" asked Heirwynn.


    "We can have the bond disolved." said Muina. "It''s been done before. Vanquish can do it."


    "Vanquish is not here." said Night-Sky. "It may be some time before she returns. I suspect that perhaps that is why Platinum chose to do this now and now while she was not around."


    "Are you saying that Platinum is breaking dragon rules?" asked Albarad walking back into the room.


    "There is no real set of rules regarding bonding" said Night-Sky. "But bonding with the unborn is unprecedented. Also, in a situation like this, there is a lot to be said for what we may have to refer to as good manners. The infants parents are clearly opposed to this."


    "I am definitely opposed." said Albarad.


    "As am I." said Ardwella. "I told her as much."


    "I will speak to Vanador about this." said Night-Sky. "We will ask her to minimize her contact with the child through the bond until it can be broken. Unfortunately that will have to wait until we get have a mature blue dragon to completely undo the bond."


    "Can you make her do that?" asked Ardwella. "She is a platinum."


    "No, we actually can''t. But she is a still a juvenile and Vanador''s magic is pretty strong. I''m hoping that she will see reason in this."


    "Why would she do this at all? Why bond with an unborn child?" asked Heirwynn.


    "Don''t take this the wrong way Heirwynn." said Night-Sky, but for a dragon, bonding with an elf has many benefits over bonding with a human."


    "Ok. I suppose I can understand that." said Heirwynn. She looked sadly at Snow. Snow walked over and shook her head. Heirwynn was hit with an huge emotional surge of acceptance and affection.


    "It''s mostly the lack of telepathy." said Night-Sky. "Elves have it humans do not. Additionally even I can feel the magic radiating off this child. Ardwella has been pushing a lot of good things into her while she was in the womb. She will be an exceptional elf. It''s very clear to me. I''m sure that Platinum also could feel that."


    "So she''s selfish. She wanted to claim a healthy powerful elf!" shouted Albarad.


    "Well, she probably also thought that she was doing your daughter a favor. Bonding with a Platinum is usually considered a great honor." said Night-Sky.


    "Maybe you should reconsider this Albarad." said Muina. Dragons that carry the color of the precious metals are exceedingly rare. They are considered dragon royalty."


    "I don''t care!" said Albarad. She had no right to do this when my child could not even speak for herself. I''m sure she had no idea what was actually going to happen."


    There was a knock on the door.


    "Are we expecting anyone?" asked Heirwynn.


    "Excuse me for a moment." said Albarad. He left the room and his footsteps traveled to the front door. There was a creak and a sudden slam.


    Albarad dashed back into the room.


    "It''s Enderline and Pewter!" he said in an urgent whisper. ¡°Also Killingsworth is back!¡±


    "You slammed the door on the King?" asked Ardwella.


    "I had to!" said Albarad. "He was wearing a formal tuxedo!"


    Heirwynn turned as white as her dragon.


    "I thought that we had resolved this!" she said. "I''m not getting married!"


    "Yes you are." said Ardwella''s baby. "And Aunt Muina is soon going to be under arrest for murder."


    ------------------

 Volume 2: Chapter 10: Between a Rock and a Hard Place

    The huge blue dragon had plucked Ardwynn from the garden like a thorny rose. Carefully. There was no piercing, and no blood. Just a huge blue talon with a grip like a vise that ensured her no chance of wiggling free or falling. Even the lift into the air had been remarkably smooth. Ardwynn had been around dragons and Vanquish obviously knew what she was doing.


    She had been peeking out of a missing board in the gardener¡¯s shed and seen the previous airborne abduction so she had certainly expected this one. She had just hoped for a little more time before the big dragon came back. She wanted more time to explain.


    She was just so tired of being labeled the villain. She hadn¡¯t set out to use the red swords power for nefarious purposes. The sword had almost asked her to do it. What could be wrong with having a better relationship with Firestorm? Now though, the blue dragons had decided that she would never be good for Lothinar. She probably wasn¡¯t going to get another chance to prove her love for him this time.


    "You know," Ardwynn yelled into the wind, "I expected that you would have dropped me by now!"


    "Don''t tempt me." rumbled Vanquish. "You have no idea how tired I am. I just flew here from the mainland and really haven''t had any rest in several days."


    "Is this some twisted way of being cruel? Toying with me like a cat with a mouse? she yelled.


    "No. We need to have a talk." said Vanquish.


    The blue dragon looked around for the second time tonight for an open place to land. There wasn''t much. She had flown with her captive far from the paths and habitations of humans. Finally a distance up ahead she spotted some tall rocks. She could see some mountain goats on and around them. Finding a tall set of spires she slowed and spoke again to the elf dangling from her massive claws.


    "I am going to try and set you down gently on the top of that peak."


    Ardwynn did not reply but seemed to struggle once again against her claw.


    "I said gently!" said Vanquish.


    "I don''t believe you!" yelled Ardwynn. "You are going to smash me against those rocks aren''t you?"


    Vanquish didn''t answer but canceled her forward momentum by swooping up into a stall. She set the elf down quite softly on the rounded top of a rocky spire. Once she released Ardwynn, she threw herself forward, diving away into the canyon below. She pulled out of her plunge and swung back around, gaining altitude to observe the female elf. Ardwynn had managed to land on her feet and was glaring at her angrily as she flew past.


    "What now?" Yelled the elf.


    "Now you stay there looking beautiful in the moonlight while I get something to drink and eat a few of these sheep. Then we will talk." said the dragon.


    "It''s not like I can climb down from here anyway?" yelled Ardwynn.


    "If you do I will consider that the end of our discussion and take the appropriate actions when I find you." said the blue dragon.


    "What have I really got to lose by trying to escape?" yelled Ardwynn.


    "Maybe a lot. Just stay there!" said Vanquish. "I''ll be back soon."


    The blue dragon flew to the bottom of the canyon and landed. She drank from the stream that she found there. She washed the tuna smell from her claws. Then she went looking for a couple of plump goats. They were pretty easy to find. There was a cranky old male goat with long pointy horns that objected vigorously to her taking a meal from his females. Him she roasted before eating, although the smell of burned hair left something to be desired.


    When Vanquish left the canyon after washing once again she found Ardwynn still up on the tall rock. She had exchanged standing for a sitting position but she had not tried to run away. She was however unwilling to look up at the blue dragons return.


    "You passed the first test." said Vanquish, settling herself on a rocky spur about twenty yards away from her. She eyed the elf. She had not moved even after the dragon had landed.


    "Kill me or take me back to Lothinar." said Ardwynn. "I don''t want to talk to you!"


    Vanquish drew in a large breath. She held it for a few seconds. She saw the elf wince. She let out the breath very slowly and very carefully. She waited a few more seconds before she spoke.


    "You are a mystery to me Ardwynn." she finally said.


    The pregnant elf finally looked up and met her eyes. She looked defiant.


    "My father was Argent''s brother. I tried to kill Mavis when I found out that she wasn''t Argent''s real daughter. I betrayed my own bond Tundor to the worst possible fate a dragon could experience. I used the red sword to get my way with Firestorm. You have decided that I am the enemy. What more do you need to know?"


    "It is interesting that you agree that you are the enemy." said Vanquish. "Argent is dead but several of his daughters are still fighting us. They are resisting the peace with the dragons that Mandel has tried to put in place as the new emperor."


    "You must know that I am not your enemy right now. Being with Lothinar is all I really care about.¡±


    ¡±That has changed before! With disastrous consequences.¡±


    Ardwynn frowned.


    ¡°Have you heard the saying¡¯Keep your friends close and your enemies closer?¡¯ She asked.


    ¡±That did not work out very well for Firestorm this time.¡± Said Vanquish ¡°Or we would not have had to come back here,¡±


    ¡±She didn¡¯t let me get close enough!¡± Ardwynn snapped. ¡°She wouldn¡¯t let me actually be with him.¡±


    ¡°You hurt Lothinar very badly. Trust once broken takes a great deal of time to regain.¡±


    ¡°So I got impatient and took a shortcut!¡± Said Ardwynn.


    ¡°Your willingness to do anything to get what you want and your impatience are very Argent like traits. That has always been your problem Ardwynn. Even when you are under Lothinar¡¯s influence. Argent¡¯s actual daughters are just like you.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps you should have them all fall in love with Lothinar!¡± She said angrily. ¡°No, please forget I said that.¡±


    The big blue dragon raised an eyebrow.


    ¡°That¡¯s an interesting idea. I will have to think about it.¡± There was a long pause. ¡°No, the boy would never survive. They would probably kill him on sight. He is too well known now. How do you feel about that?


    ¡°Are you trying scare me by threatening to place Lothinar in danger and then expecting me to figure out what my cousins will try to do? If so, I''m going to be of no use to you." said Ardwynn. "I don''t know anything about my cousins that could possibly help you!"


    "I thought that you might be able to anticipate their plans. Guess how they might think." said Vanquish.


    "I''m not complaining but when I am feeling this way about Lothinar I don''t think I''m quite the same person." said Ardwynn. "I can''t possibly guess what they are thinking. It isn¡¯t in me.¡±


    "Try." said the blue dragon. ¡°It¡¯s in there. It¡¯s just hiding.¡±


    ¡¯¡®No! I just can¡¯t think that way anymore. Even if I could, why should I help you now? You clearly intend to kill me anyway!"


    ¡±There is one thing that might allow you to live a normal life and possibly even get Lothinar back.¡± Said the dragon. ¡°But unless you are willing to align yourself with my goals it would be far easier to make you permanently disappear.¡±


    ¡°Do you think that I could really be with Lothinar? Because I¡¯d do anything for that.¡± Said Ardwynn.


    ¡±The only problem is that if what I¡¯m contemplating works, You may not want him¡± said Vanquish.


    ¡±Well that might make things awkward and rather sad¡± said the pregnant elf.


    ¡±You would be alive,¡±


    ¡±You know the truth is that if I have a chance to live without Lothinar, I think I¡¯d rather be dead.¡± Said Ardwynn


    ¡±I was kind of hoping you would say that.¡± Said Vanquish. She took a slow deep breath.


    ¡®Ardwynn reflexively ducked but exposed up there, on top of the pinnacle of rock there was no place to avoid a dragons flames. She thought of her father¡¯s last moments. She had watched him as he had been burned alive in Candasar¡¯s fire.


    But instead of fire she felt a powerful pulse. She had felt such a thing before but never at this intensity. Tundor had been a young dragon. His bond offer had been shy and tender. This was a demand. A forcing. Almost without realizing what she was doing she left herself open to it. It was like climbing up a mountain with your eyes on the trail before you and then turning around at the summit to behold a vast and glorious vista. It took her by surprise. It was awesome and terrifying and beautiful all at the same time. The dragons offered bond did not wait but claimed her, wrapping her up in a metaphysical fist of blue power. She slumped to her knees and then rolled softly and slowly onto her side. She lay there on the rocky surface staring out at the cloudless night sky. She saw stars.


    ¡°Nicely done. Thank you for being gentle with the baby.¡± Said Vanquish. ¡°We can¡¯t have anything happen to Lothinar¡¯s child can we?¡±


    ¡±It¡¯s my child too!¡± Ardwynn managed to croak out, mouth open like a fish and drooling on the rock.


    ¡°Not when I¡¯m done with him.¡± Said the blue dragon. ¡°It¡¯s a boy by the way.¡±


    ¡±What are you doing? I can feel him moving around so much inside me. I don¡¯t like this!¡±


    ¡±Don¡¯t worry. He is healthy. What I am doing will only make him more so. I am also removing the things in him that we have previously referred to as Argent¡¯s taint. There is actually much less of it than I feared.¡±


    ¡±I am not Argent¡¯s daughter, I was only his niece, remember.¡± Said Ardwynn. She managed to sit up. Then she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. She paused and seemed to be deep in thought.


    ¡±Is that something that you could do for me as well?¡± She asked


    ¡°Bonded and joined to you like this I can do anything that I please.¡± Said Vanquish. ¡°But there is a lot more of you that is filled with Argent¡¯s blight than your son. He is a lot like Lothinar. Those good traits are strong in him.¡±


    ¡±Is that why you asked me if I would rather die than live without Lothinar?¡± Ardwynn asked. ¡°Because to be free of the taint, parts of me have to die?¡±


    The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.


    ¡±I can excise the bad and heal this body. Replace the disease with something better. Healthy Argent free tissue. But the parts of you that would die are important parts. At least to you. Many of them actually define what you do and who you are. You would be someone almost entirely new.


    ¡±Is that what you are doing to my son right now?¡±


    ¡±Yes, but as I said the changes to him are much much smaller. It is also much easier to do since he is still developing. And since he has not been born yet nobody will ever even notice. You however will be much more difficult.¡±


    ¡±Would I turn into a person like the Ardwynn that loved Lothinar?¡± She asked.


    ¡±Somewhat. Probably a bit more independent. Definitely a lot less desperate. It¡¯s really hard to say how you would eventually turn out. It would be truly new person. It will be your body but remember, it¡¯s not quite going to be you.¡±


    ¡±Will I be resentful? Angry? Will I want revenge?¡±


    ¡±No. Not unless I screw the process up very badly, and I wouldn''t. But remember, I can¡¯t promise that you will still love Lothinar and I¡¯m not at all sure how he will feel about you.¡±


    ¡±The pheromones won¡¯t work?¡±


    ¡±Of course not. Not as long as you are bonded to me anyway. You won¡¯t even care about that actually. If you and Lothinar want to raise this child together that might be a start. A good start. You might come to love him. We know that he loves you. He risked a lot to try and redeem you. Remember though that Lothinar is on his own journey. He is becoming more dragon like. That might not appeal to you. There is also the unresolved issue of Ronniflass in his life¡­. and perhaps someone named Michelle, now that I think about it.¡±


    ¡±Is she one of the women from the party?¡± Asked Ardwynn.


    ¡±Yes and I¡¯m afraid she actually has some political connections. Well, the work on your son is done. Are you ready? Asked the dragon


    Ardwynn nodded.


    ¡°Am I going to remember any of this?¡± She asked cautiously.


    ¡±Of course not dear. That would be far too cruel.¡±


    ¡±That¡¯s what you have all been saying about Argent. That he was cruel. Yet here we are.¡± Said Ardwynn.


    ¡±I saw Tundor¡¯s memories of you. I saw how bad your unbridled taint can be. I¡¯m just doing Lothinar a favor ¡° said Vanquish.


    Then Ardwynn began to scream. It only lasted a couple of seconds before it suddenly stopped.


    ¡±Hush now, said Vanquish. The worst part is over. ¡°I don¡¯t want you scaring off the goats. All this magic I¡¯m using has made me hungry again. I¡¯m going to want at least a couple more. Now hold still. I have a lot of work to do before morning.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-


    Pricilla was crying. Ronniflass patted her on the back and softly smoothed her hair. She stepped back from their hug and looked her sister in the eyes.


    ¡°You need to try and come to terms with this¡± she said.


    ¡±I need to accept that my husband has left me to go marry that human girl?¡± Priscilla asked angrily.


    ¡±I don¡¯t think he¡¯s left left you. It¡¯s not at all how McDonald left me."


    ¡±Well technically you left Macdonald first¡­.for Lothinar¡± said Pricilla.


    ¡°He really left me no choice¡± said Ronni. Then she laughed in spite of her sister¡¯s glare.


    ¡°This is not funny! Said Pricilla. I think something that platinum dragon is doing is affecting Enderline¡¯s mind.


    ¡°A second wife for many kings is not unprecedented.¡±


    ¡±We¡¯ve been married quite a few years and Enderline has never even acted like he wanted another woman in the slightest!¡± Said Pricilla.


    ¡±I have to agree. He was devastated when you died¡± said Ronni. ¡°He was broken-hearted. It was so tragic.¡±


    ¡±It¡¯s probably for the best that I don¡¯t remember any of that of course, being quite dead at the time you know.¡±


    ¡±Do you realize how strange our conversations have become?¡± Asked Ronni. ¡°Could you even imagine us being in these situations when we were little girls growing up back in Sivantra?¡±


    ¡±Father did warn us not to marry humans.¡± Said Pricilla. ¡°I thought that was a the lifespan thing. That we would substantially outlive our mates. When the young King showed me so much interest there was no real way to say no.¡±


    ¡®And I came back to the mainland, looking for an elf to marry. Any male elves that saw me though probably considered me an oddity rather than girlfriend material. McDonald was interested. I finally gave in to his charms. We actually had a few really good years.


    ¡±Do you think father knew about the infertility thing?¡±


    ¡±He never actually said anything but I¡¯m beginning to suspect so.¡± Said Ronni. ¡°Do you think Enderline is doing this because he wants an heir or because Platinum is pushing him?


    ¡±Like I said, I¡¯m sure that Platinum getting involved is why this has come up now. But it¡¯s not like I can do too much to stop it. None of the other dragons will stop her. She is a Platinum!


    Ivy ran into the room. She looked very excited. Cinnebar was right on her heels.


    "You need to come outside right away" he said to Ronni.


    "Slow down! What''s going on?" asked Pricilla.


    "There is a golden dragon outside. Well, sort of. " said Ivy.


    "You won''t actually see a dragon when you look" said Cinnabar. "But she''s definitely in there!"


    "What are you two crazy little dragons talking about?" asked Pricilla


    ¡°The blue dragon Candasar laid a gold egg! It¡¯s unprecedented!¡± Said Cinnabar excitedly.


    ¡±You just learned that word from me, didn¡¯t you Cinnabar?¡± Asked Ronni with a smile.


    The little red dragon squirmed.


    ¡°Yes, you used it just a little while ago. I was listening in through the bond.¡± Said Cinnabar. ¡°It¡¯s a really good word and I wanted to try it myself. Did I use it correctly?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure. How unusual is it for a blue dragon to lay a golden egg? If it¡¯s never happened before then using that word would be correct.¡± Said Ronni.


    The little dragons face fell.


    ¡°Well, actually most golden eggs are laid by blue dragons. But it¡¯s super rare though!¡± Said Cinnabar.


    ¡±Where is this Gold dragon now?¡± Asked Pricilla.


    ¡±She is talking to Vanador while wearing an Elf¡¯s body like a warm coat!¡± Said Ivy.


    A horrified look passed between the half elf sisters.


    "Which elf''s body are we talking about?" asked Ronni.


    "The elf that used to be called Siophra." said Ivy. "But the dragon''s name is Zinariya"


    The two sisters scrambled for the exit and headed outside. Sure enough they could see Vanador talking to a female elf. She looked like Siophra. They quickly made their way through the throng of small many-colored dragons surrounding Vanador and the elf. The elf turned to look at them. It was not Siophra. Her eyes were changed and she was somehow even more beautiful. She turned her golden orbs upon them. Then she curtsied.


    "I''m glad to finally meet you." she said. "I am Zinariya."


    "Did you actually curtsy to me?" asked the Queen.


    "Is that not the proper way to show respect to royalty?" asked Zinariya.


    "Not really, Well not for about five hundred years." said the Queen. "Some bow or even shake hands."


    Zinariya began to put out her hand but Vanador interrupted.


    "Zinariya is borrowing from the memories of someone quite old. Her Court manners may be a little out of date." he said.


    "Ivy said that you are a Gold Dragon." said Ronniflass. "But you look like an elf. In fact you look like Siophra. How is this possible?"


    Zinariya flashed Vanador a strange look. She turned to him.


    "I told you that I needed to speak to everyone at once!" she said. "Now I''m going to have to explain everything all over again. I wanted to get going soon."


    "Ivy said that you are wearing Siophra like a coat!" stammered Pricilla.


    "An interesting interpretation. Not exactly true but close enough I suppose." said Zinariya.


    "I didn''t know that something like that was possible!" said Ronni in amazement. "Has it ever happened before?"


    "It is unprecedented!" yelled Cinnabar. He looked smugly at Ivy.


    ¡°I suppose my main concern is whether Siophra is alright and has agreed to something like this¡± said Ronniflass.


    ¡±That was my concern as well, however I have verified this and will vouch for Zinariya¡¯s behavior. At least for now.¡± Said Vanador.


    ¡°I still have many questions!¡± Said Pricilla.


    "Yes, but nonetheless we need to depart." said Vanador. We have some serious work to do at the Capitol. I will leave Mo-Rung here with you to explain and fill in all the details for you."


    Zinariya nodded. ¡°Yes we must go.¡±


    "Wait!" shouted Pricilla. "You are a Gold! You might be able to stop her!"


    "Stop who?" asked Vanador.


    "The dragon named Platinum is running amok." said Ronni. "She tried to force a young girl to marry Enderline and worse yet, she forcibly bonded Ardwella''s unborn baby in the womb!"


    "She did what?" asked Zinariya. "I''ve never heard of that happening."


    "Unprecedented!" whispered Cinnabar.


    "Where is Platinum now?" asked Vanador. He looked askance at the little red dragon.


    "They are on their way to Ardwella''s house to forcibly take the child from her mother and drag the human girl Heirwynn back to be married." said Ivy.


    "She''s behaving badly, right?" asked Ronni. "Even for a Platinum dragon this kind of behavior doesn''t sound normal."


    "Yes," sighed Vanador. "She is behaving terribly. Remember though, she still is a child. Unfortunately a petulant little child. Normally there are parents to see to such things. Arrogance runs high in young metallic dragons. They think that they can do anything they want to.¡± He gave Zinariya a pointed look.


    "Even though I am young, I am tempered by the wisdom of a very old elf!" she said defensively.


    "And we are very glad for that!" said Pricilla, opportunistically interrupting . "Will you please help us?"


    "Take me to Ardwella''s house Vanador! Mo-Rung, you had better come along too." said Zinariya.


    Vanador lowered a shoulder and Zinariya climbed up. She settled in behind his neck. Ronni and the Queen quickly stepped back. No one wanted to get bowled over by a dragon taking flight. The white dragon just stood there as if waiting for something.


    "What are you waiting for?" asked Zinariya.


    "It''s just that Siophra used to constantly complain about not wearing the correct clothes for riding dragons or something. She said my neck is scratchy."


    "You feel quite comfortable to me." said Zinariya. "But I''m not just Siophra. I''m harder than I look."


    "You probably will need to be. You are taking on some big challenges for not even being hatched yet." said the big white dragon."


    He and Mo-Rung jumped into the air.


    ¡±Ugh! You are heavy.¡± Said Vanador.


    ¡±Why don¡¯t you ever believe me?¡± Asked Mo-Rung.


    ------------------------


    "And now Mo-Rung has shown me that Vanador and this new Gold dragon wearing Siophra''s body are going to be further delayed" said Mavis. They have to deal with a naughty Platinum dragon.¡±


    She was speaking to her brother in the war room. Actually it was the castle cafeteria. Soldiers loyal to Mandel were walking past the two of them with trays of food and finding their own tables. They seemed very willing to give the royal siblings their space. They also seemed to have plenty of mung-beans to go around. Mavis was eating a plate of them herself.


    ¡±Everything you have told me sounds very concerning.¡± Said Mandel. ¡°It makes the occasional suicidal attacks on our walls seem pretty boring.¡±


    ¡°Elves are dying Mandel!¡± Said Mavis passionately. ¡°They don¡¯t really even understand why they are attacking us. They just believe the lies that Argent¡¯s remaining daughters have told them. Esmarilla has had to burn dozens of them off the walls. It¡¯s affecting Cantrell. He¡¯s very upset, even not seeing it personally.¡±


    ¡±It upsets me too Mavis. That¡¯s why I haven¡¯t ordered retaliatory strikes on their homes and properties. We could scorch the earth for miles around with dragon fire. I want the common people to realize that the dragons only seek to survive and defend themselves. If we burn out Argent¡¯s daughters we will hurt innocent people.


    ¡±That would certainly propagate the myths and lies Argent spread about the dragons¡± agreed Mavis.


    ¡±At least they have stopped for now. ¡°They are probably looking for less flammable rope.¡± He said. ¡°How is Esmarilla holding up?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s good or bad. Esmarilla doesn¡¯t really seem to mind burning elves. Something changed substantially when she was down and wounded in that field. Elves tortured her you know. She might even be enjoying it.¡±


    ¡±She¡¯s our only dragon at the moment. I was hoping Vanador would be along soon to help her.¡± Said Mandel. ¡°You know, the walls can endure a siege even without her. I¡¯ll double the number of archers on the walls. Why don¡¯t you have her take a much needed break.¡±


    ¡±I¡¯m more worried about keeping her fed.¡± Said Mavis. ¡°Argent had a small herd of cattle, as apparently he enjoyed steak, but they are all but gone. There are more cows, also goats and sheep out in the suburbs surrounding the city, but they are in enemy territory at the moment. Esmarilla tried to snag a sheep yesterday but just missed taking an arrow.¡±


    ¡±They were probably expecting that¡± conceded Mandel. "They know she has to eat."


    "Well, I''m not risking her again." said Mavis. "For now she is going to fly straight up and out of bow range before she ever leaves the city itself. Then she will hunt far out in the country. It''s going to take more time but it''s safer."


    Mandel excused himself and went to the counter. He got another serving of Mung Beans.


    "These are great!" he said, returning to the table. "And we literally have tons of them. It''s kind of funny but nobody related to Argent would touch the things. I never even had them until recently myself. I didn''t know what I was missing.


    "It''s too bad we can''t get Esmarilla to eat them." said Mavis.


    "Ha. Can you imagine a dragon being willing to eat Mung Beans? That would be a sight!"


    ----------------------


    Lothinar woke and rose from his bed. He had spent the night dreaming about Ardwynn but she wasn''t there. He sighed and went to look out the window. It was a beautiful morning. The skies were clear and the sun was shining. He eyed the red sword sitting on a chair. He reached over to touch the pommel.


    "This is not my fault you know." said the sword.


    "I''m not blaming you." said Lothinar.


    "I can read your thoughts you know. You do blame me."


    "Crimson, the whole situation was just impossible. I thought I could make it work even though almost everyone that I know and respect was against it. Now I''ve wasted so much time!"


    "You know," said Crimson. "I was bonded to your Grandfather Lothinex. He wasn''t nearly as concerned with trying to be kind and nice as you are. He got more done that way."


    "I was trying to save my son, and if possible find a way to let Ardwynn have another chance. I think I was hoping motherhood might change her. Now I will never know."


    Lothinar heard some noise from outside. It sounded loud and angry. He set down the sword and ran to the window.


    "Get out of my vegetable garden you ponderous beast!" Someone. yelled. It sounded like the gardener.


    Lothinar looked out the window and saw a strange sight. The gardener, wearing overalls and a yellow straw hat, was yelling at Candasar. She had mud and dirt plastered all over her face. She was chewing something. Firestorm was looking on in horror. The little dragon walked away shaking her head. Lothinar could hear her mumbling something about a perfectly good goat.


    "What''s Candasar done?" yelled Lothinar out the window.


    "That blue beastie has been into my mung beans!" the gardener yelled back.


    "Oh no! I totally forgot" said Lothinar. He grabbed the sword and ran downstairs.


    "What''s the rush? asked Crimson.


    "There is something that I need you to fix!" said Lothinar. "My dragon is eating Mung-Beans!"


    "Again, not my fault." said the sword.


    --------------------------------

 Volume 2: chapter 11: Walking on Eggshells

    ¡°Daddy, what do you think about Lothinar?¡± Michelle asked. She was watching her father across the morning breakfast table.


    ¡±Who?¡± He asked. He was reading through some reports and hadn¡¯t been paying attention to his daughter as usual. He took another bite of toast and finally looked up. He smiled apologetically. ¡°I¡¯m sorry honey, distracted as usual. I think Enderline actually left for the mainland because he needed a vacation!¡±


    She threw on her second most devastating pout.


    ¡±Lothinar! That handsome elf that is staying in the Ambassador¡¯s mansion! I finally met him at a party last night.¡±


    ¡±Oh that Lothinar." he said with a smile. I¡¯m surprised to hear that he is out and about. He has been quite reclusive up until now. Was his red dragon there? She would be interesting to try and talk with.¡±


    ¡±No, Firestorm wasn¡¯t there but I did speak with her briefly after the party ended.¡±


    ¡±Who would believe my own daughter had a conversation with a dragon." he said. "So she was there. I saw her the one time that I met with Lothinar. He was delivering a missive from King Enderline. I suppose she¡¯s getting pretty large by now. She probably had to stay outside.¡±


    ¡±She¡¯s not too big to fit inside a house yet if the front door is wide enough. But I didn''t ask you about dragons, I asked you about Lothinar."


    "Why the sudden interest?"


    ¡±¡®I¡¯ve decided that I want to marry him.¡±


    Her father dropped his fork.


    ¡°You can¡¯t be serious! Why would you say something like that?¡±


    "He''s a very good dancer!"


    ¡±Even if he is that isn¡¯t reason enough to say such a thing. Wait a minute? You only danced with him, right? Not other¡­um..¡­things? This was a chaperoned party I assume.¡±


    Michelle just looked at him. She displayed an impish smile.


    ¡°Gods! Your poor deceased mother is probably rolling over in her grave! Wait! He¡¯s married! At least I think he is. There is a very pregnant elf living with him.¡±


    ¡°I did get to meet a really big dragon as well.¡±


    ¡±Don¡¯t tell me the details!¡± He said. ¡°After breakfast we will both go speak with Lothinar! Now eat your breakfast!¡±


    ¡±Mission accomplished.¡± She thought to herself.


    ¡±Her father flipped a couple of pages over in the documents that he was reading. He began to frown.


    ¡±Michelle, it says here that some girls that were also at the party that you attended had to pick you up out on a deserted road. You were out there all alone in the middle of nowhere. There is also a reported strong odor associated with your joining them in the carriage.¡±


    ¡±Those reports seem to be pretty thorough¡± she said. ¡°Did it mention my torn dress?


    ----------------------------------


    Vigilant and Constance were practicing their flying. They were progressing, but so far Tundor had refused to allow them to leave the large pasture. They would run as fast as their short legs would allow, throw wide their wings and glide. Cantell''s opinion was that Vigilant was slightly better at it. He had "accidentally" cleared the fence a number of times only to come trotting back around with a big smile on his face. Constance seemed a little better at following Tundor''s rules.


    Either way, their vigorous activities kept Cantrell pretty close to the well. He had spent most of the morning turning the crank and pulling up water for the two active little dragons. When he had not been fetching water he had taken the time to inspect and then bury the bodies of the three elves that Mo-Rung had killed. It had put him in a macabre state of mind. The gruesome task added a tactile supplement to the visual images Esmarella occasionally sent him of burning elves falling from climbing ropes as she defended the walls back in the capitol. All of this death was taking a toll on his frame of mind. The walls of The Unassailable Palace, as he had spontaneously named it, were not it seemed, as unassailable as he had thought.


    He was currently going through and sorting the elves belongings. The contents of the dead elves pockets and pouches had been fairly routine except for one strange thing. It was a ring. At first Cantrell had thought it might be a wedding ring as it had been worn by the female. What he could recognize from what was left her convinced him that she had been Argent''s daughter Thelma. It bothered him to look at her dead face. She had been quite a bit older but she had reminded him of Ardwynn. Ardwynn had been a good employee and, he had thought, a friend. Her abrupt betrayal had not just hurt Lothinar. Cantrell had largely kept his opinion to himself on the matter because it was even a more difficult subject for Mavis, Tundor and Mo-Rung.


    Cantrell and thrown the assortment of kugels and knives the elves had been carrying into the water trough to wash off the blood. He had just started to shake them under the water when he heard a call.


    "Hello the house!"


    Cantrell looked up to see an elf. He felt his jumpy nerves see-saw as he realized that he recognized him. He was waving at him from across the pasture fence. It was Cenderick. Cantrell waved back. Cenderick hopped over the fence and walked over to him. Cantrell noticed that he had his bow slung behind his back along with small quiver of arrows.


    "Hi boss!" said Cenderick.


    "What are you doing up here? Did you actually walk?"


    "You must be getting out of shape with all that dragon riding you¡¯re doing." said Cenderick. "Of course I walked. You had us out on patrol as far as this a few times. I didn¡¯t know you were here. I was checking up on Siophra. She¡¯s been up here all by herself with just a couple of nesting dragons for months. Then I heard about Candasar and Vanquish having to quickly leave to help Lothinar. Anyway I decided to look in on her.¡±


    Cantrell gave him a strange look.


    "So you didn''t hear about the attack?" he asked.


    "No! What happened? Is everyone alright?" Cenderick asked with alarm.


    "Our people, yes, but that''s a difficult question to actually answer." said Cantrell. "I just got finished putting one of Argent''s daughters and two other elves in the ground over there." He pointed to a spot just inside the woods. "I was just arriving here and still on the air riding Mo-Rung when we saw the attack. He fell from the sky and ripped the two males in half with his claws. He also simultaneously literally bit the head off Argent''s daughter."


    "Damn", said Cenderick. "Don''t piss off Mo-Rung. Where were you when this was happening?"


    "Tumbling over his head and landing flat on my back." said Cantrell. "It was a sudden stop. I was trying to catch the stolen dragon egg that they were dropping. Unfortunately I missed."


    "One of these little critters?" asked Cenderick. They look like they left their eggs behind some time ago.


    "No, They hatched a while ago. Argent''s daughter was after the golden dragon egg that Candasar laid. They take quite a bit longer to hatch for some reason."


    "Probably a lot more magic. That Platinum dragon down at the dragon nursery is apparently a lot more magical than the usual colored varieties." said Cenderick.


    "This is the part that you are going to care about." said Cantrell. "Siophra got hit by an electrical blast, you know the kind of lightning that asshole Tempton was throwing. It hit her in the forehead. She was running. She went tumbling. Cenderick, I really thought she was dead! "


    "But you said our people were fine." the elf said. His face was an unreadable mask.


    The baby gold dragon''s shell got broken just before that and the embryonic dragon somehow joined herself to Siophra." said Cantrell. "The dragon is inside Siophra and using her body to finish developing while providing healing for Siophra''s injuries."


    "That can¡¯t be good! Poor Siiophra. Does she look really weird? Like half dragon or something?"


    "No, surprisingly not. She looks normal. Her eyes turned gold though. It''s kind of freaky actually. If anything she looks better than ever. Uh... Not that I would normally notice."


    "Where is she?" asked Cenderick. "I want to see her and make sure she''s ok."


    "She and Mo-Rung left for the dairy. They must have passed right over you on your way up here. I know you care about her. Weren¡¯t you two seeing each other for a while?¡±


    ¡±We spent some time together. I was definitely interested but she suddenly decided that she needed some more time. I know she has been though a lot.¡±


    Cenderick suddenly got a suspicious look on his face.


    ¡°I¡¯m surprised to see you here. You two were not together were you?¡± He asked.


    ¡°Me? Together with Siophra? Like romantically? Of course not! You know that I¡¯m married and quite happily in love with Mavis."


    ¡±Whew!¡± Said Cenderick. ¡°That would have been awkward. Wait. Are you sure she¡¯s not here? Those little blue dragons must belong to Tundor. Tundor and Siophra have been almost inseparable."


    ¡±This might be hard to really understand without talking with her yourself but if you see Siophra you need to remember that you¡¯re really talking to the dragon inside her.¡±


    Cenderick looked perturbed.


    ¡°You let this happen?¡±


    ¡±I had no say in the matter whatsoever. One second Siophra was dead and the next she started to breathe again. Then her eyes turned gold. The dragon saved her Cenderick! I couldn¡¯t exactly object!¡±


    ¡±Does she have a name? This gold dragon?¡±


    ¡°Zinariya¡± said Cantrell. ¡°That¡¯s her name.¡±


    ¡°Candasar and Tundor are her parents at least. I sure hope she means well and is going to be able to give us Siophra back.¡±


    Tundor is nearby. You should probably talk to him about this too.¡± Cantrell looked around then shrugged. ¡®Actually he''s probably out hunting. He¡¯s got two more mouths to feed obviously."


    For a few minutes the two of them watched the two small dragons running across the yard and leaping into the air for a glide.


    "Energetic little buggers." Cenderick finally said.


    "Thirsty too." said Cantrell. He dumped the blood tainted water out of the trough.


    "Would you mind running the well crank for a couple of pulls? I think I''ve got a blister from this morning already."


    "Sure, no problem." said Cenderick. He turned the crank. When the bucket came out of the well he splashed it into the now empty trough.


    The little dragons ran up to them.


    "Who is this elf Cantrell?" asked Constance.


    "This fine elf gentlemen is Cenderick. He said pointing at him.


    The elf bowed at the waist and somehow found a genuine smile for the little dragons.


    The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.


    ¡±Very happy to meet you both ¡° he said standing up again.


    ¡°Cenderick used to work with me when I was head of the warden patrols." Added Cantrell. ¡°That¡¯s when I first met your parents.¡±


    ¡±Do you think that my mother is going to come back soon Cantrell?¡± Asked Constance.


    ¡±I¡¯m sure that she will be. She really didn¡¯t want to have to leave you. She will probably hurry right back!¡± Said Cantrell.


    "Thanks for the fresh water Cenderick." said Vigilant. "We saw Cantrell washing some nasty elf blood in that trough there. I didn''t want to drink any of that!"


    "Oh, sorry!" said Cantrell. "I should have known better than to do that."


    Constance tentatively lowered her face to the trough and licked the water. Then she stuck her face in and began to drink. She pulled out her snout and gave a little grunt of appreciation.


    "It''s fine now." she said. "I can barely taste it."


    Cantrell dumped out the trough again. Vigilant looked at him accusingly.


    "Hold on a minute." said Cantrell and pulled another bucket. He handed the bucket directly to the little dragon.


    "Let me rinse this out a few more times. I''m told elf blood is very bad tasting to dragons."


    "So...¡± asked Cenderic. ¡°Why is there elf blood in there? That sounds like an interesting story.¡±


    ¡±Well, before I buried the three dead elves I searched them.¡±


    "And this is their stuff?" asked Cenderick, pointing at the assortment of blades and clubs on the ground next to the spilled out water. "You were trying to wash the blood off?"


    Cantrell looked conflicted.


    "Yeah. Does it make me a bad person to want to look it over?"


    "Of course not! Spoils of war and all that. Is there anything good?"


    "Nothing too surprising ." said Cantrell. "A couple of nice knives, but not better than mine. You can take a look at them if you want to.¡±


    ¡±Thanks,¡± said Cenderick. ¡°I might do that. It doesn¡¯t creep me out at all that someone might see me with a knife that Argent¡¯s family was using.¡±


    ¡±I don¡¯t think the rest of that family is going to be around much longer so it¡¯s probably not going to be an issue.¡± Said Cantrell. ¡°That¡¯s what Zinariya left to do. Permanently end this threat.¡±


    ¡±She thinks it is going to be that easy?¡±


    ¡±Apparently so.¡± Said Cantrell. ¡±Hey, I almost forgot. I did find a ring."


    "Let¡¯s see it."


    Cantrell dug around and pulled it out of the small pile. He brought it over and Cenderick held it up near his eye. He peered at it.


    "No markings that I can see." said the elf. He handed it back.


    "Hey, what''s this?" asked Cenderick. He pointed to the two halves of the golden egg shell that Cantrell had left laying nearby.


    "That''s the egg from the golden dragon." said Cantrell as Cenderick picked it up and walked over with it. Suddenly the ring began to glow brightly.


    "Whoa." said Cenderick. ¡°It reacted to the egg!" He stepped back a few paces. The glow dimmed. He stepped forward. The ring began to glow brightly again.


    "This must be a tool of the dragon egg gatherers." said Cantrell. "If you were looking at a nest of dragon eggs and wanted to know which one had the most magical potential, this sort of thing would be very useful."


    "I wonder if it works on other kinds of magic besides eggs?" suggested Cenderick. ¡°A magic detector could be pretty useful. Here I thought that the magic was the dragon inside the egg, not the shell.¡±


    ¡±This may be a special case.¡± Said Cantrell. ¡°Zinariya specifically told me to make sure it didn¡¯t fall into the wrong hands.¡±


    "Whose hands would be the wrong hands exactly?"


    "Well, anyone that was associated with Argent''s daughters I suppose. It was one of them that tried to steal the egg in the first place."


    "What could you do with just an egg shell anyway?" asked the elf. He was looking with great interest at the egg shell pieces that he was still holding.


    "Potions and powders, is what I was told." said Cantrell. "I was told to destroy it. I got distracted."


    The two small blue dragons had been standing nearby. They had drunk some water but were now listening to the elves talk.


    Cenderick dropped the pieces. He moved to step on them.


    ¡±Stop! Don¡¯t do that!¡± Constance chirped. ¡°I want to eat that!¡±


    Cenderick hesitated. His foot hovering over the eggshells.


    ¡±Is that something dragons do? Eat their own eggshells?¡± He asked Cantrell.


    ¡±I¡¯ve heard that humans that raise chickens will feed them the shells for the calcium in them. It does sound a little strange. I wonder what eating a magical eggshell would do to a baby dragon?¡±


    ¡±Don¡¯t let them eat those shells Cantrell!¡± Yelled Esmarella. Her thoughts were loud through the bond.


    Cantrell jumped.


    "You startled me Esmarella! I just can''t seem to get used to having you lurking in my mind. I forget that you are there!"


    "Are you talking to your dragon?" asked Cenderick. "Siophra gets that look on her face when she is talking with Tundor." Then he realized what he had said. His face fell.


    Cantrell walked over to him and picked up the two egg shell halves. He set them on the broad edge of the well, at least slightly out of reach of the little dragons. He walked back and gently squeezed his friend on the arm.


    "Siophra is going to be all right." he said. "You are gong to get her back."


    Cenderick nodded.


    "Thanks Cantrell. I hope you''re right."


    "Your observations are correct. Esmarella is trying to tell me something." said Cantrell. "Hold on a second and I''ll tell you what she says."


    He reached out again to the dragon.


    ¡±So, these eggs. I shouldn''t let the young dragons have them? Are you saying that eating the eggs wouldn¡¯t be good for them?¡± He asked.


    There was a lengthy pause. Esmarilla seemed to be considering something. Finally the black dragon answered.


    ¡±Actually I was kind of hoping you would save them for me.¡± She said. She seemed a little embarrassed. ¡°Gold dragons don¡¯t actually crack and break out of their eggs to hatch. In the final stretch they start reabsorbing the magic in the shell until it¡¯s so thin it just sort of disappears. An intact shell is rare and priceless! Any dragon eating it would absorb incredible magic. You do want to give that egg shell to your own favorite dragon don''t you?"


    "I think we need to get some additional information from Zinariya before we make that decision." said Cantrell.


    "Fine, as long as your don''t let the little dragons eat them for now." said Esmarilla ."


    ¡°Apparently,¡± said Cantrell to Cenderick ¡°These eggshell pieces will act like a magical supplement to any dragon that eats them. The two young dragons here naturally want to eat them.¡±


    ¡±But you¡¯re not going to let them?¡±


    ¡±Now Esmarilla wants them too! This is going to be a problem. They technically don¡¯t even belong to me.¡± Said Cantrell. ¡°I wish Zinariya had taken them with her. She just told me to destroy them.¡±


    The little dragons were standing near the wall looking up at the two large egg shell pieces. They seemed to be alternately looking at him and then back at the shell. It kind of reminded him of puppies begging for a treat.


    ¡°I need to put those away somewhere out of sight ¡° thought Cantrell to himself.


    Tundor finally came back. He landed in the pasture with a large deer. That, at least distracted Vigilant and Constance from the golden eggshell. They ran over to him and began to feed. Tundor looked at Cenderick and walked over to the two elves.


    "I''m sorry, Siophra is not here" said the dragon.


    "Cantrell was just explaining that to me." said Cenderick.


    "Did he tell you that my bond with Siophra was broken?" asked Tundor.


    "No, we hadn''t gotten that far." said Cenderick. "He did tell me about your daughter and Siophra somehow joining. How are you feeling about that?"


    "I''m actually pretty angry." said Tundor. "My daughter and Siophra were both almost killed. It was a miracle that they are both still alive!. I''m just so very angry at most of the elven world right now!" He paused. "Present company excepted of course. I know both of you would never have done something like this!"


    "I''ve got a little problem Tundor." said Cantrell.


    "What now?" asked Tundor.


    "It''s actually your daughter Zinariya''s eggshell."


    "Didn''t she ask you to destroy it?" asked Tundor.


    "Yes, but your other two children want to eat it. I asked Esmarilla about it and she said it would increase a dragon''s magic."


    "That¡¯s interesting.¡± Said Tundor. He walked over to the edge of the well and picked up one of the shells in his mouth. He bit down and chewed. He did the same thing with the other half.


    Cantrell and Cenderick were staring at the white dragon with fascination.


    ¡±I guess that solves that problem¡± said Cenderick.


    Tundor was looking a little wobbly. His face was slack. Cantrell looked at his eyes. His pupils were huge!


    ¡±You¡¯re not looking so great Tundor.¡± Said Cantrell. ¡°Can I get you some water or something?¡±


    ¡±That would be great. Thanks¡± said the white dragon. Then he burped. Some golden glitter came out.


    Cenderick quickly cranked up another bucket of water and set it in front of Tundor. He sniffed it then stuck his muzzle in drinking it down. A strange gurgling sound was coming out of his half open mouth. He slumped to his front knees and his back half followed the front half down. Both elves stepped back quickly as he began rolling around on the ground.


    ¡°What¡¯s happening? Is he drunk?¡± Asked Cenderick.


    Cantrell shrugged.


    ¡®Tundor stopped rolling about and laid still. He began to snore.


    ¡±Daddy¡¯s growing!¡± whooped Vigilant.


    Cantrell looked, and sure enough he was. Tundor was growing. He was also glowing with a pale golden light.


    ¡±You let him eat both halves¡± said Esmarilla accusingly. ¡°He¡¯s probably going to be bigger than Vanador!¡±


    --------------------


    By the time the elf awoke it was already mid-morning. She opened her eyes and tried to figure out where she was. She was up in the mountains, that was a certainty. She rolled over and stood to her feet and looked down at her body. She was pregnant. That was a surprise. The rocky hilltop on which she had been laying was an unlikely place for her to have voluntarily chosen to spend the night. Suddenly there came the sound of a rushing wind. Pebbles and dust swirled around her as an absolutely huge blue dragon sat down a few yards away.


    "I see you finally woke up" it said.


    Her brain jangled with the incongruity of seeing such a huge monster and not being innately terrified. For some strange reason this seemed entirely normal. The dragon was looking at her with interest.


    "How are you feeling?" it asked.


    "FIne, I guess." she answered. "Who are you?"


    "I am Vanquish" the dragon answered. "The most powerful dragon in the world. In case you are wondering, we are friends."


    The female elf thought about that. It didn''t really make sense. She would have remembered being friends with a dragon. Her thoughts were jumbled and confused. Perhaps she should ask a few questions. Maybe something would start to make sense.


    "I noticed that I''m pregnant." she said.


    "Yes. Third term I believe." said the dragon. "You are carrying a boy. Your husband will be very happy."


    "I have a husband? She looked at her abdomen. I suppose that makes sense." she said. "Unwed mothers usually have a tough time. It takes a village and all that."


    "Do you remember your husband?" the dragon asked. "That was very important to you last time we talked."


    "Hmm." she said. "There is a name just on the tip of my tongue. Give me a minute."


    The elf began searching her memories. Nothing was coming up. Then a face appeared. The face didn''t look happy. How could an old man like that be her husband?"


    More things were slowly crawling their way into her brain. They hurt. She was getting a headache. The words of what had to be a magic spell were positioning themselves like writing on a wall, just behind her eyes. What were these words? She didn''t recognize them.


    "I give up!" said the elf. "I can''t remember my husband''s name."


    I suppose that is not all that surprising." said the dragon. "You have been through a lot."


    "Are you going to tell me my husband''s name or not?" asked the elf.


    "Lothinar." the dragon said. "You once said that you loved him. That. you would rather die than live without him."


    "Doesn''t ring a bell." said the elf. "Are you planning to introduce me to him?"


    "That sort of depends on how this conversation goes." said the dragon. "Confidence isn''t very high right now. This isn''t going how I thought it would."


    "How do you think I feel?" the elf asked. "I wake up alone on this mountaintop and all I can see is this spell glowing in front of my eyes!"


    "What are you talking about.? asked the dragon. "What spell?"


    The elf spoke the words of the spell. The dragon got a very strange and distressed look on its face. Smoke started to came out of its mouth. It coughed. It began to writhe uncontrollably. Flames were now coming out.


    "No! No! Bellowed the dragon. "This can''t be happening!"


    It coughed again. It tried to jump away and into the sky. It screamed. Suddenly flames burst from holes that tore themselves open in its body. It fell to earth, tumbling and rolling into the canyon below.


    The elf looked down into the canyon. The blue dragon was on fire. There was a lot of smoke. It was a good thing that the breeze was blowing the other direction. It didn''t take long before there was nothing left but blackened bones.


    ¡®That was weird.¡± She said out loud. ¡°It seemed fine a few minutes ago.¡±


    "Now how am I going to get down from here?" wondered the elf. She began to carefully make her way down from the rocky mountaintop.


    "I hope that this Lothinar lives nearby" she said to herself. Maybe he can explain why I can¡¯t remember anything and am out here by myself with a dragon. He doesn¡¯t seem like he is a very good husband letting his pregnant wife wander off all alone.¡±


    She climbed down. She scratched herself on a sharp rock and scraped one of her knees by the time she got to level ground. She worked her way down to a stream where she managed to get a drink. Wandering a little further she came upon a red dragon munching on a goat. It was quite a bit smaller than the other big blue one that had burned herself up.


    ¡°Hi Ardwynn! What are you doing way out here?¡± The red dragon asked.


    The dragon looked friendly. The strange magical words that had remained glowing behind her eyelids seemed to fade away until they completely disappeared. Her headache went away too. That made her smile. She started to feel like herself again. Whoever that was.


    ¡±I¡¯m looking for my husband Lothinar. Can you help me?¡± She asked.


    ¡±Of course! Well, I can try.¡± The dragon looked a little embarrassed. ¡°It would be a good test. I¡¯ve been wanting to try and fly with someone. Even pregnant you are still so much smaller than Lothinar. I¡¯m sure it will be fine.¡±


    ¡±Will it be safe?¡± She asked. She deliberately looked down at her baby swollen stomach.


    ¡±Well if you are that worried, I can go back and get Candasar, but I think it will be fine. It¡¯s not really that far. Hey weren¡¯t you out here with Vanquish?¡± The red dragon asked.


    ¡±Are you talking about that really big blue dragon?¡±


    ¡±Yes. That¡¯s her.¡±


    ¡±She left me alone on top of one of those peaks!¡± Said the elf. ¡°Did you say my name was Ardwynn?¡±


    The red dragon gave her a strange look.


    ¡°Yes, and I¡¯m Firestorm. You are part of my family. Did you hit your head? Have you lost your memory?¡±


    Ardwynn rubbed her hair. She felt her head.


    ¡°I don¡¯t feel any injuries except a scratch on my hand and a scraped knee. But I do seem to have lost my memory.¡± She said, tears coming unbidden to her eyes.


    ¡°You poor thing¡± said Firestorm. ¡°Let me get you back. I¡¯m not even going to finish this goat. It burns me up that Vanquish left you out here all alone.¡±


    ¡®That would be great¡± said Ardwynn. ¡°But finish eating your goat first. I wouldn¡¯t want to impose.¡±


    ------------------------


    Lothinar had undone Candasar¡¯s unnatural craving for mung beans with the sword. When Crimson had finished, Candasar had burped and looked a little ill. Now she was sleeping under some beautiful shade trees near the garden gazebo. She had to be exhausted from her long flight.


    Firestorm still had not returned and other than the gardener vigorously shoveling in the mung bean patch, Lothinar was alone. He heard horses and a carriage pulling up outside the house. There were angry voices. He looked out the window. It was the Regent¡¯s carriage. The man had been nothing but accommodating, but now he looked furious. With him was one of the girls that Lothinar remembered from the party last night. She was one of those that he had danced with.


    ¡±Uh oh.¡± He said to himself. ¡°This can¡¯t be good!¡±


    The Regent was pounding on the door.


    Rolling his eyes Lothinar went downstairs to answer it. He dissolved his illusion magic before opening the door. He needed all the help he could get. An almost seven foot tall bald elf with two different colored eyes might change her mind.


    Unfortunately it didn¡¯t. Michelle jumped straight into his arms. It did surprise her father. He fainted dead away.


    ¡°You owe me a dress!¡± Michelle said lustily. ¡°I want a white one with lots of lace!¡±


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-

 Volume 2: Chapter 12: Ardwynn鈥檚 Return

    Ardwella held the baby out toward her sister.


    ¡±Muina, I have a crib already set up in my bedroom. Would you mind putting my daughter in it? Perhaps you could watch her in there while Albarad and I go and talk to the King.¡±


    ¡±Can I go with her?¡± Asked Heirwyn? ¡°I really don¡¯t want to see the king right now!¡±


    ¡±Of course you may. Do you mind if I borrow your dragon Snow for the conversation? I think her insights may be helpful.¡±


    ¡®The black and white dragon siblings nodded and headed towards the front door. Albarad looked at his wife.


    ¡±Are you sure you want me along?¡± He asked. ¡°Enderline and I got off to a poor start.¡±


    ¡±I¡¯m the one that got sentenced to death, remember?¡± Said Ardwella.


    ¡±So we are basically already screwed is what you are trying to say.¡± Said Albarad with a smile.


    ¡±Well, the dragons seem to believe us¡± said Ardwella. ¡°Let¡¯s hope that they can help change Enderline¡¯s mind.¡±


    The knocking continued. It was growing louder and more insistant. Albarad turned the doorknob and stepped out onto the porch. Ardwella joined him, allowing the two small dragons through and then quickly closing the door behind her. Enderline was red in the face. He looked furious. Behind him and slightly off to his left was Platinum. Just behind her was the lurking full sized dragon Killingsworth.


    "Why did it take. you so long to answer the door?" the king practically shouted. "I''ve been knocking for five minutes!"


    "You do know that I just gave birth to my daughter." said Ardwella. "It is customary to give people some time before barging in when something like that is going on. Don''t they have any manners in Sivantra?" she shot back.


    "Look here! Your husband took off with my dragon and the girl that I intended to marry. That''s also considered bad manners in my book!" Enderline said hotly.


    "The girl does NOT want to marry you. She made that perfectly clear. The dragon made his own choices. I didn''t drag him along here." said Albarad.


    "There is also the matter of killing a dragon up in the foothills" rumbled Killingsworth. "Platinum has said that she believes that Muina killed a dragon named Rolf. Another dragon named Penelope is missing. I want some answers about that."


    "How would Platinum know such a thing? I don''t think she''s even left the dairy before today." asked Ardwella.


    "The baby told me." said Platinum finally speaking up. "She also heard Albarad threaten to attack me! Can you believe it?"


    "No I can''t." said Ardwella. "And taking the word of a baby not even a few hours old is just ridiculous. A baby is not a reliable witness."


    The Platinum dragon glowered at her. It then looked at Killingsworth who suddenly became more agitated. The large grey dragon seemed to hesitate, then double down.


    "Bring Muina out here immediately. I need to speak to her." Insisted the dragon.


    Albarad looked at Night-Sky. He seemed to be hopping up and down. He obviously wanted to say something but didn''t want to interrupt.


    "What is it Night-Sky?" asked Albarad. "Since Enderline, your own bond won''t acknowledge you."


    Enderline suddenly looked down at the dragon as if he had just noticed that he was there.


    "There you are Night-Sky. I need you to come home with me. I don''t want you staying here. And bring your sister. Tell her to make that young girl in the wedding dress come too!"


    "You don''t even remember her name do you?" asked Albarad seething. "Her name is Heirwynn by the way."


    "That''s name is even convenient. It must be fate. " He looked at the Platinum dragon again, seeming to draw strength from some sort of eye contact with her. "I am the King! I need an heir. I have learned my half-elven Queen is completely infertile. The girl showed up obviously willing to get married. She can¡¯t just change her mind now! It should be an honor for her. She will live a comfortable and pleasant life bearing my children."


    "Stop!" yelled Night-Sky, finally breaking into the conversation. "This behavior is not like Enderline! It is not like Killingsworth either for that matter!" His sister Snow stepped up next to him. She nodded her head as if in agreement.


    The grey dragon and the King looked both alarmed and confused. The platinum dragon scowled. Then surprisingly she started laughing.


    "It won''t work Night-Sky. You can¡¯t stop me. They are firmly under my control. Nice try though."


    Enderline and Killingsworth seemed to grow even further agitated. The King frowned. Killingsworth began growling and approached the porch.


    Suddenly there was a huge thump and Vanador hit the ground in the yard. There wasn''t much room for him between Killingsworth and Barn. On his back was an elf. For a moment Ardwella thought she had jumped back in time. The sight of Siophra on Vanador was something very familiar. Then she looked again. This elf was not Siophra. She seemed to crackle and glow with golden magical energy. Dragon magic. The elf leapt from the dragon''s back the moment he touched down, gracefully flying through the air and landing in a perfect crouch on the porch. She stood up and elbowed Enderline out of the way. Hard. He squawked as he tumbled awkwardly from the edge of the porch into a shrubbery. The blonde elf with the golden eyes flashed Ardwella a smile then whirled to stand and stare down Killingsworth and the Platinum dragon. Nobody moved and no one said anything. Then all hell broke loose.


    Killingsworth took a deep breath as if he was going to use his flames but choked as Vanador grabbed him by the neck and started shaking him. The smaller dragon flopped like a yo-yo at the end of a string. There was the sound of popping vertebrae. The grey dragon''s snarl turned into a whimper. Even that suddenly cut off. Simultaneously Albarad launched his body off the porch and tackled the Platinum dragon which then started raking him with her claws. She was tearing strips from his clothing and ripping the skin off his chest and stomach. Enderline climbed out of the bush and started to throw a wild punch at the golden eyed elf. She was having none of that and ducked under his swing. She brought the back of her head up to bash in the front of his face. His nose broke and blood started shooting all over the porch. He howled! He crumpled to his knees with his eyes watering so badly he couldn''t see.


    Night-Sky and Snow moved to help Albarad and in a few seconds they both had one of the Platinum dragon''s wings in each of their mouths. Their needle sharp teeth began sawing through the membranes of her wings and Platinum began to scream. They pulled her off Albarad. He climbed to his feet and kicked the Platinum dragon in the teeth. Her head snapped back and she crumpled to the ground.


    The only one that had not significantly moved was Ardwella. She just stood there, seemingly in shock taking it all in. With the platinum dragon out of the fight and likely unconscious, everything stopped. Enderline seemed to be looking at his surroundings as if he didn¡¯t actually believe where he was.


    Ardwella looked straight at the blonde elf and finally broke her silence.


    "Who the hell are you and what have. you done to my sister!?" she yelled.


    Just then Mo-rung walked around the barn and into the yard. He had Ronni and Pricilla on his back. The two sisters looked at the scene in horror. Killingsworth looked like a balloon with all the air let out of it. Enderline was crying on the porch and the platinum dragon was lying in a heap with shredded wings. Everyone else was looking at Ardwella and Zinariya.


    "I can''t believe I was late to such a good fight!" said Mo-Rung. You need a bigger yard Ardwella. There was no place to land!"


    -------------------------


    "I don''t think I''m being a very effective leader!" complained Mandel. "I need to be doing something more about the sisters."


    "Esmarilla thinks we should just burn them out, but I''ve told you that already." said Mavis.


    "It doesn''t sound like Cantrell has been a very good influence on her" commented Mandel. "I just can''t imagine him doing something like that. Who''s in charge in that relationship anyway?"


    "I don''t think either of them is in charge." said Mavis. "That''s the way it''s supposed to be isn''t it?" We had enough of that with Ardwynn and Tundor. Bonding should be a partnership.


    "I know but Esmarilla was Ardwella''s dragon for hundreds of years. It seems to me that Esmarilla was definitely dominated by Ardwella for at least most of that time."


    "Most of that time she was a statue in a temple in Delora Natine actually." said Mavis.


    "That could not have been a happy existence. " said Mandel. "I know Vanador shared similar circumstances right here in the city."


    "He still shivers when a bird gets too close" said Mavis. "But getting back to your point..."


    "Right, Cantrell doesn''t seem to have diminished Esmarilla''s bloodlust toward killing elves, even though. you said it bothers him, even from afar, when she does so."


    "You''ve never been bonded have you? No of course not. I know that. It''s really hard to describe this kind of relationship. A relationship with.a dragon I mean."


    "Obviously. I understand that you share thoughts right?" asked Mandel.


    "Emotions and thoughts yes. I almost lost it the other day when Mo-Rung went into battle. He''s way more of a scrapper than I''ll ever be. I''m more of a lover than a fighter."


    "Yes, sister dear. Your charms are obvious. I''m sure Cantrell appreciates them."


    "What I mean is we balance each other out. Mo-Rung would probably fight more if I wasn''t bonded to him. It''s his natural tendency. I slow that down a bit. Cantrell is, believe it or not making a kinder and more gentle dragon out of Esmarilla. She didn''t mind at all when I pulled her off wall duty. She doesn''t seem to love killing elves nearly as much anymore."


    "For that I am grateful, I suppose." said Mandel


    "She realizes that she has a job to do. She wants to protect this city, mostly because I''m in it. No offense. Cantrell left her some pretty specific instructions regarding that."


    "So he does call the shots!"


    "No, I think he really tries to do what he can to respect her wishes."


    "What about that egg thing. She wanted to eat that and he didn''t save it for her."


    "Tundor showed up and gobbled it down before he could do anything about it." Mavis said. "It''s not Cantrell''s fault. Esmarilla knows that."


    "Did Tundor ever wake up?"


    "Not yet. Esmarilla says that Cantrell says that... This is so weird. Anyway Tundor is still asleep. He has doubled in size and he''s not finished growing yet."


    ¡±¡±Uh-oh. I hope that he¡¯s not still mad at me.¡±


    ¡±I¡¯m sure he¡¯s over that by now.¡± She smiled. ¡°Probably.¡±


    "Did Cenderick stick around? It sounded like Cantrell could use the help. Especially now."


    "Yes he did. He is actually hunting game for the little dragons to eat while Tundor¡¯s sleeping. It was lucky he brought his bow with him." said Mavis. ¡°We could probably use him and the other wardens on the walls¡±


    ¡°They would have to get past the blockade first.¡± Said Mandel. "I''m surprised that he didn''t go charging back down the hill to talk to Zinariya.¡±


    "Cantrell convinced him that would probably just upset Siophra more. Mo-Rung was there when Vanador interviewed the real Siophra. She sounded confused but willing to allow the gold dragon to borrow her body for a short time at least."


    "She''s an exceptionally brave lady." said Mandel. "I don''t think I''d like to lend my body out to anyone. "


    "Yes that would be strange thing to do." said Mavis. "I hope that Zinariya is careful with Siophra''s body." said Mavis. "When they finish up there, she and Vanador are coming straight here. Then we can see for ourselves how Siophra is doing."


    "I hope they get here soon." said Mandel. "We could use another dragon.... or two I guess."


    "It''s going to be three." said Mavis. "They can''t trust the Platinum to stay there and not cause trouble again. They are bringing her with them."


    "Oh that''s going to be fun." said Mandel. "A mind manipulating dragon in my Capitol."


    "It''s the only way Vanador would leave." said Mavis. "They will all probably be here tomorrow morning."


    ----------------------------------


    Enderline was embarrassed. Very Embarrassed. Not only had he fallen victim to the mind control of a Pewter dragon but he''d got his ass kicked by a girl. A female elf that was actually a dragon inside. He didn''t know if that was worse or actually gave him an excuse for losing. He was going to go for the second option when he dictated his memoirs. A beautiful blond golden elf dragon had kicked his ass. Well actually broken his nose. Snow had been gracious enough to fix it, so at least his voice didn''t sound funny anymore. It had taken an extra day for the white dragon and his own bond Night-sky to perform their magical healing on his nose. They had claimed it was because they had used most of their magic in healing Ardwella just an hour or so before. Enderline suspected that they delayed the healing to send a message and teach him a lesson. At least that''s what he would have done given the chance. Pain could be a great teaching tool.


    Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    Pricilla had actually let him off easy when she learned that he had actually been mind controlled. That could have gone worse. Platinum dragon mental powers it seemed had been the inspiration for one of the features of Lothinex¡¯s red sword Crimson. Muina who had inherited the sword had been able to explain more. The elven master smith and magician had duplicated the mental abilities of a dragon into a sword bound spell. He had only been able to get it to work on dragons. But herhaps that was by design. Now of course the sword had bonded with Lothinar and was with him in Sivantra. He would have to keep an eye on that sword. It could probably cause a lot of trouble.


    Once out from under the Platinum dragon¡¯s influence, the King had apologized to Heirwynn and Ardwella and finally Albarad. It somewhat irked him to do so, but a King must acknowledge his mistakes, even to the commoners. Not that the elves of this family were commoners. Each of them had done more for the dragon race than almost every other elf combined.


    It had been ludicrous to let Platinum convince him that Ardwella''s sister Muina had burned a dragon to death with one of Argent''s ancient spells. Ardwella had lived the life of an assassin to remove that spells very existence. Platinum had probably heard something else from the hours old baby, but it had to be wrong. Platinum was going to the Capitol with Vanador so she wasn''t his problem anymore. At least for now. By the time she came back he would probably be back in Sivantra. He wondered how Courtney, his regent was doing without him there. He had never really intended to be away for so long. Courtney had a daughter didn''t he? If this infertility thing didn''t get solved he would still need an heir. Courtney''s daughter Michelle was a beautiful girl. So pretty in fact that she almost approached elven beauty. Perhaps she would like to marry a King.


    -------------------


    ""I am sorry to say but you are heavier than you look Ardwynn." gasped Firestorm. Her wings were flapping furiously. "We are going to make it back, but not by much!"


    "And I''m sorry to say that your neck is scratchy in all the wrong places." said Ardwynn. "Does anybody make saddles for dragons? I can barely hang on up here!"


    "No serious dragon rider would resort to using something like a saddle." said Firestorm contemptuously.


    "I bet nobody ever rides a dragon pregnant." said Ardwynn. This is putting an incredible strain on my bladder!"


    "Please hold on!" said Firestorm. "I wouldn''t want my first time carrying someone to be a terrible memory!"


    "I''ll do my best, but no promises." said Ardwynn with a chuckle. "Just kidding. I went before I climbed on. It was while you were washing the goat off your face."


    "Whew. Thanks for that." said Firestorm. "Look. There is the mansion right there. I''m heading down. Oh-oh. It looks like we have visitors."


    "Can you tell who it is?" asked Ardwynn.


    "It looks like the Regent''s carriage. He''s cool. He''s the one that''s letting us use the house. Well, actually it''s King Enderline. But he''s back on the mainland right now."


    "So much of that sounds familiar, but I still can''t put it all together. I wish I could remember."


    "I really wish you could remember what happened to Vanquish. I thought she was coming back. Candasar said she probably was."


    "Oh, that blue dragon is not coming back." said Ardwynn. "Didn''t I mention it? She kind of exploded."


    The small red dragon stuttered in the air. She dropped fast. At least it was a short fall. She pulled up just in time to avoid an unpleasant landing.


    "Would. you repeat that please?" Firestorm asked.


    "She blew up. We were talking and she just coughed and caught on fire."


    Firestorm had come to a stop on the spacious estate lawn.


    "I think we need to tell Lothinar about this. Are you sure that''s what happened?"


    "Well as sure as my name is Ardwynn and. your name is Firestorm...Which means I''m not sure at all. I''m taking your word for all of it."


    "But you saw Vanquish blow up?"


    "Yes, that I''m completely sure of." said Ardwynn.


    "Come inside" said Firestorm. "I''m sure we won''t be interrupting anything that important."


    ----------------------


    "And I''m telling you that no matter what she might have implied, I didn''t have sex with your daughter. I didn''t even lay a hand on her, well, except when we were dancing. But that''s not grounds for a forced marriage by any countries customs" exclaimed Lothinar.


    The Regent was scowling like he didn¡¯t believe him.


    "There were other people around for crying out loud! Ask them!" His red and blue eyes each blazed brightly with his passionate response.


    "But what about after the party. After the dancing? Did you take my daughter out some dark country road and force yourself on her? What about her ruined dress? Courtney asked.


    "Look, I don''t even know why or when your daughter came out to this estate last night. My butler confirmed to you that she and a bunch of her friends showed up at our door after the party. I wasn''t even in the house at the time. I was tending to the gardening supplies."


    "You were hiding in the shed actually." said Michelle. "With that little pregnant elf that looks like me."


    Lothinar looked at Michelle.


    "Well, she''s right about that at least." You do look a little like Ardwynn. Your ears are smaller of course."


    "Speaking of strange features!" interrupted Courtney, "What in the world is up with your eyes? And those ridges? You didn''t look like that when we first met."


    "I think he''s dashing father!" said Michelle. So masculine!"


    "Shut up Michelle. I''m beginning to feel like a fool for coming out here to bother Lothinar. It seems clear to me that you exaggerated. You didn''t have sex with him did you?"


    "Yes! I did!" she shouted.


    Lothinar looked at her and just shook his head.


    Michelle looked at her feet.


    "Well, I did.... In my mind. It was so romantic! He swept me into his arms, our clothing just melted away. He held me so close. I felt his.."


    "Stop right there!" said Ardwynn walking into the room. Firestorm squeezed through the doorway behind her.


    Lothinar gawked.


    "Ardwynn! Your back...." he managed to gasp out.


    "Just in time it seems!" she said. She turned to Courtney.


    "Sir, although we greatly appreciate your hospitality regarding allowing us, as outlined in "Enderline''s wishes" to remain in this house for a period of time, I must insist that you take your hallucinating love struck and infatuated daughter from here immediately. You shall make her bathe and exchange all her bedding and clothes. She will return to her sanity in a few days. Do not let her return here. After that, please consider that this house shall be under quarantine."


    "Quarantine?" stammered the Regent.


    "Yes, unfortunately there is a chemical that exists that causes temporary madness to young girls such as your daughter here. It can sometimes happen when they come into contact with my husband. It will pass but she must stay away. It''s for her own good!"


    "Noooo! shouted Michelle. I won¡¯t go! He loves me! I can tell."


    "I''m sorry. He does not. He loves his wife. We would not want this to turn into an international incident. Good day to the both of you." she said.


    The Regent collected his sobbing daughter and practically dragged her from the house. Outside they could hear more shouting and the slamming of a carriage door. Then the sounds of hoofs faded into the distance. Lothinar still stood there slack jawed.


    "Whew! I barely got through that with a straight face!" Ardwynn laughed. "You must be Lothinar my husband." she said. "I''m so glad to finally meet you! " By the way... What''s with that face? Are you kidding me? It''s a mask right? That''s got to be a mask!"


    Lothinar burned a little magic. He fixed his face. He suddenly looked handsome again.


    "It''s not a mask. It''s magic." he said glumly.


    "So that other face is your real face?" Ardwynn asked. "Or is this one your real face?"


    "The other face is the real face" said Lothinar. This one right now is what I used to look like before Vanquish changed me."


    Ardwynn looked at Firestorm.


    "Vanquish is that big blue dragon right?"


    Firestorm nodded.


    "I''m sorry. It''s still so confusing." she said.


    "Well Vanquish won''t be bothering you any more." said Ardwynn. "Maybe we can figure out a way to undo all the damage she''s probably done. I bet she didn''t even ask you first! Who gives a handsome elf a horrible face like that? It''s terrible! Uh.. No offense dear."


    "No, its fine. I''ve heard it before. From practically everybody. Well, except the dragons."


    "I don''t mind the new face. It¡¯s very masculine.¡± said Firestorm, trying to be agreeable. ¡°Even Michelle said so.¡±


    "Well, if I''m going to have to sleep in the same bed and have sex with him, I can''t be looking at that face in the middle of the night. It would scare me half to death!" exclaimed the elf.


    "You didn''t seem to mind it before." said Lothinar


    "Well for some reason I haven''t been affected with your notorious pheromones yet. I''m not really sure why. But until I do, and become a sex slave zombie, don''t you think it''s time for a little honesty?"


    "Honesty is good" interrupted Firestorm. "What did you say again happened to Vanquish?"


    "She exploded and fell down the hill. Just some blackened burned out bones are all that''s left. Is that what you wanted me to say?"


    "No, but yes. " said Firestorm. "I''m not happy Vanquish is dead, but to I''m glad you told the truth. Do you know how it happened? You said you were talking. What were you talking about?¡±


    "Uh, before we get into that... Where is the bathroom in this place. I know I said I went before we started flying here, but the baby is pushing on my bladder now..."


    "Just down the hall." said Lothinar. Ardwynn ran from the room.


    "I¡¯ll be right back!" they heard her call just before the bathroom door clicked shut.


    "Firestorm!" What is going on? Where did you find her?"


    "Out in the mountains where I hunt my goats!" the little dragon explained. "I was just sitting there eating one and she just walked up! She didn''t even know her name at the time. She sure didn''t know mine!"


    "And she said Vanquish is dead? We both saw her take Ardwynn last night." Lothinar whispered.


    "I don''t know what happened Lothinar. But Vanquish somehow must have screwed up."


    "Do you think Ardwynn managed to kill her? How could that even be possible?"


    "Its not! Not Vanquish. She''s just too powerful. Or was. I don''t know. Maybe I should go back out there and search around for a body or something. Do you want me to do that?


    "Not yet" he whispered. "Lets see if we can figure out anything else first. Stay here with me. I''m kind of a little terrified right now if you must know."


    "How do you think I feel?" asked Firestorm.


    They heard footsteps coming down the hall.


    "Whew. This place has some nice pipes. I knew there was pressure on my bladder, but it wasn''t the baby."


    Firestorm and Lothinar looked at her in surprise.


    ¡±Did you have to poop?¡± Asked Firestorm. ¡°Are we talking about that now?¡±


    "It''s a joke! Comon! Pregnant elf joke. I don''t think I''ve actually eaten anything in a while. It couldn''t be that. Hey do you have any food around here? I"m a little hungry."


    "I''ve got some Mung bean stew." said Lothinar tentatively. "It''s leftovers though. Dinner will be in a couple of hours. Do you want some?"


    "Sure, why not?" said Ardwynn.


    Lothinar dashed to the kitchen scooped a ladle of the stew from the wam pot on the stove into a bowl, grabbed a spoon and dashed back. He handed it to her. He almost winced when she put the spoon in her mouth.


    "Hey! This is really good. " said Ardwynn. "I''m not sure I''ve actually had this before. Thanks!"


    "Well that''s different." said Lothinar.


    "How so?" asked Ardwynn. She was already done with the bowl. "I''ll take another if you have one."


    "Sure." he said. "It''s just that you absolutely hated Mung Bean stew before today."


    "You gave me something you were sure I would hate? Why would you do that? I mean I didn''t hate it at all, but why?"


    "It''s kind of a test I''ve developed for people with a certain personality disorder. It''s not proven scientifically or anything. It seems to run in a particular family. Well, except for my father. He''s the one that doesn''t make sense. "


    "But you like obviously like Mung Bean Stew." said Ardwynn.


    "Yes so does my mother." I think I get my love of it from her. "


    Ardwynn sighed.


    "It doesn''t really matter I guess. I like it now. So whatever test you were making me take, I guess I passed right?"


    "So it seems" said Lothinar. "You were telling me about Vanquish exploding."


    "Oh, yes I was." said Ardwynn. She moved to sit on the couch. "Sorry I feel like I''ve been on my feet all day!"


    Lothinar sat on a chair across from her.


    ¡±Ahem.¡± She said holding out the bowl. ¡°My price for this interview was a second bowl of mung bean stew.¡±


    ¡±Oh right¡± said Lothinar dashing off to the kitchen. He returned with a much bigger bowl. He handed it to her.


    "Please continue." he said leaning back in the chair.


    "I had just woken up. Do you know that I was up on a mountaintop? In my condition?"


    "I don''t know if you actually mentioned that or I heard it from Firestorm, but do go on.."


    "So I woke up alone and Vanquill flew down and landed next to me..."


    "Vanquish"


    "Ok sure. Vanquish. She asked me how I was doing and said that she was my friend."


    "Well, I wouldn''t consider the two of you actually friends." said Lothinar.


    "See, that''s what I thought! It just didn''t make any sense to me that a big blue dragon like that and I were friends. It just felt wrong to me."


    "How do you feel about Firestorm then? asked Lothinar interrupting.


    Ardwynn looked at the young red dragon and smiled.


    "She feels different. We are very close to being good friends. There is still a little hesitation that I''m getting from her, but she doesn''t make me feel nervous like Vanquish did,"


    "I do like you Ardwynn. But that might still be the red sword talking." said Firestorm.


    ¡±Nonetheless I believe your feelings towards me to be sincere.¡± Said Ardwynn.


    "Hey Firestorm," said Lothinar. "Why don''t you go out under those shade trees and see if Candasar is still asleep. If she''s not, please tell her not to come too close to the house until we figure this all out."


    The red dragon left the room.


    Ardwynn frowned.


    "Do you have another dragon out there? Are you afraid that she''s not going to like me? What''s going on?"


    "I"m not exactly sure yet, Ardwynn. But whatever happened to Vanquish we can''t have accidentally happening to Candasar. She and I are bonded."


    "I''m awake Lothinar and I''ve been listening." said Candasar. "I''ll stay out of sight for now but I''m going to go looking in the hills for Vanquish. If she''s burned up it had to be Ardwynn that did it. I''ll also probably eat four or five goats. I''m starving. Mung beans do not stick to your ribs whatsoever Lothinar."


    "Your talking with her right now aren''t'' you?" asked Ardwynn. She seemed a little frantic.


    ''Yes, but we are done for now. She''s going out to get some goats to eat. She just flew in from the mainland and is very tired and hungry."''


    "She''s probably going to look for burned dragon bones and confirm my story isn''t she?"


    "Yes, she will be doing that too. But don''t worry. I''m not necessarily blaming you for what happened to Vanquish."


    Ardwynn managed a small smile.


    "I''m trying to start this new relationship with a full measure of trust Lothinar." She set down the empty mung bean bowl.


    "You know, Ardwynn, so am I. Really. Our relationship in the past has been very complicated."


    "You know that you are very handsome, at least when you are wearing that face. It''s a face I seem to remember."


    "This was my face when we were together. When we were the happiest." said Lothinar.


    "Whoo wee" Ardwynn said jumping up. I think those chemicals that you make are starting to kick in. You¡¯re looking really good to me right now."


    Lothinar grimaced.


    "I was afraid of that. See this is the first time we have really talked without those getting in the way of our real selves."


    "You mean my real self don''t you. The pheromones don''t effect you. Just me. And that poor girl Michelle. She was a wreck. Am I going to turn into someone like that? Am I doing it now?"


    "I''m sorry. I'' don''t know. " said Lothinar. "I like the real Ardwynn that I just met. I like her a lot."


    "Take me to bed Lothinar. I need you." said Ardwynn. "I can''t live without you!"


    ¡±It must have happened when I handed her the bowl of mung beans.¡± He thought to himself. ¡°I should have used gloves!¡±


    And just like that, the real Ardwynn was gone. Or at least the Ardwynn that wasn''t under Lothinar''s spell.


    He took her upstairs. He took her to bed. He was gentle but he was passionate. He was a nice guy. He finished last.


    When they were finished Ardwynn finally fell asleep. Lothihnar just laid there looking up at the ceiling. He felt terrible. He''d had a glimpse of a relationship with Ardwynn without Pheromones. It might never come again. He wanted the real Ardwynn back.


    There was a soft tapping sound at the second story window. Lothinar looked over. He saw Michelle. She had twigs and branches in her hair and a big smile on her face. She had climbed the tree.


    "Please open the window you big sexy elf!" she said. "Your wife¡¯s asleep but I''m ready to go!"


    There was a crunch and the sound of a breaking branch.


    ¡±Don¡¯t worry. I caught her Lothinar. I¡¯ll take her back to the Regents mansion. It¡¯s just a few miles.¡±


    ¡±Thanks Candy. I don¡¯t think I can deal with her right now.¡±


    ¡±I did find Vanquish. She¡¯s totally burned up and gone. I¡¯m very upset. I considered her a friend Lothinar.¡±


    Lothinar looked at the beautiful pregnant elf lying in bed next to him. It just didn¡¯t make sense.


    ¡±We will get to the bottom of what happened to Vanquish. I promise you. I will do whatever it takes.¡±


    ¡±¡®I¡¯m probably missing my eggs hatching for you Lothinar. Let¡¯s get this done and go home soon ok?¡±


    ¡±Ok. Drop off Michelle with her father. Make sure he knows she somehow got out again. She will probably be alright in a few days.¡±


    ¡±I see the house now. The dad is outside already. He can probably hear her screaming from here. This won¡¯t take long.¡± Said Candasar.


    ¡°Thanks Candasar. I¡¯ll see you when you get back. I love you.¡±


    Lothinar looked over at Ardwynn and found her eyes open. She was staring at him.


    ¡±You¡¯re not planning on getting rid of me like that as well?¡± She asked. ¡°Am I to be carried off by a dragon? Is that how I ended up on that mountaintop?¡±


    --------------------------

 Volume 2 Chapter 13: Parental Duties

    ***********


    Thirteen


    ***********


    Mavis and Mo-Rung were talking over the bond. It seemed that they did so even more while separated than when together.


    ¡°The truth,¡± thought Mavis, ¡°Is that I¡¯m lonely. It¡¯s strange because I¡¯ve always been so independent. Now I miss Cantrell more than I ever thought possible. I can¡¯t even talk with him. Just his dragon. And the dragon sure can¡¯t hold me in the middle of the night. I¡¯ve even started sleeping in the warehouse that Esmarilla is using as a stable just to feel closer to him.¡±


    ¡±¡¯So you have obviously figured out that Esmarilla snores.¡± Said Mo-Rung.


    ¡°You snore worse.¡± Said Mavis.


    ¡°Let¡¯s unpack that. I might snore more often and longer than Esmarilla but I definitely don¡¯t snore worse. She¡¯d blow the roof off some poorly made barns.¡±


    ¡±Well, I¡¯ll admit that when she really starts to cut loose I leave and go back to my apartment.¡± Said Mavis.


    ¡±Unfortunately I don¡¯t have that option.¡± Said the Mo-Rung.


    ¡±Has a dragon ever caught anything on fire in their sleep? It seems like excessive snoring might accidentally lead to that.¡± Asked Mavis.


    ¡°You should ask Esmarilla about that. It could be a nice neutral way to bring up the subject of her snoring. Maybe she doesn¡¯t even know. You would be doing me a favor.¡± Said Mo-Rung.


    ¡°You certainly were eager to be with her before you knew she snored so loudly. ¡± Said Mavis.


    ¡°Well she¡¯s beautiful! Well worth putting up with the snoring. It will just take some getting used to.¡± Said Mo-Rung. ¡°Aleena never snored, Helena didn''t either.¡±


    "Who is that? I''ve never heard you mention Helena before."


    "Oh. She died long before you were born. That was Candisar''s grandmother. She was actually very dear to me."  said Mo-Rung.


    "Sometimes I forget how old you are Mo-Rung!"


    "I''m not nearly as old as Esmarilla or her brother Vanador. Vanquish is older than both of them. Old dragons from our distant past. They are treasures. They know things that we have forgotten." said Mo-Rung.


    "I understand that quite a few of the young dragons that recently hatched from that cache that Ardwella found have additional information that is important to your culture." said Mavis.


    "Yes, that''s why I want to get Salt and Pepper back among them. My children are going to need that sort of education. "


    "I''m sure Tundor''s parents, are doing their best for them."


    "Yes, I appreciate what they have done for me. All the lake born dragons seem to be adjusting to a new way of life but there is still a lot we don''t know about how we once lived. They really don''t know much about dragon history or customs."


    "Well, there is really no one who has attempted to teach them." said Mavis. "Vanquish could probably do it but she left with Candasar."


    "Salt and Pepper have been flying farther everyday. I am going to take them back with me to Delora Natine this afternoon.¡± Said Mo-Rung to Mavis. "Ronni assures me that there is enough room at the dairy and I''m actually going to be staying there as well. I should have them with me. They grow up so fast and I''ve imposed on Tundor''s parents for far too long."


    ----------------------


    The white dragon Vanador had healed Killingsworth''s broken spine almost as fast as he had severed it. Killingsworth had acknowledged that he certainly would have died without Vanador''s assistance. His body still felt strange however. He could walk, and more importantly breathe. He could even move his wings. He just didn''t feel coordinated or strong enough to fly. Zinariya the Golden dragon, who mysteriously inhabited the body of an elf, had checked out Vanador''s healing of his injuries. Her piercing gaze had seemed to look right through him.


    ¡®The nerves were completely severed.¡± She had said. ¡°Vanador has reattached them correctly but something in your spirit does not yet understand this. You must find harmony. When your body and spirit once more agree then you will be able to fly.


    ¡°I don¡¯t understand! Do my wings work or not?¡± Killingsworth had asked.


    ¡±Do you think that these leathery flaps are the only thing that lifts you from the ground?¡±


    ¡±Well, actually yes I do.¡± Said Killingsworth.


    ¡±For the young and the small this is true.¡± Zinariya had said. ¡°But you are neither of these things anymore.¡±


    She had looked at Vanador and smiled.


    ¡±Could a dragon the size of my friend Vanador actually flap his wings fast enough to fly?¡±


    That had given Killingsworth something to think about.


    Metaphysical mysteries aside, he hadn''t really solved the issue of the burned dragon that he had found up in the mountains a few days before. Muina had actually sought him out and addressed his concerns herself once things had settled down. She said that she didn''t know the spell that burned up dragons and didn''t know at all how it had happened. Her reputation was impeccable and now that he was out from under Platinum''s influence, Killingsworth was more inclined to believe her.


    For all Killingsworth knew, Rolf had experienced some sort of bodily malfunction. Lothinar had healed all the dragons before he had left for Sivantra, but he had done it in a hurry. Anything was possible. Killingsworth himself had noticed his that his own bowls had struggled somewhat making the transition from fish to red meat. There had been a lot of gas! Perhaps some critical tubing had come undone inside the young male and he had farted wrong with disastrous consequences.


    Until he could somehow convince his wings to cooperate Killingsworth would have to find his answers on foot. It would take more time but he was undeterred. He did promise himself to stay clear of the Platinum dragon in the future. She was nothing but trouble. Vanador seemed to agree. He had not even offered to heal her torn wings.


    "Maybe Platinum will learn a lesson from this" he had said. "It''s the closest thing we dragons probably have to the human custom of spanking!"


    ¡±Is my not being able to fly a spanking too?¡± Killingsworth had not been afraid to ask.


    ¡±If it is, then it is self inflicted¡± said Vanador. ¡°I did not hold back on your healing to punish you.¡±


    For a dragon that had spent most of his life swimming in the water and not even being able to walk, Having to wait a little longer to fly seemed a small price to pay for his mistakes. He thought about what the gold dragon had said as he slowly trudged back up into the hills. He needed to talk to Penelope''s parents.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    When she woke up from her kick in the head, the Platinum dragon had remained surly and defiant. She completely refused to try and withdraw her bond from Albarad and Ardwella''s baby girl. This almost got her finished off for good as both Ardwella and Muina had to intervene to keep Albarad from killing her then and there.


    "It could traumatize the child" they had said. Albarad had just stood there clenching and unclenching his fists. Eventually growling and swearing he had gone to shovel out the stalls in the barn. The sisters had looked at each other with alarm.


    "This doesn''t seem like Albarad at all" commented Ardwella. Muina looked at her guiltily.


    "His pheromone bond to you is broken. I''m sure it''s a big adjustment to his mental state." she said.


    Ardwella raised an eyebrow.


    "You broke my bond?¡±


    "Yes, I wasn''t sure it was going to actually happen. I got the idea from when my daughter Mavis broke your hold on Cantrell with lots and lots of very close personal contact"


    "You mean sex." said Ardwella. "I was willing to share him with you. Did you feel that you had to try to take him away from me?"


    "Yes! I mean no." Said Muina. She looked embarrassed and sorrowful. "I''ve never had a relationship like you have with Albarad. I was married to a monster. You know the reasons why."


    "We made that decision together Muina." said Ardwella. "Don''t try to blame this on me!"


    "I''m not. I was jealous for a long time. I was wounded and broken. I felt untouchable. Albarad¡¯s tenderness put me back together. Before that Argent¡¯s taint was all over me. Elven men, at least the good ones, looked at me like I had a disease!"


    "I understood all of that." said Ardwella. "I also realize that you have your own children with him. I shared him! I was being magnanimous!"


    "I didn''t want your charity! I wanted something else."


    "What more could I have given you?"


    "Equal footing! Not being his second choice! Always second to my impossibly beautiful and younger looking sister. We are twins! I already look so much older than you!"


    "That was because of Esmarilla. If you had stayed with Vanquish..."


    "We both know that was not possible, for several reasons. Argent would have smelled a rat and besides Vanquish would never have let me put myself in that kind of situation. She did care about me you know."


    "And I didn''t?"


    "You cared about me, but you cared about saving the dragons more! You sacrificed me to that monster!" Muina started to cry. "How could you let me do that?"


    "I''ve been wondering the same thing myself" said Albarad. He was standing in the doorway with shit on his shoes. He was still wearing the torn and shredded shirt that Platinum had ripped with her claws. Snow had healed the skin underneath but the shirt was rags.


    "You''re very hard on the people that you claim to love Ardwella. All for the dragons. Siophra, Muina, Lothinar, your baby daughter. Me. Is that ever going to change? You''ve won your war now. When are you coming home?


    "I thought that I was home." she said blinking back tears.


    "Only if you want to be." said Albarad. "You need to let this dragon saving obsession go. We need to get that Platinum dragon out of your daughter. Lothinar and Muina''s children are old enough to make their own decisions about their involvement with dragons but Charity isn''t.


    "You''ve finally named her?"


    "I felt that I had to, or the blasted dragon would have probably done it soon. She''s our child, not that dragon''s Ardwella. We need to protect her!"


    "Ok, I see that. But what can we do?" the beautiful elf asked.


    "We do what I set out to do in the first place!"


    "We kill her." said Muina. "Before Vanador drags her off with him to the Capitol."


    Ardwella looked at both of them. She looked down. Then she sighed.


    "Ok" said Ardwella, "I''m in. We have to act tonight before she leaves. We''re killing Platinum, but here''s how I am going to do it! ,"


    "You already have a plan? asked Muina.


    "I''m an assassin. I''ve always got a plan." said Ardwella.


    "That''s my girl!" said Albarad.


    "I''m not your girl. I''m one of your two wives. But we are going to get your girl back!"


    -------------------------


    Platinum was lying down in the temple courtyard. Vanador had told her in no uncertain terms to stay there. He had also instructed most people and dragons to stay away from the area. The platinum dragon couldn¡¯t be trusted not to try and influence others. Zinariya had dragged a comfortable chair out of one of the ante rooms and was sitting in it a few feet away from the dragon. She hadn¡¯t yet said anything. There was a pile of construction materials nearby. The temple was always working on some construction project or another. She dragged over a few boards and propped them against the chair. She pulled some fruit from her pocket and began eating it. Quite a while went by. The platinum dragon was obviously sulking. Finally she spoke.


    "What are you doing with those boards." she asked.


    "They are in case you get out of line." said Zinariya.¡±


    Platinum laughed.


    "Those really aren''t much of a deterrant. That won¡¯t protect you from my dragon magic.¡±


    "I don''t really need to worry about that." said Zinariya.


    "Vanador certainly seemed to be concerned that I might use my persuasive magic against someone. He cleared out the whole temple for the night. Why are you immune?"


    ¡±I¡¯m a dragon.¡± Said Zinariya.


    "You are obviously an elf,¡± The platinum dragon sniffed. ¡°but there is a strange odor of dragon magic about you. It is definitely not normal.¡±


    ¡±You don¡¯t believe me?¡±


    ¡±Even if you were somehow a dragon, I controlled Killingsworth." said Platinum.


    "I''m not worried." said Zinariya. She went back to eating her banana.


    "See that just proves my point." said Platinum. "No real dragon eats bananas."


    "The elf that I''m staying in eats bananas.  She loves them in fact. I have several with me. I''m eating them to be a good tenant. I''ve even have a pickle for desert."


    "I think that the two legs eat the sweet things last. A banana should be sweeter than a pickle. You should have eaten the pickle first."


    "Doesn''t matter to me. This elf likes them both." said Zinariya. "Her body has work to do soon. It needs nutrition. Bananas have lots of potassium.¡±


    "Don¡¯t you have other things to do? Asked Platinum.


    "Sure, but someone needs to guard you and keep you from getting into trouble. You''ve been very naughty." said Zinariya. "Vanador asked me to do it. He and my host go way back. Plus it might give me a chance to rehabilitate you."


    Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    "I don¡¯t need rehabilitation.¡±


    "Perhaps then, I will have the opportunity to adjust your attitude. From what I can tell, it needs work.¡±


    ¡±I think you may be biting off more than you can chew banana eater.¡±


    "We¡¯ll see. Vanador is pretty sure that you''re going to do something stupid. Make a break for it, try to run... Perhaps attempt to take over my mind like you did to those others.. He thought it might be best if I acted as if I was one of your missing parents and provided you with some discipline."


    ¡±Why didn¡¯t he do it himself?¡±


    ¡±He is tired from healing Killingsworth and has to fly tomorrow morning. I encouraged him to get some rest. I told him I would watch you.¡±


    "What makes you think that you can resist my powers?" asked Platinum.


    "Maybe I''m wrong. Why don''t you try. We can see what happens." said Zinariya.


    The Pewter dragon looked at her. It looked at her with great intensity. Siophra started to sway. She scrunched up her face. Then she picked up a big piece of two by four lumber that she had laying next to her right hand. She grabbed it with both hands and swung it hard at the Platinum dragon. CRACK. It shattered across her back. Splinters flew.


    "Ouch! HEY! snarled the dragon. Why did you do that?"


    "It got the point across." said Zinariya smiling brightly. "They call this sort of thing a spanking. And you know exactly why I did that. You tried to use your mental powers on me."


    "I thought I had you there for a second."


    "Yeah no. I find it''s best to create hope before you crush it. Plus it lets me work on my acting skills."


    Zinariya picked up another two by four from a nearby pile of them.


    "As you can see. I''ve got plenty. Care to try again?"


    "No" said the Platinum dragon sullenly. "What''s your name?"


    "My name is Zinariya.¡±


    ¡°¡®I¡¯ll admit it sounds exotic but what does it mean?¡±


    ¡±It means Gold.¡±


    ¡±Hmmph said Platinum. ¡°You should have just named yourself Gold.¡±


    ¡°I like Zinariya. It¡¯s more mysterious and it doesn¡¯t feel like I¡¯m shoving my prestigious rank in everyone¡¯s face¡±


    ¡±And you think I am?¡±


    ¡±I think that you are a very young dragon that could possibly have a lot of potential. Right now the biggest problem is that you don¡¯t know how to treat others with respect.¡±


    ¡°I have a lot that I want to accomplish. Trying to play nice is going to waste too much of my precious time.¡±


    ¡±You might find it better in the long run to make real friends instead of forcing people to be your slaves. Eventually someone like me is going to take offense and put a stop to it. Like today.¡±


    ¡±You only won today because you showed up out of nowhere and took me by surprise. That won¡¯t happen again. A Platinum should still beat a gold you know."


    "Not by much and besides, I''ve got this elf helping me. This body and the mind with it are a huge factor in my resisting you."


    "I suppose you''re right." sighed the platinum dragon. "I should just give up." Then she stared at Zinariya again. She seemed to stare harder this time.


    CRACK! Another board broke across the dragon''s back.


    "Ok OW Ok. I get it. I can''t dominate you."


    ¡±That did feel a little bit stronger.¡± Said Zinariya. ¡°Do your powers work better when you know your victim¡¯s name?¡±


    ¡±Usually.¡± Confessed Platinum.


    The fact that you keep trying, is in itself a very large cause of concern for me." said Zinariya. "It¡¯s a serious character flaw. You are still quite young but you need to learn to control yourself. When you are older it could be a big problem for everyone. You just shouldn¡¯t be doing that to others.¡±


    "This power is my birthright! I''m the best. I know best." said Platinum.


    ¡±I need to talk to Vanador about this.¡± Thought Zinariya. ¡°This dragon must have stayed in her egg too long.¡±


    ¡±Even if you did, which you clearly don¡¯t, you need to learn to consider other people¡¯s feelings! For example, why did you try to force that young girl to marry the king¡±


    ¡±I saw the way he looked at her. She definitely attracted his attention. Her life wouldn¡¯t have been so bad you know. I could have gotten a lot done with that white and black dragon duo working together. Night-Sky had already bonded with the king. We just needed someone for Snow. And suddenly there she was! It was fate. It was perfect. Than that elf Albarad had to ruin it.¡±


    ¡°The girl is still quite young. She was alone and afraid. You can¡¯t blame her for refusing.¡±


    ¡±Yes I can. I also blame that elf for helping her get away. It broke the momentum.¡± Said Platinum.


    ¡±How do you justify forcing her to marry against her wishes?¡± Asked Zinariya.


    ¡±Because my wishes are obviously more important. If I¡¯d had just five more minutes without Albarad interfering I could have come back and controlled the girl. I would have made her happy to marry the King. She would never have even known the difference!¡±


    ¡°By taking her free will and making her your slave?¡±


    ¡±I think you might be jealous of my awesome powers.¡±


    "I can tell this is going to be a long night." said Zinariya. "Do you want to try a banana? Maybe it would sweeten you up."


    Blech. said Platinum.


    The sound of soft footsteps caught Zinariya''s attention from across the courtyard. She turned to look. It was Ardwella. She briefly locked eyes with Zinariya before closing in on the Platinum dragon. She stopped just a few feet away.


    ¡±What do you want?¡± Asked Platinum.


    "I''ve come to ask you once again to consider releasing my child from your control." she said.


    "I''ve already given you my answer to that" said Platinum haughtily. "You will thank me later for this great honor.¡±


    ¡±Very well,¡± said Ardwella, ¡°But I would like to tell you a story.¡±


    ¡±I don¡¯t have time for foolish elven stories.¡± Said the dragon.


    ¡±Yes, in fact you do.¡± Said Zinariya. ¡®You are not going anywhere until the morning. And I¡¯m intrigued. Ardwella may continue.¡±


    ¡±Thank you. This won¡¯t take too long.¡± The elf said.


    Pewter grimaced.


    Ardwella nodded at the golden dragon that had once been her sister.


    ¡±If I start to sway it might be Platinum trying to take over my mind.¡± She said.


    ¡±Don¡¯t worry. If she tries it I¡¯ll know. Then I¡¯ll smack her again ¡° said Zinariya. ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡±


    Pewter gave both of them a dirty look.


    ¡±Very well,¡± said Ardwella. ¡°When the student is ready the teacher appears.¡±


    She smiled sincerely at Zinariya then turned to address the dragon.


    ¡±For many years, my people, the elves had an incredibly evil ruler. His name was Argent. He was born a long time ago. He had power and he took what he wanted when he could. He ruled for a long time. He enslaved your people the dragons and even hurt many of his own.¡±


    ¡±I have heard the name.¡± Said the Platinum dragon.


    ¡±The many horrors and crimes that he committed were bad, but it is the ones committed against the people you love the most that seem to be the worst because they are personal. Did you know that he enslaved and tortured my sister?¡±


    ¡±I thought Muina was his wife.¡± Said Platinum,


    ¡°Not that sister. He imprisoned and tortured my sister Siophra for hundreds of years.¡±


    Zinariya¡¯s eyes had gotten large. Her golden orbs were locked on Ardwella.


    ¡±That is very interesting and probably sad, but what¡¯s your point?¡± Asked Platinum.


    ¡±Well I heard you both talking before I actually walked in. You were discussing names.¡±


    ¡±That was a waste of time.¡± Said Platinum.


    ¡±The name Argent represents a silvery color. You remind me of him. I think you should consider that as your name.¡± Said Ardwella.


    ¡±No¡± said Platinum ¡°It¡¯s an intriguing name but his rein has been far too recent. It still has negative connotations for some. ¡±


    ¡°But not to you?¡±


    ¡°Why would it, I never met him.¡± Said Platinum.


    ¡±Did you know that Argent and I were almost the same age?¡± Asked Ardwella.


    ¡±That is unlikely.¡± Said Platinum. ¡°I heard he was very old and senile. You look far younger.¡±


    ¡±It¡¯s true. Before he became the Emperor I once ran into him at a social event. I¡¯ve often thought that if I had just known then, what kind of monster he was about to become, I might have been able to do something about that.¡±


    ¡±Are you saying that you would have killed him before he actually did anything bad?¡±


    ¡±He had done some bad things already. There were pretty clear signs that he was going to get much worse even then. But I, along with almost everyone else ignored the warning signs. My sister Siophra even made one last trip to the capitol to try and discuss things. She tried to reason with him.¡±


    ¡±¡±How did that go?¡± Asked Platinum.


    ¡±Not very well at all.¡± Said Siophra standing up. Her eyes were green!


    ¡±Doesn¡¯t the way this dragon acts remind you of a young Argent, Siophra?¡±


    There was a tearing sound and a wet squelch. A large pink mass of goo and bloody tissue fell to the floor next to the platinum dragon. Her body slumped and then fell to the floor. Strangely it seemed like she suddenly grew larger. Siophra swooned but Ardwella quickly closed the space and adroitly caught her. The elf carefully lowered her green eyed sister back down into the chair. She looked up at her face in surprise.


    ¡°Ardwella! What¡¯s happened? Where are we?


    ¡±Shhh. Everything¡¯s fine. You did well Siophra. I¡¯m very proud of you!¡±


    The dragon groaned and wobbled to her feet. She looked at the sisters.


    ¡°Zinariya I presume¡± said Ardwella. ¡°Thanks for taking good care of my sister but it was time that you gave her back!¡±


    ¡±That was extremely hard to do." said the platinum colored dragon. "It took some high powered fast healing to remove Platinum''s brain and nervous system and replace it with mine."


    "Is Siophra going to be allright? asked Ardwella. "Your not leaving her injured are you?"


    "I hadn''t replaced her. We were just sharing the space" said Zinariya. "She will be fine in a few moments."


    Ardwella knelt down in front of her sister''s chair. She looked into her eyes.


    "I don''t know if I''ve ever told you this but you are one of the most amazing people that I know. You are so brave!"


    "Brave people often appear that way because they are just trying to survive. They don''t have a choice. If I could have missed all that I certainly would have. I would have run away."


    ¡±Was that story you told true or did you just make it up to solve the problem with your daughter?¡±


    ¡±It was true.¡± Said Siophra, answering for Ardwella. ¡°I gave Argent another chance. It cost me. The price of that decision was far too high!¡±


    "If I had realized that you were still alive and in a cell in Argent''s tower I would have come and got you out or died trying." said Ardwella.


    "We can only try to do better going forward said Siophra. There is nothing we can do about it now, well, except something like this. We try to keep it from happening again."


    ¡±There have always been good dragons and bad dragons.¡± Said Ardwella. ¡°Good elves and bad elves. I think in trying to save the dragons I somehow lost sight of that.¡±


    ¡±I hope you believe me to be a good dragon.¡± Said Zinariya. ¡°I don¡¯t think I would want you for an enemy Ardwella.¡±


    ¡±You came through for me on the porch but before that you also took my sister. I¡¯ll be considering carefully your future behavior,¡±


    ¡±Using Siophra¡¯s body was an emergency situation. She was also dying so I thought it was best at the time.¡±


    ¡±I appreciate the help but I¡¯m grateful that you were finally willing to move along.¡± Said Siophra.


    ¡±Well I really just needed a suitable body and Platinum wasn¡¯t going to be using this one anymore.¡±


    ¡±You got bigger!¡± Said Ardwella.


    ¡±Yes there are almost two dragons in here. I am currently still integrating. I am also less dense. It¡¯s quite a relief actually. A dragon skin fits me better. Not a huge fan of this color though.¡± She said trying to look herself over. ¡°What color are my eyes?¡±


    ¡±Still Gold.¡± Said Ardwella. ¡°Other than your larger size that¡¯s the only change I can see.¡±


    ¡±What¡¯s probably more important to you is that I feel no connection to your child. You might want to see how she is doing though.¡±


    ¡±She is being monitored.¡± Said Ardwella ¡°but I will return to her very soon.¡±


    ¡±You couldn¡¯t have planned this. Said Zinariya.


    ¡±My plans went somewhat differently, but this worked out better.¡± Said Ardwella. She swung open her coat to reveal a shining blue sword hanging at her waist. ¡°In my first scenario Platinum was not going to survive the night.¡±


    ¡±What would you have done if I, wearing your sister¡¯s body would not have cooperated?¡±


    ¡±I would have temporarily frozen you. I¡¯m glad I didn¡¯t have to do that. I put my faith in Siophra. I only hoped she could stop you once properly motivated.¡±


    ¡±That was a big risk. You were fortunate that I had such a low opinion of Platinum already.¡±


    ¡°Is there anything remaining in her body that might begin to reassert itself?¡± Asked Ardwella. ¡±Are you sure that you got out all the mean nasty parts?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I teleported them right on the floor over there.¡± Gestured the dragon.


    ¡±Ew! Is that her brain and spinal column?¡± Asked Siophra.


    ¡°Those were the mean and nasty parts, yes.¡± Said Zinariya. ¡°I think I can work with the rest.¡±


    There was another plop and some more red organs joined the pile. The dragon grimaced and swayed a little.


    ¡°Her ovaries.¡± She explained. ¡°I¡¯ll want to be sure to use my own eventually.¡±


    ¡±If that¡¯s it then, I¡¯ll go and get a bucket and the mop.¡±


    ¡±Are we going to tell Vanador? Asked Siophra.


    ¡±¡±I¡¯m sure he will probably be able to figure it out for himself.¡± Said Ardwella.


    ¡±Where is Tundor? I want to let him know as soon as possible that I¡¯m back!¡± Said Siophra.


    ¡±Me being inside you was no doubt interfering with your bond.¡± Said Zinariya. ¡°You will probably feel him soon¡±


    ¡±You know, you¡¯re right! I¡¯m starting to feel something. I think he¡¯s sleeping.


    ¡°Wake up Tundor!¡± Sent Siophra.


    -----------------


    Tundor opened his eyes. He groaned and tried to roll over. He hit the barn. Luckily it was well constructed and didn''t fall down.


    "Whoa" he said. "Who shrunk the barn?"


    Cantrell had been sitting on the pasture fence watching him.


    "Well, you''ve done it Tundor. You''ve eaten yourself out of house and home. Ronni''s going to have to build a bigger barn if you want to stay here anymore."


    "Slow down Cantrell. I''m not feeling very well."


    "You are probably very hungry. But you''re in luck. You''ve got great friends. Cenderick went hunting and shot you a couple of deer. Then he and I spent most of the afternoon dragging them back here for you. We had to keep your kids off them, but that''s ok. They have discovered weasels. They are regular self feeders at the moment."


    "Constance and Vigilant? You let them go out alone? Siophra says that they are still too little to hunt by themselves."


    "Well they were THREE DAYS AGO when you ate that golden eggshell. But no longer. They''ve grown. Just not as much as you. Don¡¯t worry they are not far.¡±


    ¡±Wait a minute! What did you say about Siophra?¡±


    ¡±She said that my children were too little¡­¡± Then the huge white dragon whooped for joy. ¡®She¡¯s back Cantrell! I feel her! She is back!¡±


    Cantrell was smiling at the dragon.


    ¡±Is your other daughter alright? Zinariya I mean.¡±


    Tundor looked lost in thought.


    ¡±Siophra said that Zinariya was able to find her another body. A dragon this time. She¡¯s good!¡±


    ¡±Well that¡¯s great news too I guess. Is this new dragon body going to be a permanent thing or just another loaner?


    ¡±Siophra thinks it looks kind of permanent.¡± Said Tundor.


    ¡°Tell her we will collect Zinariya¡¯s siblings and try to get down there as soon as possible.¡± Said Cantrell.


    Tundor looked at the barn again.


    ¡°You said the eggshell would increase my magic. Instead it just made me grow. I won¡¯t even fit in barns anymore. What¡¯s going to happen when it rains?¡±


    ¡±You¡¯ll get wet like the rest of the small mountains around here. How did Vanquish stay dry?


    ¡±When I met her she was living inside an abandoned cathedral. But that was a long way away from here, and she accidentally knocked it down.¡±


    ¡±Tundor, I have a feeling that there are going to be a great many things different about your life from now on.¡± Said Cantrell.


    Cenderick came out of the house.


    ¡°I see that sleeping beauty is finally awake.¡± He said.


    ¡±Yes and he says that he¡¯s talking with Siophra. Your Siophra.¡±


    Cenderick looked like he was about to cry.


    ¡°Well that¡¯s good news.¡± He finally said.


    ¡±Who is this sleeping beauty?¡± Asked Tundor.


    ¡°It¡¯s an imaginary story told to elvish children before bedtime.¡± Said Cenderick.


    ¡°I remember hearing that Ardwynn¡¯s father Tempton slept a lot. He was also very large for an elf. Did his sleeping so much cause his abnormal size?¡±


    ¡±I¡¯d kind of forgotten about that¡± admitted Cantrell. ¡°I thought at the time that it was consumption of dragon eggs and abnormal magical absorption that made him so big.¡±


    ¡±Isn¡¯t that exactly what just happened to Tundor? Asked Cenderick.


    ¡±Elves don¡¯t look like dragons but perhaps the way magic is stored inside us is similar.¡± Suggested Tundor. ¡°perhaps we are not so different as it appears¡±


    ¡±Lothinar is walking around with some dragon parts and now. I need to think more about this.¡± Said Cantrell.


    Tundor¡¯s stomach rumbled.


    ¡±Did you mention a couple of deer?¡± He asked.


    ¡±Over behind the barn. Don¡¯t knock it down. Ronni is already going to kill me about the quilt that I ruined.¡±


    After you eat we should lock up the house and leave for Delora Natine. Constance and Vigilant are flying well enough to make it but we might have to make a couple of stops along the way. Esmarilla says that they could probably use our help down at the dairy.¡±


    ¡±I thought Esmarilla was at the Capitol.¡± Said Cenderick.


    ¡°That¡¯s right. MoRung is at the dairy. Mo-Rung suggested that they could use some help. He sent that to Mavis.


    ¡°Ok.¡± Said Cenderick.


    ¡±Mavis tells Esmarilla. They are physically proximate at the capitol.¡±


    ¡±Then Esmarilla tells you. That seems really complicated. A lot could go wrong.¡±


    ¡±You¡¯re right. It will get a lot less complex when I finally get to the dairy. That¡¯s where I was supposed to end up in the first place.¡±


    ¡±Then you learned that it¡¯s not really that safe up here¡± said Cenderick.


    ¡±Yes we sure found that out the hard way¡± said Tundor.


    ¡±Tundor, anyone that sees you now is going to think long and hard about causing you trouble.¡± Said Cantrell. .


    ¡±I guess you¡¯re right.¡± Said Tundor. ¡°Just look at Vanquish. She¡¯s practically invincible.¡±


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    Back at the home of Albarad and his two beautiful wives a baby was crying. Albarad quickly went to pick her up. He held her close. She didn¡¯t glare at him at all. Muina smiled at the two of them as she walked into the room.


    ¡°Dragon¡¯s gone¡± he said. ¡°A father can feel these things.¡±


    ¡°You know,¡± she said, ¡°Seeing you holding her makes me want another one. What do you think about that?¡±


    The baby had stopped crying and very soon went back to sleep. Albarad softly laid her back down into the crib.


    ¡±What I want to say is that we should get started on that right now!¡± But then he frowned.


    ¡±What¡¯s that look for?¡± Muina asked.


    ¡°Killingsworth obviously found that first dragon we killed but I don¡¯t think he¡¯s found the second one yet. One burned dragon might be an accident but two of them are going to be harder to explain. I need to ride up there and bury that body before Killingsworth finds it.¡±


    ¡±Do you think an hour or so is going to make that much of a difference?¡± She asked stepping in close and reaching for him.


    She could see the conflict in his face beginning to melt away.


    ¡±Probably not.¡± He said gathering her into his strong arms.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-


    Down the hall, even though she hadn¡¯t meant to, Heirwynn had listened to the strange conversation. She looked at Snow who just shrugged. Her bother Night-Sky answered the unspoken question.


    ¡±We are going to let this one go. This family has certainly earned a little dragon forgiveness. A couple of insignificant grey mountain dragons is a small price to pay for Ardwella taking care of my Platinum problem.¡±


    ¡±If you say so.¡± Said Heirwynn. ¡°They are my new family.¡±


    ¡±Yes they are.¡± Said Night-Sky. ¡°And it¡¯s pretty obvious that those dragons attacked them first.¡±


    ¡±Don¡¯t you think that they should explain that to Killingsworth? He seems to be the grey dragons unofficial leader.¡±


    ¡±I¡¯m rather hopeful that with Mo-Rung back, he will step into that roll. He is the perfect liaison between the lake born dragons and this new generation.¡±


    ¡°Is that why you had snow interfere while Vanador was healing Killingsworth? I did notice that you know. It made Snow nervous. I think she was afraid Vanador would notice.¡±


    Night-Sky looked at Heirwynn with a strange gleam in his eye.


    ¡±You are getting a lot better at feeling Snow. That¡¯s actually great news. I just wanted to slow Killingsworth down for a little while longer. It was such a small tweak even Zinariya didn¡¯t notice it.¡±


    ¡±But he¡¯s walking! How is he going to hunt on foot. He might starve.¡± Said Heirwynn


    ¡±Not if he comes back to the dairy. And he will have to. That¡¯s where I want him for now. Not stirring up more trouble for our new family.¡±


    ¡±You actually are pretty smart. Said Heirwyn. ¡°And a little devious.¡±


    ¡±Don¡¯t worry. Snow hasn¡¯t got a devious bone in her whole body. That¡¯s why we work so well together and why I can¡¯t allow us to be separated. She¡¯s my counterbalance. Now I just need to solve my Enderline problem. He¡¯s a mess. Did you know that Platinum forced me to bond with Enderline?¡®


    ¡±What can you do about it now? Is he really that bad?¡±


    ¡±He¡¯s been thinking about a human woman named Michelle all day. He wishes Snow had waited and bonded with her instead of you!¡±


    ¡±That does seem sudden, but Platinum¡¯s influence seems to have been everywhere.¡± Said Heirwynn.


    ¡±Not everywhere. Most of the other dragons made their own choices.¡±


    ¡°You have to admit that Snow bonding with me and me not marrying Enderline has made your situation more complicated.¡±


    ¡±It has. Are you actually having second thoughts about perhaps marrying him?¡± Asked Night-Sky.


    ¡°No, ¡®I¡¯m not interested in being wife number two. But didn¡¯t someone mention that Albarad has a son?¡±


    ¡±That¡¯s going to be tough. Lothinar is already married and Ronniflass will probably end up as his second wife.¡± Said Night-Sky.


    ¡±Not him! The other one. The elven Emperor.¡±


    ¡±Mandel? Of course! He¡¯s Albarad¡¯s son too. You sure don¡¯t aim low young lady. Now there¡¯s an idea. Maybe I should help find Enderline another dragon!¡±


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-

 Volume 2 Chapter 14: The Magical Fruit

    *******************


    CHAPTER 14


    *******************


    Lothinar looked over at Ardwynn and found her eyes open. She was looking at him.


    ¡±You¡¯re not intending to get rid of me like that as well?¡± She asked. ¡°Am I going to be carried off by a dragon? Is that how I ended up on that mountaintop?¡±


    ¡°You''re awake!¡±


    ¡±How could I miss Michelle falling out of that tree? And don¡¯t think I didn¡¯t hear what she said.¡±


    ¡±You know that you don¡¯t need to be jealous. You must have heard what I was told the both of them earlier, while you were coming in.¡±


    ¡±But it took me to actually get them to leave. Honestly! You can be really indecisive sometimes Lothinar. Besides, you are avoiding my question."


    "Yes, the mountain top question." He paused as if considering. "I had nothing to do with it. Vanquish just took you."


    "But you did nothing to stop her."


    "Yes, I mean, no I didn''t. And I am feeling bad about that."


    "That''s disappointing to hear. I would expect someone who claims to be my husband and the father of my child to stand up for me. For all you know she could have been meaning to end my life."


    That was, actually, almost exactly what I expected. For what it''s worth, I''m very glad she didn''t." He tried to smile. It didn''t work. At least she didn''t smile back. She just looked at him.


    "It was a very complicated situation." he said.


    "Then we talk about it. We work it out. We decide how to deal with things together. That''s how a couple deals with things!¡±


    She looked disappointed. Then it was almost as if she decided to let it go. Her frown faded. She got a thoughtful look.


    "What are you thinking?" he asked.


    "I wonder if that''s why I didn''t believe her when Vanquish said we were friends."


    "You do seem to have some sort of built in lie detector thing going for you. That''s new." he said.


    "I wouldn''t think that I would need it with you! This doesn''t bode well for our relationship you know!"


    "Wait a minute. I haven''t lied to you. I did tell you earlier that Vanquish wasn''t really a friend of yours."


    "You did. But leaving out other important details is almost lying." she said with a pout. "I''m in a very vulnerable position here. My memories can''t help me. I was hoping you would help me figure this out!"


    ¡±Are you actually criticizing me right now?¡± He asked with surprise.


    She sat up in the bed, pulling the sheet around herself.


    "I''m asking you legitimate questions. Don''t be so easily offended." she said snippily.


    ''No, No, It''s not that at all. You made a fair point. I''m just trying to figure something out."


    "I assume it is something about me." she said.


    "Yes, it is. An hour ago you were single-minded about just one thing.¡±


    She blushed a little.


    ¡±I kind of was. Well, we both know what came over me. ¡°


    ¡±I thought I did,¡± said Lothinar. ¡°Now I¡¯m not so sure.¡±


    ¡±Look, I know that my memory is a wreck but I can¡¯t believe that I could get turned on that fast without some sort of chemical influence. I know your handsome, but give me credit for at least a normal amount of self control!¡±


    ¡±But I¡¯m still right here! Thanks to our.... activities, I''m probably even more sweaty than before. You don''t seem the least bit affected!"


    ¡°You are so funny. If you want to know if I¡¯m still feeling amorous then why don''t you just ask me?" said Ardwynn. "I don''t bite.¡±


    "The point is that I can usually tell. An amorous Ardwynn can be pretty overwhelming."


    Suddenly the beautiful elf got a pained look on her face.


    "What did I say?"


    ¡°Speaking of overwhelming! Hold that thought.¡° she said with a troubled look on her face.


    The naked elf slipped out of bed and quickly ran across the floor to the door of the master bathroom. She slammed the door abruptly. Lothinar tried not to, but he heard strange noises. Ardwynn had gas. Terrible gas. He had lived with this woman before but this was unbelievable. He had never heard anything like this!


    It was some time later before she reappeared. She had found, and slipped into his robe. It must have been hanging on a hook in the bathroom. It almost dragged the floor with her wearing it.


    "Well that was awful." she said. "I''m so sorry."


    "Think nothing of it." said Lothinar, trying to be gallant. The odor was strong. It had escaped from behind the bathroom door several minutes before she emerged.


    Ardwynn began walking around the room picking up the articles of clothing that she had so rapidly torn off just a few hours before. She wrinkled her nose and then went over to open the window.


    "My goodness Lothinar," she said. "You just laid here in the bed through all that? Don''t we have a candle around here or something.?"


    "We do" he said. "But honestly I was so fascinated that I was more or less frozen in shock while you were making those sounds. Honestly, the sounds were almost worse than the smell."


    "That''s only because you hang around with dragons. Anyone else would have run for their lives." she said. Then they both began to laugh. Then they coughed.


    "Ugh. Leave the window open and let''s go downstairs." said Ardwynn.


    "You''re wearing my robe."


    "Oh right. Hold on." She ducked back into the bathroom and emerged a minute or two later with her clothes back on. She started to hand him the robe then gave it a sniff. "Nope" she said. "We are burning this. Get your clothes off the floor like I did."


    Ardwynn ran down stairs with the robe in hand. Lothinar picked up the clothes from the floor and put them in the laundry hamper in the bathroom. He quickly dressed from his standing chest of drawers. When he finally caught up with her downstairs she was off to the side talking with the cook. Firestorm was quietly sitting across the room watching them both. She threw an inquisitive look at Lothinar.


    ¡±Well, did you figure out anything? Are we dragons in any danger?


    ¡±I don¡¯t think so, but something has really changed about her personality. I really need to ask her some more questions.¡±


    ¡±I thought you had been asking her questions! I could hear her yelling ¡®Yes, yes yes!¡± from all the way down here an hour ago. It made me a little bit nervous I have to admit.¡±


    Lothinar blushed. Ardwynn walked up to him and smiled.


    "What were you and the cook discussing?" he asked.


    "We were late for dinner, for obvious reasons" said Ardwynn. "But the cook kept our plates warm for us. We can eat now if you like."


    "Sure". Lothinar moved toward the dining room table. Fresh fruit made up an elegant centerpiece. He grabbed a couple of strawberries and sat down at the head of the long table. Ardwynn sat in the chair at the other end, instead of next to him. That surprised him. She usually tried to stay as close as possible.


    The cook came out with two plates. It smelled like a green bean casserole. He sat a plate if front of each of them.


    "This was quite a bit better an hour or so ago" he said with a slight grimace. "But it will suffice."


    "Thank you" said Lothinar. "I didn''t mean to break routine or keep you late. I appreciate so much that you are cooking for us at all!"


    "My services come with the house." he said. "It was only a minor inconvenience, and you''re welcome. Enjoy your meal."


    He then excused himself and walked back through the door into the kitchen area.


    "Well this looks good." said Ardwynn. "Perhaps this will not disagree with me as much as those mung-beans seemed to."


    ¡±Is that more of what you were discussing with the cook?¡±


    ¡±Well, not the details of the horrible after affects, obviously. But I did tell him that they were delicious.¡±


    ¡±Is he planning to serve them again soon?¡± Asked Lothinar with some concern.


    ¡±No, he¡¯s completely out. Apparently someone¡¯s pet dragon managed to eat the whole crop of them this morning. We will only have other kinds of beans for the foreseeable future.¡±


    She picked up her fork and took a bite.


    "Delicious." she said.


    She began to eat. Lothinar did likewise. The green beans were only slightly soggy but the sauce was quite good.


    "How are you feeling now?" asked Lothinar.


    "I seem to be fine now," said Ardwynn. "Thanks. You were about to ask me a question?"


    "You know, it doesn''t really matter right now. Lets just eat and enjoy this time together."


    Ardwynn smiled. "That sounds very kind but I don¡¯t mind talking while we eat. It could possibly help me fill in some gaps. This is a very strange situation. I seem to know so much about you but all the images and memories are scrambled around,"


    "I''m pretty sure Vanquish did something to you. You came back very different than when you.... left." said Lothinar.


    "I really don''t remember it. Just the conversation afterwards."


    "The one where she exploded."


    "That''s right. I didn''t finish telling you about that." she said.


    "You told me you were talking to Vanquish."


    "Yes, but there was something strange going on with my eyes. It was like glowing letters were written on the back of my eyelids. They looked like a spell. The words were in old elvish."


    "Do you remember what the words said?" he asked.


    "No, I''m afraid I don''t." She closed her eyes. "And they are not there now. I could also see the face of an angry old grey haired elf. Ha! I was worried it might be you Lothinar. I really didn''t remember you or how old you were at that point. I wasn''t looking forward to being married to that old guy. Then when I met you with that dragon face on.... Well you can imagine my shock. The old guy''s face might have been preferable!"


    "Hold on a second."


    Lothinar got up from the table and ran to get his traveling bag. He returned with a large coin.


    "Is this the face of the person you saw?"


    Ardwynn peered at it.


    "Yep, that''''s him. Old guy. You can''t really see the white hair on the gold coin but that''s definitely him. Who is he anyway?"


    "It''s Argent." said Lothinar. "He was the Emperor when this coin was made. He''s dead now. He was also your uncle."


    "Why are you frowning?" asked Ardwynn. "Did you not like him or something?"


    ¡±Or something. He was probably the slimiest, most evil psychopathic elf that ever lived!¡±


    ---------------------------


    Michelle looked at the manacle that connected her slim wrist to the metal bedpost. Her father wasn''t messing around this time. He had not been happy when Candasar had brought her back shrieking and screaming from the ambassador''s estate. He had one of the maids strip and bathe her. They had brought her new clothes and she was currently chained not in her own room but a guest bedroom while the staff exchanged out her entire bedroom set. None of that mattered. She had managed to smuggle a bar of soap out of the bathroom with her and was currently rubbing it all over her arm and hand to make them slippery. She grunted and yanked, somehow finally pulling her hand free. She opened the window and began climbing down the drain pipe. Once down, she stole a horse from the barn and began riding furiously towards the Ambassadors mansion.


    "If I can just get him away from his pregnant elf wife, I bet I can convince him of my obvious charms" she thought to herself.


    It was unfortunate that when she finally arrived at the gate that it was locked. That made her leave the horse behind as she climbed the ornate ironwork. Dropping to the ground she jogged up the drive to the house.


    "He has to be here somewhere." she thought.


    ----


    Up in the guest bedroom Regent Courtney groaned as he observed the empty handcuff hanging from the bedpost. He had heard various reports of trouble with other girls that had danced with the elf. He had found it necessary to meet with their parents to give them the information that he had received about the pheromone exposure. He had also told them about the ways to reduce the symptoms. When he had explained the situation, the girl''s parents had been furious. They had let him know their displeasure.


    Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.


    "My poor girl! We may have to quarantine the whole island! What was that elf thinking, going to a party?"


    "And here I thought it would be the dragon that caused the trouble. It was the elf instead."


    "My daughter also claimed that she had slept with him! I almost believed her!"


    The complaints just kept on coming as he had met with the families that were recorded as being at the party in his report.


    Finally had been able to return home only to find his own daughter once again gone. So was one of his horses.


    "I guess I don''t have to wonder where she went!" he thought to himself.


    He returned to the barn, stopped the groom from brushing down his mare and re saddled her. Muttering to himself he started to ride back out to the Ambassadors estate.


    -----------------------------------------------


    "He was probably the slimiest, most evil psychopathic elf that ever lived!¡± said Lothinar.


    ¡±My goodness! I hope you don¡¯t feel that I am anything like him. Is that where this problem started? Is that why things seem so strange between us?¡± she replied.


    Lothinar looked at her.


    ¡±You really don¡¯t remember anything? You don¡¯t know what you did?¡±


    She set down her fork.


    ¡±Honestly I don¡¯t. It¡¯s like parts of me died up on that mountain top and I was somehow born again. That¡¯s not a possibility is it? Could the dragon have done something like that?¡±


    Lothinar felt Candasar¡¯s thoughts.


    ¡±You know, that is one possibility.¡± said Candasar through the bond. ¡°It would have been a very tricky and difficult thing to try but I could see Vanquish thinking it might be a solution to our problems. It could also explain things like why Ardwynn suddenly doesn¡¯t hate mung beans.anymore.¡±


    Ardwynn seemed to be waiting for his answer. She arched an eyebrow.


    ¡±The only real answer to that question probably died with Vanquish.¡± He said. ¡°But Candasar tells me that it might be possible.¡±


    ¡±Maybe we should save time and just go outside to speak with her directly about this.¡±


    ¡±No hold on! I¡¯m worried that whatever happened to Vanquish might happen to Candasar!¡±


    ¡±You¡¯re afraid that I¡¯m going to somehow burn her up? I didn¡¯t do that to Firestorm did I?¡±


    ¡±No you didn¡¯t.¡± He admitted.


    ¡±It¡¯s going to have to see her in person eventually Lothinar. Go ahead and bring her outside. I¡¯m near the gazebo.¡±


    "Ok Candy. But I think it''s going to be best if we try to be as honest with her as possible."


    "I''m definitely not her biggest fan you know.. That might just make her mad."


    "Angry Ardwynn I can deal with. Just don''t lie to her. Somehow she can tell."


    "It seems to me that both elves and dragons tend to lie quite a lot Lothinar. That''s going to make her life very difficult if you allow her be around people."


    "I don''t know. Somehow I kind of find the whole honesty thing refreshing." he said.


    "Seeing Vanquish''s burned body was not refreshing Lothinar! I would kill her for that if I thought that she did it deliberately."


    "We don''t even know if she did it, or how it happened."


    "I hope that we don''t find out the hard way." said Candasar.


    Ardwynn was looking at him.


    "Did you get your other dragon prepared for my interview?" she asked.


    "What do you mean?"


    "When you zone out like that I know that you are talking to a dragon."


    "Your right," he said. "I was telling Candasar to be honest with you."


    "Well that might be a good start." she said. "Lets go."


    ----------------------------------


    "Wait a minute Lothinar. That girl Michelle is back." said Candasar. "She just ran up to the house."


    "This is ridiculous! I guess I had better go out and talk to her." said Lothinar. "No means no!¡±


    "If Ronni is any indication we should probably prepare for a kidnapping." said Candasar. "Maybe you should let Ardwynn deal with this again. You''ve always been too nice."


    "Actually, We should do this together. I think that''s what Ardwynn has been trying to tell me all evening."


    Something in his expression must have caught Ardwynn''s eye.


    "Michelle is back" he said out loud.


    "I was afraid she might be." said Ardwynn. "Especially once I fully felt the effects."


    "What do you suggest we do about it?"


    "I appreciate you asking me. I think we are going to have to kill her."


    "WHAT?"


    "That was a joke Lothinar."


    "Oh wow. I believed you."


    "See, that tells me something. It tells me what you think I''m capable of doing. I must have been a pretty terrible person before."


    Lothinar just looked at her. He didn''t know what to say. Finally he spoke.


    "Killing you would have solved a lot of problems for everyone. No one would have blamed me."


    "I see." she said. "Well, let''s hope that whatever Vanquish did has made me a better person then."


    He nodded.


    "I''m trying to be optimistic."


    "Ok I get it. Old Ardwynn was a bitch. Let''s go talk to the girl before she breaks a window." said Ardwynn.


    ---------------------


    Michelle watched Lothinar and Ardwynn, his pregnant wife walk out the front door. That was actually a relief. The large blue dragon had been maneuvering herself to block her access to the house. She was big enough to easily carry her off and had done so before. Now the red dragon was outside too. Michelle had thought that she was about to be carried off again.


    How was a girl supposed to make some time with all these dragons around" she thought.


    She tried to read the female elf''s facial expressions as she walked up to her. Michelle really wished it would have been Lothinar that approached her. She wanted another chance to make him understand how desperately she needed him.


    Ardwynn looked at the pitiful human girl''s eyes.


    "You know, Lothinar, You are probably living every male''s fantasy. You manage to make every girl you meet throw themselves at you."


    "It''s not a fantasy. It''s a nightmare." Michelle heard him say. That hurt a little. Michelle shrugged it off. She kept her eyes on the prize.


    "I have to give you credit for your perseverance." said Ardwynn. "The other girls never made it this far and you''ve made it here three times now."


    "But it''s not going to do me any good!" Michelle said angrily. "You are going to send me away again."


    "Come in the house" said Ardwynn. "We''ve got a great green bean casserole and there is plenty of it. Let''s get to know you better"


    Lothinar''s jaw dropped.


    "You are not thinking of including her in our lives are you?"


    "I''m not ruling anything out" she snapped. It probably won''t happen, but I feel sorry for her. She''s obviously being tortured by this."


    "Yes, I''m being tortured! Feel sorry for me! Feed me green beans. I actually don''t really care for them, but I''ll pretend. Anything to not immediately be sent away again." said Michelle.


    Ardwynn actually smiled.


    "You can come in. But you are gong to be on your best behavior. You are not going to get sex with Lothinar."


    "I''ll take it. I''ll be good. Just don''t send me away. I''ll just look at him.... But you can''t stop me from fantasizing!"


    "No I can''t" said Ardwynn. "But do it quietly."


    -------------------------


    Surprisingly Michelle was actually eating the green beans. The poor girl probably hadn''t eaten anything since before the party last night. She would take a bite, then look at Lothinar, just to make sure he hadn''t moved. Then she would take another bite. She licked her lips a lot.


    Lothinar had returned to his chair at the head of the table. He looked uncomfortable.


    "I don''t know if this is a good idea." he said. "What if Courtney comes looking for her?"


    "There is still more green bean casserole." Ardwynn said. "The cook told me so. He is leaving to do some shopping for tomorrow soon so he put another full plate aside.¡±


    ¡±Feeding these people green bean casserole is not going to solve this problem¡±


    ¡±People seem to think more clearly on a full stomach¡± she said. ¡°Well except for me apparently. I did kind of go crazy after I ate those mung beans.¡±


    ¡±It was the pheromones my warm hand transferred to the mung bean bowl. That¡¯s how it¡¯s always worked before.¡±


    ¡±But what if it wasn¡¯t? You have been wondering why I''m not behaving like her. What if it wasn¡¯t a reaction to you, but a reaction to the mung beans?


    He blinked.


    ¡°But that can¡¯t be right! Some of them would still be in your system.¡±


    ¡±You can¡¯t possibly have forgotten that scene of extreme mung bean expulsion upstairs?¡± she said, looking away awkwardly.


    "We¡¯d have to run a test. A potentially unpleasant one for you. Unfortunately we are all out of mung beans at the moment.¡±


    ¡±That¡¯s fine, I¡¯m not that eager to repeat that performance.¡± Said Ardwynn. ¡°Why don¡¯t we wait for a few days?¡±


    "Michelle didn¡¯t eat the mung beans.¡± He said.


    "Well, your pheromones are probably still working on others. Michelle here is proof of that. Your body still secretes a chemical that gives females a single minded purpose to want to mate with you. We could probably get rich bottling that if it wasn''t so wrong. It just doesn¡¯t seem to be working on me. Maybe it¡¯s one of those changes that Vanquish did.


    ¡°Well you really disliked mung beans before. You wouldn''t even eat them. Something has definitely changed in the way your body reacts to them.¡±


    ¡±If this turns out to be true then I¡¯m going to have to be very careful Lothinar. What if strange men find out they can slip me some mung bean juice in a drink and have their way with me?¡±


    ¡±It might be a shock to them when the after effects begin to kick in.¡±


    She shot him a dirty look.


    "You do know that by then it would probably be too late!"


    "Yes. It would probably be worth it for them. I know it was for me."


    She smiled and patted his arm.


    "I enjoyed myself too." she said.


    Michelle coughed. They both looked at her.


    ¡°We must keep this information a closely guarded secret.¡± Said Michelle ¡°That¡¯s why you need to keep me around and on the team.¡±


    "Is she blackmailing us?" Asked Lothinar.


    ¡±She has made an excellent point, Lothinar. Unless we want to reconsider my first suggestion about what to do with her.¡±


    "I thought that was a joke!"


    "It was, but she''s right. We need to keep her close by for now."


    Michelle gave Lothinar a sultry look and started licking the green bean bowl in a very sexy way.


    Ardwynn took the empty bowl away from Michelle and set it down on the table.


    Michelle went back to sit at the table and picked up the plate containing the beans that Lothinar hadn''t finished. She started eating them with a sultry look on her face.


    Lothinar rolled his eyes.


    "You do have to admit that she gets excellent marks for effort." said Ardwynn. "She is obviously incredibly smart."


    "I think that you are starting to like her." he said.


    "What''s not to like?" asked Michelle from the table. "You''re going to love me! You just don''t know it yet."


    -----------------------


    Courtney found his abandoned horse at the gate. He was a good horse. He hadn''t run off. He spotted a man walking out. He was carrying a small basket. The man waved and spoke to him.


    "Regent Courtney. Back again I see."


    "Who are you again?"


    ¡±I''m the cook. My name is Alton. You hired me yourself several years back. Of course the house was unoccupied at that time. Now that was a great job.¡±


    ¡±What do you mean?¡±


    ''Being on retainer as house cook. Being paid without actually having to actually prepare meals. It was a great time to experiment with my recipes. You know, a nice cushy government job.¡±


    ¡±Well you never know when a foreign diplomat is going to show up.¡± Said Courtney. ¡°A nation must be prepared for such eventualities. This case in point¡±


    ¡±Yes, and I¡¯m definitely working now. It¡¯s a great chance to try things out on elves. Very few humans get the chance to actually cook for them. It¡¯s fascinating. Do you know that I''ve recently gotten Lothinar to start eating meat?"


    "I thought that elves were strict vegetarians."


    "He hangs around with those dragons. Perhaps their feeding habits have affected him. I''m monitoring the situation. I''ll send you a report."


    "I''m sure it''s fascinating." said Courtney distractedly. "Would you mind unlocking the gate? I''m afraid I still have business with the elves tonight."


    "No I don''t mind. I was just headed out to pick up a few things." He reached in his pocket and produced a key. "Lothinar doesn''t usually ask us to lock the gate, but a lot of uninvited guests have been trying to stop by. You''re not one of them are you?" he asked suspiciously. Then he laughed.


    "I¡¯m glad you recognized me.¡± said Courtney.


    "I hope you have an uneventful evening Regent" the cook said. "But somehow I don''t think you will. Your missing daughter is inside.¡± He began whistling as he walked away.


    "What an odd man." Thought the Regent.


    As the gate swung open Courtney collected the reins of both horses and walked them up to the front door of the house. Tying his horses to the bannister, he knocked.


    The door swung open. A red dragon was standing there. She had pulled the door latch down with her mouth.


    "We''ve been expecting you" Firestorm said.


    Courtney looked across the large room and saw his daughter seated at a table licking a plate. Lothinar and Ardwynn were talking about something. They looked at him with apprehension.


    Michelle saw her father and quickly got up and ran around the table. She jumped up into Lothinar''s arms. He reflexively caught her.


    "It''s too late daddy! I''ve already joined their family!" she said loudly.


    Lothinar looked stunned.


    "Hello Regent" said Ardwynn. "How would you like a little serving of green bean casserole? We''ve got plenty".


    "No thanks. He said. Green beans give me gas."


    "I think it might be affecting your daughter the same way" said Lothinar wrinkling his nose. He seemed disturbed by something going on under or around Michelle''s dress. Then Courtney smelled something. Michelle was actually passing gas! This could make the newspapers. If Lothinar complained then it could even turn into an international incident!


    "Oops" said Michelle. In all the excitement I forgot about how green beans affect me!"


    "Well that''s something else we have in common dear. A different bean but the same outcome." said Ardwynn.


    "Are all elves lunatics?" asked Courtney.


    "Only the ones that hang out with dragons." said Ardwynn. "We need to have a talk about your daughter."


    "Can we at least open the window?" Asked Lothinar. "My eyes are burning."


    He continued to stand there holding Michelle. She was just looking at him. She didn''t seem the slightest bit embarrassed.


    Firestorm went over and re-opened the front door.


    "You must believe me. I raised her with more manners than this." said Courtney. "We did lose her mother when she was young. I''ve been doing my best but with Enderline gone, the responsibilities have just kept piling up. While I was out dealing with that she managed to slip away from her room. I thought that I could keep her there."


    "By chaining me to the bedpost?"


    "I obviously should have posted a guard." said Courtney.


    "I''m actually quite impressed with her." said Ardwynn. "She has a lot of tenacity and she''s very intelligent, even if she seems preoccupied at the moment."


    "That''s kind of you to say." said Courtney. "Is there nothing you can do to mitigate her obsession with your husband?"


    "Not a thing, at least tonight" said Ardwynn. "We were just discussing some possible solutions before you came in. All of them surprisingly have something to do with bean allergies. There may be a connection."


    "It''s getting late. We need to go Michelle." said Courtney. Don''t make me drag you back."


    "I''m not going with you." said Michelle. "I''m staying with Lothinar. If you try to take me then I''ll make a scene!"


    "This just will not do at all!" said Courtney.


    "She can stay in our guest bedroom, just for tonight." said Ardwynn. "I''ll ask Firestorm to guard her. She is very good at that sort of thing. I will personally guarantee that nothing will happen to your daughter''s virtue."


    "What little seems to remain." said Courtney somewhat bitterly. "Michelle, I will be back first thing in the morning with whatever means that I may need to take you back home quietly."


    Without further discussion he walked out of the room.


    "I''m calling that a win." said Michelle.


    Lothinar set her down.


    "You may feel that way tonight, but I''m sure that you will feel differently about it eventually." he said.


    -----------------------


    With Firestorm firmly ensconced as Michelle''s guard, Ardwynn and Lothinar finally had time to speak with Candasar.


    The two elves had met the dragon near the gazebo. There were some quiet anxious moments before Ardwynn finally spoke.


    "For what it''s worth, I''m sorry that you lost your friend."


    "Vanquish was more than my friend. She was a repository of dragon culture and magic. It''s a loss to dragons everywhere. She''s irreplaceable!"


    "I''m trying to figure out the timeline here." said Ardwynn. "You two had just flown in from across the water before she decided to grab me?"


    "She actually grabbed Michelle first. It was dark" said Candasar.


    "Michelle seemed to have survived the process without losing her memory."


    "I''ve been thinking about it a lot while you were dealing with the Michelle situation" said Candasar. "I want to be clear about something."


    "Go ahead." said Ardwynn.


    "I didn''t at all know what Vanquish was going to do. I left the final decision up to her. We talked about ending you. That''s what I wanted to do."


    "I see" said Ardwynn. "Thanks for telling me. At least I know where I stand with you."


    "Vanquish obviously must have tried something different. I think that she edited you. Probably your unborn child as well."


    "Could. you perhaps tell me what the hell that means?"


    "Vanquish was a very old dragon. She had vast and powerful magic. I had the privilege of working with her when we were bringing the Queen back from the dead and changing Lothinar."


    "You brought the Queen back from actual death?"


    "Yes"


    "Whew. I suppose after hearing that anything is possible."


    "For Vanquish it was."


    "You did help, Candasar." Lothinar interrupted. "I felt you. I think it was your access to me through the bond that gave Vanquish the ability to do that."


    "She did say something to that effect." said Candasar..


    "Vanquish probably had to bond with you to do what she was trying to do."


    "Hmm. Nope."


    "She didn''t bond with you?"


    "Oh, it''s possible. I just don''t remember anything like that."


    "Maybe the part of you that she edited had those memories." suggested Lothinar.


    "Ok, Lets say that I go along with all of this as a working theory." said Ardwynn. "She killed parts of me that I inherited from being related to what''s his name? The guy on the coin."


    "Argent" said Lothinar.


    "But what did she replace them with?" I would have been like a puzzle with missing pieces."


    "Whatever she had on hand." said Candasar. "She may have used herself. You probably have dragon parts now. Just like Lothinar."


    "It seems like my body pretty much looks the same. I even still have my hair." she said smirking at Lothinar.


    "The parts that she replaced were probably the things that affect your chemical makeup and your brain."


    "I have part of a dragon brain now?" That''s just too strange to believe."


    "Is it?" asked Candasar. "The two races, dragon and elf, are obviously very physically different, but we both can use magic. We understand each other. Being bonded to Lothinar, I have observed that his mind works much like mine does. We are not that fundamentally different."


    "So what happened? What went wrong? Burning up couldn''t have been part of her plan." asked Ardwynn.


    "I think everyone that could have answered that question is now dead." said Candasar. "Perhaps it was the old Ardwynn''s final defiance. A parting shot to kill the dragon that killed her."


    "That would explain a lot of things." said Lothinar. "The whole thing is still a great tragedy"


    "It gives me a great deal to think about." agreed Ardwynn. "Dragon parts... Hmm.. I wonder if that''s why I''ve been craving meat?"


    "You should try it." said Candasar. "It''s much better than mung beans. And it doesn''t give you gas!"


    "Did those mung beans you ate give you gas Candasar?" Asked Lothinar with surprise.


    "Gosh yes. Why do you think that I''ve been hanging out here by the gazebo?"


    "Candasar?" said Ardwynn.


    "What is it?" asked the dragon.


    "If you don''t mind, I very much would like to try to start over and be your friend."


    The dragon seemed conflicted. She came over and sniffed her. She didn''t say anything for quite a long time.


    "You sniffed me" said Ardwynn. "What was that for?"


    "I was seeing if you smelled like Argent. Tundor said that you did."


    "But I don''t?"


    "No. you don''t."


    "Friends then?"


    "I would be willing to give it a try." she finally said. "But how would you feel about heading home, back to the mainland as soon as possible?"


    "I''m all for it!" said Lothinar. There is nothing really holding us here anymore.


    "WHAT ABOUT MEEEE?!" came Michelle''s shout from the open window overlooking the garden.


    Firestorm poked her head out the next window over.


    "It''s no problem. Lothinar, I can probably carry her with a little magical help. She''s not nearly as fat as Ardwynn."


    -------------------------

 Volume 2 Chapter 15: The Pinched Nerve

    *****************


    FIFTEEN


    *****************


    Tundor and his two blue dragon children landed at the stockyard of the Ronniflass dairy. Cantrell, who arrived with them astride Tundor¡¯s massive back, and looking over the place from the air, thought milk must be in short supply. The number of cows was vastly depleted. The last time he had been here there were over two hundred head. Now there were just over seventy.


    Tundor¡¯s arrival had created a lot of attention. Cantrell had obviously updated Esmarilla about his new size and Mavis had told Mo-Rung. Mo-Rung had informed Vanador, so he knew what to expect. Seeing another huge white dragon land and take up so much of the yard was difficult to process. Tundor had only been of average size a few weeks ago. Siophra had obviously felt him coming and was one of the first to run outside. She grabbed onto his large foreleg the moment he stumbled to a stop and hugged him tightly.


    ¡°You look amazing Tundor! I think Vanador is actually going to be jealous.¡±


    Tundor had an unfathomable look on his face as he stared down at the pretty blonde elf.


    "I thought that I had lost you! That was terrible! Then you saved my daughter! You even let her borrow your body! "


    "We are partners Tundor. For life. You would have done the same for me. Someday you probably will. Well, maybe not the body part, but who knows!" Then she laughed out loud.


    She smiled up ant him before letting go, immediately running to greet and hug the two small dragons, Vigilant and Constance. They were looking around the yard in amazement.


    ¡±So many cows!¡± Said Vigilant.


    ¡±You two have grown so much as well!¡± She said, looking at them.


    ¡±I ate six weasels! But nobody has grown as much as daddy!¡± Said Vigilant.


    ¡°Aunt Siophra,¡± Constance sang. ¡°We¡¯ve brought someone special to seeee yoouu!¡±


    Siophra squinted a little, looking up into the morning sun toward Tundor¡¯s back where, on top of him, not one, but two handsome male elves were sitting. Cenderick leapt down and landed a few steps in front of the beautiful green eyed elf. He stumbled toward her and grabbed her in a tight hug.


    Cantrell also dropped from Tundor''s back, landing in a shock absorbing crouch before straightening and walking over to Ronni, who had just emerged from the barn. She whistled. It sounded like a tea kettle losing steam.


    ¡±My goodness! What have you been feeding him? He¡¯s bigger than Vanador!¡±


    ¡±I¡¯m sure you¡¯re mistaken ¡° said Cantrell.


    ¡®Then Vanador came around the backside of the barn and Tundor was!¡± Bigger, that is, but just barely.


    ¡±Wow,¡± said Cantrell, finally observing the two dragons side by side. ¡°Your right!¡±


    Vanador saw Tundor and began to bristle. He started flaring his wings and shoulders as if trying to make himself appear larger. He growled. Tundor stopped in shock and grew wide eyed. A few seconds passed and then Vanador started shaking. Then peals of extremely noisy dragon laughter came from him. The cows in a nearby pen shifted away and began mooing nervously.


    ¡±Oh my! You should have seen your face.¡± Vanador wheezed while trying to catch his breath. ¡°That look!¡±


    All of the elves except Siophra had frozen and initially been riveted on Vanador¡¯s display of dominance. They seemed to suddenly relax and Cantrell even heard a chuckle or two.


    ¡°You had me going¡± said Tundor. ¡°I almost pooped right here. I thought you wanted to fight me!¡±


    Vanador moved towards Tundor and bumped him shoulder to shoulder. That got everybody¡¯s attention again.


    ¡°No, but a little wrestling might be fun. Since my sister has been gone I haven¡¯t had a good spar. Nobody¡¯s been my size.¡±


    ¡±That will have to wait boys!¡± Said Siophra testily. ¡°We have more important things to do right now.¡±


    Cenderick was standing there looking a little lost. Cantrell observed that Cenderick¡¯s emotionally charged reunion with Siophra had been delayed or completely derailed by the older white dragon¡¯s fake display of dominance. . He suddenly wondered if the whole spectacle had been enacted by design. Vanador had vastly more experience dealing with Siophra¡¯s hidden hurts and fears than Tundor actually did. He was her friend even though Vanador was not her current bond.


    It occurred to Cantrell that his friend Cenderick had been put off before, although apparently gently enough not to dissuade him entirely. He had chosen to offer his heart to a very old and mysterious elven beauty. She had been through unspeakable things and had not emerged unscathed. He walked up his friend and touched him on the shoulder. Cenderick tore his gaze away from Siophra to meet his eyes.


    ¡±You can¡¯t rush things my friend. She just barely got Zinariya out of her and she was almost killed just before that.¡±


    ¡±I know¡± said Cenderick sullenly. ¡°She needs time again. I get it.¡±


    Ronni who had been standing there suddenly broke the awkward moment by asking a question.


    ¡±So did you two manage to safely lock up my house before you left?¡±


    ¡±House and barn are locked tighter than a drum¡± answered Cantrell, handing her the key. ¡°But I do need to compensate you for one of the bedspreads. Some of Argents relatives bled all over it. It¡¯s probably ruined.¡±


    ¡±They were in my house?¡± She practically shrieked.


    ¡±No their blood was all over me when I carried a dying Siophra inside. It was second hand blood.¡±


    ¡±That¡¯s terrible. You must have had an awful time up there!¡±


    ¡±The really bad part was over rather quickly and Mo-Rung did all the killing. But yes it was a rather unpleasant time. There are three dead elves buried just outside your pasture in the nearby forest. It could have been much worse actually.¡±


    ¡±Which one was it?¡±


    ¡±I beg your pardon? Oh it was Thelma, and her husband Malick. Probably their son too.¡±


    ¡±The quilt.¡±


    He looked at her without comprehension.


    ¡±The quilt. Which one got ruined? Was it the one with the flowers or the sailing ships?¡±


    ¡±Uh, the flowers I think.¡±


    ¡±Well, that¡¯s bad but not a disaster then.¡±


    ¡±Do I dare ask why?


    ¡±The sailing ship quilt has special memories for me. It¡¯s the one I was under with Lothinar.¡± She blushed. ¡°On our first special night.¡±


    Cantrell shrugged.


    ¡±Definitely the flowers then.¡±


    ¡±Wait a minute! You don¡¯t sound sure. Do I need to go up there?¡±


    ¡±Honestly, you do need to go up there. I think it was the flower quilt, but with all the blood and dying....and dragon babysitting that I¡¯ve been doing, I can barely remember my own name right now!¡±


    Ronni was looking at him in shock. Then her face softened. She hugged him.


    ¡±I¡¯m sorry Cantrell. That was extremely inconsiderate of me. I lost all perspective on what you and Cenderick have just been through. The quilt obviously doesn¡¯t matter. That you all survived is what is important.¡±


    ¡±Hey, I got there after all the bloodshed.¡± Said Cenderick jumping in. ¡°I didn¡¯t even have to bury anyone. I just had to watch Tundor inflate like a balloon. I did shoot a couple of deer. That always makes me feel a little guilty for some reason¡­.¡±


    ¡±That¡¯s right! You were in the house¡± said Ronniflass putting her arm around his waist and steering him away and back toward the barn. Do you remember for sure what quilt it was because Cantrell¡­.¡±


    Her voice faded away as they walked into the large building.


    ¡°Well at least she distracted Cenderick from his Siophra troubles.¡± Thought Cantrell. ¡°I wonder where King Enderline and Pricilla are? They seem conspicuously absent.¡±


    He looked back over at Siophra who was still showering attention on Vigilant and Constance.


    ¡±Hey! Which one of these dragons is Zinariya?¡±


    Something bumped into him from behind causing him to almost fall before recovering. He turned around. A shiny silver colored dragon much larger than the two little blues was glaring at him. He immediately noticed that her eyes were strangely golden.


    ¡°Don¡¯t just yell something like that out loud!¡± She hissed.


    Cantrell placed his hands on his hips. He scowled at her.


    ¡°You shouldn¡¯t go around ambushing someone from behind!¡± He said angrily. ¡°It¡¯s very rude.¡±


    ¡±You shouted my name! Not everyone knows that it¡¯s actually me wearing this body. It has awkward implications.¡±


    ¡±I¡¯m assuming then, that the dragon wearing it before you did not give it up willingly.¡±


    ¡±She did not. We should not speak of this out here in the open¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s been my experience that If you feel embarrassed about what you did then you probably shouldn¡¯t have done it. Are you embarrassed Zinariya?¡±


    ¡±I think you were nicer to me when I was a sexy elf.¡±


    In spite of himself, Cantrell felt himself blushing.


    ¡±I think Siophra¡¯s influence gave you better manners!¡±


    She seemed to pause and think about that for a few seconds.


    ¡±You¡¯re probably right¡± she said. ¡°This dragon was pretty rude. I¡¯ll have to be careful about that. It might be a hormonal thing.¡±


    He raised his eyebrows


    ¡°Listen Cantrell," she said. "Some things have obviously changed. I¡¯m going to need your help.¡±


    He looked at her skeptically.


    "With what exactly?"


    "You have done research on Argent''s daughters. You know what they look like and even met most of them."


    "Briefly." he said. "But they know me. I''ll be useless if you''re trying to get close to them. They will see me coming a mile away."


    "But you won''t be a mile away. You''ll be right in their bedroom while they are sleeping, or slipping something poisonous into their kitchen supplies!"


    "I''m not an assassin! You should talk to Ardwella."


    There was an awkward pause.


    "You already did, didn''t you?"


    "Yes.¡± The dragon looked frustrated. ¡®She turned me down."


    "I''d like to say that doesn''t surprise me, but it actually does. She has no love for Argent''s family.¡±


    He thought for a second


    ¡°What about Siophra?"


    "Siophra and I have a strange relationship right now. She also said no."


    "I would think that after the recent attack she would want a little revenge."


    "With my mother away, Siophra said that she needs to help my father with Constance and Vigilant. She told me that she has given up her sword and that she was tired of killing. I guess she actually meant it."


    ¡±Perhaps,¡± thought Cantrell, ¡°There is hope for Cenderick yet.¡±


    He looked around for his friend but he was apparently still undergoing Ronnie¡¯s quilt identification interrogation.¡±


    "So I''m your third choice?"


    "Fourth actually."


    "I''m trying not to be offended, but at the same time actually relieved that I''m so far down on your list. Who was third?"


    "My mother''s bond Lothinar. He''s obviously too far away at the moment."


    "How far can you teleport someone?"


    "I''m not really sure. Certainly not Sivantra. Range creates risk. Maybe when I''m fully grown. If we were in the capitol, I could probably get you in and out of Argents daughter¡¯s strongholds."


    "Probably isn''t exactly a word that inspires confidence" said Cantrell.


    "I pulled a dragon''s brain right out of her body last night. It went really smoothly."


    "Probably not for her." said Cantrell with a morbid chuckle. "How does that really work anyway?"


    ¡±It¡¯s actually pretty hard to describe. I focus on what I want to move¡­¡±


    ¡±Like a dragon¡¯s brain?¡±


    ¡±Yes, Or a snarky elf. But that brain moving was far easier than moving myself out of a broken egg and into the body of an elf. That was actually pretty hard. Plus I had to share.¡±


    Cantrell was exceptionally tired. He suspected that he could use some sleep or at least a nap. He nodded.


    ¡±If you say so. The whole thing sounds very improbable and dangerous to me.¡±


    ¡±You don¡¯t trust me. Do you want me to show you my magic?" asked Zinariya. "Where do you want to go?"


    There was really only one place he really wanted to be. His heart thought the word and his lips moved before he even had time to think about how far the destination actually was.


    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.


    "Mavis."


    The dragon looked surprised. Then she scrunched up her face with obvious effort.


    "You don''t start small do you? That''s a fifty-fifty chance of success at best. Ok hold onto your boots. This might hurt."


    "No wait..."


    There was gut punching explosion of air and Cantrell felt himself starting to scream before his body realized that there was no air to do it with. His body was buzzing like he was made of bees. He felt like he was falling and it went completely dark. Then he smacked into something that felt like a hard floor. The lights came back on. His eyes filled with tears against a sudden glare. Finally he pulled in a tortured breath. He blinked and looked up.


    Mavis was eating breakfast at a small table in the citadel cafeteria. He was laying on the floor next to her. She glanced down and saw him laying there. She yelled and jumped straight out of her chair.


    ¡±Hi beautiful!¡± He croaked.


    Then he lost consciousness.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-


    Night-Sky still hadn''t come home and Enderline was sulking.


    "What is that dragon thinking?" he said angrily.


    Pricilla was teaching Ivy tricks in their suite. She was teaching her to ''roll over.''


    "I''m sure that Night-Sky will be back soon dear!" she said.


    "What are you doing with that dragon?" he said grumpily. "Your going to have her breaking a wing if you keep that up."


    "She tucks her wings in, and it''s cute" said Pricilla. ''She is highly treat motivated. She really likes this barbecued bear meat I got ahold of."


    "Where did you get something like that?"


    "One of the street vendors was selling kababs. Ivy smelled them and almost went crazy. So I bought her some."


    "Your spoiling her."


    "At least she pays me some attention. You''ve been so lost in your own thoughts lately."


    Enderline sighed.


    "I think we need to get back to Sivantra. Courtney''s last message sounded like several things were piling up. We can just leave the baby dragons here. We can come back later and fly them home when they are big enough."


    "I''m not leaving Ivy. Just because you don''t feel the same way about Night-Sky...."


    "Night-Sky and Snow are on a whole different level than your dog trick green dragon. They are playing a far different game!"


    "Ivy hung her head."


    "You''ve hurt her feelings Enderline! Apologize!"


    "I''ve apologized enough this week for my entire lifetime." he said. "It''s not very Kingly and I''m not going to start apologizing to your dragon for saying what''s true."


    "Are you saying the Ivy isn''t smart?"


    "Well, she is a lot smarter than a dog. You are probably insulting her intelligence with those kinds of tricks."


    "We are just having fun together. These dragons are still young. They still like to play. Almost all the other dragon bonded humans play with their dragons in some way or another!"


    "Except for me you mean."


    "I know it''s different for you. You''re the king and have appearances to maintain. But I never thought you would isolate yourself from your own people like this. You''re missing out."


    "On bear kababs apparently."


    Pricilla frowned.


    "You should get out among the people more often. It''s good politically to be seen. You''ve been holed up in here for days now."


    "And everywhere I go the people will be saying. ''There goes poor King Enderline. He''s the guy whose dragon doesn''t love him anymore!''"


    "They won''t. But you should go over to Ardwella''s and at least try to talk to Night-Sky. I''ll go with you!"


    "Ok, fine."he said. "After breakfast. Do you have any more of that bear meat?"


    "I do" she said.


    "is it fresh?"


    "The freshest!" she said. "I had it delivered this morning. I''ll fry some of it up for you, sliced thin and cooked crispy. It''s like bacon."


    Enderline looked at Ivy. He waited for Pricilla to run off to the kitchen.


    "I''m sorry." he said mouthing a whisper.


    Ivy began wagging her long lizard like tail.


    -------------------------------


    Ardwella was feeding the baby. Her blouse was open and she had a soft blanket loosely covering herself and baby Charity.


    "She seems fine!" said Muina. "It''s almost like it never happened."


    "Except that Charity was born almost two months early." said Ardwella. ¡°That platinum dragon should never have done that.¡±


    ¡±You explained to me what happened and I know she probably deserved it, but that¡¯s an awful way to die.¡±


    "Candasar''s daughter is scary.¡± Said Ardwella. "Plop! She just teleported Platinum¡¯s brains out onto the floor."


    ¡±It guess it was quicker than burning to death¡± said Mavis. ¡°I think it¡¯s time to talk about that.¡±


    Ardwella gave her sister a pained look. ¡°We probably should at some point. You know, It never occurred to me that you might know that spell.¡±


    ¡±Argent had the scroll in his personal things. I couldn¡¯t exactly just leave it there. Not stealing it might have lost us the war.¡±


    ¡±Yes, but then you read and memorized it. You know if you were anyone else...."


    She gave her sister a meaningful look.


    ¡±Yes, I know. You broke your assasins oath by not killing me."


    Ardwella shook her head.


    "I made that oath to protect the dragons, but look at me now. Last night I set off to kill a dragon myself." said Ardwella.


    "Being bonded myself for so long, It never occurred to me that I would ever use it that spell.¡± Said Muina. ¡®Then that dragon attacked us on our trip. I felt so defenseless. I don''t think you really realize how terrifying that was!"


    ¡±He was probably just young, hormonal and unwilling to back down in front of his girlfriend.¡± Said Ardwella. "He couldn¡¯t have been as narcissistic as Platinum."


    ¡°He was a lot bigger and pain enraged. Albarad put several arrows in him trying to defend his horse.¡±


    "Better that dragon be dead than you and Albarad. I would have had to hunt him down myself if that had happened."


    "He did kill the horse."


    "I do miss Jamison." said Ardwella. "At least he was avenged. Let''s hope he''s the last horse that Albarad loses. He''s actually going up there again."


    Yes, he''s going to try and find that other dragon and give her a decent burial."


    "You don''t have to candy coat the situation with me. He''s going up there to hide the body." said Ardwella with a sigh. "I don''t think Albarad would go to that much trouble if he wasn''t concerned about protecting you. Killingsworth hasn''t let this go."


    "I''m regretting killing that second dragon quite a lot actually. She wasn''t a threat. She was running because she was afraid."


    "She kept bad company. Sometimes things like this happen to those that hang around with fools." Ardwella said. She moved the baby to the other breast. The two sisters sat In peaceful silence for a few more minutes until Ardwella gently pulled the baby away from her chest.


    "She''s full" she said putting the baby against her shoulder and gently beginning to pat her on the back. "I don''t think I told you the rest of my conversation with Zinariya last night." she said suddenly.


    "I''m intrigued. You didn''t mention anything."


    "That''s because Albarad was there. It would have upset him."


    "What did she say?"


    "She asked me for a favor. She want''s me to go with her to the capital and help her kill the rest of Argent''s daughters. She wants to end this madness once and for all.¡±


    "Oh! What did you say? That¡¯s a pretty big favor.¡±


    "I told her no, but I''ve reconsidered."


    "That also sounds dangerous. You have a new baby and responsibilities here." said Muina.


    "I do, but I agree with Zinariya that this situation requires decisive action, and I have the skill set for the job. Besides when I said no she said that she was going to ask Cantrell to do it! He wouldn''t know how to hurt a fly."


    "I think you may be underestimating him. Cantrell seems pretty competent." said Muina. "Mavis thinks so." Then she blushed. "That''s not what I meant."


    "Yes, he probably competent at that." said Ardwella. "But if Cantrell straight up murdered Argent¡¯s daughters it would break him. He probably couldn''t live with it."


    "And you can?"


    "You should know better than almost anyone that I have a switch. Let''s call it the bitch switch. When I flip it, nothing seems to bother me."


    "You say that, but... I''m your twin. I don''t have that switch. Sometimes I wish I did.¡±


    "And that''s why you are the best choice for Albarad if I don''t survive this" said Ardwella.


    "I need you to do me a favor Muina." said Ardwella.


    She handed her the baby. Then she reached up and took a fancy blue sword down off a display on the wall.


    Looking Muina in the eyes, she said "Tell Albarad that I''m sorry, and I''ll try to come back."


    She turned around and walked out the door.


    ----------------


    There was a loud pop and Siophra looked over to see what it was. Cantrell had been talking to Zinariya, but now he was gone.


    "What did you do!?" she yelled, running over to where Zinariya remained standing. Tundor followed her. He towered over them and peered at the platinum dragon. He blinked in brief surprise after seeing her eyes. Then he leaned in to sniff her. She allowed it, standing there quietly.


    Tundor looked at Siophra with puzzlement.


    ¡±Yes, this is your daughter, Tundor. ¡°She left me and joined with an existing platinum dragon. I told you about this.¡±


    She turned her attention back to Zinariya.


    ¡±Where is Cantrell? He was just here?¡± She asked with concern.


    He asked me to send him to Mavis, so I did." the dragon said mater-of-factly. "Don''t worry. He made it. I think. Phew! That was tougher than I thought. I should have worked up to something like that!"


    ¡°That sounds irresponsibly dangerous! Where is Mo-Rung? We are going to need to have him ask Mavis if Cantrell arrived in one piece.¡± Said Siophra.


    ¡°I¡¯m telling you that he did.¡±


    ¡±If something bad has happened to Cantrell then you are going to be in a lot of trouble¡± said Tundor, in a parental tone.


    He looked at Siophra.


    ¡°Are you sure this dragon is really my daughter?¡± He asked.


    Siophra suddenly looked thoughtful.


    ¡±Yes?¡± She said , her voice rising like more of a question than a confirmation. ¡°I was there. Zinariya definitely jumped out of me and into her. Look at her eyes! Platinum definitely didn¡¯t have golden eyes.¡±


    ¡±I can see her eyes, but she doesn¡¯t smell right. Something''s different." Said the white dragon.


    ¡°She is a mixture. Besides how could you possibly know how she should smell. She was joined with me the first time you smelled her.¡±


    ¡±Well, it wasn¡¯t quite the same as when I joined with you Siophra.¡± Interrupted Zinariya. ¡°I shared your body leaving your mind unconscious but intact. I completely evicted this body¡¯s previous owner. It¡¯s just me in here.¡±


    ¡±I appreciate the intact aspect a great deal. The unconscious part, not as much.¡±


    ¡°I am explaining this so that my father understands.¡±


    ¡±I understand¡± said Tundor. ¡°But I¡¯m still saying you don¡¯t smell right. I remember how the egg smelled. It smelled like Candasar and me.¡±


    Siophra seemed to be considering this for a few moments. She looked at Zinariya.


    ¡°If the attack hadn¡¯t happened and your egg had not broken, how long would it have been until your original gold body would have naturally hatched?¡±


    ¡±it would have been a few more weeks until I could start absorbing the egg shell. Metallic dragons don¡¯t traditionally hatch. Then at least three more days after that.¡±


    ¡±So you could be a month away from surviving on your own without a host?¡±


    ¡±Are you suggesting that I should throw away this completely adequate body and go back to being a puny little baby dragon again, once I¡¯m able to do that?¡±


    ¡±Isn¡¯t that exactly what you were going to have to do with my body? Give it back to me? Or were you thinking you might actually keep it?¡± She asked accusingly.


    ¡±Going back to being that small again would be very inconvenient for me, at least for now.¡± Zinariya said. Looking down at her new body. ¡°I really want to get started on finishing off Argent¡¯s daughters. You and I would have made the perfect team for that.¡±


    ¡±I noticed that you didn¡¯t answer my question.¡± Said Siophra.


    There was a very awkward pause.


    ¡°Ardwella is coming¡± said Tundor suddenly. They all turned and watched the stunning elf approach.


    "Hello sister!" said Siophra. "I want to thank you again for what you did last night."


    "Zinariya did most of the work, but you are welcome." said Ardwella. "I wanted to say again how glad that I am to actually have you back"


    "I am as well." rumbled Tundor.


    Ardwella looked at the huge white dragon.


    "My Goodness Tundor! You are as big as Esmarilla!"


    "He''s actually bigger than Vanador" said Siophra. "A little bit at least."


    "He ate my egg shell" said Zinariya. "Lots of magical vitamins. It''s too bad I couldn''t use them myself. But I was an elf at the time."


    "Have you seen his other two children, Constance and Vigilant? They are blues." said Siophra, trying to change the subject. "They are right over there." she said pointing.


    "I''ll be glad to meet them soon," said Ardwella. "But first I need to speak with Tundor''s other child."


    "You mean me?" asked Zinariya. "We just spoke last night. You turned me down remember?"


    "That''s what I wanted to talk to you about. I''ve reconsidered."


    "It''s too late" said Zinariya. "I''ve just Cantrell on ahead. I''m going to be leaving to join him soon."


    "Cantrell just isn''t the right person for the job. I am. You know that. That''s why you asked me first."


    "Me using Siophra''s body would have been the best person for the job, but after last night, that ship has sailed." said Zinariya. ¡°My plans are ruined as badly as that bloody quilt with the pretty boats all over it¡±


    "This is going to be dangerous Ardwella!" said Siophra. "You don''t have to do this. You have a family and a new baby at home! You have already done enough for this war!"


    Ardwella stepped in close to her sister and surprised her by pulling her in for a hug.


    "They attacked and almost killed you Siophra. I almost lost you. Argent''s daughters won''t ever quit. They will keep coming back. Right now they are weak, but eventually they will start getting a hold of eggs. I need to do this now."


    "Exactly!" said Zinariya. "I''m glad someone finally understands what I''ve been talking about!"


    "Then choose me," she said. "Instead of Cantrell. I want to help. I have the skills. We can do this!"


    "You''ve convinced me." said Zinariya.


    Ardwella grunted as the platinum dragon began to sag like a puppet with its strings cut. It dropped to the ground with a thud.


    "Nooo!" yelled Siophra.


    "What''s happening?" asked Tundor in alarm.


    "Your daughter just inserted herself into Ardwella''s body! Just like she did to me!"


    "Can she do that? What about the platinum dragon?" he asked.


    "She''s already dead Tundor." said Siophra. "Her brain is gone. Zinariya was the only thing keeping that body alive."


    Tundor looked at Ardwella''s pretty face. Her previously blue eyes were glowing with a golden fire!


    "I''ll be back as soon as I can father." she said. "I will win this war!"


    There was a loud pop and Ardwella disappeared.


    "I don''t think that''s what Ardwella meant by wanting to help." said Tundor.


    "Definitely not." said Siophra.


    Mo-Rung landed in the yard. He had a pair of small dragons with him. One was black and the other, white. He ran over.


    ¡±Is that you Tundor?¡± He asked.


    ¡°Of course it¡¯s me.¡± Said Tundor. ¡°I¡¯ve just grown.¡±


    ¡±How did that happen so fast?¡±


    Siophra interrupted before Tundor could answer.


    ¡±Mo-Rung! You are still in contact with Mavis right?¡±


    ¡±Hey, you¡¯re back to being Siophra again!¡± Said Mo-Rung. ¡°Where is Zinariya?¡±


    ¡±Well, first she teleported into that platinum dragon that¡¯s lying there¡­.¡± Said Siophra. ¡°Then¡­¡±


    ¡±Teleported?¡±  Hey you are not going to believe this but a couple of minutes ago Mavis and Mandel picked Cantrell up off the cafeteria floor, back in the capitol. Did Zinariya do that too?¡±


    ¡±Yes, Zinariya teleported him there.¡± Said Tundor. ¡°Is Cantrell alright?¡±


    ¡±Mavis said that he seems to be fine, but that he passed out.  He woke up again, He seems ok, but now they are letting him rest.¡±


    ¡±I¡¯m glad Cantrell is alright.¡± Said Siophra. ¡°Teleporting must be exhausting.¡±


    ¡±Well that probably explains why Zinariya is unconscious as well¡± said Mo-Rung. ¡°It looks a bit strange for her to be just lying there like that. You know, before you explained it to me, I thought she was dead. It just didn¡¯t make sense that you both would just be standing here so calmly if that was the case.¡±


    Tundor and Siophra just looked at each other.


    ¡°Did Mavis see my sister Ardwella anywhere around there yet?¡± Asked Siophra.


    ¡±I don¡¯t think so. She probably would have mentioned that.¡±


    ---------------------


    Albarad had set off on his journey to bury the female dragon on a horse he named Quest. Heirwynn had followed riding Star. Her two dragon escorts Night-Sky and Snow were tagging along behind. Albarad was using the opportunity to spruce up her horsemanship skills and they chatted incessantly about it as they rode. Heirwyn was a quick study.


    The trip into the mountains went far easier than the previous one. They didn''t meet any wild dragons on the way up to the place where the conflict had originally occurred. It had been a big relief to Albarad when Night-Sky had explained to him that, not only did they understand Muina''s need to defend herself, but that they actually supported trying to end the investigation. It was nice to have practical dragons in the family. This new generation was certainly more reasonable.


    When they had reached the place where Jamison had been killed, Albarad actually wept. Some sort of animals, probably wolves, had finished off most of the remains and there wasn''t much left to bury but bones. Albarad did it anyway. Heirwynn helped. Albarad never found the saddlebags or the teapot. The small dragons maintained a respectful silence as he worked.


    They moved on to the place where Muina had burned Rolf. The charred bones were still there and there were numerous other dragon foot prints all around so Albarad steered a wide path around the scene. Albarad took a bearing and began leading the group through the woods in the direction that he had seen the dragon named Penelope flying before she crashed to the ground. He found the female dragon''s burned body again fairly quickly. He had actually put out a small fire at the site the day Muina shot her out of the air.


    "This is it." said Albarad. "The last resting place of a dragon named Penelope."


    He slipped off Quest and began to reach for his shovel.


    "I was wondering if you would have the nerve to come back up here!" said a voice from behind the trees. It was Killingsworth.


    He was dirty. Filthy in fact. He was also thinner. It didn''t look like he had been eating well.


    "Of course¡± thought Albarad. ¡°It would be difficult for him to hunt or reach water while his wings were not working."


    Initially startled, Albarad set his face in stone and answered him.


    "What do you want me to say Killingsworth? They attacked us first!"


    "That might be true for Rolf, but it looks to me like Penelope was trying to fly away when she went down." he said.


    "Mistakes were made on both sides." said Albarad.


    "I think what bothers me the most" said Killingsworth, "Is how Muina just lied to me with a straight face about her involvement in this."


    "What good is the truth going to do now?" said Albarad.


    "Perhaps it would bring Penelope some peace." suggested Killingsworth.


    "She has all the peace that she''s ever going to have at this point" said Albarad. "Bringing Muina to some sort of imaginary justice is just dragon pride talking!"


    "Perhaps you are right." said Killingsworth. I have heard the stories of what she did to try and stop Argent and free my people. I should probably let this one go."


    "But you''re not. Are you?" asked Albarad.


    "No I''m not." said Killingsworth.


    The big dragon bellowed and ran out of the trees straight toward them. Suddenly his front legs folded up and he planted his face in the soil, rolling over to a stop. He began whimpering.


    "That''s far enough!" said Night-Sky. Snow was shaking. Heirwynn jumped off Star and ran over to her. She began hugging her.


    Albarad looked at the dragon siblings in confusion.


    "What did you do?" he asked.


    "Snow applied her existing tweak. She amplified it." He has a severely pinched nerve in his back. It kept him from flying. Now it''s keeping him from walking."


    "Is Snow alright?" asked Albarad.


    "It upsets her to use her healing like this." said Night-Sky. "I convinced her."


    "She doesn''t look convinced. She looks intimidated." said Albarad.


    "Hey! I just saved you. I''m on your side! You should be more appreciative." said Night-Sky.


    Albarad sighed.


    "I suppose I''m grateful." said the elf. "But what are we going to do with him now?"


    "That''s up to him." said Night Sky. "Let''s try again and see if he can be more reasonable this time."


    "I won''t be!" said Killingsworth through clenched teeth. He began thrashing about.


    "Now that''s going to be a problem." said Night-Sky. "A problem that you won''t survive, grey dragon.¡±


    ----------------------------


    Zinariya swayed on her feet and reached out for something nearby to steady herself. It was a bedpost. The room was dark but filtered light bled through a small gap in the curtains. She heard soft snoring. As her eyes adjusted she could finally discern Cantrell¡¯s face sticking out of the covers. There was nobody else in the room. She suddenly felt exhausted. She swayed alarmingly.


    ¡±All this teleportation must be catching up with me¡± she thought. ¡°Maybe just a quick nap.¡±


    The other side of the bed was empty and untouched.


    ¡°Five minutes¡± she said, moving to lie down. The long blue sword bumped at her hip. She fumbled for the belt only to have the sword clatter to the floor, unfortunately followed by her traveling pants. She frowned.


    ¡±These elven clothes are so awkward and hard to understand.¡± She thought. ¡°Someone with a body as beautiful as Ardwella¡¯s shouldn¡¯t even wear them.¡±


    She lifted the bed coverings and slipped in between the sheets.


    ¡°Ah, at least the elves do this part right. When I¡¯m done killing all those bitches I need to work on having a great big dragon bed made. I¡¯ve gotten spoiled. Sleeping on barn straw is way too uncomfortable.¡±


    Zinariya drifted off to sleep while accessing the many memories and ways that Ardwella knew how to kill people. This elf was surprisingly creative.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-

 Volume 2: Chapter 16: Body Swap Blues

    ************************


    CHAPTER SIXTEEN


    *************************


    After her outburst from the upstairs window, Ardwynn and Lothinar had hurriedly come back inside the house, leaving Candasar under the large gazebo. They had gone back upstairs to rejoin Michelle in the room where Firestorm had been watching her. After hearing how eager Candasar was to go home, Michelle was pouting. Her bottom lip quivered dramatically.


    ¡±That blue dragon doesn¡¯t like me! She has taken me back to my father before.¡±


    ¡±That conversation that you heard outside between Candasar and Ardwynn had nothing to do with you. Our visit to Sivantra came at an extremely inconvenient time for her. For all of us, actually.¡± Lothinar said, glancing anxiously at Ardwynn¡¯s face. He had begun to understand that it was going to be important to find out how much of Ardwynn¡¯s memories remained of previous events. There were those back on the mainland that might not give her the chance to explain her recent changes.


    ¡°If you¡¯re leaving then I want to go with you!¡±


    "Although I am not automatically opposed to taking you with us when we leave tomorrow, I''m not willing to actually kidnap you." said Ardwynn. "You are going to have to get your father¡¯s permission.¡±


    ¡±What do mean that you¡¯re not opposed?¡± Asked Lothinar in disbelief. ¡°Don¡¯t I have some sort of say in this? I can¡¯t just start collecting every woman that shows an interest in me. I¡¯d have a harem in no time.¡±


    ¡±Listen to yourself, Lothinar! Males everywhere on this island tonight are sitting around wishing that they had your problems.¡± Said Ardwynn. ¡°We certainly aren¡¯t going to start collecting every woman that bats her eyelashes at you.¡±


    ¡±That¡¯s a relief ¡° he said.


    ¡±Just the exceptional ones¡±


    ¡±What!?¡±


    ¡±You think that I¡¯m exceptional?¡± Asked Michelle smiling at last.


    ¡°Well, I should feel more reluctant to share, but I have to admit, there is something about you.¡±


    ¡±Is it because I look like you?¡±


    ¡±I don¡¯t think that is all there is to it, but you do bear a striking resemblance to me. Not so much now, of course, because I¡¯m...¡±


    ¡±Fat!¡± Said. Firestorm.


    ¡°Pregnant.¡± Said Ardwynn, scowling at the red dragon. ¡°Look Firestorm, dragons lay eggs. They don¡¯t really show it when they are making a new dragon.¡±


    ¡±I¡¯m glad I¡¯m a dragon then,¡± said Firestorm. ¡®I don¡¯t think my skin could stretch like that.¡±


    ¡±Urm, well I suppose I might be biased in that department. I¡¯m quite happy being an elf.¡±


    She returned her attention to Michelle.


    ¡±What¡¯s important is that Lothinar thinks that we are both beautiful.¡±


    ¡±I never actually said that!¡± Protested Lothinar.


    ¡°Out of all girls at the party, he did dance with me the most!¡± Said Michelle, with a dreamy look on her face.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t have to dear, I know your tastes. This girl is right in the center of your strike zone.¡±


    ¡±What sort of reference is that?¡± Asked Michelle. ¡°What¡¯s a strike zone?¡±


    ¡±It¡¯s from a game that we elves sometimes play. A leather covered ball is thrown at a player holding a club. The player tries to use the club to¡­.Never-mind, the details aren¡¯t that important right now. Not every ball thrown is easy to hit. If it is, then it¡¯s considered to be in the strike zone.¡±


    ¡±You think that I¡¯m easy to hit?¡±


    ¡±Not literally of course dear. But in the attractiveness department you certainly exceed Lothinar¡¯s prerequisites.¡±


    ¡±So you think that the way that I look should turn him on? Because I haven¡¯t found that to be the case at all. At least so far¡± complained Michelle. ¡±I don¡¯t want to be hit. I want to be..¡±


    ¡°Now, now. We must watch our language.¡± Said Ardwynn.


    ¡±I was going to say loved.¡± Said Michelle.


    ¡±See, isn¡¯t that sweet Lothinar?¡± She just wants to be loved.¡±


    Lothinar rolled his eyes.


    ¡°Yes I do!¡± Exclaimed Michelle. ¡°I saw him loving you through the window. That looked pretty nice. I want some of that!¡±


    ¡±Oh boy.¡± Said Lothinar. ¡°I don¡¯t think this conversation is helping. Michelle, what Ardwynn said about how you look, might be true, but there is a lot more to a relationship than first appearances. There are so many other things to consider.


    ¡±Like what?¡±


    ¡±Well to start, you must know that we are going to have to give you back to your father in the morning. His wishes are not something we can just ignore. He¡¯s a powerful man in this country.¡±


    ¡±I¡¯m a legal adult!¡±


    ¡±There are political consequences.¡±


    ¡±I agree¡± said Michelle.


    ¡°You do?¡± Asked Lothinar in surprise.


    ¡±He¡¯s a powerful man and he has powerful friends. While the King is away there isn¡¯t really anyone on this island more powerful than my father.¡±


    Ardwynn had begun to look concerned.


    Lothinar sighed and turned to Ardwynn.


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure why you are trying to do this, but you picked the wrong girl if you are going to try to add someone to our family, Ardwynn ¡°


    ¡±You didn¡¯t pick me, I picked you Lothinar. My father is powerful but there is one thing that he¡¯s afraid of,¡± said Michelle.


    ¡°Me!¡±


    ¡±I¡¯m actually a little intimidated by you too, right now.¡± Said Firestorm. ¡°I thought you were going to jump right out that window.¡±


    ¡±She does appear to be very determined, Lothinar.¡± Observed Ardwynn.


    ¡±I will talk to him tomorrow. I¡¯ll get him to agree.¡± Then she smiled coyly. ¡°If, that is, you really are serious about wanting me to join your family.¡±


    ¡±We are.¡± Said Ardwynn.


    Lothinar started choking.


    ¡±Not that I¡¯m agreeing to this, but what are you going to tell your father?¡± He finally managed to ask.


    ¡±I¡¯ll tell him that I¡¯m already with child¡± she said matter-of-factly


    ¡±Not my child¡± sputtered Lothinar. ¡°It¡¯s too soon. He¡¯d never believe that.¡±


    ¡±No, not yours. Enderline¡¯s¡±


    ¡±What? Is that even possible?¡±


    ¡°We never were intimate, if that¡¯s what you mean. What is important is that the timeline fits. I attended the big going off to war party before Enderline left. It was hot and boring inside so I took a long stroll in the garden. Enderline was out there..¡±


    ¡°Is any of this remotely true?¡±


    ¡±I did see him in the garden, but all we did was talk. He kept his hands to himself, but he did thoroughly look me over. A girl recognizes these things.¡±


    ¡±Just because a man appreciates a beautiful sunset doesn¡¯t mean he tries to ride into it¡± said Lothinar.


    ¡±The important thing is my father will believe it.¡±


    ¡°Why would he believe it?¡±


    ¡±Because something like this happening is what he actually wants. Enderline doesn¡¯t yet have an heir. If I¡¯m carrying the first Royal child it will ensure my father¡¯s future political power and his place in the history books.¡±


    ¡±Would a father actually use his daughter to advance his political career?¡± Asked Lothinar?


    Ardwynn and Michelle both just looked at him.


    ¡°You do remember my father, don¡¯t you?¡± Asked Ardwynn.


    Lothinar felt his heart start to melt. He stared at her. He finally spoke.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think that I ever really made that connection. Actually realizing what your life must have been like. What you went through while you were used by your family!¡±


    Ardwynn nodded. She had a sad look on her face.


    ¡°My life going forward with you will definitely be better.¡±


    ¡°Our children will never have to go through something like that!¡± He said.


    Michelle smiled.


    ¡±Wow, that just makes me want you more. I¡¯ll bet you will make a great father for my children!¡±


    Ardwynn lost her sad expression and smiled as well, then immediately turned to Michelle.


    ¡°It seems to me that your father would be even less likely to let you go away with us if he thought you were carrying Enderline¡¯s child.¡± Said Ardwynn.


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t be running off with you. You will be taking me back to the mainland to secretly have the baby there, so that they can protect the Queen¡¯s pride. You would be helping prevent a royal scandal.¡°


    ¡±I told you she was smart.¡± Said Ardwynn.


    ¡±Devious is a better word.¡± Said Firestorm. ¡±By the way, Is there any special compensation involved for royal transportation services? Since I might be involved it only seems fair to ask.¡±


    ¡±I¡¯ll be sure to mention that to daddy. What did you have in mind?¡±


    ¡±What else do you have on this Island. I have to admit I¡¯m getting a little tired of goats.¡±


    Lothinar coughed.


    ¡°But you must realize that this made up story is going to blow apart when Enderline actually finds out about it.¡±


    ¡°But by then it will be too late. I¡¯ll already be your second wife! You seem like the marrying kind. You just wouldn¡¯t leave a girl with your child inside her and set her free wound you?¡± Michelle made a point of looking specifically at Ardwynn¡±s enlarged abdomen.


    ¡°No I suppose not.¡± He admitted. ¡°But life with me will not just be dinners and dancing. If that¡¯s what you expect then you really should just marry the King.¡±


    ¡±But I don¡¯t want Enderline. I want you!¡± She cried, her voice trembling.


    ¡±Have a heart Lothinar.¡± Said Ardwynn. ¡°You know the girl is smitten!¡±


    ¡°For someone, who not long ago, was extolling the importance of honesty, your endorsement of this frankly comes as a shock.¡±said Lothinar.


    ¡°She hasn¡¯t lied to us once.¡± Said Ardwynn.


    ¡°That¡¯s not the point.¡± Said Lothinar. ¡°She seems very willing to lie to her father.¡±


    ¡°It seems to be very important to the both of you that I tell the truth. At least as much as possible. Do I have that right?¡±


    They both nodded.


    ¡°I can use innuendo. Guide him to believe what he clearly wants to. Let him draw his own conclusions.¡±


    ¡±That¡¯s a lot of innuendo to sell¡± said Ardwynn.


    ¡®Then in the interest of being more honest and providing a starting point to my conversation tomorrow, there is something I¡¯m going to need from you, Lothinar.¡±


    ¡±What are you talking about?¡± He asked.


    ¡±Tomorrow, I am going to have to begin by telling my father that I¡¯m not a virgin anymore. You don¡¯t want me to be lying when I tell him that, do you?


    ¡±I think she¡¯s got you there!¡± Laughed Ardwynn.


    ¡°What¡¯s the big deal? Asked Firestorm. ¡°Lothinar isn¡¯t a vegan anymore either.¡±


    ¡±I think that I need some air.¡± Said Lothinar, primarily addressing Ardwynn. ¡°I feel like you both are suddenly working together to pressure me into sleeping with her. I¡¯ll be outside. Maybe after talking with Candasar this will make more sense.¡±


    He turned and slipped past Firestorm who was still, more or less, blocking the exit from the room. Walking away from the room he could still hear the ladies talking. He heard a giggle. He shook his head. He started to go downstairs but then turned and approached a beautiful and very tall decorative urn in the upstairs hallway. Reaching up to almost the limit of his substantial height he groped around above his head and pulled down the red sword he had hidden there.


    ¡°I¡¯m not taking any chances that you might somehow get involved in this situation again¡± he said to the sword. ¡°You are coming with me!¡±


    ¡±I should always be by your side anyway¡± said the sword. ¡°It¡¯s better to have me with you and not have need of me, than to need me and remember that you left me on top of some dusty urn.¡±


    Lothinar buckled the scabbard to his waist and went downstairs. He was just in time to see the cook coming back in with a large box. There were various fruits and vegetables sticking out of the top of it.


    ¡°Ah, Master Lothinar. You appear to be up late¡± He glanced at the sword. ¡°Are we expecting any trouble?¡±


    ¡±Not specifically, no.¡± He replied. ¡°But we have had an over abundance of uninvited guests lately. I¡¯m attempting to remain sharp, so to speak.¡±


    ¡±Ah, yes, very droll sir. I myself have just returned from some grocery shopping.I can report that there is no one outside on the grounds at the moment, except of course, the blue dragon.¡±


    Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.


    ¡±Shopping this late? That seems unusual.¡±


    ¡±Yes sir, rather uncharacteristic of me, but we were out of a great many things. You will have to forgive me sir, but I¡¯ve been rather inspired of late. Some of these ingredients were difficult to track down. One of them in particular is actually for the missus. She took me aside to specifically tell me how much she had enjoyed them. It was my duty!¡±


    ¡±That wouldn¡¯t be Mung Beans by any chance, would it?¡± Lothinar asked suspiciously.


    ¡±Indeed sir. Unfortunately after the blue dragon debacle¡­.¡±


    ¡±That was not my fault¡± interrupted the sword, but of course the cook couldn¡¯t hear him.


    ¡±Um, Yes, I understand and Candasar has learned her lesson.¡± Said Lothinar. ¡°Do me a favor and set those aside until I specifically ask you to prepare them. I may need them for research.¡±


    ¡°What sort of research? I do know a lot about food. Perhaps I might assist you? I beg your indulgence but I find cooking for elves to be quite fascinating!¡±


    ¡±Well, do you know if mung beans can be used to make a flavoring or thin tea?¡± He asked looking nervously up at the stairs.


    ¡±I believe that the term that you may be looking for is extract. Would you like me to refine some mung bean extract for you?¡±


    ¡±Yes, that would be perfect. Said Lothinar. ¡°Make it as strong as possible, but don¡¯t tell the missus. I¡¯m going to want to surprise her.¡±


    ¡±Of course sir, it will be our little secret.¡±


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    Once back outside, Lothinar once again approached the gazebo. Candasar appeared to be dozing, but opened her eyes at his approach.


    ¡±Mung bean extract? Are you crazy? You can barely hold Michelle off as it is. If Ardwynn responds to Mung beans like you suspect she might, she will be coming after you at the same time. You are going to need my help regrowing sensitive skin!¡±


    ¡°I guess you were listening through the bond when I was talking to the cook. Mung bean extract might be just what I need to find out what exactly is going on with her.¡±


    ¡±What else am I going to be doing out here in this gazebo? For the record, I can¡¯t recommend you trying mung bean extract out on Ardwynn just to see what happens. She is much easier to deal with as she is now. Can you even imagine what she would be like if she grew overly amorous again while you two were riding on my back? That¡¯s a memory I don¡¯t need Lothinar.¡±


    Lothinar couldn¡¯t help but laugh.


    ¡°She is extremely difficult to predict. When Firestorm first brought her back, she was all business. She sent Michelle and her father straight home. She didn¡¯t even seem overly desperate to get me into bed. Then I handed her a bowl of mung beans and she changed. Now she¡¯s changed back again. At least I think she has. I¡¯m pretty confused right now.¡±


    ¡±I see you brought the sword with you. At least you can learn from your mistakes.¡±


    ¡±I¡¯m sensing that you might be a little miffed at me Candy. Is there something more I should know?¡±


    The blue dragon searched his eyes. Finally she sighed.


    ¡±You know, Lothinar, it¡¯s a lot to process. I¡¯ve been angry with Ardwynn, about what Ardwynn did for so long.¡±


    ¡±Are you regretting making up with her, saying that you are willing to be friends?¡±


    ¡±No, I said that I would be willing to try, and I meant it. I think it just somehow offends my sense of justice.¡±


    ¡±You mean that she really hasn¡¯t had to pay for all of the bad things that she did?¡±


    ¡±Actually yes, I know Mavis survived but I¡¯ve been thinking about my cousin Aleena a lot. Tundor is also not going to be pleased. I¡¯ll have to deal with that.¡±


    ¡±You mentioned justice. I¡¯ve been thinking about what Vanquish seems to have done and maybe this story will help.¡±


    ¡°Is this a real story or one of your fanciful made up ones?¡±


    ¡±It is, perhaps a little of both.¡±


    ¡±Ok, I¡¯ve got nothing better to do out here anyway. It better than counting boards in the gazebo¡±


    Lothinar grimaced.


    ¡°I¡¯m trying to get us home as fast as I can.¡±


    ¡±Just tell me the story Lothinar. Maybe it will improve my attitude.¡±


    ¡±Ok. Before Argent took over and did whatever he pleased the elven kingdom actually had courts. People who did bad things were captured and brought before these courts and examined by judges.¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t that take a long time?¡±


    ¡±Sometimes yes, as all the facts had to be considered carefully.¡±


    ¡±But we obviously know what Ardwynn did.¡±


    ¡±Let¡¯s leave Ardwynn out of this scenario for the moment.¡±


    ¡±Ok, but we were discussing her.¡±


    ¡±Ok, stick with me here, Candy. What if something else bad happened, unrelated to Ardwynn. Perhaps a child was murdered at school or something.¡±


    ¡±That¡¯s a terrible example Lothinar!¡± Couldn¡¯t you think of anything else?¡±


    He sighed,


    ¡±Ok, some Mung beans were stolen.¡±


    ¡±Who would even care about something like that?¡±


    ¡±Our gardener certainly did!¡±


    ¡±Oh right! Fair point.¡±


    ¡±Not my fault¡± said the sword.


    Lothinar ignored it. It was getting easier.


    ¡±Let¡¯s say nobody actually saw the dirt on your face, and suspected Firestorm had dug up the garden instead. Or perhaps a herd of goats was seen in the area, and you know, some goats will eat anything.¡±


    ¡±You know you¡¯re right about that! I have found some very strange things inside a few goats I¡¯ve been nibbling on. I found a tin can once!¡±


    ¡±Why don¡¯t we finish talking about your justice issues first.¡± Said Lothinar. ¡°As it pertains to your feelings about Ardwynn.¡±


    ¡±Ok, go ahead.¡±


    ¡±Well some of these goats have mung bean breath.¡±


    ¡±That¡¯s not very pleasant, I¡¯ve had that myself.¡± Said Candasar.


    ¡±Well then let¡¯s assume that the Courts do good research. It was definitely goats that ate the Mung-beans and not the dragons. The judges make a correct decision. They execute some of the goats for the actual crime.¡±


    ¡±That seems pretty harsh! Even for goats. They were probably hungry and all they could find was some old scrap tin cans Lothinar.¡±


    ¡±It¡¯s just an example Candasar.¡±


    ¡±Well maybe if the goats murdered a kid or something¡­.¡±


    That''s why I originally started this illustration with a much worse crime. if you will remember."


    "Wait!, you said SOME of the goats."


    "That''s right. I''m glad that you caught that. Only guilty goats were killed, the innocent goats were allowed to go free."


    Candasar pondered for a few seconds.


    "You think Ardwynn is like a herd of goats?"


    "Don''t tell her I said so, but yes. We all may be somehow like that. I think Vanquish somehow was able to determine which parts of her were the bad goats and which parts of her were the good goats.¡±


    "Vanquish killed Ardwynn''s bad goats? The smelly Argent scented goats?¡±


    "I''m pretty sure she made some other changes as well, but that''s the working theory." said Lothinar. "You are the one that said something like that might be possible. You knew Vanquish best."


    "In that case, I guess it wouldn''t be fair to be angry at the goats that didn''t eat the mung beans."


    "Exactly! And we''re there. I''ve just solved your justice issues with Ardwynn."


    ¡±That¡¯s an interesting story¡± said Candasar. ¡°I¡¯ll have to give it some more thought. If you will excuse me, I think better on a full stomach. All this talk of goats has made me hungry again.¡±


    The blue dragon trotted across the wide lawn and graceful lifted into the air.


    ¡±If we really are leaving tomorrow I need to fill up. I¡¯m even willing to eat the naughty goats tonight!¡± She told Lothinar as she winged toward the nearby mountains.


    ¡±I¡¯ll be here when you get back I don¡¯t think that I dare go back into the house.¡±


    Lothinar tried to find a comfortable place on the gazebo to stretch out. He grabbed several chair cushions and spread them out. He closed his eyes for a few minutes. Suddenly he was awakened by soft lips pressing against his. It was Ardwynn. She was holding a blanket. He jumped back a little in surprise.


    ¡±I thought you might want this.¡± She said handing it to him.


    ¡°Listen, Ardwynn¡­¡±


    ¡±I know you don¡¯t understand, Lothinar, I don¡¯t really get it myself. I should feel possessive and jealous, but I really do feel like our destiny somehow involves this girl Michelle.¡±


    ¡±This is just going to make everything so much more complicated. Ardwynn. Now we are even involving Enderline in this. We really may be causing an international incident. One broken heart seems to be a small price to pay for peace.¡±


    ¡±As long as it¡¯s not your heart, you mean.¡±


    ¡±That¡¯s hardly fair.¡±


    ¡±I heard your story about the mung beans and the goats from the window¡± she said. ¡°We both did actually.¡±


    Lothinar gulped.


    ¡±I thought about Vanquish killing my bad goats and I think you might be right.¡±


    ¡±It was just a story Ardwynn.¡±


    ¡±I think that I remember some screaming.¡±


    He grimaced, then reached for her, trying to pull her in for a hug but she stepped back.


    ¡±Who am I now Lothinar? Really? I must be someone completely new and just wearing this dead elf¡¯s body¡±


    ¡±I¡¯m actually trying to figure that out myself, in case you didn¡¯t notice. In so many ways you are my previous Ardwynn. You¡¯re the girl I fell for. The you at your very best. Before the darkness reclaimed you.¡±


    ¡±But parts of me have been completely replaced! Perhaps even with dragon pieces. How much is not original I wonder?¡±


    ¡±Well, we can do the math¡­ Argent wasn¡¯t your father but his brother was¡­.¡±


    ¡±I¡¯ve already done that math Lothinar. It¡¯s not that difficult. It¡¯s twent-five percent. That is assuming that the issue originated in one ancestor. Of course my father seemed rather less affected than Argent was. They were not genetically identical.¡± ¡°My mother was not that nice a person either if you will remember.¡±


    Lothinar suddenly paused.


    ¡°It sounds to me like most of your memories are coming back.¡±


    She nodded.


    ¡±The facts but not the feelings. I feel so strange. So emotionally detached from it all. None of it seems to matter anymore. I even remember how much of a fool I made of myself chasing you. Initially for all of the wrong reasons of course.¡±


    ¡±There was a time that you almost acted just like Michelle does now.¡±


    ¡±Obsessed?¡±


    ¡°Well, Michelle seems to have taken it to new heights, but Ronniflass really got a bad case. You were not really around for that. It happened after you left me. I don¡¯t think you realize that I actually already have other¡­.complications. I gave her assurances.


    ¡±You¡¯ve been busy since I left. Ronniflass is the Queen¡¯s sister right? The other half elf? Wasn¡¯t she running the dairy?¡±


    ¡±I got kidnapped, I raised a Queen from the dead, I won a war. Yes I¡¯ve been fairly busy.¡±


    ¡±You didn¡¯t mention me at all. I helped win the war¡± said Crimson.


    He patted on the swords pommel.


    ¡±I didn¡¯t intentionally leave you out Crimson, I was trying to be brief.¡±


    Lothinar tried to regather his thoughts.


    ¡±Yes, so you see that we are going to be deeper into this deception than just trying to appease Michelle.¡±


    ¡±You¡¯ll see! It¡¯s going to be so worth it!¡± Came a voice drifting out from the upstairs window.


    ¡±See. You really can hear everything said down here from up there¡± said Ardwynn with a smile.


    Just then Candasar returned. She landed and then walked across the lawn. She had a goat in her mouth. She dropped it a few yards away.


    ¡°Hi Ardwynn.¡± She said. ¡°I see everyone is still up.¡±


    ¡±I got a brief nap at least¡± said Lothinar.


    ¡°I now know what my limit is on goats.¡±


    ¡±Is that for meee?¡± Came Firestorms call from the widow.


    Candasar laughed.


    ¡±Yes Firestorm, I do believe I owed you one.¡±


    ¡±You¡¯re the best!¡± Came the reply. ¡°Can I come down and eat it Lothinar?¡±


    ¡±You might as well. Everyone seems to be in on this conversation anyway.¡± He said. ¡°I don¡¯t think anyone is going to get much more sleep tonight¡±


    Before the words even seemed to be completely out of his mouth there was a blur and Lothinar found himself catching Michelle as she jumped into his arms.¡±


    ¡±I really liked that part about not getting any sleep.¡± She said in a sultry voice.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    ¡°What in the hells is going on here?!¡±


    Cantrell groaned and opened his eyes. Mavis looked angry. Someone had their arm thrown over his chest. Dark hair flowed around him and he could see a face under the blankets. It was Ardwella! He stifled a scream and began quickly crabbing away. He jumped out of bed and stood up. He wobbled a bit but remained standing.


    ¡°Thank the gods! He said to himself, finding himself still clothed.


    The beautiful face opened her eyes. She yawned. Cantrell was transfixed. Her eyes were gold! In some lucky fit of clarity Cantrell realized that it had to be Zinariya that they were dealing with, not just Ardwella. Why had the dragon chosen to nap here of all places?


    Mavis was so angry she could only sputter. She hadn¡¯t noticed the eyes yet, apparently. Then Zinariya rolled over and got out of bed. Things got worse. Much worse. Not only was she not wearing pants, but she had nothing on underneath. Who would have thought that the diminutive elf would have a preference for going commando?


    Mavis turned even more red. She turned and ran out the door. She slammed it behind her.


    ¡±Elven beds are so nice¡± said Zinariya, stretching and then leisurely reaching for her pants.


    She stepped into them and fastened on the blue sword as well. Cantrell breathed a great sigh of relief.


    The door opened again. Mavis was back. She had a strange look on her face.


    ¡±I was halfway down the hall before I remembered that your eyes are usually blue¡± said Mavis. ¡°Zinariya, I presume?¡±


    Mavis moved to stand next to Cantrell.


    ¡°¡°Thank goodness for a sane, intelligent wife!¡± He thought to himself.


    ¡±Look Zinariya, after Cantrell appeared we are fully aware that you can teleport.¡± Said Mavis. ¡°But we need to put you in a private room in the tower for now. I will expect you to stay there.¡±


    ¡±Does it have a bed as nice as this one?¡±


    Mavis blinked


    ¡°Probably not, but I can see to it that it does before tonight.¡±


    ¡±Sure, that¡¯s fine then. What¡¯s this all about?¡± Zinariya asked.


    ¡±The body you seem to have borrowed. Ardwella¡¯s body, presents a huge security and logistical problem for our troops.¡±


    The dragon considered this for a moment.


    ¡±Ah, yes, the Pheromones that she produces¡­. Hmmmm. The dragon actually lifted her arm to sniff her own armpit.


    Cantrell winced as he considered how socially mortified the real Ardwella would be displaying such socially impolite behavior.


    ¡±Perhaps a bath or shower is in order.¡± She said.


    ¡±That¡¯s not really going to provide a long term solution for this problem.¡± Said Mavis.


    ¡±Of course not!¡± Zinariya said. ¡°Before I bathe I wilt turn the hormonal secretions off.¡±


    ¡±You can do that?¡± Cantrell asked, stunned at this new revelation.


    ¡±Ardwella¡¯s always been able to do that.¡± Replied the dragon. ¡°I can see how to do it in her memories. Of course I¡¯ll need to be careful about overheating.¡±


    ¡±So when she infected people, she actually¡­. sometimes had a choice?¡±


    ¡±This Pheromone augmentation does allow her to control her sweat glands, yes.¡±


    ¡°So when she infected me?¡±


    ¡±Oh, that instance was definitely intentional. She does seem to like you quite a lot Cantrell. I can see why. You¡¯re very interesting and quite handsome, for an elf, of course.¡±


    Cantrell watched in fascination as Zinariya¡¯s eyes flashed blue, then quickly back to gold. The dragon seemed to wobble for a second.


    ¡±Now, now Ardwella, you had to know that the truth would eventually come out. You agreed to help me of your own free will¡± said the dragon, apparently to herself.


    Cantrell and Mavis were frozen in shock.


    ¡°Now about that bath? And then possibly some lunch? Do you have any mung beans?¡±


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    Lothinar set Michelle down.


    ¡°The attention is flattering but there is no possible way what you are hoping for is going to happen tonight.¡±


    ¡±Ok, so you are saying that it will happen eventually¡± said Michelle optimistically.


    ¡±At least with Ronniflass I could hope that dragon bonding might straighten out this pheromone mess.¡± He muttered to himself. ¡°There are no available dragons on the island. That¡¯s why we came here in the first place.¡±


    ¡±I wonder how much dragon we actually need?¡± Asked Candasar reading his thoughts. ¡°You are part dragon now yourself. You¡¯re clearly unique. You already have two bonds. What¡¯s one more?¡±


    ¡±That doesn¡¯t really solve the problem. Even if it¡¯s possible, It¡¯s just going to entrench her in our lives even more.¡±


    ¡°At least she would be less needy.¡± Said Firestorm, looking up from her goat munching.


    Lothinar looked at her in surprise.


    ¡°What? It¡¯s an interesting possibility.¡± Said the red dragon. ¡®I¡¯ve been following along with the conversation. It sure would make my life easier not having to stand in her way all the time. She¡¯s relentless!¡±


    ¡±You know, Firestorm, I¡¯m sorry. This whole trip has been terrible for you. First guarding Ardwynn and now Michelle. ¡°


    ¡°Don¡¯t give it another thought Lothinar. I love being your bond. My life will never be boring for sure. I¡¯ve learned so much already! We are going to have fascinating lives together.¡±


    "I can''t imagine my life without either of you!" said Lothinar to both of the dragons.


    ¡°But I¡¯m getting a very strong feeling that you can imagine it without Michelle.¡± said Candasar.


    ¡±My life is already complicated enough!¡± Admitted Lothinar


    ¡±You have that talking to dragons look on your face again.¡± Said Ardwynn. ¡°Would you like to share with me, your wife, what you are talking about?


    "There may be a way to break the pheromone hold on your new pet.¡± Said Lothinar. I can ask Michelle if she wants to try to bond with me, since I am a partial dragon.¡±


    ¡±I wouldn¡¯t exactly call her my pet. She did follow you home!¡± Said Ardwynn. ¡°Besides, I didn¡¯t think humans could even bond with dragons¡±


    ¡±Apparently they can. It¡¯s the newest thing back in Delora Natine. Humans and dragons have been bonding very frequently as of late.¡±


    Michelle had been listening to them with great interest.


    ¡±I will do it! Anything that gets me closer to Lothinar is what I want!¡±


    ¡±This is actually a big decision ¡®Michelle,¡± said Ardwynn. ¡°There is a strong possibility that, if it works, it will change how you feel about him. Then you will be actually bonded to him. You might suddenly find that unappealing.¡±


    ¡±His dragons seem to love him! I¡¯m sure that I will too.¡±


    ¡°I strongly suspect that you would say yes to just about anything regarding me right now.¡± Said Lothinar. ¡°I do have to warn you, I''ve bonded from the elf side of things but I have no idea what the process might be like from a dragon''s perspective."


    ¡°Bond me Lothinar. I¡¯m ready!¡± Said Michelle excitedly.


    "You may be the first person in existence that ever even had the possibility of doing something like this.¡± Said Candasar. ¡°All we need for her to do is form a rudimentary bond. That should break the Pheromone hold on her. That''s what happened when Ardwynn bonded with Tundor."


    Lothinar closed his eyes and prepared his mind. He directed his telepathy. He felt his tendrils of thought reaching out. He could feel Candasar and Firestorm. Their blazing existence appeared as stars in the universe of his mind. Other heavenly bodies were also present. Ardwynn¡¯s muted glow was also nearby. He began to search for Michelle. Suddenly from Ardwynn, a flash of flame shot out. It formed a fist. No, not a fist, a claw! It surrounded and squeezed a cold and rocky little planet orbiting nearby. The fires grew brighter. The little planet burst into brilliance and joined the stars in Lothinar¡¯s sky.


    He heard a thump and quickly opened his eyes. Michelle was on the ground.


    ¡°What did you do Lothinar?¡± Ardwynn cried as she ran towards the fallen human.


    ¡±I didn¡¯t do a thing! That was someone else. I thought it was you!¡±


    ¡±I did feel something strange.¡± Admitted Ardwynn, cradling the fallen young woman¡¯s head on her lap. ¡°But I thought it was just nerves and excitement.¡±


    Firestorm moved toward Ardwynn who was still holding the unconscious Michelle. She sniffed the human girl.


    ¡±Uh, Lothinar¡­.I just noticed something.¡± Said the red dragon.


    ¡°What is it Firestorm? Do you know what happened to Michelle?¡± He asked.


    ¡±Well, I might be wrong, and if I am, then it¡¯s going to be sort of embarrassing. I may need to need to get my nose checked.¡±


    ¡±Comon Firestorm! We would really appreciate you letting us know what you think¡± said Ardwynn.


    ¡±It¡¯s just that, um¡­ Michelle smells like dragon.¡±


    ¡±I don¡¯t know how that could be possible Firestorm. There are no dragons on this Island except you and Candasar.¡±


    ¡±Exactly!¡± Said Firestorm. ¡°That¡¯s why I know that it¡¯s just not possible that she smells a lot like Vanquish used to!¡±


    Michelle opened her eyes and looked directly up into Ardwynn¡¯s face.


    ¡±Well finally!¡± She said sardonically. ¡°It certainly took you long enough!¡±


    Michelle stumbled to her feet. She wobbled a bit. She stared at Lothinar. Instead of her eyes being green, they were blue.


    ¡°Vanquish?¡± Asked Lothinar, leaving his jaw hanging open.


    ¡±Who else?¡± Asked the dragon that used to be ¡®Michelle.


    ¡±Oh wow!¡± Said Ardwynn. ¡°No hard feelings I hope¡­¡±


    Vanquish-Michelle shot her a blue glare.


    ¡±Listen, Lothinar, I don¡¯t know how you are going to do it, but I¡¯m not staying on this wretched island for even one more day!¡±


    ¡±Now we¡¯re talking!¡± said Candasar.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-

 Volume 2: Chapter 17: The Statue of Limitations

    *****************************


    CHAPTER SEVENTEEN


    ******************************


    Vanador was saying goodbye. But before leaving, he and Tundor had a few things to discuss.


    Tundor, Siophra and Tundor''s two blue offspring were standing beside him in the dairy yard.


    "I''m surprised Ronni is not here." said Vanador. "She said she wanted to see me off."


    He craned his long neck around to take a look.


    "Something must have come up."


    "I''m sure Ronni appreciates how much you have done around here for her." said Siophra. "You have protected everyone."


    "None of Argent''s daughters, or their minions dared show up here with you around!" said Tundor.


    Vanador sighed.


    "Yes, but we don''t really know if it was me keeping them away, or the fact that there really are no dragon eggs at the dairy, just baby dragons. The chance to get high quality dragon eggs is probably what prompted them to attack you up in the hills instead of us."


    ¡±Cantrell found a magical tracking device in with the dead elves things.¡± Said Vigilant. ¡°I saw him and Cenderick testing it out. It was attracted to Goldie''s shell."


    "That is really scary!" said Constance. ¡°If we hadn¡¯t already been hatched when they came, they probably would have tried to take us too¡±


    Tundor growled.


    "Now that daddy''s bigger, I bet they won''t try that again." said Vigilant.


    "Daddy can''t be everywhere!" said Constance.


    "Have there been any reports of other eggs being stolen from the grey dragons living in the wild?" asked Siophra.


    "Killingsworth was supposed to be monitoring that, but recent events have obviously changed his priorities." said Vanador.


    "I know that you and he got into it physically.¡± said Tundor.


    Vanador shook his head. He looked remorseful.


    "It wasn¡¯t really a fight, but I gave him a good shake" the white dragon admitted. ¡°He was being mind controlled by Platinum. There was no other way to stop him.¡±


    Siophra rubbed the back of her head.


    ¡°I can tell you that it was a strange feeling to hear that I broke King Enderline¡¯s nose.¡± Siophra laughed, then looked around nervously. ¡°I don¡¯t remember any of it.¡±


    ¡±He is obviously aware that it wasn¡¯t actually you, but Zinariya at this point. Anyone can see that your eyes have now changed back to their original color.¡± Said Vanador. ¡°I think if he was going to actually retaliate, then you would already have heard about it.¡±


    ¡°People have held irrational grudges before.¡± Said Siophra. ¡°But perhaps my perspective on Royalty has been forever ruined by Argent.¡±


    ¡±Enderline is a King, sure.¡± Said Tundor, ¡°But I get the sense that he¡¯s actually trying hard to be fair. This whole situation can¡¯t be easy for him. Especially when Night-Sky more or less has chosen not to stay with him.¡±


    ¡°At least he and Snow came back the next day to heal his broken nose.¡± Said Siophra. ¡°Although they did make him wait a day.¡±


    She got a suspicious look on her face.


    ¡±That isn¡¯t what¡¯s going on between you and Killingsworth is it?¡± She asked.


    ¡°No, I healed him fully, and immediately afterwards. It''s a mystery to me why he hasn''t recovered enough to fly. He knows that we could all use his help around here. I suspect that he¡¯s sulking up in the mountains somewhere because he¡¯s embarrassed.¡±


    "Back in the lake, he used to be somebody." said Tundor. "He had very aggressive personality. I wonder if he wanted to take over as some sort of dragon leader again?"


    "Things have obviously changed a great deal in the last year or so for Killingsworth.¡± said Siophra. "It''s probably best to get over your resentments."


    "I know that I need to let it go." said Tundor. "But its hard when I remember all of them trying to kill me."


    "Mommy saved him!" said Constance.


    Siophra smiled at the white dragon. She raised one beautiful eyebrow as an inquiry.


    "What? I''ve been telling them stories about their mother. They have been pestering me to know more about her!" Said Tundor.


    "She''s blue, just like we are!" said Vigilant.


    Vanador had been watching the young dragons with a wistful smile.


    "You miss Vanquish." said Tundor, noticing his gaze.


    ¡°I¡¯m actually pretty jealous of your young family, my friend. Vanquish and I both long for what you have right here in front of you.¡±


    Siophra got an awkward and somewhat sad look on her face.


    "Of course he misses her Tundor." said Siophra. "Just like you miss Candasar.¡±


    Vanador looked at Siophra with a sad smile and then looked at Tundor again.


    ¡°I¡¯m sure that they both will be back soon.¡± He finally said.


    Siophra reached out to pat Vanador on the shoulder.


    ¡°Hopefully by then Zinariya and Ardwella will have finished dealing with the rest of Argent¡¯s daughters.¡± said the elf.


    "Do we have anyone actually looking in this area for elves like the ones that attacked us? asked Tundor.


    "Mo-Rung has been taking over since Killingsworth stopped doing it." said Vanador.


    "How is he doing, keeping track of things out in the hills?


    "He and his children, Salt and Pepper, have been flying all over the place. They are helping him and increasing their range at the same time.¡±


    ¡±If you go out flying around on patrol, can we come along father?¡± Asked Vigilant. ¡°I think that I would enjoy that!¡±


    ¡±Sure, we can start over at the lake and work out from there. I can even show you where your mom made her secret cave.¡±


    ¡±Oooh! Will we be able to go inside?¡±


    Tundor smiled at his excitable son.


    ¡±No, not right now at least. I¡¯d never fit, and I¡¯m going to have to teach you and your sister to swim first.¡±


    ¡±It would probably be good for you to patrol the area around the lake first anyway ¡° said Vanador. Mo-Rung says he knows the mountain area well, but he hasn''t really lived at the lake for many years. Of those dragons that still live near the water, Killingsworth was actually better at knowing who the various family groupings are, He was also pretty good at following up on them.¡±


    The white dragon sighed.


    ¡±Mo-Rung hasn''t reported any problems with egg theft at the lake, though." He said. ¡°Of course I¡¯m not that far away.¡±


    Tundor thought about it.


    ¡°The dragons that still live on the lake shore. What are they eating?¡± asked Tundor.


    ¡±Believe it or not, fish!¡±


    ¡°Did Lothinar fail to change them back into real dragons?¡± Asked Tundor. ¡°I probably could catch a few fish if I was starving. But even when I was a lot smaller, that type of diet is almost impossible to maintain without flippers.¡±


    ¡±They actually got some help from some of the townspeople. They provided them with nets.¡±


    ¡¯You¡¯re kidding me!¡± Said Tundor in disbelief, trying to imagine swimming around with the edge of a fishing net clamped between his jaws.


    ¡±No, actually I¡¯m not. They swim out in teams, spread out, and then drag in the nets. I actually watched them for a while one morning.¡±


    Tundor could only shake his head.


    ¡°This I¡¯ve got to see.¡± He finally said.


    "Did you know many of the grey dragon families Tundor?" Asked Siophra.


    "Not really, Just my own really. I was pretty much a shut in. I was being hidden. Ironically from Killingsworth and his cronies on the council." said Tundor.


    Vanador gave Tundor an appraising gaze.


    "You know Tundor, now that you bigger than practically everyone else, some dragons will expect you to bully them,¡±


    ¡±You mean just like the lake dragon council members did to me?¡±


    ¡±Well, you were an extreme case, but I would be willing to bet that they bullied others too.¡¯


    Tundor nodded. "Candasar had a terrible time."


    "You can use your size to bully and control people, or you can use it show mercy."


    "I understand the first part of that. I''m not so sure about the second part." said Tundor.


    "Sometimes when someone of normal size is kind, people perceive that as weakness. Then they try to dominate them.¡±


    ¡±You are saying that I can afford to be kind now, because I¡¯m too big to have to worry about that happening to me?¡±


    ¡±That''s been my experience, yes.¡± Said Vanador.


    ¡±Do you feel that I have been unkind to anyone in particular?¡±


    The older dragon gave him a crooked smile.


    ¡°Just keep it in mind when you have to deal with your old bullies at the lake. I heard about you and Candasar dropping your feces on Killingsworth and Benedar.¡±


    ¡±Oh that!¡± Said Tundor blushing.


    ¡±Oh Tundor!¡± Said Siophra putting her hand over her mouth.


    ¡°What¡¯s a feces?¡± Asked Constance innocently.


    ¡±It¡¯s poo!¡± Said Vigilant to his sister. ¡°I heard Cinnabar using that term yesterday. I asked him what it meant.¡±


    ¡®Tundor made a strange coughing noise.


    ¡°I concede your point, Vanador. That was a valid example of not showing forgiveness. Kids! You should never do that!¡±


    ¡±So, no new attacks or attempts made to steal dragon eggs since the one on us?¡± Asked Siophra trying to save Tundor by changing the subject.


    "No, Perhaps they are focusing their efforts on rousting Mandel from his fortress." said Vanador.. "Mavis told Mo-Rung that attacks have been steadily increasing since Esmarilla is no longer patrolling the walls."


    He further explained.


    "The enemy has made some huge crossbows. They call them ballistae. They don''t want to risk Esmarilla flying low over the city anymore. They can¡¯t let her get hit by one of those huge bolts. That¡¯s why I need to be there very soon. In case she needs healing.¡±


    ¡°I hope I can do as good a job here as you did¡± said Tundor.


    ¡°My only real regret was Platinum. I''m not sure how I feel about that. Zinariya explained what happened. It was surreal hearing her describe how she did it."


    "Removing someone''s brain is a pretty sure way to kill them." said Tundor.


    "Yes, of course. I understand that. The surreal part was having Zinariya using Platinum¡¯s mouth be the instrument with which she told me about it." said Vanador.


    ¡±And now Zinariya has hopped into another elf. This time, my Sister.¡±


    ¡°What actually happened to Platinum¡¯s body? Asked Siophra. ¡°I saw you carrying it off somewhere Vanador.¡±


    ¡±Well, a dead dragon laying about does generate a lot of difficult questions.¡± Said Vanador. ¡°So I quickly took it over to the temple. I¡¯ve found that I can usually count on their discretion in delicate matters.¡±


    Vanador seemed to want to ask a question, but hesitated. Finally he spoke.


    ¡±Do you think that your daughter is going to want that body back Tundor?"


    ¡±Isn¡¯t that body immediately going to start to deteriorate, now that Zinariya isn¡¯t keeping it alive? Tundor asked.


    ¡±Well, of course, normally it would, but I threw a preservation spell on it.¡± Said Vanador. ¡°I wasn¡¯t really sure about how it was going to work out with her using Ardwella¡¯s body and how long she was going to need it.¡±


    ¡±¡±You can do that?¡± Asked Tundor in amazement.


    ¡±Sure¡± said the dragon. ¡°I made sure to heal the body to good condition then locked in the freshness with that same spell Siophra used on me when she made me into a statue so long ago. She¡¯s not really still alive of course, but the body isn¡¯t actually dead. It could be re-occupied."


    Siophra was just standing there with her mouth hanging open.


    ¡±I would have never thought of that¡± she finally said.


    Actually, a couple of the temple workers posed her before I locked her down. She isn¡¯t just lying there in a pile with her legs sticking out at all angles. Originally she looked like she was peacefully sleeping."


    Vanador looked a bit embarrassed.


    "I think one of the temple workers actually does side work as a taxidermist. She asked if she could pose her more aggressively, so I let her. She looks great! I could never have done such a nice job." said Vanador.


    This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    ¡±What¡¯s a taxidermist?¡± Insisted Vigilant.


    Tundor shushed him.


    ¡±You know,¡± said Vanador, ¡°they actually asked me if they could place her in the same spot as Esmarilla used to sit. They miss having a dragon statue in the place. Do you think that would be all right, or is it too demeaning?¡±


    Siophra grinned.


    ¡°I believe, somehow, that Platinum would appreciate all the attention.¡±


    ¡±Great, now I won¡¯t have to ask them to put her in a closet somewhere like Starett the priest.¡±


    ¡±We still have someone frozen in suspension somewhere?¡± Asked Siophra.


    ¡±Of course. Starett is in Ardwella¡¯s office closet. Then there are a bunch of Argent¡¯s personal guard that we captured that didn¡¯t surrender with Myron. They are in one of the big storage rooms. I¡¯m told that they were rather difficult to stack. It¡¯s going to be a right mess when we have to unfreeze them someday.¡±


    ¡±Out of sight and out of mind. I guess.¡± said Siophra.¡±What was my sister thinking?¡±


    ¡±I suppose that she has had a lot on her mind.¡± Said Tundor.


    "I''ve keep my sister Esmarilla waiting long enough." said the second biggest white dragon on the field. "Tundor can now do everything I was doing and probably more around here. His children seem to be fitting in here as well."


    "Before you go, Vanador, I''m a little concerned about the cow count" said Vigilant. "I''ve been watching it steadily go down every day!"


    "You certainly pay attention to things" said Vanador. "And you''re right. We are going to need to do something about that."


    "It will probably be alright" said Siophra. "The little dragons are growing. Soon they will be solid flyers and we can start taking them on longer trips. We can teach them to hunt bigger animals too."


    "The majority of the deer are pretty far out now" said Vanador. "I''ve been keeping track of that as well. Don''t forget we have a whole tribe of grays out there eating at least one a day."


    "I wish Cenderick was around." said Siophra. "I''m sure he knows a great deal about the eco-system in these hills. I suppose it''s going to take years to recover, even once the dragon tribes spread out."


    "The area just can''t support this many dragons" said Tundor. "We are fine for now, but I''m really hoping Lothinar gets back soon. He knows about eco-systems too."


    "You are just missing your sweetie!" said Vanador. "I have to confess I''m missing mine too!"


    "I bet you don''t call Vanquish ''sweetie'' to her face." said Tundor.


    "Oh, yes I do." said Vanador. "Now I''m going off to the Capitol and I''m probably going to miss her getting back. Let her know where I am please. I''m hoping she will join me there soon."


    "Keep your eyes on the kiddos" said Vanador as he trotted out and lifted into the air.


    Tundor turned to look at Siophra and saw that she was crying.


    "Oh," he said.


    "No, No, Tundor, it''s not that. I''m just thinking about all that dragon has done for me. He never even really wanted to be bonded to anyone in the first place."


    "He was forced to bond against his will?"


    "Not with my grandfather''s sword, no. I convinced him to bond with me in the traditional way.  Remember that Argent wanted to claim him. That''s why he always had such an obsession with you."


    "Because I''m a white dragon too?"


    "Of course."


    "We thought that if we could just make Argent understand that Vanador was taken, off the table so to speak."


    "I understand. So that''s why you went to see Argent. To show him that Vanador was  no longer available."


    "You can only imagine how that went." said Siophra. "He locked me up. He was so angry!"


    "Then you had to invoke the suspension spell."


    "To keep us both alive! It might have better if I had just let Argent kill me. Then it''s possible Vanador could have escaped."


    "But he didn''t."


    "No he stuck with me. Frozen as a statue. It was for a very long time Tundor."


    "I plan on sticking with you too!" said the white dragon.


    "Yes, but you had a choice. He was just frozen there with birds shitting on him!"


    "I don''t think he holds any of that against you Siophra." said Tundor. "Very soon, he and Vanquish are going to fly off into the sunset somewhere. They will finally get some quality time together."


    "Are they going to make more dragon babies" interrupted Constance.


    "I sure hope so." said Tundor.


    Siophra seemed to suddenly shrug off her melancholy.


    "Vigilant! Thank you for reminding me about the cows. We are going to need to buy some more." she said.


    "I''m sure that there is a process for that. There have to be some other people that have some to buy. Ronni will know." said Tundor.


    "Now we just need to figure out where Ronni and Cenderick have gone."


    "I haven''t seen them in quite a while" said Vigilant.


    Did Cinnabar know what Ronniflass has been doing lately?¡±


    ¡±He didn¡¯t tell me anything specific except that Ronni was trying to do doing something with a quilt.¡±


    ¡±Did she go back up to the house?¡±


    ¡±I believe so, apparently Cenderick accompanied her. For safety, I suppose.¡±


    "Oh!" said Siophra. "You don''t think that they...."


    "Wasn''t he waiting for you?" asked Tundor. "I think he told Cantrell something like that on the way over here."


    "Yea, I''m pretty sure he was, but I have already put him off several times. I really couldn''t blame him he finally moved on. He deserves better."


    "I can unequivocally say that there is nobody better than you Siophra." said Tundor. "Besides Ronni was waiting for Lothinar to come back."


    "I''m damaged goods Tundor. I''m sorry but it''s going to be a very long time before I get over what I went through. Perhaps both Ronniflass and Cendrick grew tired of waiting.... together...."


    "You know, I don''t really think Lothinar would mind if she found happiness with Cenderick. Unfortunately, I really think his heart belonged to Ardwynn. It still may."


    "I''m Jealous. I long for that kind of relationship. But something in my mind keeps telling me that no one will ever love me that deeply."


    "There is someone out there. Someone great!"


    "Right now the problem isn''t really finding him, it''s fixing me. If I found him now, I wouldn''t be ready." said Siophra.


    "I''d like to help. What do you need? We will figure it out." said Tundor.


    "I''d like to say it''s just time, but I''m not sure anymore. I should probably go talk to my sister Muina. She went through some terrible things as well. In fact it was the same terrible person that did them. We do have that in common."


    "Ardwella''s gone. Maybe she would like some company" said Tundor. "Come on kids! We are going on a short trip. It''s just down the lake."


    Siophra climbed on.


    "Rats, I didn''t bring appropriate dragon riding clothes." she said.


    "it''s a very short trip. I''ll be extra gentle." said Tundor.


    "Thanks Tundor!"


    It took almost no time to fly Siophra down the lake to all three of the sisters ancestral home. Muina met Siophra at the door.


    ¡±Are you finally ready to talk with me about Argent?¡± Asked Muina.


    Siophra could only nod.


    ¡±Come in then. I¡¯ll make us some pine needle tea.¡±


    The two elves closed the door leaving the three dragons standing in the yard. It didn¡¯t really matter that Tundor was outside. He could feel Siophra beginning to open the rusty vault that held all that hidden pain. He doubled down on his feelings of love for the beautiful blonde elf. He sent his affirmations into her. She drank them all, it was like pouring water into the desert. As Tundor continued transmitting his love, he spoke with his children.


    ¡±How about while we wait I tell you some more stories about your mom¡± he asked.


    Both his children immediately plopped down right in front of him, already spellbound. So much, in fact that even Vigilant didn¡¯t notice the grey dragon flying towards the house. Suddenly the incoming dragon seemed to take notice of Tundor and quickly turned around. Tundor continued telling his children how he and their mother had fought the water dragon council outside her cave.


    He told the children all their names.


    ¡±Just in case you happen to meet one of them, someday ¡° he said. ¡°You will know what to expect.¡±


    ----------------------------


    "Just finish it then!" yelled Killingsworth. He continued to thrash and flail, obviously in agony, as he tried to make his way forward to get close to Albarad. The Elf stepped back hastily as the large grey dragon made a substantial lunge forward.


    "What is wrong with you? Are you insane?" asked Night-Sky with incredulity in his voice.


    "If I give up now, then it''s all for nothing!" panted the dragon. "We''ve come so far!"


    "What are you talking about?" asked Albarad.


    "Of all people, you should know what I''m talking about" groaned Killingsworth. "The spell that burns! That spell and everyone that knows it must be destroyed!"


    "Look," said Night-Sky. A spell is just a spell. Think of it like a sword. It can be used to protect or to kill, Who has it, and what they intend to do with it is what matters. Muina used that spell only after she was attacked. She didn''t head out here to kill dragons with it."


    "She killed Penelope too." hissed the dragon clenching his jaws in pain.


    "Killingsworth, I''m sorry. I agree with Night-Sky. It was self defense. Rolf started the whole thing by killing my horse. That was on purpose, then when we tried to talk to him he attacked us. Penelope tried to run, but a mistake was made. Muina acted too hastily, We should have let her go, but we were both grieving and terrified."


    "She was probably grieving and terrified too! You killed her friend. Of course she tried to run. Then you shot her out of the sky!"


    Albarad pursed his lips.


    "Yes, unfortunately we did."


    Night-Sky spoke up.


    "Killingsworth, you must realize that Muina was previously bonded. She was bonded to Vanquish. Do you know who that dragon is?"


    "Of course..." mumbled the grey.


    "How is Vanquish going to take it if you insist on destroying her friend and previous bond? Do you think you will survive that?


    "I''m sure she won''t be happy, but I think she would understand. I would imagine that Vanquish would have her own issues with having that fire spell out there, being used. Even a dragon as big as she is, would probably not be immune to that spell. It might even be more dangerous in her case, since it draws on her own substantial fire magic." said Killingsworth.


    "Do you think Vanquish trusts Muina?"


    "She probably used to. But If she does now, then she probably shouldn''t!"


    "Why not?" asked Albarad.


    "Because she used the spell and then lied to me about it."


    Night-Sky suddenly looked in Snow¡¯s direction. She seemed to be concentrating on Killingsworth.


    "No! Not yet!" said Night Sky suddenly.


    "What is it?" asked Albarad with concern.


    "Sorry, I was just talking to my sister."


    "Are. you arguing?" the elf asked.


    "Snow wants to heal the grey. She no longer wishes to be responsible for the dragon''s pain.¡±


    Heirwynn walked over and looked Night-Sky right in the eyes.


    ¡°Please, Night-Sky.¡± I can strongly sense how terrible this makes her feel, to misuse her healing powers this way. You are clearly in the talking stages now." said Heirwynn.


    "Fine! But if he kills the elf, it won''t be on my conscience." replied Night-Sky.


    Killingsworth suddenly groaned a great sigh of relief. He lifted his head and began tentatively moving his body.


    Albarad moved back a few more paces.


    Killingsworth chuckled morosely.


    ¡±Relax elf. I lost my temper earlier. I will not kill you. You were not the spell user, in spite of somehow being strangely complicit in the matter, since I know that you are Ardwella¡¯s husband and Lothinar¡¯s father.¡±


    The grey dragon paused. It appeared to be searching for something in his face.


    "I have to admit, this seems strange to me. I understand that your own wife killed every other one of them to protect dragons from something like this.¡±


    Albarad didn¡¯t even know what to say to that. He remained grim faced and silent. He almost considered attempting to cast the Dragon Fire spell on Killingsworth, but didn¡¯t know what kind of terrible effects that might inflict on Snow and Night-Sky. It just wasn¡¯t worth taking the chance. He also suddenly realized that he didn¡¯t know if he could actually cast it. Although he had thought about using it on Platinum, he wasn¡¯t that much of a magician.


    ¡°You have nothing to say about that elf?¡± Asked ¡®Killingsworth.


    Albarad shook his head.


    "The primary guilty party is not even here. I''m wasting my time arguing about this with you!¡±


    ¡±I¡¯m telling you to let this go!¡± Said Night-Sky. ¡°It won¡¯t bring Penelope back.¡±


    ¡±What about the next time? The next Penelope?¡± Shouted Killingsworth. ¡°I told Enderline about this. That just got my wings clipped.¡±


    Snow winced.


    ¡±What is your system of government elf?" asked the grey dragon, slowly and gingerly climbing to his feet. "


    "We have an Emperor." said Albarad. ¡°Or, rather, we used to.¡±


    "I know that your old Emperor was Argent the egg stealer. I also realize that he is dead. Who has replaced him?


    "I believe that the elves are still fighting about that." said Night-Sky, looking at Albarad for confirmation.


    ¡±You are correct, Night-Sky,¡± replied Albarad. ¡°The order of succession is still somewhat in dispute¡±


    ¡±Argent¡¯s children fighting over the throne probably should not come as much of a surprise,¡± said Killingsworth. The he laughed bitterly before continuing.


    "There must be someone. Who can I take these grievances to? How can I appeal for justice?" He asked.


    Albarad paused.


    "Um, well, it¡¯s rather complicated and something that you¡¯re not going to like. Muina''s son Mandel is probably going to be the next emperor. Not that he wouldn''t be sympathetic in principle. I just can''t really see him doing something to severely punish his own mother. At least you would be heard. Who knows, he might surprise me. Maybe he will try to lock her up that awful tower."


    Night-Sky looked at Albarad.


    "You can''t be serious!" he said. "You would never allow that." said the black dragon.


    "It would make things awkward." said Albarad trying to find a smile. ¡°I might have to move to the Capitol.¡±


    "If Mandel is biased." said Killingsworth. "Someone else must step in. Is there no-one else with which I may speak? You said the government was still in dispute."


    "That''s not going to be much help either, I''m afraid. The dispute for control is with Argent''s daughters. They want to rule instead of Mandel. You really don''t want to talk to them. They will probably kill you before you have a chance to speak." said Albarad.


    "Then I shall perish trying. I will have Justice!" The dragon yelled jumping into the sky.


    "Snow! I told you just to restore his legs, not give him his wings back!"


    The small white dragon shrugged.


    "It seems like Argent¡¯s daughters might solve this problem for you anyway," said a small squeaky voice.


    Heirwynn blinked in surprise.


    "Snow! I''m so proud of you. You used your voice! You spoke out loud!"


    "Thank you for standing up for me Heirwynn." she said. She looked at her brother with a scowl.


    "I know you mean well brother, but you can be really mean."


    "You are just kidding yourself if you think that this world is a kind place." Night-Sky said. "It¡¯s dragon eat dragon out here. Especially out in the wilderness like this."


    Snow grimaced.


    "Are dragons known to be cannibalistic?" asked Heirwynn with a look of disgust on her face.


    Albarad looked at Night-Sky. When the black dragon didn''t reply, he tried taking a broader approach to the answer.


    "It is known to happens with other species, especially the strictly carnivorous ones. Dragons have culture and intelligence going for them. They tend to work together, rather than against each other.¡±


    "Perhaps I should have borrowed a more civilized turn of phrase from you elves." said Night Sky. "Like stab each other in the back or every elf for himself!"


    Albarad nodded in agreement.


    "Your right about that. We elves have a long history of fighting among ourselves. Our current conflict is proof of that. I''ve heard the phrase used by humans too, Heirwynn. Humans are obviously not immune to fighting among their own kind."


    ¡±I know that. I wasn¡¯t born yesterday.¡± Said Heirwynn.


    Albarad laughed.


    ¡±Well, from an elven perspective, you actually almost were. You are practically the same age as my other daughter.¡±


    Heirwynn looked confused.


    ¡°But she¡¯s just a baby.¡±


    ¡°She will catch up to you very quickly.¡±


    ¡°You consider me to be your daughter? Like Charity?¡±


    ¡±Yes I do.¡± Said Albarad.


    Heirwynn beamed happily.


    ¡±I¡¯ve got a sister!¡±


    ¡°I rather like your sweet dragon friend too.¡± Said Albarad looking at Snow.


    The little white dragon squirmed happily.


    ¡±Well, you¡¯re more than likely stuck with us.¡± Said Night-Sky.


    ¡±I was talking about Snow. I¡¯ve got quite a different attitude about you Night-Sky. You remind me too much of Esmarilla.¡±


    The small black dragon blinked,


    Then Albarad grinned at him.


    ¡±You realize that I¡¯m teasing you don¡¯t you?¡± Said the elf. ¡°Thank you, by the way for stopping Killingsworth¡¯s charge.¡±


    Night-Sky looked smugly at Snow.


    ¡±Well, that¡¯s a relief.¡± Said Night-Sky. ¡°I rather like you too Albarad. In fact I like you a lot. You may call me Night. Have you ever thought of bonding?¡±


    ¡±No. Not happening.¡±


    The dragon looked disappointed.


    Albarad laughed.


    ¡±It¡¯s not you, it¡¯s me¡± he said. ¡°But if you and Enderline ever decide to break up you should probably talk to Mandel.¡±


    Heirwynn blushed.


    ¡°I¡¯d like to meet him too.¡±she said. ¡°If he¡¯s anything like his father.¡±


    Albarad gave her an appraising look.


    ¡±That secret was being kept to improve Mandel¡¯s chances at a peaceful succession. I suppose that there is no harm in it coming out now.¡±


    ¡±Your relationship with Muina kind of made that obvious. At least to us,¡± said Night.


    ¡±I wouldn¡¯t be opposed to that, But traveling to the elven Capitol right now is very dangerous.¡±


    ¡±Killingsworth should have let this go. It is very possible he won¡¯t survive the trip¡± said Night-Sky.


    "Unfortunately, even if he does, Argent¡¯s daughters are not going to care about dragon justice." said Albarad.


    "No, but they may learn that a copy of the dragon burning spell still exists." said Night-Sky. "They are going to want that!"


    ''It doesn''t exist. Muina destroyed it."


    "There are ways to pull it from her mind." said Night-Sky softly. ¡°I¡¯ve heard that the process is not pleasant.¡±


    "Well then, we need to finish this up and hurry back. We need to be there to protect her."


    "I wonder why Killingsworth seems to be taking this all so personally?" asked Albarad.


    "You didn''t know? Asked Night-Sky. ¡°Penelope was his grand-daughter."


    Albarad suddenly got very busy burying Penelope''s burned bones.


    Killingsworth intended to wing his way toward the Capitol, but first he flew by the lake. Reveling in his restored mobility he dropped in and washed off the dust. Then he stopped by the dairy and grabbed a cow, eating it on the spot. He didn''t even ask permission. There were only small dragons around anyway, at least at the moment. He hungrily devoured his first real meal in days. Nobody stopped him.


    He considered Muina, sitting in her house just a few minutes away. He thought about her lies. He thought about his grand daughter. He grew angrier. In spite of all she had done to bring down Argent, and In spite of the fact that she might actually try to use that cursed spell on him, he decided that he was going to try to kill the female elf again.


    As Killingsworth approached the house, however he saw something that really terrified him. It was his old nemesis Tundor! He was sitting in the front yard, obviously guarding the place. He¡¯d gotten huge. Killingsworth wondered how he had gotten so big, so fast. If Killingsworth was bigger he wouldn¡¯t need to worry about losing another fight against anyone again!¡± Reluctantly he turned away. The lying elf would not die today.


    He would be back eventually. Killingsworth wasn''t exactly sure where the dead emperor''s daughters lived, but was going to find them. He would do whatever it took. Penelope would be avenged.


    --------------------------

 Volume 2: Chapter 18: The Foolish Heart

    *************************


    Chapter Eighteen


    *************************


    Mandel looked at his sister. Her pretty face was scrunched up in a frown.


    "Ok, I''m listening. He said. ¡°You wanted to talk to me about Ardwella?¡±


    "Honestly, it''s really creepy Mandel." said Mavis. "It''s Aunt Ardwella''s body, but she seems totally different. And I''m not just talking about her eyes."


    The three elves were sitting in the cafeteria eating breakfast together. Cantrell looked over at the floor area next to a nearby table. That chipped tile looked rather familiar.


    "I honestly don''t know how you can even evaluate how different she is from the original Ardwella. We didn''t know her while we were growing up. Are you sure you are not trying to compare her to our mother?


    "They are twins." said Mavis.


    "That doesn''t necessarily mean that much, They have lived very different lives."


    "I think what you are both are forgetting is that Ardwella isn''t in control. In everything you are observing, you¡¯re seeing the dragon. Zinariya is just wearing Ardwella''s body right now." said Cantrell.


    "Doesn''t Ardwella have any control at all? How could she agree to that?" asked Mavis. "Like I said, it''s creepy."


    "You would have to ask her about that." said Cantrell.


    ¡±I wonder¡± Asked Mavis. ¡°How much influence Ardwella still has over her own body¡¯s actions?¡±


    Mandel shrugged.


    "She seems fairly normal to me, except that Aunt Ardwella doesn''t strike me as being that lazy. All Zinariya has done is eat mung beans and sleep. She eats them in every way that we can prepare them. Then goes straight back to bed." said Mandel. "It''s like she''s on vacation or something."


    "It''s only been two and a half days." said Cantrell. "I don''t think Zinariya is lazy. She was willing to deal with this problem from the first time that I met her. For a dragon hatchling she is highly ambitious."


    "Perhaps she is just motivated by revenge." said Mavis. "She did come into this world already under attack."


    Cantrell pushed away his half finished plate.


    ¡±Mo-Rung absolutely destroyed those elves. I was there. I¡¯ve never seen anything quite like that.¡±


    Mavis patted his hand.


    ¡±I felt his fury through the bond,¡± she said. ¡°We¡¯ve discussed it since. His actions were controlled by a powerful instinctual desire to protect Zinariya¡¯s egg.¡±


    "There is probably more to it than that. There is something about the metallic dragons that makes them very special. I think she feels some sort of responsibility for dragon-kind in general."


    Mandel leaned forward.


    "I''ve heard it said that the metal based dragons are considered Royalty by the other dragons. I suppose I should keep that in mind. I may not just be dealing with an individual but the future leader of their reborn nation."


    "Right now she is just a lazy assassin." said Mavis.


    Cantrell frowned.


    "I think you will find that she''s much more than that. She''s got amazing powers! She actually teleported me!"


    "Why are you defending her?" huffed Mavis. "Did some of those pheromones she left in our bed rub off on you? You''re supposed to be immune since you were bonded."


    Cantrell suddenly realized that he was treading on thin ice.


    "You know that her pheromones can no longer affect me. Even if they could, you broke Ardwella''s hold over me with your sweet attentions long before Esmarilla and I bonded."


    He wiggled his eyebrows.


    "By the way, I do appreciate you making sure that I¡¯m completely safe from pheromones since I''ve been back," he said with a grin.


    Mavis blushed. She finally re-found her smile.


    "I missed you way too much when you were gone Cantrell." said Mavis.


    "Look lovebirds. Let''s stay on topic. I don''t want to hear how I''m going to have to buy you a new bed too!"


    Cantrell blinked. "Can you actually buy a bed with the blockade going on?"


    "Heavens no, we actually make them in house. But our woodworkers are busy making bows, arrows and other implements of defense. Argent''s daughter''s loyal troops are still attacking the walls, now seemingly more than ever. I thought that Ardwella, I mean Zinariya, was here to start dealing with the root of the problem."


    "We are here to do just that!" said a voice.


    Zinariya walked into the cafeteria. She sat next to Mandel and across from Cantrell.


    "Hey Goldie! How''s tricks?" asked Cantrell winking at her.


    Zinariya stared back at him, expressionless.


    "I thought you had forgotten about that horrible nick-name." She finally said.


    "No Way! I earned the right to use it. I ruined a quilt for the privilege."


    Mavis bumped him with her shoulder.


    "How about we stay on topic dear?"


    Zinariya''s eyes searched her. She sniffed.


    "This elven nose may not have the sensitivity of a dragon''s Mavis, but I think that I smell jealousy."


    "What?" exclaimed Cantrell. "That''s not even possible."


    "Of course it''s not." said Zinariya. But it gave me the opportunity to watch her eyes when I said it. She avoided eye contact."


    "I''m not avoiding eye contact with you because I''m jealous of you! I don''t look at your eyes because they seriously creep me out!" shouted Mavis.


    People at nearby tables all stopped talking. They were suddenly the center of unwanted attention.


    "Perhaps we should move this conversation to my personal study" said Mandel.


    "Not until I get some mung beans for breakfast" said Zinariya. "To answer your question about my delay in getting started, it seems Ardwella had seriously run herself down lately. Her body was trying to keep up with the unreasonable demands of the Platinum dragon as it forced her child¡­.


    "Charity" said Mavis.


    "Yes, Charity, that''s the name. Ardwella should have provided that name to me. I think somehow she is being stubborn and refusing to help me at the moment. Ardwella''s new baby Charity was forced to grow more quickly than was reasonably safe. This did terrible things to Ardwella''s health. Also there was the ongoing loss of her dragon bond supplied healing. She was starting to show signs of unusual wear and tear. I have remedied all these things. She''s now better than ever."


    "Don''t ever underestimate the power of mung beans and magic" said Mavis.


    "I took Esmarilla from her." Said Cantrell, a half second later.


    "You did not take me away from anyone. I was a free dragon at the time. My issues with Ardwella were my own." said Esmarilla through the bond. "You saved my life in the process!"


    "That''s very strange..." said Zinariya. "This elf..."


    "Ardwella." said Cantrell. "That''s her name in case she is holding out on you again."


    "I know her name Cantrell."


    "Then use it. She deserves some respect. She is about to risk her life to make all of our lives better."


    Mavis looked at him awkwardly.


    "So you were saying?" asked Cantrell. He gazed at the dragon and tried to smile.


    "Ah, Yes, I will continue. Ardwella... was bonded to your dragon for a very long time. Even now I can hear an echo of her speaking to you, at least when I''m this close to you."


    ''You can eavesdrop on my conversations with Esmarilla?"


    "Yes, I can, right now at least. I probably could not do it at longer range."


    "Could Ardwella do that before you joined with her?"


    "I sincerely doubt it. This body and all its telepathic powers are substantially enhanced at the moment." said Zinariya.


    "Anyway, poor sweet Ardwella needed some work. I''ve given it to her, along with some needed rest. We are almost ready to get to work on your problem."


    Cantrell, trying not to be obvious, looked quickly at Ardwella''s body. It was very unfortunate but she looked terrific. Better than ever in fact. It was a similar effect to when Siophra had turned extra gorgeous when inhabited by the same dragon. Cantrell loved his wife but it was damned distracting. He had tried for a surreptitious glance, but when he looked back up, he was embarrassed to see the golden eyes locked on his own. She gave him a small smile.


    Mandel had gotten up from the table while they had been talking and was now coming back to the table with a huge mung bean covered green salad.


    "Here you go Auntie." he said.


    "An Emperor that doubles as a waiter." said Zinariya with a smirk. "There is hope for this country yet."


    "Zinaiya dug into her salad with gusto. Cantrell was pleased to see that she knew how to use a fork. It had to be at total accident when her leg brushed up against his leg while she was eating so enthusiastically. Then it happened again.


    "We will meet you in your office in a few minutes Mandel." said Cantrell quickly getting up from the table.


    "Come on Honey," said Cantrell to Mavis. I think we need to go talk to Esmarilla in person. I have some new questions."


    Mavis was silent as they walked toward the stables.


    "Cantrell, I think this is going to be a problem." she said. "She''s right. I actually am jealous."


    "Don''t be. You know that nothing ever happened between us..."


    "Yes, but for a while, you wanted it to." said Mavis angrily. "Now it turns out she trapped you deliberately."


    "We only have Zinariya''s word for that" he said. "I think we need to actually talk to Ardwella about it. Even if it''s true, she has no power over me now. Thanks to you!"


    Cantrell stopped and gathered her into his arms. He just stood there in the hallway, holding her, breathing her in. She smelled like honeysuckle and vanilla. She smelled like home.


    "Mavis, I love you!" he said. "She''s a dragon. You have nothing to worry about."


    "I''m not worried about the dragon trying to steal you away from me. I''m worried about Ardwella!"


    "She''s ancient." he protested.


    "She didn''t look that ancient to me." said his extremely beautiful wife. "Someday I hope to look that good! She must be hiding all that extra dragon flesh in her boobs! Don''t you think that they''ve grown?"


    "I really hadn''t noticed" Cantrell lied. He tried to keep his face as neutral as possible.


    "Sure you didn''t" said Mavis. "You''re a terrible liar Cantrell. But I''m glad. It means you haven''t had that much practice."


    The two of them entered the huge stables where Esmarilla was housed. Currently the big black dragon was the only one there.


    "I heard what she told you about overhearing our conversations through the bond." said Esmarilla. "I''m sorry, but she is probably telling the truth about that."


    "How can that happen?" asked Mavis.


    "With all the years we were bonded, I think certain things can happen. Dragons and Elves become even more attuned the longer that bond exists."


    She hung her head.


    This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.


    "I''m a second-hand dragon."


    "Look, it''s no big deal." said Cantrell. "We''ve got nothing to hide. It''s only going to for a short time anyway and then Zinariya will move on from Ardwella and it will no longer be an issue."


    "There is something else Cantrell." said Esmarilla.


    "What is it?" asked Mavis.


    The black dragon looked awkwardly at the two of them.


    "Zinariya also wasn''t lying when she said that Ardwella had designs on your husband Mavis. She deliberately infected him."


    "I knew it!" shouted Mavis.


    "That just doesn''t make any sense!" said Cantrell. "She''s married to Albarad. She loves him."


    "Ardwella doesn''t talk about it, but remember she''s old. She''s had several serious relationships over the many years."


    "She just had his baby, for crying out loud!"


    "A parting gift. An apology. She even orchestrated his replacement wife. This time, conveniently, its her own sister. I''ve seen it before. She wants to move on.¡±


    "With me?" he practically croaked.


    "THAT IS NOT HAPPENING!" shouted Mavis.


    "Of course not." said Esmarilla. "You two obviously love each other very much."


    Mavis was fuming. She was clenching and unclenching her fists. She started pacing. On her way past, Cantrell finally grabbed her. He spun her toward him and looked into her eyes.


    "Talk to my dragon!" he said. "Ask her how I feel about you. Ask her if I''m going to be faithful to you. She can read my mind."


    Mavis looked up at Esmarilla. Doubt was in her eyes.


    "The truth?" asked Esmarilla through the bond.


    Cantrell nodded.


    "Cantrell really loves you Mavis." said the dragon. "But as soon as we can... we all need to get as far away from Ardwella as possible. She usually doesn''t quit until she gets what she wants. The only thing probably keeping that from happening right now is Zinariya."


    "This whole conversation has been ridiculous" said a voice.


    Zinariya walked up to the them.


    "Hello Esmarilla" she said. "Long time no see."


    Her eyes were blue.


    ------------------


    "You know that this is a different quilt don''t you?" asked Ronniflass with a smile.


    "The flowers on it are pretty, but not as pretty as you." said Cenderick blushing.


    Ronni rolled onto her side and kissed him on the cheek.


    "Males are such terrible liars." she said.


    "What are you talking about?" Cenderick sputtered.


    "A dose of honesty." said Ronni. "Both you AND Lothinar''s last relationships were with stunningly beautiful full blooded elves. Siophra and Ardwynn. I know that I don''t really compare."


    He frowned.


    "First of all Siophra and I were only friends and second of all...What makes you say that?" Asked Cenderick. "You are beautiful."


    "I don''t know, maybe it''s hard to hear, because I''m always someone''s second choice." said Ronniflass.


    ¡±I wouldn¡¯t put it that way.¡± He protested. ¡°Up until, uh well now, you have always been with somebody else. First the Dairyman. Then Lothinar.


    ¡±Actually the dairy was originally mine. It was smaller though. He knew a lot about cows and owned a champion bull. The relationship kind of started out as a business partnership, but then¡­..You know, I just remembered that I was actually his second choice too. That''s really funny.¡±


    ¡±It doesn''t sound to me like you''re laughing, Ronni." said Cenderick with concern. "Are you saying that you were Lothinar''s second choice too?"


    The half elf sighed.


    "Of course I am, or was....I practically forced myself on him. He really is a nice guy you know. Although he probably would deny it, I think he was only with me because of guilt."


    Cenderick got a faraway look in his eyes.


    "Guilt is a terrible reason to start a relationship." he said.


    The half-elf nodded.


    "Its long past time to relieve him of those obligations." she said with a sad smile.


    "So you did this to end your relationship? Because if you wanted to have sex with me to make Lothinar angry, I don''t think that was very kind! To either of us."


    She smiled apologetically.


    "I didn''t do it to make him angry. Or you either for that matter."


    "Why then?"


    "I did it because I''m tired of waiting for Lothinar to come back just to revive a relationship that probably should never have happened. It is time to move on."


    "Why me?"


    You are handsome and actually seem genuinely interested in me. Was I wrong?"


    He smiled.


    "No, you aren''t wrong. I think that I have made my interest fairly apparent." he said.


    He scratched his chin.


    "What if Lothinar doesn''t feel that way? What if you sleeping with me hurts him?"


    "It won''t"


    "How can you possibly know for sure?"


    "Well, for one, because I was his second choice and two, I think he genuinely wants me to be happy."


    "So me being with you made you happy? And here I thought that I was the only one." he said with a grin.


    "It cheered me up considerably." she said. "I thought you noticed."


    "Did you need cheering up?" he asked carefully.


    "Well, I got some bad news lately."


    "Is it something that you want to talk about?"


    "Not really. If you decide to stick around then I''ll tell you soon."


    "I''ll let you tell me about it when you''re ready." he said.


    "Ok. But as the old joke about elves goes... I''m all ears."


    She giggled.


    "See! Funny."


    "How about I cheer you up some more?" he asked with a smile.


    "If we don''t leave soon we won''t make it back to see Vanador before he leaves." said Ronni.


    He looked down at the floral quilt lying over him. It was rising.


    "We can just say that something came up."


    "What about Siophra?" she asked, sometime later and somewhat out of breath.


    "Siophra who?" he answered.


    ----------------------------------


    After giving up trying to get Michelle to come home with him, Courtney had returned to his domicile. On his desk he found a letter. Someone from his household staff must have placed it there. It must have come while he was gone. He opened it. It was on Imperial letterhead. That surprised him. The fast courier ship from the mainland to Sivantra had not been scheduled to arrive for several more days. They must have had favorable winds.


    To Courtney, Regent in my stead, Isle and Kingdom of Sivantra,


    Dear old Chap,


    The war is won. We are now awaiting the opportunity to return to you. We will be bringing dragons back to the islands with us. It will no doubt change our way of life. Our relationships with them will continue to grow in importance. I therefore renew my request to treat their emissary Lothinar with the greatest respect. When possible, and within reason, try to accommodate him and his wife as best you can.


    We have come into some difficult news. It seems that our Queen Priscilla is unable to bear us children. That is less of an immediate issue as dragon bonding has likely extended many of our lives, Myself included. There are challenges to this, as well, of which I will spare you many of the details for now.


    Nevertheless, the need for an Heir is on my mind.


    You have been a faithful member of my court and are my top advisor. I know that you have a daughter. If it would not be too presumptuous of me, I would like you to mention my situation to her. I have briefly spoken with her in the past and found her quite charming in both body and mind.


    I would greatly enjoy the opportunity of getting to know her better upon my return to Sivantra. There are of course many intelligent beautiful women here on the mainland as well. Perhaps this message will only serve to disappoint the both of you should I find someone suitable here. But my own hubris is showing. I should not assume anything as to your daughter''s returned interests.


    Please continue to act in my stead with my full support.


    Enderline, King of Sivantra.


    "Other candidates indeed!" huffed Courtney. "I haven''t worked this hard to have an opportunity like this taken from me by a girl from the mainland! In the morning he was going to drag his daughter back home by her hair if he had to!


    "Lothinar and his pregnant wife will probably be grateful to finally be rid of her." he thought.


    Courtney lit the letter on fire.


    ----------------------------------


    The late night had been exhausting. Finally long after midnight he and Ardwynn had finally been able to sneak in just a few hours of sleep. For a change Michelle seemed content to retire to her own room without complaint. Firestorm didn''t even have to watch her. Vanquish''s influence on her was certainly appreciated. Much to everyone''s surprise it began to rain slightly before dawn. It stopped fairly quickly. The morning came early. The air was fresh and clear.


    Lothinar had already packed. He was not taking much at all on the return trip. Water, a few snacks, and of course his sword, Crimson, worn at his waist. Lothinar did have a small vial of mung bean extract safely wrapped up in a double sealed container in his bag. The cook had smiled when handing it to him.


    "This should get you there," he smiled. "Not that you need any help of course sir."


    Lothinar had mumbled his thanks.


    "I heard you were leaving, sir. I just wanted to tell you that you have expanded my culinary horizons! Thank you!"


    "You are an excellent cook and chef. If you ever make your way over to the mainland, please look us up!" said Lothinar.


    "I may do that sir. Safe flying!"


    Lothinar and Candasar stood under the Gazebo as Michelle prepared to preempt her father''s return visit by riding Firestorm over to the Regents house.


    VM or Vim, as Firestorm had actually started calling Vanquish-Michelle, had actually made a strange comment as she climbed aboard. She complained that flying this way, perched upon a dragon''s back was far too dangerous.


    Candasar and Lothinar had just laughed it off as a joke.


    "A dragon that''s afraid of flying! HA HA. " said Lothinar.


    Vim had given them a sharp look before Firestorm threw herself into the air. As Firestorm banked hard and flew over the house, Lothinar had heard a little scream. He looked over and saw Candasar looking up. She was smiling.


    "You have to admit that there is a strange irony in this" said his blue dragon bond.


    "The first time on dragon back can be pretty scary" said Lothinar sympathetically. We elves have a saying. ''The shoe is now on the other foot.''"


    "What''s that even supposed to mean?" asked Candasar. "Vanquish has never even worn shoes before today. It doesn''t make any sense."


    "It''s an idiom."


    Candasar seemed to be thinking carefully about that.


    "There is no reason to think that Vanquish bonding with Michelle would have made either of them less intelligent is there? I would think that it might actually improve things for the both of them in the smarts department. Of course I never met Michelle before she lost her mind for you."


    "Id ee om."


    "Oh, I thought you said something else. You know elvish is not my first language Lothinar."


    Lothinar laughed.


    "You might be able to get away with that excuse with someone else... But not with me Candi."


    The blue dragon smiled. It really was an exceptional smile.


    "I still struggle a bit with the human tongue though." she said. "While we''ve been here I''ve been attempting to learn a little more of it."


    "Who have you been talking with?"


    "Since you mentioned shoes, I did hear the head gardener telling his young son a story about elves and a shoemaker the other day. It was a bit disturbing although I may have not understood everything. It sounded to me like some humans keep elves as slaves. They had to work all night and didn''t even get paid."


    "There is a lot of false information about elves in the human community." Lothinar said. "Our nations have been separated for a very long time. It''s going to only get better now that the war is over."


    "Unless the elves in Sivantra rise up and kill their cruel taskmasters. The humans won''t like that." said Candasar with a grimace.


    "I think that was just a story Candasar. I think Ardwynn and I are the only elves in Sivantra right now."


    Lothinar had an inquisitive look on his face.


    "Where was I when you were listening to this upsetting story? If you had concerns perhaps I could have talked to the gardener for you."


    "You were having sex. You tend to get really focused. I know better than to try to interrupt you at times like that."


    "Well I appreciate that." said Lothinar.


    "I do too." said Ardwynn walking up to them. She was smiling. Obviously she had overheard.


    Lothinar blushed. Then he looked towards the garden. He wondered if the gardener was going to be getting an early start today.  He didn¡¯t see him.


    "I''m really trying to get back to the "boot on the other leg'' idiom...." Lothinar said as he attempted to plow through the distraction.


    "Boots now? Not shoes?" Said the dragon.


    "Either boots or shoes will suffice for this example, Candi. It has to do with a reversal in positions and how uncomfortable it can be." said Lothinar.


    "Especially when you''re pregnant." interrupted Ardwynn.


    Lothinar groaned. He decided to ignore her.


    "Look Candi," he said with exasperation. "Before this, Vanquish has always been the one providing the rides, she has never been the rider."


    "Obviously," said Candisar. "But what has that got to do with feet?"


    You probably have noticed at some point that my feet are slightly different from each other. They are somewhat curved. Shoes are made to accommodate that."


    "But you usually wear boots."


    "Yes, I do. Most of the time for what I''m doing... Well, my old job was doing a lot of walking around. I could probably switch to something lighter now that I''m not a warden anymore."


    "Do boots make your feet sweat Lothinar?"


    "I suppose they might."


    "Well, I wasn''t going to bring this up, but I''ve also noticed that they smell." said Candasar. "It''s really bad when your boots have been on a long time and then you take them off."


    "Really? Why didn''t you say something earlier." Lothinar reached down and pulled off his boot. He gave it a sniff.


    "Hmm.. It''s not terrible, but you might be right." said Lothinar. "I wonder if it''s because of the pheromones. I''ve always had sweaty feet."


    "Well, they are hanging down, right there, when you are riding on my neck Lothinar."


    Ardwynn reached over and grabbed his boot. She held it up to her nose."


    "A little musky, but not terrible." she said. "It just smells like leather and Lothinar."


    Candasar pretended to gag.


    Ardwynn threw the boot back. He caught it and put it back on.


    "See if I put this boot on my other foot it would be uncomfortable. As uncomfortable as Vanquish is riding a dragon."


    "No! Don''t take it off again! I''m afraid I might pass out!" yelled Candasar.


    Ardwynn scoffed.


    "You do realize that Candasar has been teasing you this whole time don''t you?"


    "Sshh" said Candasar. "It''s fun to see if I can make him lose his temper. He''s extremely patient."


    "Yes he is." said Ardwynn. "It''s probably a good thing for both of us."


    "More than you probably actually realize, Ardwynn" said the blue dragon.


    ------------------------------


    Courtney was in the barn with his men. They were saddling their horses before riding over to the Elven ambassador''s place. These men were his best. They had been in his employ for a very long time. They would help him get Michelle home and more importantly, they would be discreet about it. He heard a commotion in the yard. Several groomsmen were outside. They were gaping at the red dragon that had just landed in the yard. On the dragon''s back was his daughter Michelle.


    "What are you doing on that dragon?" he yelled.


    "I''m coming to see you father." she said slipping off the dragon''s neck and landing on her feet. She seemed to cling to the red dragon for a moment as if to steady herself.


    "I told you it would be fine" Courtney heard the red dragon whisper, just a little too loudly.


    Courtney looked at his daughter. Something was different. He just couldn''t immediately tell what it was.


    "I''m going to the Mainland." she said. "I''m leaving today with the elves. I''m going to be flying on this red dragon."


    "Have you completely taken leave of your senses?" he said, staying surprisingly calm.


    "I want to get married." she said. "To Enderline."


    "We''ve been over this. The elf said....." he stuttered to a stop. "To who?"


    "Enderline. The King."


    His mouth was hanging open. He closed it.


    "I''ve come into some facts." she said.


    "And what are these new facts?" he asked.


    "Queen Pricilla can''t have children. This changes things." she said.


    Courtney bit the inside of his lip. He had just had Enderline''s letter say the same thing.


    After a whole young adulthood of fighting him, was this girl finally going to come to her senses and do something smart? He grew suspicious.


    "Don''t you think the King might have something to say about this?"


    "I''ve met him daddy. I have confidence that I can convince him that I''m the one to bear his children. Your grandchild will be the next King."


    This was too good to be true. He narrowed his eyes.


    "I can''t have you galavanting off on a dragon. No offense, Firestorm. If you are serious about this, we can send you on the next ship."


    She stomped her pretty foot. For some reason her shoes looked muddy and tattered.


    "It will be too late by then." she said. "When word of Pricilla''s plight becomes known, there will be competition!"


    Courtney thought once again about the letter. She would be able to get there faster on the dragon. It seemed safe enough. The elves had done it several times in fact.


    "Ok, Fine." He said testily. "But only because I love you and want you to be happy."


    "Thanks daddy" she beamed. "Can I get a few things out of the house before I go? "I need at least a change of clothes."


    "Of course, of course." he said. We can''t have you meeting Enderline in that!"


    She ran into the house and up the stairs. In her room she quickly changed into a tasteful but beautiful frock. She dropped her ruined and muddy shoes into the trash can. She put on new ones. Walking past her father''s open office door she crouched down and brushed away the dry, small muddy footprints that lightly stained the carpet. Footprints that exactly matched the shoes she had just discarded.


    "It''s a good thing that we know how to structure a formal letter." she said to herself. "Muina had some excellent penmanship skills that I never thought I''d need, including a talent for forgery.  The letter looked real enough.  Father obviously must have read it. Other than having to run through the rain, that went way easier than I expected!"


    She straightened her dress before hurrying downstairs to gave her father a hug goodbye.


    "You look beautiful. Here''s a little traveling money" he said, wiping a tear from his eye.


    She took the small bag and quickly climbed back on the red dragon.


    "Thanks daddy! I''ll be sure to write."


    Firestorm jumped into the air. They flew for about a minute.


    "Hey Vim! Have you gotten heavier? Firestorm asked. You feel heavier than on the way here."


    "Yes, my father gave me some gold."


    "Is some of that for me? We talked about that."


    "Sure," she said. "I''ll share. But I expect to keep enough to buy a formal gown when we get back to the mainland. After the one that got ruined when we first met, I think the blue dragon part of me still owes myself one!"


    ---------------------


    Killingsworth landed on the outskirts of the Elven capital. It was a largely agricultural area. Large homes and barns dotted the landscape. It didn''t take long for a group of grim faced elves with long spears to find him. They quickly surrounded him.


    "Take me to your leader" he growled. "I have some information that they are going to want to know about."


    "Is the dragon male or female?" one of them asked.


    "Male!" one of the others answered.


    "Can''t lay eggs then. He''s useless to us."


    "Just stab him!" one of them shouted. The elves moved closer.


    Killingsworth attempted to flee far too late. He did not survive the fifth spear. His last thought was that the stupid elf had been right.


    --------------------

 Volume 2: Chapter 19: Declaration of Independence

    *****************************


    CHAPTER NINETEEN


    ******************************


    Vanador was flying. He was getting close to the elven capital. The place was not full of happy memories for him, but his sister was waiting. He had made a quick stop on the way to get a drink and hunt. He had even managed to re-find the clear mountain lake that Siophra and he had stopped at on their trip away from the Capitol, fleeing from Argent. He could almost still see Siophra, bedraggled and emaciated, climbing out of the water of the lake. He remembered how concerned she had been about trying to find her family while still unclothed. Her long imprisonment had ended in a period in which she had been left naked and starved. She had suffered through so much. She had been tortured, and more. It had been so much worse for her than it had been for him. He felt his rage at what Argent had done to her burn with fresh fervor. At least now, she was safe.


    ¡°I care deeply for that elf.¡± He thought to himself. ¡°If my mate Vanquish wasn¡¯t so against dragons and elves being bonded, I would never have ended it. I¡¯m glad that she found Tundor, so at least now she doesn¡¯t have to be alone.¡±


    On the outskirts of the city the dragon had begun to gain altitude. Without a supply of dragon eggs to power the spell, the chance of being killed by an elf throwing lightning was pretty low. It would, however be wise to avoid running into the ballistae weapon that he had heard mentioned.  He wanted to get above the threat of that! Vanador was planning to come in high and then try to center himself over the city central tower, before slowly spiraling down to the spire. That should keep him out of range of the new weapon.  Before he got too high, he glimpsed something strange. A group of elves was gathered around something on the ground. It looked like a dragon! His blood ran cold. As far as he knew the only dragon in the region was Esmarilla. He couldn''t just fly by. He had to investigate this. The elves seemed pre-occupied with stabbing the dragon. They didn''t notice him flying towards them. They were looking down with glee as they impaled it and over. The dragon was already clearly dead. Suddenly Vanador snorted.  It was a grey dragon that he recognized. It was Killingsworth! What had he been doing out here, so far from Delora Natine?"


    Just by chance, one of the elves facing in Vanador''s direction looked up from his mayhem. His eyes grew wide. He yelled a warning, but it was too late. Vanador''s flames roared. After the huge white dragon''s third pass over the bodies, only blackened skeletons and ash remained. It wasn¡¯t a pretty sight. Several small fires had sprung up. A tree and nearby fence were burned where one of the quicker elves briefly escaped before being found by Vanador¡¯s flames. Vanador left the farmland burning.


    "We need to end this war soon." said Vanador to himself. "I have too many elf friends to be killing them indiscriminately like that.  Seeing them stabbing Killingsworth made me lose my temper. I don''t know what I would have done if it actually was Esmarilla lying there.


    Vanador resumed his journey. As he flew away, he did not see the female elf hiding behind a hedgerow. She had silently watched him kill her spear wielding soldiers, biting her lip until it bled. She had remained silent, even as the flames began to spread. Only after the dragon was fully on his way did she begin yelling in alarm.


    Argent¡¯s daughter Jewel knew better than to draw the attention of an angry white dragon. She ran back to the estate. She needed to tell the others that Vanador, the white dragon had returned. She would recognize that dragon anywhere. He had been on the roof of her father''s offices the whole time she had been growing up. There were only so many really big dragons. They were the most dangerous ones. The smaller ones would be much easier to subdue. Her troops hadn''t had much trouble with the lone grey at all. It was somewhat lucky that he had attempted to talk first. With Vanador now at the capital, she would have to tell her sisters that the eggs back at the lake were now relatively unguarded. It was time to bolster their magic reserves again.


    ------------


    Tundor was was out flying a patrol for hostile entities. He was taking his new responsibilities seriously. He had even met with a few old dragon council members and their families without showing his intrinsic dislike of them. Their past mistreatment seemed to have happened in a different lifetime.


    Vanador had been right. No one tried to bully him. In fact they showed him a quiet respect. He deliberately tried to be friendly, even to Benedar.  No one had seen any hostile elves.  Tundor nonetheless reminded the grey''s to constantly guard their nests.  He had observed more than a few with multiple eggs in each. He was glad for them, but now that Vanador was gone, it made him nervous.


    Back at the dairy, Constance was counting cows. Siophra was writing down the numbers on a tablet.


    "I''m telling you that one is definitely missing." said Vigilant. I''ve already counted them twice."


    ¡°You are being persnickety again.¡± She said.


    ¡°I¡¯m just trying to get this done¡± he replied. ¡°It¡¯s taking too long.¡±


    ¡±I know, but they keep moooving¡± she said grinning.


    ¡±But father¡¯ already left without us! I wanted to go!¡± said Vigilant, for once oblivious. His sister''s humor not even registering.


    Siophra did smile at the female blue dragon¡¯s joke. She was funny, and she obviously enjoyed teasing her usually too serious brother.


    ¡°Your father thought that, for this first visit, it was probably best that he went by himself Vigilant." Siophra said. "He explained why.¡±


    The blue juvenile dragon started to say something before swiveling towards the barn.


    ¡±Oh look!¡± he said. ¡°Ronniflass is back.¡±


    From across the yard Siophra spotted Ronni. She was ducking into the barn. It looked rather clandestine. Siophra tried to wave but Ronni didn''t seem to see her. Perhaps she had something important on her mind.


    "Hold on Constance. You can stop counting." said Siophra. "I''m going to take Vigilant''s word for it. Someone must have stolen one. It happens when hungry dragons are around."


    She set the tablet down on the top of a water barrel and followed Ronni into the barn. When the half elf spotted her coming in, her face fell.


    "Oh! Hi Siophra." she said awkwardly.


    "Did you solve the mystery?" asked Siophra.


    "Pardon me?"


    "The quilt question mystery. You seemed very concerned about that earlier."


    "Yes the quilt is fine, well, actually it''s not. But that doesn''t matter as much anymore." she said.


    "Was Cenderick helpful in resolving the situation?" she asked. "You two obviously went up to the house again."


    The half elf blushed.


    "Very helpful." she said.


    "We need to talk." said Siophra.


    Ronni took a step back.


    "Look Siophra, I''m sorry. I didn''t really mean for this to happen. I wasn''t trying to steal your beau. We just... Well, both of us needed to move on. Cenderick and I love each other. I hope you understand...."


    "Oh, ok. Of course I understand. It''s really fine." said Siophra. "I sort of assumed that was the case. I''m glad for you both."


    Ronniflass looked perplexed.


    "Well, then what did you want to talk about?"


    "Where do you buy your cows?" Siophra asked. "We are running low and Muina is concerned that we are going to run out of milk."


    "Why does Muina need milk?


    "Ardwella went off and left her with a hungry baby."


    "Oh.. Did she explain why?"


    "She left for the capital to deal with the last of Argent''s family, among other things I suspect."


    "She does seem to be full of surprises." said Ronni.


    "When you are as old as me and my sisters, you learn a few tricks." said Siophra.


    "I keep forgetting about that. You all look so young. It''s the bonding of course."


    "About the milk," said Siophra. "Don''t worry, there is still enough for Charity and several other young children in town, at least for now, but the cheese maker has been here several time to complain. He''s not happy."


    "I know where to get more cows, but you''re not going to like it."


    "We don''t really have a choice." said Siophra.


    "Ok. But will you go with me? I''ve got to talk to McDonald."


    "I''ll do you one better. I''ll bring Tundor with us. I don''t think McDonald is going to give us any trouble with Tundor around."


    "First I''ll go talk to my sister. She and Enderline have the gold we are going to need."


    Ronni paused. She had an awkward look on her face.


    "Do you think you would mind if Cenderick comes along. We''ve kind of become inseparable."


    "No, I don''t mind." said Siophra. "We are probably going to need his help for the cattle drive anyway."


    "I think he would actually enjoy something like that." said Ronni smiling.


    "Where is he now, by the way.?"


    ¡±He¡¯s trying to find a dragon to bond with. He said he wants to stay with me forever, and since I am bonded....¡±


    ¡±You won''t age, and of course he will continue to.¡±


    ¡®Ronni nodded.


    "He''s talking with a young dragon named Pepper. He took his friend Amstell along. Apparently they both are looking for bonds. Amstell is talking to Salt."


    "Those dragon''s are Mo-Rung''s children. Does he know about that?"


    "Of course, they asked him first. But they are both good friends of Cantrell. That was all Mo-Rung needed to know."


    "You know it''s up to Salt and Pepper, not their father if they bond don''t you?"


    "Cinnabar told me the same thing."


    "So why now? They are both pretty young."


    "They are actually older than the dragons from the cache. They were born on the lake. It was a few days before the big battle. They were Aleena''s last eggs before she was killed."


    Siophra watched Ronni''s face carefully. She looked resigned.


    "Right, that was when Ardwynn...."


    "Yes, Ardwynn betrayed Lothinar and attacked Mavis and Aleena. Being reminded of that event actually helped me make my decision."


    "What do you mean?"


    "I mean, it''s hard to take....when the person you thought you loved, leaves you to be with a murderer!"


    Tundor had been paying attention through the bond. Siophra could feel Tudor''s animosity against Ardwynn flare as he remembered his own dealings with her.


    Siophra sighed.


    "Lothinar''s in a difficult spot you know." said Siophra. "The Ardwynn that he married didn''t seem to be a terrible person. She only showed her true nature after bonding."


    "I saw here before." said Ronni. "Do you know that McDonald and I catered their wedding? That seems so long ago now. So much has happened.''


    "Say that again when you are over six hundred. years old" said Siophra.


    "I suppose that I understand what you mean. She hurt Tundor too."


    "Well, it''s probably best then that Lothinar find a way to keep her in Sivantra for a very long time."


    ¡®I¡¯m expecting that he just might do that. That also helped me make the Cenderick decision." said Ronniflass.


    She met Siophra¡¯s eyes.


    "Are you sure you don''t mind?"


    "No, I really don¡¯t. He was never mine you know. Cenderick is great, but believe it or not, my affections lay elsewhere."


    "Did you ever tell him that?"


    "No, and that was my mistake. I should have let him know that he was my second choice. It is something that is hard to tell someone."


    Ronniflass laughed.


    Misunderstanding her laughter, Siophra tried to assure the half elf.


    "I did enjoy his companionship as a friend. He''s a great catch. Good for you!"


    If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    "That''s not why I''m laughing. It was the second choice comment."


    "Why is that funny?"


    "It''s a long story." said Ronni. "Let''s just say that there is a lot of that going around. It''s an epidemic, really. You''ve got to tell me! Who would have been your first choice?"


    "Oh I¡¯m way too late.¡± Said Siophra. ¡®Mavis snagged Cantrell up before I got the chance to. I think that I might be prettier than her, but she had better clothes."


    Ronni was shaking her head.


    ¡°I''m no one to talk, especially after taking Cenderick, but I think you should give up on that. Cantrell strikes me as being very committed to his wife."


    Siophra got a dreamy look in her eyes.


    "I''m going to live a very long time. I can afford to be patient."


    "Look, Siophra." said Ronni. "I''m not exactly a great example of a person who''s relationships have lasted, but don''t you think it''s a bit pretentious to be scheming after your own niece''s husband? It''s going to tear your family apart."


    "Oh, I''m not going to tear anything apart. Ardwella will. I''m just going to be there to pick up the pieces."


    ----------------------------


    Enderline was writing a letter.


    "I wasn''t sure before, but now I am." said Pricilla.


    "What are you talking about?" asked Enderline. He was eating bear kabobs. Occasionally he would throw a choice tidbit to Ivy. He tossed her another one.


    "It looks like you and Ivy have made up." said Pricilla. She''s. your new best friend these days.¡±


    "Yeah, she kind of grew on me." said Enderline.


    "Well, I hope you are prepared to meet another new friend." said Pricilla. "I''m late."


    "Late to what? Were we supposed to have a meeting?


    He looked perplexed.


    "Who are these new friends you are talking about."


    She gave him a big grin.


    "I''m talking about your child silly." she said. "I missed my period."


    "You mean THAT kind of late?"


    "Yes indeed." she said. "I guess that big blue dragon did some pretty thorough work when she was bringing me back from the dead after all."


    "Well, give me some credit!" said Enderline.


    "Yes, dear, you have been quite enthusiastic."


    "Bear meat must agree with me!" said Enderline with a huge smile.


    Ivy wagged her tail.


    ¡±The bear meat you are currently enjoying had nothing to do with this. You started eating those kababs far too recently. This goes back much longer than that. It must be from right after my Vanquish and Lothinar returned me to life. If I recall, you were exceeding glad to have me back!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll have to send a note, thanking them again personally¡± said Enderline. ¡°With Ardwynn¡¯s local unpopularity, I wonder if they are going to actually stay in Sivantra. I wouldn¡¯t mind that at all.¡±


    ¡±My sister seems to feel that might actually be the situation. She¡¯s found a new guy.¡±


    ¡±Good for her!¡± Then everything is working out.


    "Candasar has her children here. Tundor too of course. She will probably be back even though she is bonded to Lothinar."


    "I wonder if they are regretting their decisions to bond." asked the King out loud. "I can''t be the only one."


    He suddenly frowned.


    "Why can''t Night-Sky be more like you?" he said, patting the green dragon on the head affectionately.


    "Not everything works out dear." said Pricilla.


    Enderline bit his lower lip.


    ¡±You''re right Pricilla. I am going to agree to Night-Sky¡¯s request to amicably un-bond. Not every relationship works out right the first time.¡±


    "Are you sure, it''s a big decision." she asked.


    "Yes, I''ve waiting long enough." he said definitively. "The best decision is the one that is made."


    He got a faraway look in his eye. He seemed to be concentrating.


    ¡°It¡¯s done¡± he finally said.


    ¡°He then grabbed his lovely wife and gave her an enthusiastic kiss.¡±


    ¡±See, that¡¯s the enthusiasm I was talking about!¡± Said Pricilla, quite out of breath.


    ¡±I¡¯m far more inspired than that!¡± Said Enderline. ¡±Let me show you!¡±


    Ivy placed her paw on Enderline''s knee.


    "What is it Ivy? asked Pricilla.


    "There is another young black dragon around here that is still looking for a bond." she said, her voice tentative. "I''m sorry that Night-Sky didn''t work out. I really like Enderline!" she said brightly.


    "That''s a great idea Ivy!" said Enderline. "What''s his name"


    "The black dragon is actually female." said Ivy. "Her name is Pepper. Her brother is named Salt. They are Mo-Rung''s children and Firestorm''s younger siblings."


    "I''m looking forward to meeting them." said Enderline. "They aren''t'' bonded to anyone?"


    "Not yet, but you might want to hurry" said Ivy. There are not that many unbonded available dragons left."


    "We should go." said Pricilla.


    "Do you mean that you don''t want to celebrate the good news with me?" whispered Enderline, gently nibbling on her ear. "I''m sure that there is plenty of time."


    ----------------------------------------


    Night-Sky sighed.


    "Pricilla is pregnant." he said.


    Albarad raised an eyebrow. He was holding his daughter in the crook of his arm and a bottle with a rubber nipple attached at one end in the other. The milk in the bottle was almost gone. He set the bottle down. Then he put Charity over his shoulder and began to burp her. She let out a little gurgle.


    "That seems to be something that''s going around lately. Muina is too. She thinks she conceived on the trip up into the mountains." he said.


    "How is she feeling?" asked Night.


    The elf grimaced.


    "Morning sickness" he said with a sympathetic grimace. "She said she was the same way when she bore the twins. She''s laying down drying to keep a hold on her breakfast."


    "How are you feeling about all of this?" asked Night Sky. "I mean, Ardwella leaving."


    "Well, I hope she meant it when she said she would try to come back, but somehow I don''t think she actually will."


    "Empty platitudes?" asked Night. "It doesn''t seem like Ardwella to lie to her sister."


    "I think she meant it when she said it." said Albarad. "She was handing Muina this baby. But Ardwella has always been a reluctant housewife and mother. I mean she really tried with Lothinar. But I could see her thoughts were always elsewhere. Once she figures out that we have survived without her she probably won''t be back. At least for a while."


    "Oh Wow! Hold on a second. This is what I''ve been waiting for."


    Albarad rolled his eyes.


    "You really should go see him. It''s not fair to Enderline..."


    "Sssh". said the dragon. His sister snow, sitting nearby raised her head in curiosity.


    "He''s breaking up with me!" said Night. "I can feel it."


    "That''s kind of sad" said Heirwynn. "When you think about it."


    "No it''s great!" said Night. "I''ve asked him to do this several times, but until now he''s always put me off."


    "How does that even work?" asked Heirwynn. ¡°I was under the impression that breaking a bond was extremely difficult to do.¡±


    ¡±With elves it is harder, yes. Their magics become entangled with that of the dragon. The rending can be very difficult and painful. With humans it isn¡¯t as difficult.¡± Said Night. ¡°Of course emotional attachments still come into play.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve grown quite fond of you Heirwynn¡± said Snow reassuringly. ¡°I¡¯m not going anywhere.¡±


    ¡±And now, neither am I¡± said Night. ¡°I thought Enderline was going to insist that I go back to Sivantra with him, and I could never leave Snow.¡±


    ¡°If you two are staying, do you think you could do something about Muina¡¯s morning sickness?¡± Asked Albarad.


    ¡°I will try to adjust her pregnancy hormone levels¡± said Snow. ¡°But it will probably make her breasts grow somewhat larger.¡±


    ¡±Well, I will just have to endure that inconvenience¡± said Albarad trying to keep a smile off his face.


    ¡±You can do that? Tell me more about that¡± said Heirwynn to Snow as the two of them left to go speak with Muina.


    ¡±And maybe you could tell me a bit more about Mandel.¡± Said Night-Sky. ¡°Like, why isn¡¯t he already bonded?¡±


    ¡±I think you should give it some time, little ambitious dragon¡± said the elf. ¡°You just got out of a bad relationship. Don¡¯t bring that baggage into the next one. Besides you might find living in a palace unappealing.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a terrible job, but someone¡¯s got to do it.¡± Said the dragon.


    ------------------------


    I really wasn¡¯t gone very long. I had been worried that Courtney might have actually turned out to actually be a good father and try to talk his daughter Michelle out of leaving. I didn¡¯t want to hang around long enough for him to change his mind. While it had eventually turned out Michelle had been completely right about his intentions to use her for political gain, the expression on his face after I came back downstairs, had worried me. He actually looked conflicted. I got out of there quickly. I was really concerned that he would notice my eye color. He didn¡¯t. I quickly climbed on Firestorm. As she was flying away, I didn¡¯t look back and Michelle didn¡¯t ask me to.


    I could see Lothinar and Ardwynn already in the yard as Firestorm made her approach to the house.I was obviously hanging on with all my might, but Firestorm wasn¡¯t making it easy. I probably really was near her weight limit. I had no idea that wing flapping felt so bouncy! Candasar was standing next to the two elves. She looked over at me with a strange expression as the smaller red dragon landed. I slipped off Firestorm¡±s back eager to get back on the ground.


    ¡°Ugh!¡± I said.¡±That¡¯s a new perspective on flying! I¡¯m not at all looking forward to the crossing.¡±


    Firestorm looked offended. She flicked her wingtips effectively stretching out her flight shoulders.


    I felt the human girl grow concerned. Michelle was afraid my comment would somehow result in her being left behind.


    ¡±I heard your father offer to send you by ship¡± Firestorm said, looking at Lothinar, instead of me. ¡°I¡¯m not insisting on carrying you, especially with that extra gold your father gave you. it¡¯s pretty heavy!¡±


    ¡°Are you actually interested in taking a ship, instead?¡± Lothinar asked me. ¡°If so, that might work out better. There is something called sea sickness, though, that you might have to contend with as well.¡±


    Michelle started wailing internally. She could imagine Lothinar¡¯s actually thinking that was a good idea and leaving without us. I did my best to tune her out her squalling and forced her facial muscles to relax. She had somehow managed to make us frown.


    I read Michelle¡¯s memories. I was trying to see if she had spent time on boats. She hadn¡¯t. Nor had she exhibited any problems with flying when I, as Vanquish, had accidentally grabbed her instead of Ardwynn. Although it had been a very short flight. When I parsed those thoughts it was clear that she was still a bit surly about me ruining that dress. It seemed incongruous to me that she seemed far more upset about that dress than me actually taking over her body.


    Michelle began pleading with me to do anything to convince Lothinar to not leave us behind. Her powerful infatuation with him hadn¡¯t really diminished. Only my stabilizing influence and control over her actions, kept her from throwing herself at Lothinar again. It felt like fighting a strong headwind back when I used to be able to fly.


    Lothinar was looking at me curiously. He was still waiting for an answer.


    ¡±I don¡¯t think I want to be left behind when you go. I just have concerns. I wish that there was some way to practice or something before we actually leave. It¡¯s going to be really terrible if I¡¯m air sick the whole time we are flying over the ocean.¡±


    ¡±Do you think that it¡¯s Firestorms small size that is the problem?¡± Asked Candasar. ¡°You were a pretty big dragon before¡­.¡±


    ¡±Before Ardwynn destroyed my dragon body? You mean¡±


    Candasar looked at me curiously.


    ¡±Now that you mention it, I think that everyone here is actually eager to know what actually happened.¡± She said, poignantly looking at Ardwynn. ¡°Ardwynn claims not to remember.¡±


    ¡±I don¡¯t think she¡¯s lying to you about that.¡± I said. ¡°I¡¯m fairly certain it was an accident.¡±


    "How did Ardwynn do it? How did she kill you? That''s the part that has been really bothering me!" asked Candasar. "For obvious reasons."


    "You''re afraid." I said. "You think that she is going to do it to you."


    "Anyone would be." said Lothinar. "I''m only a small part dragon and even I''m concerned. I don''t know if I can really even trust her at this point."


    Ardwynn squeaked a little. She looked upset.


    "You can trust her. What happened wasn''t really her fault. One in a million chance."


    "It was a spell that Muina knew. The dragon burning one. While she was married to Argent she found it among his things. She stole it to keep it away from him. Unfortunately when she read it, she learned it."


    "So then, because you were bonded with her, you knew it too."


    "Of course."


    "While I was working on removing all traces of Argent from your bride, Lothinar, I briefly bonded with her. Our thoughts combined. Unfortunately one of the things Ardwynn got from my mind was that spell."


    "Why did I use it on. you? I don''t think I would do that!" protested Ardwynn.


    "You cast the spell because I asked you to!"


    All of them were looking at me.


    "You said that words were hanging behind your eyelids. That seemed strange to me. I asked you to read them to me."


    "And you burned." said Ardwynn. "That part I do remember. I''m so sorry!" said Ardwynn. "I would never have spoken that spell if I knew what it was."


    "The old Ardwynn would have, but not the new one." I said.


    "Ardwynn, you are the most dangerous elf in the world!" said Candasar. "At least to dragons."


    "Does Ardwynn still know that spell?" asked Candasar. "I would like to know."


    "You would have to ask her." I said. "But I suspect she does. It''s somewhere in her memories."


    "I''m afraid to look!" said Ardwynn. "Please don''t make me."


    Candasar flinched.


    "My mother has vowed to remove that spell and everyone that knows it from existence." said Lothinar.


    "Well, she will have to start by killing her sister Muina then." I said. "She''s definitely closer."


    "Well, that''s going to be awkward." said Lothinar. "Muina''s actions have always been to help the dragons."


    "That''s the point Lothinar." I said. "Muina can be trusted."


    "Are you saying that we can trust Ardwynn with this secret?" asked Lothinar.


    "I''m vouching for her." I said. "I made sure to make her one of the best of your kind. She is special, just like you are Lothinar."


    Lothinar reached over and took Ardwynn''s hand. He smiled at her. She gave him a grin.


    "It seems that I owe you a great deal" Lothinar said.


    "Well, now that we have all that out of the way" said Firestorm, "If we are leaving, we need to get going."


    Lothinar looked at Me. The girl he met at the party and danced with. I looked back at him with the ancient eyes of a blue dragon. Lothinar seemed to be gathering his thoughts. Finally he spoke.


    "There''s just one more thing." he said. "What happened to Michelle. I really need a serious answer to that question."


    I suddenly realized that I had just assumed that Lothinar wouldn''t really care about the human girl. Now he seemed to need additional assurances of her well being.


    I sighed.


    ¡±You saw my seed reborn¡± I said. ¡°When you activated your magic. It was the thing that jumped out of Ardwynn and into Michelle.¡±


    ¡±I did see something ¡° he admitted. ¡°In my magical perspective we all were like stars, or maybe planets.¡±


    ¡±What you were looking at was probably our magic. When you started to bond with Michelle you made her receptive. Or I suppose she actually did. She wanted your bond. She made herself open to it. I needed a body, so I jumped¡±


    ¡±But you were already in me! Why did you need to jump into Michelle?¡± Asked Ardwynn.


    Michelle who had been quiet up til now, seized on that statement and seemed determined to somehow make a racy double entendre out of it. She opened our mouth to speak. I fought for control and won. Perhaps Lothinar half expected something like that. Michelle had been saying suggestive things like that for a while. He was watching my face. He must have seen something. I answered Ardwynn¡¯s question.


    ¡°Your own elven magic was already there. Magically, there wasn¡¯t enough room for my seed to expand inside you, There really wasn''t room for the both of us if I was going to become magically active again. I needed a container that didn''t already have magic in it to put my magic into. Humans have no magic. Michelle now has me.¡±


    "It rather seems that you have her." said Lothinar. "I really barely knew the girl, but I have to tell you I¡¯m not really sure how I feel about that. It seems like you sort of stole her body. That can¡¯t be what she thought was going to happen.¡± Said Lothinar.


    "She''s fine with it." I said.


    "But how would anyone really know? We have only your word for that." he said.


    "I could let you talk to her, but I don''t think you will like the results." I said.


    "I think that I would feel better about this Vanquish. Let me talk to Michelle please."


    I shut up and dropped my guard. Lothinar must have watched my eyes change back to green. He spoke.


    "How are you doing Michelle?" he asked.


    "I''m fine, I see somehow I''ve changed clothes. Did you do that Lothinar, because I''d be totally ok with you seeing me undressed. But if we did more, I''m going to be very disappointed that I missed it."


    "He didn''t change your clothes, and neither did I." said Ardwynn. "I''m assuming you did that yourself when you went back to your house."


    "I went home? Did I talk with my father?"


    "Yes. Apparently he gave you permission for you to go with us." said Ardwynn.


    ¡±I told you that I think this has been on his agenda for quite a while.¡±


    "How are you feeling about having Vanquish''s thoughts with you?"


    "She is pretty bossy, but I''m learning a lot." said Michelle. "She''s also kind of sad."


    Lothinar got a strange look on his face.


    "What is she sad about?"


    "Dying. I feel sorry for her. She had a mate you know. His name is Vanador."


    "Yes, I know him. " said Lothinar. "Yes it''s very sad for her. Vanador will be sad too, I''m afraid."


    "She wants to talk to him. I want to help her do that." I found myself saying. Dammit human tears were running down my face.


    Lothinar reached up and touched my face tenderly. He wiped at my tears. Then he coughed.


    "Well, you got permission from your father. Are you ready to go Michelle?" Lothinar asked.


    "Definitely I said. Oh I love flying on Firestorm. It''s Vanquish that has the problem with it! I''m just happy to be going with you Lothinar!"


    "Perhaps then, for the trip, you can ride Firestorm while the Vanquish part of you takes a nap or something." he suggested.


    It was a solution that I hadn''t really considered. It wasn''t a bad one.


    "One more trip to the restroom? It is a long flight." asked Ardwynn.


    "Uh, how exactly do we do that from dragon back?" asked Michelle.


    "Strategic eye closing and the honor system" said Lothinar. "Well, Ardwynn and I are married so it''s less of a privacy problem"


    "Impecable aim is the real issue Lothinar." said Candasar. "And a correctly prevailing wind."


    "I''m not promising that I won''t watch." I said, embarrassing myself.


    Lothinar shook his head.


    Candasar looked exited. She wanted to go.


    "If you are going to be on Firestorm. I certainly intend to do some fishing." said Candasar. "You don''t mind do you Lothinar?"


    "Is this something new? What''s actually involved?"


    "Just some low passes over the water. We then scoop out some tasty fish. Vanquish and I both did it on our last crossing."


    "You didn''t have riders on your last trip" said Ardwynn. "That sounds somewhat dangerous."


    "Oh NO!" I said to myself.


    I grinned Michelle''s grin. "No, fishing sounds exciting! Lets go!"


    I decided to take that nap.


    Several hours later I was jostled awake. Firestorm was in a dive. The Michelle part of me was hysterically screaming. I wrested control from the hysterical human girl and looked about in confusion.


    High above me and off to the right I saw a gout of flame. There was a loud screeching. Firestorm pulled out of her dive and came turned so that I could finally see Candasar. Lothinar had his sword out and had it pointed at a gigantic bird. Sparks crackled at Crimson''s tip. Behind him Ardwynn was holding on tightly, her eyes were closed.


    "That was so close!" yelled Firestorm. "That big bird almost grabbed me right out of the air!"


    I looked around. There were three more of them. We were surrounded by Rok''s.


    -------------------

 VOLUME 2: CHAPTER 20: Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea

    *****************************


    CHAPTER TWENTY


    ******************************


    Cantrell looked at Ardwella''s blue eyes.


    "What did you do to Zinariya? She had better be ok."


    ¡±My, my. Such concern. Zinariya must have made quite an impression on you. Even when just wearing my sister.¡±


    ¡±Wearing her?¡± Cantrell said, taken aback. ¡°That¡¯s a strange way to say it.¡±


    ¡°Inhabiting, possessing, sheltering within, being inside. Any of these terms could work, and they are more or less accurate. Although it occurs to me that ''being inside'' has strange sexual overtones that you, as a male, might find confusing and overstimulating.


    Cantrell frowned.


    ¡±Why do you always try to do that?¡± He asked.


    ¡°Do what?¡± She asked raising a beautiful eyebrow.


    ¡±Make everything about sex.¡±


    ¡±I don¡¯t.¡± I have plenty of conversations where it doesn¡¯t come up at all.¡±


    ¡±So, it¡¯s just me then.¡±


    Ardwella laughed. She stepped delicately around Mavis and stood directly in front of Cantrell. She was just inches away. So close, that he could feel her breath on his face as she continued. Her voice was low and husky.


    " Zinariya¡¯s fine, don''t worry. I wouldn''t do anything bad to Candasar''s daughter. Lothinar would never forgive me. I''m just teaching her some manners right now. All these metallic dragons think they can do whatever they want. I''d forgotten how strong they are. But, I am back in control, at least for now, she is still very young.¡±


    ¡±So you are dominating her?¡±


    Esmarilla rumbled menacingly.


    "Don''t underestimate her Cantrell. She actually is quite powerful. Even without my bond."


    ¡±Let¡¯s just say that we have reached an understanding.¡± Said the raven haired beauty.


    Cantrell wasn¡¯t sure but Ardwella¡¯s eyes appeared to briefly glimmer of gold.


    "Why are you here?" demanded Mavis. She elbowed her way back to Cantrell''s side and stood glaring at her aunt.


    "I''m here to finish this. To do what you and my spineless nephew couldn¡¯t do. I''m going to kill the rest of Argent''s foul offspring."


    Cantrell thought about the attack and attempted egg theft that he had seen perpetrated upon Zinariya. He had to concede that no dragon egg would really be safe as long as elves existed that coveted their magical power.


    ¡°Zinariya, the platinum dragon version, teleported me here. I assume that she wanted me to help her with this,¡±


    Ardwella smiled at him condescendingly.


    ¡°You do know that she asked me first. Not that your willingness to help isn¡¯t admirable, but you aren¡¯t really trained for something of this nature, are you Cantrell?


    ¡±No,¡± he admitted. ¡°But I understand that her sense of urgency about this sprang from the attack that she barely survived. Zinariya is still fundamentally a child. She needs someone to guide her.¡±


    ¡±¡±Yes she is young, but she has powerful tools at her disposal. Tools that will work exceptionally well with my skills. It actually presents a rare opportunity to actually solve this problem quickly and permanently.¡±


    ¡±And yet you initially turned her down, forcing her to settle for me.¡±


    ¡±Are you complaining like a jilted lover Cantrell? You can¡¯t have been looking forward, that much, to murder and mayhem. That¡¯s my area of expertise.¡±


    "But why now?" asked Cantrell. ¡°Why did you suddenly change your mind?¡±


    "I''ve been busy!" she snapped. Then her expression softened. "I had hoped, actually, that I wouldn''t have to do - every - single - thing - to end this war by myself. But nonetheless, here I am."


    ¡±It seems very suspicious to me that you were a lot more willing to help once you realized Cantrell was involved, ¡± interrupted Mavis. ¡°Would you care to explain that?¡±


    ¡±Well, It would be sad to see your husband unnecessarily killed in trying to help Zinariya solve this problem, don¡¯t you agree?¡±


    Mavis could only nod. She suddenly looked up at the sound of rushing boots.


    Mandel came running into the stable. His face was flushed.


    "We''ve got a situation!" he shouted. "Vanador is finally here. He''s somewhere in the city! But there''s a problem. They shot him down! It was a ballistae! One of my men saw it from the walls!"


    Esmarilla bellowed incoherently.


    "Cantrell! I need you. Get on!"


    This was one of those moments where Cantrell acted instinctively. He and his bond acted as one. He leapt up and swung his leg over Esmarilla''s neck. Within seconds the black dragon was in the air. The thunder of her wings blew straw everywhere. His last look back at the stable saw Mavis staring up at him. She had a very surprised look on her face. Part of the surprise, was, that seated directly behind him on Esmarilla, Ardwella suddenly appeared. He hadn''t seen her move. She was just there!


    "Damned teleportation!" he thought to himself. "This looks bad. Mavis really isn''t going to like this."


    "You don''t mind me tagging along do you?" the beautiful elf whispered in his ear. "It''s obviously a pretty serious emergency."


    Cantrell could feel Ardwella''s substantial female assets pressing firmly into his back as she securely grabbed his waist.


    "We''ll talk about this later!" he shouted over the wind.


    Esmarilla must have had some sort of connection to her brother because once they flew out past the palace''s walls, it didn''t take long for her to find the downed white dragon. He had landed hard, taking out part of a building. It looked like a shoe store. Footwear was scattered all over the sidewalk. At least the store seemed to have been unoccupied. The white dragon was rolling around in obvious agony. A huge arrow longer than a spear was sticking out of his torso. Esmarilla had touched down for only a few seconds before her two elven passengers jumped off. Ardwella drew her sword and began looking for threats on the ground. Cantrell approached the white dragon.


    "I can''t believe they actually hit me with that thing!" Vanador groaned. "Lots of internal damage. I''ve healed myself of the worst of it, but my magic is used up. Thanks for coming sister!"


    "You were coming to help me, not the other way around." she chastised him.


    "Do you mind. We can discuss this later" yelled Ardwella. Someone is coming. Many someones....."


    Cantrell felt Esmarilla lean in with her power. Magic began flowing into the white dragon. Vanador swallowed it up turning back on his substantial healing abilities.


    "Cantrell? Would you mind?" asked Vanador, chin gesturing toward the haft of the ballistae bolt.


    Cantrell grabbed the shaft. It was slick with dragon blood. He pulled hard. The dragon made a surprisingly childlike whimpering sound as the bolt slid clear of the wound. Cantrell watched in amazement as the flesh knit itself back together. Within a few seconds, except for the blood still on the dragon''s hide, he couldn''t even tell where the wound had been.


    He heard a scuffling sound and then a cry of pain. He looked up to see a burly elf in leather armor circling with Ardwella in a dance of swords. A second later the elven warrior had just lost his sword hand. A moment after that, his head followed the sword to the ground. His empty eyes stared up in surprise.


    "We need to leave!" More are coming." she shouted.


    Suddenly she just wasn''t there. There was an audible pop and Ardwella was seated on Vanador. She grinned at him.


    "That certainly is a handy trick!" she said.


    When he just stood there staring up at her she frowned.


    "Get on your dragon! Didn''t you hear me? More are coming!"


    Cantrell complied. Together the large white and black dragons jumped into the sky.


    Once in the air the dragons flew close together. Close enough that Cantrell could hear Ardwella mumbling.


    "And you thought he was going to be able to take care of this Zinariya? It''s a good thing I came. He''d be dead already."


    Cantrell tried not to take that personally. He had other problems far more important to solve. Problems like trying not to notice how amazingly beautiful Ardwella looked, flying on Vanador with her long dark hair flying out behind her.


    Back at the stable, both dragons quickly landed. Mavis immediately ran up to Esmarilla. Once he jumped down, she grabbed him and held him tightly.


    "I was so worried!" she said at last, releasing him and looking into his eyes.


    Ardwella slipped off Vanador and walked up behind Mavis. She looked at the two of them.


    "You had every reason to worry." Ardwella said. "Cantrell just isn''t cut out for this kind of thing. You''re lucky I am here."


    Mavis whirled on her. Cantrell saw her starting to open her mouth to yell but she suddenly closed it."


    "Thank you, Ardwella. I appreciate you keeping him safe." she said. Then to Cantrell¡¯s surprise, she turned and walked out of the stables.


    Cantrell looked Ardwella in the eyes. She seemed to be reading his face.


    "Yes, I should thank you too Ardwella." he said.


    Then he ran after his wife. He found her in a passageway. She was crying. Sobbing actually.


    When she saw him, her knees seemed to buckle in relief. Cantrell grabbed her and steadied her. She melted into him.


    "You passed the test." she said, hiccoughing "You followed me out."


    He wiped her tears and smiled at her.


    "It would take a lot more than some fancy swordplay to take me away from you." he said.


    "Is her swordplay fancy?" Mavis asked. Then she laughed. "No, don''t answer that. I''m just jealous. Of course her sword work is fancy. Everything else about her obviously is as well."


    "None of that matters!" he insisted.


    "All of that matters!" she said angrily. "And it''s not fair! She has so much more experience. She''s so powerful. So beautiful."


    "Didn''t I tell you that I like my females weak and controllable?" he asked.


    She hit him in the arm.


    "Seriously, Cantrell! What are we going to do about her? What if what Esmarilla says is true. What if she came here just for you and the ''daughters of Argent'' thing is just her excuse."


    "Then she is going to be very disappointed." said Cantrell.


    Mavis looked deep into his eyes. She was searching for something. She seemed to find it.


    "I''ve got an idea" she said.


    "What''s that?" he asked.


    "Let''s go break the bed."


    How could he argue with that?


    In the stable Mandel was talking to Vanador.


    "Thanks for coming" said the elf. "I''m sorry that you got shot at on the way in. We tried to send sufficient warning."


    "I got the warning. It''s my own fault." said the dragon. "I underestimated the range of that thing. I don''t know if it''s really safe to fly around here anymore."


    "That''s why we have Esmarilla grounded for now." said Mandel.


    "What are you going to do now then?" asked Vanador. "I''m here to help."


    Mandel looked at Ardwella.


    "I guess that''s where you come in Auntie." he said.


    "Your a nice boy Mandel" said Ardwella, "But you should have burned them out when you had the chance."


    "That''s what I''ve been saying all along" said Esmarilla. "But no! Nobody ever listens to me."


    "It''s fine." said Ardwella. "Now that I have these new tools at my disposal, this won''t take that long at all. I''ll have you crowned as the legitimate emperor in no time."


    "Well, that''s good news" said Mandel. "I''ve really messed this up. I appreciate you helping me out."


    "Yes you did, but I''ll solve your problem for you." she said. "There''s just one thing I want in exchange."


    Mandel looked uncomfortable.


    "You have conditions?" He asked cautiously.


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing much," said Ardwella. "I just need Cantrell to come with me on every mission. I''m going to need someone to watch my back."


    "And your front" coughed Esmarilla.


    Ardwella stared daggers at her.


    Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    "Can someone else do it?" asked Mandel. "I''ve got many fine soldiers who would volunteer."


    "I want Cantrell." she said. "I''ve grown rather fond of him."


    Mandel looked uncomfortable.


    "I''ll see what I can do." he said.


    "Are you the emperor or not?" Ardwella asked. "Or should you go back to waiting on tables?"


    Mandel got red in the face.


    "Fine, I will talk to him, but you had had better not do anything to hurt my sister."


    "I am not going to make him do anything that he doesn''t want to do." said Ardwella.


    "That''s what you always used to say about Albarad." said Esmarilla.


    Ardwella pointedly ignored her.


    "Oh I forgot to tell you, nephew." said Ardwella. "You have a new brother or sister on the way! Albarad is the father."


    Mandel looked slightly perturbed.


    "Don''t give me that look" said Ardwella. "It''s not his fault that you were raised by wolves. Your father is a sweet man. You really should get to know him."


    "He''s a long way away." said Mandel.


    ¡±But part of him, is right here." She said, looking at the young Emperor as she poked him in the chest with her finger. Unfortunately, it¡¯s his temperament displayed in you, that makes it hard for you to take the definitive and necessary action to secure your throne.¡±


    Mandel opened his mouth to speak but Ardwella actually reached out her hand and pushed his jaw closed.


    ¡±Don¡¯t say anything that you are going to regret nephew. I still have high hopes for you. You are half my sister¡¯s child after all. You should probably start thinking about your future actions in those terms. She¡¯s not afraid of bearing the consequences for hard decisions.¡±


    Mandel clenched his fists. He was angry but something deep inside him knew that she was right.


    "I think both of your parents will be coming back here after I make it safe to do so again. Also, they have someone with them that you are going to want to meet."


    "Who is it?" Mandel asked.


    "Two someones actually. I''ll leave that for a bit of surprise. I think you''ll be pleased."


    "If you say so." said Mandel. He still looked annoyed.


    "I do."


    ----------------------------


    Crimson flashed and lighting arced out of the sword, hitting one of the huge birds. It squawked and went rigid. It began falling toward the sea. Just before it hit the water it pulled flight shape back together and caught itself. One of its wings wasn''t working right, however. It flapped furiously but the damage was too great. It couldn''t gain altitude.


    Firestorm was jut a few feet over the waves herself so I saw the fall and attempted recovery of the first and largest bird clearly. Smoke was coming off its feathers. In mere seconds it hit the water.


    Looking up, I watched as Lothinar pointed his sword again at a second bird that was coming in fast. Another bolt shot out, but this one looked weaker. It hit the bird but didn''t lock it up solid. It still called out. It was a harsh piercing cry. The enormous bird moved away but didn''t leave. It circled menacingly.


    "We need to get back up there, Firestorm! Lothinar is low on magic" I said.


    "You expect me to get close to those things?" Firestorm asked incredulously. "They could gobble me up!"


    "How do you think I feel?" I asked. "I''ve never been this small! But Lothinar needs us! We need to get close enough to transfer some of my magic!"


    Firestorm began pumping her wings much faster. I can''t say that it was welcome, but I endured it. The bird that had only been wounded by the second lightning blast returned and came closer. Then Firestorm surprised me. On the climb, she blasted out fire, partially igniting the bird''s wing. The bird flapped and the flames went out, but it had finally had enough. It moved away in retreat. I looked at my hair. The tips were singed.


    "Whoohoo!" I yelled pumping my fist. Michelle was very exited. I couldn''t blame her. I was too.


    "Good job Firestorm!" I shouted.


    Candasar was maneuvering for position. Another gout of flame burst out of her. This time it fully caught the third bird with as it closed with her. She covered it in fire. Dry feather''s ignited. There was a shrieking cry. It quickly stopped as the fireball that had been the Roc plunged into the sea. It floated there on water. It wasn''t moving but it didn''t instantly sink.


    The fourth bird hadn''t been idle. It screamed a cry of challenge and extended its talons. It was going to pass over the two elves on dragon back. At the last second before contact Lothinar jumped. He allowed himself to be caught by the outstretched claw swinging his sword and cutting off the other one cleanly. The bird screeched in agony. It began squeezing Lothinar. It''s sharp claw piercing his skin in several places. Blood welled. If he had been fully elf, it would probably been enough to kill him, but he wasn''t just an elf. He was dragon hardened. He swung the sword around and behind him severing the claw that held him. He and the claw separated and fell downward into the sea. Ardwynn screamed. The fourth bird obviously was in trouble. Blood was gushing out of its amputated extremities. It tried to fly away but soon lost altitude and dropped into the water. In the distance I saw a large dorsal fin rise. Then another. The water frothed and the bird disappeared.


    Firestorm closed with Candasar. The larger dragon looked lost. She was starting to panic. We were close enough for me to shout to her.


    "Quickly Candasar!" I yelled. "You''ve got to pick him up before he sinks or something else grabs him!"


    She looked at me in confusion. Then she seemed to understand.


    "Like fishing!" she said. "He can swim!" She immediately started her dive. Ardwynn screamed again.


    Firestorm followed her down, staying as close as she could.


    "He might not be able to swim!" I shouted. "He could have broken bones, or be unconscious. That was a long fall!"


    The blue dragon made a beeline for the elf, who wasn''t unconscious, but was flailing wildly in the water. She passed over him grabbing him as gently as possible in her claws. Her wings beat in furious tempo as she climbed away from the surface. He just hung there. His face was furious.


    "Are you alright? Ardwynn shouted down at him.


    He didn''t immediately answer. Then he let out a string of very un-Lothinar like curses.


    "I broke my arm when I hit the water. I lost the sword!"


    I looked, and sure enough. No sword.


    Candasar had finished her climb and was circling around, she was keeping a wary eye on the remaining Rok. It didn''t seem nearly as brave as it did when there were four of them. I transferred her some magic. Enough, I believed for another flame breath. I sent some magic to Lothinar too.


    "Heal your arm." I yelled. "You are going to need it to climb up."


    A few minutes passed. Nobody said anything. Finally Candasar slowly began opening her claw as Lothinar scrambled up her outstretched leg. He finally found his place on her back. Ardwynn hugged him furiously. Her face had looked terrified the entire time.


    "The rocs. Where did they come from?" I asked. "I was taking a nap. I only woke up when Firestorm began to dive."


    "We are only a couple of hours out of Sivantra. I think that these are their fishing grounds." said Candasar. "That''s my guess. There are lots of really big fish down there."


    "They must have wanted to try something new!" said Firestorm cockily. "We showed them! I guess they won''t be having a taste of elf or dragon today!"


    "Didn''t you all hear me?" asked Lothinar angrily. "I said I lost the sword!"


    Firestorm looked chastised. I patted her sympathetically. "You did great Firestorm. I''m proud of you!"


    I looked at Lothinar.


    "Don''t worry about it" I said. "I''ve been threatening to drop that complaining sword into the sea for hundreds of years. It''s really too dangerous to have around. It''s power to influence dragons is what got us into all this trouble in the first place"


    "I wonder how deep the water is around here?" Lothinar suddenly asked.


    "Don''t be ridiculous! It''s gone. The only way you could probably find it is if you somehow bonded with a sea serpent."


    "Is that a thing?" asked Lothinar.


    "Forget I mentioned it" I said.


    "Where would I find one?" he asked.


    "Uh, I hate to be a problem" said Ardwynn.


    "What is it? I asked.


    "I''ve never been pregnant before, so I''m not exactly sure." she said. "But I think my water just broke."


    "Is that what that was?" asked Candasar. "I thought in all the excitement... you know. It happened to Albarad. At least you weren''t in my mouth."


    "I thought we were going to forget about that." said Lothinar.


    "I don''t want to have a baby on the back of a dragon!" Ardwynn said loudly.


    "I''m not a big fan of that plan either" said Candasar. "But I really hate to turn back."


    "I think that I just had a contraction!" she yelled.


    At least that got Lothinar''s attention off moping over the sword.


    He seemed to be thinking furiously.


    "Look, there is another way" I said. "We can freeze her."


    "You mean like the dragon eggs that were hidden in the tunnel that Ardwella and I found?" asked Firestorm.


    "Yes, Lothinar and I would cast a spell that puts her in suspension. When we get back, We release it. Then she can have the baby after we land."


    "Is it safe?" asked Ardwynn. "I''m concerned about the baby."


    "I''ve actually used that spell before" said Lothinar considering it. "It seems quite safe."


    "Ouch" said Ardwynn, obviously feeling another contraction.


    "We had better do this Lothinar" I said. "At the rate she''s going she won''t even make it back to Sivantra, even if we turn around right now."


    "Just do it." said Ardwynn. She looked into Lothinar''s eyes. "Don''t you dare forget to wake me up!"


    Lothinar shifted a bit to get into a more comfortable position.


    "I need to keep a good hold on you. I wouldn''t want you to slip off. Then I really would need to find a sea serpent."


    "That''s not funny, husband." she said. "Ouch!"


    Lothinar looked at me. I transferred a considerable amount of power to him. I was rather surprised to find my reserves very low. This body definitely had some limitations with regard to magical energy storage.


    He cast the spell. Ardwynn became a frozen statue sitting on a dragon. Lothinar was holding her carefully. A few minutes passed. Finally he spoke.


    "Thanks for that Vanquish. You always seem to know just what to do."


    "I really do like you Lothinar. I want to help you. I want you to survive. I always have." I said.


    He nodded.


    "You know, I believe you." he said.


    "So, it''s a long flight" I said. "Do you want to talk?"


    "Yes, I''d like that." he said. "I''d like to get to know both of you a lot better."


    Michelle insisted that I respond to that with a dazzling smile. I let her control our face. She pulled it off beautifully. I was happy for her. Lothinar''s recent vigorous heroics had really impressed her. She wanted even more than before to bear his children. If that was even possible.


    All her thoughts of mating were very troubling. I just couldn''t stop thinking about what I was going to say to Vanador when I finally saw him again.


    Suddenly I was exhausted. The dragon part of me anyway. I had used a lot of magic and since that was primarily what I was made of, I considered trying to go back to sleep. Rest would help me regenerate faster. Surprisingly, Firestorm''s rhythmic and steady wing movements were actually not helping me stay awake at this point.


    "Hey Lothinar! I''m going to try and finish that nap. I''m really tired. "


    Separated as we were on two different dragons, I thought that I could trust my other half to be on reasonably good behavior and not try anything too aggressive. Plus Lothinar definitely had his hands full. Ardwynn''s face was still scrunched up in pain from her last contraction. He still held her tightly. What could Michelle-me possibly do?


    "Don''t worry, Michelle will want to stay awake to talk to you."


    "Somebody had better stay awake" Firestorm said. "Holding on is highly suggested."


    I chuckled at that and let my spirit rest.


    Lothinar watched the human girl Michelle as her eyes turned from blue back to green.


    "Wow! That was something. I have heard stories about Roc''s but never expected to see one, let alone four!"


    Candasar grunted.  "You might say that situation put us between a Roc and a hard place."


    Lothinar groaned, but then he smiled.


    "I couldn''t be more proud of you my bonds!" he said. "You fought bravely."


    "Vanquish and I discussed them on the way over here. " said Candasar. "The Cosmos must have been listening."


    "That was definitely tempting fate." said Lothinar.


    "Do you believe in fate?" I asked.


    "No. actually not" he said. "Well, Obviously I understand that random things happen.  When you look back on them, you call them fate."


    I was intrigued.


    "What''s the difference?"


    "Fate is just circumstance. Nobody can control it. Stuff happens. You dance with a random girl at a party."


    I felt crushed.


    "Am I still just a random girl to you Lothinar? Is that what you are trying to tell me?"


    "Not at all. Destiny shows up when that girl makes a decision. She follows me home. An immense blue dragon carriers her away, which really, should terrify anyone. She comes back again. We send her off with her father. Then she runs away from home and comes back again. Another blue dragon drags her off.


    Candasar chuckled.


    "Anyway, you get the point. She''s relentless.


    "You make me sound so ridiculously stubborn!"


    "Aren''t'' you though?"


    I blushed.


    "I suppose I probably am."


    "When agency like that is involved, you can call that destiny."


    "The point is that you did this yourself. It wasn''t luck. It was agency. You became an unstoppable force."


    "I know you think that it''s stupid. That I''m an infatuated girl."


    He shook his head.


    "I used to think that."


    "But you don''t anymore?"


    "Is Vanquish asleep?" he asked me.


    "Yes, it''s just me right now." I said.


    "I believe you were here for a reason." he said.


    He gestured at the strangely still elven woman in his arms.


    "Ardwynn should have been extremely jealous and helped me resist you, but she didn''t."


    "Yes, that actually surprised me."


    "Me too!" he said.


    "Then through a set of completely improbable circumstances, you joined with Vanquish, who is arguably the most powerful magical being in the world."


    "But I didn''t have anything to do with that. It could have been anyone!"


    "But nobody else fought so hard, just to be there. To be present at that moment when Vanquish''s spirit was reborn."


    He looked at me.


    "I did dance with other girls at that party."


    I thought back on that night. Who I had been when I arrived at the party. Where I was now. All of the obstacles. It had been an almost insurmountable path.


    "What you have managed to do.... I think it means something. " He said. "Someone, or something wants you with us. With me."


    "It does seem like there is no way I could possibly be here, flying on your dragon right now." I said.


    "And yet, here you are. I think I''m going to have to finally accept it."


    "Are you finally admitting that I''m your destiny Lothinar?" I asked with a smile.


    "Yes." he said. "Now I''m just going to have to figure out what that means."


    "You''re lucky you are on another dragon right now" I said. "Because as soon as we get back on the ground, I''m going to show you what that means!"


    -----------------------


    Enderline and Pricilla walked around to the backside of the dairy. The cows were all gone from this section and some of his men had put up small covered shelters to house their dragons and themselves. They had taken to sleeping out in the yard with them. They just seemed to prefer being close to their bonds. Enderline was a little jealous of that. Night-sky had been largely ignoring him since Snow had bonded with Heirwynn and moved to Albarad''s house with her. He had finally accepted the black dragon''s request to dissolve his bond with him. They hadn''t even done it in person. They hadn''t really even used telepathy, like the elves did to communicate with their bonds. He had sent his feelings to Night-Sky. Feelings of wanting to dissolve their relationship. A sort of resignation to the fact and a willingness. Night-Sky had understood without words. He had acted. The bond was now gone. Enderline looked down at Ivy, his wife''s dragon who had accompanied them to this back lot of the dairy.


    "They are usually around here somewhere." Ivy said. "Pepper is very pretty. You are going to love her!"


    Enderline spotted a couple of dragons near the edge of the yard. They were both a little larger than the usual size of the hatchlings that Ardwella had found. That made sense. They were quite a bit older. They had also spent some time out living in the wild with the grey dragons. They seemed healthy and strong.


    Enderline''s only concern was the two elves smiling and talking to them. They looked like a couple of Cantrell''s wardens. He had seen them both before. They seemed a little too familiar with the two dragons. Perhaps they had first met out in the mountains somewhere.


    "Hello gents" Enderline said. "Do you mind if I talk with that black dragon?"


    The elves got a funny look but nodded.


    "Sure your majesty" they said. "Of course."


    "We will be back later Salt. "One of them said to the white dragon."


    They stepped away and began talking to one of his soldiers. They were pointing at his dragon and asking him questions.


    "Hello Pepper!" said Ivy.


    "Hi Ivy. What''s going on?"


    "I''d like. you to meet the King. He''s married to my bond Pricilla. He''s really nice."


    "I''m sure he is" said the black female dragon. "I''ve heard good things."


    Enderline squared his shoulders.


    "I''m looking for a bond" he said.


    "Oh, said Pepper." I thought that you already had one. What about Night-Sky?"


    "It didn''t really work out." said Ivy. "It''s not Enderline''s fault at all."


    The black dragon laughed.


    "I''ve met Night-Sky." she said. "I believe you. He can be a real pain."


    "So what about you?" Enderline asked. His face was hopeful.


    "I''m sorry," said Pepper. "Really I am, but I just bonded with that elf over there this morning."


    She gestured toward one of the handsome elves talking to his soldier.


    "What about your brother?" Enderline said hopefully. "White is nice."


    "Sorry" said Salt. "It''s the same for me. Just this morning in fact."


    "Nobody tells me these things!" said Ivy. "They need to make a list! Can we do that? A list would be very helpful!"


    Enderline was embarrassed. He looked at the dragons. He forced out a smile.


    "Well, I''m sorry to bother you." he said. Thanks for speaking with me."


    He turned on his heel and walked quickly away. The two elves had been watching and they began sauntering back over to the black and white dragons. Enderline switched places with them, stopping by his soldier. He recognized him. He was the one that won his dragon by giving it a drink of water, but he couldn''t remember his name.


    Seeming to sense this, the soldier saluted.


    "Roth at your service your majesty"


    "Ah yes, thank you. I think your dragon was..."


    "Ember sire. She''s red. I really am enjoying being bonded with her. She''s just great! Thank you for the opportunity!"


    "Ah. yes, think nothing of it. Roth?"


    Yes my King?


    "I was wondering if you could tell me the name of that elf over there. The one speaking with the slightly larger black dragon."


    "Oh, yes. That''s Cenderick. I''m surprised you don''t know him already. He''s in a relationship with. Queen Pricilla''s sister."


    The Queen squeaked a little.


    "Ah. Of course. I''ve yet to actually meet him, but I shall have to remedy that shortly." said Enderline.


    "I told you we needed to hurry" said Pricilla


    "That''s not what you said after I got started." said Enderline with a strange grimace.


    The Queen blushed.


    "Well, this is awkward." said Enderline. "The King doesn''t have his own dragon. What will people think?"


    "It sounds rather like a sad story that I heard about the Elvish Emperor Argent. Have you heard that one?" asked Ivy.


    "It''s not the same at all" said Pricilla. "Argent was a king that no dragon would bond with!"


    Enderline just looked at her. He turned and walked away. He had a lot of thinking to do.


    ---------------------------

 VOLUME 2: CHAPTER 21: No More Illusions.

    *******************************


    CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE


    ********************************


    Mandel had just finished describing the new extended duties that he now expected from Cantrell. The phrasing and tone of voice that he used seemed to have been borrowed from one of Argent¡®s playbooks. The way that Mandel had spoken, clearly indicated that no dissent would be tolerated. Cantrell suddenly remembered that Mandel, for most of his life, must have received unpleasant commands like this himself. At the moment though, it was pretty hard to take.


    "You are actually ordering me to do this?" he asked.


    The imperial fa?ade cracked a bit.


    "Look Cantrell, I really need this. It''s just for a very short time. Ardwella promised."


    ¡±Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s suspicious that she specifically asked for me? Don¡¯t you understand what is actually going on here?¡±


    ¡±It¡¯s just ten days. There are ten remaining Argent blooded daughters¡­.¡±


    Cantrell interrupted, leaning heavily on past, more friendly conversations.


    ¡±Most of them have family, children or at least spouses. If we go this route then there are a lot of people that still need killing.¡±


    ¡±Yes. and it is a terrible thing that I am telling you to do. I actually know almost all of them personally. I grew up around here. That¡¯s what has always made this so hard for me. But I tried to do this the nice way and it just didn¡¯t work out. Do you remember that fancy family dinner that I tried?¡±


    ¡±Of course I do.¡±


    ¡±They lied to my face! Then they rebelled anyway. It was right after that when they killed Myron. He was the only reasonable son Argent had. Now, I need to step up my game and start acting like a real emperor.¡±


    ¡±Did Ardwella tell you that?¡±


    He looked away. ¡±Not in exactly those words, but yes. And she¡¯s right!¡±


    ¡±You know that Mavis is so angry at both you and Ardwella right now that she wouldn¡¯t even come to this meeting with me. She just wants us to get on Esmarilla and leave. I¡¯m sure if we did that, then Vanador won''t stay either.¡±


    Mandel frowned. ¡°Ardwella warned me that Mavis might say something like that. That¡¯s why she strongly suggested that I move your bedroom to one of the tower rooms. That is being done as we speak.¡±


    ¡±You''re locking your own sister up in Argent¡¯s prison?¡±


    ¡±Come on Cantrell! It¡¯s not really a prison anymore. It¡¯s just a very secure location. You know Ardwella is already staying there. There are no actual locks on the doors unless you actually want one. You will both need the additional security until this project is completed. It¡¯s come down to a game of assassins. They may very well have their own. I need to protect both you and my sister. The tower is the safest place in the city."


    "So this is how it starts." said Cantrell.


    ¡±You needed a new bed anyway.¡± Mandel smirked.


    Cantrell ignored the jab.


    ¡±So you will be staying in the tower as well?¡±


    ¡±Of course. It''s the safest place in the complex."


    ¡±But you wouldn¡¯t actually try to stop us from leaving would you?¡±


    Mandel frowned. He seemed to be doing a lot more of that lately.


    ¡±No, but I¡¯m strongly requesting that you stay. I do need your help and if you remember, Mavis is currently my heir.¡±


    ¡°What if she was to give up her titular obligations?¡±


    ¡±It would be very disappointing. You would both fall out of favor. The elven kingdom is large.¡±


    ¡®I think you might be underestimating how large the actual world is Emperor Mandel.¡± Said Cantrell.


    ¡±Before you do anything rash, you should talk to Ardwella again first. I really think you¡¯re blowing things all out of proportion with this secret quest you both claim to believe that she has to seduce you. Isn¡¯t that rather egotistical of you?¡±


    ¡±I don¡¯t understand the actual reason for it, but both Mavis and I believe it¡¯s real.¡±


    ¡±I thought that you loved my sister. Your broken bed tells me that there is nothing wrong in that department. Even if it were true, which it¡¯s probably not, you just have to say no.¡±


    ¡±As you just thoroughly demonstrated, Emperor, saying no can be more difficult than you expect.¡±


    ¡®Cantrell, it¡¯s not that hard, just keep it in your pants.¡±


    Then Mandel started to laugh.


    ¡±Terrific¡± thought Cantrell. "Now he thinks he¡¯s a comedian."


    Cantrell squared his shoulders and went to talk to the assassin. He found her in the cafeteria. It was rather in between mealtimes for the dining area. No one else was eating, but he could hear the clinking and rattle of people preparing food from somewhere out of sight behind the long counter. Ardwella had looked over at him from a seat at one of the tables as he entered the room. He walked over to stand across from her. He did not sit.


    ¡°Did you speak with Emperor Mandel yet?¡± She asked.


    ¡±I did.¡± He answered. Then he waited. He wondered if she would be forthcoming with her reason for insisting he join her for the upcoming project. At least thirty seconds passed.


    ¡°This is a dangerous game¡± she finally said.


    Cantrell nodded.


    ¡°I suppose that assassination usually is.¡±


    She looked about the room clandestinely.


    ¡±¡®I¡¯m talking about the game where you pretend to be annoyed by my attention.¡± She said, pouting. ¡°Something like that can damage a girl¡¯s confidence.¡±


    ¡±I¡¯m not trying to be rude, but you haven¡¯t been a girl for a very long time.¡±


    ¡±The dragon inside me wasn¡¯t even old enough to safely hatch. Averaged together, we are approximately the same age as you.¡±


    He blinked and quickly did the math. It was actually pretty close.


    ¡±Since Zinariya worked on me, I barely look twenty. Besides, you must realize that age is no longer an issue for dragon bonded.¡±


    She stood up.


    ¡°We could discuss this all day, but we have things to do.¡± She said. ¡°Thanks to Vanador, this first one should be pretty easy.¡±


    She drew her sword.


    ¡°Wait! I¡¯m not ready¡± he cried. He felt a lurch in his guts and found himself standing by a hedgerow. He could smell wet ashes. Nearby was a large circular burned area filled with blackened bones.


    A female elf was yelling disparaging things at three male elves. Her voice had gone silent as Ardwella and Cantrell appeared. Two of the males had rakes and one had a shovel. They had been gathering up the larger clumps of bone and ash and putting them into a cart. The female pointed at them. Ardwella was already running. She was fast! The garden tool wielders stared in shock as Ardwella actually jumped right over them, landing in front of the female elf. The sword swung in an overhead arc. There was a blue flash. Two separate but equal parts of the female hit the ground with a thud. It seemed surreal to Cantrell that there wasn¡¯t any blood.


    ¡°Look out!¡± Cantrell yelled.


    The shovel carrying elf had broken free of his shock and was winding up to swing the sharp end of it at the back of Ardwella¡¯s head. Cantrell threw his knife. Instinctively he aimed center of mass. It was a lucky throw. Blood bloomed from the back of the elf¡¯s sweaty shirt. The shovel dropped harmlessly with a rattle as the now dead elf fell forward. The rake holders dropped them and began running. They were obviously heading towards a large nearby house. It was an estate actually.


    Ardwella finally turned around. She looked at the male elf and his dropped shovel.


    ¡°I guess that I actually did need you to watch my back.¡± Ardwella said with a smile. Cantrell stepped over to the dead elf and bent down. He retrieved his blade. The handle was completely covered in blood. He held it awkwardly. Ardwella sighed and rolled her eyes. She handed him a small towel that she had obviously had stashed somewhere on her body.


    ¡±Wipe it off with this.¡± She said.


    He took the rag and did so, cleaning off the blade as well.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t your elf bleed¡± he asked, putting the knife away.


    Ardwella looked up distractedly from peering at the half face of the centrally bisected female elf.


    ¡±That is one of the traits of this sword. Believe it or not, she¡¯s actually not dead yet. Watch this! You had better step well back. Wait! Before I make her unrecognizable, can you help me confirm that she is Argent¡¯s daughter Jewel?


    Cantrell bent down. He took a good look.


    ¡°Yes, I actually do believe that she is.¡± He said, marveling at the clean cut. The expression on the female elf¡¯s face was one of shock.


    ¡°This is going to get messy¡± Ardwella said.


    Cantrell quickly stepped back a few yards. Ardwella moved closer to him. A blue light flashed. Blood exploded from both halves of the body. Violently and all at once. The body spasmed once and then lay still.


    Cantrell gagged in spite of himself.


    Ardwella looked toward the house.


    ¡°The rakers are returning. They are bringing company.¡± Ardwella said. ¡°We now have a choice to make. Do you want to retreat, or kill them all?¡±


    ¡±All?¡± He asked, looking over. ¡°There are, like, eight of them!¡±


    ¡°There are only seven.¡±


    ¡±You sound pretty confident that you can actually do that. I''m actually not so sure. It looks like they have exchanged their rakes for swords.¡±


    ¡±They shouldn¡¯t be that much of a problem.¡± She drew her sword again. ¡°Watch!¡±


    She disappeared with a pop and reappeared directly in front of the lead runner. He was obviously much faster the others. Before he could react, she swung through him at the waist. The two halves tumbled to the ground. She immediately popped back and returned to her place by Cantrell¡¯s side. Cantrell watched the reaction. The rest of the runners had stopped in confusion. The two halves of the segmented elf burst out with blood. Several of them yelled but then, surprisingly, the group started running towards them again. They were now waving their swords. Ardwella popped away and quickly bisected two more of the forward runners. She returned again as they expelled their blood in huge arterial spurts. It was horrific. That was apparently too much for the rest of the charging elves. They turned and fled, sprinting back towards the house.


    ¡°I think I¡¯m going to need a little time to process this.¡± Said Cantrell.


    ¡±So, do you think that I should just let the rest go?¡± She asked.


    ¡±You already got the ringleader.¡± He said. ¡°Perhaps we should give her followers a little time to reconsider their choices. They may see the futility of their cause and some elven lives can be saved.¡±


    ¡°So, you are suggesting that we kill just the leaders then? I¡¯m not necessarily opposed to that, but it will require more planning.¡±


    ¡±Being able to teleport changes things. It certainly allows us to be more surgical. I need to consider the possibilities.¡±


    ¡°Ok, but while you are doing that, use that mighty brain to do some research. Reading Vanador¡¯s memory made this first one easy. I¡¯m actually not at all familiar with these estates in which the daughters live. To teleport over here I needed some sort of locational reference.¡±


    Ardwella looked toward the house. She grabbed Cantrell and pulled him toward her. He stumbled into her arms.


    ¡±Hey!¡± he protested. A half second later a black arrow thunked into a tree directly behind where he had been standing.


    He felt his stomach jump and he found them both standing once again in the cafeteria. Someone yelled and dropped a plate. Ardwella still had her arms around him. One of Mandel¡¯s soldiers was staring at them. His food was on the floor.


    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    Cantrell stepped back, he spoke a curse word.


    Unfazed, Ardwella smiled at him and curtsied.


    ¡±That¡¯s not a word traditionally used to express gratitude but, you¡¯re welcome. I can¡¯t have my apprentice getting killed by an arrow on the very first mission.¡±


    ¡±I¡¯m not your apprentice.¡± He said quietly.


    ¡±Perhaps you prefer, ¡®tactical research assistant?¡±


    Cantrell didn¡¯t answer. He had just had a thought. She saw it in his eyes and waited patiently. Finally he asked a question.


    ¡°Do you think that flying over the various estates from the air would give you enough information to safely teleport there?¡± Cantrell asked.


    ¡®The soldier that dropped his lunch had found a broom and a dustpan. He began cleaning up the broken glassware and spilled food.


    ¡°What about the Ballistae? Asked Ardwella. "The dragons are grounded."


    ¡±Vanador said that he could see it before it fired. And if you can see where it is¡­¡±


    ¡±I can teleport to it and end the operator before it fires. You would be risking Esmarilla though. Are you sure you trust me enough to do that?¡±


    ¡°I believe, as far as that is concerned, I do.¡± He answered.


    ¡°Thanks again for watching my back, Cantrell.¡± She said. ¡°Let¡¯s go talk to the dragons. I think it would be a good idea to have Vanador¡¯s assistance with this too.¡±


    ¡±Go ahead without me. I¡¯ll be along in a few minutes. First, I¡¯m going to wash my hands.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t take too long. We are on a tight schedule."


    She winked.


    "We don¡¯t have the time to have you keep Mavis constantly filled in.¡±


    Cantrell rolled his eyes.


    ¡°I do need to tell her about this. I haven¡¯t even seen her since I talked with Mandel.¡±


    ¡±Fine, but don¡¯t let her distract you Cantrell. We have things to do.¡±


    ¡±Wow!¡± Said Esmarilla through the bond. ¡°I''m a dragon and even I caught that double entendre. Do you actually trust her?¡±


    ¡±No I don¡¯t.¡± Said Cantrell. ¡°But I think that Zinariya is still in there, fighting for control. I trust her.¡±


    ¡°Mavis isn¡¯t going to like this¡±


    ¡±No, she¡¯s not.¡±


    ¡±You do realize that I can hear you two.¡± Said Ardwella.


    ¡±Damn!¡± Said Cantrell. ¡°I totally forgot about that!¡±


    Ardwella smirked and went to get a plate of her own. Unsurprisingly, she chose mung beans.


    Cantrell washed his hands. Then he went to find Mavis. He needed a chance to hold her. To breathe her in again. She wasn¡¯t anywhere he looked. Finally he found himself outside Mandel¡¯s office. He heard angry voices inside. He slipped the door open a crack and peered in.


    ¡®The door must have creaked because both people in the room turned around to look. Mavis was sitting across a desk from the Emperor. Mandel looked like Mavis had been tearing him a new one. When she saw Cantrell she jumped out of her chair. She ran to him. Mandel looked surprised to see him.


    ¡±Where have you been?¡± She whispered. ¡°I¡¯ve been looking all over for you!¡±


    Mandel was seated behind the desk. He now had an irritated look on his face.


    ¡±I believe that I told you to go talk with Ardwella.¡± Mandel said imperiously.


    ¡±I did. We just got back." he said. "You can cross Jewel off your list.¡±


    ¡±Jewel¡¯s dead? Already?"


    ¡°¡±Yes, and three of her subordinates.¡± Replied Cantrell.


    ¡±Vanador killed ten more when he came through.¡± Said Esmarilla across the bond.


    A few moments later Ardwella stepped through the door into Mandel¡¯s office. She looked at Cantrell.


    ¡°Please ask Esmarilla if Vanador is certain that he killed ten.¡± she said.


    Cantrell asked her. A few seconds later Esmarilla replied.


    ¡±Yes, Esmarilla said. ¡°He¡¯s quite sure it was ten.¡±


    Cantrell heard a pop and suddenly he was standing on a balcony. Without a doubt it was Jewel''s balcony. Cantrell was overlooking the field that he and Ardwella had recently been standing in. There was an archer at the railing and an arrow in a distant tree. The archer had another arrow nocked. The unknown archer must have sensed something directly behind him, because he turned his head. He saw Cantrell. His eyes widened in surprise. His fingers pulled the bowstring back as he pivoted and tried to swing the bow around but it was close quarters. Cantrell had no choice. His knife flashed out, burying itself in the archers temple. The arrow twanged wildly out into the yard.


    Someone called out.


    ¡±Hey! Is everything alright up there Oswald? Did you see something? You almost hit me with that arrow!¡±


    The archer slumped forward and then over the front of the balcony railing. Cantrell heard the thud below. At least he had managed to retain his knife. More people started yelling.


    A few seconds later there was another pop and Cantrell was back in Mandel¡¯s office. Blood was dripping off his knife and onto the carpet.


    Ardwella looked at the dripping knife. She handed him another rag.


    ¡±Whew! Now I feel better,¡± she said. ¡°Thirteen is a very unlucky number with which to start.¡±


    Cantrell sighed. "Now it''s fifteen."


    She blinked.


    "I only saw one archer up on the balcony. I''m sorry. Sending you there with two was very risky."


    "I only killed one archer." he said. ¡°There was only one. But the whole trip was totally unnecessary."


    "Ten plus three equals thirteen" said Ardwella. She looked smug.


    "I think you may have forgotten about Jewel."


    "Oops!" Ardwella said. She looked genuinely surprised. ¡°I don¡¯t know how I could make that kind of mistake.¡±


    ¡±Perhaps Zinariya needs a class in basic mathematics.¡± Suggested Cantrell.


    ¡±No,¡± interrupted Mavis. ¡°I think it¡¯s now quite obvious that you only think about men.¡±


    Ardwella smiled. Then she nodded.


    ¡°You might be right,¡± she said with a wink, ¡°But some men are definitely more interesting than others.¡±


    There was another pop.


    Mavis lunged for the place where Cantrell had been standing, but both he and Ardwella were gone.


    Mavis whirled on her brother.


    ¡°You must be able to see what¡¯s going on here!¡±


    Mandel shrugged.


    ¡°Well, you have to admit that they are off to a great start!¡±


    ¡±That¡¯s what I¡¯m afraid of.¡± Moaned Mavis.


    --------------


    Cenderick was wearing a silly straw hat. It made Ronniflass grin. He was helping Pepper chase cows around the yard.


    "Be gentle with her!" yelled Ronni. "Don''t make her run. Her udder is full."


    Ronni was sitting on a milking stool. Cenderick jogged up.


    "I''m sorry Ronni" he said. "Pepper still thinks that this is way too much fun."


    "Bring her over here, but gently!" she said. "I still need to milk a few more. We don''t want whipped cream."


    Cenderick looked defeated.


    "I''m trying Ronni, but I still have a lot to learn."


    She smiled at him and blew him a kiss.


    "I love you, but we need to be careful with the livestock. We only have so many left. It''s going to be several years of careful breeding before we get our numbers back up."


    "I''m surprised Enderline left us as many as he did. He only took a few for the road" said Cenderick. "They were all his cows anyway."


    "They were on horseback and intended to travel faster than they could dive the cattle." said Ronni. The dragons were actually running behind them when they left. It was kind of cute."


    "I saw them." said Cenderick. Then he grinned.


    "By the way," said Ronni, "Not all of the cows were Enderlin''s. I had a very good bull and some of my best breeders that I managed to keep away from the hungry dragons. Now that we aren''t eating them as regularly, we should be able recover our numbers."


    "What''s our dragon inventory looking like?"


    "Well, as you know, Enderline took most of the bonded dragons with him. The only bonded dragons left here are, Cinnabar, and Salt and Pepper. Oh, and of course Mo-Rung. I always forget about him being bonded because Mavis isn''t around."


    "Don''t forget Tundor." said Cenderick. He''s bonded.


    "He''s hard to forget, he''s so enormous." said Ronni. "Don''t you dare tell him that I told you this but the townspeople have started calling him the Great White Whale."


    "I''m pretty sure Vigilant already mentioned it to him." he said. "Tundor wasn''t terribly bothered. I think he lacks context."


    "Whatever is that supposed to mean anyway?" asked Cenderick scratching his head through his straw hat. "What''s a whale?"


    "This thing is itchy, by the way. I don''t know why you wanted me to wear it."


    "Because it looks cute on you, and I say so. I''m supposed to be your new boss, remember?"


    Cantrell is going to be so jealous when I call you boss in front of him." said Cenderick.


    "The Great White Whale, by the way, is a story that the Sivantran''s were fond of. They have many tales of the sea. It''s about a huge pale water creature that terrorizes some ship''s captain. I''m not sure how that actually applies to Tundor."


    "He is pretty terrifying until you get to know him." said Cenderick.


    "Don''t spread around the fact that he''s actually nice." said Ronni. "I think, for security reasons, it''s good that he remains mysterious and intimidating. That story from Silvantra had a weapon in it called a harpoon. It sounds a little bit like the ballistae bolt that almost got Vanador the other day.


    "You don''t think Argent''s daughters would try and bring one of those around here do you?"


    "For Tundor''s sake, I hope not." said Ronni. "They would need a local to help them hide it. But if Tundor is being called ''the white whale'' it makes me wonder if they already have. Perhaps someone with loose lips made a joke about to one of the Silvantrans and they were comparing the two weapons."


    "That''s a lot of speculation. Your mind is a devious place Ronni. I''m glad I''m on your side." said Cenderick.


    "Keep it that way. Get back to work and bring me some more cows. I''ll give you a very special reward later." she said.


    "Ok, but if you make me wear it now, then I''m not going to be taking off this hat in bed.¡± he said, giving her a wink.


    "YEE-HAW" she said with a sultry smile.


    -------------------------------


    Firestorm was flagging again. I felt it soon as I woke up from another nap. Her wing strokes were jerky and unsynchronized. It had probably been much too soon to expect the young dragon to fly with a burden over such a great distance. I transferred some magic. The little red dragon groaned in relief as exhausted muscles were restored and new energy flowed into her.


    ¡°Thanks Vanquish.¡± She said. ¡°I didn¡¯t want to wake you. That is so much better.¡±


    I suddenly tightened and adjusted my grip on Firestorm¡¯s neck. My body had been leaning dangerously. Apparently Michelle hadn¡¯t been able to stay awake either and had slipped into unconsciousness without waking me. That was incredibly dangerous while flying on dragon back. My fear of flying spiked again.


    ¡°Hey! Ease up. Are you trying to strangle me?¡±


    I realized that In my panic, I had suddenly gone so far as to wrap my legs around the front of the young dragon¡¯s neck.


    I eased up and very slowly repositioned myself.


    ¡±Sorry¡± I mumbled.


    I looked across at Lothinar. The elf¡¯s eyes were closed but he still maintained a steady grip on Candasar¡¯s second passenger. Poor Ardwynn¡¯s face was still frozen in the grimace of a labor contraction. I was pretty sure that she couldn¡¯t feel any pain when in that condition. I sure hoped that proved to be correct. I actually had not frozen that many individuals in my long and previous life as a dragon. Lothinar opened his eyes. He was still maintaining the illusion of elven handsomeness. Brown eyes and hair. I knew that the Michelle part of me appreciated it, but I thought he looked better the other way. He seemed to be in telepathic communication with Candasar.


    It suddenly occurred to me that she, not I, was now the senior and largest blue dragon on the planet. She wasn¡¯t struggling like Firestorm had been, but I sent her some magic anyway. She only nodded in acknowledgment. We were friends. No words were necessary and she was working hard.


    I felt my human stomach growl. I reached in the satchel that the cook had prepared for each of us. There were sandwiches in there, wrapped in wax paper. I opened one. The bread was a little dry but the flavor was excellent. It had to be some type of bird. Probably chicken. I suddenly wondered what roc tasted like. I would probably never know now. I gobbled the sandwich down and started on another. Magic needed some sort of fuel. I looked over at Lothinar. I was suddenly embarrassed that he might be watching me eat like a starving shark. He wasn¡¯t watching, but he must have at least noticed, because now he was rummaging through Ardwynn¡¯s satchel as well. He caught me looking.


    ¡±My sandwiches were full of seawater.¡± He said in way of explanation.


    ¡±Well, it¡¯s not like she is going to eat them¡¯¡± I said, stating the obvious. ¡°I¡¯m actually a bit jealous. Unless your party is suddenly set upon by rocs, that technique certainly solves the boredom of a long uneventful flight. I suppose. It¡¯s probably better to be awake for that!¡±


    ¡±It¡¯s still a lot of work for the dragons. They still have to fly!¡± Said Firestorm.


    ¡°I appreciate how difficult this has been for you Firestorm. Thank you for making this possible for me. I think that I would have been terribly lonely if I had been forced to stay behind.¡±


    ¡±And you would have missed the chance to finally get together with Lothinar!¡±


    I froze. Michelle was still fast asleep. I tried to peer into her thoughts but she wasn¡¯t even dreaming. I was on dragon back. Lothinar was way over there on Candasar. There was no way they could have. It just wasn¡¯t possible. Was it?


    Seeming to be able to read my confused expression, Lothinar laughed.


    ¡±No, you didn¡¯t miss anything inappropriate Vanquish. But you and I need to have a conversation about what Michelle wants to happen when we land.¡±


    ¡±The part of me that is Michelle still wants a very physical relationship with you.¡± I admitted.


    ¡±Yes we had quite a talk while you were sleeping. She also has a very vivid imagination that she insisted on sharing with me.¡±


    ¡±I¡¯m sorry. I mumbled. I should have kept that to myself.¡±


    ¡±It¡¯s nothing that I haven¡¯t heard from Ardwynn before. But if you are of two minds about this¡­..well, I suppose you literally are¡­Then I¡¯m going to have to continue to disappoint at least half of you.¡±


    ¡±I still love Vanador!¡± I suddenly blurted out.


    He nodded understandingly. ¡°Of course you do. How could you not?¡±


    ¡±I¡¯ll keep Michelle in check. I promise. It won¡¯t happen again.¡±


    "You know," began Lothinar, "While you were sleeping, Michelle and I had a pretty good talk."


    I was almost afraid to ask, but decided that when Michelle regained consciousness I was going to find out about it anyway. It might be good to get Lothinar''s perspective on the conversation.


    "What did I say?"


    Lothinar laughed. "Do you know how weird that sounds when you ask that?"


    "Yes, it takes quite a bit of getting used to from this end as well, Lothinar!"


    "I don''t know how to tell you this, but I actually like Michelle more than I thought I would. I''ve been trying to actually figure out the reasons why while both of you were sleeping."


    "But you don''t like me?" I said, actually surprising myself.


    "Our relationship has never been like that Vanquish....not one of attraction. We''re different species! And lets be honest. I sort of think of you as some sort of great grandmother or something."


    "Watch it Sonny!"


    We both laughed. It surprised me to take pleasure in Michelle''s beautiful contralto.


    "The point is," he said, suddenly growing very serious, "The Michelle part of you says that she loves me. I tried push her away. Really, I tried. But she is a force of nature."


    "You should run, or hide from hurricanes." I said.


    "That''s fine, I tried that, but now you are involved. You are Candasar''s friend. You came all the way out to Silvantra to help her, and, I suppose me." Now you are trapped in there with a human that says she intends to stay and be a part of my life...."


    I interrupted him. "If you end up staying with her, you want to know if I''m going to be ok with that. Is that what you are asking?"


    He sighed. "Yes, that is what I''m asking. You know she''s not going to be content with me continuing to keep her at arms length."


    "I suppose not." I said. "Can you give me a while to think about the ramifications of all this? At least until we get back on the ground?"


    "Of course."


    "There is one other thing." he said awkwardly.


    "Michelle wanted to ask you for a favor."


    "I know where this is going Lothinar! She''s crazy. I think you look great!"


    "But I''m not supposed to be a dragon! You made me look like one. When I don''t use illusion, I''ve been known to scare little children! Why did you change my appearance so radically? I know that it sounds vain, but I liked the way I looked before. Ronni felt the say way."


    "You are a bridge Lothinar. Your life will be important and significant to both elves and dragons. That appearance was my gift to you to make that easier." I said indignantly.


    You said that Ardwynn has some dragon parts, but she sill is beautiful by elven standards." he protested


    "Yes, I''ve hidden her changes on the inside. For you I wanted to make a statement!"


    "But you didn''t ask me!"


    I sighed. "Very well. I''ll restore your original appearance."


    "Thank you".


    "But you need to wait a few minutes, " I said.


    "Why?"


    "The process is fairly magically intensive. First I''m going to have to eat another sandwich."


    I rustled around in my satchel.


    "Whoops!" I said. "I''m all out. I guess I won''t be able to do it."


    He looked dejected.


    "Ah!, there it is!" I said, pulling out another sheaf of wax paper. "I was just kidding."


    "Obviously you don''t want to do this." he said.


    "It''s fine. It''s your face after all. But if you ever wanted a chance to woo me, you may come to regret this decision." I said.


    "Do you think something as petty as me being a plain, ugly elf would sway you?"


    "No" I admitted. "My problems with being intimate with you are much greater than skin deep."


    "Then I''ll take that chance." he said.


    "Like I said, It''s your face."


    I chewed my sandwich.


    "Is it going to hurt?" he asked carefully.


    "As much as I can make it." I said. "It''s really a shame to have to destroy such fine work."


    We flew along for a while in silence.


    "Drop the illusion. Switch it back." I said. "I want to see what I''ll be missing one last time."


    Lothinar passed his hand over his face. The dragon ridges over the clean bald dome appeared. One eye, for Candasar, was blue. The other, for Firestorm, was red. He was perfect!


    I sighed, then hit him with the magical ugly stick. He didn''t yell, but tears were pooling in his eyes. I''m sure it hurt. I wanted him to remember what he had given up. When I was done, a boring brown haired and brown eyed elf was looking back at me. I admitted to myself that, as elves go, he wasn''t that bad. Maybe that was because Michelle had finally woken up. She was silently cheering inside!. No matter how hard I tried I could not stop a smile from appearing on our face. Her enthusiasm was that great. I hoped Lothinar knew what he was doing. Now, as far as Michelle was concerned, his last line of defense was totally gone.


    --------------------

 VOLUME 2: CHAPTER 22: The Midwife Crisis.

    *******************************


    CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO


    ********************************


    From the hill overlooking Dween, King Enderline gazed down at the port. His flagship the Sinspirilla was still tied to the dock. The other vessels of his fleet were strung out behind it, like pearls on a necklace. He could see them rocking on their anchors with the incoming tide. On the flagship¡¯s highest spar, the flag of Silvantra fluttered in a cool evening breeze. It was his flag. Looking down, and back upon the dusty road behind him, the King observed a bizarre, but now familiar sight. Stretched out for over a mile was a plodding line of baby dragons. Each of them was loosely accompanied by a man or woman on horseback. As the young dragon''s flight abilities were steadily improving, it was likely that this would be one of the last times they spent time walking anywhere.


    When Ronniflass had approached him about funding another cattle purchase, Enderline had listened, then made a different choice. The process of driving more cattle from the port town of Dween back to Delora Natine didn''t make a lot of sense to him. Moving the dragons to a place where food for them was more plentiful did. The port city was reported to not only have livestock, but a relatively untouched local deer population. It was also on the way to where he wanted to go. He gave the orders and without delay they were obeyed. Supplies were gathered, saddlebags were filled. Within two days his troops were on their way.


    All hope for a well ordered journey had quickly disappeared, however, once the caravan left Delora Natine. For the small dragons, this had been their first real trip out into the world. They seemed insatiably curious, sometimes wandering off the road to get a better look at something. This had required their respective human to stop, and wait, intermittently halting forward progress. Usually, the dragon''s human was able to quickly cajole them back to traveling, even then they were still inexorably filled with questions. Since the expedition was not under a huge time constraint, Enderline had decided to relax regulations and had allowed the dragons, and their chaperones to enjoy the outing.


    Naturally, Enderline had ridden close to Pricilla and Ivy for the journey. Pricilla¡¯s telepathic link to Ivy had definite advantages, and usually kept the verbal questions to a minimum. Nevertheless, Enderline sometimes found the young dragon specifically asking questions out loud. To him. He actually suspected the young green dragon was trying to make certain that he didn''t feel left out. Perhaps Ivy was concerned that Night-Sky''s dissolution of his bond with the King had affected Enderline''s attitude toward dragon-kind in general. She wouldn''t have been wrong.


    Enderline thought of the young woman, Heirwynn, and how she had shown up to bond wearing a wedding dress. A lot had hinged on her decisions. He wondered how things would be different now if she and Snow were among those traveling on the road. Would she have been coming back as his wife? Would Night-Sky then have stayed? He pushed the thoughts from his mind. She was not. He had not. Fate had made different choices. There was nothing to be done about it now.


    What had definitely changed was Enderline''s tolerance for dragons.


    Enderline had never expected to outlive his half-elven wife. He supposed that it would eventually seem strange as he watched himself grow old, while she did not. Instead, due to some confusion, she had been taken from him by a fluke dragon attack. Then another dragon, Vanquish, had miraculously given her back.


    For restoring his bride, The king felt that he owed a great deal to the blue dragon. If there was a goddess among dragons, it was her. She was powerful and wise. She and her mate Vanador were the very best examples of dragon kind.


    No longer, however, were all the dragons the mysterious gods of legend that he once thought they were. Night-Sky''s behavior had shown him that dragons could be capricious. As with humans and elves, wisdom came with time. Sometimes it didn''t come at all. Night-Sky''s choice to alienate the King of Sivantra was not a good political decision. Enderline highly suspected that Ivy understood that there would be a few consequences.


    His experience being bonded with Night-Sky had left a bad taste in his mouth, although his affection for Pricilla¡¯s dragon, Ivy did counteract that somewhat. It was now very clear to him that a bad bond was worse than no bond at all.


    Enderline actually found himself wishing for another audience with Vanquish. Perhaps her learned perspective would help him understand how it had gone so wrong.


    Not encumbered with a young dragon to distract him, Enderline eventually decided to move forward and lead the column himself. He was therefore in the group that reached the Dween overlook first. He was accompanied by the group of Silvantran soldiers that, for various reasons, had not formed a bond. After watching the Bonded trying to herd all those distracted dragons, for the moment at least, Enderline considered them the lucky ones.


    The numerous women making this trek were all dragon bonded. They, like Heirwynn, had been picked by dragons that preferred a female to bond with. In the time that his men had stayed at Delora Natine, more than a few relationships had developed between his bonded soldiers and the bonded young women of the town. Most of those new human pairings seemed to be due to the commonality of dragons.


    Humans now seemed to fall into two distinct groups. Those that had a dragon bond and those who did not. Women that had been picked by the dragons seemed naturally drawn to his men that had also. When it had came time to leave Delora, they had petitioned to accompany their favorite soldier back to the island. Pricilla had commented that it created a whole new standard for the term ''long term relationship''.


    Because they were immigrating, Enderline had given the women a fair amount of scrutiny before he agreed. The truth was that the dragons had picked their bonds well. They would make great additions to the population of Silvantra.


    In just a few years, this new category of Bonded humans would likely change Silvantran society a great deal indeed.


    While he had been distracted with his thoughts, the column had mostly caught up. Roth and Ember trotted up behind him.


    "It looks like the ships didn''t take off and leave us here" chuckled Roth, as he road up and stopped his mount beside the King.


    Ember was staring at the sea. "It''s Pretty!" she said in her childlike dragon voice.


    Enderline smiled down at her and addressed Roth.


    "Now we just have to hope these dragons can make the journey without getting sea sick." said Enderline.


    "We will spread the dragons out, so they can spend plenty of time above deck. They are still fairly small." his new second in command replied. For exercise, they can even take short flights out over the water."


    "As long as they don''t miss the ship while landing and end up learning to swim!" laughed Enderline.


    "Some of them are pretty decent flyers by now" said Roth. "Although they couldn''t make the trip home by air yet,"


    "Lothinar''s bond Firestorm did it when she wasn''t that much older than this." said Enderline. "Although I understand Elven magic was involved."


    Yes, replied Enderline. I''ve recently been reading about some of her exploits in a letter from Regent Courtney. It seems Firestorm is up to giving his daughter Michelle rides now."


    "Is that safe? It doesn''t seem like Firestorm would be big enough yet."


    "Michelle is petite, and Firestorm is a bit older than your dragon." said Enderline. "Michelle was at our bon voyage party. You may have seen her there."


    "There were several dignitaries daughters there." said Roth. "Was she the short pretty blonde in the green dress?"


    "Yes that was her."


    "Nice!" Roth said enthusiastically. Then he blushed. "Not that I would presume a high born girl like that..."


    Enderline''s laugh interrupted him.


    "You have good taste. If I wasn''t already married I might have to fight you for her." said Enderline.


    "May the best man win!" your Majesty. Roth said with a smile.


    "Now that you are the head of my military forces, you probably would have a good chance" said Enderline. "Not to mention that taking a second wife is still pretty rare."


    "The heart wants, what the heart wants sire." said Roth. "I barely know her. There are other girls."


    "Maybe Roth is right." Enderline thought. "Courtney has been a steadfast supporter of the crown."


    Promoting Roth to his new position had been good advice, even if it came from his former bond, Night-Sky.


    Roth looked quizzically at the king.


    ¡°I know that you ended your bond and left Night-Sky behind. How are you feeling about that?¡±


    ¡±I don¡¯t miss him. If that¡¯s what you are asking.¡±


    Enderline was satisfied. He had accomplished what he had come here to do. He had helped the dragons end Argent''s tyrannical rein. He and his men had paid a high price to do so. The dragons that remained behind had not chosen a human. Enderline would do no more for them. They were on their own. He and Pricilla were going home to have their child. Their new heir would be born on the Island. In Enderline''s own castle. If for political purposes, the subject of Michelle as a second queen came up, they would discuss it then. For now he had other problems to solve.


    "Find me the dairyman!" Enderline bellowed as the dragons entered the town and came to a stop. "I have some hungry mouths to feed."


    A unkempt and dirty man came forward. His breath smelled of alcohol but he had a glint in his eye.


    "I''m McDonald, your highness" he said, slurring a bit.


    "I understand that you might have some cattle you could part with." said Roth, stepping between the filthy man and the King. You probably know our situation. We will need several for tonight, then more to be slaughtered and salted for our journey across the sea."


    "Apologies, your highness, " said McDonald as he looked over Roth''s shoulder at the King. "Unfortunately the price of cattle has gone up substantially. It''s over double what you previously paid. I''m sure you understand why."


    "I understand that you may be harboring a grudge against my wife''s sister." said Enderline icily. "That is very small of you. You were very well paid for your share in Ronniflass''s dairy."


    "The price is non-negotiable." said McDonald.


    Roth put his hand on the pommel of his sword, but Enderline reached out and stopped him.


    "Give the young dragons some of the horses to eat." said the King. "Enough for tonight. Then, as needed, we will take the rest to the butcher for processing in the morning."


    McDonald grew pale. He started to sputter.


    Roth leaned over and whispered in the King''s ear.


    "Someone told me earlier that he went into debt purchasing every cow for a hundred miles around."


    "That''s too bad for him." said Enderline. "This actually makes more sense. We can''t take the horses with us anyway and we bought them months ago."


    "It''s a good thing Albarad isn''t here. I''ve heard how he feels about horses." said Roth.


    "Well, he''s not here." said Enderline. "And besides that, how would he ever know?"


    "You have a point." said Roth.


    A man that had been looking on at the exchange with McDonald suddenly spoke up.


    "I buy and sell horses." he said. "For those you don''t need, I''ll give you a fair price!"


    "Certainly" said Roth. He looked disdainfully at McDonald. "We appreciate the help."


    "If you let me take a look at them first, before you start serving them up to your dragons," said the man, "I''ll help you sort them. We can set the best ones aside. That will give you a better price."


    McDonald shot him a dirty look.


    The man dirty looked him back.


    "My names Belmont" he said. "I also have a couple large pastures where your men and dragons can spend the night. We''re not expecting rain."


    "That''s very hospitable of you Belmont." said Enderline. "Give Roth here the details. I''m going to find an inn. My wife''s pregnant and I won''t have her sleeping out in the rough again."


    The three of them walked away leaving McDonald wringing his hands.


    "I wonder if his hands are hurting him?" Pricilla asked Enderline as they walked past the man.


    "He''s probably just thinking about all the milking he still needs to do." said the King with a grin. "Let go find a nice soft bed!"


    "And supper!" said Ivy.


    "Your not interested in trying horse tonight with the rest of the dragons?" asked Enderline with some surprise.


    "I''ve had a craving for bear kabobs since we left Delora Natine." she said sadly. "Pricilla says that there are no bears in Silvantra. I probably won''t ever be able to eat them again."


    Enderline thought about it for a second.


    "You''re right, but we do have things called goats. You''re going to love them!" He said.. ¡°And who knows? You could possibly come back here someday. By then you would be able to fly great distances, even with Pricilla on your back.¡±


    ¡±Wouldn¡¯t me leaving with Pricilla, even for a bear hunting trip make you lonely?¡± The green dragon had asked.


    ¡±I¡¯m sure that will be some time from now.¡± Said Enderline. ¡°Until then we will be very busy. I have a country to run after all.¡±


    Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.


    ¡°Do ships ever sink?¡± Asked Ivy.


    ¡±We actually lost one on the way over.¡± Said Enderline.


    ¡±Maybe we should wait until we¡¯re all bigger and then we can just fly over¡± said Ivy.


    "We need to get home. We can''t stay here that long." replied the King.


    Ivy gave him a sad smile.


    "You''re probably right, Enderline. You aren''t looking any younger. What are we actually going to do about that? You realize that the odds for locating a suitable dragon for you in Silvantra are just about zero."


    "I think that''s why I may be in a hurry." said Enderline. "I''m hoping I can talk to Vanquish about it before she leaves. Perhaps she can tell me what I did wrong with Night-Sky."


    "Hey, there''s an idea." said Ivy. "Vanquish is un-bonded. If a powerful dragon and a powerful human were to bond, just think of what you might accomplish together!"


    "Do you think that''s even a possibility?" asked Enderline growing excited.


    "She''s been bonded before, and you are on good terms with Vanador. It couldn''t hurt to ask." said Ivy.


    Filled with a new hopeful determination, Enderline''s week long scowl began to fade.


    --------------------------


    Tundor had just returned from a patrol of the foothills surrounding the lake. He and Mo-Rung were taking alternating turns watching over the dairy and the grey dragon nests. They were stretched pretty thin. Tundor had been thinking of asking some of the grey males for help but he had still not found Killingsworth.


    His plans came to a decisive end when Mo-Rung gave him some news.


    ¡±Killingsworth is dead.¡± Said Mo-Rung. ¡°I found out from Mavis yesterday. I thought you would want to know.¡±


    Tundor looked at the red dragon in disbelief. Killingsworth had been part of the group of water dragons that had tried to drown him so many long months ago. The cranky old council member certainly wasn¡¯t a friend, but the news still came as a shock.


    ¡°Wait a minute! Mavis told you? Mavis is in the capital. I thought that Killingsworth was here, somewhere up in the hills. Vanador said that he was sulking about something.¡±


    ¡°It was Vanador that spotted him. It was after he left here and while on his way to the capital. Killingsworth was surrounded by a group of spear wielding elves. They stabbed him to death. Vanador was pretty upset about it. He arrived a few minutes too late to save him. He blamed himself for too much sentimental dallying at a lake.


    ¡°What was a grey dragon like Killingsworth doing, flying all the way to the Capital by himself? Seriously! Most, if not all of that area is enemy territory!¡±


    Did Vanador tell you about their fight? Though It really wasn¡¯t much of a fight, because it was over so fast. It was at Ardwella''s house. That was when Zinariya broke Enderline''s nose.


    ¡±He told me about it, but not what it was really about. He just said that Platinum was involved. Something about brainwashing?¡±


    ¡°Platinum had powers that allowed her to persuade others. She had her own interests that revolved around forcing a bond on Ardwella¡¯s unborn baby. Albarad and Ardwella seriously objected to that."


    "I can certainly understand why." said Tundor.


    "Platinum was also controlling Enderline. She was trying to set up politically expedient bonds between various humans and dragons that would give her a stronger power base. Obviously Siophra would know more of the specifics about that than I do. It was a mess that just kept getting worse until it turned into a complete disaster."


    ¡±How did Killingsworth get involved in something like that?¡±


    ¡±His granddaughter was missing and he went looking for her. He found a mysterious set of blackened and burned dragons bones.¡±


    ¡±His granddaughter?¡±


    ¡±No, but it turned out to be her boyfriend. According to her parents they were most likely together at the time."


    "Did Killingsworth find her?"


    "No, not as far as I know. The granddaughter¡¯s name was Penelope. She is still only officially missing. Then, Killingsworth began to suspect that if any elf was to know the ancient spell of burning it might be Argent¡¯s ex-wife. That led him to Muina."


    Tundor shuddered. ¡°I actually met Argent, you know. For Muina to do what she did¡­.To infiltrate the royal family and undermine his power structure was risky but it eventually help to bring him down. Muina is a hero!"


    ¡°Well, Hero or not, she got in Platinum¡¯s way and Killingsworth¡¯s antipathy was useful to her. She used Killingsworth to move forward her own agenda. Zinariya and Vanador arrived and broke the whole thing up.¡±


    ¡±I think I can guess the rest. Nobody believed Killingsworth about Muina." said Tundor.


    "That, or they were actually unwilling to do anything about it.¡± speculated Mo-Rung. ¡±Do you think Muina actually torched that young dragon?¡±


    ¡±If Muina did, then she probably had a good reason. I¡¯ll probably work up the nerve to ask her at some point. Right now, though, it¡¯s not the first thing on my list of things to do.¡± Said Tundor. "She is, after all, Siophra¡¯s sister."


    "Could Killingsworth have wanted justice bad enough to try and take the issue to the capital and gotten lost?" speculated Mo-Rung.


    "We may never know now." Tundor replied. "But, In my opinion, Muina has probably suffered enough on the behalf of dragon-kind, to pay for a few crimes or misdemeanors."


    ¡°Killingsworth obviously didn¡¯t feel the same way.¡± Said Mo-Rung. "What if had been one of your own children that had been killed? What if it was Candasar?"


    ¡°Obviously, you, more than most, understand that when it comes to family it gets intensely personal. Yet when you were made aware of the facts, It seems that it was possible for you to forgive me for what happened to Mavis and Aleena."


    Mo-Rung had grown strangely still.


    "I suppose that I have at that." he finally said. "You were, at that time, only a weapon, wielded by someone else."


    "Ardwynn." said Tundor. I''ve actually been asking myself what I might do if Lothinar was to show up here someday with her. Lothinar was my first elven friend, but I can''t really understand what he is doing right now."


    "He must be trying to save his unborn child." said Mo-Rung, "By now, Lothinar must know that there is nothing good about Ardwynn."


    "I''m sure that he does." said Tundor. "But what is he eventually going to do about it?"


    "I hope that I don''t end up like Killingsworth." said Mo-Rung. "Trying to take justice into my own hands and at odds with the elves."


    "Your bond Mavis would never let it go that far." said Tundor. "She has her own issues with Ardwynn. Don''t forget that."


    "I hope you''re right." said the red dragon. "But Mavis has always been partial to Lothinar."


    "That''s something entirely different." said Tundor. "These elves sure live complex social lives don''t they."


    "As far as I''ve seen, it all seems to revolve around this one family" said Mo-Rung.


    "Yes, and it''s a family that both of us seem inexorably linked with."


    "At least it''s never boring." said Mo-Rung.


    ¡±You know something Mo-Rung?¡±


    ¡±What?¡±


    ¡±I think I¡¯ve just changed my mind. I want to go have that talk with Muina after all. Do you want to come along?¡±


    ¡±Sure.¡± said the red dragon. ¡°Let¡¯s clear the air.¡±


    The two dragons flared their wings and prepared to take off.


    --------------------


    Arriving back at the site of her nest had only led to disappointment for Candasar. The house and barn was empty and the house was locked. Tundor and her eggs were gone. Lothinar had jumped down from Candasar''s back still holding the still immobile Ardwynn. He climbed the stairs to the porch and gently set her down. He moved slowly, obviously stiff from holding her in such an awkward position.


    "It does''t look like anybody''s here." he said. A few knocks on the door verified this.


    Michelle had stopped below, at the well. She pushed the bucket off the edge. It splashed noisily as it hit the water far below. She slowly turned the crank.


    "I suppose this body does have some useful attributes." she said pouring the water into the trough for both dragons who snorted appreciatively before dipping in their dry muzzles in to drink.


    "It must be strange to be human after all these hundreds of years." Lothinar said.


    She winked at him. "I can''t wait to show you some of this body''s other useful features Lothinar."


    He tried to smile, but it was a thin attempt.


    Michelle blinked. "I''m sorry Lothinar, I''m still working on trying to obtain a balance between Michelle and I having more shared control"


    "It''s ok, really. The flirting doesn''t actually bother me that much. I actually appreciate you not completely shutting her down. I think that would be a terrible way to live. Your own body constantly under someone else''s total control."


    "We are working on more of long term solution at this point" she said. "It''s pretty certain that I''m going to be living in this human for a very long time."


    "It''s always a good idea to try and get along with the neighbors." agreed Lothinar.


    "It''s not like there would be an unused dragon body somewhere around here for me to occupy" laughed Michelle.


    After drinking, Firestorm immediately headed for the barn.


    "Wake me in a week! I''m going to literally hit the hay" she said, disappearing inside the large structure.


    "I need to find my family." said Candasar.


    Lothinar waved her off, giving her leave to depart.


    ¡±Thank you Candi. We are fine here. Go find Tundor.¡± He said. ¡°You should probably check the dairy next. Ronni will know how to find him. They all probably moved down there!¡±


    ¡±That means my eggs have hatched and I missed it¡± Candi said grumpily. ¡°Not only that but they are obviously flying by now.¡±


    ¡±You knew that was a pretty good possibility when you left¡± said Michelle, obviously channeling the thoughts of Vanquish.


    "There were no good choices." said Candasar miserably, before lifting off again.


    Michelle looked at Ardwynn.


    "I suppose you are probably going to want to wake her up right away." she said sadly.


    "Why wouldn''t I?" asked Lothinar.


    "It''s just the very first time that I''ve actually had you all to myself." said Michelle.


    "I think with us, until Vanquish and I can come to terms with this, it''s going to be three is a crowd for a while longer, Michelle." said Lothinar.


    "That what she said."


    ------------------


    Candasar made the quick flight from Ronnie¡¯s mountain home back to the dairy as fast as she could. She was tired but refused to rest before she found her family. Circling over the livestock yard she saw Vanador and Mo-Rung. They seemed to be having an important conversation. It looked to her like Vanador had been growing a little. He was definitely larger. He had probably been trying to get closer to Vanquish''s size. He was going to be devastated when he heard the news of his blue mate''s strange demise. She dropped wearily from the sky to land beside them. They looked at her in surprise. She looked at them in shock! The white dragon wasn''t Vanador. It was Tundor! She rushed him, intertwining their necks as she tried to reach up to him. He was so much bigger! There was a lot of nuzzling.


    "What happened to you Tundor?" she finally asked. "Wait, before you tell me...Where are my children?"


    "Two of them are over there by the barn." he said chuckling.


    She looked over and saw two young blue dragons peering at them with intense curiosity. Tundor nodded his head at them and smiled. They started running toward them.


    "This pair is Constance and Vigilant" said Tundor beaming. "They look like you!"


    "Momma! I just knew it was you!" said Vigilant.


    "I knew you would come back!" said Constance, hopping up and down and bumping up against Candasar excitedly.


    Candasar was lost in the moment. Her heart was overflowing with joy. Then she did the math.


    "There were three eggs Tundor."


    "Oh yes." said Tundor. "There certainly were. That is a going to require a somewhat more lengthy explanation. Go inside the big barn and get to know these two. I''m going to go get you something to eat. When I come back I''ll tell you all about it."


    "Our little sister has become an assassin." said Constance. "And she''s living inside an elf named Ardwella!"


    "Would you please explain this to me now, Tundor?" Candasar asked icily.


    Mo-Rung looked sympathetically at the big white dragon.


    "By the way Candasar..." he asked, trying to change the subject. "How did everything turn out with Ardwynn?"


    ------------------------


    The blue light faded....


    Ardwynn jerked.


    "Just do it!" she cried. "This is really starting to hurt!¡±


    Wait! Something was different. The flapping had stopped. It felt way too still. Riding on dragon back was far breezier than this! She opened her eyes. They had been squeezed shut in pain. It still hurt. She was having a contraction, but she found herself in a bedroom.


    Lothinar was looking into her eyes.


    "Breathe" he said.


    She did, pulling in a lung full. She was in a large bed.


    "Where are we? she said shakily. "We had just finished fighting the rocs!"


    "I need to remove your lower garments. Do you mind if I do that?" asked Lothinar.


    Ardwynn shook her head. "No go ahead. You''ve seen it all before."


    Michelle walked into the room. She was had oven mittens on her hands. She was holding a large pot of hot water. A white towel was draped over each of her shoulders.


    "I''ve been trying to get you to ask me that question since we first met!" she said.


    Lothinar rolled his eyes.


    "Whoops! Did I say that out loud? I accidently let that one slip." said Michelle.


    "How much actual control do you have over her at this point?" Lothinar asked, looking over his shoulder at the very pretty petite human.


    "Its actually pretty good until I start multitasking. But don''t be surprised if I suddenly try to steal a kiss while I''m trying to deliver this baby. I''m probably going to have my hands full. I''ve never done this before for an elf. Eggs are obviously so much easier!"


    "Have you ever laid eggs yourself?" Lothinar asked. He gestured toward the hot water. "Just set that down here on the end table."


    Michelle set down the large pot and stepped back. "No I never made a nest. The war happened. Vanador was trapped on a roof and I knew that if I tried to get to him they would burn me."


    "I''m sorry. That was a very insensitive question." Lothinar said.


    "No, its fine. I don''t really mind talking about it. It was quite literally another lifetime ago." said Michelle.


    "GUYS! I hate to drag you away from such a strange and obviously important conversation, but I''m kind of having a baby right now" gasped Ardwynn. Her face scrunched up as another contraction hit.


    Lothinar removed her clothes and undergarments, but he left the traveling dress covering Ardwynn''s upper half.


    "Where are we actually, I don''t recognize this place at all." Ardwynn asked.


    "This is Ronniflass''s place." said Lothinar. "We flew right past Delora Natine and came straight here. It''s not that much farther and this is where Candasar left her eggs. She just about went crazy when nobody was here. I actually had to break into the place. She only stayed long enough to drop us off, then took off out of here like a streak of blue."


    "Is she ok?" asked Ardwynn, breathing rapidly through clenched teeth.


    "I gave her as much magic as I could along the way here" said Michelle. "She''s tired but she wants to see Tundor and her children more. She''ll be fine. But she will probably eventually want to sleep for a week when the excitement wears off. Now let''s work on having this baby!"


    ¡±So I¡¯m giving birth in the home of your other wife? Asked Ardwynn with some rancor. I may have lost some of my memories but I do know my deceased parents left me a home back at Tasumakoji.¡±


    ¡°We can sort all that out later. I think you might be forgetting that you are not the most popular girl in town right now. This place is just far enough out of the way to give us the privacy we are going to need.¡±


    "It hasn''t done me any good so far." complained Michelle.


    "I think after you watch what I''m about to go through," said Ardwynn through gritted teeth, "You are going to be a lot more reluctant to get yourself knocked up."


    "Oh posh!" said Michelle. "You''ve obviously forgotten about your magical dragon midwife."


    "What are you waiting for then?" said Ardwynn. "This is really starting to hurt."


    A cool blue glow began to surround the elf. Her face relaxed. She groaned in appreciation."


    "Oh that''s amazing. Thank you."


    "Don''t forget to push." said Michelle. "I can''t do everything for you."


    Just a few minutes later Lothinar was holding his son. He was beautiful. His eyes were blue, just like his mother Ardwella''s.


    -----------------------------


    From Mandel''s office, Ardwella had teleported Cantrell to the stable. Both dragons were there.


    The dragons took the sudden appearance of Cantrell and Ardwella with minimum surprise.


    "We are going to go after the ballistae." she told them. "Once we take them out, you should be able to safely fly over the city again."


    "Is this what you wish as well Cantrell?" asked Vanador


    "I think it''s a necessary next step." he answered. "We will do our very best to stop them from firing at you."


    Vanador looked at his sister. "What do you think" he asked.


    "I trust Cantrell implicitly." she answered. "Let''s do this."


    In just moments the elves had mounted. Cantrell on Esmarilla and Ardwella on Vanador.


    "This feels strangely right." yelled Ardwella flashing a smile as they cleared the tower and headed out over the city. "Flying again I mean. It is, I have to admit, a little strange being on another dragon."


    Esmarilla huffed.


    "Get used to it" she sent


    "I fully intend to" sent back Ardwella.


    Vanador, unsurprisingly spotted the ballistae emplacement first. A quick word to Ardwella and Cantrell found himself standing on the ground behind the weapon''s operator. The bolt was charged and in the rearmost position. The elf cackled gleefully seeing the dragons in the sky and reached for the trigger. Cantrell''s knife flashed out and interrupted the elf''s concentration. Pulling the knife from his victim''s temple he looked for Ardwella. A second weapon had been set up just a hundred yards from the first. This one wasn''t really pointed directly at the dragons but was set up for an alternate flight path. Ardwella had quickly dispatched its operator as well. She met his eye across the distance and they blinked back to the dragons. Cantrell had a bit of the wind knocked out of him as he hit Esmarilla''s back fairly hard.


    "Ooof" she grunted. "That''s going to take some getting used to."


    "For you and me both" he said with tears in his eyes.


    Ardwella smiled apologetically.


    The airborne dragons closed up ranks.


    "Now lets go burn the weapons so that they don''t just put someone else back on them" Ardwella said.


    The dragons circled around and poured down flames upon the two stationary weapons. Cantrell heard the twang of the tension ropes burning and releasing as they flew over for a verification pass.


    "That felt pretty good, I must admit" said Vanador.


    "I can understand why" said Ardwella. "That thing almost ended you!"


    "Let''s go finish our reconnaissance." said Cantrell. "Then we can go back and make our plans for tomorrow."


    "Why wait?" asked Ardwella. "The sooner we finish this, the sooner we can go back to our regular lives."


    "Have our lives ever been regular?" he asked.


    "No I suppose not." she said with a smile. "It''s kind of addicting isn''t it."


    He wiped his knife on the bloody towel that Ardwella had given him before.


    Cantrell had to admit that, in fact, it was. But it wasn''t the killing that thrilled him. It was her smile.


    ----------------------------

 Volume 2: Chapter 23: Quit Dragon my Heart Around.

    *********************************


    CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR


    ***********************************


    Siophra had felt Tundor¡¯s joy and excitement when Candasar had dropped from the sky to land in the dairy pasture. The beautiful elf immediately realized that Tundor would have some explaining to do. Both about his incredible growth, and the fate of the golden egg. Since she had been Zinariya¡¯s first host, her personal assurances about the process would no doubt ease the blue dragon¡¯s maternally motivated concerns. She suddenly stopped milking the cow and stood. Handing the partially filled bucket of warm milk to one of Ronnie¡¯s newer employees she offered a quick explanation.


    ¡±Tell Ronni that something suddenly came up. I¡¯ve got a bit of a situation to take care of.¡±


    The young girl nodded, but her puzzled look said that she clearly didn¡¯t understand what could be more important than milking. Nonetheless she placed the bucket back under the cow and straddled the milking stool. Siophra could already hear the squishy sound of milk spraying into the pail as she ran from the milking shed.


    Tundor was outside near the cattle pens obviously trying to select a delicious cow for Candasar to eat from those recently milked. Nobody was wasting milk these days. She gave him a smile as she hurried past.


    "She''s home!" he beamed.


    "So I see. I''m so happy for you Tundor! I''m here to help you answer her questions."


    His face scrunched up with obvious concern.


    "Oh yeah, That would be very helpful. Thanks."


    Candasar and her children had already entered the main barn. Siophra could tell that the mother dragon was close to exhaustion, yet she was enduring a seemingly endless stream of questions from her excited children. She was being surprisingly patient as they were hopping about in obvious jubilation.


    "Did you save your elf bond Lothinar like you saved Daddy? Was someone trying to drown him too?"


    "It wasn''t the same at all, but yes, I did save him." she said.


    "What was Silvantra like mama?"


    "The humans there were nice. It''s quite far away and they have a lot of goats. It''s a little warm."


    "Did you do anything fun?"


    "I got in a fight with some huge birds called rocs. That wasn''t fun, but it was interesting. Terrifying actually. We were over the deep ocean. That time I actually did save Lothinar from drowning."


    That bit of information got Siophra''s attention. They had fought with rocs? That was going to be a fascinating story.


    Candasar met her eyes as the beautiful blonde elf quickly walked over and joined them. Vigilant and Constance¡¯s excited babbling suddenly stopped.


    "Hello Siophra."


    "Welcome back, Candasar. I''m glad you made it home safely!"


    ¡°Tundor just told me the beginnings of an unbelievable story. I¡¯m sure he must have gotten some of the details wrong. It was about my third egg.¡± Said Candasar, seeming to size her up. "Did my daughter actually inhabit you?"


    ¡°Yes, she did, as hard as that may be to believe. Your daughter''s chosen name is Zinariya. If Tundor hasn''t quite gotten to that part yet.¡± said the elf.


    "How did this come about?"


    "We were attacked! Your amazing daughter saved both of our lives!¡±


    "The egg was severely damaged? Its magical barrier was breached?¡±


    "Yes, and I was struck by a lightning bolt. It went directly through my brain. Zinariya and I needed each other to stay alive. We formed a symbiotic relationship."


    "I understand. I think I''ve seen something like that before."


    "What? You have?"


    "Yes, I have, but let''s come back to that." said Candasar.


    The blue dragon drew close and nuzzled the elf.


    "Thank you Siophra. You saved my daughter''s life."


    "And she saved mine."


    Candasar got a thoughtful look.


    "What happened to the golden eggshell?"


    ¡°Daddy ate the eggshell.¡± Said Vigilant. "He burped golden dust and then fell asleep."


    ¡±Ah. That explains his size.¡± Said Candasar. ¡°I rather wish that he hadn¡¯t done that, for several reasons actually.¡±


    ¡±Zinariya and I were not there at the time. She actually told him to destroy it. She didn¡¯t want any of Argents family to gain the magic from it.¡±


    ¡±Considering the immediate circumstances, I understand her saying that. Destroying it however, would have been quite wasteful.¡± Said Candasar. ¡°A great quantity of magic went into that egg.¡± She looked at her other two children and smiled warmly. ¡®All of your eggs, actually.¡±


    ¡±Don¡¯t worry. We feel special too Momma.¡± Said Constance.


    ¡°And you certainly are.¡± Affirmed Candasar. ¡°I enhanced all of you through my magic, but the golden egg''s magic was also partially of Lothinar¡¯s contribution.¡±


    Siophra must have looked confused because Candasar wearily began to explain.


    ¡±When I first met Lothinar, I accidentally almost killed him. We weren¡¯t bonded yet. I had been in a fight on the lake and he was attempting to heal my wounds. His healing felt so amazing that I grabbed onto his magical energy flow and pulled. It emptied him."


    ¡°Emptied him? Lothinar has a lot of magic.¡± Said Siophra.


    ¡°Yes he does, but I had no basis for comparison at the time. I took almost all of it.¡±


    ¡±That could have killed him!¡± Said Siophra incredulously. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s right. You did say that.¡±


    ¡±I put just enough magic back to save his life. I had no idea what I was actually doing at the time. I had just barely learned the heal spell. For most of my life I had been channeling all my magic into my unfertilized eggs. The magical pathways there were very well established. All of Lothinar¡¯s life force went directly into Zinariya¡¯s egg, but when I tried to put some of it back, the egg resisted me. I had to get magic from somewhere else. There was a fourth egg. It didn¡¯t resist. It surrendered its magic. It died."


    A huge tear rolled down Candasar¡¯s cheek.


    ¡°I¡¯ve sometimes wondered why you and Lothinar ended up bonding instead of Tundor" said Ronniflass walking into the barn. Cinnabar, Cenderick and Pepper were right behind her. The barn was suddenly getting quite crowded. "Tundor told me that he actually met Lothinar first.¡±


    "That is true." said Candasar.


    Soiphra shot Ronni a questioning look as if to ask. "What are you all doing here?"


    "What? The milkmaid said something was up. We all want to hear what Candasar is going to say!" said Ronni. "I know Candasar too! This sounds like quite a story."


    Candasar acknowledged Ronni. "This kids, is the person that saved Lothinar from drowning, the first time."


    Ronni blushed, then she looked at the blue dragon with embarrassment.


    "I actually need to talk to Lothinar about something." she said. "I''ve decided to set Lothinar free and take up with Cenderick here."


    She gestured to the handsome male elf. "We are genuinely in love."


    Candasar smiled. "I''ll tell him... " A second or two passed. "OK, he knows¡­.it¡¯s the bond."


    "Of course" said Ronni. "He has no hard feelings?"


    Cenderick looked briefly nervous.


    "No." said Candasar. "He says he''s very happy for the both of you. He has a lot of complications in his life and he hasn''t been very fair to you. Especially having to leave like he did."


    "Of course he said something noble like that." said Ronniflass.


    "He''s not just saying that." said Candasar. "His truly cares about you, but his life is actually incredibly complex right now. A young woman from Silvantra got infected with his pheromones. It''s really a mess. It''s actually a lot more challenging than your situation ever was."


    "That''s actually kind of hard to believe." said Ronni. "Well, I hope it all works out."


    ¡°Soooo..." Said Siophra, somewhat frustrated by the interruption. "Zinariya has a lot of elven magic inside her. That actually explains a lot.¡±


    ¡±if she had actually been allowed to hatch in the proper time, by absorbing her eggshell, it would have turned out normally.¡± Said Candasar.


    ¡±There is nothing even remotely normal about a gold dragon.¡± Said Ronniflass. ¡°We all should have expected that something like this involved Lothinar.¡±


    ¡±She is entirely Tundor¡¯s child.¡± Protested Candasar. ¡°I don¡¯t like what you are implying!¡±


    ¡±Tundor may have fertilized that egg,¡± said Siophra, but Lothinar¡¯s magical influence has a great deal to do with who she might eventually become. I felt something I didn¡¯t understand when I hosted her. We need to somehow get a message to my sister Ardwella about this. Zinariya is extremely powerful and her actions might be hard to predict.¡±


    ¡±You¡¯re thinking that Zinariya might not want to give Ardwella¡¯s body back? That she might want to remain as an elf?¡± Asked Ronni. ¡°Because I suspected that when she almost immediately left Platinum¡¯s body behind to become an elf again. "


    ¡±Who is Platinum?¡± Candasar asked.


    ¡±She¡¯s a dragon that died.¡± Said Siophra. ¡°Zinariya briefly occupied her between the time she left me, and before she jumped into Ardwella. After Zinariya left her, Vanador actually managed to preserve her dragon body. It¡¯s now serving as a statue in the dragon temple.¡±


    ¡±This body is viable?¡± Candasar asked. ¡°You mean a disembodied dragon could just move in?¡±


    ¡±I suppose so.¡± Said Siophra. Then she raised an elegant eyebrow. ¡°Did you actually have someone in mind?¡±


    ¡±Save that cow! I¡¯ll be right back!¡± Yelled Candasar. Tundor was standing in the barn doorway with a struggling cow in his jaws. It was banefully mooing.


    ¡±Not that one¡± shrieked Ronni. ¡°That¡¯s Bessie! She¡¯s one of my best breeders!¡±


    Tundor delicately set the cow down. It staggered off, obviously quite offended but seemingly no worse off for the experience. Ronni quickly ran to it and began looking her over.


    ¡±Not even a tooth mark. I¡¯m impressed Tundor.¡± She exclaimed. She led the shaky cow away. Cenderick and the dragons followed her.


    ¡°I may be large, but I can be quite gentle.¡± Tundor said, poignantly looking at Candasar, who rolled her eyes.


    The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    ¡°We can discuss the changes in our physical relationship later Tundor. Right now I need to tell Vanquish about Platinum.¡±


    ¡±What¡¯s going on Candasar?¡± asked Siophra.


    "I need to get back up to Ronni''s house. Someone might be about to make a huge mistake!"


    Tundor looked at Siophra. She nodded.


    "We want to come too." said Tundor.


    Candasar looked at him. "I need to tell you something Tundor. Ardwynn is there."


    "Is she still under Lothinar''s control? She was the reason you had to go back to Silvantra isn''t it?"


    "It¡¯s really really complicated my mate. You are going to need to trust me. She''s not under Lothinar''s control. But she did spend some time under Vanquish''s control. She¡¯s not the same elf that she was before. You aren''t going to believe what happened."


    "You can''t tell me?¡±


    "I think it would be better if I just showed you."


    "Are we bringing the kids?"


    "Of course! I''m not letting them out of my sight!" said Candasar. "For a very long time."


    Back out in the yard, Siophra swiftly climbed aboard Tundor.


    "Ready Tundor!" she yelled excitedly. The little dragons giggled.


    "I think I want a bond." said Vigilant.


    "Your too young for a bond!" snapped Candasar.


    "There is nobody like Siophra." said Constance. "Others elves can''t help but suffer in comparison."


    The beautiful elf blushed and then smiled in the afternoon sunlight. She seemed to recapture, at least for a moment, the amazing beauty that had been gifted her when bonded with Zinariya.


    "What are we waiting for?" she asked.


    The cows in the yard seemed to breathe a huge sigh of relief as two large dragons and two little dragons jumped into the air.


    Things were suddenly very quiet in the dairy yard.


    A large red shaped moved into sight. Mo-Rung had been standing just outside the barn and behind the wall. He had heard the whole thing. He began making his plans for revenge. Ardwynn must die!


    "You should really give Lothinar a chance to explain." said Mavis.


    "The time for explaining is long past." said the red dragon. "Besides, what are you going to do about it? You are hundreds of miles away."


    Mo-Rung closed the connection.


    -----------------------------------------------


    "Damn!" said Mavis. "Lothinar''s back and he brought Ardwynn with him. Mo-Rung has decided to go after her. He wants revenge."


    "That''s going to be problematic." said Mandel. They were still in his office. Mavis had still been trying to convince her brother to take Cantrell off assassin duty. Especially with Ardwella leading him around.


    "Well, then again, maybe not." he said sheepishly. "I''ve actually been trying to decide if she is one of Argent''s relatives on the must kill list or not. Perhaps we should do nothing and just let him. It would make our lives a lot easier."


    Mavis grimaced at him.


    ¡±That¡¯s obviously not what Lothinar wants.¡±


    ¡±She may eventually pose a danger to my rein. And to peace.¡± He quickly added.


    "Lothinar is your brother too!" she said angrily.


    "Frankly, I''m surprised this is even a conversation." said Mandel. "You were the one she tried to kill. Very successfully, I might add. If not for Vanador and Esmarilla...."


    "And Aleena." Mavis said with a wistful tone.


    Mandel sighed.


    "So what do you want me to do about it? It''s not like we can actually warn him."


    "But we can!" said Mavis. "We can send Ardwella! Zinariya teleportation can get her there very quickly! She can warn him. I wonder where Ardwella is right now?"


    "They have been running ahead of schedule." said Mandel, looking at the clock on the wall. "Perhaps we can catch them in the cafeteria. Maybe we can catch a bite ourselves."


    "I''m too nervous to eat." said Mavis.


    Mandel looked at her.


    "Are you afraid that you might be getting fat? You can''t be serious. You look great!"


    "With that shameless hussy around, I''m not taking any chances!" said Mavis. "Lets go see if we can find my husband and the witch!"


    The cafeteria was quite full but looking around Mavis spotted Cantrell and Ardwella sitting at one of the tables. She thought her beautiful aunt was sitting far too close to Cantrell. Walking up with Mandel in tow she cleared her throat.


    Cantrell smiled broadly when he saw her. He quickly rose to his feet and moved to stand by her side. She noticed that he had a little blood splatter on his pants leg and shoes. How could he not notice that?


    Ardwella looked slightly dissapointed. She sighed.


    "Cross Laney, Harlene and Alphy off your list." said Ardwella. "Cantrell almost got himself killed trying to talk Delilah into giving up, but I got her too."


    Cantrell winced.


    "It seemed worth a try."


    "You are still too soft." said Ardwella. "Argent''s daughters are incorrigible."


    They were definitely more ready this time." admitted Cantrell.


    Mavis swallowed her anger.


    "Thank you for keeping him safe Ardwella." she said sincerely.


    Mandel pulled out a pad. He crossed out the four names.


    "So, still no sign of them giving up?"


    "Not so far. Do you think that''s likely?" asked Ardwella. "You probably know them better than I do."


    "Sahar might." he said. "She was Myron''s sister. He was the reasonable one."


    "We probably should wait and kill her last then." said Cantrell. "Perhaps with the conspicuous absence of co-conspirators.... "


    "You would probably have to offer them something." said Mavis. "Some sort of position in the government."


    "I don''t think that''s wise." said Ardwella. "Letting them live is risky enough. This problem will just keep resurfacing... "


    Mandel interrupted. "I have another favor to ask." he said.


    "A favor to ask or an order to issue?" asked Cantrell raising an eyebrow.


    "A favor, but it''s one you might care a great deal about. It''s actually Ardwella and Zinariya that I''m asking." said Mandel.


    Mavis had been watching for it. There! A flash of gold briefly appeared in Ardwella''s eyes. Immediately they returned to blue. Ardwella turned her beautiful gaze upon Mandel.


    "Speak, your servant listens" she said with little hidden sarcasm.


    "Lothinar''s back! He has Ardwynn with him!" Mavis rushed out. "Mo-Rung found out and is probably headed there right now, to kill her. I couldn''t talk him out of it. You are our only hope to stop him."


    "You want me to try and stop your dragon from killing someone vile and evil. It seems to me you should be thanking him for his service!" said Ardwella. "Just what do you think Cantrell and I have been doing all week?"


    "Killing Argent''s closest kin." responded Mavis. "And Ardwynn is one of them. I understand that. But I''m worried Lothinar might get hurt trying to stop him!"


    That seemed to get Ardwella''s attention.


    "Where are they? Where is Lothinar now?" asked Ardwella.


    "Ronni''s farmhouse." said Mavis.


    There was a pop. Ardwella disappeared. Cantrell looked at his wife.


    "Well, I guess I have the afternoon off." said Cantrell. "How about I get a shower and spend some time with my beautiful wife." he said.


    "I thought you''d never ask." said Mavis.


    "Well, I''ve been kind of busy." said Cantrell, taking her hand.


    "Too busy for me?"


    "You know that you are always on my mind." he said.


    She gave him a skeptical look.


    "Even with someone as beautiful as Ardwella to look at?"


    "Especially, with someone like Ardwella to look at." said Cantrell. "I need to keep thinking about you constantly. It is my only real defense."


    She sighed and leaned into him.


    "I don''t know how you do it?" she said.


    "What? Kill people?"


    She peered deep into his eyes, she was obviously looking for some sort of reassurance.


    "Yes, that of course, but I''m talking about how you resist her obvious advances."


    He laughed. Then he suddenly grew quite serious.


    "What kind of husband do you think I am? I made a commitment. I made it to you!"


    "Yes, but..."


    "Look Mavis, I don''t know what kind of men you have known before and I really don''t need to, but I belong to you. Ardwella turns heads yes, but she has never turned my heart. That decision is made!"


    "Really?" she said. Her eyes were brimming with tears.


    "Yes, Really. And, believe it or not, I think Ardwella is finally beginning to understand that too."


    "You weren''t tempted?" she asked breathlessly.


    Mandel¡¯s laughter interrupted his answer.


    "Hell, every male in this place is tempted." Said Mandel. Then he wisely shut up.


    Cantrell turned back to his wife.


    "Didn''t you give up your dreams of Lothinar for me? He is extremely handsome, or so I''m told."


    She laughed.


    "Then I found out he was my half brother!"


    "You didn''t know that at the time. You made a choice. Giving him up for me still counts."


    "I guess. But being infatuated with Lothinar and actually getting him reciprocally interested were two very different things. You clearly saw Ardwynn struggling with that.¡±


    Cantrell nodded. ¡°I think that his disinterest is a partial coping mechanism of his own pheromones. We can all be grateful that he doesn¡¯t just go around leaving crying women by the wayside.


    ¡±It¡¯s probably still going to happen anyway¡± she said.


    ¡±And that¡¯s going to be Lothinar¡¯s problem.¡± Said Cantrell. ¡°We all have temptations, Mavis. The point that I¡¯m trying to make is that I¡¯m fully committed to a future with you.¡±


    Mavis heard a couple of sighs from nearby tables.


    She looked around and suddenly noticed that the cafeteria was quite full. It was the lunch hour after all. Nobody was, however, actually eating. Everyone seemed to be watching their conversation with great interest. There were many female elves scattered about at various tables.


    Mavis awkwardly cleared her throat.


    Speaking of Lothinar. Do you think he''s going to be alright?" Asked Mavis.


    "Yep."


    ¡°You''re not worried about him at all, are you?¡± she asked.


    ¡±Not really, no. Sorry, but Mo-Rung is no match for him. I watched Mo-Rung kill the three elves that were trying to steal Zinariya¡¯s egg, but Lothinar is on a whole other level. He''s absolutely filled to the brim with powerful magic. You would never know. He doesn''t brag about it.


    ¡±Do you think he might hurt Mo-Rung?¡± she suddenly asked with concern.


    ¡±Lothinar will definitely defend himself, but your dragon is probably safe.¡±


    Suddenly she whirled to face him. She stood on tiptoes and kissed him. Quite passionately.


    They began to walk out of the cafeteria.


    "I see where this is going." said Mandel


    "You have no idea." said Cantrell.


    Mavis blushed.


    They left the emperor standing there.


    The cafeteria erupted in applause. Catcalls ensued. A few moments later quiet conversations resumed. Once again people resumed eating their lunches.


    "I really need to find a girlfriend!" Mandel said to himself. "I wonder who it was that Ardwella was talking about?"


    It was just about then that Mandel got slightly jealous. They were cheering for his sister and Cantrell, not him. They never cheered for him.


    He needed to step up his game. He decided to go and visit Vanador.


    Perhaps it was time to start fighting his own battles.


    ------------------------------------------------


    Lothinar head a commotion in the yard. It was the sound of dragons landing. He knew that at least one of them was Candasar. She had found most of her family and brought them back here.


    Ardwynn was sleeping on the bed with the baby cradled under her arm. She had a peaceful smile on her face. Even though the labor and delivery of his son had been greatly assisted by Vanquish¡¯s blue dragon magic, she was still obviously exhausted. Lothinar decided to let her sleep.


    He walked out the front door and looked down from the porch. There were four dragons in the yard. One of them was a very big one. It was Tundor! He quickly spotted his aunt Siophra astride him. A few seconds later he heard the screen door close again behind him. Michelle stood next to him. She took his hand and gripped it fiercely. He glanced over at her. She had tears running down her cheeks. Suddenly she released his hand and ran off the porch. She stared up at the huge white dragon.


    "You''re not Vanador!" she exclaimed.


    Tundor Chuckled. "No, I''m afraid I''m not. He''s at the capital. I don''t think we have met. My name is Tundor." he said.


    "My Mate." said Candasar.


    "I know who he is." hissed Michelle. "How did he get so big? So fast?"


    Suddenly Tundor scowled.


    "You know me?"


    "We''ve met." said Michelle.


    "Did anyone ever tell you that you look a bit like Ardwynn?" the white dragon asked, looking at her intently. "I heard that she was around here."


    "I''ve been told that before" said Michelle. She had an amused look on her face. "I''ve even thought so myself."


    "Vanador once carried her off thinking she was Ardwynn." said Candasar. She began laughing. Lothinar joined in. Somehow the both of them seemed to think that this was somehow funny.


    "Listen Vanquish!," said Candasar. "I''ve just been made aware of something. It''s an unbelievable chance for you."


    Siophra had been sitting there on Tundor''s back. She had been taking it in. Suddenly she jumped down and approached Michelle. She got very close. She put her hands on either side of her head and peered at her.


    "You''re a dragon!" she suddenly said. "I know you! You are Vanquish!"


    Tundor gaped.


    "Part of her at least.¡± said Candasar. "Now you know why I was interested in that unoccupied platinum dragon!"


    "Explain!¡± Demanded the petite human body housing the blue dragon Vanquish.


    Siophra complied. She did her best to tell the story of what had happened. A brief how and why about the Platinum dragon¡¯s demise.


    when Siophra finally finished, Lothinar spoke up.


    ¡°It does seem to be a good opportunity for you¡± he said.


    "This platinum dragon body is merely a juvenile." protested Michelle. "It will hardly do!"


    "If you want to stay a human, just admit it and stay that way" said Candasar. "But now at least you have a choice."


    Michelle was obviously conflicted. She looked longingly at Lothinar.


    "A choice we do not have to force on her tonight!" said Lothinar. "It doesn''t sound like the platinum dragon¡¯s body is going anywhere."


    A very loud popping sound occurred and a familiar raven haired elf appeared on the porch next to Lothinar. Her knees buckled and she swayed a bit but Lothinar instinctively reached out to stabilize her.


    ¡°Mother?¡± He gaped as the beautiful female elf clung to him.


    ¡±That¡¯s not just your mother.¡± Said Siophra with a strange grin. ¡°That¡¯s Candasar and Tundor¡¯s daughter. The one that was formed with a great deal of magical help from you, Lothinar. She¡¯s the Golden Dragon, Zinariya.¡±


    The wobbly body of Ardwella finally opened her eyes. The were glowing with golden power.


    ¡°Hello everyone. Sorry to just drop in like this but Mo-Rung is coming, if he isn¡¯t already here. He intends to kill Ardwynn. Can anyone give me a reason not to let him?¡±


    The sound of splintering wood erupted from somewhere behind them in the house. Lothinar heard Ardwynn scream. A baby began to cry.


    Lothinar¡¯s vision went white.


    Up on the porch a miniature sun was born. Candasar¡¯s brief thought as she felt her consciousness depart was that she had never before felt Lothinar get this angry.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    Heirwynn was a little bored. Baby''s were cute, but there had to be more to life at her age than helping watch someone else''s child. She had already played big sister for a couple of weeks. Muina had finally suggested that she and the dragons take a walk over to Delora Natine. She did have a few more things to collect from the small apartment that she had shared with Harvey before he was killed. She had already told the landlord her intentions to finally move out for good.


    She did attract quite a lot of attention when she entered the city gate with Snow and Night following after her. Everyone seemed to know her story. Stopping by the dragon temple she could not help but observe the statuesque form of Platinum. She had been posed in a very lifelike position. Having seen the dragon alive, it chilled her to see her that way. Heirwynn had never liked the Platinum dragons machinations. Night-Sky and Snow were uncharacteristically silent. Eventually the trio made her way to her apartment.


    Arriving there she immediately noticed the door ajar. That was strange. She was sure that she had closed and locked it. Slowly pushing it open, she heard voices. They sounded like they were in the upstairs loft. They sounded elvish. Heirwynn had been listening to Albarad and Muina for weeks. She had picked up quite a bit.


    "The *#*%#%* is finally mounted up on the roof. The next time the dragon flys over, we can bring him down!"


    Heirwynn didn''t know what that second word was, but it couldn''t be good. She quickly started to back out of the room and tumbled over Snow who had come in behind her.


    "What was that?" came the voice from upstairs. Heirwynn struggled to her feet. Behind her she heard the front door close with a click.


    "Katrina! Blythe! Come down here. It looks like the young lady who lives here has finally returned." said a voice. It was dripping with malice.


    Heirwynn whirled around. A female elf with a crossbow stood between her and the door. The crossbow was pointed directly at her. She heard boots on the stairs.


    "What do we have here Sahar?" came another elven voice.


    Heirwynn was looking at two more elves. Both of them were female. Both of them had knives out.


    Night-Sky was nowhere to be seen. Heirwynn could only hope that he was going for help.


    Snow growled. The sound was surprisingly low and menacing.


    "Oh no, none of that!" exclaimed the elf the others had called Sahar. "Or I''ll shoot your precious bond right in the eye!"


    Just then, from behind the elves on the stairs, a black shadow blurred into motion. Night must have somehow taken to the air and flown onto the roof. He must have entered from there and come down behind them.


    "Look out!" yelled the elf with the crossbow, pulling her aim off Heirwynn and pointing toward the descending Night.


    Snow leaped. She caught the elf''s head in her jaws and twisted. The crossbow twanged and the bolt buried itself in the ceiling. Night continued his thunderous decent. He bowled over the two on the stairs. They ended up at the bottom in a pile. The black dragon stood over them, snarling. They dropped their knives.


    "We ask for mercy!" one of them cried.


    "I''ll give you the mercy you planned for Tundor!" Night shrieked. He began to tear them both open with his claws. There was a lot of screaming. One of them almost got away. After all, he was only a small dragon.


    Heirwynn was pretty sure that she wasn''t going to get Harvey''s cleaning deposit back by the time he was finished.


    -----------------------------

 Volume 2: Chapter 24: Family Ties

    **********************************


    CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR


    **********************************


    Ardwynn''s Perspective.


    Ardwynn heard a horrific sound as a large section of the bedroom wall was violently removed. She screamed. A red dragon''s long neck snaked through the opening. It coughed and shook its head, scattering plaster dust. Smoke and a small flame emerged. It blinked trying to clear its eyes. While he was distracted, Ardwynn had mere seconds to move. She grabbed her son and dove under the bed. Unfortunately but not surprisingly , the child began to cry. His wailing stirred her soul. It also told the dragon exactly where they were.


    Above her the large bed was dragged away, its wooden frame snapping while the overlying mattress was torn to pieces. The room was suddenly filled with feathers. The dragon peered down at her. His face was a mask of fury. Time slowed as the dragon''s long sinuous neck began to propel the mouthful of razor sharp teeth forward.


    Unbidden before her eyes a spell appeared. Its ancient ornate text shimmered behind her eyelids. She had seen it before. This time, though, she knew exactly what it did. It was the dragon burner! Ardwynn felt she had no choice. She opened her mouth to invoke the spell but hesitated. She wondered, in a split second of clarity, what igniting a dragon on fire in a room filled with flammable drifting feathers would do to her and the baby. Suddenly the attacking red dragon dropped like a marionette with its strings cut. His lower jaw actually bounced off the floor where she had been standing, just before she had reflexively jumped back. She heard rapid footsteps from down the hall. Lothinar burst into the room. He was carrying Michelle. She was unconscious. Right behind him was Lothinar¡¯s mother Ardwella.


    ¡±Ardwynn!¡± He called anxiously.


    ¡°You were almost too late!¡± She said angrily. ¡°I was really afraid!¡±


    She made her way toward Lothinar. He smiled at her apologetically.


    ¡±I¡¯m truly sorry.¡± Said Lothinar, gently laying the human female down. ¡°I was distracted by visitors. Guests actually.¡±


    ¡±Do I know them?¡±


    ¡°Yes, you should. They are Candasar¡¯s family, including two of her children, and Tundor of course.¡±


    ¡°Tundor¡¯s here? This is going to be awkward until we can explain what happened to me in Silvantra.¡±


    ¡±That¡¯s why I thought it best to bring Vanquish along. She can help by explaining what she did.¡±


    ¡±What happened to her?¡± Ardwynn asked, peering at the still unconscious human girl.


    ¡°I seem to have undergone a developmental change of some kind.¡± He said awkwardly. ¡°I sent out a pulse of magic that knocked everyone out including Vanquish.¡±


    ¡±But not her?¡± Ardwynn asked, looking behind Lothinar at Ardwella who was standing behind him with an indiscernible look on her face. ¡°When did your mother get here?¡±


    ¡±She came to warn me about Mo-Rung¡¯s vengeful intentions. Unfortunately they arrived here at almost the same time.¡±


    ¡±I¡¯ve been in the capitol all week killing off many of Argent¡¯s nasty relatives." Interrupted Ardwella. "I¡¯m going to need a good reason why Ardwynn here shouldn¡¯t be on that list.¡±


    Lothinar looked at her with surprise. His face grew hard.


    ¡®Which one of you is asking?¡± Replied Lothinar, once again obviously furious. ¡°I might have two very different responses depending on that answer.¡±


    Ardwynn gripped his hand tightly. She had been afraid of something like this.


    "We need to wake up Vanquish." she leaned in and whispered to him.


    Lothinar nodded imperceptibly.


    Behind her, Ardwynn heard Michelle let out a soft groan.


    "What did you do this time Lothinar?" Ardwynn heard her ask.


    -----------------------


    Zinariya¡¯s Perspective


    After her warning about Mo-Rung and while still standing on the porch, Zinariya had been hit with an immensely powerful pulse of magic. It obviously originated from Lothinar. Yet somehow it was strangely familiar. Instead of stopping, however, the power kept coming. It was like standing in a brisk wind of magic. It was cool and invigorating.


    ¡°This must be what it would have been like to absorb my eggshell!¡± She suddenly realized. "No, it''s more powerful than that!"


    Strangely, instead of causing discomfort, Lothinar¡¯s magical flood of power seemed compatible with her own. Instead of it overwhelming her, she opened herself to it, absorbing everything that she could.


    She watched with some concern as one by one, everyone in Lothinar¡¯s vicinity was overcome with the tsunami of powerful magic and dropped to the ground. Even Tundor, as large as he was, couldn¡¯t long endure the magical onslaught. He did hold out long enough to enact a slow roll to the side, softly tossing his rider Siophra free and onto the grass of the pasture before finally collapsing himself, well clear of crushing anyone. Zinariya''s siblings and even her mother Candasar, went straight down.


    Lothinar himself seemed to not even notice her. He was just standing on the porch with his eyes closed. Zinariya had just met him but the Ardwella part of her knew his facial expressions well. His handsome visage was strangely twisted. He was angry. At last he turned to her.


    "Thank you for the warning. I have dealt with Mo-Rung, at least for now." he said.


    "You didn''t kill him did you?" Zinariya asked.


    "No, for Mavis''s sake, I held back."


    "He is the one that helped defend Siophra and I when we were attacked." Zinariya said. "I know he has a temper, but he does have some redeeming qualities."


    "I suppose." said Lothinar. "Candasar would also be quite upset if I dispatched her grandfather."


    Zinariya only nodded.


    Lothinar turned to her and intensified his glare. He seemed to be looking deep inside her. What he suddenly saw there changed his countenance somewhat. He blinked slowly. His frown disappeared. Finally he spoke.


    ¡±You are a unique dragon Zinariya. When I have more time, I would like to speak with you again. By the way, you are drawing from my power right now. Are you aware of this?¡±


    ¡±Yes! It¡¯s the only way that I¡¯m still standing right now! I''m not really sure why that''s even possible." She answered. ¡°You might want to do something about that because the force is so strong that most of your favorite people are lying on the ground in the yard!¡±


    He grimaced and seemed to notice everything all at once. The dragons lying about. His Aunt Siophra lying in a heap near Tundor. He bent over and gently scooped up Michelle from where she lay fallen on the porch. He lifted her effortlessly.


    ¡°They will be fine. First I have to check on something.¡±


    He moved back into the house still carrying the unconscious human female. Zinariya curiously followed. Moving down the hallway he turned into a bedroom.


    Almost the entire back wall was missing. The red dragon Mo-Rung was also down. His head and neck were in the room, but the remainder of him was still outside. His body could only be seen through the missing part of the wall.


    "Ardwynn?¡± He called out.


    The golden dragon watched as Lothinar gently laid Michelle down. She listened with fascination as the lovers discussed the situation. He smile was so warm and tender towards her.


    She was becoming increasingly agitated that Lothinar was giving Argent¡¯s niece so much attention. The frustration erupted as she opened her mouth to speak. The words were blunt.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been in the capitol all week killing off most of Argent¡¯s nasty relatives. I¡¯m going to need a good reason why Ardwynn here shouldn¡¯t be on that list.¡±


    That must have been the wrong thing to say because she suddenly felt the wonderful flow of of magic emanating from Lothinar stop. She had quickly grown used to its comforting embrace. It¡¯s absence felt like an ache. The handsome elf frowned.


    ¡°Which one of you is asking?


    Zinariya realized that the question had been entirely hers. Her feelings were jumbled and confused. Ardwella was not happy that she had asked it. Challenging Lothinar over his bride had undoubtably been a mistake. Mo-Rung had just learned that the hard way.


    "Could it be that I am actually jealous of Ardwynn?" the golden dragon asked herself.


    ¡°I have two very different responses depending on that answer.¡± He said glowering at her.


    Zinariya tried smiling to reduce the tension. It didn''t work. Ardwynn stood by him and took his hand. She whispered something in his ear.


    The girl on the floor began to stir. She opened her eyes.


    "What did you do this time Lothinar?"


    ---------------------


    Lothinar''s Perspective


    ¡°I can''t believe that I''m having mother in law problems already?¡± Ardwynn whispered.


    ¡±More than you know.¡± Said Zinariya with a smirk. She had obvious heard her.


    Michelle stood up and moved next to them. She was looking at the red dragon. Mo-Rung wasn''t moving. Her eyes seemed to be searching for signs of life.


    "He''s just knocked out." said Lothinar. "He''s not actually dead."


    "But we were on the porch." she said. "You were able to take down a full sized dragon from the front porch without lifting a finger?"


    He looked embarrassed somehow.


    "Yes, but it would have been easier to just kill him. I really didn''t want to do that."


    "But how?"


    "I pulled out his dragon seed. Just for a second or two. Then I put it back. He probably should be fine."


    "Ah, said Vanquish. Your other powers have awakened. I''ve been expecting this."


    "It reminds me of when we planted your dragon seed in Michelle." he said. "But it seems that I have more control over it now."


    "We can explore your expanded powers later." said Vanquish. "First what is happening here with Ardwella? I feel like I walked into an argument in progress."


    "Not quite yet, but it''s getting close." said Ardwynn. "We need your help. There are going to be others that don''t know about the changes. you made in me. They are not very friendly."


    Vanquish sighed. "It was, of course inevitable. I will do my best to help set their concerns aside."


    "Thank you Vanquish!" said Ardwynn.


    "Lets start with this young golden dragon that is walking around in your mother''s body then." began Vanquish. "I''m sure she''s pretty confused about all of this."


    "How does this human girl know so much about me?" asked Zinariya.


    "She may look human, but she is actually Vanquish the blue dragon." said Ardwynn.


    "Now isn''t that convenient." said Zinariya actually not believing any of it. ¡°You expect me to believe that Vanquish the senior blue dragon now inhabits this mere human girl?¡±


    "There were some unforeseen events" said Vanquish. "I accidentally got myself killed. My dragon body is gone."


    "Zinariya?" said Lothinar.


    She turned to him.


    "Yes Lothinar?"


    "She is Vanquish. At least part of her. I transferred her there myself, rather, my power somehow did. Having occupied someone else yourself, this should not be so hard to believe."


    "I thought I was unique." Zinariya finally said, sulking a little.


    "The parts of me that were connected to Argent¡¯s lineage have been removed. Vanquish saw to that." said Ardwynn.


    "Did you modify her child as well?¡± asked Zinariya.


    Lothinar looked at Vanquish, who answered.


    "Yes, him too. In the womb. Both Ardwynn and her son are both clear of Argent¡¯s taint.


    "That is difficult to believe." said Zinariya.


    "I tire of this." said Lothinar. "I''m not even sure who I''m actually talking to here. Are you my mother or Zinariya right now?"


    "Does it matter?" she answered, shrugging.


    "Get out" said Lothinar.


    Zinariya shook. There was push. Somewhere deep inside she felt a tearing. It was almost irresistible. She tried anyway.


    "Wait! I''m not ready" she pleaded. "I like being an elf!"


    "It''s time to be born as you were intended to be." said Lothinar. "I''ve more than replaced the magic your shell would have provided. Leave my mother!"


    Zinariya felt her claws skitter on the hardwood floor. She drew her first real breath in her own body. She was a newborn dragon! Suddenly instead of looking eye to eye with the handsome male elf, she was looking up at him from near the floor. She was tiny! This wasn''t what she wanted at all! Next to her she saw her previous host lurch and almost fall. Lothinar caught her.


    "What kind of power allowed Lothinar to order her about like this?" she wondered.


    "She''s cute!" said Ardwynn.


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    Lothinar laughed.


    "Looks can be deceiving. I wouldn''t underestimate her. Even now, in that small body she is quite powerful." he said.


    Ardwella sighed.


    "Are you alright mother?" he asked. Her eyes had returned to their normal blue color. She looked down at the little golden dragon.


    "She''s going to be a handful, be careful son." she replied.


    "I can see that." he said. "


    Ardwella looked frustrated. Zinariya suspected that things had not worked out as she had planned either.


    "What can I do for you mother?" he asked.


    "I''ve done my part. I want to go home. I left your baby sister with my sister Muina. I need to check up on her."


    "Why did you even get involved with this in the first place mother? You obviously had other things to do."


    She looked embarrassed about something.


    "I was trying to save your friend Cantrell. This dragon was asking him to do something he was totally unprepared for."


    "Did you succeed at saving him?"


    "Yes, although I don''t think he''s very grateful for the help." she huffed.


    "There is a bit more to that story." said Zinariya from her place on the floor.


    "I''d rather you not spread rumors about me." said Ardwella menacingly.


    "We can call this one a draw." answered Zinariya. "Thank you for your help."


    Ardwella nodded.


    "That''s probably best." she said. She turned to her son.


    "Lothinar, can one of the dragons outside take me home. It''s not that far." she asked.


    "I''ll teleport you." said Zinariya. "It''s the least I can do."


    "Well, thank you then...." Ardwella disappeared with a pop before even getting to finish her sentence. Lothinar thought it was probably for the best. His mother could drive him crazy and he still wasn''t sure how she felt about Ardwynn.


    Your mother is a difficult and complicated female." said Zinariya.


    "Well, we agree on that much." said Lothinar.


    Suddenly Mo-Rung groaned. A thin line of smoke came out of one nostril.


    "What are you going to do with Him?" Ardwynn asked nervously, gesturing toward the red dragon. The way he tore the wall off the house, I don''t think he''s interested in listening to reason!"


    Lothinar propelled a heartfelt sigh through his lips.


    "For Mavis''s sake, I suppose we do need to try." he finally said.


    He looked at Michelle. "What do you think I should do with him?"


    We had better decide if Mo-Rung can be reasoned with. Release him.¡± said Michelle.


    ¡±Wait!¡± Yelled Ardwynn. "Look at his face! You have only seen him unconscious on the floor. You didn''t see him when he was coming after me and little Harvey.¡±


    Lothinar appeared stunned.


    ¡±Your naming our son after the city guardsmen that was killed fighting your father?¡±


    ¡±It seems a fitting tribute. I hope you don¡¯t object.¡± Said Ardwynn.


    Lothinar grinned. ¡°Ok Harvey¡± it is!" he said, looking at the child. ¡°Let¡¯s finish waking the scary dragon.¡±


    ¡±I¡¯ll be ready to teleport him away, just in case.¡± said Zinariya, finding her small dragon voice.


    ¡±Can you do that?¡± Asked Ardwynn.


    ¡±Probably." Said Zinariya. ¡°I sent Ardwella home, Lothinar has filled me with so much power I could probably send him to the moon! But that doesn''t mean that I don''t want more!"


    "I thought as much." said Lothinar under his breath.


    ¡±Sending him back to Mavis is far enough.¡± Said Lothinar. ¡°Perhaps she can talk some sense into him if we can¡¯t.¡±


    Lothinar allowed Mo-Rung to wake up. He jiggled his dragon seed.


    The red dragon shook his craggy head displacing dust and feathers. His eyes sought Ardwynn and found her. In spite of the fact that Lothinar now stood between them, Mo-Rung roared and began to lunge.


    Power sizzled and sparked from Lothinar¡¯s outstretched hand as lightning shot out and hit Mo-Rung in the face. The red dragon yelped in surprise. He jumped back. Then he cried out again as through the hole in the building, Zinariya could see his huge red wings whither and shrink.


    ¡±You are forgetting who gave you back your wings Mo-Rung!¡± Lothinar shouted. ¡°I understand that you want vengeance and think you are justified in this, but there are things you have yet to understand. The only reason I¡¯m giving you a second chance is because killing you would hurt Mavis!¡±


    The red dragon howled in rage and tried to shove his head back through the wall again, despite his wingless condition.¡±


    ¡±He does have a bit of a temper ¡° said Michelle.


    ¡±He was the one that killed those elves that stole my egg.¡± Commented Zinariya. ¡°His rage can be pretty useful if he¡¯s fighting on your side.¡±


    ¡±I can''t get him to listen¡± exclaimed Lothinar. ¡°Perhaps sending him to Mavis is best for now¡±


    A very loud pop ensued. More of an explosion really. Everything was suddenly quiet. Then the remainder of the bedroom wall fell over with a crash.


    "See, I told you!" said Ardwynn.


    "Yes, I''ve never seen it from this perspective before." admitted Vanquish.


    "Yes, thank you Zinariya. Now where were we?" asked Lothinar.


    "Discussing our future?" she asked hopefully.


    "First you can tell me what you were doing with my mother''s body. " said Lothinar. "I really want to know."


    "Like I said, We killed most of Argent''s relatives. I did everyone a favor."


    "What are you going to do with the rest of your life?" asked Ardwynn.


    "I don''t know yet," answered the little golden dragon. "I''m just getting started. But I think a lot of that is going to depend on Lothinar."


    He sighed. "Why do I keep collecting females?"


    "It''s what you do darling." said Ardwynn. "Your so good at it."


    Lothinar looked down at his son.


    "Don''t you think he''s worth all the trouble." asked Ardwynn with a big smile.


    The handsome elf nodded.


    "Lets go wake up the others." said Lothinar. "I really want to explain to Tundor why Ardwynn and my son are no longer his enemy."


    "Your welcome." said Vanquish.


    "Did I never say thank you?" asked Lothinar.


    "It must have slipped your mind." she giggled.


    -------------------------------------------------


    After Ardwella had teleported away, and their conversation in the cafeteria, Cantrell was walking with Mavis. They were holding hands. Suddenly she stumbled. Her knees had buckled. He scooped her up before she fell. She felt light in his arms.


    ¡°It¡¯s Mo-Rung!¡± She moaned. ¡°He had cut off communication but I just felt something bad happen!¡±


    ¡±Is he alive?¡± He asked urgently.


    ¡±I¡­don¡¯t¡­.know¡­¡± she managed to relay before totally losing consciousness. She fell limp in his arms.


    Cantrell adjusted his grip and changed direction. He began running toward the stables. He needed Esmarilla and Vanador. If Mo-Rung was actually dead then this was going to be very bad. His wife might not survive the breaking of the bond. He hadn¡¯t actually thought Lothinar would go so far as to kill Candasar¡¯s grandfather. Perhaps his previous assumptions about Lothinar¡¯s tolerance for Mo-Rungs divergent opinion about Ardwynn had been optimistic. Whatever the outcome, the red dragon definitely seemed to have overplayed his hand.


    Racing into the area of the palace that housed the two large dragon siblings Cantrell shouted to his bond. "Esmarilla! Mavis is in trouble! I think Mo-Rung might have actually attacked Lothinar!"


    "That would not be wise" said the black dragon. "I''m sure he was trying to get to Ardwynn. If Lothinar has actually brought her back then Mo-Rung should have listened to his reasons."


    Esmarilla and her enormous white sibling Vanador began pouring healing energy into his unconscious bride.


    "This feels way too familiar!" The black dragon sent. "It feels like the kind of void that we were trying to fill when Aleena died!"


    Cantrell bit his lip. He remembered how close Mavis had come to death at that time.


    "But she wasn''t physically wounded this time" he said, desperately trying to think of the reason his wife had collapsed. The previous time Tundor had actually broken her neck. Aleena had given all her own magical power to keep her bonded elf barely alive.


    Mavis moaned again. Her head lolled.


    Then suddenly he could feel waves of relief coming off his dragon.


    "We''ve got her Cantrell. Your right! It wasn''t as bad as last time. She just suddenly lost her bond with Mo-Rung. It was a shock to her system. Vanador and I have restored a proper balance."


    "Is he dead?" he asked out loud.


    "I have no way of knowing, but Mavis is coming around." rumbled the white dragon. "Perhaps she can tell us herself."


    Her eyelids fluttered then suddenly few open.


    "OUCH." she said softly. "Whatever hit Mo-Rung, I felt it all the way over here!"


    "Can you tell us anything more?" asked Esmarilla. "Is Mo-Rung alive?"


    ¡±Yes,¡± said Mavis tentatively. ¡°But he¡¯s definitely unconscious.¡±


    ¡±That¡¯s a relief¡± said Esmarilla. ¡°Now when he comes around I can have the pleasure of killing him myself! Seriously! Attacking Lothinar was entirely foolish!¡±


    Mavis gasped.


    Cantrell heard the words that the black dragon said, but his connection to her through the bond told him that she felt otherwise. Esmarilla loved the red dragon, passionately. His death at Lothinar¡¯s hands would have put an immense and permanent strain on her affection for Lothinar. Even though he was Ardwella''s child, the black dragon loved him like a son. He was, after all, grown for a specific purpose with vast amounts of black dragon magic. He meant much more to her than merely Ardwella and Albarad''s child.


    Suddenly there was a loud pop. A huge amount of air had obviously been displaced. Mo-Rung appeared. He was down and in an unnatural position, but at his arrival he groaned and shook his head. He stumbled to his feet and looked around in confusion. For some reason he was covered in feathers.


    ¡°How did I get here?¡± He managed to croak out.


    ¡±I¡¯m just going to venture a guess.¡± Said Cantrell, ¡°But I suspect Zinariya sent you.¡±


    ¡±Probably to save your life you impetuous fool!¡± Snarled Esmarilla. ¡°What were you thinking?¡±


    ¡±But Ardwynn was there¡­. I was so close." Stammered the red dragon.


    ¡±I don¡¯t think any of us has enough information yet to make a decision about what to do about Ardwynn." said Vanador. I''m going to recommend we wait and talk to Vanquish about it. She will probably know what to do."


    "I''m sure your right brother." said Esmarilla. "Has anyone seen her since they got back?"


    "Perhaps she was detained." said Vanador. "She''s pretty hard to miss."


    "Uh, Mo-Rung?" said Mavis. "What has happened to your wings?"


    "Mo-Rung began to howl again."


    "I can fix them, you know." said Vanador.


    "Let''s wait a while." said Mavis. "Lothinar obviously wanted a little more time before we visit."


    -----------------------------------------------


    Lothinar had awakened the unconscious dragon family at the front of the house, including Siophra, Vanquish then explained to Tundor how she had modified Ardwynn to remove Argent''s curse. The white dragon seemed dubious at first but finally accepted the story after giving her a good sniff.


    "She does smell totally different." he testified. Of course the two young blue dragons had to smell her too. They wrinkled their noses but offered no comment. Privately Lothinar thought that the baby might need changing at this point, but he wasn''t about to volunteer for that yet if Ardwynn hadn''t noticed. Finally Siophra offered him a knowing wink and gently took little Harvey into the house. When she came back, he smelled quite a bit better. His aunt was obviously a saint.


    Lothinar was finishing the tale of how they had convinced Michelle''s father to allow her to come with them on the flight over the ocean. When he brought up the rocs and the lost sword he got a lot of questions.


    "Are you going to try to get it back?" asked Constance?


    "They will never find it. The ocean is huge!" said Vigilant.


    "Vanquish mentioned bonding with a Sea Serpent." said Lothinar. "That''s an interesting possibility."


    "Stupid primitive beasts" retorted Vanquish. "Only one out of a hundred could even form a coherent thought, let alone a bond." she exclaimed.


    Lothinar filed that away for later discussion.


    Just then Firestorm came walking out of the barn. She was yawning.


    "Hey guys! Welcome back! Did I miss anything?" "Hey who''s this?" she yelled spying Zinariya and her siblings. "Hooray I''m not the smallest dragon anymore!"


    Lothinar didn''t have the heart to explain how poorly her father Mo-Rung had been behaving but Vigilant told her anyway. Firestorm ran around the back of the house to look at the damage.


    "Do you know any carpenters Lothinar?" Firestorm asked.


    "Perhaps Mandel can spare a few from the Capitol after the war is finished." Zinariya said. "He''s always got a few extra. They can also make a new bed. That''s very important."


    "Dragons don''t sleep in beds." said Candasar.


    "This one does!" said Zinariya. "That''s one thing I won''t give up."


    "You are going to outgrow the use of a bed very soon." Tundor said with a frown.


    "I refuse! " Said the young golden. "I''m going to stay small enough to sleep with Lothinar!"


    "I don''t even get to sleep with Lothinar!" said Michelle. "And not for lack of trying either! I might add. What would that mean for us?"


    "There''s an us?" asked Siophra with surprise. "Lothinar have you been sleeping with this girl? Did you have relations with Vanquish?"


    "I have not" he replied.


    "Not for lack of my trying." said Michelle. "I tried very vigorously in fact. Unfortunately he''s been a perfect gentleman."


    "Nobody is going to be sleeping with Lothinar except me." said Ardwynn firmly.


    Lothinar looked at the group.


    "I must agree with Ardwynn." he said decisively. What Zinariya doesn''t realize, and Candasar probably doesn¡¯t either, is that Zinariya is actually my daughter.¡±


    ¡±WHAT?¡± Said Ardwynn.


    Zinariya snorted a laugh. Then looked at him. ¡°Wait! Your serious?¡±


    ¡±Well Candasar and Tundor obviously helped.¡± He said awkwardly.


    "How is that possible?" asked Zinariya.


    "I really wish your mother had been around when you were born." Lothinar said. "That''s my fault. Perhaps she would have told you about how your egg was actually made. Then this might make more sense to you."


    "I''m listening" said Zinariya.


    "I would certainly like to hear this too." said Tundor. "Are you trying to tell me that I''m not her father."


    Candasar had a strange look on her face. Siophra did as well.


    Lothinar gave out a heartfelt sigh.


    "You''re definitely the father, Tundor." said Lothinar. "But both Candasar and I seem to share the roll of mother."


    Ardwynn laughed but no one else did.


    "Wait, is that even possible?" she asked. "Lothinar is definitely male. I can promise you that."


    "I am male, but my magic is not specific about these things." Lothinar said. "My elven magic infused Candasar''s egg and made some very powerful changes. It made the egg very special."


    "That''s why I''m a golden dragon" exclaimed Zinariya. "And," she seemed embarrassed, "why I seem so comfortable being an elf!"


    "You don''t know what you''re missing." said Michelle. "The dragon part of me would really like to be a dragon again."


    "There is probably a way to make that happen again." said Zinariya.


    "Then there is a decision to be made." said Siophra. "I assume you are going to tell her about Platinum''s body? Not that you were a very careful custodian of it when you were wearing it."


    "I was in a hurry!" said Zinariya.


    "You are lucky that Vanador was more considerate of the body. He thought you might need it back." said Siophra.


    "I like being an elf." said Zinariya.


    "You can''t just keep someone else''s body." responded Siophra. "We''ve been over this. My sister has her own life to live. As did I!"


    "What if I gave her Platinum''s body for the human body that Vanquish is wearing right now? I could try being human. It''s not that different."


    "It actually is." said Lothinar.


    "Actually, it''s probably not," said Vanquish. "for the dragon at least. Most of what a human lacks in telepathy and lifespan, the dragon host more than makes up for."


    "You can''t just start trading bodies away!" scolded Lothinar. "Platinum and Michelle must have some opinion about this. We need to talk to them about this."


    "I don''t remember Vanquish asking Michelle for permission in the first place." Ardwynn said, "It all happened pretty fast as I recall."


    "It''s still not right." he insisted.


    "As far as Platinum is concerned, she''s not using it" said Zinariya. "And she never will again."


    "Who is Platinum?" asked Michelle, showing sudden interest.


    "A dragon that hatched from the ancient eggs." said Siophra. "She had some personality quirks that created some severe problems. Her nervous system was excised but the body was saved. Zinariya used it for a short time after leaving me and before moving into Ardwella."


    "Other than her brain being removed, her body is in perfect condition" said Zinariya. "You should really try it out." said Zinariya hopefully.


    Vanquish cleared her throat.


    "Did you say that my beloved Vanador saved this body?" she asked eagerly. "Perhaps this is my fate after all."


    Lothinar seemed conflicted.


    Zinariya seems to hold ownership or Platinum''s unoccupied body, or at least Vanador does. Either way I do not see much of a conflict here. However, I can not just give Michelle''s body to you Zinariya. She is still occupying it and deserves autonomy if she wishes it. "


    "Blah blah blah. Make yourself feel better Lothinar, but you know she''s going to do anything you ask her to." said Firestorm.


    "It''s true." said Ardwynn. "She was exposed to his pheromones back in Silvantra. Even before Vanquish started sharing her body. She''s totally committed to Lothinar."


    "I can only imagine." said Siophra with a strange look at Lothinar. "It makes more sense now... I mean, why you brought her back with you."


    "I''m just trying to do the right thing here." said the elf.


    "I can''t believe she would decide to return to her old life" said Firestorm.


    "We shall see." he said. "I need to talk to Michelle first. The real Michelle. Can you make that happen Vanquish?"


    The human girl rolled her eyes.


    "Fine. I''ll step back." she said. "She''s all yours!"


    Lothinar watched as Michelle''s eyes turned from blue to green. The look on her face grew very concerned.


    "Hello Michelle" said Lothinar.


    "Are you trying to get rid of me again?" the human girl suddenly asked.


    "No, I''m not." he said.


    "I can tell that Vanquish wants to be a dragon again. She will leave me and become a dragon if she can find a way to do it."


    "That doesn''t mean that you would have to leave." said Lothinar. "It just means that you would be your original self. Without a dragon inside you."


    "Vanquish is old. This other dragon is much younger. Do I understand this correctly?" she asked.


    "Yes, she is very young." Lothinar admitted.


    "I think in that way we would be more compatible." said Michelle. "We could learn about life together."


    "I suppose." said Lothinar. "But she could get you into trouble. She seems a bit impetuous." he added.


    Tundor suddenly coughed.


    "I''m not trying to be prudish here, or unnecessarily blunt, but don''t your elven, or even human customs make it taboo for Zinariya to inhabit her?" asked Tundor. You are claiming Zinariya is at least partially your daughter after all. Michelle here obviously wants to take things further in that direction."


    "On that point I must disagree." said Candasar. "Zinariya''s not your daughter Lothinar, in any way that actually matters, regardless of what you may be thinking. You providing additional magical power does not mean she is biologically yours. She is completely Tundor''s and mine. That doesn''t mean that I would be ok with the rest of this though. She is just a child."


    "From my perspective, so is Michelle." said Lothinar. "She''s barely a human adult. That''s one of the reasons that I never took advantage of her or this situation."


    Michelle stomped her foot.


    "I''m not a child. I''m of legal age in Silvantra."


    "I think the foot stomping hurts your argument" said Ardwynn. "Look, I am obviously very interested in the outcome of this conversation, but I need to go feed the baby. Perhaps first, you should go let Vanquish take a look at the Platinum dragon and see how she feels about it. I''ll wait here. I think the threat of someone arriving to murder me is past. "


    "I''ll wait with you." said Siophra. "Plus I get to spend time with my new grand nephew."


    "We should teleport." said Zinariya. "It''s must faster."


    "I''ll stay here with the kids" said Tundor.


    "I''m going to get some sleep." said Candasar. "Zinariya....?"


    "Yes mother."


    "Don''t make any decisions about Michelle until I speak with you again."


    Zinariya just looked at her.


    "I''m serious. You have time. The direction of the rest of your life is in the balance here. Do not rush this."


    "Yes mother." the golden dragon said.


    Lothinar just shook his head. All he had ever wanted was a simple life.


    --------------------------


    The teleport went smoothly. Michelle, and Zinariya were suddenly in the temple. They terrified one of the acolytes in attendance badly enough for him to drop a candlestick, but no one bothered them. Michelle looked slack jawed at the platinum statue in the center of the room. It still stood upon the large dark marble slab that Esmarilla had occupied for those hundreds of years.


    Zinariya had not seen the platinum dragon on display, having left the empty body in the. yard when she occupied Ardwella.


    "Someone did a nice job with her." she observed. "So what do you think?"


    "What did she actually die from?"


    "I removed her brain and spinal column." said Zinariya. "Death was instantaneous."


    "That''s going to be a problem then." said Vanquish who was now back in control. "I don''t actually have one of my own, like you do."


    "Then we need a white dragon." said Zinariya with a grin. "They can probably heal you right up! I know just where to find one!"


    "I''m worried." Vanquish suddenly said. "What if Vanador doesn''t accept me in this new body?"


    "Love will find a way." said Zinariya.


    "Love obviously hasn''t had much success so far." said Vanquish.


    For once Michelle seemed to agree.


    -------------------------------------

 VOLUME 2 chapter 25: Fateful Decisions

    *******************************


    CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE


    *******************************


    Ardwella looked at the front door of her family home. The last few weeks had been filled with the worst sort of behavior from her. The mindset she had assumed to become a killer had made her extremely successful at the task, but had done other harm as well. She had turned off her conscience. While in that state she had schemed to seduce Cantrell, her nieces husband. She felt sick to her stomach and simultaneously grateful that Cantrell had been a better man than most. He had resisted her shameless advances at every turn. She actually owed him a great debt of gratitude. He had hurt her pride but probably saved her relationship with Albarad. At least she could honestly say that nothing had happened between them. She didn¡¯t really deserve to come home to him, but she was ready to try. She took a deep breath and turned the doorknob.


    In the front room she spotted her sister Muina. She was sitting in an old brown rocking chair. She was leaning back with a sleeping baby propped over her shoulder. An empty feeding bottle sat on the side table. The baby seemed to be sleeping. Muina¡¯s blue eyes were slitted but flew wide when she saw Ardwella standing in the hallway.


    Muina gracefully rose to her feet, smiled and silently mouthed the words ¡°She¡¯s finally asleep. Let me try to put her in the crib.¡±


    Ardwella resisted the impulse to take the baby from her as she walked past and down the other hallway. She had washed up after this morning¡¯s round of assassinations but still somehow felt that her hands were still covered in blood. Muina soon returned and softly closed the door to the baby¡¯s room behind her as she did. Muina had obviously not lost the vital skills of motherhood in the long gap between the birth of her twins and now. Her sister gestured that they move a little farther from the bedroom door before speaking softly.


    ¡±Charity is fine.¡± Her eyes searched Ardwella¡¯s soul. ¡°How are you sister?¡±


    ¡±Well enough I suppose¡± she answered.


    ¡±You look great! Amazing in fact!¡± Muina suddenly bit her lip. ¡°You actually look like you did when we were just getting started with all of this terrible business. What is your apparent age, about twenty?¡±


    ¡±I think so, yes. Zinariya did some work on me.¡±


    ¡±Maybe I should ask for a turn!¡± Said Muina with some jealousy. ¡°Siophra looks great too!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t even say that Muina. The price for looking like this was far too high. I¡¯ve done terrible things.¡±


    ¡±Oh, that reminds me!¡± Muina said suddenly and in regular voice, but then quickly dropped into a whisper. ¡°Heirwynn and her dragons accidentally stumbled over a Capitol plot to kill dragons here in Delora. The Night and Snow managed to kill three of Argent¡¯s daughters somehow.¡±


    ¡±They were here? In Delora Natine?¡±


    ¡±Yes. They managed to set up some kind of big crossbow thingy on a rooftop. The town guard have it dismantled now but they said it could have easily killed a dragon as big as Vanquish.¡±


    ¡±If they were here, there might be others! I need to go!¡±


    ¡°But you just got back!¡±


    ¡±I¡¯ll be back soon, I promise!¡±


    Muina scowled. ¡±That¡¯s what you said the last time.¡±


    ¡°Where is Albarad right now? I might need some help with this.¡±


    ¡±He¡¯s helping Heirwyn clean her apartment. She was collecting the last of her things from there when she found the¡­.¡±


    ¡±No time! Thanks Muina. I really will be right back!¡±


    She dashed for the barn She needed a horse. Albarad always had an extra horse or two. She prepared to flip the switch in her mind that would allow her to kill again. She suddenly stopped. She found herself turning around. Looking back at the house she saw Muina staring at her from the porch. Her sister smiled hopefully at her. Ardwella sighed and walked slowly back to her, though her pulse was racing.


    "What am I doing?" she asked.


    "Your doing what you always do. Trying to save everyone." said her her sister.


    "Don''t you think it''s time that I gave that job to someone else.?" she asked seriously.


    "I''ve actually thought that for a long time. You have a daughter to raise."


    "Yes I do." said Ardwella. She walked back into the house. Even thought they were not actually dirty, she did wash her hands several times before picking up the baby. Ardwella held the still sleeping baby to her breast.


    "How could I ever have left her?" she asked herself.


    Muina just watched her. She thought that it was probably going to take some time before Ardwella''s heart actually came home. She was wrong.


    When Charity finally awoke, she did seem to notice the difference. She clung tightly to her mother. Muina tried her best not to be jealous. This was the way it should be. She would have her own baby soon enough.


    ---------------------------------------


    Heirwynn and Albarad were cleaning up the blood and mess that had been left behind when Night-Sky had shredded the elves in her apartment. They had been at it all day. Arbarad was currently up on a ladder and had just finished pulling a crossbow bolt out of a ceiling beam.


    "I''ve got some wood putty back home that should fix this right up." he said. "I''m not sure if the color is a perfect match though."


    "Just leave it. I bet the landlord won¡¯t even notice. Nobody ever looks up at the ceiling anyway.." said Heirwynn. "I appreciate that you are willing to remove all evidence of the attack but i¡¯m not going to be living here anymore. I won¡¯t be haunted by that reminder.¡±


    ¡±She¡¯s already lost her brother and now this happens.¡± Thought Albarad silently.


    "How are you actually doing?" Albarad asked. He was on the top of the ladder and looking down at her with a concerned look on his face."


    "I don''t know." she admitted. "it feels surreal. I should probably be dead. That bolt would have killed me if Night hadn''t surprised them from above."


    "I''m not sure that was a wise move actually." said Albarad. "That could have gone either way."


    "What do you mean?" asked Night snippily. He was lying on a clean part of the floor well out of the blood splatter zone. "It worked didn''t it?"


    "Yes, but you left Heirwynn and your sister Snow directly in the path of that crossbow. If she hadn''t pulled her shot high...."


    "I think you are forgetting about our healing abilities." Night said brusquely.


    "And what if that bolt had gone through an important part of your sister? How much healing can you do yourself without her? asked Albarad.


    The black dragon looked at the floor.


    "None." He admitted, somewhat embarrassed.


    Heirwynn let him off the hook. "You were very brave, Night-Sky, as were you Snow." she said. "Let''s just hope we don''t find ourselves in that kind of situation again."


    "Not much chance of that." said Night-Sky. The city guards have been all over this town. The threat is over."


    "Don''t ever say something like that!" hissed Albarad. "Your tempting fate!"


    "I think that fate is afraid of dragons, even young ones." said night sky haughtily.


    Albarad just shook his head. He knew far better. Fate had a way of showing the arrogant who was actually in charge. He climbed down from the ladder and filled a mop bucket with soapy water. The city guard had removed the bodies. The one Snow had killed had killed by breaking her neck had been intact, but the two Night had slain had been messily ripped apart. Albarad was afraid the blood on the floor was a stain that would never come out. After scrubbing a while, he was sure. It would be a shame to cover these beautiful hardwood floors with a carpet, but he might not have a choice. He suddenly remembered a nice area rug that Ardwella had changed out for a newer one in her office. The old one was still in decent shape and rolled up somewhere in one of the storage closets. It would probably fit in Heirwynn''s apartment. It was also large enough to hide the blood stains.


    "I''ll be back in a few!" he said heading out the front door. "I''m going over to the temple to pick up something."


    "While you''re gone I''ll finish boxing up the last of my things. Then I just need to return the keys and we can head home."


    "Can I come with you Albarad?" asked Night-Sky.


    "I thought walking through the temple still bothered you. Looking at the body of Platinum just standing there and all that." said Albarad.


    "It''s fine, I know that she can''t force me to do anything anymore, and every time I see her, it gets a little easier." said the dragon.


    "Ok. Come along then. You can help me carry the carpet."


    "I''m not going to end up with carpet fibers in my teeth am I?"


    "You might, Night-Sky. But you made the mess in the first place, remember."


    "I suppose your right." sighed Night. "If I was still Enderline''s dragon he probably wouldn''t make me carry carpet."


    Albarad looked at him in disbelief. "I think you had better make up your mind about what you actually want out of life." he said.


    Night-Sky grinned mischievously. "I''m still young. I''ve got plenty of time."


    "That''s what Platinum probably believed," thought Albarad.


    --------------------------------------------------------


    Starett blinked and focused. He didn''t recognize the face. An older female elf was pointing at him. She had a glowing blue ring on her finger. He drew a breath but his lungs felt tingly. He jumped up and tried to run but his limbs didn''t seem to be working very well at the moment.


    "Hold on!" The female elf shouted in a commanding voice. "You''re not under attack. At least at the moment."


    He slowly got to his feet and forced himself to remain calm and still.


    "I thought we weren''t going to wake the human priest." came another voice from behind him and off to his right. "We don''t know where his loyalties really lie."


    "We discussed this, Preen, If he''s been kept frozen in here with all the others, I suspect he was the human priest that father had struck a deal with." said the first elf.


    "Frozen?" he thought. A few moments ago he was in a confrontation with Ardwella. She had confronted him over turning traitor to the dragon''s cause. Argent and his troops were on their way to exterminate them. He needed to get out of here!


    "A deal he might have struck with our father is not going to be much help at this point, Jundahryn."


    "No but I overheard father talking about secret passageways. If he is that priest he might know how to access them."


    Come take the ring." the other one said. "My magic is low and we need to wake a few more of our soldiers. Then we can go eat some more and recharge."


    Starett finally finished looking around the room. It had been his office, but things had changed. There was a photograph of Albarad and a boy sitting on the desk. The boy looked like a much younger Lothinar. So, it was Ardwella''s office now. She must have taken over some roll in the temple. It looked like she was probably in charge now. She had obviously frozen him. He had no idea how much time had actually passed or what the current state of the war was. Starett recognized from his studies of Elvish history, the names he had heard spoken as those belonging to two of Argent''s daughters. He needed to tread carefully.


    The other female had taken the ring and entered one of the larger storage closets. She emerged a minute later with two large male elves dressed in fighting leathers. They were rubbing their arms and shaking out their legs as if they were feeling the same strange tingle from being frozen as he did. They scowled at him as they passed but did not speak. They followed Preen and the three of them exited through the door that would take them into the main temple area.


    The remaining elf turned her attention back to him.


    "So are you the dragon priest?" she asked him.


    He nodded. "Yes, and you must be one of Argent''s daughters."


    "I am." she replied. "My name is Jundahryn. You will either help us or die!"


    "I''ll obviously help" he stammered.


    "Good boy." she smiled. "If you are lucky you won''t even be too late for the barbecue. We''re having dragon!" He followed as she exited the office and entered the main sanctuary chamber. What Starrett saw there left him speechless. On a raised structure of loose brickwork a grate had been laid. A fire was crackling low. On the grate were sizzling several thick steaks and other cuts of meat. Off to the side was a dead silver colored dragon. It was obvious that her body had been butchered.


    "There were no eggs in the city." said Jundahryn. But we discovered that there is still a great deal of magic to be had by eating young dragon. Especially this one for some reason."


    "She must have been a platinum" Starett said. He couldn''t keep some sorrow from creeping into his voice. "They are known to be quite powerful. How did you kill her?"


    "That''s the funny part. Someone had just left her there, posed of all things. We used the ring''s power to unfreeze her and she just dropped down to the ground. She was already dead."


    "I really can''t imagine why she was left here." said Starett truthfully. "Are any of the temple workers around to ask how that happened?"


    "Oh, we had to kill them. All of them. They were not nearly as cooperative as you." said Jundahryn. "Now don''t make me regret saying that," she smiled at him. "Do you want a steak? They are actually pretty good."


    That was a shock. He felt himself throw up a little bit. He quickly swallowed it, hoping she didn''t notice.


    "Ardwella and her family must all be dead." thought Starrett.


    "Steak?" she asked again.


    This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.


    "Humans don''t really have magic." he finally answered. "I don''t think eating dragon would do the same thing for me as it does for you. It would be a pity to waste the magical flesh on me." He tried not to shudder while answering.


    "We have already taken this temple. Troops loyal to my father''s rule are being released from their captivity. We are using the dragon flesh to top up our magic and that of our troops. Very soon we will take the rest of the town. And after that, the dairy. That''s where the last of the baby dragons are. According to the now dead temple workers, there are actually not many. All the older dragons that we were warned about have mysteriously left.


    "What about King Enderline and his troops?" asked Starett.


    "They have returned to their boats and set sail. The human king has given up the city. " she said.


    "The war ended up just as I thought it would." thought Starett to himself. "It''s lucky for me that I picked the right side."


    ------------------------


    Lothinar was talking to Firestorm. It was one of those rare moments when they were alone. Zinariya and Vanquish had teleported away to inspect the platinum dragon''s body and discuss their own plans. Ardwynn was, at last, asleep with the baby in the remaining intact bedroom, Candasar and her other children had retired to the barn and Tundor was snoring in the pasture. The reverberations shook the window panes. Lothinar noticed that there seemed to be a place squished into the grass that was just his size.


    Lothinar was too keyed up to sleep and with his strange new magical energy flowing through him, he really didn''t feel the need to. Because only Firestorm was left awake, The red dragon, had decided to keep him company and somehow managed to squeeze into the living room with him. She took up almost all of the floor. The way she was growing it wouldn''t be long until she would have to remain outside of human or elvish dwellings.


    "I can''t believe I missed my father" she said.


    "He wasn''t behaving very well at all." replied Lothinar. "I tried to explain to him that Ardwynn had been changed. No, scratch that. I couldn''t even get him to stop attacking long enough to listen."


    "Maybe if I had been there...." said Firestorm. "Instead of sleeping."


    ""Everyone else was knocked out. You probably were too." said Lothinar.


    "I suppose that''s a difficult distinction to make." said Firestorm, "Being knocked our or just sleeping, but I woke up feeling quite refreshed and invigorated. I wasn''t suffering from the slight headache and nausea that the others seem to be feeling. Right now I can feel some sort of power coming out of you and it''s soaking directly into me."


    "That''s very interesting." said Lothinar. "Zinariya said she felt something like that herself."


    "I think I''m growing too." said Firestorm. "Somewhat quickly in fact. What''s even weirder is that I''m not even hungry."


    "Hmm." he said. "Let me try something. What do you think about this?"


    Lothinar tried to cut back on the magical power that was flowing out of him but was only somewhat successful. There was too much power to shut off entirely.


    "Did you turn it down? I can feel that." said Firestorm. "It''s like the magical wind went from a gale to a breeze. That''s actually a better amount for just sitting around. It''s easier to absorb. I hope you can turn it up again when I need to use a lot of magic or something."


    "Sure," said Lothinar. "Just let me know."


    Lothinar suddenly remembered something. "You know, back when I first healed you in Aleena''s nest."


    "When we became bonded." added Firestorm.


    "Yes, that too. When we met I sent you a huge blast of magical power. It knocked me out. It was just before Ronni brought me up here to this cabin. Sometime after that you said that you thought I gave you part of my soul." said Lothinar.


    "Yes. I remember that." said Firestorm. "I picked up quite a vocabulary at the time as well."


    "I''m just wondering if you, like Zinariya somehow are specially attuned to my my magic. "


    "Your just noticing this now Lothinar? Of course I am! Sheesh! I''ve been trying to bring this up for ages. I''m way more similar to you magically than Candasar is! Don''t you remember how I sensed you from far away, followed after you and then tracked you down up here in the mountains?"


    "Is that magical connection what allowed you to do that when Candasar couldn''t?"


    "Of course! You can be pretty dense sometimes Lothinar."


    The red dragon was now jumping up and down. She wasn''t as little as she used to be and Lothinar was afraid she was going to break through the floorboards. At that point he would probably just have to burn Ronni''s house to the ground and start over.


    "Hey hey! watch the floor!" he implored. Firestorm at least stopped hopping.


    "Does this mean we can renegotiate the pecking order? Can I be first dragon bond?"


    "Um, Well, Candasar was first after all."


    "Ah Ha! There is a pecking order! Candasar denied that there even was one! I sometimes feel pecked Lothinar!"


    "I doubt it actually means anything." said Lothinar. "I love you both."


    "Yes, but who had to carry the scared to fly strangling my neck with her legs Vanquish all the way back here while Candasar got to carry you and the easy peasey sleeping Ardwynn?"


    "That situation was not about who was closer to me and you know it. I was too heavy for you at the time. Plus Candasar ended up having to fight rocs" he said.


    "We both fought the rocs, Lothinar."


    "Wow! I had no idea that that frustrated you so much." he finally said.


    "I just want to be special to you." said Firestorm.


    "Well, now I certainly have been reminded how extremely special you really are. You have a very direct connection to my magic. You will probably be outgrowing Candasar for size in no time. Then I promise to ride you."


    The red dragon smiled at that, then seemed to have another thought.


    "Only I don''t want to get as big as Tundor!" Please don''t let that happen to me! Also I''ve got to take this growth slow. Thanks for reducing the power output! I don''t want to get stretch marks."


    Lothinar laughed.


    Then he added, "I don''t think dragons get stretch marks."


    Firestorm grimaced. "I saw some of those on Ardwynns stomach. I don''t want to take a chance."


    "Do you want me to completely stop sending you magical power?"


    Firestorm seemed to be considering this.


    "No, this amount is fine. I want to be at least as big as Candasar, but let''s not startle anyone. Tundor''s new size is quite confusing and I don''t want Candasar to think that I have any designs on her male. Because I don''t!"


    "That never crossed my mind, Firestorm." said Lothinar.


    "Lets hope it never occurs to her either."


    "You know that I heard all of that!" came Candasar''s thoughts through the bond.


    "Oops! I thought you were finally asleep." said Firestorm.


    "I''m quite sure that you did." said Candasar.


    "Do you think she''s mad?" asked Firestorm.


    "She will get over it." said Lothinar. "Probably."


    "I''m kind of looking forward to wrestling with her." said Firestorm.


    "I''ve had a lot of experience fighting." said Candasar. "I was fighting males bigger than I was long before you were born."


    "I can vouch for that." said Lothinar. "She''s terribly ferocious."


    They both could feel Candasar laughing at that.


    A few more minutes past. Finally Firestorm spoke again. She was trying to whisper and she had turned off her telepathic link.


    "So, I think Candasar''s finally really asleep."


    Lothinar reached out a tendril of magic. He confirmed that Candasar at last finally was. She was dreaming about Tundor. Lothinar quickly drew back his thoughts. Candasar could have some interesting dreams. They often had to do with making more children. He respected her privacy.


    "Was there something else you wanted to talk about?" he asked Firestorm.


    "Yes, I know that I joke around a lot," she began. "But there is one thing I really do want to talk about."


    Lothinar''s pleasant smile grew serious.


    "What is it." he asked.


    "Do you think Zinariya is going to try to join our bonded group? I think she wants to. She obviously knows about your magic and what it can do for her."


    Lothinar drew a breath.


    "Zinariya is a puzzle. I''m actually more concerned with her wanting to live life as an elf or even a human. Not only that but she''s Candasar''s daughter. That could really make our relationship complicated. Especially if she ends up with Michelle as a host."


    "I see several problems here." said Firestorm. "I just want to be sure that you see them too."


    "Why don''''t we compare notes?" Lothinar chuckled.


    "Ok, the first, and largest is obviously Zinariya. She is powerful, but also young and impulsive."


    "Coming from you...."


    "I know, but hear me out."


    "I know that, like me, she somehow absorbed a lot of your magic. I find that odd, because she doesn''t really act that much like you at all."


    "What do you mean specifically?"


    "She has taken liberties with others. It seems to me like she takes what she wants. She has also done a lot of killing already."


    "She obviously had a terrible start to life." said Lothinar in her defense.


    "She''s Candasar and Tundor''s daughter, yes, and that makes her family." continued FIrestorm. "But you need to decide if you can actually handle a personality like that as a bond."


    "Three bonds sounds pretty unlikely."


    "So was two, but here we are. Anyway, be ready for Zinariya to push for that. You should probably think about what you want to do. before she asks."


    Lothinar nodded. "Ok, what''s next?"


    "What are you going to do about Michelle if Vanquish decides to become a dragon again? Michelle would be back to just being human and it will be much harder to put off a physical relationship. We''ve seen her without Vanquish intervening before. She was almost unstoppable."


    "Michelle has earned her place here with us, if she wants it." said Lothinar firmly. "I only hope for her sake that she''s not selling herself short and giving up too many opportunities to stay here."


    "Even though I think I know the answer," began Firestorm, "I need to ask the question. What do you want Lothinar? Do you think you could grow to love her and make her a real part of your life?"


    Lothinar winced. "I don''t know Firestorm."


    "We don''t need another Ronniflass situation. To be honest it''s better for everyone if you end it now. especially if you don''t think it''s going to work out." said the dragon.


    "Do you think that she should do as her father hopes and join with King Enderline?" he asked.


    "I would be very surprised if Vanquish would do that." She replied. "If it''s just Michelle, that might be her best play. We are going to know more when they get back from talking to Vanador."


    "I wonder if he is going to accept her wearing Platinum''s body?" Lothinar asked.


    "I''m more worried about how Vanador is going to react to the death of her first body." said Firestorm.


    "I think that''s why she thought it best to go speak with him as Michelle first, before committing to swap bodies."


    "Would you easily accept someone that claimed to be your mate if they were in another body? I wonder how much sharing a body effects you long term?" wondered Firestorm. "Hosting Vanquish is bound to have had an effect on Michelle. Neither of them will ever be the same."


    "Ardwynn rather presented me with the opposite problem, you know." said Lothinar. "I''m still grappling with the ramifications of that."


    "At least she''s not evil anymore." asserted Firestorm.


    "I wonder how the parts of Ardwynn that died would feel about that statement" he said slowly.


    "You would go back to the way things were?"


    "Not now, no. But who could ever have imagined that such a thing was even possible. All of these things. Sometimes I wonder what will be next? I think Michelle and Vanquish should each do what makes them the most likely to be happy. If Michelle still wants to stay with us then I can accept that. In spite of her words before, I just don''t know if Ardwynn can. I''m certainly not going to rush things either way."


    "You don''t really have one of those highly intense male sex drives do you Lothinar?"


    The elf looked a little surprised that Firestorm had asked the question.


    "I get by" he said. "I''ve had no complaints."


    "That''s not what I''m talking about." she said. She cleared her throat. "What I''ve heard is that some males are fixated on conquest. They are a great deal more aggressive and promiscuous."


    The handsome elf nodded.


    "Yes, but I believe that for me, It''s more about how I feel about the person. It''s the relationship that we have together. I really don''t like hurting people for temporary gratification. That seems quite selfish."


    "That''s rather inspiring." said the red dragon. "If you don''t mind I think I''ll try to live up to that goal in the future myself."


    "Imitation is one of the greatest forms of showing respect." said Lothinar. "I''m honored that you feel that way."


    There was an awkward silence.


    "Well, I had better go outside before I don''t fit through the door." said Firestorm.


    "Don''t worry, you can always go out through the bedroom wall." he reminded her.


    --------------------------


    For some reason Vanador found Mandel annoying. Although he had assumed the roll of presumptive emperor, he had done little personally to deserve the great honor. The title had just been handed to him on a silver platter. The original strategy had been to try and pass him off as a legitimate son of Argent to secure a hereditary route to the throne. Munia had taken great pains to infiltrate Argent''s family with a child that would not carry the evil taint. By now, however, everyone obviously knew he wasn¡¯t a real son or just didn¡¯t feel inspired enough to follow him. The vacuum of decisive and charismatic leadership was clear for all to see. Cantrell had done more to secure an end to the war than the spineless Mandel. Cantrell had courage and integrity. His beloved Mavis was next in line to the throne. Vanador truly believed that she would be a better choice to rule than her indecisive brother.


    Vanador wondered, not for the first time why the elves seemed to require a male to be emperor, His mate Vanquish was clearly the largest and most powerful dragon. If the dragons were to choose a Queen, it most assuredly would be her. He missed her. He hoped that she would return to him soon.


    There was a popping noise and Vanador looked around.


    ¡±Did you hear that?¡± He asked.


    Esmarilla raised her head from where it rested between her front legs and sniffed the air.


    ¡°I smell a dragon, and a human. Both females, I think.¡±


    Mo-Rung who had been lying near her also raised his head. "I definitely smell Zinariya." he said. "And an unknown human."


    He lay back down, still obviously exhausted from his failed battle with Lothinar.


    They heard whispering.


    ¡±Ok I got you here. The rest is up to you!¡±


    Then a second voice, whispering louder.


    ¡±I can¡¯t do this! I¡¯m not ready! Take me back!¡±


    ¡±I used up all my teleportation power for now. You might as well talk to him.¡±


    "You are obviously lying."


    Vanador cleared his throat.


    ¡°There is only one individual that I know of that can actually teleport. Zinariya, is that you?¡± He rumbled.


    A small golden dragon peeked out from behind one of the stalls. The stalls were sized for horses. Vanador wouldn¡¯t fit inside it but a baby dragon certainly would. She blinked at him.


    ¡±Your bigger than I remember.¡±


    ¡±And you¡¯re smaller, and an actual dragon now!¡± Said Vanador with a smile.


    ¡±Where¡¯s Ardwella?¡± Esmarilla suddenly asked. ¡°Did you two separate amicably or did you leave her bleeding in a ditch somewhere?¡±


    Vanador shot his sister a hard look. ¡°I think you should probably start trying to make peace with your old bond. Her efforts of late have been more than helpful.¡±


    Esmarilla nodded. ¡°I¡¯m sorry Zinariya. Thank you for helping Cantrell and Ardwella with that unpleasant task. Is she ok?¡±


    ¡±She¡¯s probably fine. I sent her home. Lothinar got angry and separated us. I¡¯m afraid he wasn¡¯t very happy with me at the time.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s probably for the best. Ardwella becomes a completely different person when she¡¯s killing. Who is that with you?¡± Asked Esmarilla. That¡¯s not Ardwynn is it? She sort of looks like her but she is obviously a human.


    Zinariya looked back over her shoulder into the dark stall.


    ¡°I met someone who is currently in a similar situation as I was, with Ardwella. She found it necessary to use a human body as a host. The host¡¯s name is Michelle. She¡¯s from Silvantra.¡±


    The little gold dragon paused. She coughed. She tried again.


    ¡±This is Michelle! She is From Silvantra!¡± A few more seconds went by. The gold dragon jumped back into the shadows. There was indistinguishable urgent whispering.


    At last a beautiful green eyed girl crept out of the stall and into the light. The little gold dragon sheepishly followed.


    ¡±She¡¯s a little shy.¡± Zinariya said.


    ¡°Hello your Dragon Magesties¡± the human said, her voice quivering slightly.


    ¡°Did I hear you correctly when you claimed that this human girl was in a similar situation as you were with Ardwella?¡± Asked Esmarilla. ¡°You girl, do you have a dragon inside you? If so, it must be quite small or its actual body has died.¡± She snorted in disbelief.


    ¡±Is this some sort of a strange joke Zinariya?¡± Scoffed Vanador. ¡°There are no dragons in Sivantra, at least not yet. Enderline¡¯s ships have barely set sail¡­..¡± His voice trailed off. ¡°No!¡± He roared. ¡°I refuse to believe this!¡±


    ¡±I can fix this Vanador!¡± The human girl yelled. Her eyes were now bright blue. ¡°There is a way for me to be a dragon again!¡±


    ¡°Vanquish?¡± Esmarilla almost choked on the name.


    The pretty blond human just stood there and nodded. A huge tear rolled down her cheek.


    Vanador jumped up and started to run toward the doors.


    ¡±Where are you going?¡± Yelled Esmarilla.


    ¡±I need some air!¡±


    ¡±When a dragon says he needs some air it could mean something totally different¡± observed Zinariya.


    ¡±Have you even flown yet?¡± Asked Esmarilla. ¡°Your still fairly small.¡±


    ¡±No, I¡¯ve just been teleporting everywhere. It seems pretty handy.¡±


    "He doesn''t even want to talk to me." moaned Vanquish.


    "It is a shock." said Esmarilla. "You can''t really blame him."


    "Actually I do." said Vanquish. "But I blame myself more. I guess that answers several questions. It helps make this decision easier."


    "What decision?" asked the black dragon.


    Vanquish looked at Zinariya.


    "I''m staying human." she said. "Your Platinum dragon will remain a beautiful statue."


    Esmarilla finally seemed to catch up.


    "You are Vanquish! You were going to become a dragon again to try and have a life with my brother." she finally said. "Don''t rule out that possibility. Vanador may just need some time."


    "He wouldn''t even speak with me." said Vanquish.


    ¡±He will be back.¡± Said Esmarilla. ¡°He always comes back.¡±


    "And I''ll be gone." she said. "Zinariya. Please take me back. I have some questions that I want to ask Lothinar."


    There was a pop. Esmarilla and Mo-Rung were left in the stable alone.


    "Vanquish is essentially dead!" she said "What little of her remains must be some sort of magical construct."


    "Don''t you think Vanador should have at least listened to her?" asked Mo-Rung. "I think he owes her at least that much."


    "It was devastating news." said Esmarilla. "They had planned for a future together. They had waited so long for that."


    "I have lost several wives." said Mo-Rung. "I feel his dismay and pain."


    Esmarilla scowled and him. "Your recent behavior indicates that such a loss is not easy to forget."


    "He didn''t even ask how she died?" Wouldn''t it be ironic if it was Ardwynn again? How do you think everyone will feel about that?" asked Mo-Rung.


    "I think that you are still overly obsessed with Ardwynn." said Esmarilla. "The odds of that happening are very low."


    "But what if it is her?" he asked.


    "Then for my brother''s sake, I will kill her myself." said Esmarilla.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-

 Volume 2: Chapter 26: The Burning of the Temple

    *****************************


    CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX


    *****************************


    It seemed abnormally quiet on the streets when Albarad and Night-Sky left Heirwynn''s apartment and made their way toward the temple. It was dusk. Perhaps people were at home eating dinner, Albarad thought. It wasn''t until they had almost reached the temple itself, that he saw evidence of the slaughter. There were several dead bodies lying in the street. Albarad froze. He looked around and started backing up. Night-Sky was mumbling something about carpet fibers and wasn''t paying attention. The black dragon walked into the back of him.


    "Hey!" He exclaimed loudly.


    "Fly!" Albarad yelled. "Somethings wrong! Get back to Heirwynn. Warn her! The three of you need to leave this town NOW!"


    The dragon looked at him in surprise.


    Albarad didn''t hesitate. He started running. Night-Sky noticed two dark figures suddenly peel themselves away from the shadows and chase after him. Three more moved to encircle him. They carried long spears. Worse, the spears were crackling with magical energy. Leaping into the evening sky, he felt a sharp pain in his wing. They had thrown a spear! It gave him a little jolt but passed straight through the leathery membrane without impairing function. He quickly dodged as two more spears narrowly missed hitting his body. He yelled in pain but managed to stay airborne. Climbing rapidly up and over the nearest rooftops, he circled around. Blood was flowing from his wound. It hurt and made him angry. All three of his attackers had already thrown their weapons, and Night briefly entertained the idea of dropping from the sky onto his assailants, but then he heard an electrical crackle. In the deepening gloom he could see sparks running down their now empty arms. There was a chance that they might be able to throw lightning. He had thought that only the egg eaters could do that! Where had these magically powerful soldiers come from? Climbing higher he looked around. By now he had completely lost sight of Albarad. He hoped the elf was alright! He was certainly a fast runner. Remembering what Albarad had said, he renewed his course for Heirwynn''s apartment.


    He spotted the rooftop that had previously held the ballistae. He knew it was Heirwynn''s apartment. He had landed on that roof before. Crashing down hard he shattered the outer rooftop door and charged down the stairs. To his dismay, Snow and Heirwynn were gone. There were signs of a struggle. The water of the mop bucket had been spilled and there was fresh blood on the floor. It smelled human. It was Heirwynn¡¯s!


    ----------------------


    Starett watched in dismay as the elven soldier threw the young woman to the floor in front of the emperor¡¯s daughter, Preen. The girl had been roughly handled. She had a bloody lip and was holding her own arm with the opposite hand to slow the flow of blood from a wound to her upper arm. Her face, though, still looked defiant. Being captured and violently pushed to the ground obviously hadn¡¯t broken her spirit. For some reason the girl looked familiar.


    ¡°We performed another sweep as you instructed My Lady, and found these two. The human actually put up more of a fight than the dragon.¡± Said the soldier.


    "How is that possible?" asked the elven princess.


    "All we had to do is rough her up a bit and then threaten to do worse." said the soldier. "The dragon was suddenly eager to comply."


    "That is useful information" said Preen. "You are dismissed."


    The soldier seemed to hesitate, then cast his eyes downward. "We live to serve." he uttered rotely. He saluted, then turned away.


    Suddenly Starett realized who the girl was. He had seen her at the funeral service for the guard that had been killed. What was his name? Harvey! This was Harvey¡¯s little sister! What was she doing here, and with a dragon?


    She seemed to recognize the priest as well, and her face reacted with surprise and then disgust as she realized that he wasn¡¯t also a prisoner of the elves. While Starett was watching her, the cut on her lip closed. The bleeding from her arm also stopped. Perhaps it was the look of relief on Heirwynn¡¯s face but the obvious healing drew Preen''s attention as well.


    "Oh ho!" she cackled. "Did. you see that? The white dragon just healed the human girl! That makes this a pair we can actually use! Bring one of our wounded over here. NOW!" she snapped at one of the male elves holding a black spear.


    "A minute or so later there was a commotion and a rudimentary stretcher was brought over from the other side of the room. On it was an elf. He was obviously a fighter, and he was in bad shape. He was missing an eye and had bandages wrapped around his torso. His breathing was rapid and shallow.


    The elven princess stared at the dragon. "Heal him!" she demanded.


    The white dragon looked at Heirwynn. Nobody missed the almost imperceptible shake of the girl¡¯s head.


    Preen struck the girl with a viscous slap. It hit her directly in the face. Starrett wasn''t sure but it looked like the blow may have broken her nose. Blood began flowing again. Not surprisingly, it immediately stopped.


    "I said heal him!" she demanded again. She gestured to one of the soldiers who moved up. He pointed his spear at the dragon. This time the girl nodded slightly. The elf on the stretcher let out a sigh and then seemed to relax. Starrett watched in amazement as the ruined eye began to twitch and squirm. About a minute later the elf sat up. He looked at the white dragon in amazement. He now had both eyes.


    "Bring another!" Preen yelled.


    "You can kill us, but that''s all the magic she has right now." said Heirwynn. "She usually works as a pair with her brother. He''s a black...."


    "Insolence!" screamed Preen. She moved to strike Heirwynn again but somehow Starrett found himself in her way. She stopped, but glared at him.


    "She speaks the truth!" he said softly, trying to sound calm and yet wondering at the same moment, what had caused him to become so suicidal.


    Preen lowered her hand. She scowled at the priest.


    "So, you are an expert on dragon healing powers now?" she asked.


    "No," he said meekly, "but before I was frozen, we had a large pair of dragons at the temple. They were also a black and white. They always hatch as a pair. The white one does the healing but the black one supplies most of the power."


    Preen looked at him. She seemed to be evaluating his loyalty. "Where is this black dragon?" Preen asked, turning to her men.


    One of them shrugged. There were a few moments of silence. Preen began to frown in earnest. It wasn''t a pretty sight.


    "He managed to avoid capture, My Lady." Another soldier finally spoke up. "We put a spear through his wing but he still managed to fly away."


    "Well isn''t that incompetent of you" she smirked. "I give you one job and you manage to screw it up!"


    "He had someone with him that distracted us and it split our forces." said the elf, trying to defend himself. Starrett suspected that, from the look on his face, he was afraid of her.


    That information was obviously very important to Heirwynn. She began to fret.


    "The white can obviously do at least some healing without the black. How do we replenish her magical energy reserves? Preen tried to bite back a laugh. I doubt very much she would be willing to eat dragon steak.


    Heirwynn visibly paled and the white dragon looked more than disgusted.


    "They eat cows mostly." offered Starett.


    Preen laughed again. It was more of a cackle, really. "More dragon meat for us then. We will need all of the magical recharge to go back on the attack. Those that need healing will have to wait!"


    Preen pointed her finger at Heirwynn. "It''s lucky for your dragon that we may have need of her or we would put her on the barbecue right now." She started to walk away. "Chain her to the alter!" she commanded her soldiers.


    "Cows!" She mumbled, shaking her head. "How domesticated these dragons have become! Another reason the attack on the dairy can''t wait any longer." said Preen, still chuckling.


    "Jundryn!" Preen shouted across the temple floor towards her sister. "Gather the men and make your preparations. We attack in an hour!"


    Starrett breathed a sigh of relief. He tried to meet the girls eyes and smile, but she turned away. That was disappointing. She was rather pretty. He chided himself. What did he expect? After all, he thought, I am one of the bad guys now. I had better get used to it."


    --------------------------


    Lothinar had just closed his eyes when he heard a couple of small pops. He cracked one open. Michelle and Zinariya were standing in his bedroom. Michelle was softly crying.


    "Uh-oh!" thought Lothinar. He didn¡¯t want to wake Ardwynn or the baby, so he slowly slid out of bed. He was only wearing his undershorts so he slipped his head through the hole in the bottom of a shirt. He put his arms through and pointed his finger toward the bedroom door indicating that they needed to move into the front room. He had just come from there during his talk with Firestorm. He plopped himself into a chair that was still warm from his own backside.


    "No sleep tonight." he thought.


    Zinariya looked embarrassed. She kept looking at Michelle as if expecting her to explain their sudden presence but Michelle didn''t speak. She looked inconsolable. Finally it was Lothinar who broke the silence.


    "Come here" he said, holding out his arms.


    Michelle walked slowly forward and then tumbled forward into him. He gently caught her.


    "H-he w-wouldn''t e-ven t-talk to m-me!" she stuttered.


    Lothinar didn''t say anything. He just held her and waited. He had seen that Michelle''s eyes were blue so he had a good idea what he was dealing with.


    "I think your dragon boyfriend, Vanador is a jerk" said Zinariya. "He was quite mean to me when I was Siophra."


    Michelle turned her head to glare at her.


    "He''s not!" she retorted. "It''s me! It''s was just too much to ask. It''s all my fault!"


    "Why is it YOUR fault?" asked Zinariya.


    "Because I knew!" she said angrily. "I knew about his past. I knew about his mother. I know how sensitive he is. Especially about something like this."


    "Perhaps you should tell me what happened" said Lothinar. "If you want to." He added.


    Instead of answering him, she turned to Zinariya and frowned. ¡°You think that you are so special, but you''re not the first Golden Dragon I¡¯ve met." she spat. "And I''m not surprised that you prefer being an elf. Shape shifting from dragon to elf has been done before!"


    "Shape shifting? Not just borrowing a body?" asked the golden dragon, obviously intrigued.


    "I''ll explain later. I''m sure that you will find it fascinating." said the girl in Lothinar''s arms. She stood a bit stronger and seemed to have recovered a bit from her emotional tirade. She looked up into Lothinar''s eyes.


    "We need to have a talk, Lothinar"


    Her eyes had shifted back to green. She was obviously rapidly flip-flopping between the human and dragon personalities. The Vanquish part of her had retreated again. Lothinar could only assume the ancient blue dragon part was quietly licking her emotional wounds.


    "Vanquish has given up on a life with Vanador." said Michelle. "Finally she has actually bonded with me. Now we need to talk about us!"


    "You weren''t bonded before?" asked Zinariya with surprise.


    Michelle looked annoyed at yet another interruption by the young dragon.


    "Vanquish has now made a permanent commitment. Previously I was inhabited, not bonded. You, of all people should be able to understand that! Now I am both." she said definitively. "Vanquish and I can not be separated except by death."


    Lothinar was a little surprised by the news himself, but he nodded. Then he proceeded cautiously. ¡°Then the effect of my pheromones should be fading.¡±


    ¡°The effects have stopped, almost immediately in fact." Michelle confirmed. ¡°Yet despite that, and the fact that Vanquish is hesitant, I still find myself drawn to you.¡±


    ¡±I¡¯m flattered.¡± He managed to say.


    Michelle laughed, the sound was low and sweet. ¡°I am, however, not quite so insistent that we immediately consummate our growing relationship with a sexual act.¡±


    Lothinar looked relieved. ¡±I¡¯m not saying no.¡± He said, meeting her eyes. ¡°I just think it¡¯s wiser to take some time. I rushed into things with Ardwynn and that certainly didn¡¯t go as expected.¡±


    ¡±Vanquish agrees.¡± Said Michelle, nodding. ¡°She needs some time as well.¡±


    ¡±Are you building a harem Lothinar?¡± Asked Zinariya, daring to interrupt again.


    ¡±Definitely not!¡± He snapped back.


    ¡±Ok, But if you were, would it help to look like Ardwynn and Michelle? They obviously look quite a bit¡­.¡±


    Suddenly they heard two thumps and the sounds of shouting in the yard. Lothinar untangled himself from Michelle, who unsurprisingly didn''t want to let go, then turned and went to the door. He opened it.


    ---------------------------


    "We need to send someone to get help." said Cenderick grimly. Even from the dairy they could hear the screams and sounds of battle from inside the town of Delora Natine. The city guard had obviously not fared well against the elvish military fighters. He looked at his friend Amstell.


    "Any volunteers?" he asked


    "I''ll go said Cinnabar."


    "Where did all these armed elves come from?" hissed Cenderick.


    "I think," said Ronni with sudden dread, "that these are the same fighters that Ardwella froze, and was storing in her closet."


    "She did what?" he asked aghast.


    You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    "They are the ones that Enderline captured. They are Argent''s personal troops. The ones that didn''t accept the armistice."


    "I thought that all the combatants were killed." argued Cenderick.


    "Many were." she said. "But not these. Ardwella froze them with her blue sword."


    "They obviously didn''t stay frozen!"


    "Someone has found where they were being kept and had the ability to defeat Ardwella''s spell." she reasoned. "It''s the only explanation that makes sense."


    Cenderick started shaking his head.


    "How many?" he finally asked.


    "About a hundred, I believe." she said.


    "Ok, Someone is not going for help. We are all going!" he said decisively. "We can''t stay here!"


    He looked at their grim faces.


    "What a time for both Tundor and Mo-Rung to be gone." said Ronniflass.


    An elf stumbled out of the darkness. He was clearly wounded. Dark blood had soaked through his tunic. Amstell quickly had his bow out and pointed an arrow at him. Cenderick quickly pushed his arm down,


    ¡±What is it with you always trying to shoot our own people?¡± He asked angrily. ¡°That¡¯s Lothinar¡¯s father Albarad!¡±


    ¡±Oops! Sorry!¡± The ranger whispered apologetically.


    Albarad made his way into the lantern light before collapsing to the ground. His face was drawn with pain. Blood welled from several deep spear wounds. There was a fluttering of leathery wings and a black dragon landed hard next to him.


    ¡±I Found you!¡± Night-Sky said loudly.


    ¡°What are you still doing here?¡± Asked Albarad with some anger. You were supposed to help get Heirwyn and your sister out of Delora! That''s why I drew them away!"


    "You still left me three." argued the dragon. "I almost didn''t make it myself."


    "There are just too many of them" Albarad sighed but it came out more like a gurgle. He looked down at his still bleeding wounds.


    ¡±I went back to the apartment but they were gone." said Night. "I¡¯m afraid they were taken.¡±


    ¡±Heirwynn and snow have been captured?¡± Gasped Ronniflass.


    Albarad struggled to his feet and turned to go back towards the town.


    ¡±Hey there!¡± Cenderick shouted as he grabbed the swaying elf. ¡°You¡¯re in no condition to go back there. Your full of holes! The rest of us were just leaving!¡±


    ¡±Heal me!¡± Albarad shouted at Night- Sky.


    ¡±You know that without my sister I can¡¯t do that. I¡¯m, more or less just a magical power source.¡±


    ¡±I can heal myself¡± yelled the elf angrily. ¡°That¡¯s how I''m still alive. But I¡¯m used up. Depleted. My Magic¡¯s all gone.¡±


    ¡±There is a way.¡± Said the dragon, ¡°but you won¡¯t like it.¡±


    ¡±Heirwynn¡¯s life¡­¡± he stammered. ¡°Snow." He glared at the black dragon.


    "Do it!" said Albarad, with resignation.


    The wounded elf fell silent as both he and the black dragon began to glow. In less than a minute it was done. Albarad¡¯s wounds closed and his deathly parlor faded. For a moment he looked almost appreciatively at the black dragon. Then he glowered again. The dragon shrunk back.


    ¡°You are the last person I ever expected to bond with." said Night-Sky. ¡°I know how you feel about it." Then he stopped. "What¡¯s this?" he asked somewhat softly. Oh Albarad. Is this the secret you were hiding?¡±


    ¡±It would definitely not be helpful for you to bring that up right now, Night.¡± Said Albarad stiffly.


    As if to distract him, Albarad raised his hand and pointed at Night¡¯s wing. Energy flowed and the bleeding hole left by the spear¡¯s passage quickly closed.


    Cenderick, Amstell and Ronni were staring at the pair. They seemed thunderstruck.


    "You seem fairly adept at using magic." Amstell observed. "I guess Lothinar didn''t just get that from his mother."


    Albarad nodded distractedly. He was obviously thinking.


    ¡±What is your plan Albarad?¡± Asked Ronniflass ¡°Are you two going back to get Heirwynn and Snow?¡±


    ¡±We are.¡± Said Night-Sky and Albarad simultaneously. Then Night-Sky laughed. ¡°Ardwella will never believe this!¡±


    Albarad frowned again. "Do not speak of it." he commanded, but his voice held a hint of something else. Suddenly Cendrick recognized it. It was embarrassment."


    "But you may have more of a hereditary right to rule the Elven Kingdom than anyone from Argent''s line!" proclaimed the dragon.


    "My family gave that all up a very long time ago!" countered the elf. "Please! It''s not important now."


    "Ardewella said you hated anything with Mung-Beans in it and I finally understand why!" crowed the dragon


    Finally Amstell couldn''t take it anymore. "For crying out loud Night-Sky. We want to know too!"


    "I shouldn''t" said the dragon. Then he smiled. Cenderick could tell he was going to do it anyway.


    Albarad shrugged. "Go ahead. When two people know a secret it isn''t going to stay one much longer."


    Night-Sky grinned.


    "This mild mannered elf that has been running around in Ardwella''s shadow all these years, is actually from the original royal house"


    "Original house? Cenderick asked. "I''ve never been a good student of history like Cantrell. "What does that even mean? Is he related to Argent? He suddenly seemed nervous.


    "Relax" smiled Night-Sky. "Not by blood. He has no taint. None whatsoever. I would have immediately smelled that. Argent married in. He was a bit of a usurper actually. The historical royal connection is from the other side. Argent''s mother''s side. In some ways Albarad''s claim to the throne is a better one than Mandel''s. Well obviously. Wait, that means Mandel and Mavis, being his children are.... Well, anyway.... Albarad is closer to the true royal bloodline....His grandfather abdicated, but then¡­. This is crazy¡­his sister the princess was actually the closest blood relative but because she was female..."


    "You just got all of this information when you bonded with him didn''t you?" asked Ronniflass.


    "Yes. It is quite fascinating....And very complicated." said Night-Sky."


    "We don''t have time for this!" growled Albarad. "Your own sister Snow may be killed any minute. They are eating Platinum''s body in there!"


    ¡±What? Why?¡± Demanded Cenderick. He looked disgusted. "How do you know that?"


    "I killed a few of them on the way here. One lived long enough to answer a few of my questions." he answered. ¡±They are desperate for magical power and are historic dragon egg eaters. Dragons are full of digestible magic, if you have the stomach for it." He grimaced. "These folks apparently do."


    These are Argent''s daughters and personal troops. It¡¯s not that surprising.¡± said Ronni.


    Night seemed to tense up. "Lets go." was his sudden reply.


    "We are going too!" said Cenderick.


    "Yeah!" said Cinnabar. "Us too."


    "Nope!" said Cenderick. "Not you Ronni. You and Amstell are going to make the fastest trip to your cabin that you have ever made. Cinnabar and Salt are taking you. Pepper is coming with me. He will be the reserve magical energy supply for my own magic."


    "But" Ronni blurted out.


    "He''s right." said Albarad. "We need most is reinforcements. Ride the dragons as much as you can. Run when they can''t carry you any further."


    Cenderick looked again at his fellow warden. "Amstell, I need you to help make sure the message gets through and that you all get there in one piece." he said. "Especially Ronni. I can''t do this while I''m worrying about her."


    Amstell looked conflicted. Finally he nodded. "I can do that." he said.


    "Tell Tundor, Lothinar and the rest what is going on here. Tell them to hurry!"


    Albarad and Cenderick looked at each other.


    "You ready?" Albarad asked.


    "We are all ready" said Pepper. Night-Sky grinned at him.


    "Let''s kill some very bad elves!" Night growled. Two black dragons and two very dangerous elves sped away and faded into the shadows at the periphery of the dairy. Then they were gone.


    "Let''s fly!" said Cinnabar. "We''ve got a lot of ground to cover. Get on!"


    Ronni climbed on Cinnabar as Amstell straddled Salt.


    "This is not going to be much fun." said Salt. "Amstell is pretty heavy."


    "Do your best. There is a lot at stake." said Ronni.


    "I''m just glad I spent the first part of my life living in the wilderness" said the white dragon. "I''ve done quite a bit more flying than your regular dairy dragons." She tossed her head.


    "That sounds like a challenge!" said Cinnabar. Who suddenly exploded into motion.


    Cinnabar charged down the dairy yard flapping his wings. Salt waited only a second before charging after him. Both of them got into the air. It was just in time. Several black arrows whizzed past them as they cleared the fence.


    "Look out!" Amstell yelled.


    "Too heavy!" grunted Salt.


    They cleared the trees at the end of the meadow before they stopped frantically beating their wings.


    "Shut up and fly!" said Cinnabar. "I''ll take him if you can''t handle it."


    "I''d let you, but we''d have to land again." the white dragon protested.


    "Just do your best. " shouted Ronni. "Once we are a few miles away we can switch."


    "Hey! Do you feel that? What is that? asked Cinnabar. I can feel some sort of magical power coming from way up ahead."


    Ronni concentrated. She could feel something too. It was magical energy and it felt strangely familiar. Suddenly she realized what it was.


    "Follow that magical flow!" she yelled. " It''s Lothinar! The last time I felt that, my sister was being raised from the dead! I''d know that magic anywhere!"


    Salt grinned at Cinnabar. The magic she was receiving wasn''t an ideal match, but there was so much of it that suddenly flying felt a bit easier.


    "How is Lothinar able to send us magic all the way over here?" Cinnabar shouted.


    "I don''t think it''s just for us." said Salt. "It doesn''t feel like it''s being sent so much as just leaking out everywhere! It''s not unlike the power my black dragon brother can send me."


    Ronni sighed. Lothinar always seemed to be full of surprises. She briefly wondered if she had made a mistake ending things with him. Then she thought of Cenderick who was rushing into danger for Heirwynn and Snow. He wasn''t a dragon god like Lothinar but Cenderick was a hero and he loved her. The fact that she really liked the way he looked in nothing but a straw hat didn''t hurt either.


    Following the magical wind and drawing on its power, even heavily laden Salt, had no problem making it to her cabin. Circling to land, she saw the damage to the back bedroom.


    "Oooh!" She simmered. "If we weren''t in so much of a hurry, I''d really give Lothinar a piece of my mind!"


    "It looks like a dragon tore the back wall off!" said Cinnabar as he landed in the yard with a thump. Salt landed beside him. Ronni hopped off and quickly walked up the stairs to the front porch. Lothinar opened the door.


    "Ronni! I can explain about the house!" he stammered.


    "Delora Natine is under attack!" she said. "Someone figured out how to unfreeze the fighters in your mother''s closet! Your father and my boyfriend are probably going to get killed trying to be heroes! I expect you to help!"


    He blinked.


    "Cenderick, and my father?"


    "She put a hand on her hip.


    "Is there something wrong with your memory again Lothinar?"


    "What? No. Of course not." he said. "I''ll be right there. Just let me get on some pants."


    Ronni looked through the door into the front room as he dashed away deeper into the house. A small golden dragon that had to be Zinariya was talking to a human girl that looked surprisingly like Ardwynn.


    "Well that didn''t take long." she thought. "He''s already got another girl. Knowing him, he will probably bond with Zinariya too."


    The Ardwynn look alike walked toward her.


    "While the boys are being heroic, we should talk." she said. Fixing her with her vivid green eyes, she stuck out her hand. "I''m Michelle. Lothinar brought be back from Silvantra with him. But I should warn you. The situation is more complicated than it seems."


    Behind her Ronni heard a commotion. She turned to look. Firestorm, Candasar and Tundor ran into view. Siophra was already on Tundor''s back. Ronni was somewhat relieved that Amstell hadn''t even tried to shoot at them.


    "No! You are not coming!" Candasar was yelling at her blue dragon children. She looked through the open doorway. "That includes you Zinariya!"


    Ronni heard a pop. She looked back into the house. The golden dragon was already gone.


    Lothinar sped past her into the yard. He suddenly stopped.


    "I don''t even have a sword!" he said.


    "What happened to it?" asked Siophra.


    Lothinar winced. "It got lost in the ocean. I was fighting rocs at the time....I might be able to get it back."


    "I''m really starting to regret giving my sword to Mandel." Siophra said. "I don''t think he''s ever even used it!"


    There was another pop. Zinariya reappeared. She had a blue sword in her mouth. Thankfully it was still in its sheath.


    Lothinar looked at the golden dragon and smiled. "I guess I owe you one." he said, taking the sword and unsheathing it."


    "And I intend to collect, but later." the dragon said with a grin. "Go save your father and your friend."


    He looked at the shiny blue sword.


    "Did you even ask my mother first?" he asked.


    She smirked. "Not a chance. Get this done and I''ll put it back before she even misses it."


    ¡®Candasar opened her mouth. She was obviously about to chastise her daughter, but stopped.


    ¡±Stay here, Zinariya. I''m warning you!¡± She said instead. ¡°We will talk later!¡± Tundor rumbled his agreement.


    ¡±Fine!¡± She pouted.


    ¡±What about me? Asked Amstell at last. ¡°I will certainly go back and fight!¡±


    ¡±Your dragon needs to rest.¡± Replied Ronni.


    Lothinar leaped onto Candasar, but he shot Firestorm a glance. Something unspoken seemed to pass between them.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take you back.¡± Said Firestorm.


    Amstell held tightly to his bow and jumped onto her back. Amstell wasn¡¯t sure but he thought he heard her mumbling something about favoritism and a pecking order.


    Seconds later the small hurricane of three dragons leaping into the air hit the porch.


    Ronni looked at the pretty young human, now smiling at her from her own doorway.


    "Let me guess. Pheromones?" Ronni asked.


    "At first, yes." the girl replied. "But now I think it has grown into more."


    "That sounds very familiar." said Ronni. "But let me ask you a question. Besides following Lothinar around, what do you want to do with your life?"


    ¡°I¡¯m actually very concerned about all those young dragons heading off to Silvantra without proper adult supervision. I think they are going to need a mentor.¡± said the young woman.


    ¡±How are you possibly going to help with that?¡± Asked Ronni, holding back a laugh.


    Ronni did a double take when Michelle¡¯s eyes switched from green to blue.


    ¡±I am older than I appear and know more than you might expect about dragons.¡±


    The sound of footsteps came down the hall.


    "Did Lothinar leave? What''s going on?" came a voice from behind the girl. Ardwynn herself walked into the living room. She was holding a baby.


    The sight of Ardwynn holding what had to be Lothinar¡¯s child gave Ronni an irrational pang. She had never really answered the question of her own fertility. She had really wanted the opportunity to question the dragon Vanquish about such things. Where could she have gone? Hadn¡¯t she flown off with Candasar?


    ¡±I know you!¡± Said Ardwynn suddenly. ¡°Didn¡¯t you cater my wedding?¡±


    ¡±Among other things¡± said Ronni. ¡°But first, do either of you know what happened to Vanquish?¡±


    Ardwynn looked at Michelle. "Do you want to tell her or should I?"


    "You." said the human girl. "I''d kind of like to hear your perspective on it."


    ------------------------------


    They say no plan survives first contact with the enemy, but Cenderick had a new slogan. No enemy survives first contact with Albarad. Lothinar''s father didn''t even hesitate. He went straight at the first enemy they came across, allowing the soldier to stab him with the greater reach of his spear. Albarad had jinked, avoiding being run through the heart. Once impaled through the abdomen Albarad had pulled on the spear shaft, pushing it completely through his body to get close enough to the elven soldier to use his own knife. The stabber became the sliced as his throat was cut from ear to ear. He had a surprised look on his face as his blood sprayed over the both of them. Cenderick watched as Night-Sky plowed into the dying soldier and knocked the spear from his hands. Albarad looked back at him.


    "Can I get a ittle help here please?"


    Cenderick leapt forward and finished pulling the spear out of Albarad''s body. Night-Sky and Albarad glowed. He was already healing. Albarad reached out his hand and gestured for Cenderick to hand him the spear.


    "Are you going to want me to get you one of these or can you get one yourself?" he asked.


    "How many times can you get stabbed like that?" Cenderick asked with trepidation.


    "Every wound is different. Talk to your dragon. I''m sure he can supply you with more power than you''ve ever had before. Your own magical aptitude determines how well you can use it."


    Cenderick looked at Pepper who shrugged.


    "Don''t look at me! This is crazy! I''ve never tried anything like this before!"


    "More are coming!" said Albarad, tossing the spear that had just passed through his body back to Cenderick. He turned and ran forward. Night was right behind him.


    Cenderick watched him running off and bit his lip.


    "This guy is nuts!" he said to himself. Yet he followed.


    The two elves and two black dragons carved a path through the town. They dealt more death and damage than they received but without the power of the dragons pouring into them they would have soon been dead. Instead they found themselves alive and staring at the front doors of the dragon temple. Both were breathing hard. They were, for the moment, crouching down and out of sight.


    Cenderick observed the soldiers milling around the entrance. There seemed to be a lot of confusion among the elite soldiers as several of their number were obviously missing. They were clumped up and staying pretty close to each other. There were a lot of nervous looks. Cenderick assumed it was because of the twelve or thirteen that they had killed on the way here.


    "She''s in there!" whispered Night "I can feel my sister!"


    "I can''t believe we made it this far." said Cenderick. "Or that we are still alive."


    "I''m worried." said Pepper. "My power is getting low"


    "At least you have managed to avoid getting stabbed. I don''t really recommend it." said Cenderick.


    "It was only once!" protested the dragon. "I bet it doesn''t even leave a scar."


    "I bet it does!" argued Cenderick. "I wonder if Ronni thinks scars are sexy?"


    Albarad turned to him. "How are you holding up kid?" he asked softly, interrupting the Pepper''s reply.


    "Getting stabbed freakin'' hurts!" he grimaced.


    "I never said it didn''t." Albarad chuckled softly. "But I think our lucks about to change."


    "Why?"


    "Because my Son Lothinar is here!" he said happily. "Now we will show these bastards something!"


    A shadow passed overhead and Cenderick caught a flash of blue. A red flash followed a second later. Then a huge roar filled the night. It shook the windowpanes in the shop across the street from the temple doors. Filling most of the night sky and flying low over them was Tundor. Siophra was riding him. He bellowed again. The elves in front of the temple all ran back inside. Others farther away from the doors were not so lucky. Flames reigned down on them from the sky. There were a lot of screams. All three dragons had cut loose on anything that they could see.


    "Well, we had better get inside!" said Albarad.


    "But that''s where all the bad guys went" protested Cenderick.


    "Heirwynn''s in there. We need to protect her and Snow." he said. Then he hesitated. "No, I need to do this. You don''t. Thank you for helping me get this far."


    Cenderick leapt from a crouch and ran towards the door. "Come on old man! You''ll be late!" he yelled. Albarad smiled for a second but still beat him to the door. He yanked it open. Inside it was chaos! Elves in armor were running everywhere. Two older female elves were screeching at them. The door shut behind Albarad and Cenderick. Everyone stopped to look at them. Behind the female elves Cenderick could see a human girl. She was tied up next to a white dragon. One of the dragon''s feet was shackled. The girl smiled.


    "GET THEM!" screamed one of the female elves.


    "Last chance to surrender bitches!" yelled Cenderick.


    Behind him the temple door was blasted open. The blue dragon, Candasar powered through and adroitly missed crushing both Cenderick and Albarad. She screamed her challenge. It was a throaty deep roar. An elf leapt from her back. He was holding a blue sword. The smaller black dragons Night and Pepper poured through behind her. A moment later another full sized red plowed through the remains of the wrecked door, completely finishing it off. Flames and smoke were trickling off her face. It was Firestorm.


    Several of the elven soldiers began laying down their spears. The two female elves looked at each other. Something seemed to pass between them. Grabbing a spear from a rack near them, one of them spun and heaved it at Heirwynn. The spear sailed through the air. It plunged into the young priest who seemed somehow to anticipate her actions. It pierced him through the center of the chest. He was thrown back and landed hard, pushing the tip of the spear back from where it had gone through him. The soldiers exploded into movement. Another spear was thrown towards Candasar. Miraculously, she dodged it. Dragon fire exploded in the chamber, from multiple sources. It was suddenly extremely hot. Cenderick ducked another spear and tried to find Albarad. He had lost him in the chaos. Suddenly he spotted him. He was most of the way to Heirwynn but still fighting. There was a blue flash and Cenderick knew no more.


    -------------------------

 Volume 2: Chapter 27: Epilogue

    *********************************


    CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN


    *********************************


    Marg was an old dragon. She far older than the war of extermination that had taken most of her people from the continent. It was regrettable but necessary. She had awakened only a few times over the hundred years. It was usually to feed. She would take care of business and go straight back to sleep. Now she had opened her eyes again. She felt a new power. It was what she had been waiting for. The source was far away but waves of magical energy were washing over her, even now, high in the mountains. The cave in which she made her home was strangely decorated. The center attraction, at least for her, was an ornate four post bed.


    Her own people had considered her an outsider and a hermit. Most of their disapproval came from her peculiar hobby. When she wasn¡¯t an enormous golden dragon she wore the body of a beautiful elf. She actually seemed to prefer it. They had shunned her for it but she simply didn¡¯t care. Her one mating had produced only two eggs. A boring and predictable Black and White.


    She blamed the fertility of the male. He had claimed to be of good stock but not producing a metallic or even a blue, especially with her, involvement had obviously shown this not to be the case. She soon delegated the raising of the young she had produced to others, and returned to her elven form. Others were more than willing to raise the children of a Golden Matriarch. Only much later when her male child had sought out his actual birth mother did she learn the names of her offspring. He had somehow learned the location of her mountain lair and flown there alone to confront her. As luck would have it, he happened upon her in her dragon form as it was one of the times hunger had forced her to hunt.


    ¡°I claim hereditary parley¡± he said clearly and distinctly. Whoever had raised him had obviously done a fair job.


    ¡±What is your name?¡± She had asked.


    "Vanador." he replied. "My sister Esmarilla and I are your children."


    "I have no children" she retorted. "I laid some eggs once. That was a mistake. No male dragon is worthy of me."


    "My father is dead." the white dragon said. "If you haven''t noticed, there is a terrible war happening to the dragon kingdom. We are being systematically hunted down and destroyed by the elves."


    She shrugged. "It is necessary. We will change and arise stronger and more powerful. I have foreseen this."


    He could never understand. She could see the anger simmering in his eyes.


    "What of me and my sister?" he asked angrily. "You have such great power! Will you not help us to survive?"


    "I will give you some advice." she said. "Find yourself an elf and submit yourselves to bonding. The elves are both the destruction and salvation of the dragon race."


    "I do know an elf that has asked me to bond" said Vanador. "He is the emperor Argent, but he smells terrible. I don''t know if I can do that!"


    "Find yourself another." she said. "Lothinex has some family members that might be suitable. If you do not, it will be hard for you and your sister to survive."


    "You are going to let this happen?" he asked incredulously. "Your people are being slaughtered as we speak!"


    "Our king, my father is arrogant as well as immortal." said Marg. "There is no other way to prepare our people for the changes we must make."


    "What changes?" he asked.


    "We must merge with them and become like the elves." she said. "A new hybrid race will be born."


    Vanador hadn''t understood what she meant but he had left. Later she heard that he had bonded with one of Lothinex''s daughters.


    "At least he will survive" she had thought.


    Now all she could think about was the taste of this new magic, blowing towards her on a magical wind. The new power was delicious, even at this distance. Usually it was the need for food that stirred her from her slumber. This time she woke already sated. She was no longer hungry but she certainly wished for more. She climbed from her elegant four poster bed, dismayed to see that the sheets and pillows, though of the finest silk, had become faded and brittle with age.


    She would find this magic. Its emergence was what she had been waiting for! She slowly turned in place. Yes! There it was. That direction. It made sense. That was the direction of the lake that Lothinex had chosen to raise his family. Their destinies of his family and the dragons were entwined. This strange new magic had likely sprung from his loins. Marg blinked and traveled thousands of miles. She found herself on a hilltop, staring down at the city of Delora Natine. The city was burning! Three dragons circled overhead. A blue, a red and a huge white. At first Marg had thought it might be her son Vanador, but looked closer with her elven eyes as he passed overhead. He was large but this dragon was far too young. He had obviously been feeding at the trough of magic the new Dragon Lord was providing. She smiled. All of these dragons were still quite young! Their rapid growth was impressive! She was certainly in the right spot. The one she was seeking had to be here somewhere! The blue dragon had finally noticed her and flew closer. Marg flared her power and shifted. She morphed into an immense Golden dragon. It was her true form. She shook out her huge wings and bellowed. The blue seemed to stutter in the air before rapidly turning and flying off.


    Marg chuckled. "That ought to get someone''s attention." she said to herself.


    ------------------------


    Lothinar had brought the blue sword but realized that he didn''t need it to cast the freezing spell. The powerful blue pulse exploded out in a semi-circle in front of him. Everyone collapsed, including his father and Cenderick. The fires that had lit the soldiers on fire, however, were still burning. So were the temple drapes. He looked behind him. Candasar and Firestorm were looking at him.


    "Isn''t there a way to be more selective with that spell?" asked Candasar. "Your father is lying next to an elf whos hair is on fire. You might want to drag him a little bit farther away!"


    "It''s pretty smoky in here too!" agreed Lothinar. He leapt forward and grabbed his father. He hoisted him into a fireman''s carry and ran out the door with him. Running back inside he found Cenderick. His fellow co-warden had been farther from the flames. While he was lifting him up, Firestorm grabbed a young human woman by the back of her jacket. She hoisted her up and carried her like a mother cat carries a kitten. She started to head outside with her. The flames were getting higher.


    "Who''s that?" Lothinar asked. He coughed a little from the smoke.


    "I don''t know, but the bad elf lady tried to kill her with a spear. In my mind that makes her one of the good guys." said Firestorm.


    "What about the white dragon?" he asked.


    "I can''t do everything Lothinar! She''s a little heavy for me. Candasar should probably get her."


    Candasar had been making her way through the bodies and trying not to step on anyone important.


    "I don''t see anyone else that I recognize among this bunch" she said. "The fire is going to take the building soon. We should probably wake up Cenderick and your father and ask them if anyone else in here needs saving before that happens."


    She trotted over to the much smaller white dragon and, like Firestorm, lifted her by the scruff at the base of her neck. She continued trying not to step on the fallen and staggered a little as she took the unconscious white dragon out through the front doors. Lothinar and Firestorm quickly followed. They found Siophra outside hunched down over Cenderick. She looked dismayed.


    "Don''t worry He''s not dead!" said Lothinar.


    "Then use that sword and wake him" she said, looking peeved. "He looks like he has been stabbed several times."


    Lothinar touched Cenderick with the tip of the blue sword, then almost immediately, his father who was lying next to the warden. The two quickly opened their eyes. Lothinar looked at the sword appreciatively.


    "Using this gives me a lot better control." he said to Siophra.


    "Don''t get any ideas." she answered. "You know Ardwella is going to want that back."


    "She doesn''t even know I have...."


    "Where are Heirwynn and Snow?" asked Albarad, interrupting his confession. He looked around with a worried face.


    "If you are talking about the white dragon and the human girl with her," answered Lothinar, "they are over there."


    Lothinar gestured over toward Candasar and Firestorm who''s large size was obscuring his father''s view. Albarad leapt to his feet.


    "Are they alright?" he asked.


    "I''ll wake them in a minute. They are frozen like you were." Lothinar said.


    "Is that your mother''s sword?" asked his father peering at it.


    Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    "Yes it is." he replied.


    "I''m kind of surprised that she''s not here." said his father.


    Siophra reached out a hand to Cenderick and he let her pull him to his feet. "I''m glad you are ok" she said.


    Cenderick nodded. "Thanks. I never want to have to do something like that again."


    Siophra looked at his shirt full of holes and nodded. "Its hard on your clothes" she agreed.


    The Dragon temple was seriously on fire now. Lothinar had to ask the question. He pointed toward the temple doors.


    "Is there anyone in the temple that we need to get out of there? We don''t have much time left before it''s too late."


    His father had an awkward look on his face, but shook his head. "No one redeemable. I''m afraid." he said.


    "Burned to death while magically frozen" said Cenderick. "I suppose that there are worse ways to go."


    Lothinar looked at Albarad. His clothes were in tatters. It looked like his shirt had been used on a sparring dummy. It was practically in ribbons. Cenderick didn''t look much better.


    "Where''s Tundor?" Lothinar suddenly asked his bonds.


    "Not all the warrior elves were inside. Tundor is out hunting them down." said Siophra.


    "If everything here is under control, Firestorm and I will go assist him." said Candasar.


    "Try to be careful not to hurt any of the town''s humans!" he said.


    "We will try to be careful, Lothinar, but I don''t think we are going to find very many. I think the soldiers loyal to Argent''s daughters killed most of them."


    Lothinar watched the temple burn. Finally the roof collapsed burying the fallen under hot ash and debris. Before the roof fell and while it was still possible, Lothinar didn''t even think about running back inside. Instead he went over to the white dragon and human girl that they had rescued. Albarad was protectively standing next to them. A young black dragon was standing there as well.


    "So who''s this then." Lothinar asked.


    "My sister Snow and her bond Heirwynn." replied the black dragon in a clear voice, surprising Lothinar a little. "Thank you for your assistance in there."


    "And you are?" asked Lothinar.


    "I am Night-Sky. Your father''s bonded dragon." said the black.


    "My father''s........"


    "It''s true." said Albarad. "Your mother will probably never let me live it down."


    "Well, congratulations, I guess." said Lothinar. "Let me wake these two up."


    He lightly touched the blue sword to the pair. Snow opened her eyes first. She looked at him.


    "You must be Lothinar." said the white dragon.


    "Lothinar?" said the girl groggily. She opened her eyes.


    "These days, I''m considering her as one of the family, son." said his father. "Her brother was killed fighting for us on the way to this town."


    Lothinar blinked. That gate guard. He suddenly remembered the girl from the funeral.


    "Then I can''t wait to introduce her to my newborn son." Lothinar said with a smile. "His name is Harvey!"


    "Lothinar! We''ve got trouble." sent Candasar. "A huge golden dragon just appeared on the hill outside of town!"


    "Did. you try to talk to it?"


    "No way!" Its bigger than Vanquish ever was!"


    "I''ll be right there."  Said Lothinar.


    Suddenly there was a pop. A beautiful elf appeared directly in front of Lothinar. She had golden eyes. She looked at him.


    "I thought you''d be better looking." she said. "Have you ever thought about shaving your head?"


    -----------------


    Ronni had stepped into the house and shut the door.


    It was suddenly very quiet in the yard.


    ¡°So, sister, what have you been doing since we last talked?¡± Vigilant asked Zinariya.


    ¡°I¡¯m really glad you¡¯re back!¡± Constance chimed in before she could formulate an answer.


    "Killing bad elves mostly." said Zinariya. "Ardwella taught me a few things."


    "That seems like a hard job." said Cinnabar. "All the elves I know are pretty nice."


    "The nice ones seem to be in the minority, I''m afraid." replied Zinariya.


    "Well, it''s probably a disproportionate sample." commented Vigilant. "The bad ones seem to be naturally drawn to conflict with dragons."


    "The elves have been told that dragons are evil for generations." said Zinariya. "There is a lot of prejudice to overcome."


    "What was it like being an elf?" asked Cinnabar.


    "Remember, I actually started out that way." Zinariya reminded him. "I''m really just getting used to being an actual dragon!"


    "Did it hurt? Squeezing. yourself into an elf body?"


    Zinariya laughed. "No, but I think I might have been going about it the wrong way."


    "What do you mean?" asked Constance.


    "Nothing. It''s just something Vanquish started to tell me."


    ¡°I¡¯m thirsty¡± said Salt. ¡®We just had to fly pretty far.¡±


    Cinnabar thought Salt being thirsty seemed funny, but agreed with her. He was thirsty too.


    ¡°The creek is almost dry¡± said Vigilant. ¡°One of the elves usually pulls water from the well for us.¡±


    ¡±I think they kind of forgot about us hard working dragons¡± said Cinnabar. He sent out a request through the bond. He tried to ask Ronni to come back outside to turn the well crank, but she was completely fixated on her current conversation. With Ronni it always seemed to be about babies.


    Zinariya suddenly got a strange look on her face. She walked over near the well and looked up at the handle. She was breathing hard. Cinnabar actually thought that she was about to bite the well crank and try to operate it with her mouth, because that¡¯s what he was about to try. Instead the golden dragon seemed to shimmer. There was a bright burst of light. When Cinnabar¡¯s eyes cleared from the flash, a beautiful young elf was standing by the well. She laughed giddily and began to slowly began to pull up water.


    The other dragons were flabergasted.


    ¡°How did you do that Zinariya?¡± Asked Constance.


    "There must be something in the water." she smirked.


    Vigilant looked alarmed. "No! Seriously. What just happened." he asked.


    "She obviously just turned into an elf." observed Cinnabar. "Nice trick. Can I try?" He suddenly looked concerned. "I would be a boy elf wouldn''t I?"


    Zinariya got a thoughtful look on her face. Then she shook her head. "That''s a whole different subject, and I''m not entirely sure."


    "Is it something only golden dragons can do?" asked Salt. "White dragons are good healers."


    ¡±It¡¯s actually not that hard, compared to teleporting.¡± She answered smugly. ¡°I could probably teach you.¡±


    ¡±Can I learn too?¡± Asked Constance. ¡°It seems pretty useful.¡±


    ¡±Sure! Said Zinariya. ¡°I have time because mother made me stay here. In fact, I will try to teach you all!¡±


    ---------------------------------------


    Enderline was taking his turn walking the deck when he saw a speck in the eastern sky. He waited a while, leaning on the ship''s rail until it grew larger. It was a red dragon. Someone was on its back. It wasn''t that long before they began waving at him. He couldn''t make out exactly who it was, but he waved back. Others had noticed and started to join him at the railing but he waved them back below decks. The dragon would need somewhere to land. In an impressive display of skilled flight the dragon turned into the wind and slowed dramatically, almost hovering in the stiff breeze before setting down lightly on the deck. It was Lothinar''s smaller dragon Firestorm. On her back was the last person Enderline expected to see riding a dragon. Courtney''s daughter Michelle jumped off and onto the deck. She gave him a mischievous wink.


    "I understand you have several boats full of dragons heading back to Sivantra." she said. "If you don''t mind, I''d like to come with you."


    Enderline closed his jaw and coughed into his hand, clearing his throat.


    "A ship at sea has a duty to pick up people lost at sea, especially if they are beautiful damsels in distress. Are you lost at sea Michelle?"


    "So you do remember my name." she said, still smiling.


    "Of course." he said. "You caught my attention at the party. I''m sure you remember that we spoke at some length."


    "I remember it very fondly." she said. "But I have a confession to make."


    The king blinked. "A confession? Have you committed some crime that I will have to pardon?"


    "No, nothing like that, but I have brought a dragon stow away on board with me."


    The king turned his attention to the red dragon on the deck.


    "You are Firestorm, Lothinar''s dragon." stated the King. "Even though you are larger than I remember, I would know you anywhere. Are you our stowaway? Do you also wish to return to Silvantra with us?"


    "Oh, not me!" said Firestorm. "I''m just her ride this far. Lothinar''s expecting me back soon. He needs my help. He has a lot going on. I hope we meet again Vanquish! Be safe!"


    The red dragon ran towards the ship''s railing and vaulted into the air. She rapidly began climbing into the sky.


    Enderline suddenly blinked. It had taken a moment for the words the red dragon had spoken to soak in.


    "Did Firestorm just call you Vanquish?" he asked with some confusion. "Is Vanquish somehow the dragon stowaway you mentioned?"


    "I''m afraid she is." the girl said somberly. "I''m hoping you won''t turn me away because of it."


    "If we are talking about the same Vanquish, then she''s a dragon goddess. She''s probably one of the few dragons I actually respect, perhaps even love." He started to choke up. "She gave me back my wife Pricilla and is a treasure trove of knowledge. She would be a great help to my kingdom."


    "What if I told you that the dragon Vanquish was accidentally trapped in the body of a young human girl. A girl from your very kingdom?"


    "I would be concerned about how that happened, but truth be told, I would consider myself most fortunate." he said. Is that what you are telling me?


    Michelle nodded. "Yes, I''m afraid it''s true."


    "Does Courtney know?" Enderline asked, suddenly concerned.


    "My behavior before leaving was somewhat suspicious." said Michelle awkwardly. "My father did know that I was coming to see you. He encouraged me to do so in fact."


    "I''m sure he did." said Enderline with a laugh. "His political aspirations have been obvious for some time."


    Michelle smiled guiltily. "I''m actually not here for the reason he suspects." she said honestly.


    "I assume Lothinar was somehow involved?" guessed the king.


    "Lothinar and I have an understanding." said Michelle, but Vanquish is concerned that the young dragons that you are bringing back get a proper education."


    "If Vanquish helps, then I can make sure that happens." said Enderline.


    Her eyes turned from blue to green. The young girl suddenly performed a formal curtsey.


    "Then Courtney''s daughter Michelle is officially applying to be the headmistress of your dragon school." she said. Her voice seemed somewhat higher and it had more of a Silvantran accent.


    "What have we here?" said Pricilla walking up behind him. "Is that Courtney''s daughter Michelle? What is she doing way out here?"


    Michelle laughed. "I''m applying for a job." she said.


    "What kind of job?" said Pricilla flatly.


    "She is to be the headmistress of the new dragon academy that I will be building in Silvantra." replied Enderline.


    "As long as that''s the only job she is applying for!" said Pricilla stiffly. She turned around and headed for the doorway leading below deck."


    "She seems agitated." said Michelle.


    "I''m told morning sickness and sea sickness is a terrible combination." the king said somewhat guiltily. "I''m sure she''s quite relieved."


    Michelle rolled her eyes. "Other than knowing a lot about magic and dragons, the only other skills I have are pretty useless. My father gave me etiquette lessons and made me study how to run a royal household. What a waste of time!"


    "Trust me, for the job she thought you wanted, you are more than qualified." chuckled the King. "I''ll keep that in mind in case a job opens up in the Capitol."


    Suddenly their came a cry from above. The king looked up to see someone in the crows nest gesturing wildly to the west.


    "SEA MONSTER AHEAD!"


    "What do you know! A follow up interview! " said Michelle smiling. "It sounds like you have need of a pretty young girl that can perform magic like an ancient blue dragon."


    "Apparently, I do." he said.


    "It''s probably just a sea serpent." said Michelle. "Don''t worry, I''ve dealt with these guys before. Hey, do you have any snacks?"


    "How about a bear meat kabob? I think I''ve got a couple of those left. You will have to eat them cold if you are in a hurry. I''ve got them on ice."


    "That sounds perfect." she said. "I''m suddenly starving."


    ----------------------------------------------

 Volume 3: Chapter 1: Surrender

    **********************************************


    CHAPTER 1: Surrender


    **********************************************


    Cantrell looked at the envoy from the back of his black dragon Esmarilla. The elf looked terrified. Cantrell honestly didn¡¯t blame him. The nondescript elf had approached the wall at sunrise with a white flag tightly clutched in his hand. He had been waving it vigorously. Eventually, someone on the wall noticed and sent a message to his higher-ups. It had taken a while for the news to reach Mandel. Now Mandel had sent Cantrell out to see what he wanted.


    ¡°I guess we should land¡± Esmarilla sent.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t see anybody with him.¡± Agreed Cantrell.¡°Set us down over there.¡±He pointed to a large open area a pretty good distance from where the elf with the white flag was standing.


    ¡°If he tries anything funny, we¡¯ll see it coming¡­.Probably.¡±


    The huge black dragon dipped her wing and swung around to the indicated area.She flared her wings as they dropped surprisingly swiftly to the spot indicated. She landed in a bit of a run, bleeding off some of her flight speed with her legs. The fact that she was running directly at the elf on the ground probably didn¡¯t help his confidence. He dropped the flag and started to run away from the dragon and toward the wall.


    ¡°Whoa there buddy!¡± Yelled Cantrell. ¡°We¡¯re just here to talk to you!¡±


    Somehow the elf found the courage to stop and turn around. His eyes were very big.


    ¡°Y-Yes. T-Thank you, Sir Knight.¡± He stammered.


    ¡°What do you want?¡± Cantrell snapped. He didn¡¯t like being called a knight. His entire involvement in this business was distasteful to him. He would much rather be living a simpler life far away from the Capitol. The fact that his wife was the Emperor¡¯s sister was more annoying than helpful. He loved Mavis dearly, but the truth was that he had been more or less dragged into politics. He had no idea that she was royalty when he fell in love with her.


    The elf looked down. He mumbled something.


    ¡°Speak man!¡± It''s your white flag! Tell me why you are here!¡±


    ¡°There is nobody left!¡± He said at last. ¡°Nobody to threaten us. To force us to fight. They are all gone.¡±


    Cantrell suspected he knew what the elf was talking about but he needed confirmation.


    ¡°Tell me clearly what you want.¡± He said, ¡°I am listening.¡±


    ¡°I wish to surrender.¡± The elf said at last.


    ¡°Ok¡±, said Cantrell, ¡°Just exactly who are you speaking for?¡±


    ¡°Everyone!¡± The elf practically shouted. ¡°Long live Mandel, Emperor of the Elves!¡±


    ¡°Unfortunately, I have heard such platitudes before,¡± said Cantrell trying to hold back a snicker.


    ¡°B-but,¡± the flag holder stammered, ¡°Argent¡¯s daughters are all gone now!¡±


    ¡°That remains to be seen and documented, however, I will accept your surrender,¡± said Cantrell. ¡°Tell the rest of your people to bring your weapons to the wall and leave them here. All of you must present yourselves before the dragons to be judged. You have until noon tomorrow. There will be no exceptions!¡±


    With a silent thought to Esmarilla, the dragon leapt into the air. The downward sweep of her wings barely passed over the head of the envoy who crouched in fear as she flew over him.


    ¡°Well, that was easy!¡± Said the black dragon.


    ¡°There is far too much blood on our hands for you to say that!¡± Said Cantrell bitterly. ¡°At least after this, maybe I can convince Mavis to finally go home.¡±


    ¡°You remember that this city has been her home for most of her life.¡± The dragon reminded him.


    ¡°That¡¯s actually what I¡¯m most afraid of!¡± He replied, bitterly.


    ¡°Do you think Mandel is lazy¡± Esmarilla suddenly asked. ¡°Or is it that he doesn¡¯t easily make hard decisions.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s crossed my mind,¡± Cantrell admitted. ¡°I¡¯m working under the assumption that it¡¯s an aspect of his character to be nonconfrontational. I think both Lothinar and Mandel may suffer from the same genetic flaw. They are too nice.¡±


    ¡°That doesn¡¯t sound like the kind of trait an Emperor should have.¡± Observed the dragon.


    ¡°No, it does not!¡± Stated Cantrell. ¡°It means, at least in Mandel¡¯s case, that someone like me has to do their dirty work.¡±


    ¡°Someone else has obviously been doing some dirty work too.¡± Grunted Esmarilla landing on top of the wall. ¡°Last time we checked there were still several of Argent¡¯s daughters still alive.¡±


    ¡°I had a suspicion that the rest had snuck off to find some more dragon eggs,¡± Cantrell said, scratching his chin. ¡°It has been far too quiet here. Hopefully, they were stopped without too much fuss.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s too bad Zinariya teleported Mo-Rung back here. Having a way to communicate with the others in Delora Natine was pretty helpful.¡± The black dragon griped.


    ¡°I thought you liked having him back!¡¯ Cantrell chuckled. ¡°You two seem to be making up for the long separation!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re one to talk!¡± Said Esmarilla as Cantrell climbed down from her neck. ¡°Until twenty minutes ago, you and Mavis were inseparable.¡±


    ¡°We do separate once in a while, ¡° said Cantrell blushing slightly. ¡°I worked up a lot of stress having to deal with Ardwella constantly coming on to me.¡±


    ¡°I wonder how her return home went?¡± Wondered Esmarilla. ¡°Albarad is pretty forgiving but the way she was acting¡­.¡±


    ¡°Look, I talked it over with Mavis. Nobody needs to know anything about how she behaved. She would just blame it on Zinariya anyway.¡±


    ¡°That doesn¡¯t really seem fair to the young golden¡± replied Esmarilla. ¡°She¡¯s hardly to blame.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps we should take a flight out there tomorrow and see what¡¯s been going on.¡± Suggested Cantrell.


    ¡°Good Idea.¡± Agreed Esmarilla. ¡°We can also find out if Vanador headed back there.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry about what happened to Vanquish,¡± said Cantrell sadly. ¡°But I¡¯m still saying that Vanador overreacted.¡±


    ¡°Can you blame him?¡± The black dragon winced. ¡°Can you even imagine what it would be like to have the love of your life speaking with you from a human¡¯s body?¡±


    Cantrell held back a laugh. ¡°I¡¯ll admit, It probably wouldn¡¯t be quite as shocking for me as it was for him. But from what you¡¯ve said, Vanquish seemed to have a plan to become a dragon again.¡±


    ¡°Someday I¡¯ll have to tell you about my mother.¡± Said Esmarilla ominously. ¡°But not now, Mavis and Mandel are coming.¡±


    Cantrell looked down the walkway on the top of the wall and saw his bride and her brother quickly striding towards them.


    ¡°So what did they want?¡± Asked Mandel eagerly.


    ¡°To surrender. I¡¯ve accepted on your behalf.¡± Said Cantrell nonchalantly.


    ¡°Finally! It¡¯s about time.¡± Said Mandel excitedly. ¡°I knew my plan would work.¡±


    ¡°What plan was that exactly, your majesty?¡± Asked Cantrell, barely hiding his sarcasm.


    ¡°They just need to finally realize that they would never take the city,¡± Mandel replied. ¡°I knew that they would come to their senses.¡±


    Cantrell rolled his eyes, but luckily Mandel was watching the elf with the white flag as he discussed something with several other elves who had joined him in the vast courtyard below the wall. They were pointing up at the dragon. Mavis however had seen it. She winked at her husband. Walking up close so that no one else could hear, she whispered to him.


    If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    ¡°That means that, at last, we can finally get out of here,¡± she said almost silently.


    Cantrell looks at her with appreciation in his eyes.


    ¡°I thought you might want to stay.¡± He whispered back.


    ¡°No, I have other plans.¡± She said with a slightly louder voice. ¡° You promised to show me the world. Now we and our dragons are going exploring!¡±


    Mandel must have heard them because he suddenly turned to her.


    ¡°You two aren¡¯t leaving already are you?¡± He asked with concern.


    ¡°As soon as possible, Yes, brother.¡± She said nodding. ¡°Cantrell and I haven¡¯t even had a honeymoon yet!¡±


    ¡°But what if something happens? I may need you!¡± The emperor stuttered.


    ¡°You¡¯re going to be just fine Mandel¡± Mavis insisted. ¡°You were born to do this.¡±


    Cantrell had his doubts about that, but he kept them to himself. He was finally free!


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    Lothinar looked at the elf with the golden eyes. The fact that she had just appeared in front of him meant that she could teleport. Then the first words out of her mouth had been ones criticizing his appearance. He scowled at her.


    ¡°What do you want?¡± He asked brusquely. ¡°I¡¯m kind of busy.¡±


    She laughed. ¡°So not the best way to start a conversation. I''m sorry.¡± She said.¡°My Elvish manners are a little rusty.¡±


    ¡°You''re the golden!¡± he said suddenly.


    She laughed again. ¡°Do you have time for me now?¡± She asked. ¡°I¡¯ve waited a long time to meet you.¡±


    This must be what Vanquish had been talking with Zinariya about earlier.A Golden Dragon shapeshifter! He realized. A dragon such as her had to be immensely powerful.


    Candasar and Firestorm touched down behind him. He could feel them eagerly soaking in his power. If need be, they were ready for a fight. He put his hand behind his back and waved them down. They had already realized this was no normal elf, yet they were willing to fight her. They would do it for him. They would probably lose badly.


    ¡°Look,¡± he said. ¡°A lot of good people died tonight trying to defend this town from elvish monsters. Probably most of the innocent townspeople did too. I¡¯ll be glad to meet with you but not tonight. We are still trying to find a few more of the old emperor¡¯s troops.¡±


    Siophra suddenly appeared. She walked out of the smoke and stood looking at the elf with the golden eyes.


    ¡°Marg?¡± She asked suddenly. She had a very strange look on her face.


    Lothinar looked at his aunt with surprise.


    ¡°Do you know her Siophra?¡± He asked.


    ¡°If she is who I think she is, I haven¡¯t seen her since I was a little girl.¡± Siophra answered with puzzlement in her voice. ¡°Lothinar, I think this elf is actually a dragon. She is also Vanador and Esmarilla¡¯s mother.¡±


    There was a pop and the golden-eyed elf was gone. A few seconds later another pop ensued. Marg reappeared, still wearing an elf shape, but in each of her outstretched arms was an elvish soldier. She held them by the scruff of their necks. The soldier¡¯s legs were completely off the ground. They kicked helplessly. For some reason, Marg looked quite a bit taller. Instead of elvish hands, her wrists ended in scales and dragon claws. Her face was still mostly elvish and so was her voice. It was however deeper.


    ¡°Here are two.¡±She said brusquely, dropping them at Lothar¡¯s feet. He reacted quickly and froze them both with the blue sword.


    There was another pop and Marg disappeared again.


    ¡°Well that¡¯s handy,¡± said Siophra, grinning.


    Firestorm jumped into the air.


    ¡°I want to see this from up high,¡± she told Lothinar through their bond.


    ¡°How is she finding them?¡± Candasar asked. ¡°Tundor is having a hard time spotting them in the dark. He said that they are pretty good at hiding.¡±


    Marg appeared with another elf. This one was in worse shape. He had several very large bites on him. Lothinar didn¡¯t bother freezing him. He was already dead when she dropped him. She reached up and wiped some blood from her mouth with the back of her sleeve.


    ¡°Elves taste terrible! You do realize that don¡¯t you?¡± Marg complained.


    ¡°So I¡¯ve been told.¡± He laughed, then immediately stopped, growing serious.


    ¡°I appreciate what you are trying to do Marg.¡± He said


    ¡°I need to speak with you. This is the fastest way to do that. Just a few more now¡± she said, disappearing again.


    Over the next several minutes Marg came and went, always dropping at least one elf, but sometimes two at Lothinar¡¯s feet. He froze the ones that were not too far gone. Finally, she returned empty-handed.


    ¡°Now, where were we?¡± She asked.


    ¡°I think you were suggesting that I shave my head.¡± He said, with a big smile. His very white teeth glimmered in the moonlight. ¡°You''re not the first dragon to suggest that. By the way. I¡¯ve got someone else that I would like you to meet.¡±


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-


    Zinariya was frustrated.She had explained how she did the shape-shifting to the other dragons around the well, but only Constance had finally managed to do it too. That meant that it had been necessary for her to bring up all of the water from the well by herself! One of hertender elvishhands had a blister!Now, at least Constance was able to help her turn the crank on the well bucket. They were taking turns. Salt in particular seemed frustrated by not being able to shift.


    ¡°I don¡¯t understand! If it¡¯s only the females that can do it, then I should be able to do it too!¡± She complained.


    ¡°I never said that,¡± Zinariya replied, reaching back to rub her aching shoulder. ¡°Haven¡¯t you already had enough to drink?¡±


    ¡°Flying made me thirsty. You should try it sometime. Being able to teleport has made you lazy!¡±


    Cinnabar snickered, before offering his thoughts. ¡°It¡¯s not going to just be a female thing. I feel like I can almost do it too.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s probably too much to expect to be able to shapeshift the first time we try¡± said Vigilant. ¡°After all, sister is special. She¡¯s a Golden.¡±


    ¡°I got most of my Golden powers from Lothinar,¡± Zinariya replied. ¡°All of our eggs were inside Mother when his energy was flowing into her. How the magic was distributed was probably random.¡±


    Constance got a thoughtful look on her face. ¡°Do you think Mom¡¯s bond Lothinar is stronger than you? What is the elf version of Golden powers?¡±


    Zinariya shrugged. ¡°I think Lothinar is probably in a category all his own. I wonder if he realizes that?¡±


    ¡°Do you think he could teleport too?¡± Constance asked. ¡°If he Is responsible for giving you your power?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s an interesting question. When he gets back I¡¯ll¡­.¡±


    Suddenly Vigilant yelped. It was a high-pitched squeak.


    ¡°That¡¯s it,¡± said Constance. ¡°Try it again. It does kind of hurt¡±


    Vigilant screwed up his face into a frown. There was a whoosh like the sound of collapsing air. Suddenly a young male elf was standing where his dragon body had been.


    ¡°So obviously, not just the females can do it!¡± Exclaimed Cinnabar, apparently feeling justified. ¡°Now why can¡¯t I figure this out?¡±


    ¡°Wow!¡± Vigilant said ¡°This is so weird! And why do I have clothes on? Where did they come from?¡±


    ¡°I know right?¡± Said Constance.¡°It just seemed like the right thing to do. I was just trying to copy Zinariya. This is what I ended up with.¡±


    Zinariya suddenly realized that her sister was wearing exactly the same clothes as she was. They were even gold-colored.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s your best color.¡± She commented.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have an exclusive right to wear gold you know!¡± Said Constance. ¡°I didn¡¯t choose this deliberately.¡±


    Zinariya sighed. ¡°We¡¯ll have to experiment a bit. I¡¯ll have to start paying attention to what some of the female elves are wearing. I think this wearing clothes and staying in fashion may turn out to be a lot more work than I expected.¡±


    I¡¯m going to go knock on the door and see what Ronniflass has to say about it.¡± Said Constance.


    ¡°Wait!¡± Said Vigilant, running after her. ¡°You can¡¯t have all the fun yourself! I¡¯m coming too.¡±


    ¡°Boys'' clothes are usually different than girl¡¯s clothes.¡± Said Cinnabar.¡°We will probably have to consult with Cenderick or Lothinar about what to wear.¡±


    ¡°Ok, let''s go talk to Ronniflass.¡± Said Zinariya. ¡°She¡¯s bound to be a little surprised. After all, she¡¯s never met either of you two in elf form before, and I don¡¯t look like Ardwella anymore. She probably won¡¯t recognize us.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯ll know you for sure Zinariya.¡± Said Cinnabar.¡°Not too many people have golden eyes like yours.¡±


    Vigilant looked at Constance. ¡°Our elvish eyes are blue. I guess that should probably be expected.¡±


    ¡°What are we supposed to do?¡± Asked Salt. ¡°Just sitting here in the yard is bo-or-ing!¡±


    ¡°Keep practicing,¡± said Cinnabar.¡°I¡¯m not going to give up yet.


    The three elven young people walked up the steps to the house. ¡°This!¡± Said Zinariya, ¡°Is a doorknob! But it might be a good idea to knock.¡±


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    Albarad had immediately decided to not wait around for Lothinar and his team to subdue the remaining soldiers. He wanted to get Heirwynn and Snow away from any future danger as quickly as possible. He was a bit of an emotional wreck as well. He might have physically survived the multiple stabbings and fighting he had done, but his mental state was not good at all. It didn¡¯t help that Heirwynn kept looking at him strangely. She had very quickly figured out or been told about what Albarad and Night-Sky had done, fighting their way to where she was being held captive. His destroyed clothing didn¡¯t lie. Every stabbing and slice he had received was mirrored in the tattered rags he wore. He didn¡¯t quite know what to do about the gratitude and hero worship reflected in her eyes. It had seemed obvious to him that those he considered family were worth fighting for. He prepared to lead them home.


    He did stop before leaving and offered his sincere thanks to Cenderick and Pepper. They were going to leave in the morning and make their way back up to rendezvous with Ronniflass at her cabin.


    ¡°You should probably spend the night here in Delora somewhere.¡± Cenderick had insisted. ¡°We have plenty of room for you all at the dairy. At least for tonight!¡±


    Albarad looked at how tired everyone was. Now that the adrenaline had worn off, he could feel it himself. He was exhausted. He was also starving. All that healing had used more than magic.


    Just then a Huge white dragon dropped out of the sky near them.It was Tundor.Off his back dropped Muina and Ardwella, Albarad¡¯s two wives. Ardwella lowered herself somewhat slower as she was carrying his daughter, Charity. Albarad was surprised to see her back. She had rather abruptly left to fulfill some sort of mission for Mandel in the capitol. Albarad nodded his thanks to the huge white dragon who didn¡¯t wait around but quickly jumped away and opened his wings to fly. Dust and a fair bit of ash from the still-smoldering temple filled the air.


    Muina made a fuss, of course, running over and lifting up his torn and punctured clothes and looking at the skin underneath. She quickly verified he no longer had any open wounds. After her quick examination, she stepped back and looked him in the eye.


    ¡°Many of those scars go all the way through!¡± She said angrily. ¡°They actually look fatal.¡±


    Albarad shared a meaningful moment of eye contact with Night-Sky before replying.


    ¡°I seem to be a bit harder to kill than they anticipated.¡± He said at last.¡°They took Heirwynn. I needed to get her back.¡±


    Ardwella walked over to them and handed Charity to Muina. She pulled up his tattered shift and looked for herself.


    ¡°These scars will fade in time.¡± She said. ¡°Snow and Night will probably need to give you several treatments, but they will eventually disappear.¡±


    ¡°I guess you should know.¡± Said Albarad. ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve been wounded before. In your line of work, I mean.¡±


    She raised an eyebrow at him and started to say something, then bit it back.


    ¡°I¡¯m done with that now.¡± She said, looking into his eyes. ¡°Completely. I¡¯d like to finally come home.¡±


    ¡°Lothinar has your sword, you know.¡± He said smirking a bit.


    She started to react, then glared at him. ¡°Are you testing me?¡± She asked.


    ¡°Maybe a little.¡± He replied. ¡°If you are done, he probably would have more use for it than you would,  just hanging it on the wall.¡±


    ¡°I will give it to him.¡± She said, looking at Albarad. ¡°If he needs it. I do, however, expect him to explain what he did with Crimson. That sword belonged to my grandfather. He had better not have damaged it.¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t your first sword explode or something?¡± Asked Albarad.


    Muina and Ardwella shared a strange but meaningful look.


    ¡°Yes, it leveled half a city block when it exploded.¡± Said Muina. ¡°It happened when Siophra came to rescue me from the capitol.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Siophra exploded my first sword,¡± Ardwella said testily. ¡°This one was my father¡¯s.¡±


    ¡°Swords don¡¯t seem to last very long in your family.¡± Chuckled Cenderick.He had been standing back watching Albarad interact with his wives with great interest as they inspected him. ¡°


    Ardwella turned to him. ¡°Hello, Cenderick. I understand that you have staked a claim to Lothinar¡¯s¡­.. friend, Ronniflass.¡± She suddenly said.


    Cenderick looked like he had sucked on a lemon.


    ¡°It¡¯s more complicated than that.¡± He said after thinking about it for a few seconds. ¡°I think everyone will be happier for it.¡±


    Ardwella sighed. ¡°You''re probably right.¡± She admitted. ¡°Lothinar¡¯s probably going to be stretched pretty thin as it is. But has Ronni told you about her other concern?¡±


    Cenderick looked a bit upset. ¡°She mentioned something earlier.¡± He said slowly and deliberately. He didn¡¯t like not knowing something about his girlfriend that Ardwella obviously seemed to.


    ¡°Cenderick and I are tired, Ardwella!¡± Interrupted Albarad, suddenly. ¡°Everyone is tired. The explanations regarding the intricacies of Lothinar¡¯s love life can wait.¡±


    Ardwella stepped back and nodded.¡°You''re right, of course. We should head home.¡±She reached out and took her daughter from Muina. ¡°Snow and Night-sky, can you fly unencumbered?¡±


    The two small dragons looked at each other. Night nodded.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know if you elves can feel that, but Lothinar is pouring out power. My energy levels have been steadily rising, just standing here.¡± Said the small back dragon.


    Ardwella looked around and finally seemed to notice her son, Lothinar was standing on a hilltop off in the distance. He was talking with a female elf. The elf had a golden glow. So did Lothinar. Adwella blinked in surprise.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t anyone tell me that Marg was here!?¡±


    Muina gave a little squeak. She looked like she wanted to hide. She quickly took Charity back from Ardwella, who let her.


    ¡°Who¡¯s Marg?¡± Asked Albarad.


    ¡°She¡¯s the Queen of the Dragons!¡± Exclaimed Ardwella.


    ¡°I thought she died with the rest of the ancient ones.¡± Said Muina.


    ¡°Apparently not!¡± Replied Ardwella. ¡°Stay here everyone. I must speak with her.¡±


    ¡°Better you than me!¡± Said Muina. ¡°She¡¯s scary.¡±


    ¡°She is,¡± said Ardwella. ¡°I just wish Esmarilla was here.¡±


    Albarad sighed. ¡°You''re not going over there alone.¡± He said. ¡°Night and I are coming with you.¡±


    ¡°You and Night?¡± Ardwella asked suspiciously.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t even tell her we were bonded yet!¡± Said the black dragon with a grin. ¡°That should have been the first thing out of your mouth!¡±


    Ardwella looked stunned.


    ¡°You bonded?¡± She stammered. ¡°With Night-Sky?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s the only reason I¡¯m still alive. Come on!¡± He said. ¡°We don¡¯t have all night. I¡¯ll explain it to you on the way over there.¡±


    Together the three of them walked off toward Lothinar and Marg.


    ¡°Are they going to be alright?¡± Asked Heirwynn nervously.


    ¡°Probably.¡± Replied Muina. ¡°Marg is going to probably want to know what Ardwella did to give Lothinar the powers he now holds. What she did to him was done with Esmarilla¡¯s help. That¡¯s probably why Ardwella wanted her here for that.¡±


    ¡°She gave Lothinar special powers?¡± Asked Heirwynn innocently.


    ¡°Yes. She tried to make him into a dragon god.¡± Muina said, rubbing her eyes. ¡°She failed of course.¡±


    ¡°Thank goodness,¡± Cenderick exclaimed. ¡°That¡¯s a lot of pressure for poor Lothinar.¡±


    ¡°But Vanquish came along, found him, and finished the job.¡±Said Muina.¡°The poor boy is doomed!¡±


    But he¡¯s going to be very popular with the ladies.¡± Said Heirwynn grinning.


    ¡°Not you too!¡± Moaned Cenderick.


    ¡°I thought you were interested in Mandel?¡± Asked Muina indignantly, but then she smiled.


    ¡°They are both Albarad¡¯s sons right?¡± Confirmed Heirwynn.


    Muina nodded. ¡°Yes, they are.¡±


    ¡°Then how could a girl go wrong with either of them?¡± She asked.


    ¡°You might be surprised.¡± Muttered Cenderick.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

 Volume 3: Chapter 2: Sun spots

    **********************************************


    CHAPTER 2:


    **********************************************


    Ardwynn was looking through the kitchen cupboards for snacks. There wasn¡¯t much but a box of stale lingonberry cookies. The elf, half-elf, and human were sitting around the kitchen table. Lothinar had left in a hurry. He hadn¡¯t even taken the time to say goodbye.


    Her cousins, Argent¡¯s daughters, had tried to take over the town of Delora Natine. Her husband had left to deal with it. That was certainly regrettable. It wouldn¡¯t make her re-integrating or being forgiven for past crimes any easier.


    Vanquish had been explaining to Ronniflass about the changes she had made to correct Ardwynn¡¯s genetic flaws. That conversation had been completely derailed when Ronni had suddenly begun asking about her ability to conceive. She had seemed almost frantic about it.


    It certainly was strange to observe the previous dairyman¡¯s wife, who was at least triple Michelle¡¯s age, act with such deference and respect toward the young human girl. Of course, that girl was also a, very ancient blue dragon. She might know what she was talking about.


    ¡°What I remember about half-elf physiology is a little sketchy. Let me take another look at you.¡± Michelle was saying. ¡°Perhaps I can assuage your concerns.¡±


    Ardwynn bit into a stale cookie. It hurt her tooth.


    ¡°Do you have any tea here?¡± She asked. ¡°Perhaps I can dunk these.¡±


    ¡°You''re not trying to eat those!¡± Exclaimed Ronni. ¡°My father probably bought those before he fled to Silvantra.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m nursing!¡± Said Ardwynn. ¡°I¡¯m eating for two.¡±


    ¡°We have to be able to do better than that.¡± Said Ronni sliding her chair out and standing. She bent over to look in a lower cabinet. Suddenly she straightened.


    ¡°I don¡¯t believe it!¡± She exclaimed.


    ¡°Did you find something?¡± Asked Ardwynn eagerly.


    ¡°No! Not that. Cinnabar has been trying to talk to me.¡± Said Ronni.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you usually listen to your dragon?¡± Asked Michelle with concern.


    ¡°Sure, but you were talking to me about my ability to have children. I was distracted.¡±


    ¡°What does he want?¡± Asked Ardwynn. ¡°Do you think they know where we can find some food in this place?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s telling me to answer the door!¡±


    Suddenly the the three heard a steady knocking. It was coming from the front door. They exchanged worried looks.


    ¡°Did Cinnabar say who was at the door?¡± Asked Ardwynn.It hadn¡¯t been that long since Mo-Rung had been trying to kill her in the bedroom. Of course, he hadn¡¯t bothered to politely knock.


    ¡°He said it was a surprise.¡± Said Ronniflass. ¡°It¡¯s strange because he doesn¡¯t usually keep things from me.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps he¡¯s upset because you have been ignoring him.¡± Smirked Michelle. ¡°I would be.¡±


    She walked into the living room and crossed it quickly. She threw open the door.


    ¡°Surprise!¡± Came a chorus of youthful voices. ¡°We figured out how to transfigure into elves!¡±


    Ardwynn peeked around the corner of the kitchen doorway. Michelle was standing there with a strange look on her face. Her eyes were blue. They also looked completely shocked. She was blinking furiously.


    ¡°Zinariya! Is that you?¡± She suddenly asked.


    ¡°Yes!¡± The young elven girl with the golden eyes squealed. ¡°Constance and Vigilant too!¡± We did it. Aren¡¯t you proud of us?¡±


    Michelle looked past them, out the door, and into the yard. Cinnabar and Salt were outside. They were still young dragons.


    ¡°Perhaps,¡± she thought, it¡¯s only Candasar¡¯s children. Lothinar¡¯s involvement changes things a lot!¡±Suddenly Salt sort of sagged, then popped. She disappeared. Standing in her place was another young elf. She was beautiful, with striking white hair. She was also wearing a white dress. She giggled happily and ran onto the porch with the others.


    ¡°Oh no!¡± Said Michelle. ¡°This is quite unexpected.¡±


    ¡°What about me!?¡± Yelled Cinnabar. ¡°Why can¡¯t I do it?¡±


    Zinariya disappeared off the porch and appeared next to him with a pop.


    ¡°Now you are just showing off!¡± Complained Cinnabar morosely.


    ¡°I think you are trying too hard.¡± Said Zinariya smiling. ¡°Relax and just let it happen. I think it¡¯s supposed to be more natural.¡±


    Cinnabar shook his head and looked down at the golden-eyed elf. He sighed and rolled his eyes.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll ever be able¡­..¡± POP!


    Another elven juvenile appeared. He had shockingly red hair. He was, however naked. He looked down and laughed. It didn¡¯t seem to bother him.


    ¡°I did it!¡± He exclaimed.¡°I didn¡¯t manage the clothes though.¡± He said


    By now both Ronni and Ardwynn had joined Michelle. They pushed through the doorway and onto the porch. The elven children stepped back a few steps and onto the stairs to make room for them.


    ¡°Cinnabar?¡± Ronni was practically shrieking.


    ¡°Hey! I¡¯m sorry,¡± the red-haired youth exclaimed.¡°I don¡¯t know why the others managed clothes and I didn¡¯t!¡±


    ¡°You change back right away!¡± Ronni yelled. ¡°You can¡¯t be an elf!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid he actually can¡± mumbled Michelle. ¡°I¡¯ve seen it a few times before.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m blaming Zinariya for this!¡± Ronni sputtered. ¡°She put this idea into their heads!¡±


    ¡°You did.¡± Said Zinariya, pointing at Michelle. ¡°You said something about changing into an elf earlier. You said I wasn¡¯t the first Gold dragon that you had met that liked being an elf.¡±


    Michelle sighed. ¡°I suppose I did.¡±


    ¡°Did they bring anything to eat?¡± Asked Ardwynn. ¡°I¡¯m not sharing these cookies.¡±She rattled the box.


    Ronni turned and ran back into the house.


    ¡°Hey Zinariya!¡± Said Ardwynn. ¡°How about you teleport me to my place over at the other end of the lake? I''m sure I left some food in the house.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry Ardwynn. My mother and father told me to stay here until they got back.¡±


    ¡°How do you feel about eating a weasel?¡± Asked Vigilant. ¡°I could shift back and probably catch you one. There are usually a few down by the dried-up creek.¡±


    ¡°How do they taste?¡± Asked Ardwynn. ¡°Did I already say that I¡¯m eating for two?¡±


    Michelle nodded. ¡°Yes, you did.¡±


    ¡°Wait!¡± Shouted Ronniflass from back inside the house. ¡°I found some Mung beans!¡±


    ¡°Weasel it is!¡± Said Ronni. ¡°Mung beans give me terrible gas.¡±


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-


    ¡°Thank you again for your help, Marg,¡± Lothinar said as he stared at the pile of Argent¡¯s elite troops that he had stacked up like logs on a flat spot near the hilltop. He pushed one of the bodies that had slid down a bit back into place. ¡°Now I just have to figure out what to do with them.¡±


    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t that be largely up to the town¡¯s survivors?¡± Marg asked.


    ¡°It should be,¡± Lothinar agreed. ¡°But I¡¯m afraid that there aren¡¯t many left. These bastards killed most of the town¡¯s humans.¡±


    ¡°When did all this start?¡± Asked Marg with a speculative tone in her voice. ¡°I can probably do something.¡±


    Lothinar looked at her with skepticism. ¡°If you¡¯re thinking you can bring some of them back¡­?¡±


    ¡°You sound like you already might know what ¡®I¡¯m talking about. Good!¡± Said Marg.¡°That will save time.¡±She looked at Candasar.¡°I will need the assistance of your blue. What¡¯s your name child?¡±


    ¡°Is she being serious right now?¡± Candasar snorted. ¡°There are hundreds of dead humans here, and they are scattered all around. Vanquish and I barely managed to bring Queen Pricilla back. It also almost killed you!¡±


    ¡°Candy¡± Lothinar said quietly. ¡°I think you have to admit that we are all a bit stronger than we were the last time. Marg says something can be done. We have to try. These people deserve that. They fought the elves for us. We owe them that much.¡±


    Lothinar¡¯s father and mother walked up. His mother was eyeing the sword. He absentmindedly unbuckled it from his waist and held it out to her. Lothinar turned to Siophra, who had not left his side. She had seemed a bit uneasy when Marg started dropping elves at Lothinar¡¯s feet but she had stayed with him. He appreciated that. Tundor had beenLothinar¡¯s first dragon friend. That fact had not been lost on his beautiful aunt. He smiled at her. She winked.


    You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    ¡°This is probably going to be interesting¡± she suddenly whispered, as if reading his mind. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t want to miss it.¡±


    ¡°Could you and Tundor fly up and start searching for bodies?¡± He asked.


    ¡°It¡¯s still pretty dark, Lothinar. It might be easier from the ground. We should try the residential sections first. Maybe after the sunrise¡­¡± she tapered off.


    Marg chuckled. ¡°There is no need to search. I will take you to them. You are still thinking in old ways.¡±


    ¡°But if we need Candasar, won¡¯t we need to bring the bodies out here into a larger space?¡± He asked. His face showed his obvious confusion.


    ¡°Candasar eh?¡± Marg grinned looking at the blue dragon. ¡°I must commend you on your extremely good choice of a bond.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s a work in progress¡± Chuckled the blue dragon. ¡°But I¡¯m doing my best.¡±


    ¡°What about me?¡± huffed Firestorm, obviously irritated. ¡°I¡¯m his bond too!¡± She had returned to the hilltop shortly after Marg had stopped delivering elves to Lothinar.


    Marg¡¯s eyes widened slightly. ¡°Multiple bonds¡­hmmm. Now that is rare. Only two then?¡±


    ¡°Can there be more than two¡± Siophra asked with obvious curiosity, suddenly leaning forward.


    ¡°Well, two is rare, but once the single bond limit is broken, it quite possible and even likely that he could form a dozen or more.¡±


    ¡°Nope! Said Firestorm.¡°Not happening. Lothinar! We discussed this.


    ¡°Do not be jealous young Firestorm. I can sense that Lothinar¡¯s heart is big enough to¡­.¡±


    ¡°I am not sliding down any farther in the pecking order!¡± She yelled. ¡°I don¡¯t care if you are an ancient gold! Lothinar is mine! She looked at Candasar. ¡°I mean ours!¡±


    ¡°I am not bonding with you.¡± Lothinar said to Marg.


    The golden eyed elf looked at him.Her eyes crinkled up.Then she began to laugh.


    ¡°Oh my! No, ha!¡± She began to shake and twitch.Suddenly she turned around and ran directly away from the group.She fell to the ground and started pounding the dirt with her hand.The hand grew claws.The arm lengthened dramatically.A golden flash pierced the night and an immense golden dragon lay on the hillside.It was still laughing.


    ¡°You thought that I¡­. Oh that¡¯s too much. Suddenly she stopped. She grew quiet. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, that was quite rude of me¡± she rumbled. There was another smaller flash and her elf body appeared. It trudged back up the short hill. She stopped in front of Firestorm.


    ¡°I like you little red dragon. You stand up for yourself, and though he may not always see it, for him.¡± She gestured at Lothinar. ¡°Therefore you will go first!¡±


    ¡°Go first for wha¡­¡± POP!Firestorm disappeared and where she stood was a beautiful elf. Her hair was the rich red of garnets. Her eyes were darker. They were the color of mahogany. She was wearing a slinky red dress. Lothinar couldn¡¯t help notice that it was pretty short. Is this what Firestorm would look like as an elf? He wondered. She looked towards him and their eyes met. She swayed and started to fall. Her eyes grew wide with panic. Lothinar leapt forward to catch her.


    ¡°What did you do!?¡± Lothinar yelled at Marg. ¡°Change her back!¡±


    ¡°Wait! It¡¯s ok Lothinar, I¡¯m fine. It was just a shock. Let me figure this out. How do you even walk on just two legs anyway?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t think about it too much¡±, replied Marg. ¡°Your new body knows what to do.¡±


    Firestorm managed to step forward, but she was still clutching tightly to Lothinar¡¯s arm. Siophra moved to the other side of her for extra support. Firestorm grew more steady. Then she let go, turned and did a pirouette.


    ¡°Wow!¡± This is amazing. It¡¯s pretty scary actually.¡± She said. ¡°How do I look?¡±


    ¡°You are actually quite beautiful.¡± Said Siophra. She looked at Lothinar and cleared her throat.


    ¡°Oh Yes. I¡¯m speechless.Your gorgeous, in fact.¡± He said.


    Firestorm smiled appreciatively. ¡°Thank you Lothinar.¡± She said. ¡°And thank you Marg, for this opportunity. I can change back, right?¡±


    ¡°Now that I have awakened this power in you, or course you can. Anytime you want.¡± Grinned Marg.


    Firestrorm suddenly looked quite serious. This changes things doesn''t it?¡±


    ¡°Yes, you will have to decide many things, young Firestorm. It does change things.¡±


    ¡°You are NOT doing that to me!¡± Exclaimed Candasar.


    ¡°Really?¡± Asked Marg skeptically. ¡°I can tell you are curious. I need you to be small at the moment. It¡¯s for the task at hand. The murdered humans are mostly inside human sized rooms.¡±


    ¡°Why do you need me?¡± Asked Candasar. ¡°If you are so powerful!¡±


    ¡°How can you be so ignorant?¡± Snorted Marg in a very dragon like fashion. Lothinar almost couldn¡¯t believe the sound had come out of her elven body. ¡°You are a blue. You need at least one blue to raise the dead. Everyone know that!¡±


    ¡°Apparently not everyone¡± mumbled Siophra.


    ¡°I will not force her.¡± Said Lothinar suddenly. ¡°She should not be unduly pressured into this. It¡¯s o.k. Candy. We never even considered something like this to be possible anyway.¡±


    Candasar looked at Firestorm. ¡°Does it hurt?¡± She suddenly asked.


    ¡°Not now, no. But when I changed, yes. Quite a bit in fact.¡±


    ¡°One gets used to these things I suppose ¡° nodded Marg, surprisingly agreeing with her. ¡°It¡¯s a little bit like putting on a shoe that¡¯s too tight.¡±


    Candasar just looked at her. Marg blinked. ¡°Of course¡­that¡¯s a terrible example at this point. Especially for you.¡±


    ¡°Why is Firestorm clothed at all, by the way?¡± Asked Siophra. ¡°That seems a little strange.¡±


    Firestorm blushed.


    ¡°It is because I wished it to be so." Marg said. There are any number of clothing choices that I might magically cause to appear upon her body.I thought these were quite nice. They compliment her natural hair and skin tones, don¡¯t you think?


    Siophra nodded, intrigued. Dragons get magical clothes! Now I¡¯m getting jealous.¡±


    ¡°The next time she transitions,¡± Marg continued, ¡°she will be able to choose what she wears for herself. It does come easier for some than others.¡±


    Firestorm smirked at Candasar. ¡°This might change the pecking order!¡±


    Candasar had a strange look on her face. Suddenly she growled. ¡°Do it!¡± She said, ¡°I consent. Time is slipping away. We have miracles to accomplish.¡±


    Before she could change her mind, Marg acted.She reached with her magic inside Candasar and removed the impediment of doubt. She then immediately flipped her biological elf switch. Magic was so fun! These young dragons had no idea of what they were truly capable of! She made sure she selected clothes. It wouldn¡¯t do to make an enemy of this blue. She was Lothinar¡¯s first bond. The way he was delivering magic to everyone on this hilltop, both of his bonds would soon be serious forces to deal with. Yes, even as a gold, it was best to remain on good terms.


    The dusky elf with dark blue hair and eyes that appeared did not really surprise anyone. She didn¡¯t even wobble.She was a natural at shifting.Candasar didn¡¯t seem to revel in the new experience, but wanted to get started right away.


    Lothinar and Candasar worked their way through the human city of Delora Natine.Marg quickly and efficiently teleported them to each location where Argent¡¯s soldiers had worked their murderous mayhem. They looked in every home and closet. Not everyone could be saved. Even with the Gold dragon¡¯s help, some of the wounds had been too severe. The town guard had faired the worst. This was, of course because they had been fighting back.


    When all that could be saved, had been,Lothinar called a gathering. Several hundred people showed up. Many of them were still wearing the bloody clothes that they had been killed in. He put the matter to a vote.


    ¡°What shall we do with these? Your murderers.¡± Lothinar asked, pointing to the shimmering blue pile of elves.


    ¡°Can we not leave them as they are?¡± One woman asked loudly.


    ¡°Unfortunately that has not been a satisfactory solution to this problem before.¡± He countered. Lothinar glared slightly at his mother who visibly winced.


    ¡°Let the dragons decide.¡± We put our trust in them.¡± Called out several people. ¡°Yes let the dragons provide justice!¡±The crowd grew quiet awaiting their deliberations.


    Lothinar looked at Marg. ¡°What is your range?¡± He asked her.


    She looked surprised at his question and was a little slow answering.


    ¡°I don¡¯t actually know¡± she replied ¡°standing here with your power flowing so freely, my range is more or less unlimited I suppose.¡±


    Lothinar squinted at the morning sun, still rising in the sky. ¡°Can you hit that? He asked.


    ¡°What?! The sun?¡± She had a surprised look on her face. ¡°You think of the strangest things! Actually I really doubt it.¡± She said at last, ¡°But the fall from how high I CAN send them would be long and spectacular.¡±


    Lothinar considered his night spent picking up the bodies of women and children and putting them back together. He would never forget what he had seen, even if miraculously, most of their attempts ended up with a life restored. He knew Candasar would never forget either. Her elven hands had been shaking uncontrollably just before Marg turned her back. She and Tundor had flown back up to the cabin. She had been eager to check on her kids. Siophra and Firestorm had stayed. Firestorm still wore her elven form. She looked at him and tried to smile, but it was a thin attempt. She felt what he felt. She was his bond. His smile was broken too.


    ¡°Only if we wake them first.¡± He told Marg, grimly. ¡°I think that would feel more like justice to me.¡±


    ¡°It won¡¯t be a problem if you and I time it correctly.¡± Marg asserted.


    Lothinar nodded and started counting down from ten. At three he woke them all up. The pile of elves started thrashing. At zero there was a loud pop and they disappeared. Lothinar looked at the sun.It was probably his imagination but he thought he saw a small shadow. Then the glare made him look away. The crowd burst into cheers! Someone must have told the towns people what they were going to do. It must have been Firestorm. She had access to his thoughts after all. She gave him a little wave and nodded. She was really pretty. It was unfortunate that she was going to immediately turn back into a dragon. After all, she was going to be his ride home.


    Marg looked at him. ¡°Your journey is just begun Lothinar. But even you have your limits. You need time to sort your feelings and heal your mind. I will find you soon.¡±


    ¡°How will you know how to find me?¡± He asked.


    ¡°The same way that I found you the first time.Your leaking tasty magic like a sieve!¡± She chuckled.¡°Don¡¯t be surprised if other dragons come to see you.¡± She added.


    ¡°Really?¡± He asked. ¡°There are others like you?¡±


    ¡°Like me?¡± No. I¡¯m pretty elf friendly. I¡¯m sure you probably noticed. I just woke up so I need to do some checking around. Some other old solitary monsters no doubt survived Argent¡¯s purge. Your lucky I found you first.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, I guess.¡± He said. ¡°Oh wait! I wanted you to meet Vanquish! She¡¯s in a bit of a predicament!¡±


    ¡°Is she at the place that Candasar went?¡± Marg asked.


    ¡°The last time that I saw her, yes.¡± He replied.


    ¡°I will jump ahead and try to speak with her there. I will not dally much. I will most likely be gone by the time you arrive.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not really that far.¡± Lothinar protested. ¡°Firestorm can probably get me there pretty fast,¡±


    ¡°I suspect that you two will have additional things to discuss before you make that journey.¡± Said Marg mysteriously. Look now. She is patiently waiting for you. I am leaving. Don¡¯t worry, I will speak to Vanquish. It should prove to be interesting.¡±


    ¡°You seem to be speaking in riddles!¡± Said Lothinar, suddenly confused.


    ¡°That is because there are some things you need to figure out for yourself.¡± Answered Marg. ¡°Look to your dragon. She may provide unexpected insight.¡±


    There was the usual pop of teleportation but instead of Marg completely disappearing,she exploded into full dragon size about three hundred feet in the air.She started to fall but unfurled her great wings and caught the air. Flapping them only a few times she quickly flew off in the direction of Ronni¡¯s mountain cabin.


    Firestorm walked towards him. She looked somehow worried and apprehensive. She reached down and took his hand. She stood in front of him, continuing to hold it.


    ¡°These hands are so soft¡± she said. ¡°It seems strange doesn¡¯t it. It¡¯s like some sort of dream.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s been a long night, and more of a nightmare really.¡± He said.


    She winced.


    ¡°Not everything that has happened tonight has been terrible.¡± She finally said, looking up at him. Her hand was actually a little sweaty. ¡°I learned a new ability. It actually may help me solve a problem that I¡¯ve been struggling with for a long time.¡±


    ¡°Well it will certainly make it more convenient to fit inside elf sized buildings. Especially now that you are starting to grow so large.¡±


    ¡°I have always wanted to be useful to you. Since the day you healed my flaws, and bestowed me with part of your soul, I have always felt such a deep connection.¡±


    Lothinar nodded, listening to her words and feeling their passion and sincerity through his bond with her.


    ¡°I left everything I knew and chased you up the mountain. You do remember that, don¡¯t you?¡°


    He chuckled, remembering her little face looking at him through Ronni¡¯s kitchen window.


    ¡°I know you probably consider me to be still a child, but you need to understand something Lothinar!¡±


    Her feelings came crashing into him. She must have somehow been holding them back. He really should have been paying more attention. The signs were all there. She was in love with him. He knew deep in his heart that they loved each other, but this was a different kind of thing. It was the ache of desire. It was passion. She had discovered a path forward and she intended to try and use it!


    His brain clenched up. He calmed his thoughts. She was already in his mind through their well established bond. He couldn¡¯t lie or misdirect, nor would he want to. He really hated that he could be so clueless about such things. It always left him off kilter and scrambling emotionally. He very much needed to respond with something. He sent back waves of affection and acceptance. He would never reject her, but it was a surprise.


    She let go of his hand.


    ¡°So, obviously not immediately then.¡± She said sighing disappointedly. ¡°I suppose that after a night like this, that would be a lot to ask.¡±


    ¡°I do love you my little dragon.¡± He said tenderly.He realized that he sincerely meant it. In ways that he never thought possible.


    She stepped a few paces away from him and scrunched up her face.There was a loud whoosh. Her more familiar form appeared. The clothes that she had been wearing fluttered to the ground. She looked at them in surprise. Lothinar went over and picked them up. The fabric was pretty nice.


    ¡°I¡¯ll just tuck these away for now. You might want them later.¡± He said.


    ¡°And I might not.¡± She grinned.


    ----------------


    Marg switched to her elf form high in the air and immediately teleported to the porch of the small house.It was a pretty place.It had been a long time since she had been down this way, but somehow it looked familiar.She found herself wondering if any of her old elven friends from before the war might have lived here. Her arrival on the porch had not gone un-noticed however.The door had been left open. She had landed softly but a squeaky plank gave her away. A young male elf with startling blue eyes was intently staring at her.


    Are you Marg? He asked. ¡°My mother said you might be coming by.¡±


    ¡°I believe it is still good manners when asking for someone¡¯s name, that you give your own first.¡± She said, not unkindly.


    ¡°Oh!¡± He said. ¡°My name is Vigilant. Candasar is my mother.¡±


    That floored her for a moment. Candasar had almost refused to shift into elven form, yet here was someone claiming to be her son, and obviously an elf. A young good looking one at that! She looked deeper, using her inner sight. Yes. There it was, He was indeed a dragon as well. How could this have happened without her assistance?


    ¡°Have you been an elf boy long?¡± She asked curiously.


    ¡°Just a few hours.¡± He said awkwardly. ¡°I haven¡¯t even tried to shift back yet.¡±


    ¡°Does your mother actually know that you have done this?¡± She asked slowly. ¡°She didn¡¯t seem to be eager to do this herself, earlier.¡±


    ¡°Mother shifted?!¡± He said in disbelief. ¡°She¡¯s out in the barn right now yelling at Zinariya for leading the rest of us astray!¡±


    Marg hadn¡¯t expected to wander into a family argument. A slender blue eyed elven girl walked into the front room. She was yelling back over her shoulder into the room she had just come from.


    ¡°I found him! He¡¯s in the living room¡­.¡± Her voice trailed off.¡°We¡¯ve got company again!¡± She shouted.


    ¡°Who is it now!?¡± Yelled a voice.


    ¡°It¡¯s an elf lady, but it¡¯s nobody I¡¯ve seen before!¡± She shouted back ¡°It might be the old crone you were telling us about.¡±


    There was the thump of footsteps. The floorboards rattled as a young, wild eyed, human girl rounded the corner and threw her hand over the mouth of the girl.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s my sister Constance.¡± Said Vigilant.


    The pretty elf maiden looked a lot like her brother. Just the female version. She managed a little wave, in spite of the older human having her hand across her mouth.


    ¡°Now Constance! We shouldn¡¯t speak of the elderly in such a disrespectful way!¡± The newcomer scolded.


    ¡°But that¡¯s what you called her earlier aunt Vanquish!¡± The boy said, rolling his eyes.


    ¡°Vanquish, is that you?¡± Asked Marg. She was confused. The Vanquish she new had never shifted, and Marg had never heard of a dragon actually being able to change into a human.


    ¡®I¡¯m going by Michelle these days, actually.¡± Said the girl with a grimace. ¡°Vanquish, the dragon, actually died. This is the real me. If it was ever possible for me to shape shift like you do, that ability died with my real body. Anyway, Candasar told me that you might be coming. What do you want?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m here because Lothinar asked me to speak with you.¡± Marg answered. ¡°You realize what he has become don¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°Of course I do. His mother used your daughter¡¯s powers to shape him in the womb. She didn¡¯t really know what she was doing but she gave me a good start. I moved a few things around anatomically and eventually he made the transition. It¡¯s been a very difficult time for him. For all of us, actually.¡±


    Marg tried to hold back a laugh but Michelle noticed.


    ¡°Do you think this is funny?¡± She practically exploded.


    ¡°No Vanquish, no. I don¡¯t think it¡¯s funny. I think it¡¯s amazing. No one¡¯s ever been able to do this before. You should be proud that you got him this far.¡±


    ¡°But, now you¡¯re going to swoop in and take over, is that it, Marg? After Esmarilla and I did all the work?¡±


    ¡°Neither of you have the knowledge or experience to help him complete this journey,¡± Marg replied.


    ¡°I won¡¯t let you.¡± Said Michelle. Her blue eyes were glowing.


    ¡°You seem a lot braver, wearing that human body than your dragon one,¡± Marg replied icily. ¡°You would never have dared to stand in my way before!¡±


    ¡°Perhaps it''s that I feel that I don¡¯t have that much more to lose!¡± Exclaimed Michelle. My real body is already dead. I hardly think. You¡¯d stoop so low as to attack this puny human girl¡­¡±


    ¡°Enough!¡± Growled Marg. She grew in height. Her mouth grew fangs and ridges appeared on her forehead.


    ¡°What is going on out here!¡± Came another voice from behind Michelle. Ardwynn slipped past and stepped between Marg and Michelle.


    ¡°Look, I don¡¯t know who you are and what you want, but you can¡¯t just come in here and try to intimidate my friend. You are also scaring the children!¡±


    Marg looked down. Constance and Vigilant¡¯s eyes were wide.


    ¡°Ardwynn! Be Careful! You don¡¯t know who she is!¡± Whispered Michelle.


    ¡°I don¡¯t care! She¡¯s being rude. It¡¯s a good thing Ronni¡¯s not here. She¡¯d be throwing a fit. Her claws are scratching up the floorboards!¡±


    Marg blinked. Her feet had shifted back into claws. The elf was correct about that. She tried to rein in her anger. This elf seemed fearless. She took a second look. No, not just an elf. She had dragon parts as well. She must somehow be involved with Lothinar.


    ¡°Shall we start again?¡± The pretty elf asked. ¡°She smiled. ¡°If you shrink down a bit and retract those claws, I¡¯ll offer you my hand. I¡¯m Ardwynn, Lothinar¡¯s wife. By the way, you¡¯re not taking my husband anywhere!¡¯


    ___________________

 Volume 3: Chapter 3: The New Emperors Close

    ************************


    Chapter 3


    ************************


    Vanador stood on the shore of the crystal clear mountain lake. He had been standing there for hours, looking at his reflection in the water. Yep, he was still a white dragon. The dragon had been doing a lot of thinking. His most recent thoughts were that he had been a complete jerk.


    He had never been able to make the transition into an elf. Despite her obvious power, Vanador¡¯s egg mother Marg had been a social outlier, at least before the war. Her strange proclivities and living her life that way had been frowned upon by almost everyone. Almost no one took her up on her offer to teach them how to unlock the ability for themselves or were at least willing to admit it. Then Argent had fully come into power and elves were no longer just another interesting species. They were the enemy! Marg disappeared, taking her ability to shift forms with her and most of the big dragons started dying. By then it was too late.


    Seeing Vanquish in that form had shocked him to the core. He hadn¡¯t even been willing to listen to her. In retrospect, the fact that she was now human, and not an elf meant that something else was going on. Something must have gone wrong. As far as he knew, that transformation wasn¡¯t even possible! Even his mother probably couldn¡¯t shift into a human. Humans were just so magically incapable. It would be like trying to fit an ocean in a teapot! He should have at least heard her out. She had been reluctant to appear before him in that form. A sudden horrifying thought occurred to him. What if she didn¡¯t have a choice? What if she had died? A blue dragon had resurrection powers and Vanquishes were without parallel.


    Vanador focused again on his reflection. He thought about the elves he had come to respect. Cantrell and Mavis were two of the good ones. Siophra! He might even love her. Not in that way of course! She was more like a sister. He pushed those thoughts quickly aside and continued trying to change himself into elven form. Nothing happened. His huge white body was still staring back at him. He roared in frustration and leaped into the sky. He turned and flew back the way he had come. He had probably forever damaged his relationship with Vanquish. He didn¡¯t want to alienate his sister Esmarilla too!


    -------------------


    Zinariya was getting lectured, and she didn¡¯t like it. Not at all. Her mother Candasar was going on and on. She wasn¡¯t thrilled with several of her choices and decisions. Zinariya couldn¡¯t even understand what she was upset about. She had done nothing wrong! If anything, her mother was to blame, leaving the nest barely guarded and getting her into all of this. Afterward, Zinariya even helped Ardwella stabilize the elven kingdom by putting down Argent¡¯s rebellious daughters. Of course, Candasar hadn''t seen how selfless and brave she had been. She''d been off somewhere else helping Lothinar. Zinariya wondered to herself if she would ever be able to juggle an active lifestyle AND a family. Her mother was doing a pretty poor job of trying to manage both.


    Her father Tundor wasn¡¯t doing anything to defend her either. He¡¯d stuck his huge head in the barn door a couple of times, then pulled it back out, reluctant to interrupt Candasar¡¯s verbal tirade. Then, she remembered that he had eaten Zinariya¡¯s eggshell! Of all the nerve! That''s not how a committed father should act.


    ¡°Your brother and sister, actually ALL of you children are too young and inexperienced to be wandering around as elves, not even considering the social nuances you would be expected to follow!¡± Her mother continued, obviously exasperated. ¡°And elven bodies are not nearly as durable as your dragon ones. You might easily become injured.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not like I made them do it!¡± She huffed. ¡°They were copying me.¡±


    ¡°They look up to you. Of course, they are going to try to copy you. I don¡¯t even know what I¡¯m going to tell my grandfather about how his daughter Salt has already learned bad habits from you¡­Thank goodness Pepper is still away with Cenderick.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t your grandfather the dragon that just tried to kill Ardwynn?¡± Zinariya pointed out. ¡°I hardly think he¡¯s in a position to complain about my behavior!¡±


    ¡®You should respect your elders!¡± Growled her mother. "Your grandfather has had a difficult life!"


    ¡°You have all these expectations, but I¡¯m the youngest!¡± Zinariya practically sobbed. ¡°I just had to grow up fast because Argent¡¯s family was trying to kill and eat me!¡±


    Finally, her father Tundor decided to join the conversation. He had been listening. Not being able to fit inside the barn anymore obviously made it hard for him to fully participate.


    ¡°She has a point, Candasar.¡± He rumbled.


    ¡°What? Your taking her side now?¡± Her mother sounded indignant.


    ¡°I¡¯m not.¡± He began, ¡°but she has done remarkably well given the terrible events that accompanied her arrival into the world. Things were happening fast. They still are. Argent¡¯s evil family brought the war to us. Again! Siophra says¡­¡±


    ¡°Why is what Siophra says relevant to THIS conversation? She¡¯s not even here! Exclaimed Candasar.


    ¡®I know that you were not here at the time,¡± Tundor reminded her as Candasar winced, ¡°But Siophra was in a unique position to get to know the innermost thoughts of our daughter. She has shared many of them with me. Siophra and I both trust her.¡±


    That Siophra and her father both endorsed her and believed in her brought tears to Zinariya¡¯s eyes. She couldn¡¯t even speak! She could only nod her thanks.


    Candasar looked back and forth between Tundor¡¯s head, poking through the doorway, and Zinariya. Then she sighed. ¡°This conversation is not over, but ¡®I¡¯m exhausted and need time to process and think. She got a strange look on her face.


    ¡°Oh no!¡± She suddenly shouted. ¡°I leave him alone with Firestorm for just a few minutes and she pulls this?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Asked Tundor.


    Candasar¡¯s eyes shot toward Zinariya. She shook her head, declining to answer. She didn¡¯t want to give her wayward daughter any further reason to try and grow up any faster. She waited and felt Lothinar¡¯s response to Firestorm through their bond and breathed a sigh of relief. The elf had navigated that awkward situation with amazing tact. They were on their way back here now. Thankfully Firestorm had retaken her proper dragon form.


    ¡°Let¡¯s all get some much-needed sleep¡± she said. ¡°We can always talk more in the morning. Zinariya, you need to know that I love you and only want what¡¯s best.¡±


    Zinariya nodded, but her mother was right. This conversation was far from over.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    Marg pulled herself together. She struggled to get a better mental grip on what should be a normal elf''s shape and size. She knew she had finally succeeded when she was able to look Ardwynn directly in the eyes instead of towering over her. ¡°You''re right of course. I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯ve already said this once recently but my Elven manners are pretty rusty."


    "I think that it''s more likely that you''ve been too long accustomed to having things your own way," Michelle said bitterly.


    Marg dipped her head in a small nod, seeming to acquiesce, but her eyes were simmering with barely contained golden fire. She briefly glared at Michelle, then turned to smile again at the elf that claimed to be Lothinar''s wife.


    Watching their brief interaction, Ardwynn strongly suspected that Marg and the dragon that had been Vanquish must have had a troubled history. Whatever this dragon wanted from Lothinar, it seemed that, for the moment, she was suddenly willing to negotiate. Lothinar must have something that she wanted.


    "Again, I must apologize," said Marg. What do you people say? I must have gotten up on the wrong side of the bed?"


    ¡°As long as it¡¯s your bed and not Lothinar¡¯s, we will probably get along fine.¡± Said Ardwynn.


    ¡°I assure you, dearie," said Marg, speaking with an affectation that reminded Ardwynn of a tottering old grandmother. "I¡¯m certainly not interested in your husband in that way. I''m also unwilling to form a dragon bond with him. I have far too many dangerous secrets that I would prefer to keep to myself.¡± Said Marg.


    ¡°I''m sure she does.¡± Ardwynn heard ¡®Michelle whisper under her breath from behind her.


    "Then what DO you want?" asked Ardwynn bluntly.


    ¡°I felt the power Lothinar was making all the way from my home. Trust me, that¡¯s quite a distance from here. If any other of the really large dragons have survived until now, they are going to feel it too. They will more than likely come to investigate. It will take them longer than me to get here. I¡¯m the only golden and can teleport, but they will come. You should prepare for that.


    Vigilant starting squirming. He wanted to correct Marg about the existence of a second golden dragon, but Ardwynn grabbed his arm and shook her head at him. Constance started to open her mouth but thankfully ¡®Michelle still had her hand near her face and placed it over her mouth again. The kids finally seemed to take the hint. Marg had been watching their antics but hadn¡¯t yet realized that her exclusivity as the only golden dragon in existence had been compromised. Suddenly her eyes narrowed.


    ¡°These are Candasar''s kids? That¡¯s what they told me anyway. After her extreme reluctance to change form, I¡¯m quite surprised that she has already shared the knowledge of how to do that with her children. She just left me a short time ago. It¡¯s not that easy an ability to impart to others.¡±


    ¡°What can I say except that those associated with Lothinar sometimes are exceptional,¡± Ardwynn said smiling. ¡°You clearly must understand that¡±


    ¡°I suppose.¡± Muttered Marg, looking about.


    ¡°Other than warning us about potentially more large dragons visiting, is there anything else?¡± Asked Ardwynn.


    Marg seemed to shake off her concerns and brightened. ¡°Yes, a very important concern of mine. I spoke with ¡®Lothinar¡¯s mother back at the town. Interesting elf, that one. She¡¯s either a genius or an idiot. I¡¯m still trying to decide. Anyway, she told me about the cache of frozen dragon eggs that her father had hidden away and that they had hatched. I had heard something about this project of some of the others to put aside some eggs against the possibility of future limitations of genetic diversity.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure I completely understand what that even means.¡± Said Ardwynn.


    Michelle jumped in. ¡°It means that there are many kinds of dragons with widely different powers. Blues like Candasar and I can do a lot of different things. We are, well, I was¡­ Blue dragons have one of the most diverse set of powers but they can¡¯t teleport for example.¡±


    ¡°And whites are great, healers, better, in most cases, than blues, but only til the point of death. After that, even I recently needed to lean heavily on Candasar¡¯s abilities.¡± Said Marg.


    ¡°Blues are rare?¡± Ardwynn asked, looking at Constance and Vigilant. "I seem to be somewhat surrounded by them.¡±


    ¡°They are a great multi-use tool. They remind me of like those small pocket knives with all the different blades and attachments that the humans like so much. Their biggest blade, if you will, their unique function is of course the reigniting of life.¡± Marg explained.


    Ardwynn whirled around and stared at Michelle. ¡°All that talk about killing the bad goats and letting the good goats live! That¡¯s not how it happened was it?¡±


    ¡°I believe that was Lothinar¡¯s analogy, not mine.¡± Said Michelle.


    ¡°You killed me. All of me.¡± Ardwynn whispered.


    ¡°I suppose it''s a matter of perspective," said Michelle. "You have to understand something. A body is made up of innumerable tiny little living parts. Every one of yours had a tiny piece of Argent in it. To fix you, every single one of those parts needed to die. It was the only way to get it all.¡± She smiled somewhat apologetically. ¡°I immediately resurrected the healthy parts. That''s why you are here talking to me. Then just in case you forgot, you killed me back.¡±


    Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.


    Ardwynn glared at her and started to argue, but Michelle was saved from further discussion by the cry of a baby from the back of the house. Without another word, she stalked off.


    "Little Harvey must be hungry again.¡± Said Vigilant with a grin.


    Marg had been listening with interest. "You have picked up a few new tricks since we last met," she said. Substantially modifying elves, placing your consciousness into a human. Perhaps I have underestimated you."


    "Most of what I did to Ardwynn was for Lothinar''s benefit," said Michelle. "I have to admit, finding myself living in this human body was mostly an accident. Lothinar''s powers were involved."


    "Lothinar must care for Ardwynn a great deal. That sounds like an interesting story," said Marg raising an eyebrow.


    "It''s too long for the telling right now," said Michelle. "Ardwynn was also carrying his unborn son at the time. I believed that him suffering the loss of both of them could potentially set him back in his development."


    "This is the same son that she is currently lactating for?"


    "He only has the one. So far," said Michelle.


    Marg nodded. "I have been told that nursing one''s young can be a special experience," she said. "Do you intend to use that human body to someday create offspring?"


    "It''s the only body I have now," replied Michelle. "And I don''t think it''s fair to deprive my kind and generous human host of that opportunity."


    Marg''s gaze seemed to be boring into her. Michelle began to squirm a little. Thankfully the golden dragon chose to change the subject.


    "We were speaking about the diversity of young dragons.¡± Said Marg. ¡°Where are all these dragons now?¡±


    ¡°The human king loaded almost all of them onto ships and is sailing to Silvantra with them,¡± said Michelle, feeling relieved.


    ¡°Among humans, such as yourself, how will they ever learn about their culture or how to properly use their unique abilities?¡±


    ¡°I have had similar concerns.¡± Admitted Michelle. "I seem to find myself in a unique position."


    ¡°I''m glad that you agree." smiled Marg. "I would like you to go to Silvantra and mentor them. Your human host is obviously from there anyway.¡±


    Michelle felt her grasp on furthering her relationship with Lothinar begin to slip away. Part of her was definitely against following the suggestion.


    ¡°What possible reason would I have for doing anything that you tell me to?¡± She let slip out.


    ¡°I would be willing to teach Vanador to shift. Perhaps in elven form you and he could continue your previous relationship.¡± Marg said wiggling her eyebrows.


    ¡°I tried to speak with him. Recently in fact. Vanador wants no part of me, in any form.¡± Michelle said. ¡°I probably have you to thank for that! His mother issues have obviously irreparably scarred him.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s too bad.¡± Said Marg. I¡¯ve always thought Vanador would make a handsome elf. Maybe Siophra would be interested¡­.¡±


    ¡°You leave her out of this!¡± Siophra isn''t even bonded with Vanador anymore. If you meddle in this way, you will damage relationships and only bring chaos into this new way of life for dragons and elves. A way of life that you have obviously long-awaited and schemed for!¡±


    ¡°I will confess to a little scheming.¡± Said Marg. ¡°But regarding the education of these young dragons, you know that I¡¯m right.¡±


    Michelle looked down. ¡°I will do as you ask. I will return to Silvantra and mentor the young ones. Lothinar and I both need some time to sort everything out anyway.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡± Said Marg. ¡°As a time commitment, it won¡¯t be very long. They grow up so fast!¡± Then her eyes narrowed.


    ¡°So, you do admit to wanting to join his harem! You know it will be large. It is inevitable.¡±


    ¡±This girl,¡± Michelle said looking down and then pointing to herself, ¡°has her heart set on staying with him. The remaining dragon part of me is still coming to terms with losing my original body¡­.and your son. It¡¯s quite complicated.¡±


    ¡°He already has one blue.¡± Said Marg. ¡°You''re probably already too late.¡±


    ¡°Lothinar can be extremely tender-hearted and tends to pick up strays but I¡¯d like to believe that as a dragon god, he will be wise enough to choose quality over quantity.¡±


    ¡°And you are quality?¡± Marg scoffed.


    Michelle''s eyes flashed dangerously. ¡°I know that compared to you I¡¯m young but I do know a few things.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re just a ghost that is hanging on by a thread. I could cut that thread.¡± Marg said ominously. She seemed to be speaking directly to the human part of the duo. ¡°Would you like that human girl? Do you want to be free of your parasite? It must be difficult having someone constantly telling you what to do.¡± Marg waited for an answer but thankfully human Michelle didn¡¯t take the bait. She was more scared of the ancient golden than Vanquish.


    ¡°You have chosen the devil you know, then.¡± Said Marg.


    Michelle breathed a silent sigh of relief. She didn¡¯t think Marg would be able to rip her dragon consciousness out of Michelle¡¯s human body, especially now that they were fully bonded. It would have been an unpleasant experience to have her try. She owed the human girl she was bonded with a huge thanks. She silently promised her that when Lothinar was finally willing, the vestigial Vanquish would no longer stand in her way. She returned to the subject of Lothinar¡¯s possible harem.


    ¡°Candasar is with Tundor. He¡¯s a huge white. You probably saw him over the town. I don¡¯t think it would ever even occur to her to think of Lothinar in that way.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think that Firestorm has the same reservations that Candasar does about that.¡± Smirked Marg.


    ¡°You shifted her too? That¡¯s trouble. I knew you showing up was going to cause more problems!¡±


    ¡°Problems and overcoming them are how people grow and learn. I also helped Candasar and Lothinar restore a lot of lives last night. That¡¯s going to do nothing but improve Lothinar¡¯s reputation.¡±


    If I can get on one of Enderline¡¯s ships, will you promise to leave my friends alone?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m hurt.¡± Said Marg. It¡¯s almost like you don¡¯t want me around.¡±


    ¡°You have always been fairly perceptive. Even when I was dating your son.¡± Said Michelle.


    ¡°I honored your wishes last time. How did that work out for you?¡± Asked Marg.


    ¡°Not as well as I hoped.¡± Said The once-great blue dragon. It seemed that she would be traveling again soon.


    In all of her attention on Marg, and being distracted by her threatened extinction, Michelle had failed to see Candasar''s two blue children quietly sneaking out the front door.


    Constance and Vigilant had realized that having another gold dragon in the house was something their sister Zinariya would want to know about. They went to tell her.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-


    When Vanador returned to the elven Capitol it was immediately obvious that something had changed. Esmarilla and Mo-Rung were circling in the sky over the great parade square and adjoining fields in front of the main city gates. Several thousand elves were milling around below them. Stacked up against the main gates were several huge piles of weapons. Swords, spears, and bows seemed to be separated according to type.


    ¡°Glad you could join us brother,¡± said Esmarilla snarked. ¡°You''re just in time for Mandel¡¯s big moment.¡±


    ¡±Is Vanquish still here?¡± He asked instead of rising to the bait. ¡°I mean the human girl that was with Zinariya of course.¡±


    ¡±Zinariya teleported the both of them away very shortly after you went out yourself.¡± Said Mo-Rung. ¡°Did you change your mind about being willing to talk with her? I¡¯ve got to tell you, Van, Running off like that¡­that probably wasn¡¯t a good decision. And coming from me¡­.¡±


    ¡±I know. I know¡­ I needed time to think. What¡¯s going on down there?¡±


    ¡±The rest of the elves have surrendered. Most of these slobs don¡¯t even know what they¡¯ve been fighting about. I hate elven politics. We don¡¯t really know what happened but suspect the last of Argent''s evil and spiteful daughters must have been killed trying to attack Delora Natine. We heard a rumor that Lothinar is back. These guys below us make up most of their followers.¡±


    ¡°So that¡¯s it? We slap them on the wrist and send them home without their weapons?¡±


    ¡±That¡¯s pretty much it, yes,¡± said Esmarilla. ¡°Of course, we are going to have to land somewhere in that throng and have them pass before us.¡±


    ¡±Are we supposed to try and read their thoughts? Search for treachery? That¡¯s pretty mentally difficult!¡±


    ¡±No you big dummy, we are going to sniff them. Anyone that smells the least bit like Argent is going to be detained for further questioning.¡±


    ¡±That sounds fairly unpleasant.¡± Said Vanador.


    ¡±Why do you think I¡¯m so glad you¡¯re back?¡± Chuckled Esmarilla. ¡°An extra dragon nose is going to make this go so much faster!¡±


    From the wall and looking down over the vast courtyard Mandel grinned at his sister and Cantrell. ¡°Peace, at last.¡± He said cheerfully. I should be down there! Among my people.¡±


    ¡±It¡¯s still far too dangerous.¡± Cantrell gestured towards the third dragon that had appeared in the air above them. ¡°At least Vanador¡¯s back. That will speed up the testing process.¡±


    ¡±Just because an elf doesn¡¯t smell like Argent¡¯s family doesn¡¯t necessarily mean that they haven¡¯t been radicalized.¡± Cautioned Mavis. ¡°You should continue to use common sense.¡±


    ¡±And bodyguards.¡± Added Cantrell.


    ¡±But isn¡¯t this just so exciting?¡± Mandel beamed. ¡°I¡¯ve worked so hard for this day!¡± He glanced over at Cantrell and Mavis who were sharing a look.


    ¡±I mean, we all have. Right?¡± He looked briefly uncomfortable but soon resumed staring at the vast crowd. His smile returned and he waved at them from the wall. A halfhearted cheer rose from somewhere below as several of the elves in the courtyard noticed ¡®Mandel¡¯s wave. Surprisingly the feeble cheer crescendoed into a roar.¡±


    ¡±Apparently a very forgiving emperor can be quite popular.¡± Murmured Cantrell. ¡°I¡¯m going down there to see if I can weed out any troublemakers.¡± Said Cantrell. ¡°Maybe I¡¯ll spot someone nasty that the dragons might miss.¡±


    ¡±Be careful!¡± Mavis said, looking concerned.


    ¡±Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll have Esmarilla with me.¡± He answered. He moved a bit away from her on the wall and the big black dragon landed on the wall''s edged surface. Her talons left deep scratches in the stone. He jumped on her back with ease. She dropped into the courtyard, flaring her wings as people scattered beneath her descent.


    ¡±You need a dragon to make an entrance like that!¡± Said Mandel, coming up to stand next to his sister.


    Almost immediately Vanador and Mo-Rung also dropped gracefully into the courtyard, each assuming a position somewhat distant from each other. Mavis could hear Cantrell¡¯s voice hollering out from down below.


    ¡±Allright! Form orderly lines and pass before the dragons individually. This is going to take a while as it is. The dragon will be getting fairly close to you but don¡¯t be alarmed. They have already been fed.¡±


    Mavis heard a couple of half-hearted titters but nobody actually laughed. In fact, most of them looked more nervous.


    ¡°I need to get down there!¡± Exclaimed Mandel. ¡°Cantrell¡¯s terrible joke bombed big time. I need to restore confidence!¡± He ran for the stairs.


    "Wait! That''s a terrible idea!" she yelled. He didn''t stop though.


    A few minutes Mavis saw a side door near the huge main gates open. She moved over along the wall to get a better view. Some of the guards were arguing with her brother. They didn¡¯t want him going out into the courtyard. He pushed past them anyway.


    Suddenly from somewhere in the crowd, an elf moved quickly. He leapt toward Mandel. Somehow, his hand held a sword. He appeared well-trained, he grew close and swung it at the elven emperor.


    "So must perish all those disloyal to Argent!" he screamed. The blade entered deeply into Mandel''s chest. He still wore it, but he hadn''t even managed to draw his own sword. Even then, the wound was not instantly fatal. Mandel''s eyes bulged out and he crumpled to the ground. Archers on the wall fired and three arrows impacted the attacking elf''s body almost simultaneously. The assassin fell. One of the arrows had hit him in the eye.


    Across the courtyard, Vanador had seen what happened. The emperor had been attacked! He sent out his healing energy, but it was very ineffective at this range. There were too many people in the way. He tried to get closer to Mandel. The crowds gathered around all three dragons were dense. Vanador pushed forward anyway, unfortunately trampling those in front of him. They began screaming. Many of them were also injured. Vanador''s healing wave pushed out and hit those he had crushed instead of the emperor. They were just closer! He kept pushing. Trampling and healing as he forced his way across the yard. Elves he should normally have crushed to death were jumping up after he passed over them. They were completely uninjured. They were not, however, very happy. They began yelling and cursing at him. Not knowing or understanding what he was trying to do. Vanador felt Esmarilla''s power increasing his own, but his path of destruction through the angry crowd and the healing they misappropriated created a block to his being able to get to Mandel.


    "Out of the way!" bellowed Cantrell. The Emperor''s been attacked. Clear a path!"


    But the admonition was too late. By the time Vanador reached Mandel, he was dead.


    "We need a blue!" Vanador gasped. All that healing had taken a large part of his energy. Esmarilla poured more power into him.


    "Keep trying!" yelled Cantrell, now somehow next to him. Vanador gathered Esmarilla''s power and pushed harder. He watched the tissues of the emperor''s body knit back together, but they were devoid of life. His corpse looked perfectly healthy, but the spirit had clearly left.


    Word of the emperor''s death spread like wildfire through the crowd. There were loud murmurings and angry faces. Vanador had done a lot of stomping. Cantrell suddenly had a terrible feeling of dread. He was standing amongst those that until very recently he had been at war with, and had been willing to kill him. Many of them were very angry, or at least in shock. Except for his long knife, he was unarmed.


    "You are never unarmed when you are with me!" sent Esmarilla.


    The dragons moved to surround him. People seemed to grudgingly move back from Cantrell. He stood over the dead emperor''s body. Finally, a small contingent of imperial guards pushed their way through the crowd. Cantrell did a double take seeing that amongst them were two of his old warden team. Telehalla and Fensterly.


    "Well, this is a huge disaster!" Fensterly said, looking down at Mandel. "I don''t know how the guards at the door let him get by them."


    "What was he even doing down here anyway?" exclaimed Cantrell. "He was supposed to stay safely up on the wall!"


    "The elf that attacked the emperor was one of Argent''s sons-in-law." someone yelled from the crowd. "His name was Vidkun! He was married to Preen."


    Cantrell certainly remembered the name. Although he presumed her dead, she was also one of Argent''s daughters that he had not yet accounted for.


    "What now?" someone else yelled. "We came here to surrender. Are you going to punish the rest of us for one elf''s crimes?"


    "Are you going to kill us with your dragons?" another yelled. "The big white one hurt a lot of us already!" came another voice from the crowd.


    Fensterly and Telehalla started to look very nervous. They drew closer to Cantrell and all the guards stood with their backs toward him, facing outward to the crowd.


    Mo-Rung suddenly leaped into the air. Nobody had been standing unnecessarily close to him, because, who would? Dragons could be terrifying, especially when you didn''t know them personally. Many in the crowd ducked or even dropped fully to the ground as he pumped his wings to fly over them. Vanador stayed on the ground, along with Esmarilla.


    "Did Mavis call for him?" Cantrell wondered out loud. He squinted, looking up to the wall where he had last seen his wife. She wasn''t there. There was more angry murmuring. Mo-Rung began flying a pattern, over the crowd, but still fairly low. He was looking for trouble. Cantrell suddenly realized that Mavis had sent him to watch for additional threats from a higher vantage point.


    "Help me pick up the emperor''s body. We should get out of here." Cantrell said. Fensterly and Telehalla reached down and each took an end. They lifted and carried Mandel''s body by his extremities. His body sagged in the middle like a sack of potatoes.


    "Esmarilla! Help me clear a path," he told her. The black dragon began gently moving forward. She was moving slowly enough not to trample anyone. Not surprisingly, the crowd was eager to get out of her way. None of them seemed bent on attacking Cantrell or the guards. When they got close to the door Mandel had run out of, it opened. More guards rushed out. The new guards stood in a semi-circle around them. Most of them looked pretty upset.


    "Does this cancel the chance for peace?" someone yelled. "Vidkun''s act does not speak for us!" another yelled. Argent''s daughters are gone! We want peace!"


    "I will give peace a chance!" This time it was a female voice. Cantrell recognized it. He looked toward the door. Mavis appeared there. She was surrounded by guards. She had also obviously been crying, but her eyes were fierce!


    "Is anyone here not willing to accept a female empress?" she suddenly yelled.


    There was a strange pause, then a ripple of actual laughter ran through the crowd.


    "We have been following the orders of Argent''s daughters for months now!" someone yelled. "You can''t be any worse than them!"


    "Long live Empress Mavis!" The crowd picked up on the words until they became a deafening roar.


    "Crap!" said Cantrell, looking at his previous warden friends. "There just went my vacation."


    ---------------------------------

 Volume 3: Chapter 4: The Many Colors of Dragons

    ************************


    Chapter 4


    ************************


    It was mid-morning. Lothinar had taken a little extra time to enjoy flying for his first time on Firestorm. It seemed to make her very happy too. They flew out over the lake and up and down the length of it several times. Lothinar pointed out the part of the woods where Tundor and he had first met.


    "I was shocked to see him there!" said Lothinar. "He was such a little guy back then. He didn''t even have functioning wings."


    Firestorm laughed. "I''m sure he was still bigger than you at that point. You were very brave to confront him, Lothinar."


    "Not really," was his good-natured reply. "I paralyzed him before getting too close. That was probably a big turning point for him. He was smart enough to remember the spell I used and began using it to hunt his own food. Poor Candasar had been trying to keep him in fish before that. It was practically killing her trying to keep him fed."


    "Look down there!" said Firestorm. "There are some dragons actually still fishing! It looks like they are using nets."


    "Swing around, I''d like to talk to them," said Lothinar. Firestorm did and landed on the shore. Four grey dragons were out in the water. A long net was strung out between them. They were pulling it toward the shore. They noticed him but continued dragging the net until it reached the shallows. A big bunch of flopping fish almost made the water near the shore appear to be boiling as they thrashed.


    "Lothinar!" said one of them. "Have you come to check up on usss? We haven''t seen any elvesss in a while, but we''ve ssstill been carefully guarding our eggggss like Tundor warned usss to do." The dragon spoke fairly well, but a few of his words came out with the typical grey dragon lisp.


    "We were just flying past and saw you fishing here," said Lothinar smiling. Then he frowned. "There was a serious attack on Delora last night. It was pretty bad. Some bad elves tried to capture the city."


    "But we killed them all!" said Firestorm, rather matter-of-factly. "You shouldn''t have to worry about that."


    The grey dragon looked at her. "You are Mo-Rung''s daughter! How did you gets large so quickly?" he asked in amazement.


    "My bond is very powerful," she said beaming at him. "He has taken very good care of me."


    The dragon squinted at Lothinar. His eyes grew wide. "You.... You have grown much more powerful ssssince you healed my wingssss." he said with astonishment. "I can feel your power even when you are not usssing it!"


    The other three dragons crowded around, joining him. They seemed to have forgotten about the fish thrashing in the water. One of the other ones spoke. She was a female.


    "Can you gives usss our colorsss now?" she asked eagerly.


    Lothinar looked confused. "I don''t understand." he said awkwardly.


    "Our colorssss!" she hissed. "We are lowly greyssss. Please give us our colorssss"


    "They are right." said Firestorm silently through the bond. "They really are only partially restored. Real dragons always have a color."


    "Why is this the first time I''m heard about this?" he asked out loud with obvious frustration. "I feel like I''ve seriously failed them."


    "Not failed!" said the third. "Many many dragonsss wass healed by youse and Candasar before. Perhapsss we now asks too much! We appreciates..."


    "What color should I choose for them?" he asked Firestorm.


    "That''s not how it works silly. They already have a natural color. It''s just not manifested because of what that bastard, Argent''s spell casters did to their ancestors. You just have to look for it. I bet you can see a color if you look."


    Lothinar took a look at the fishing dragons. He did it slowly, one at a time. First, there was nothing. Then he saw it. The colors were there!


    "You!" he said to the female. "Please come over here."


    She finished splashing her way through the shallows. As she got closer he kept looking at her. He suddenly could see some other problems as well. They were subtle but now suddenly obvious. He compared her to what he knew about Firestorm. Lifespan was vastly compromised. Intelligence, there were deliberate blockages that held her back from her potential. He started to get angry. His power flared!


    "Hold on! Please Lothinar. Listen to me!" yelled Firestorm desperately. "Her presence pulled him back from the brink. He had been about to lose control. He took several deep breaths.


    "Thank goodness! I thought you were going to lose it like you did when you healed me!" said Firestorm with obvious relief. "You can do this, but please, please, try to do it a bit more dispassionately."


    "Thank you my bond," he said with sincere appreciation. "I think you might have just prevented another disaster!"


    "That''s my job, my love," she said. "I''m here to keep you from doing stupid things. Remember that."


    Lothinar chuckled. "You haven''t always been successful at that," he said.


    "But look what I''ve been working with!" she smirked.


    The four greys were still standing there expectantly. Lothinar spun the planets in his internal universe in an organized dance of mystical power. He pushed. Energy blasted into the female dragon. She yelped. Then she immediately turned bright green.


    "My god! That''s a rush! she called excitedly to the others. "Get him to do you too!" her lisp was completely gone. The other three rushed toward him.


    "Hold on!" bellowed Firestorm. "There''s plenty of time! Don''t crowd him. She shouldered into them pushing them back. One at a time please!"


    Lothinar smiled. This was going to be fun.


    The new green''s name had been Crumb. She very politely asked if she could now change it to Emerald. No one objected in the slightest.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-


    Back at Ronniflass''s cabin Candasar cracked open an eyelid. "It''s started," she said.


    "What''s started, my love?" asked Tundor. His long neck had placed his head on a hay bale near his sleeping mate inside the barn.


    "Lothinar is healing some Greys down by the lake. He''s restoring the rest of their abilities."


    "What''s wrong with that?" Tundor asked. "That''s where we came from. Those are our people too!"


    "I know, I know." said Candasar, "But he''s going to attract even more attention after doing that."


    "You can''t keep him just to yourself forever, you know," said Tundor. "He has a destiny to fulfill."


    "Of course, But I''m going to have to make a decision soon about following him around changing the world or staying here with you and my kids."


    "Stay." said Tundor. "For now." Kids grow up so quickly. It won''t be long until you can join him. I bet he''d let me and Siophra tag along too. I think Siophra would be willing to do that."


    "You don''t want to have a few more kids?" she asked


    "I think we should worry more about properly raising the first batch before starting a second, don''t you think?" he pointed out.


    Candasar sighed. "Zinariya is going to be a big problem you know."


    "That''s why it''s so important we don''t force her to write us off. We owe it to her to give her the best advice we can, not just yell at her."


    She winced. "You should have heard the way my own mother yelled at me for most of my childhood."


    Tundor paused. "You''ve never really talked about your parents," he said. Your grandfather, obviously but not your actual parents?"


    "Brutes! Ignorant Greys. They didn''t appreciate me. They tried to pair me off with several council members. I had to go out on my own far too young."


    "Where are they now?" Tundor asked.


    "I have no idea!" answered Candasar. "I''ve been avoiding looking for them."


    "Did they at least get rid of their flippers and grow some wings?" he asked astonished.


    "When Lothinar and I made the rounds offering that service, they never came," she said. "For all I know they may be dead."


    "That''s really sad," said Tundor.


    "Yes, it is." said Candasar. "It really is."


    ------------------


    In the house, Marg stumbled. She put her arm on the doorframe.


    "Did you feel that?" she asked. Her eyes were wide.


    "Yep!" said Michelle. "That''s Lothinar. I know that power."


    "It''s quite amazing," Marg said a bit unsteadily. "The shockwave from that almost knocked me over."


    "I do good work," said Michelle.


    Marg looked at her with a little more respect. "It appears, in some respects that you do. I wonder how much more powerful he will become. Aren''t you worried that he might burn out?"


    "I''ve put several safeguards in place," Michelle said carefully. "I was hoping that he would grow into his power a bit slower though. His passions have been known to overwhelm him."


    If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    "He''s pulled back," Marg said. "It''s much more manageable now. But that first one..... They are going to feel that all the way to Chelsaben!


    "Chelsaben''s a myth." laughed Michelle.


    "Oh, child," Marg replied, sadly. "You really have so much to learn."


    -----------------------------------


    The next thing Cantrell did was almost forcibly usher Mavis back through the door in the wall. He still wasn¡¯t sure about this crowd. There undoubtedly had to be others that would seek to do her harm. The palace guards quickly shut the door. Fensterly and Telehalla had followed him, carrying Mandel¡¯s body. They gently laid it on the flagstones of the inner courtyard. Mavis dropped to her knees and leaned over him. Looking at his face, she threw herself on his chest and began weeping again.


    "Stupid, impetuous¡­.I told you!¡­what were you thinking?¡± Cantrell heard her mumbling.


    ¡°Mavis!¡± He said, reaching down to touch her shoulder and causing her to look at him. ¡°We still might be able to do something. Esmarilla says we can probably fix this but we need a blue dragon. Remember Enderline¡¯s queen! She died. Lothinar was able to bring her back."


    "But he had both Candasar AND Vanquish!" she sobbed. She looked around. "I don''t see any blue dragons around here. Do you?"


    "No, I don''t," he said. "But that doesn''t mean we might not be able to get him to one."


    "It''s too far!" she wailed again. "My stupid brother even managed to get himself killed in the presence of a white dragon!" She was growing hysterical.


    "Take her to her rooms!" he shouted. "Esmarilla! We need to go. Now!"


    Esmarilla was out of sight in the outer courtyard. She was probably still surrounded by hundreds of unknown elves. So far none of them had shown any hostility.


    "I thought you''d never ask!" she responded, through the bond. "I wasn''t looking forward to sniffing more elves. They just keep lining up in front of me. It feels kind of obligatory at this point. I don''t want to hurt their feelings or anything. I¡¯m starting to understand why I¡¯ve been told elves taste so bad. You know a big part of taste is smell. You remember that don¡¯t you?¡±


    "Mo-Rung and Vanador will have to take care of that for now," said Cantrell. "I need you to fly me and Mandel''s body to Delora!"


    "I''m already in the air," she said. "Clear a place inside the inner courtyard for me. I''ll be coming in fast."


    "Make room!" Cantrell bellowed. "Incoming dragon!"


    A shadow temporarily blocked out the sun as Esmarilla thundered down. Some of the guards lost their hats to the blasting wind. Cantrell climbed on quickly.


    "Help me! Lift him!" Cantrell yelled to Fensterly. He and Telehalla pushed while Cantrell pulled. They got Mandel''s body somewhat situated across Esmarillas wide neck.


    "I''m not going to be responsible if you drop him," she said. "You had better hold on. Splattering him on the cobblestones is going to ruin everything you''re contemplating."


    "I''ll hold on." Said Cantrell. "The rest of my life is at stake. Freedom is on the line!"


    "You really don''t want Mavis to take that job do you?"  Esmarilla chuckled. "Do you even care about Mandel?"


    "Of course I do." he protested. "But you have to admit, he can be kind of a jerk."


    The black dragon launched herself into the air. She climbed and rapidly began to pick up speed.


    "I should have brought goggles!" he sent to her. Windswept tears were blinding him. "I didn''t know dragons were quite this fast."


    "Not all dragons are this fast. You happen to be bonded to me. I was the fastest black dragon of my generation, and black dragons have always been known to be the fastest fliers. We just rarely get the chance to cut loose!"


    "How long can you do this?" He asked trying to breathe. The oncoming wind was making exhaling a little difficult. He could feel her massive lungs pumping like a bellows.


    "All the way," she said. "But I''m going to be sore. I probably won''t let you ride me for a week. You''ll be stuck there for a while. You know, you are putting a lot of faith in your theory that Lothinar and Candasar are still around. We don''t know that for sure."


    ¡±Candasar¡¯s other two children were still too small to go far. She will be with them. I just don''t think that I can deal with any of the other alternatives." he said. ¡°We need Mandel alive.¡±


    "Ok, hold on then," she said. "I''m going to take it up a notch! Just don''t drop him!"


    "Oh my!" said Cantrell gasping. "Right now I''m hoping I don''t fall off myself!"


    "Don''t worry, my bond. We are linked. I will not let you fall, but I can''t catch a corpse."


    "I suppose not," said Cantrell, holding on tighter.


    ¡±Uh, Esmarilla?¡±


    ¡±I¡¯m kind of busy flapping hard right now. What is it?¡±


    ¡°Do I smell bad to you? I mean I¡¯m an elf.¡±


    ¡±Of course not! You''re my bond!¡±


    ¡±I don¡¯t understand.¡±


    Cantrell actually felt her slowing down a tiny bit trying to think about how to answer him.


    ¡°You do remember how bonding with Tundor initially changed Lothinar''s pheromone power over her?¡±


    ¡±Yeah, that sure changed things for them.¡± Said Cantrell.


    ¡°The bond between dragon and elf changes many of their shared senses. Scent is probably the biggest one. To me, well, you smell a lot like Mo-Rung. I like his smell. I think it¡¯s more magic than actual aroma.¡±


    ¡±So Mavis probably smells good to Mo-Rung?¡± He asked.


    ¡±Probably, but to be honest, we haven¡¯t discussed it. That¡¯s why it¡¯s such a sweet deal when dragon and elven couples manage a good bonding all around. Mavis smells good to me too. All that compatible magic works great together. Nobody smells bad.¡±


    ¡±I don¡¯t remember you smelling unpleasant before I bonded with you, and you were around. Back when you were bonded with Ardwella.¡±


    ¡±You always seem to want to remind me of my used dragon status. Can¡¯t we agree to just forget about that unpleasantness?¡±


    ¡±I¡¯m asking these questions for science!¡±


    ¡± Instead, why don¡¯t you write a paper on how long an elf can be dead before it¡¯s too late for even a blue dragon to do anything about it? Because that¡¯s what¡¯s going to happen if I don¡¯t get moving here!¡± She snarked.


    Cantrell shut up and let her fly. Her speed picked up again They flew for several hours. Finally, she spoke again.


    ¡±I am starting to smell something.¡± She complained. ¡°It¡¯s warm today. I think ¡®Mandel¡¯s starting to spoil¡±


    ¡±We¡¯re getting pretty close,¡± said Cantrell. ¡°I think I can see Ronniflass¡¯s cabin from here! Something¡¯s wrong! One of the exterior walls looks badly damaged!¡±


    ¡±I think that was from Mo-Rungs attempt to get Ardwynn. I think Mo-Rung and by association, WE are financially responsible for that damage. This is going to cost more than a few cows.¡±


    ¡±Didn¡¯t you eat her prized bull as well?¡±


    ¡±How much money do you actually have with you, Cantrell? I mean I¡¯ve written IOU¡¯s on firewood before but¡­.¡±


    Suddenly there was a huge detonation of air that sounded like a thunderclap. A huge gold dragon appeared in the air directly in front of them. Cantrell was so surprised that he almost did drop Mandel¡¯s body as Esmarilla wheeled to avoid crashing into the other dragon.


    ¡±Holy¡­That can¡¯t be Zinariya all ready can it?¡± Exclaimed Cantrell. ¡°She¡¯s huge!¡±


    ¡±Hold on!¡± Esmarilla dove toward the house. She gave a series of little grunts as her overworked wing muscles shredded forward velocity. She landed fast and almost took out the front porch, but somehow managed to stop just in time. Cantrell had his hands and arms tightly holding onto the emperor''s body but at the last second there it finally slipped from his grasp and tumbled off the dragon and landed awkwardly in the yard.


    Cantrell jumped down. He quickly rolled Mandel over and looked for damage. Nothing seemed to be seriously broken. He had grass stains on his fancy shirt but there was a huge sword slice through it anyway. Nobody would be trying to sew that hole up!¡± He looked up as an elf he didn¡¯t recognize approached and scrutinized him. She wasn¡¯t Zinariya, but had similar golden eyes.


    ¡±Why are you flying around with a dead elf young man?¡± She asked.


    ¡°Oh, this isn¡¯t just any regular dead elf¡± he answered. ¡°This is the emperor!¡±


    The elf with the golden eyes actually yawned! ¡°I¡¯m sorry she said seemingly slightly embarrassed. ¡°It was a long night last night and I haven¡¯t even slept yet. You see I¡¯ve been talking and¡­¡±


    ¡±Is Candasar here?¡± He interrupted. ¡°I need her to bring him back! To resurrect him!¡±


    ¡±She''s in the barn. But I think she is sleeping right now. She had a very busy night as well. I doubt she would appreciate being disturbed. You know our relationship with the elves is somewhat in doubt right now. The actual responsibility for the recent atrocities has yet to be determined. How do we know the perpetrators were entirely from the previous administration?¡±


    Cantrell just stared at her. ¡°This is Lothinar¡¯s brother.¡± He finally said.


    The female elf squatted down to take another look at Mandel. ¡°Yes, I suppose I can see the resemblance.¡± She finally admitted. ¡°Lothinar¡¯s not here right now but I will allow you to wake Candasar. She can probably get him to return fairly quickly.¡± She wrinkled her nose. ¡°I suppose you will probably need my help as well. He smells a bit ripe¡±


    Esmarilla had just been standing there. She hadn¡¯t said a thing even when the new elf had been giving Cantrell a hard time.


    Cantrell started jogging toward the barn. Candasar was most likely inside. ¡°Who in the hell is that? I can see the golden eyes but¡­¡±


    "I''m hoping that she doesn''t recognize me!" Said Esmarilla. ¡±That elf is also the huge golden dragon that appeared in the sky.¡±


    ¡°Really? So she can actually change form? Switch back and forth? It¡¯s not just like when Zinariya was borrowing Siophra or Ardwella?¡±


    ¡±No, that¡¯s all her. It¡¯s kind of her special feature. Most other dragons are either unable or unwilling to do it. She¡¯s a bit of a deviant.


    ¡±A deviant? How so? It seems to be a neat ability.¡± Cantrell entered the barn and let his eyes adjust to the darkness. He spotted Candasar. She seemed to suddenly snap awake. Her eyes widened in recognition.


    ¡°Hello, Warden Cantrell. What do you want?¡±


    The words tumbled out in an almost endless torrent. "Candasar! Thank the gods that I found you! I need your help. Emperor Mandel was killed by an assassin. Mavis is distraught! Esmarilla and I brought him here as fast we could. I had no idea she could fly that fast! Honestly, I don''t really want to be stuck in the capital taking over for Mandel after his death. Mavis doesn''t either. The crowds are trying to make her into the next Empress! Please, please! Can you bring him back to life?


    Candasar blinked. "Whoa. That''s a lot. Hold on a second....." The air shimmered, and like the air leaving a large blue balloon, she shrunk down, assuming the form of a beautiful blue-eyed elf. She was wearing a pretty blue dress. She did a quick spin.


    Cantrell was stunned. His mouth hung open. What?"


    "I hate to admit this, but I think for some reason it''s a bit easier for me to process a lot of information quickly when I''m in this form. I figured that out last night. It was the first time I spent any time in this form. My magical abilities were slightly better too."


    "What do you think?" she asked.


    "So this is new?" he croaked.


    "Well, obviously," she replied smiling. "At first I was pretty resistant, but I think I''m going to enjoy this. Just watching your reaction has made my day!"


    "Oh right!" he said. "Now maybe you can make mine. Did you hear what I said about Mandel?"


    "Lothinar''s half-brother Mandel!? Is that what you were going on about?"


    "Yes. Dead. Brought him. Esmarilla flew very fast. Please help!" Then he grinned at her and had the audacity to wink.


    "Crap! How long?" she asked, rushing out of the barn. She ran up to the body. She looked at it. Then she visibly relaxed. "He''s probably going to have a terrible headache but I can do this." Candasar looked at Marg. "Are you willing to help me or should I wait for Lothinar?"


    Marg smiled broadly. "I would be overjoyed to assist you, Candasar. And may I also say that I''m also so pleased that you have become more comfortable with your shape transfiguration!"


    "Just don''t let my kids see. I was scolding them about it earlier. Where are they by the way?"


    "It''s not my turn to watch them dear," said Marg. "But I''m sure they haven''t gone far. Why don''t we deal with this situation and then you can go find them."


    Candasar bit her lip, frowned, and actually reached down to pull up the sleeves of her gown. Cantrell was still watching in total amazement as the dragon mimicked elven mannerisms quite perfectly. Marg went over and placed her hand on her shoulder. A blue light flashed.


    Cantrell was staring at Mandel''s body so he didn''t see the moment when Candasar''s elven body crumpled to the ground. He did hear the thud. He spun around. Candasar slowly sat up, She was holding her head. Marg leaned down and whispered something to her. She nodded. Cantrell ran over to help her to her feet.


    "What happened!?" he asked, holding her around the shoulders.


    She nodded at him. "It''s ok. I got cocky! I shouldn''t have tried to do this without Lothinar. I think I have been underestimating what his powers do to augment mine."


    "Are you going to be ok?" he asked.


    "Yes, look to Mandel. He should be waking up soon. He will probably have a lot of questions." Candasar started to wobble off toward the barn, then shrugged and turned around. She walked up to the steps and into the house."


    "She probably wants a real bed." chuckled Marg.


    Just then a red dragon fell from the sky. She had been flying fast and plowed to a stop just in front of Cantrell. Lothinar jumped off and ran up to Marg.


    "What did you do to Candy, Marg? I felt her distress all the way over at the lake!"


    Marg pointed to Cantrell. "Ask him. He will have your answers. By the way, I am sensing a bit of ingratitude. I will let you sort this situation out among yourselves and will return in a little while. Then I would..... appreciate having that long-awaited conversation you owe me."


    Marg looked over at Esmarilla. "Hello, Daughter. Don''t think I didn''t notice you over there. I saw you coming in. There are only so many black dragons your size left. We should talk.


    "I''m surprised that there are any others left at all!" she said sadly. "I thought Argent killed them all."


    "The world is a very big place," said Marg. She disappeared with a loud pop as air rushed into the space she had been standing.


    Lothinar turned to Cantrell. Their eyes locked. Then he took a couple of deep breaths. "What IS going on here, Cantrell?"


    "Just saving the empire and your brother!" said Cantrell. "All in a day''s work."


    A groan came from the ground. Mandel sat up. Cantrell grinned. Lothinar walked over and pulled Mandel to his feet. He stood there slightly wobbling.


    "Where am I?" Mandel said. He looked around with a great deal of alarm. "And who are you guys?" He suddenly spotted Esmarilla. "Whoa! a dragon! I thought those things were extinct!"


    -----------------------

 Volume 3: Chapter 5: Something Fishy

    ************************


    Chapter 5


    ************************


    There was a knock at the door. Albarad winced a little as he got up from the kitchen table and went to answer it. Some of his wounds, though healed, were still a little sore. Muina smiled sympathetically as she put a cover over the pan to help keep his third buckwheat cake warm. By the time he reached the front door, however, Ardwella had beaten him there and already opened it. Lothinar was standing on the porch. Ardwella stepped back, and Albarad moved up to see better. Standing near Lothinar was Mandel. That was a surprise.


    "I hope I''m not intruding...." Lothinar said.


    "Of course not!" Albarad said. I hope that, in some ways, you still consider this place your home. You did grow up here."


    "I don''t remember this at all," Mandel said from behind him.


    "You''re not supposed to," Lothinar replied, looking back. "I told you we grew up separately. We''re here to see if you remember your mother."


    "Is this her?" Mandel asked, looking at Ardwella "She looks somewhat familiar. He took a second look. Whoa, he said. She''s way too young to be my mother! Plus, she''s super hot! Do I have a sister?"


    "I''ve already explained this to you," said Lothinar, trying to be patient. "Yes, you have a sister, but she''s not here. This is MY mother. Your mother is her twin?"


    He looked skeptical.


    Muina came from the kitchen. She was wiping her hands on a dishtowel.


    "Mandel?" she asked with a worried look on her face. "Is something wrong? Is Mavis alright?"


    "That''s YOUR mother," said Lothinar.


    Mandel looked at her, then he looked back at Ardwella.


    "Nope! I''m not buying it." Mandel said. "I see similarities, but this woman is at least twice as old as the one you claim to be her twin. What are you trying to pull here?"


    Muina gasped and put her face in her hands. She was crying!


    "That was rather rude," said Albarad angrily. "You hurt your mother''s feelings!"


    "Whatever!" said Mandel. He spun around and walked back out into the yard. Albarad watched him as he stopped near two good-sized dragons. Albarad recognized them as Lothinar''s own Candasar and Firestorm. They both seemed to have grown since he had last seen them. Mandel started talking to the blue one. She shook her head at him.


    "Fine! I''ll walk!" he shouted. Mandel stalked off into the forest.


    "What in the hell is going on, son,¡± asked Albarad. "I thought he was running the government! What''s Mandel even doing here?"


    ¡°It¡¯s kind of hard to explain, Dad.¡±


    Lothinar carefully stepped around his father and approached Muina. He very gently moved her hands and made her look him in the eyes.


    "I''m so sorry, Auntie. He''s not himself,¡± said Lothinar. Cantrell brought him to us just a few hours ago. He was... actually..dead. I guess the good news is he''s obviously alive again."


    "HE WAS DEAD!?" she exclaimed, starting to run toward the front door. He held on to her hand, and she didn''t get far.


    "Listen first, please... " He grimaced. "There was apparently an assassination attempt. Well... it was more than an attempt. It was successful. Mandel was at the capitol. He was accepting the official surrender of the opposition when someone in the crowd jumped him. It was apparently an outlier and working alone. They are looking into it. The killer was the husband of one of Argent''s daughters. He ended up dead for his treachery but by then.... " Lothinar frowned. "It was too late."


    "Let me go to him." she cried.


    "He didn''t know you. He didn''t even know Cantrell. Cantrell has basically been his right-hand man!" Lothinar reminded her. "We were hoping that by seeing you, his memories would come back."


    "Well, they obviously didn''t!" she said angrily. "What if they never do?"


    "Well then, I guess he''s lucky to be alive... and he¡¯s healthy, except for the memory loss. We can be thankful for that. We shouldn''t give up hope about his memory¡­at least not so soon." Lothinar said.


    "What can we do?" asked Albarad. Ardwella nodded, apparently asking too.


    "I''m actually hoping you could help us take care of him. Watch him. Perhaps with Aunt Muina around him... Well, he might start remembering things."


    "Of course," said Ardwella. "He''s family."


    "Right now I''m going to try and track him down and bring him back here. If I can, that is."


    "Why couldn''t you do that?" Muina asked.


    "Well, I''m sure I could." Lothinar chuckled grimly. "Right now, though, it''s not about my ability to subdue him and drag him back here. It¡¯s more about trying to get him to cooperate willingly," he said. "He''s a bit volatile and angry right now."


    "Is he safe to be around?" asked Muina? Do you think he''s capable of hurting anyone?"


    "I actually have no idea," said Lothinar. "You know him better than I do."


    "Where''s Heirwynn?" Albarad suddenly asked. He got a vacant look on his face. "Nevermind.... I still haven''t gotten used to this. She''s out taking a walk with Snow and Night-Sky. Night-Sky says they haven''t seen anyone, but I told him to be careful."


    "I''m embarrassed to admit this, but it honestly slipped my mind that you have a young female ward living with you. Maybe this wasn''t a great idea." Lothinar said apprehensively.


    Heirwynn burst out of the tree line. She was running. She pulled up at the porch. Night and Snow ran up behind her.


    "Night-Sky told me that Lothinar was here with Mandel.¡± She said breathlessly. She smiled at Lothinar. ¡°Thank you for helping all of us last night. It was a terrible time. You were so busy! I''ve been looking forward to meeting you again under better circumstances.¡±


    "I would like that too," said Lothinar apologetically. "But things are definitely still not settled. You didn''t see another elf out there running around in the woods did you? It''s Mandel. I''m afraid he''s not at his best."


    Heirwynn¡¯s smile faltered. "No, I didn¡¯t see anyone," she said. "What''s happened? Is he alright?"


    "Not at all, but we are trying to get him sorted out. Cantrell actually went back to the capitol this morning." He looked at his mother oddly. "I actually had to ask Zinariya to do me a favor and teleport him there. Mavis was probably going crazy with worry, and Esmarilla is currently in no condition to fly.¡±


    Ardwella frowned. "What happened to Esmarilla?" She asked.


    "Overflight..... At least, that''s what she called it. I think it''s something like a strained muscle. It only affects her wings, but it''s painful."


    "Ah!" said his mother. "That makes sense, She was obviously running against the clock to get Mandel back here quick enough to... you know... " She side-eyed Muina.


    "Speaking of Mandel. I really need to find him before he gets into any more trouble," said Lothinar.


    "I''m coming with you!" said Muina.


    "I don''t know...." said Lothinar. "His reaction to you wasn''t what I was hoping for."


    "I need to come," she said. "Please don''t make me stay behind! You have two dragons with you!"


    Lothinar sighed heavily. "Ok. I promised Michelle that she could say goodbye to you before she left anyway. I hope she¡¯s home. She keeps threatening to go into town and buy a dress.


    "Michelle?" asked Muina. ¡°Do I even know someone named Michelle?"


    "Oops," Lothinar said under his breath. "I guess there is no way you could have known this yet. Michelle is a human girl I met in Silvantra. Think about how Zinariya formed a¡­partnership with my mother... " He paused and looked at Ardwella again. "and, of course, Aunt Siophra. Your old bond, Vanquish, is doing something like that with Michelle.


    "There''s no way!" said Ardwella. Zinariya was a very small dragon. Vanquish?.. She''s huge!"


    "Not anymore," said Lothinar. "I''m sorry to have to tell you this, but her original body died. It was a tragic accident. Luckily she was able to transfer her consciousness.¡±


    Ardwella looked thoughtful.


    "But how could she die? She was so powerful!¡± Muina stammered.


    "I will try to explain as we go, Auntie. But go, we must." Lothinar looked at his parents and nodded.


    "I really need to sit down with you and catch you up on all that''s been going on since I left for Silvantra. No time now, though. I promise I''ll be back after we find Mandel.


    He jogged toward Firestorm.


    "You are going to let me ride Candasar?" Muina asked, keeping up with him.


    "Don''t you like blue dragons?" Lothar laughed.


    "Of course I do. Vanquish ..was one. I really want to know what happened to her."


    "Why don''t you ask her yourself? After we find Mandel, of course," he said, climbing quickly on Firestorm.


    Muina thought it might be her imagination, but Firestorm looked quite smug, and Candasar seemed a little annoyed as Muina climbed on her.


    "We will probably be able to spot him from the air," said Lothinar.


    ¡±Let¡¯s hope so.¡± Said Muina.


    Both dragons leaped into the sky. Firestorm jumped first. It was probably her imagination, but Muina thought she could feel Candasar grinding her teeth.


    ---------------------------------


    Zinariya had teleported Cantrell back to the Capital. She had wanted to hang around for Marg to return She had so many questions for the older Golden Dragon. But the fact that it was Lothinar that had asked seemed to make it suddenly all right with her mother Zinariya was eager to be out from under her constant scrutiny. The more time away from that, the better! It was almost unbearable how her mother Candasar moped around, sighing and staring at her. What did she expect Zinariya to do? Read her mind?


    They had arrived with a double pop in the inner courtyard behind the fortified wall. A couple of guards jumped in surprise and one had even pulled out his sword before he recognized Cantrell. They jogged over.


    ¡±How is Mavis?¡± Cantrell asked.


    ¡°She is still very upset.¡± said one of the guards.


    Then he asked. ¡°Who¡¯s the girl?¡±


    ¡±We just teleported into a high-security area,¡± said Cantrell. ¡°Who do you think the ¡®girl¡¯ is? Look at her eyes, Telehalla.¡±


    ¡±They are very interesting. Oh wow! her eyes are sort of gold! Could this possibly be that teleporting assassin that you were working with before? I heard about her.¡± He looked again. No, maybe not. I heard SHE was super hot. This girl isn¡¯t bad, but¡­..¡±


    ¡±What!?¡± Zinariya practically screeched. ¡°I¡¯m so terribly sorry my current appearance disappoints you! Of all the shallow, petty¡­.chauvinistic things you might say¡­.¡±


    ¡®Cantrell quickly interrupted her. ¡°Thanks for bringing me here, Zinariya, but don¡¯t you need to be getting back? Lothinar made me promise not to keep you here unnecessarily long.¡±


    ¡®Zinariya glared at Telehalla some more, rolling her eyes. She really wanted to teleport the rude guard into the nearest lake, but the only one she really had a good spatial location lock on was all the way back near Delora. That was literally taking things too far. She stuck her tongue out at him instead. She quickly walked off a few paces and shifted back into dragon form in a golden shimmer. She would not allow her female elven form to be further evaluated by this rude elf!


    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.


    After her transition, the guard named Telehalla was standing there with his mouth hanging open. Other guards were running up to see what was going on and even possibly evaluate the threat of the magically appearing golden dragon. Some of them even had their hands on their weapons.


    ¡°I¡¯m suddenly not feeling appreciated here, Cantrell, or even safe.¡± She said angrily.


    Cantrell noticed many of the elves preparing for violence. Spears and swords, even several arrows, were nocked. He walked over, getting very close to Zinariya, if anything, causing even more consternation in the guards, who tensed up.


    ¡±We just had an assassination here, Zinariya. Mandel was killed. They are guards. They are feeling terrible about that and are understandably on edge. You are an unknown factor at this point. They are just trying to protect me.¡±


    ¡±But I helped you¡­.¡± She protested. The guards were closing in tighter.


    ¡±Stand down, men!¡± Cantrell bellowed.


    ¡°Where did that dragon come from!?¡± Someone else yelled. ¡°We may have a breach!¡± Came another voice.


    ¡±Perhaps you should make a strategic withdrawal.¡± Said Cantrell with concern in his voice. ¡°I will send Lothinar further information and updates through my bond with Esmarilla. Tell him to speak with her to do the same."


    Zinariya frowned, looked at the encroaching group of nervous guards, and suddenly popped away.


    Cantrell put his finger in his ear and quickly wiggled it. He was trying to do something about the ringing caused by the proximity of the teleportation pop. The sound created by the air displacement of a dragon leaving was certainly much louder than that of a smaller elf.


    He reached out through the telepathic bond to his dragon.


    ¡°Esmarilla? Did Zinariya make it back home?¡± He asked.


    ¡±Hold on, I will go check.¡± Answered Esmarilla. About half a minute went by as Cantrell stood there somewhat glaring at the guards. They had been surprised but then visibly relaxed at the disappearance of the golden dragon. Telehalla looked like he was actually starting to realize how badly he had screwed up.


    ¡°Yeah, she¡¯s back, but she looks pretty angry. She just switched back to elf form and is ranting something about needing to find a mirror. Do you know if Ronni has a mirror inside the house?¡±


    ¡±You know, I think that there was.¡± Said Cantrell. ¡°Unfortunately it was hanging on the wall that was torn off and fell into the yard when Mo-Rung decided to try and tear the place down. I¡¯m going to have to speak to one of the accountants and possibly someone in the construction department and see if we can make proper restitution to Ronniflass regarding all of this.¡±


    ¡±Thank you, Cantrell. You know we dragons most often don¡¯t have access to a lot of cash. We normally don¡¯t need it.¡±


    ¡±I can see situations going forward from here where that¡¯s going to substantially change, Esmarilla.¡±


    ¡±I don¡¯t have pockets, Cantrell. That¡¯s one of the reasons I keep you around.¡±


    Cantrell laughed, then stepped around the confused guards. He needed to find Mavis and tell her the good news that her brother was alive. The part of the conversation where they would discuss her role as Empress for the foreseeable future was going to be more difficult. Cantrell was praying that the new ¡°dragon god,¡± as Lothinar was starting to be called, was going to do something about that.


    Wearily he began climbing the stairs that led into the Imperial Towers. When he finally reached his room, he found her pacing. She was mumbling and talking to herself under her breath. When she saw him, he could see the hope in her eyes.


    "We made it in time. He''s alive," said Cantrell.


    She collapsed onto the bed in obvious relief.


    "Thank the gods!" she exclaimed.


    He grimaced. "There were some problems," he said. "Lothinar wasn''t there, but Candasar was. We were definitely running out of time, so she tried to bring him back by herself. " He took a breath. "She did have some help from another golden dragon that I''ve never seen before. She''s like an older version of Zinariya. It turns out she''s Esmarilla and Vanador''s mother.


    "That''s interesting, but tell me about Mandel," she demanded. "What sort of problems?"


    "Mandel doesn''t know me. He doesn''t know Lothinar either. I''m thinking he might have some sort of memory loss or possible brain damage." Cantrell said carefully. "I don''t think he''s in any condition to actually rule. At least not yet."


    "I thought you said Lothinar wasn''t there!"


    "What Candasar did.... It was actually very brave. We certainly owe her. It hurt her, Mavis. She collapsed. Lothinar felt that and came back very quickly. She got back up but I could tell she wasn''t herself. She seemed disoriented. It was probably because she was central to bringing hundreds of humans back to life the night before, in Delora. Of course she had Lothinar''s help with those resurrections."


    "They have been busy!" said Mavis.


    "Yes, but the reason for all this is worse. The last two of Argent''s daughters made a last-ditch attack there. just the night before. They were probably after eggs. It was horrifying.... What they did.... They ate the body of a young dragon. They killed hundreds of innocent humans. I''m not feeling quite so bad about helping Ardwella kill the rest of them at this point.


    "Slow down, Cantrell. That''s a lot to process. Do we?..., Do I.... as the empress, need to send troops out there? What should I do?"


    "Things are changing Mavis. They are changing fast. Lothinar has new powers. That''s what attracted the attention of this ancient Gold."


    "What does SHE want?" asked Mavis. "You said she was Esmarilla''s mother? Can we trust her? Oh this is too much!" She walked over and opened a flask that was sitting on the nightstand. She tipped up the bottle and took a substantial drink from it.


    "What is that?" Cantrell asked.


    "I don''t actually know," she said. "It was something the royal medical practitioner gave me. He said it would calm my nerves. I''ve been quite distraught! Especially after you left. I rely on you heavily, you know. You''re my rock." she said, smiling slightly.


    "Give me that," he said. He opened the top again and smelled it. "This is Laudanum. They make it from poppies. I don''t think you should be drinking this."


    "It helped," she said.


    "I''m back now. Lean on me. That stuff is highly addictive."


    "So are you," she said, smiling coyly. "Come here! Your Empress has need of you."


    "There is really a lot to do, Mavis," he said.


    "It can wait. I want to thank you for saving my brother."


    "You know I did that out of self-interest, don''t you?" He said. " I really don''t want to be stuck here,"


    "I don''t either. But at the moment, being a queen has its perks. I have some very specific commands for you."


    He looked into her eyes. She looked a little woozy.


    "I live to serve," he said.


    ----------------------------


    "I''m so glad you brought these fish!" said Ardwynn. She was picking through the bones of a fat lake trout and getting every morsel.


    "They were a gift from Emerald the lake dragon. Said Michelle. She stopped by to visit again. I think she was actually looking for Lothinar. She seemed rather disappointed not to find him here.


    Ardwynn stopped eating and pushed the plate away.


    ¡°She¡¯s a green?


    ¡±Well, obviously,


    Ardwynn sighed. "How many actual different dragon colors are there?"


    "Well," said Michelle, "It sort of depends on who you ask. There are all the metallic colors, obviously, but those are pretty rare. You know, blue, yellow, red, white, black. You''ve met examples of those. There are also several other colors as well. Sometimes you will get a blend. Orange is pretty uncommon, but it happens. Purple is really rare. I think it''s because blues and reds almost never get together. You know, I should write all of this down in some sort of book and leave it for Lothinar before I go. "


    "You failed to mention green," said Ardwynn. "What magical superpowers are green dragons supposed to have."


    "It''s not what you think," said Michelle. "You probably think they help green things grow, right?"


    "It crossed my mind," said Ardwynn. "One of Lothinar''s original strengths was that he was very good with plants."


    "Well, it''s not that," said Michelle. "It''s actually poison."


    "What!?" Ardwynn almost choked. "Should I be worried about the fish I just ate?"


    Michelle laughed. "No... I''m sure she didn''t try to poison you. She''s actually trying to get on your good side. I''m sure you can guess that she probably wants a chance to bond with Lothinar too."


    "I know that I can''t possibly control every outcome, but I''d really like to take that slow," said Ardwynn. "Especially now that Firestorm...."


    "Can shift into elf form?" Michelle finished for her. "Look, I had a talk with Rose."


    "Who the hell is Rose?" demanded Ardwynn.


    "Sorry, that''s the name Firestorm wants to use when in elf form. Personally, I think it''s an affectation that she will soon grow out of. She thinks Rose is a more feminine name."


    "She''s totally in love with him, isn''t she," asked Ardwynn.


    "I''m afraid so," said Michelle. "Probably worse... " she paused. "then I am, in fact. They share a deep bond as well. She is probably your greatest competition."


    "I''d like to try and not think of this as a competition," said Ardwynn. "I''m actually his wife."


    "You are. And remember... In spite of my best attempts, Lothinar has stayed faithful to you. That''s actually rare and rather admirable. You know he turned down a chance at... Rose, already."


    "Well, she didn''t waste any time." pouted Ardwynn.


    "He was actually extremely perceptive and gracious about it. How could he not be? He does love her, you know."


    "But as his DRAGON!"


    "She''s actually quite beautiful."


    "Stop. Just stop. I don''t think I can deal with this."


    "You are going to have to. Eventually."


    Ardwynn sighed heavily. "What about the green one?" she asked. "The poisonous one."


    "Don''t worry. I told her in no uncertain terms that Lothinar isn''t taking any more bonds right now. She looked disappointed, but I think she understood. She''s actually pretty sweet for a green... Now! How would you like to come with me to go dress shopping? When Vanquish... The original version destroyed Michelle''s dress on the first night we met, and I was promised another one. I intend to collect on that long term debt before I have to meet Enderline again. I do want to look my best." said Michelle laughing. I hope that the dressmaker''s shop in Delora wasn''t too badly damaged during the attack."


    "The dressmaker herself probably was. Quite damaged I mean. She might not even be open for business today. I''m guessing that waking up after being dead might have changed her priorities."


    "It certainly did for me," said Michelle. She suddenly looked a little guilty. "And for you!"


    "I''ve come to realize that you meant well," said Ardwynn. "I''ve decided to forgive you for that."


    Michelle looked like she was thinking about something. "Now that you are back, we need to make sure everyone knows that you no longer have Argent''s taint. Dragons will know.... If they bother to give you a sniff. And they are the most likely ones to be concerned about that. But after the massacre...."


    "The humans in town are going to be very unhappy with me if they realize that I started out related to Argent, won''t they?" Ardwynn said, suddenly seeming to realize how likely that was to occur in Delora.


    "You know," said Ardwynn. "Maybe we shouldn''t go shopping. My parents had a house nearby. It''s actually in the elven village of Tasumakoji, not in Delora. My mother had a lot of dresses. Most of them were probably never worn. I bet some of them would fit you. I''d be willing to let you try them on and take anything you like."


    "You have a house?" asked Michelle in surprise.


    "Yes, it''s quite a big one. It even has all the walls intact," said Ardwynn.


    "What are we doing up here in this little shack in the mountains?"


    "I know! Right?


    Just then, Zinariya burst in. She looked really angry. She looked at Michelle and Ardwynn.


    "I have questions!" she said loudly. "Is there a mirror in this house?"


    "What''s gotten into you?" asked Ardwynn.


    "I just got back from taking Cantrell to the Capitol." she yelled.


    "And...?" said Michelle.


    "And... And... One of the male guards disparaged my loveliness!"


    "That''s just not possible," said Michelle. "You''re beautiful. I mean as an elf AND as a dragon."


    "You would think so!" said Zinariya. "But some elf guard there started comparing me to Ardwella and..."


    "Oh," said Ardwynn. She and Michelle shared a meaningful look.


    "Listen, sweetie. Your still young." began Michelle. I''m sure things will change for you, even as an elf. I mean... I could probably use a little more in that department. You can''t really compare yourself with Ardwella."


    "I don''t understand!" said Zinariya.


    "Don''t look at me. I''m nursing a baby right now.  These are working breasts.  said Ardwynn. They are never the same afterward either."


    "You are talking about about breasts!" said Zinariya. "I do remember Ardwella''s. They did seem quite large."


    "If he was comparing you to Ardwella, it was probably that," said Ardwynn. "I mean, the rest of her is pretty spectacular, too."


    "But I did that. I gave her a physical makeover! I made a lot of improvements when I was sharing her body!"


    "Then you probably only have yourself to blame," said Michelle.


    "That''s really unfair," said Zinariya.


    "I know what would probably cheer you up," said Ardwynn. "You can take us over to my house and look at dresses with us!"


    "I don''t know...." said Zinariya. My mom doesn''t want me going too far."


    "I''m sure that I have several mirrors," said Ardwynn with a grin. Besides, Candasar isn''t here. She¡¯s off somewhere helping Lothinar with Mandel."


    "Hmm." said Zinariya. "I guess I could try experimenting with my elven shape if I had a mirror to look at. Maybe I can make that guard eat his words!"


    "That''s the spirit!" said Michelle.


    ---------------------------------------------------


    It didn''t take long for Lothinar to spot Mandel. He was down at the lake, splashing around in the shallow water. Both dragons landed on the shore.


    "Stay here for a minute," Lothinar said to Muina. "I would like to try and talk to him first."


    "But..."


    "It won''t take long. I''ll signal you when I want you to come over."


    Lothinar slipped off Firestorm and walked slowly over to his half-brother. Mandel was looking into the water.


    "Hey, little fishies! Are you going to grow up soon to be big fishies so we can eat you?"


    Mandel was talking to minnows, but as Lothinar approached, he suddenly stood up and spoke to him.


    "Oh Hi Lothinar. Sorry for running off. I''m feeling much better now." He looked past Lothinar and spotted Muina still sitting on the dragon."


    "Hi, Mom!" he hollered. Then he waved.


    "You seem better," Lothinar said to him. "At least not so angry. And you seem to finally remember your mother."


    "Sure!" he said. "The dragon helped me."


    "One of my dragons?" Lothinar asked, confused.


    "No. The green one! Her name is Emerald." he said.


    From a distance, Lothinar could see a green dragon flying towards them. She looked very familiar. She landed next to them and Lothinar wasn''t that surprised when Mandel threw his arms around her neck.


    "You came back!" he said happily.


    "I told you that I only needed a few minutes to say goodbye to the others in my tribe. I felt that I owed them an explanation."


    "Mandel only nodded." He went back to looking at the minnows.


    "I found him down here, alone," Emerald said to Lothinar. "At first, I thought it was you coming back to give me a second chance."


    "Second chance?" asked Lothinar.


    "I spoke with Michelle this morning. She told me that under no circumstances would you be taking additional bonds right now."


    "Well," said Lothinar. "I suppose she''s mostly right. But if you were going to ask something like that, it would have been better to speak to me about it. The females in my life can be a little territorial."


    "Are you taking bonds?" asked Emerald. "Because I have a few friends who...."


    "She''s MINE!" Mandel suddenly said. "Mine. mine mine." He pointed at Emerald. Then he suddenly started looking at the minnows again.


    Emerald looked embarrassed. "I''m trying to work with him, but he still has these episodes," she said forlornly. "He''s very passionate, but his mind is damaged. I''m trying to allow him to lean on mine. I have a lot of history with fish."


    "You bonded," said Lothinar.


    "I didn''t realize." said the dragon. "He just looked so much like you. I thought...."


    Muina came running over.


    "Hi, Mom!" Mandel said again.


    "Well, that''s an improvement," said Muina. "At least he remembers me."


    "There are images in his memory. They are not well connected," said Emerald. "I''m helping him as best I can."


    Muina looked at the green dragon. "You do realize that he is the Emperor of the Elven lands."


    "No, I didn''t realize that," said Emerald. "That doesn''t really matter much to me. I know it sounds important. I don''t know what he actually does, but I''m sorry to say he''s probably not going to be able to fulfill that obligation. I''m barely keeping him together right now."


    "Your personal vocabulary is better," commented Lothinar.


    "He''s still got the words," said Emerald. "He had a pretty good education at some point. I know a little bit about a lot of things that I didn''t used to. I know Mavis and Cantrell. There is this little serving wench at the Capitol. He''s not supposed to be diddling, but he diddles fairly frequently."


    "What?!" Muina almost shouted.


    "You know the bonded have no secrets, Auntie," said Lothinar. "And it''s hardly a crime."


    "He thinks she loves him, But I think she''s just trying to get into his bed for political gain," said Emerald. "There are little warning signs."


    "It''s good that you found out about that," said Lothinar. "In his job it''s very hard to find someone you can really trust."


    "I trust HER!" said Mandel. He pointed at Emerald.


    "We need to talk, Emerald," Lothinar said. "There have been some changes you may want to know about before you invite a female into his life. Especially now."


    "I''ve heard things," said Emerald. "Rumors. Are they true?"


    Firestorm suddenly shifted. She walked over to them. "Hi, I''m Rose," she said. "Lothinar is right. There have been some changes."


    "I see," said Emerald. "Can you teach ME how to do that?"


    "I can''t, but I know someone who probably can," said Rose.


    "He will have needs," said Emerald. All males do."


    Lothinar looked embarrassed. Rose prodded him in the ribs. "Did you hear that Lothinar? All males do!"


    "Mandel is handsome," said Emerald. "Of course, you are as well, Lothinar. But have either of you thought about shaving your heads?"


    -----------------------------------------------------


    "

 Volume 3: Chapter 6: Just say no.

    ************************


    Chapter 6


    ************************


    Lothinar returned his brother and his aunt Mavis back to his parent¡¯s house. Mandel suddenly seemed happy to stay there. At least as long as Emerald also did, AND she remained very close by. That required making a place for both of them to sleep in the barn. They moved Lothinar''s old bed out there and actually put it in Jamison''s old stall. Mandel seemed quite pleased with that. Emerald had never slept on hay and deemed it quite comfortable. Albarad had been a little nervous with the green dragon bedding down with the horses that still shared the barn, but Emerald quickly assuaged his fears.


    ¡±It¡¯s good that the lake is not too far,¡± she said. ¡°I have a problem with my teeth and can only eat fish and small animals.¡±


    ¡±Your teeth? Perhaps I can have my friend Tundor help heal them. He is a white dragon.¡±


    ¡®Emerald laughed. ¡°It is not necessary to trouble your white dragon friend. All of my tribe have teeth like mine. They are hollow in the center. See?"


    She opened her large mouth, and much to Albarad¡¯s horror, Lothinar stuck his head inside to take a look. Her fangs were long and sharp, but in the center of each one was a tiny hole running from the tip, down into the tooth.


    ¡°Ok,¡± said Lothinar. ¡°That¡¯s a bit different.¡±


    ¡®Mandel had looked over with concern or, even more likely, jealousy when Lothinar had stepped up close to the green dragon. Muina had been trying to ask him questions about his time at the Capitol in an attempt to stimulate his memory. When Lothinar removed his head from the dragon¡¯s mouth, Mandel reluctantly returned his attention to his mother.


    ¡±If Emerald prefers fish, then we shouldn¡¯t suggest she develop a taste for larger animals.¡± Albarad said to his son as he flared his eyes wide and gestured toward the horses with a couple of quick jerks of his head.¡±


    Surprisingly the dragon picked it up. ¡°I will not attempt to eat your beasts of burden, Father elf. That would make me a very poor guest, would it not? I prefer to swallow my prey whole.¡±


    Albarad chuckled. ¡°Yes, you would have to be substantially bigger to swallow a horse whole.¡±


    ¡±These horses," She licked her lips. "Their young are smaller?¡± Asked the dragon.


    ¡±Yes, but¡­¡± Albarad looked at his son in alarm. Lothinar, however, had seen Emerald¡¯s wink.


    ¡°She¡¯s just messing with you, Dad,¡± he said, laughing.


    "I never joke about dragons eating horses!" Albarad said testily.


    Giving up Lothinar¡¯s old bed to the barn had relegated Heirwynn to a legless futon that they pulled out of a closet. The unflappable young human girl insisted that she didn''t mind. Albarad promised her that he would soon make more permanent arrangements regarding the furniture. Having Mandel in the barn also gave Albarad a little more peace of mind regarding Heirwynn''s safety. Lothinar could tell that something about the potential interactions between Heirwynn and Mandel was troubling him. Seeing Lothinar''s questioning look, his mother pulled him aside and explained things.


    "I think Heirwynn had a bit of a fantasy crush on Mandel. That was, of course, before she actually met him. She admires your father very much and perhaps hoped..."


    "That Mandel would be like him." finished Lothinar.


    "It didn''t hurt that he was still single and going to be the Emperor, I suppose." said his mother. "But now..."


    ¡±His strange behavior is a bit off-putting for a crush.¡° said Lothinar.


    ¡±Exactly.¡± Ardwella replied.


    Lothinar scratched his head. "I think you are actually seeing more of Emerald''s core personality coming through than Mandel''s at the moment. His brain is pretty scattered. I took a look in there and even I can''t figure out what¡¯s going on.¡±


    "You didn''t tell Muina this did you?" his mother asked with concern.


    "I did not. I didn''t want to needlessly upset her. There is nothing she can do except provide love and support. Whole sections of his brain remain in a comatose condition. They may be retrievable at some point, but I would like some time to think about this before I start mucking around in there. I was hoping that those damaged sections might eventually wake up on their own. Especially with someone familiar around to stimulate his memory.¡±


    "Leave Mandel with us, Son. You have enough on your plate at the moment. But do check in. I miss you."


    "I know our relationship has not been great lately," said Lothinar.


    "I let you down. I didn''t protect you. There were so many things I could have done better." said his mother.


    "I survived, and I''m stronger for it. Some day we will sit down, and I''ll tell you about it. All of it. But right now, my dragons want to get back. Candasar in particular. She has some concerns about her kids at home."


    "Zinariya?" asked his mother.


    "I may want to consult with you about what you two went through together."


    "I understand Lothinar. Better than you think. And I won''t be running off anywhere for a long time. I will be available. Those days are behind me."


    He gave her a questioning look. "I''ve heard some things."


    She grimaced. "I''m sure you have. We both have stories to tell."


    Lothinar nodded and headed out the door.


    Heirwynn ran outside just before he climbed on Firestorm.


    "Goodbye Lothinar!" Come back soon!"


    "Terrific!" said Firestorm. "It seems that you have another fan."


    "She''s a nice kid. My son is named after her brother."


    ¡±Harvey is a very nice name.¡± Said Candasar.


    -----------------


    When the dragons finally got Lothinar back to Ronni''s cabin, Ardwynn, Michelle, AND Zinariya were gone. Candasar was quite upset about that. She soon returned to elven form and began pacing back and forth in the living room. Rose was sitting on the couch. Lothinar was convinced that she was practicing her ''come hither'' look on him. Especially now that Ardwynn wasn''t around.


    "I let that girl out of my sight for even a few hours, and she disappeared. I told you she can''t be trusted!"


    "I''m sure it''s fine," said Lothinar. "Hey, look! They left a note on the table." He picked it up and read it.


    "Why didn''t I think of that?" he exclaimed after a few seconds.


    "Did the note say where they went?" asked Candasar.


    Lothinar smiled, then tapped his finger to his temple. "Are you using unnecessary and redundant questions to try and seem more elf-like? We all knew what the note said the second after I read it via bond telepathy.¡±


    "It has crossed my mind that our instant communication through the bond might be confusing to others without the same ability," she said, blushing slightly. "I''m just practicing good manners! Now that we can transform, we will likely share small spaces with others more often. If Michelle or Ardwynn were here, they would not be able to hear our mind speech.¡±


    "But it''s just us three here right now!" said Lothinar, laughing. "Rose knows what the note says too."


    Candasar coughed. "Just like I know that she wants to drag you into the front bedroom the moment I walk out the door," said Candasar. "Did you get that message, Lothinar?"


    His smile faded, and he looked a little concerned. "I saw her sultry smile, but no. She somehow shielded those specific thoughts from me. He turned to the redhead. "Rose, we''ve talked about this!" he said.


    "But that was yesterday!" she protested. "It''s part of my plan to eventually wear you down."


    Candasar interrupted them. "Don''t you think you should try to find a nice male dragon for your first time? I can tell you that once. you''ve been with a real dragon you will never..."


    "How would you even know? Shouted Firestorm. "You''ve never had sex in your elf body. You might be missing out on something great. I''d be willing to share him. How about it, Lothinar?"


    Lothinar sighed heavily.


    "The note." he said, reminding them, ¡°indicates that Ardwynn and Michelle have gone to Tasumakoji. Specifically Ardwynn''s old house. They say that they are going to try on some clothes. Zinariya is with them. She consented to transporting them there.¡±


    ¡±But I told her to stay here.¡± Protested Candasar. ¡°With her siblings and father!¡±


    ¡°I did ask her to take Cantrell back for me,¡± Lothinar said, looking at the note again and reading further. ¡°Someone at the Capitol made a rude remark, and she got irritated. Michelle said in the note that they were just trying to cheer her up.¡±


    ¡±Now see!¡± Said Candasar. ¡°That¡¯s what I was trying to explain to her earlier. The social nuances of trying to act like an elf and knowing what to do are extremely complex. At least we,¡± she said, pointing to herself and Rose, ¡°we both have your bond to help us navigate these strange elven social problems. Zinariya is on her own. That¡¯s why it¡¯s better for her to stay in dragon form right now. And that¡¯s why I didn¡¯t want her teaching my other children how to do this. They all could get into a lot of trouble!¡±


    ¡°So you think only bonded dragons should be able to form shift?" Rose asked.


    ¡±I think" said Candasar," that the social rules and expectations of unbounded dragons are quite different. You probably don¡¯t fully realize this, Firestorm..."


    "It''s Rose right now." she interrupted.


    "Rose," Candasar nodded condescendingly, "You don''t fully realize this because you were bonded just a few days out of your egg. I had to grow up as a wild water dragon fending off unwanted physical and sexual attacks almost weekly. Lothinar saw one of those. He and Tundor defended me from two nasty males that came after me. Dragons that could shift into elves and lack proper social guidelines would be¡­.¡±


    ¡±Wolves in sheep¡¯s clothing.¡± Finished Lothinar. ¡°They might even make Argent¡¯s family look tame. You¡¯re right, Candasar. We need to try to establish some rules before this gets out of hand!¡±


    "I''m glad you finally understand," said Candasar. "I''m starting to think that Zinariya might actually NEED a bond, Lothinar. I would normally say it was too soon, but she''s already out there. She is likely to come into contact with many elves.


    Rose snorted. "I knew this was going to come up. That''s fine, but it shouldn''t be Lothinar."


    "Why not?" asked Candasar. "It would help me keep my eye on her, and it would certainly help her understand my concerns better. I''m not suggesting that she get into a physical relationship with him like you are attempting, of course, but a strong and kind bond like Lothinar would help her."


    "How are you going to keep her from wanting more from him?" Rose asked.


    "I certainly don''t want MORE from him," stated Candasar.


    "Are you sure? Rose asked skeptically. "Because I can actually read most of your thoughts. He can too, you know!"


    "I appreciate him. Yes, I even love him. I''m sure that''s what you are feeling. But unlike you, I consider him off-limits. He''s more like a brother. And I''m sure," she said looking at Lothinar, "That he would consider my daughter as ''off limits'' as well.


    You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    Lothinar froze. It felt like someone had cast the "Letta" hold spell on him. He suddenly knew what one of Tundor''s early deer had felt like, staring at a predator. He shook it off and kept his thoughts to himself.


    Rose side-eyed him. "Native dragons, as you know." said Rose, "Often live in small, tight-knit communities. Genetic interbreeding between extended family members is pretty common. I''m actually YOUR grandfather''s daughter, lest you forget."


    "And Aleena, your mother, was my cousin. Yes, of course, I know this." Candasar acknowledged.


    "So I don''t know why you are so sure Zinariya won''t..."


    "She won''t because Lothinar respects me! My wishes. Especially since MY standards for this kind of thing actually come from his values and upbringing. I have adopted an Elven mindset, being bonded to him. And I am going to suggest that if you continue to parade around as an elf in public, you should, too. Your wanton behavior is going to cause him problems."


    Rose slumped back on the couch and frowned. "I''ll think about it." she finally said.


    Lothinar had listened to the conversation with an impending sense of dread and concern. He didn''t like it when his two bonds argued. He was really struggling to keep his thoughts perfectly neutral. He didn''t want to hurt either of them. They both had valid points and obviously cared deeply for him. Perhaps he should try and change the subject.


    "I obviously totally forgot that Ardwynn inherited a big house from her parents."


    "Right," said Candasar, smirking. She was obviously picking up on his attempt to relieve the tension. "It''s a good thing they didn''t have time to change the will before we killed them all."


    ¡°We only killed her father, Candasar. Esmarilla killed her brother as he was attacking her, and well, her mother was a group effort, if you will remember."


    ¡°Yes, I do. The dragons of the lake tore her to pieces,¡± said Candasar. ¡°But she totally deserved it.¡±


    ¡±Sometimes I wonder how some elves can be so evil.¡± Said Lothinar. ¡°Being one myself.¡±


    ¡± Argent''s brood were definitely the worst. We have seen that over and over again. You must realize that if Vanquish hadn¡¯t done what she did for you¡­.¡±


    Lothinar looked resigned. ¡°We never would have been able to let an unchanged Ardwynn live. Seeing all that death in Delora, I understand that more than ever. And that was just the last two of Argent¡¯s daughters. Your daughter and my mother Ardwella took care of the others.¡±


    "Zinariya needs a bond." Candasar reaffirmed. "It will probably help her deal with the aftereffects of that. I shudder when I think that my little child got dragged into it. She''s probably emotionally scarred."


    "Tell me more about the house!" said Rose. "I assume it''s much bigger than this place."


    "I''ve obviously never been inside," said Candasar. "Have you Lothinar?"


    "No," he admitted. "Ardwynn moved back after we split up. Every time I went there to try and work things out, she didn''t actually let me in. I do know they have a large barn. Tundor stayed there for a short while. My father claimed their horses. He actually rescued them."


    "Of course he did," said Candasar. "We know how Albarad loves horses."


    "It probably would feel strange sleeping in that house," said Lothinar. "They were a strange and terrible family."


    "Ardwynn wasn''t exactly the girl you would normally bring home to mother either," said Candasar. "She sure had us all fooled."


    "I do remember you specifically pulling me aside and suggesting I get more involved with her, Candy."


    "I had hopes and dreams, Lothinar. I was already with Tundor and wanted you to have someone too. And I felt sorry for her. She had been chasing you for so long. That was long before I had even heard much about Argent. I had this fantasy that the four of us would be this double happy couple forever. I''m really sorry."


    "I wasn''t trying to make what happened your fault. You more than paid the price with what you have given up for me. What you continue to do for me. I love you, Candasar. We are going to be together forever."


    "Now it seems that I''m going to have even more company," she said ominously. "First Firestorm, then at least possibly Zinaiya..."


    Rose glared at her again.


    "How many dragons can you even bond with Lothinar?" Rose asked apprehensively.


    "Well, Marg said one is normally the limit," he replied. "But we are already past that."


    "But how will you decide? What kind of criteria will you use? You seem to prefer females...."


    "You know, when the subject of bonding first came up, I thought he might choose Tundor," Candasar said. "You and he were friends first. We got off to a difficult start."


    ¡±I''m not really interested in additional bonds right now,¡± Lothinar said.


    ¡°But Zinariya needs guidance¡­..¡± said Candasar. Her voice had a slight pleading tone to it that concerned Lothinar.


    "Hey!" said Rose suddenly. "Has anybody talked to Tundor about turning into an elf? She suddenly seemed to be willing to leave her question and the discussion regarding Lothinar¡¯s bonds unanswered. ¡°That might solve some of your more difficult size discrepancy problems, Candasar." She wiggled her eyebrows in what she must have believed was a lecherous fashion but didn''t really pull it off. It looked more like two skinny red caterpillars dancing.  As soon as Lothinar thought that, the two female dragons in elven bodies laughed.


    When they finally stopped Candasar spoke. "Tundor is too wrapped up in trying to raise our children right now to think about sex with me."


    "Don''t kid yourself Candasar." said Lothinar. "He''s thinking about it. Probably a lot. He just doesn''t know how it could possibly be accomplished with the size differences. I think you should listen to Rose on this one."


    Candasar managed a grudging smile. "I''ll consider it." she finally said. "If Marg ever does come back."


    "She will," said Lothinar. "I might have to get angry and try to break something with magic, but she will come back. In fact, for your sake, I will make sure of it!"


    "Let''s go look at dresses!" shouted Rose.


    "You don''t really need dresses," said Lothinar. "Don''t you just make what you want from magic?"


    "I need ideas Lothinar." said Rose. "I wonder if they have any Lingerie?"


    "If my daughter is with them, they had better not be trying on Lingerie," said Candasar.


    "I bet they are..." said Rose. "They grow up so fast. Especially with Lothinar''s magic around."


    "Let''s go find them," said Lothinar. "But you two have to go into the house first."


    They walked back outside and right into Esmarilla.


    "Cantrell wants to know what''s going on," she said, watching with great interest as Candasar and Rose changed back into dragons. They were shaking out their wings, preparing to fly.


    ¡±Mandel is doing a bit better.¡± Said Lothinar as he climbed onto Candasar. He tried not to notice Firestorm''s little pout.


    ¡°Hey, what do you know about green dragons?¡± He asked Esmarilla.


    ¡°Oh be careful with those!¡± Said the black dragon. ¡°They can be quite poisonous!¡±


    -------------------------


    Michelle twirled across the floor. Her dress swirled with her.


    "This is NICE!" she said happily.


    "I''m sure my mother didn''t buy that locally. It''s from one of the exclusive dress shops in the capitol."


    "Look! The tags are still on it!" beamed Michelle.


    "I told you! Here! Try this one on too!"


    "None of these are actually going fit me" complained Zinariya. The front part is too big and poofy. The last one I tried looked saggy and misshapen on me. Again, it comes down to breasts!"


    "I''m not sure about elves," said Michelle. "But human girls continue to grow them all the way through their teen years. Sometimes it''s quite stressful because girls think they are going to be flat as a board, then suddenly, one summer, pow!" Mine grew quite suddenly. I went to school one day, and one of my female teachers pulled me aside and told me to go buy a bra. My nipples were showing through my clothes."


    "What has this got to do with me? Zinariya asked. Dragons don''t nurse their young. We usually don''t even have breasts!"


    "But now, by a miracle of your magic, you do," said Ardwynn. "They are very useful." She was sitting on the edge of the bed, holding little Harvey. She had just finished nursing him.


    "I wonder if these are even functional?" asked Zinariya.


    "Well, they aren''t just window dressing, sweetie. Tell me, do your lungs pump air in and out?" asked Michelle.


    "Zinariya took a couple of deep breaths. Then, she suddenly grew self-conscious.


    "Yes, they do," she said awkwardly.


    Michelle chuckled. "Then I''m going to suggest that all of the other various parts that make you look like an elf actually function. Just as if you were an elf. This is not illusion magic. It''s true transfiguration."


    "If I got pregnant as an elf and then switched into my dragon form, would I then lay eggs?" she asked suddenly.


    "I think you are still a bit young to be worrying about things like that," said Michelle awkwardly.


    "I think that''s something that I might need to know." insisted Zinariya. "Um, Not right now, of course." She suddenly got busy looking at another dress.


    Michelle and Ardwynn looked awkwardly at each other.


    Michelle reached over and took Zinariya''s hand. "We should talk about this," she said.


    "It''s nothing," Zinariya said.


    "Did something happen in the Capitol this morning? I know you weren''t gone that long, but if someone tried to touch you or did other unwanted things..."


    "What?" No! Well, some guards were threatening to stab me, but that was with swords." She blushed. "Metal swords! Cantrell sent me away quickly after that. What? did you think I got sexually assaulted or something?"


    "You were the one talking about pregnancy," said Ardwynn.


    "You must be kidding! Can you imagine an elf trying to take advantage of me that way? I''d shift and scare him half to death! Then I''d probably kill the other half!" she laughed.


    "Someone could drug you or hit you in the head," said Michelle. "It''s been known to happen."


    "Oh! I hadn''t thought of that," said Zinariya. She looked somewhat chastised. "Do you think I need to be conscious to maintain the shift? How could I test that without having someone actually knock me out?"


    "Do you revert back into a dragon when you sleep?" asked Ardwynn.


    "No. And I prefer to sleep in a bed too. I stay elf-shaped until I wake up." She giggled. That would be a disaster for the furniture." she said, smiling.


    "Then I think if someone did somehow render you unconscious, He could probably do whatever he wanted without any major surprises," said Michelle.


    Zinariya''s smile faltered. "You''ve given me a lot to think about," said Zinariya. "Thanks for the warning. Am I missing something, or do you two have a fairly low opinion of males?"


    "You should talk to your mother about her early life." said Ardwynn. "it might help you understand why she is trying to be so protective of you."


    "Thank you both. I''ll do that," said Zinariya.


    "You''re welcome," said Michelle. "Now if nobody''s had their way with you, why are you asking about pregnancy?"


    "You have to admit Dragons shifting to elves is new territory. I''m obviously a trendsetter. Someone has to figure this stuff out." said Zinariya.


    "Oh, Honey," said Michelle. "You don''t have to try and deceive us. I think we both understand that you are in love with Lothinar."


    "LOTHINAR?" she asked incredulously. "No way! I''m interested in Cantrell! Ardwella and Siophra both can''t be wrong!


    "Well, that''s a relief," said Ardwynn.


    "A relief indeed," said Michelle.


    ------------------------


    Cantrell knocked lightly on the door. Then he pushed it open. Mavis was laid out on the bed, still in her clothes. Her head was tilted to the side, and a bit of drool was leaking out of the corner of her mouth. He crossed the floor and touched her on the shoulder. Her eyes blinked open, and she tried to focus on him. Then she smiled.


    "Your back!" she said sleepily.


    "Yes," Cantrell said. "I just returned from the royal vaults. I made sure Mandel''s sword was put safely away. I even got a receipt. That crotchety old guard that works down there started giving me a hard time until he realized that I was dropping something off instead of trying to take something out."


    "That''s nice, dear," said Mavis, closing her eyes and starting to go back to sleep.


    "It''s way past mid-morning Mavis. Don''t you think it''s time to get up and take care of some things?"


    "I''ve been up," she said sleepily. Then she yawned. "Can''t you see that I''m dressed?" Her eyes closed again.


    Cantrell gave her a strange look. "This just doesn''t seem like you. "


    "I''m just tired," she mumbled. "I never knew running this place could take so much out of you."


    He nodded sympathetically.


    "I received some more news about Mandel," he said.


    Her eyes cracked open


    "Him bonding with that green dragon was obviously unplanned," said Cantrell slowly. "But Esmarilla assures me that of all the varieties of green dragons, her type is actually the safest. She injects the poison through her fangs. I don''t think she''s likely to be accidentally biting Mandel."


    "That''s nice," she said, almost nodding off.


    "Poison Breath and Acid Skin are two other types that Esmarilla mentioned. said Cantrell. Both are much more dangerous because they are easier to accidentally come into contact with. Skin poison would pretty much prevent Mandel from ever riding her."


    She didn''t answer.


    He went over and put his face near hers and smelled her breath. He tugged on her arms and pulled her into a sitting position. Then he tapped his hand against her face in a gentle slap.


    "What?" she said. Then her eyes started to roll back into her head.


    He tapped her again. A little harder this time. She finally opened her eyes.


    "What is it?" Her voice was obviously slurred.


    "Mavis, I need to ask you a question. Have you been drinking Laudanum again?"


    "Why does, do you think that? she asked.


    "You are barely conscious," said Cantrell.


    "It was just a sip," said Mavis.


    "Give me the bottle," he said.


    She rolled her eyes and reached over to a small shelf near the bed, and handed it to him.


    He shook the bottle.


    "It feels empty," he said.


    She shrugged.


    "Come with me," he demanded.


    Mavis meekly followed Cantrell as they descended from the tower and made their way to the stables. She stumbled a bit, but Cantrell held on to her. They walked up to Vanador. Mavis was quite wobbly.


    "Mavis is addicted to Laudanum," Cantrell said angrily.


    Vanador''s eyes grew wide.


    "I can help her with that," he said. "But even if I cleanse her body from the drug, I can''t stop her from using it again if she chooses to."


    "Why would she choose to?" Cantrell asked.


    "Perhaps she is unhappy," said Vanador. "Like you, she seeks escape from the burden of living in this terrible place."


    Cantrell spun around. He looked into his wife''s eyes. "Is that true?" he asked.


    She blinked, then her eyes filled with tears. "I didn''t want this Cantrell." she slurred. Now I''m stuck! Worse yet, I''ve trapped you here with me!"


    "Remove the drug, please, Vanador," Cantrell asked.


    A white light started glowing. When it finished, Mavis slumped forward into Cantrell''s arms.


    "I''m getting you out of here," Cantrell said. "Tonight."


    "But what about the country" she asked pathetically. "The tentative peace we have made is fragile. Who will run things?"


    "They are going to have to find someone else for that!" he said.


    Cantrell looked around the vast room that housed the dragons.


    "Where is Mo-Rung, Vanador?" Cantrell asked.


    "I am here, Cantrell." said the red dragon. There was the rustling of straw. Mo-Rung slowly poked his head out of a huge dragon-sized stall. "My head has felt strange lately. I''ve been very sleepy."


    "That''s because your bond has been under the influence of a dangerous drug," said Cantrell. "I didn''t realize the mental fog it causes would transfer to you. Thankfully, Vanador has just purged it from her system. You should feel better soon."


    Cantrell was suddenly grateful that when Lothinar had taken Mo-Rung''s wings after he had attacked Ardwynn, it had not been a permanent change to his body. With Vanador''s help, the withered wings had grown back and strengthened in the weeks that followed. Mo-Rung seemed to have learned his lesson and hadn''t tried to return to Ronni''s cabin for vengeance.


    "Yes," said Mo-Rung. "I''m feeling better already. Thank you, Vanador."


    The white dragon nodded.


    "Mo-Rung, when you are feeling better, I want you to take Mavis back to our house in Tasumakoji, far from the Capitol and far from these medical practitioners who have been poisoning her with this drug. We will say she is.... uh.. taking a tour of Delora to help assess the damages. That should work. I will have Esmarilla join you both there. You both should like that."


    "I like this already! " said Mo-Rung. But will Lothinar accept this? Will he allow me to stay?"


    "I will speak to him," said Cantrell. "You had better not try anything like you did before to Ardwynn. There are things you do not know about her situation."


    "I will listen to these things... This time," said Mo-Rung. "And will try to not make so many hasty decisions."


    "But who''s going to run things here?" asked Mavis.


    "Until I can find someone else stupid enough AND competent enough to take the job," he said. "I will. When I can do that, I will join you."


    Mavis nodded and climbed up onto her dragon. Mo-Rung seemed to have recovered, and they were soon in the air.


    Cantrell used his bond telepathy. "Esmarilla?" he called.


    "I got all that, Cantrell. Are you sure this is a good idea?" the black dragon asked.


    "It''s all I''ve got," he said. "Oh, one more thing. Can you ask Zinariya to come back tomorrow? I think I could use her teleporting ability to help track down those responsible for the nefarious plot to poison my wife. Tell her to meet me in my room next time. That way, the guards won''t give her such a hard time."


    "I''ll pass that along." Said Esmarilla. "So far, Zinariya has always tried to be helpful."


    ---------------------

 Volume 3: Chapter 7. Dragon Appetites.

    ********************


    CHAPTER 7


    ********************


    "I''m taking two more!" shouted Siophra. "Put them on my tab!"


    Siophra was riding Tundor in a slowly descending circle over the dairy.


    "Sure, no problem!" Ronni yelled back from near the barn. She turned and walked up to a large blackboard and made another two lines by Tundor''s name, which was written there along with other local dragons. The number of marks next to Tundor¡¯s name was quite long. Siophra was happy to see Cenderick step out of the barn and wave to them as they passed low overhead. Cenderick had survived the terrible things that had happened to Delora and had become a real local hero. Siophra suspected that, like most heroes, he hoped he wouldn''t be soon called on again. Things at the dairy were getting back to normal. As she watched, Cenderick hefted a bale of hay into the feeding bins as the cows pushed and shoved each other to be first to the trough. He certainly had nice arm muscles. A brief pang of ''What if'' regret slipped in before she reminded herself that she was much more interested in Cantrell.


    Back outside, Tundor lined up his angle and dropped low over the cows, snatching two up. He had one in each claw. At his size, carrying both of the animals wasn''t a problem. Somehow the docile animals almost seemed resigned to their fate and didn''t struggle much.


    "That recent delivery of new cows from Dween sure helped," said Siophra. "Ronni even said that she got a fair price from that old scoundrel McDonald. I wonder why he suddenly seemed so willing to sell us more cows?"


    "I still think paying for cows is a waste of money, Siophra. I am fully capable of catching my own dinner and providing for my family. without resorting to this." said Tundor with disdain. "I CAN hunt!"


    "It''s the time required, Tundor," said Siophra, not unkindly. "The deer, at least the bigger ones, are further and further out. It would take you hours to bring a couple back, and remember; deer provide less usable meat than cows."


    "The kids like the taste of cow better, too," said Tundor. "I think the meat is a little more fatty. These cows," He shook his huge front claws and jostled the very unhappy bovine. "at least got some exercise in that cattle drive getting them down here!"


    About halfway to Ronni''s cabin, Tundor saw the flash of blue and red wings in flight. It could only be Candasar and Firestorm. They were flying straight at him. Tundor made a quick turn and flew a path to intercept.


    "I BROUGHT YOU SOME COWS!" Tundor bellowed through the wind.


    ¡±WE ARE GOING TO ARDWYNN¡¯S HOUSE TO LOOK AT DRESSES!¡± Yelled back Firestorm. ¡°BRING THE COWS AND FOLLOW US! THEN SIOPHRA CAN TRY ON DRESSES TOO!¡±


    ¡±Oh, that sounds like fun, Tundor! Can we? Please say yes!¡± Siophra begged through the bond.


    ¡±But I brought these cows for the Kids and Esmarilla.¡± Tundor whined.


    ¡°There are enough weasels around for them to get by, at least for this afternoon. Come on! You never let me go anywhere fun!¡± teased Siophra.


    Tundor sighed In resignation. Siophra did deserve a chance to get some new clothes. She had lately been very jealous of the dragon''s ability to create nice clothes when they shape-shifted.


    "Ardwynn is going to be there," he said. "You know she hasn''t said two words to me."


    "What two words do you want to hear?" Siophra asked knowingly.


    "I''m sorry would be a good start." he huffed. "I''m not going to go all Mo-Rung on her, but I think she owes me that much."


    "I''m sure she''s dying to tell you that, Tundor."


    "Yeah. That''s what I heard," he said.


    ¡±Hey, Siophra,¡± Tundor suddenly asked. ¡°How much do we actually owe on our tab? Are cows expensive?¡±


    ¡±Don''t even worry about it, Tundor. I¡¯ve got it covered.¡± She said.


    Tundor suddenly had a mental image of a huge white building with thick marble columns. Siophra was calling it a bank. As the information continued to flow, he realized that it was a place to keep elven currency.


    ¡±How do you even have money in a bank? Weren¡¯t you locked up in Argent¡¯s jail for hundreds of years?¡±


    ¡±I was not in prison for the first part of my life. I put money in the bank before I was arrested. ¡®


    ¡°But how will they even know who you are at this point?


    "Elven banks are pretty good." Said Siophra. "All I need is a thumbprint to withdraw my funds."


    "I don''t have a thumbprint."  Said Tundor.


    "You don''t have a bank account either, Tundor. But I can add you to mine. Getting you a thumbprint is going to be a problem only your daughter Zinariya can help you solve."


    ¡±I was thinking I would have to wait for Marg to come back, but then¡­..she didn¡¯t. Now I¡¯m a bit concerned that Lothinar¡¯s words to her might have caused a rift.¡± Said the very large white dragon. He pulled up suddenly just before landing in Ardwynn¡¯s yard so that, as he touched down, his rear legs took the impact. That allowed his front claws to continue gently holding the cows and not drive them into the ground. Then, paradoxically, he reached down with his jaws and immediately snapped both of their necks.


    ¡°I can¡¯t have them trying to run off!¡± He said to Candasar. ¡°Cows are expensive! I¡¯m starting to think we might need to cut back and only eat them on special occasions.¡±


    ¡±Going shopping for new dresses sounds like enough of a reason for me.¡± Said Siophra, hopping down and giving him a wink. ¡°I told you not to worry about finances. As long as the bank still has a copy of my thumbprint on file, we are incredibly rich.¡±


    --------------------


    After Zinariya''s confession about Cantrell, Ardwynn had been relieved to learn that her husband Lothinar would not be forced to deal with yet another female¡¯s unrequited attention. But it somehow bothered her that the young dragon was admitting to having an interest in her old warden leader.


    ¡°But Cantrell is married, Zinariya!¡± Ardwynn protested. ¡°You shouldn''t be trying for someone else''s husband!¡± Then she suddenly endured a strangely hurt look from Michelle.


    ¡°Back on the island, you sounded like you might be willing to forego traditional monogamy.¡± The human girl said tentatively.


    ¡±I suppose that was because your falling in love with Lothinar was not something you had any control over.¡± Replied Ardwynn sympathetically. ¡°He was the drug you were addicted to. Unless you are bonded to a dragon, there is no cure for Lothinar.¡±


    ¡±I thought it was my tenacity that won you over.¡± Protested ¡®Michelle.


    Zinariya was listening with a fascinated expression.


    Ardwynn continued. ¡±I had to finally admit you weren¡¯t going to take ¡¯no¡¯ for an answer. Then, when you became entwined with Vanquish, things, of course, changed, especially for Lothinar. She¡­.You were Candasar¡¯s friend and mentor. I knew, for Candasar¡¯s sake, he would never abandon you. Then there was the possibility you could make it work with Vanador.


    ¡°Well, my getting back together with Vanador is no longer a possibility.¡± Said Michelle. ¡°That ship has sailed. But don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll soon be back in my homeland, instructing young dragons on our history and culture. That¡¯s the deal I made with Marg. I expect she will hold me to it. I think Lothinar needed some time to get used to the idea of another woman in his bed. You are lucky he is so loyal to you.


    ¡°Lothinar honors his commitments. I know he has made one with you, Michelle.¡±Ardwynn forced a smile. ¡°When he thinks the time is right to include you in our lives, in that way, I won¡¯t object.¡±


    ¡±You mentioned drugs earlier,¡± said the young dragon. ¡°You suggested that someone unscrupulous might give drugs to me, as an elf, to make me compliant to mating. I¡¯m assuming that means these ''drugs'' would overcome my free will or choice. Are you saying that Lothinar gave you a drug Michelle?¡±


    ¡±They aren¡¯t actually drugs, and he didn¡¯t just give them to her. At least not deliberately.¡± Said Ardwynn. ¡°Lothinar¡¯s pheromones are part of who he is. Both Michelle and I came into contact with them at different times and under very different circumstances. If we hadn¡¯t, neither of us would likely be here today. We would have ended up living vastly different lives.


    ¡°I would still be in Silvantra with my phony friends going to fancy parties. My father would still be trying to marry me off for the maximum political gain.¡± Said Michelle. ¡°He might have already succeeded. He had sent me to that party where I met Lothinar to debutant me. I would have thought of Lothinar as only an interesting elven dignitary who happened to be a very good dancer. Getting involved with him romantically would have been out of the question.


    Zinariya had the very clear impression that it was the human part of ¡®Michelle'' that was responsible for these feelings.


    ¡°And I would probably have been killed with the rest of my family, fighting to subjugate the dragons.¡± Said Ardwynn. Their plans for me were unexpectedly circumvented when Lothinar¡¯s pheromones made me more loyal to him than to Argent¡¯s wishes. As a result of a dragon bothering to help me, the misery, anger, and frustration of my childhood under Argent¡¯s influences have been expunged. The Ardwynn I am, can¡¯t imagine living in a world where I would have to go back to that. I have born Lothinar¡¯s child and been reborn myself into a better life.


    ¡±Sitting here, trying on your dead mother¡¯s dresses, must feel very strange.¡± Said Michelle.


    ¡°We were never close. Her death leaves me unmoved." Ardwynn said. ¡°But surprisingly, I do have some remorse about the way things turned out with my father.¡± She swallowed. ¡°Mom chose evil actions because they gained her favor and power. With my father, it was more of a mental illness. A compulsion. The curse of Argent¡¯s taint that he also shared as his birthright.¡±


    ¡°That sounds more like a ¡®birth defect¡¯. Said Zinariya, her eyes narrowing.


    ¡°It was a genetic anomaly.¡± Said Michelle. ¡°That¡¯s why purging it was so difficult and invasive.¡±


    ¡±Thank you for trying to cure me and not just taking the easy way out and killing me.¡± Said Ardwynn.


    ¡±Destroying you and your son would have filled Lothinar with indescribable grief.¡± Said Michelle. ¡°As Vanquish, I understood that and knew that it would break him. He might not have survived it. Dragon kind needs him.¡±


    "So, these drugs of Lothinar¡¯s are a good thing?" asked Zinariya. "I should probably ask him for some."


    "NO!" they both shouted almost at once. Then Ardwynn laughed nervously.


    "I suppose this is somewhat like us telling her, ''What''s good for the goose isn''t good for the gander," she said reluctantly.


    If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.


    "They wouldn''t work on her anyway," said Michelle. "Lothinar''s pheromones are just a byproduct of the physiology that makes him so magically powerful. I''m sure Zinariya can feel that. Most dragons probably can. Why do you think Marg came sniffing around?¡±


    Michelle completely missed Ardwynn¡¯s widening eyes and rapidly shaking head. But Zinariya didn¡¯t.


    When Zinariya didn¡¯t react with curiosity at Marg''s name, Ardwynn¡¯s eyes narrowed.


    ¡±I think you forgot that we weren¡¯t supposed to mention Marg¡¯s existence to Zinariya, Michelle. Ardwynn squawked. "Lothinar specifically asked us to keep her existence a secret. Especially from her."


    ¡±Don¡¯t kid yourself. I suspect that Zinariya already knows all about the other Golden Dragon.¡± Said Michelle unapologetically. ¡°Constance and Vigilant probably told her right away.¡±


    Ardwynn looked at Zinariya, who didn¡¯t bother to deny it. Instead, the golden-eyed girl looked straight back at her.


    "I certainly can feel Lothinar''s power. It''s somewhat intoxicating, actually. But I don''t feel romantically interested. I just wanted to bond with him. As most dragons probably would. My mother, though, refused to even discuss it."


    ¡°I don''t suppose I would have any strong objections to that." Said Ardwynn."


    "It''s never going to happen," said Zinariya. "My mother would never allow it."


    Ardwynn cleared her throat. ¡°Let me be clear about something else, Zinariya before we get too far off the topic. Although there are male elves that might be sneaky enough to try and drug you for sex. Some will behave like dragons and will just try to physically take what they want. You should always be prepared for that. Especially when your elf form is as beautiful as yours is."


    ¡±Well, then they will be in for a big surprise.¡± Said Zinariya. ¡±But you are not painting a very nice picture of males in general.¡±


    ¡±There are, of course, many good ones. But you need to know the harsh realities of being female, in either form, in the world we live in.¡± Said Ardwynn.


    ¡°Cantrell wasn¡¯t like that. At all.¡± Said Zinariya. ¡°I spent quite a lot of time with him as I was entwined with the bodies of both Siophra and Ardwella. I found him to be quite loyal to Mavis, even when Ardwella practically threw herself at him.¡±


    ¡±She did? ¡°That just doesn¡¯t make any sense.¡± Said Ardwynn. She loved Albarad, at least at some point.¡±


    ¡±You would have to ask her about that," said Zinariya. "And probably, you should. As Lothinar¡¯s wife, you have the clout to do that. My only guess is that it might have had something to do with the assassinations she was doing. Siophra was much more reluctant to kill. She refused to participate in it.


    ¡±You said that your interest in Cantrell started when you shared their bodies and that they both admire him. I guess the granddaughters of Lothinex have a type. Cantrell somehow has captured their interest."


    "They were both substantially more than interested," confessed Zinariya.


    "The problem with that," said Ardwynn, is he is married to the functioning Empress. I don''t know why Ardwella would get caught up in something like that but it would be wise for Siophra to look elsewhere for a romantic connection. Making Mavis jealous could be dangerous. That goes for you, too, as well, young dragon.


    Zinariya paused and looked at the both of them. ¡°I¡¯ll keep that in mind. Cantrell sent me away very quickly last time. I¡¯ll probably have very little reason to see him again.¡±


    ¡±Why don¡¯t you try learning to be a young dragon before falling in love with elves? It has to be very confusing for you.¡± Suggested Michelle. I¡¯m still trying to make adjustments, and I¡¯ve seen a lot more years than you have.¡±


    ¡°That sounds like something my mother would say, but I¡¯ll try not to hold it against you. I wish I could talk to my mother this way. All she seems to want to do is yell at me.¡± Zinariya said.


    Suddenly there were the sounds of dragons landing in the yard. They could hear Candasar¡¯s voice yelling, even from outside.


    ¡±Zinariya! Where are you? You are in so much trouble!¡± There was also some pitiful mooing that was abruptly silenced.


    ¡±See what I mean?¡± Asked Zinariya, rolling her eyes.


    Ardwynn went to the window and looked out. ¡°Lothinar¡¯s entourage is here." She said. ¡°Siophra and Tundor too. And it looks like they brought dinner. And just in time. I¡¯m starved.¡±


    ¡°Have you spoken with Tundor since you¡¯ve been back?¡± Asked Michelle. ¡°I had better stay close by your side to address any concerns he may have about the changes in your demeanor.¡±


    ¡±Do you think he actually might still be angry at me?¡± Asked Ardwynn.


    ¡±You mentally controlled him and almost made him kill Mavis, then you tried to make him bond with Argent. If he¡¯s not angry, then he¡¯s a more forgiving dragon than I ever was.¡± Said Michelle.


    Ardwynn winced and then looked into Michelle¡¯s eyes. ¡±This might be dangerous. You go first.¡±


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-


    When Emerald had grown hungry she had told the handsome father elf that she needed to fish. He looked at her awkwardly.


    "We have been feeding Night-Sky and Snow with beef that is delivered from the human town," he said.


    "Your dragons eat dead things?" she asked with disgust. "Are they carrion feeders?"


    "Not at all!" he protested. "The meat is very fresh. It''s just that an entire cow is too much for them, at least at their size. I can order an additional amount so that you don''t have to go down to the lake. At least every day."


    "Fish are fine for me." said the green dragon. "I will go now." She suddenly stopped. "Do you wish me to bring you something back?" The lake trout are pretty fat right now. A recent hatch of mayflies has ensured they have fed well."


    Albarad knew some elves that ate fish, but it wasn''t for him.


    "No, thank you, but I''ll keep that in mind. I''ll watch Mandel while you are gone."


    "Thank you, father elf," she said, bowing her head slightly toward him.


    She started out of the barn but was stopped by the yells of Mandel, who rushed out wide-eyed after her.


    "Take me with you!" he insisted.


    "Stay here with your father," Emerald said. "I am going to fly to the place where my tribe lives. The nets that we use to catch fish take at least several of us to use."


    "Where did you get the nets?" asked Albarad with interest.


    "Some of the townsmen gave them to us." she suddenly looked embarrassed. "They mistakenly somehow think that we are their gods," she whispered.


    Albarad thought of the recently burned-down dragon temple. Generations of humans had paid homage to the dragons there. That they revered Emerald''s group was hardly a surprise.


    "When I had flippers, fishing was easier. Most of the dragons don''t have teeth like mine. Most of them started hunting larger animals. They prefer red meat because they can tear and chew. A small group of dragons like me kept trying to fish. It was hard not being able to swim properly. The men saw this and brought us nets. They showed us how to use them."


    "Who are these men," asked Albarad. "I''d like to thank them." Mandel was acting like a small child and clinging to Emerald''s neck as if afraid she was still going to leave him.


    "They call themselves the ''Friends of Mo-Rung.'' They are a nice group. They tried to teach us how to play cards, but lacking hands, we quickly lost interest."


    "That''s understandable," said Albarad. "How far away is your tribe?"


    "Unfortunately, they still live on the far side of the lake." she looked a little annoyed at Mandel. "How am I going to do this? He just won''t let me out of his sight."


    "I can go fishing with you," said Mandel defiantly. "I can hold a net better than a dragon¡± He waved his elven fingers in her face. "See!"


    Albarad laughed, despite himself. "Hey, Mandel. Let''s both go and help her fish. Let me get Night-Sky. I''m going to make him carry me all the way out there!"


    Night had been listening in because he instantly complained through the bond.


    "I have absolutely no interest in going fishing with you, Albarad," said Night-Sky with disdain. "A tribe of green dragons doesn''t sound like my kind of folks."


    "They are friends of Mandel''s bond, and that should be enough to earn a polite response from you, MY dragon," said Alberad, with disappointment.


    "You are coddling that son of yours by submitting to his whims. elf of MINE." retorted Night.


    "It''s part of Mandel''s therapy, and we must give him every opportunity to recover his memories. Emerald has given us a second chance to help my son. I will not allow your persnickety attitude to make her feel less important."


    "Fine! But carrying you is going to be a chore," said Night-Sky. "I might grow weary and have to drop you in the lake. It could come down to a matter of survival. You know dragons like me can''t swim very well."


    Albarad ignored the veiled threat from Night-Sky. "My dragon Night sky is coming," Albarad said to Emerald. "He is very excited about meeting your friends."


    Emerald looked a bit unconvinced. Still, she bent low and allowed Mandel to climb up and straddle her neck. When Night Sky came running into the barn, Emerald suddenly laughed.


    "He''s a little one, isn''t he," Emerald said, grinning. "Are you sure he can actually carry you? Perhaps you should double up with Mandel. I''m sure Mandel won''t mind, and I can carry you both.¡±


    "Dad can ride you. I like Dad." Mandel said to Emerald.


    "What!" Night-Sky sputtered. "You give me grief, get me over here, and now you are just going to leave me?"


    "You said you didn''t want to go," said Albarad.


    "Well, now I''m curious," said Night. "Fishing dragons might be something to see."


    "You will not be seeing. You will be doing," said Emerald. Dragons should not be so lazy as to always expect to be fed by elves. You need to learn to work. You are a spoiled dragon."


    "You think she''s right, don''t you?" Asked Night-Sky through their bond.


    Albarad didn''t answer but quickly climbed up behind Mandel on Emerald''s neck. The green dragon ran through the barn doors and launched herself into the air. She was puffing a bit as they cleared the trees. Looking back, Albarad could see Night-Sky clip the uppermost branch of a tall pine tree as he struggled with the steep climb, even unencumbered.


    ¡°You¡¯re out of shape as well.¡± Albarad sent. ¡°Perhaps a diet of fresh fish might be good for you.¡±


    "All this arguing!" Emerald said. Her voice was a pleasant rumble. "Does he always make you go through that? How do the two of you get anything done together."


    ¡±Wait! You can hear us talking telepathically?¡± Albarad asked in surprise. ¡°I thought bond communication was sacrosanct.¡±


    ¡°No, but Mandel can.¡± Said Emerald. "He sometimes sends your thoughts to me. After we land at our destination, I will try to explain.¡±


    ¡±If Mandel can hear our thoughts and private conversations, that''s going to be a problem." said Night-Sky.


    "Yes, Mandel is a problem for everybody. Especially for the fish!" Mandel shouted gleefully. "I''m going to be helping catch lots of fish for Emerald!"


    "Simple pleasures...." mumbled Albarad.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    "No, I haven''t seen them yet, Cantrell," said Esmarilla. "But remember, you didn''t tell them to come here. You told Mo-Rung to take Mavis to her house in Tasumakoji. You remember that place don''t you? That''s the place where she was almost murdered.


    Cantrell was still in the Capitol and talking to his dragon via their bond.


    "Of course, I remember. I was there," he said. Other than that one awful incident, I have pretty good memories of that place. Aleena''s shrine is nearby too."


    "I assume you want me to meet them there," said Esmarilla. "My wings are still a bit sore, but I can make it. It''s mostly downhill from here, anyway. I am a little concerned about staying in a place so close to Ardwella''s house. The friction between us hasn''t gone away. If anything, it''s worse than before."


    "You''ll be closer to Mandel. We need to know if he is going to get better or plateau. I have Governmental decisions to make soon if he is still incapacitated."


    "I''ll fly down there soon. I expected everyone to be back by now. I''m stuck here watching Vigilant and Constance. They are good kids. They bring me an occasional weasel to snack on. Unfortunately, weasels are so small they just arouse my appetite without providing sufficient quantity to bed it back down."


    Constance suddenly stuck her head into the barn. She had another weasel in her jaws.


    ¡±Are you still hungry, Aunt Esmarilla?¡± She asked.


    ¡°I could probably eat,¡± Esmarilla said politely.


    ¡±Then you should hurry up and follow me down near the partially dried-up creek bed. We haven¡¯t been down there in a while and Vigilant just discovered a whole weasel town! They are everywhere!¡±


    ¡±Now that sounds like a decent supper!¡± Esmarilla grinned. She trotted off, following the young blue dragon down to the creek.


    -----------------------


    Lothinar knocked on the door. Just standing here on this porch brought back some pretty terrible memories. This was the place where Ardwynn and he had fought through their last argument before she left for the Capitol with Tundor. He had almost been able to feel the last vestiges of her feelings for him painfully slipping away by that point. Now, instead of slamming the door with a frown, she opened it, with a large smile. Then he did a double take. It wasn''t Ardwynn at all. It was Michelle. It was almost unnatural how much the two women looked alike. It almost really came down to the ears. And, depending on Michelle''s current mental state, the eye color. Right now, they were green, just like Ardwynn''s.


    "Hi, Lothinar!" she said, still smiling. "Ardwynn''s hiding. She''s suddenly decided to be afraid of Tundor."


    Suddenly Candasar, in elf form, came up the steps. She nodded politely to Michelle and then slipped past her into the house. Lothinar rolled his eyes.


    "She''s on the warpath, I''m afraid," he said.


    "Zinariya?" Michelle asked.


    "Of course," he replied. Suddenly they heard yelling.


    "We just had a very good talk with her. Ardwynn and I, I mean."


    They both winced as they heard the level of yelling increasing inside the house. Suddenly Zinariya ran back out through the door. She skidded rapidly to a stop when she saw Lothinar on the porch.


    "Bond me quick! Before she changes her mind!" she yelled.


    Lothinar blinked.


    "What?" he stammered.


    "I said BOND ME!" She said again."


    "Zinariya dear," began Michelle. "This is an important decision. And there are things called manners...."


    "Fine! I''ll do it myself!" she almost screamed.


    Lothinar felt the flow of magic that always seemed to be leaving him get drawn away. It evaporated like water on a black rock at noon on a hot day. It eerily reminded him of the time Candasar had taken hold of his healing magic and pulled it out of him. Except this time, The energy involved was orders of magnitude greater. He winced and turned up the power. The last time he punched out power like this he had dropped everyone to the ground. He tried this time to, more specifically, direct the power into Zinariya, to not hurt anyone. Michelle stared at what was going on in shock. Zinariya seemed unchanged. She seemed to be able to take it all. A few beads of fine perspiration suddenly stood out on her forehead. Then a few seconds later, her body eerily began to glow. She grew brighter. A golden fire was burning in her eyes. There was a tremendous snap and a flash that looked like a lightning strike. It was accompanied by an immense boom. It shook the house. One of the windows on the porch cracked. Lothinar blinked. When the flash''s after-image cleared from his eyes. Zinariya was gone. Lothinar sunk to his knees. He slowly felt his magic reserves beginning to refill.


    "Wow!" he finally croaked out.


    Candasar came running out of the house.


    "Where did she go?" she asked desperately.


    Lothinar cocked his head as if listening to something.


    "Ok." he finally said. ¡°I¡¯ll see what I can do.¡±


    He looked at the others.


    "We bonded. She''s fine. She says she''s in Chelsaben. Does anybody know where that is?"


    Michelle gasped. She raised her hand and pointed her outstretched finger toward the moon just rising over the trees in the evening sky.


    "It''s the dragon city on the moon. It¡¯s supposed to be a myth," she said, her voice quavering.


    ¡±Well, it¡¯s not.¡± He said, with some frustration. ¡°She¡¯s definitely there. But it¡¯s going to be a problem. She says she doesn¡¯t have enough power to get back by herself!¡±


    ¡±I told you she was going to be trouble.¡± Said Candasar. ¡°Perhaps now, the rest of you are beginning to understand just how much.¡±


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-

 Volume 3: Chapter 8: Green With Jealousy

    ***************


    CHAPTER 8


    ****************


    Albarad was fascinated by the green dragon''s teamwork. Three of them swam out a fair distance from shore. Their swimming was an awkward tail thrashing stroke, but somehow they made it work. When they were in position, a fourth dragon flew out over them and dropped the net. They would then spread out across the water, stretching the net out between them. Holding it in their mouths and then steadily swimming, they pulled the net between them. By the time they drew close enough to the shore to be able to touch bottom and walk in, they had quite a few good sized fish. Smaller ones obviously slipped through the holes in the net.


    Night watched the process with skepticism. "Don''t you think it would be easier to use a boat?" he asked Albarad.


    "I don''t think so, A boat could easily capsize with a dragon on it." he replied.


    "They wouldn''t ride IN the boats. They would attach the nets to them and float them in. Besides, I probably used the wrong word. I think the word I want is barge. Some sort of floating platform."


    "Where are they going to get a fishing barge?" asked Albarad. "I think under the circumstances..they..."


    Night interrupted. "They could use some buoyant tree logs or something."


    "Floating Logs!¡± exclaimed Mandel. "Good idea!"


    Mandel had been sitting there with them, watching, but he suddenly ran out into the shallow water. Emerald had just finished dragging her portion of the long net up near the shore. Water glistened off her scales. Mandel splashed his way over to her and started telling her about Night-Sky''s idea. She nodded patiently, then shook her head. She walked over to Albarad and Night-Sky and spoke.


    "Our group moves around the lake too much. The net is light and easy to carry to a new place, but things like tree logs or floating platforms would slow us down" she said. "We have fished in this place once already. The next catch here will be much smaller. By then we will have to move again."


    "That makes sense." said Albarad. He nodded. "Thanks for explaining that to us."


    Albarad looked at Night-Sky. "It''s probably best to not try and solve other people''s problems without sufficient understanding of the situation." he said.


    Night-Sky rolled his eyes.


    The green dragon smiled, almost apologetically.


    "Do you want to try fishing small black dragon?" she asked. "The next time the net will not be so heavy. It is the best time to learn to fish."


    "My NAME is Night-Sky." he said. And I certainly can handle it."


    "Come" Emerald said. "I will swim out with you. This time Edgar will drop the net to us."


    Albarad suspected that Edgar was one of the other dragons of her tribe. He looked and, sure enough, he spotted a male green dragon with a fishing net hanging from its mouth.


    "Uh, Night..." said Albarad, suddenly concerned. "Have you ever actually tried to swim before?"


    "How hard could it be Albarad?" Night asked sarcastically.


    While Emerald and Night walked over to the water''s edge, Albarad decided to introduce himself to the dragon named Edgar. It only seemed polite. He walked over.


    "Hello. My name is Albarad. I''m pleased to meet you." He said. "Emerald is staying with us."


    He was somewhat surprised when Edgar scowled at him and dropped the net.


    "Her name is Crum.." Edgar said with obvious rancor. "She has always been Crum. To use a new name is vain and unnecessary."


    "Oh, I didn''t realize that she had recently changed it." replied Albarad, with surprise.


    "Yesss." Edgar replied. She changed it when Lothinar gave us our colors. She thought the new name was more beautiful. She was wrong!¡±


    Albarad shrugged. Well, I''m not opposed to the name Crum, but I have to admit, I agree with her." he smiled apologetically.


    The male dragon frowned, looking past Albarad and out into the water.


    Albarad heard violent splashing and turned to look. The black dragon hadn''t made it twenty yards off shore before he stepped into an underwater hole. His head disappeared. He quickly popped up but he was sputtering and sneezing. He turned and thrashed his way ashore. All thoughts of fishing forgotten. A different green dragon quickly took Night''s place, swimming out into the cove with Emerald.


    "Pathetic." said Edgar. "He can not even swim!"


    "I was afraid of that." said Albarad. He hustled over to the black dragon who was dragging himself back up onto the shore. He looked half drowned. He also looked ashamed.


    "I will acknowledge your point Albarad." Night wheezed. "I am a spoiled dragon. I''ve never hunted or even fished. I''ve been coddled."


    Albarad smiled at his bond. "It''s not your fault. But as far as swimming goes, I tried to warn you." he said. "You were brave to try."


    "I''m not brave" said Night.


    "You have to admit you were pretty brave in that fight the other night." Albarad said.


    "You did all the fighting Albarad. I just hung back and provided you with some power. "


    "When you encountered those elves in Heirwynn''s apartment, the first time I mean, you fought them."


    "I caught them by surprise." Night protested. "That wasn''t bravery. It was opportunity. Why are you trying to make me feel better about all of this?"


    "I want the best for you. That''s my job." said Albarad. "The carrot and the stick."


    "Are you trying to use a horse training method on me Albarad? "


    The elf grinned. "The important thing here is that I think you have learned something."


    "Black dragons can''t swim! That''s what I learned." hooted Mandel, slapping his knee.


    Night-Sky glared at him. Then he swallowed. Together they watched Edger drop the net. The other green dragons swiftly pulled it in. As Emerald and the others sorted the fish, quickly dividing them up and swallowing most of them whole.


    After the green dragons were done feeding, Emerald nodded her thanks to other fishing dragons and approached them once again. Albarad had a question. Something about his conversation with Edgar was bothering him.


    "Your friend Edgar...." he began.


    "He is not a friend." she said brusquely. "He was a someone that wished to mate with me. I rejected him. He persisted and we fought. I was the winner. He is bitter and angry because of it."


    "Oh!" said Albarad, suddenly gaining a better understanding of the surly dragon''s unpleasantness.


    Emerald seemed unperturbed. "Now that I have bonded and have moved away, he knows that I am serious about not choosing him." she said.


    "Did he not believe and accept this before?¡±


    Emerald narrowed her eyes. "It was not just about him accepting it." She paused before continuing.


    "Female dragons sometimes have..... limited choices, and the males can be..... persistent." Emerald said. "I am in a much better place now..... Safer. Happier."


    "I see..." said Albarad. "Should we expect trouble from him?"


    She seemed to be considering this. ¡°He does have a history of holding onto grudges.¡± She finally said.


    Night sky cocked his head. "You don''t think he''s jealous of me?" he asked "I''m a little too young for you, don''t you think?"


    Albarad stifled a laugh at Night''s expense. That scenario didn''t seem likely.


    "Your young. but you will grow¡­ Eventually." Emerald said mischievously.


    Night blinked in surprise.


    "Don''t worry little black dragon." She said. "I have enough to worry about looking after Mandel. He keeps my mind busy."


    Mandel suddenly looked sharply at Night-Sky.


    "MINE!" he said.


    "You won''t get any arguments from me!" said the black dragon. Then he seemed to remember something.


    "Uh, While we are here, Could you teach me how to swim better, Emerald?" he asked meekly.


    "That''s a good first step if you''re going to be fishing." she said with a smile.


    Albarad tried to ignore the dirty looks Edgar was giving Night-Sky as Emerald took him back out into the water for his first swimming lesson. It didn''t work. Edgar was working himself into an emotional frenzy. Albarad decided to have a quick word with him.


    "Emerald told me of your interest in her." he said slowly. "I''d like to make sure you understand the situation."


    If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    Edgar turned to him and stared at him coldly. "Why are you poking your snout where it is not necessary elf?¡± He demanded. ¡°I have not sought out conflict with you. I know that you are Lothinar¡¯s father, and that other elf with you is your other son. I am not a complete fool.


    ¡±And what if we weren¡¯t? Related to Lothinar, I mean¡­¡±


    The dragon seemed to appraise him.


    ¡±I will give you some advice. This is not for you, but for others that come into dragon territory seeking a bond from among our most desirable females¡­.We will defend what is ours!¡± He said menacingly.


    He opened his mouth to show his hollow tipped teeth. Albarad, standing as close as he was, could see some sort of green fluid glistening on them. He almost involuntarily stepped back, but didn¡¯t. He held his ground.


    ¡°Elves can bite too.¡± He said, calling up the first words of the dragon immolation spell that he had learned from Muina. He leaned closer to the green male and whispered only the first three syllables, before cutting it off there. Though the effort of halting the spell at that point gave him a splitting headache.


    The green dragon¡¯s eyes grew wide. He coughed and a little smoke came out of his mouth. He quickly ran out into the water and quickly threw himself in, almost completely submerging. Albarad could see him looking back at him with fear in his eyes.


    ¡±What did you do?¡± Screeched Night-Sky through the bond. ¡°Did you forget that we are bonded!? I felt that too! It was a good thing that I was already in the water!¡±


    ¡°Sorry.¡± Albarad apologized. ¡°I solved a future problem.  Sometimes you have to use the stick.¡±


    Albarad suddenly realized that the awful headache that had blossomed inside his skull was probably feedback from his using the first words of that spell while being bonded to a dragon. Casting it, in its full form would no doubt have taken Albarad out as well. Knowing that, it effectively took the option completely away for the future. At least for him.


    Night sky was giving him unhappy looks but Emerald, seemingly unaware of the drama, soon demanded Night focus again on her swimming instructions.


    Because of the swimming lesson interruptions and Night¡¯s new found lethargy, they got back late. Edgar had never even come back out of the water, even though Night-Sky had assured him that the burning sensation that had swept through his body was long gone.


    On the flight back to the house, the bond seemed to be filled with silent sulking on Night''s part and a sense of muted guilt on Albarad''s part. . He should have never allowed the dragons rough words to stir him to such an unwarranted reprisal.


    Emerald, though, seemed strangely satisfied with the outcome.


    "Thank you for defending my new name to that oaf." she had said with sincerity. "I now truly feel like part of your family."


    "I have a bad habit of getting involved in problems like that." Albarad said. "Especially when there are pretty girls involved."


    That actually made Emerald blush. Riding on her back with Mandel, Albarad could see and feel the heat on the back of her neck. Mandel didn''t even make a fuss about it.


    When they finally got home, they found two more dragons in the yard. It was Esmarilla and Mo-Rung.


    "We are looking for accommodations." Esmarilla said. "Mavis doesn''t have a barn. We were hoping you could put us up for a couple of nights."


    "Is Mavis actually here?" Albarad asked with some alarm.


    "She''s in the house talking to Muina." Esmarilla answered. "She''s had a tough few days. Cantrell sent her home."


    "MAAAVVIIISS!" yelled Mandel quickly running into the house.


    Albarad looked alarmed. "Sure, you can stay," he said to Esmarilla. "But I''d better go check on that." He took off, chasing after Mandel.


    "He is fine." Emerald yelled after him. "This is a good thing. He remembers her."


    Esmarilla looked the new green dragon over somewhat suspiciously, but it didn''t faze Emerald in the slightest. She dipped her head in a show of respect, then trotted into the barn through the open door, Night-Sky could see her begin to lay down in the straw.


    "Emerald is probably tired." said Night-Sky, somehow finding it necessary to make an excuse for the green dragon. She fished all afternoon, not to mention carrying Albarad AND Mandel back and forth to the lake."


    "So," said Esmarilla, suspiciously. She''s Mandel''s new bond? It seems a little opportunistic to me that she just showed up like that."


    "She did live here, right on the lake. I think Mandel actually found her. He had managed to run off. Honestly, I think she''s helping him a great deal." said Night. "Several specific parts of his brain are injured or at least unresponsive. I suppose it''s a bit like he''s sleepwalking right now, if you can imagine that. He might recover some day and feel that all of this has been a dream."


    ¡±This is actually fascinating,¡± interjected Mo-Rung, raising his eyebrows and glancing toward the barn, ¡°Are you saying that¡­.Emerald is running Mandel¡¯s body like a puppet?¡±


    ¡±Not at all!¡± Spoke Night emphatically. ¡°She¡¯s filling gaps. Mandel is definitely in there. He has outbursts that occur at surprising times. I think she also provides a great deal of emotional support. Before they bonded, Mandel was prone to angry outbursts. He¡¯s much more stable now.¡±


    Mo-Rung seemed to be considering his words. ¡°I must consider this. My own bonds emotional state is rather fragile right now. Perhaps Emerald can give me some tips on how I can help her.¡± He looked at Esmarilla, who gave him an almost imperceptible nod before Mo-Rung followed Emerald into the large barn. He approached her and introduced himself. Through the doors ¡®Night could see them talking.


    ¡±Mavis is having some problems.¡± Esmarilla said awkwardly. ¡°If Mandel doesn¡¯t get better she is going to be stuck being the Empress. Frankly she loathes the idea. There is just nobody else left in the succession that we could trust with the job, and the people would never accept just a commoner.¡±


    ¡±So you obviously don¡¯t know about Albarad¡¯s actual pedigree?¡± Night said.


    ¡±What are you talking about?¡± Asked Esmarilla with great interest.


    ¡±No, Night! No!¡± Albarad''s startled cry came swiftly through the bond. He definitely didn¡¯t want Night to continue.


    ¡±I hear the capitol is nice and your children clearly aren¡¯t up to the job.¡± Night-Sky replied to Albarad. ¡°It¡¯s time for me to apply the carrot and the stick, I¡¯m afraid.¡±


    To Esmarilla he said. ¡°Let me tell you something you might not know about Albarad¡¯s grandmother.¡±


    "Please enlighten me." said Esmarilla.


    Albarad wanted to run out to stop him, but he couldn''t. He didn''t dare, because he had walked into a battlefield. A battlefield fought by two females with angry words. And both females were, in very different ways, his.


    Mavis was shouting at Ardwella.


    "I know that you said you were sorry, but.....What were you thinking?! How could you?" she yelled.


    Muina was sitting next to Mandel on the sofa with her arms crossed. She wasn¡¯t saying anything, but she looked upset, in complicated ways. Her eyes flicked quickly back and forth between her sister and her daughter. Mandel was tugging at a button on the sofa cushion. He didn''t seem to react at all to Mavis''s outburst.


    Albarad entering the room seemed to have taken Ardwella''s concerns at the onslaught up a notch. His wife tried to retreat from the conversation.


    "I have explained myself. Please, I think that should be enough." she said resignedly. She turned and tried to leave the living room.


    Seeing this, Mavis seemed to drive in harder.


    "You TRIED to STEAL my husband auntie!" she yelled. "Perhaps YOUR HUSBAND would like to know why!"


    "I believe that I know why" said Albarad calmly. ¡°I¡¯ve suspected something like this for a while.¡±


    That silenced everyone.


    Albarad walked over to Ardwella and tugged on her arm, turning her around. Looking into her eyes, he pulled her in and embraced her. Ardwella seemed to melt. She breathed out a ragged shuddering breath and buried her face in his chest. Albarad lifted his eyes and stared at Mavis.


    "Have you considered the cost?" he asked. "That your Aunt Ardwella has paid to hand your brother and... now, I suppose... you, the throne? Have you even thought about what your own mother went through, Siophra as well... to end Argent''s evil influence and bring back the dragons? All of them have made it their live''s work so that you can stand here in my living room, free and bonded to a living dragon!¡±


    "That doesn''t make what she did regarding my husband right!" Mavis protested.


    "No, but it makes it more understandable." said Albarad. "Could you have been so emotionally detached to be able to stop Argent¡¯s daughters and their followers? Could you have killed them and kept your sanity? Esmarilla said that you were here because you had a tough few days.... Ardwella has had a tough five hundred years! Do you know how many terrible people she''s had to end?"


    "No." said Mavis. She seemed uncomfortable.


    "How many people have YOU actually killed Mavis?"


    "None." Mavis replied.


    "How many people have you killed, my wife?" asked Albarad. "Both to end the threat to the dragons AND to help secure Mandel''s throne?"


    "Um, I don''t actually really know." Ardwella mumbled. "Probably five hundred or so."


    "How did she deal with that sort of thing Mavis?" Albarad asked. "How could she sleep nights?"


    Mavis looked at her biological father. "Before you came in... she said something about a switch...." Mavis said quietly.


    "How creative ." said Albarad, sadly. "She modified herself with dragon magic. Not just to be exceptionally beautiful, which by the way, she is." he continued. "But she added a mechanism to her own mind to allow her conscience to be turned off. Temporarily, it seems. Do I have that right?"


    "Yes." said Ardwella. "I can turn off my conscience. A stop-gap measure. Unfortunately it led to an unfortunate set of interactions with Cantrell. I promise. I really wasn''t myself. Again, I am so very sorry for that part. Not at all though, for helping end the insurrection.


    "Did anything happen between you and Cantrell?¡± Albarad asked, secretly dreading the answer.


    "No. Cantrell was clearly not interested. He turned me down flat at every opportunity. He clearly loves Mavis and is a man of integrity." Ardwella said.


    "You are lucky, Mavis." Albarad said. "You learned something very important about your husband. And better yet, now I don''t have to kill him."


    Mavis paled.


    "Cantrell is my friend. Please don''t kill him dad." said Mandel.


    Out in the yard a black dragon roared.


    Albarad winced. "Just a joke." he said.


    "Not even slightly funny, Dad." said Mandel.


    "Does anybody besides me think that Mandel¡¯s getting better?" asked Muina. "And Albarad... Where are you going to put all these dragons?"


    "I''m moving all of the horses over to Ardwynn''s barn tonight." he said. "I think I''ll sleep better."


    "You''ll be sleeping with me." said Ardwella. "But you''ll probably still be tired in the morning."


    "That," said Albarad. "Is a risk that I''m willing to take."


    From her room, Heirwynn had listened to everything. Even though she now felt relatively at home in this house, she had felt awkward and embarrassed inserting herself into such a volatile and personal family conversation.


    Snow crouched on the floor next to her new futon. Her eyes were wide.


    "What have we gotten ourselves into?" the white dragon asked silently.


    "Apparently, for this evening at least, we are going to be helping move some horses." said Heirwynn. "Perhaps Lothinar will be there and I can at last meet his mysterious wife. The wife whose father killed my brother Harvey. I have a few questions for her."


    "You''re not thinking about...."


    "Yes. I''m going to see if she feels bad enough about her father killing my brother to allow me some space in Lothinar''s family. I''d kind of like to watch little Harvey grow up. I''d like to help." said Heirwynn.


    "I thought you would never agree to being a second wife?" asked Snow in surprise.


    "I would never have believed it, but It seems to working out pretty well for Muina and Ardwella." said Heirwynn.


    -----------------------------------


    Cantrell had heard Albarad make the veiled threat against him. Although it had initially upset Esmarilla, He didn''t really mind. He considered it appropriate theater for what the man was going through. He was was obviously trying to defuse a difficult situation that had been thrust upon him in his own home. The way Cantrell even knew about it all was a convoluted relay of sorts. Mavis had heard the threat, passed it directly through the bond to Mo-Rung who was standing outside the house with Esmarilla. Of course he had immediately told her. They were mates after all. Then, he finally had heard about it. The path was fairly swift, but by the time it actually got to him, it was fourth hand. It was fundamentally heresay. He told Esmarilla to stand down. After a moment or two, she agreed.


    Cantrell knew a joke when he heard one. It was attempting a joke a few days ago, that had started the whole chain reaction of Mandel coming down from the wall. Mandel¡¯s over reaction to the joke had provided the assassin an opportunity. Cantrell let Albarad''s thoughtless attempt at humor go.


    It was also extremely helpful to have been made aware of the reason for Ardwella''s strange behavior towards him. He was actually glad it WAS him that had received her lustful attention, and not someone else. It had tested his love for Mavis and he had passed. Someone else might not have. That would have spelled trouble for Ardwella and Albarad''s family, and that now included Mavis and Mavis''s mother. That family had certainly been through enough. He would do anything. Stop at nothing, to make sure Mavis had the best life possible.


    He had listened almost spellbound as the young dragon Night-Sky had spilled the beans regarding Albarad''s lineage. Now that was interesting. He would have to make a trip into the royal archives and verify if what the new bond of Albarad had said was true. Perhaps there was a way for him to get out of this situation after all!


    But first he needed to keep his appointment to interview the new Royal Medical Practitioner. The last one had taken an unfortunate fall off the tower, just last night. Such a tragedy. After that, he was going down to the courtyard with Vanador. The white dragon was going to sniff a few more elves for him. Cantrell had a feeling that his work in that department wasn''t quite done.


    It was also a good thing that Esmarilla had told him how Ardwella had used her dragon magic to make that conscience switch. With Esmarilla''s guidance it hadn''t been that hard to make one of his own. It really was very helpful right now. He had a lot of shit to get done around here and he still needed to be able to sleep at night.


    ---------------------

 Volume 3: Chapter 9: The Dress Code Violation

    ****************


    CHAPTER 9


    ****************


    ¡±I told you she was going to be trouble.¡± Said Candasar. ¡°Perhaps now, the rest of you are beginning to understand, just how much.¡±


    Firestorm rushed across the yard from where she had landed as a dragon. When she reached the bottom of the stairs, the air shimmered and blurred around her. She ran onto the porch as a beautiful red-haired elf that called herself Rose and expected everyone else to do the same.


    Rose was yelling Lothinar''s name.


    "Lothinar! Are you alright? No! I can tell that you''re not. Your power is almost gone! What did Zinariya do to you?"


    Lothinar groaned and slowly climbed to his feet. He looked at his bond and quickly met her eyes.


    "I¡¯m not completely sure, but Zinariya made a connection. I don''t even know how she was able to do that. She somehow formed a bond and then just started pulling on my magic." Lothinar glanced at Candasar. "It was almost like when we were in your lakeside lair, Candasar. She grabbed onto my magic and wouldn''t let go!"


    Candasar considered that for a moment. "The egg that eventually became Zinariya, was changed by your magic. You strongly influenced her before she ever hatched. I''m actually not surprised that she could get through your defenses."


    "I know that it¡¯s not supposed to be possible,¡± said Lothinar. "But I definitely feel three separate bonds now."


    "Your daughter assaulted Lothinar, Candasar!" shouted Firestorm, glaring at her. "This is what I was trying so hard to keep from happening!"


    "Whoa. It''s certainly not Candy''s fault," said Lothinar defending her.


    "Come on Lothinar! You remember the conversation we had! Candasar encouraged this." growled Rose.


    "I... did," said Candasar. Her face fell as she admitted it. "Zinariya needed this. I mean, Lothinar''s help. I recommended that she bond with him, but I never expected.... This! Tell me my daughter is alright Lothinar! Why did she suddenly teleport away?¡±


    Lothinar looked perplexed. He looked at his two bonds. ¡°So, neither of you can communicate with her right now?¡±


    ¡±No, I can¡¯t.¡± Answered Candasar, looking worried.


    ¡°Me either!¡± Rose added. ¡°And let me tell you! If I could, I¡¯d be giving her a good scolding!¡±


    Lothinar paused again, listening.


    "She''s inside a small room or building and she''s currently alone." He looked at her anxious mother. "So she seems safe for the moment." He said. Then he paused for a few more seconds. "She''s trying to describe it to me, but nothing she''s saying is making any sense," he said.


    "But where did she go?" asked Rose.


    Michelle looked up at the moon again. "I''ve heard rumors but I never really believed that Chelseben existed. I¡¯ve always thought it was just a story, actually more of a song that dragon parents used to sing to their children.¡±


    "Not my parents," said Candasar.


    "Well obviously," said Michelle. She hummed a little, then finding the key, began to sing. Her voice was sweet and surprisingly low.


    "When nights are clear and sky is bright


    aglow with silver moon¡¯s fair light


    While soaring high, you may just spy


    Fair Chelseben, while passing by.


    It moves serenely ¡®cross the sky,


    The nearest shore, too far to fly


    For thinning air and sky¡¯s of black


    will turn the bravest dragon back


    The way, I¡¯m told, by gate of gold,


    To reach the place called Chelseben.


    Michelle''s singing stopped. She looked a little embarrassed. "I''ve never sung that as a human before. I don''t think I did it justice. Something is definitely lost in translation. In the original dragon its.... uh, well, now that I think about it. It''s probably worse."


    Lothinar laughed.


    "You have a beautiful voice," said Lothinar. "And thank you for the cultural experience."


    Michelle smiled at him and blushed.


    "So Zinariya is really on the moon?" asked Firestorm.


    "That''s what I suspect," said Michelle. "How that''s even possible, I don''t know."


    ¡°But Zinariya didn¡¯t even know about Chelseben or even that song?¡± Protested Candasar. ¡°Even if she could¡­what would make her go there?¡±


    ¡±I don¡¯t think Zinariya understands exactly what happened herself.¡± Lothinar said. ¡°She says that she didn¡¯t intend to do it. It just happened.¡±


    ¡±That¡¯s absolutely ridiculous.¡± Rose protested.¡±How could she teleport without meaning to?¡±


    ¡±Have you ever tried to stop a sneeze, Rose?¡± Lothinar suddenly asked.


    ¡±Are you trying to tell us that Zinariya sneezed herself to Chelseben?¡± Michelle asked, trying to hold back her laughter.


    Rose quickly seized on this new fact. ¡±She must be allergic to you Lothinar! Ok, she managed to get your bond. There¡¯s nothing we can do about that now. But physically you should stay as far away from her as you can. If she accidentally sneezes out another teleport who knows where she''ll end up?"


    ¡±Really Rose?¡± Michelle sighed, shaking her head. ¡°This jealousy of yours,,, I know you want Lothinar all to yourself but..."


    "She''s not allergic to me Rose. She didn¡¯t sneeze, she teleported." Lothinar said carefully. I''m just thinking that sometimes a body does certain things reflexively"


    That earned a strange look from Rose.


    "But how do we go about getting Zinariya back." Interrupted Candasar worriedly. ¡°She is still too young to have enough power for a return trip without you helping her, Lothinar.¡±


    ¡±I doubt that she¡¯s allergic to me.¡± Lothinar said. ¡°I was around her earlier and she wasn¡¯t sneezing then.¡±


    "I think we should leave her there for a while. To teach her a lesson in manners!" said Rose angrily.


    "Rose... " Lothinar started...."She''s still really just a child. We need to try. We have no idea what kind of trouble she might be in up there."


    "Hmph!" Rose said, rolling her eyes and clearly expressing her extreme displeasure. ¡°So you''re going to probably have to teleport off somewhere new with your new bond¡­Just leaving me here waiting for¡­¡±


    Boom! There was a huge noise and a golden dragon appeared in the sky above the house. Candasar looked up hopefully, but her face fell when she realized It was only Marg.


    ¡°Only Marg,¡± thought Candasar with a twinge of apprehension. How would the ancient golden react when she discovered that somehow Lothinar¡¯s mysterious power had caused the birth of a second golden dragon? Marg didn¡¯t seem like the kind that would like to share her exclusivity.


    "What are you doing Lothinar?" Marg yelled as she transformed into an older but still beautiful elven woman who seemed to be hanging up in the air. A moment later, devoid of wings, her elven body began to fall. But before she gained much downward momentum she quickly teleported onto the front lawn with a small pop. She glared at them from the yard.. "I warned you that if you don¡¯t stop sending out power like that, you were going to attract the wrong kind of attention!¡±


    "You know, it bothers me when you make an entrance like that!" Lothinar yelled back.


    Marg looked puzzled. ¡°Entrance? What are you talking about?¡±


    "I mean that when you turn into an elf fifty feet off the ground, I feel strangely compelled to try and run over and catch you.¡±


    Marg chuckled. "Don''t worry about me. I''ve been doing landings like that for a long time. Teleporting can be dangerous, especially when you don¡¯t know the area that well. I¡¯d really hate to arrive in a particular spot that¡¯s currently occupied by something else. For example, a large tree. I can heal, but I hate getting splinters.¡±


    Lothinar winced. ¡°I can only imagine. Has that ever happened?¡±


    ¡±It¡¯s been a while, but yes, more than once I¡¯m afraid. There was this time on the southern continent when I teleported into a jungle. I had palm fronds in¡­..¡±. Her eyes narrowed. ¡®Are you trying to trick me into changing the subject? She stopped and almost seemed to be sniffing the air. Something''s changed. Your power feels different. Did you make a new bond?¡±


    "It wasn''t his fault!" shouted Rose. "He was practically assaulted. Another golden dragon took his power and bonded with him. She didn''t even ask!"


    Marg blinked. "That''s impossible. There are no other golden dragons." she said "With all of the metallic dragons types there can only be one at a time. Could this new dragon be a Platinum? I''ve been doing some research on the dragons that laid this clutch of eggs. They were all from very powerful families. It''s quite possible that a platinum may have hatched. If so, she may have deceived you by pretending that she was a gold. Platinum dragons have illusion magic. They are sneaky, and selfish and tend to create a lot of trouble. They can be troublesome, at least while they are young." She laughed. "Sometimes they even eventually outgrow it. "


    ¡±That sounds pretty familiar,¡± said Siophra.


    Candasar coughed. "You''re probably right. I''m sure we were mistaken," she said. She grabbed Rose by the bare shoulder and pushed her toward the front door.


    "You might want to put on some....clothes... Rose." Candasar whispered. "There is more than one moon out tonight."


    Rose looked down. "Oops," she said. She shot a wicked look at Lothinar and ran inside the house, letting the screen door slam with a bang, behind her.


    Candasar smiled nervously and followed after her. She nodded as she passed, to Ardwynn who had finally come to the door.


    "I guess in all the excitement, she forgot to make herself some clothes when she transformed," Candasar said.


    "I don''t think it was an accident," Ardwynn said skeptically. .


    Lothinar looked incredibly relieved at Rose¡¯s swift retreat. "It was quite distracting," he admitted. "I almost had an involuntary and reflexive event of my own."


    Ardwynn bit her lower lip and looked at Lothinar before sighing.


    "Welcome to my home, everyone." Said Ardwynn. She looked at Marg in particular. "Why don''t you all come in? It will be easier to talk."


    Marg nodded and started up the steps, just as she did, two small blue dragons flew into the yard.


    This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    "Oh neat!" said one.


    "Marg came back!" said the other. They started to run over to her.


    "Please come here children," said Tundor. "Marg has things to discuss with the adults right now."


    ¡®Constance and Vigilant reluctantly returned to Tundor¡¯s side, but they looked a little disappointed.


    As Marg came up onto the porch, Ardwynn looked back into the house. Abruptly she held out her hand, palm forward. "Sorry everyone," she said. "We are dealing with a wardrobe malfunction. Let''s just give Rose a minute to find her way upstairs. That''s where she is going to find some clothes to wear." She stuck her head inside and pulled the front door almost closed. Lothinar could hear her whispering angrily to Rose, but he could only hear one side of the conversation.


    "Get upstairs right now!


    "No, the room on the left!"


    "I don''t care. Just pick anything that''s in the closet."


    "Don''t come down again until you are decent!"


    Ardwynn stepped out of the house and turned her eyes back toward the others. "Thank you for waiting. I''ll get this sorted out in just a minute. Then everyone can come in...." Ardwynn went back inside.


    "Marg chuckled." She turned to Lothinar. "She shifted without clothes?"


    "Yep. Totally naked," he said. "I understand that as a dragon that probably isn''t a big deal, but as an elf.... well, it is quite provocative."


    "You know Firestorm will probably keep doing things like that until you pay her more attention. You realize that don''t you? Red dragons are very passionate about what they want."


    Lothinar nodded. "So I''ve noticed. I don''t know who to talk to about this," he said. "What''s the right thing to do here?"


    Ardwynn stuck her head out the door. "The coast is clear. Everyone can come inside now!" Over by Tundor there were a couple of blue shimmers and Constance and Vigilant suddenly looked like elves again. Thankfully they appeared with clothes on. Before their bewildered father could turn to stop them, they quickly ran past Marg and into the house. Inside, Lothinar could already hear Candasar scolding them for slamming the screen door. Apparently, Ardwynn''s invitation to enter was all they needed.


    Marg patted Lothinar sympathetically on the arm. "Regarding a physical relationship with Firestorm, We should talk," she said. "You probably think you are the first one to experience something like this, but you aren''t."


    "I''d like that," he replied. He gave her a genuine smile.


    "Now don''t start on me," she said. "I''m way too old for you."


    He looked a little shocked. "Oh! I''m sorry. I wasn''t trying to flirt."


    "Elves as handsome as you need to be careful," Marg said.


    "You don''t know the half of it," he said sadly.


    Tundor was, by now, the only dragon in the yard. He looked around helplessly. Siophra seemed torn between staying with him, and Ardwynn''s call to come inside. The pretty elf sighed as she contemplated the lure of fancy dresses just beyond the front door. Instead, she turned and walked back over to stand next to Tundor.


    "Thanks," he said. "I appreciate you staying. Nobody seems to remember that I can''t fit inside a house anymore." He looked down sadly. "Even bringing food didn''t help. Nobody seems to be interested in these expensive cows. Not even Vigilant and Constance."


    "I bet they''ve been snacking on weasels again," said Siophra.


    "Why do I even bother to bring them something at all," complained Tundor grumpily.


    "This house hasn''t been occupied since Ardwynn and you stayed here," Siophra said as delicately as possible. "I bet she doesn''t even have a jar of mung beans in there. They are all going to want these cows! Just you wait."


    "So we just stand out here? I feel silly," said Tundor.


    "Trust me. They will come to US!" said Siophra grinning.


    Marg had climbed the stairs to the porch but noticed the white dragon standing awkwardly with Siophra next to him. Her eyes slowly traveled down to the two cows near his feet. She licked her lips.


    "I remember you from the other night. You''re that big fella that was flying around. You kind of remind me of my son. You may have met him. His name is Vanador. Aren''t you coming inside?"


    "I can¡¯t,"Tundor said sadly. "I''m too big."


    Why don''t you shift?" asked Marg.


    "Because I can''t." He looked at Marg hopefully.


    Marg chuckled and walked back down the steps. She approached Tundor while giving him an appraising look. Then she reached up and flicked him in the forehead with her finger. There was a large pop. Where the oversized white dragon had stood was a giant elf. His chest and arms were huge and packed with rippling muscles. Standing almost a foot taller than Lothinar, he reminded Lothinar far too much of Ardwynn''s father, Duke Tempton, except the elf that Tundor had become had shockingly white hair. He was wearing matching leather armor.


    Siophra gasped. "I''d miss trying on dresses to see you looking like that!" she said.


    "You do look great, Tundor.¡± Said Lothinar.


    The big elf chuckled, deep and low. "I hope Candasar agrees."


    "I agree enough for the both of us," said Siophra. "You do look fantastic as an elf."


    "This might be a lot of fun," Tundor said. Amazingly he reached down and grabbed one of the dead cows and only grunted slightly as he threw it over his shoulder.


    "Feeding all of us on only a couple of cows doesn''t seem like so much of an expense anymore," he said. "There are going to be a lot of leftovers."


    Lothinar reached over and tried to pick up the other cow. He got it halfway off the ground but quickly put it back down. "Nope," he said.


    Siophra laughed. "Don''t feel bad Lothinar, Those Jerseys probably weigh at least eight hundred pounds," she said.


    "Come on Big Guy!" said Lothinar. I''ll have Ardwynn show you where the kitchen is. We will need to figure out how to cut it down and prepare it for elves."


    "Earth cows! Yum," said Marg. It''s been a while. I know a few good recipes. You will have to provide the knives and cooking utensils."


    "Did you just say ''Earth Cows?" asked Tundor.


    Marg seemed to ignore the question, so Tundor just rolled his eyes. It turned out that Tundor couldn''t actually fit through the front door carrying a cow. Lothinar was pretty sure he would without it. The door, after all, had been made to accommodate Duke Tempton. Instead, Tundor had to carry the cow around the back to the delivery entrance. Setting it down on a huge butcher block table, He immediately went back for the other one. On the way around the house and walking past one of the downstairs windows, he saw Candasar sneaking a peek at him through the glass. Her eyes were wide.


    ----------------------


    Zinariya looked out the viewport at an airless world. Nothing green was growing. The entire landscape outside the window was covered with grey dust. It reflected the sunlight in a way that didn''t seem quite right. The room she was standing in was nothing like she had ever seen before. Metallic surfaces glistened in the harsh glow of lights hidden behind opaque panels of glass. There were numbers and letters in various gauges and dials. Even with Lothinar¡¯s bond slowly filling her educational gaps, she had no idea what any of this was for. She wrinkled her nose. The air felt stale and old. She wandered around the small room looking at everything, afraid to touch any of it. If what Lothinar had said was true, she was on the moon. She hadn''t spent a great deal of time in her young life thinking about the silvery orb that waxed and waned in the night sky, but now she seemed to be a prisoner on it. She reached out to Lothinar again. His presence in her mind was helping her more than she could have imagined. Her mother was right about that, at least.


    "Lothinar I''m afraid," she said.


    "Don''t worry, I''m not going to let anything bad happen to you," he said. "I''ll get you out of there, even if I have to make a deal with the devil."


    "That''s a strange phrase," she said.


    "Well, Marg, just showed up," he said. "I''m sure she could help you to get back home. I just don''t know what she''s going to want in return. That and she doesn''t know about you yet."


    "I''m hardly a threat to her," said Zinariya.


    "No, you wouldn''t think so, but apparently we broke the rules. Only one golden dragon is supposed to be able to exist at a time," he said. "So far we are trying to keep you a secret from her. It''s getting more complicated by the minute because somehow she knows that I''ve bonded with a third dragon. Firestorm almost let it slip that it was with a golden, but Marg somehow knew about the possibility of a Platinum hatching. She thinks it must be her and that she''s deceiving us. She is suggesting strongly that we hand the ''Platinum'' over to her because they are tricky and dangerous."


    "Well, she kind of was. Lothinar."


    There was a fairly long pause.


    "Ok, look. I plan to somehow get Marg to bring me up to the moon. When I get near you, then I can refill your magic. But right now my reserves are pretty low. You really took a lot out of me you know."


    "I''m sorry Lothinar. Your power is quite intoxicating. I''m sure you are disappointed in me. It''s just that my mother makes me crazy sometimes."


    "Well, hopefully moving forward, you will be able to understand each other better. She''s filled with worry over you right now. She loves you."


    Zinariya sniffed. She felt tears welling up in her eyes.


    "Oh wow," Lothinar said. "Marg just did something to your father that allowed him to transform. He''s huge for an elf. He just picked up a whole cow! Things are moving pretty fast down here. Firestorm isn''t helping matters. She''s pretty upset with you right now, by the way."


    "You can communicate with them through the bond but I can''t?"  Zinariya asked. "Is that going to be a permanent thing?"


    "I think it''s just the distance involved," he said. "Of all the places, why did you end up teleporting there?"


    "I don''t know. I just remember wanting to be as far from my frustrating mother as possible! Then your power flooded into me and bang! I''m sorry!"


    "Ok. You got off to a bad start. I''m here for you now. Most of your problems are probably my fault anyway. Well, your mother''s and mine. You know the story about your egg."


    "I wouldn''t be a golden dragon without your participation in that," she said. "I like being a golden dragon Lothinar." she admitted.


    Suddenly there was a hiss and one of the panels in the wall opened. An ancient and decrepit-looking grey-haired elf walked into the room.


    "What are you doing? You''re not supposed to be in here!" he shouted. Then he stopped and stood stock still, looking at her. His eyes grew large and he got a terrified look on his face.


    "SORRY! My Queen! I humbly apologize!" he stammered. He bent his scrawny legs and knelt on the floor before her, head and eyes looking at the floor.


    "Lothinar, I am no longer alone," Zinariya said.


    "Is someone threatening you? Are you ok?" he asked urgently.


    "You know, I think I''ve got this under control," she said. "There may be a good reason Marg wants to be the only Golden Dragon."


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    This is amazing!" said Rose. "I''ve had cow plenty of times, but never cooked before. How did you say this was made?" She was sitting at the table with a huge slab of meat on the plate in front of her. She was holding the knife and fork a little awkwardly but she had managed to cut and eat her first bite. To everyone''s relief, she was wearing a shimmering gold evening gown.


    "It''s called a steak," said Marg. "Just salt and pepper and fry it up in a little butter on a skillet. The real work is cutting it into the right portion sizes. Tundor helped me with that. I find eating a lot more interesting when I do it as an elf. It really helps when the kitchen already has spices in the cupboards like this one did.


    "Most elves are vegetarian," said Ardwynn awkwardly. "My parents, however, had other tastes. Not that I participated in their meat-eating," she said. "At least... then."


    "You and Lothinar both have supplemental dragon physiology," said Michelle. "You will need to eat at least some meat from time to time."


    "Well, I''m all meat, all the time if it''s this good," said Rose grinning. She cut another slice and ate it, chewing happily.


    "Lothinar, please explain more about this Platinum dragon that assaulted you and took your bond," said Marg, changing the subject. Where is she now? I may need to take a personal interest in making sure she doesn''t get out of control. Mentor her, so to speak. Platinum''s are extremely smart and can be quite devious."


    "I''ve got it under control," Lothinar said.


    "You probably think you do, but you don''t." insisted the Golden. "The way a Platinum can influence your mind, you might even be under her control right now and not even realize it."


    Michelle tried to deflect.


    "Things must be pretty boring in Chelseben if you came all the way here just because you felt a brief power spike," said Michelle, obviously trying to help Lothinar conceal Zinariya''s existence.


    Marg looked at Michelle suspiciously. "I thought you were leaving. You were going to help educate the next generation of dragons. That was our arrangement, was it not?" she asked.


    "I''m just waiting for a ride," said Michelle. "I don''t have my wings anymore. Unless you would personally like to take me to Enderline''s ship?"


    "I don''t have the time, or the inclination to start offering transportation for every issue," said Marg. "Although if I was to hang around long enough, I''m sure you could find plenty for me to do. That''s one of the biggest reasons I live in relative isolation. The constant demands for a quick trip somewhere are relentless. I''m sure you understand."


    "I can take you ¡®Michelle," said Rose. It would be my pleasure."


    Michelle strongly suspected that her offer had a lot to do with removing Michelle from contention and strengthening her claim on Lothinar''s affections.


    "There you go!" said Marg. "Problem solved. Thank you Firestorm."


    "I''m going by Rose when in this form." said the beautiful red-haired elf.


    "Don¡¯t be ridiculous!" asked Marg. "I think Firestorm is an amazing name. Using two names is going to make it confusing for your friends."


    Firestorm lowered her eyes and sullenly took another bite of her steak.


    "That''s what I tried to tell her," said Candasar.


    Marg swiveled her attention to the blue dragon.


    "And how do you like the new appearance of your mate Tundor wearing his elf shape, Candasar?"


    Candasar blushed. "He looks amazing. Thank you, Marg," she said.


    Tundor seated on her right, blushed a little too.


    "I''m a little perplexed by his size," said Marg. "It usually takes hundreds of years for a dragon to get that big. The immense size can''t help transfer to the elf''s body in some respects. That''s why he looks like that."


    "I''m afraid that''s my fault, again," said Lothinar, lying. "Tundor was the first dragon I actually met. He''s been around me the longest."


    Rose suddenly started squirming in her seat. "How do you put up with this?" she asked Michelle.


    "I told you to pick something different," said Michelle.


    "But you said Lothinar would like it," she answered.


    "For him to like it, he has to be able to see it," said Michelle.


    "I was curious. It looked interesting," said Rose.


    "What''s going on now?" asked Lothinar, raising his eyebrows.


    "Don''t tell him!" said Rose.


    "Lothinar, my dear," said Ardwynn. "As you know, Rose did not make the clothes she is currently wearing. An oversight she will probably not forget. She is wearing some of my mother''s things as a result."


    "The dress is very pretty," said Lothinar sincerely.


    "Well, Rose decided to try some fancy undergarments. She is currently wearing a thong," said Ardwynn.


    "Never again," said Rose. "Your mother was braver than me, trying to wear something like this."


    "It''s not something worn for comfort," said Ardwynn. "It''s supposed to be enticing to males."


    "Oh!" said Rose. She winked at Lothinar. "In that case, I''ll endure it."


    Marg finished chewing a bite of steak and swallowed. She laid down her knife and fork. She wiped her mouth with one of Ardwynn''s fancy cloth napkins. Each of these specific actions seemed to silently scream to Lothinar that something was coming. He could feel it. He saw it reflected in her eyes. Finally, she spoke.


    "Where are you hiding the young platinum dragon Lothinar? You will turn her over to me for training and discipline. I won''t ask again!"


    ---------------------------------------

 Volume 3: Chapter 10: Fool鈥檚 Gold

    ********************


    CHAPTER TEN


    *********************


    Cantrell stared at the seventeen elves that Vanador had identified as smelling funny. They had been sniffed and pulled aside for additional questions regarding their relationship with the former emperor or his extended family. The facial features of the ten males and seven females bore little resemblance to the ones Cantrell remembered from his adventures as a semi-professional assassin. One of them did look like an archer that he had hastily stabbed through the brain on a balcony. It had been a near thing. The bowman had almost managed to pivot into a firing position on him. The Ardwella/Zinariya entwining had created a skilled assassin with the ability to teleport. It had devastated the rebellion led by Argent¡¯s daughters. Only two of them had avoided death from Ardwella¡¯s sword. And that was only because they had left the Capital looking for dragon eggs.


    ¡°You!¡± Cantrell pointed at the elf in question.


    The elf paled. ¡±M-me?¡±


    ¡°Do you have a brother?¡± Cantrell asked.


    ¡±Look, I surrendered. I don¡¯t want any trouble.¡± The elf growled. He tried to catch the eyes of a couple of the other sixteen elves standing there facing Cantrell and Vanador in the small courtyard. The other¡¯s eyes remained steadfastly pointed straight ahead as if at attention. One of the females coughed and pushed a long strand of her hair back behind her shapely ear.


    Vanador struck like a snake. His long neck propelled his head forward, and he plucked the elven archer¡¯s brother out of the lineup, biting down on the elf, but not fatally. He dropped him at Cantrell¡¯s feet, screaming and swearing. Cantrell nodded to Telehalla.


    ¡°Put him in the secure part of the tower for now. I may have some follow-up questions for him.¡± Cantrell said.


    ¡±¡®He¡¯s bleeding quite a bit.¡± Said Telehalla


    ¡®Cantrell shrugged. He nodded to Vanador. A white light began bathing the screaming elf. He stopped yelling but kept swearing. After a few seconds, Vanador shut off the flow of healing magic.


    The elf was still bleeding slightly, but it no longer appeared that he might die. Pulling the elf¡¯s arms behind his back, Telehalla snapped a pair of manacles on him and led the angry elf away.


    ¡±The rest of you can go. For now.¡± He said. ¡°But stay in the Capitol. Except for you.¡± He pointed to the female elf with the unruly blonde hair. They both waited as the rest filed out.


    ¡°Did you desire any additional help I might provide, Regent Cantrell?¡± She asked with a cautious smile.


    "That was subtle. The cough. The hair thing. You knew that he was part of the active resistance and tried to clue me in." Cantrell said.


    "You had already called him out. I was trying to help."


    "What''s your name?" he asked. "And what was your connection to Argent''s family? This dragon, my friend Vanador here," Cantrell pointed to him. "identified you and the others by a particular scent."


    "It''s Daisy." The blonde elf said. "If your dragon smelled something on me, it was probably because that jerk you just hauled away was my husband."


    Cantrell narrowed his eyes. "So, not a happy relationship, I''m assuming," he said.


    "I was a prize bride¡ª a gift my father gave to Robert¡¯s family for political favor. I was fifteen at the time. I had no choice in the matter whatsoever."


    "I''m sorry," he said. ¡°So Robert isn¡¯t a very nice guy?¡±


    ¡±Not to me, he wasn¡¯t.¡± She replied. ¡°People like Robert are only nice when they want something from you or are afraid of you.¡±


    ¡±I¡¯m sorry you had to go through that.¡± Cantrell said.


    "Not your fault," she replied. "It was a corrupt political system of oppression and exploitation. Nothing new for Argent''s cronies. Before we go any further, I have to confess something."


    "What''s that?"


    "I used to hate your wife, Mavis. Her brother Mandel, too. I thought they were Argent''s children and part of the corrupt system that ruined my life."


    "I understand, If I had known Mavis was supposed to be Argent''s daughter I would have run away as fast as I could from her."


    Daisy smirked. "Fate is funny," she said. "Didn''t she just leave you?"


    "Mavis didn''t run away," he said. "I sent her. She was cracking under the pressure. She, uh... Things weren''t going well for her here. She was emotionally crumbling. I sent her away to protect her from some of that."


    "I see. And how are you doing under all this pressure, Regent Cantrell?" she asked.


    "I''ve taken some steps," he said, looking at Vanador. "I''m getting by. Vanador is my emotional support animal. He gives me hugs when I can''t go on." Cantrell sniffed away an imaginary tear.


    Daisy laughed.


    The dragon snorted. "You need to bring Esmarilla back if you are hoping for that kind of support," he said. "I can barely tolerate the scent of regular elves right now, let alone finding Argent''s foul-smelling relatives for you.


    "I''m sorry, Vanador. I''ve asked your nose to do a lot of work on my behalf, and I''ve barely said thank you for your efforts." Cantrell said.


    Daisy didn''t seem intimidated by the fact that Vanador had just chewed on her husband. Now that he had spoken, She gazed at him with awe and amazement. She walked right up to him.


    "May I?" she asked, reaching out her hand.


    "What do you intend to do, little elf?" The white dragon asked.


    "I just wanted to touch you. Perhaps I''m not sure you are real after all," she said.


    The dragon chuckled. "I promise you that I am real," he said. "But you may touch me if you wish."


    Daisy reached out a hesitant hand. She patted Vanador gently on the nose.


    "Thank you," she whispered.


    "I''m not quite sure what you are thanking me for," Vanador said.


    "That''s because you have probably never been powerless," she said, grimacing and not meeting the dragon''s eyes. "That elf you grabbed. His name is Robert. Nobody knows how badly he''s treated me. I''ve fantasized about being able to resist him, even just a little. You plucked him out of that line effortlessly. He was screaming and shouting. I hate to admit this, but it made my heart glad to see it. I''m just sorry that you didn''t bite him harder."


    The white dragon seemed to be contemplating this.


    "Feeling powerless is something that I, too, have experienced. I once had a bond that was tortured for years. I had to stand by and do nothing. Argent had my bond in his jail.


    "OH! Daisy shouted excitedly. "You''re the dragon that was on the roof! I used to wonder why you stayed there. That has always been a mystery to me. Thank you for telling me about that."


    "It is not something I am proud of," said Vanador. "But love can bind you stronger than ropes."


    "You loved her? The mysterious elf in the tower? And yet you are no longer with her?" Daisy asked.


    Vanador thought about it for a few seconds.


    "I did love her. I do. But she has moved on. In fact, all my loves have moved on, and it''s all my fault."


    "So what are you going to do about that?" asked Daisy. "Just sit here feeling sorry for yourself? It seems to me like you''re still stuck up on that roof. If I had power like you, I would do something. My goodness, I think you should at least try!"


    Vanador stared at her. He looked at Cantrell.


    "Do I have permission to be excused, Regent?"


    "Of course Vanador." said Cantrell. "Take as long as you need. Thanks for all you have done for us."


    The white dragon nodded, walked to the center of the courtyard, and jumped into the air.


    "Thanks for taking an interest in Vanador," said Cantrell. "I think he''s been struggling with that. You gave him just the right push."


    "I had ulterior motives," said Daisy. "I wanted to get you alone."


    Cantrell shook his head. "Sorry, been there, done that. I love my wife too much."


    "The good ones always do," she said. "At least buy me dinner. I hear the cafeteria has mung beans twenty different ways. I can tell you more about the insurgency. For example, who to pick up next. Does that sound more appealing?"


    "That sounds like an offer I can''t refuse," said Cantrell.


    The two of them walked upstairs to the cafeteria. The mung beans were excellent. Daisy was charming, informative, and a relentless flirt. So much, in fact, that Cantrell had to turn back on his conscience to avoid falling for her charms.


    To curtail possible reprisal for her turning over several more traitors, Cantrell assigned her to a safe room for her in the tower. He made sure that she retired there for the evening alone.


    "You''re really not coming in?" she asked.


    "No, sorry. I thought I made that clear at the outset," he replied.


    She nodded. "Yes, you did. But I can''t say that I''m not disappointed."


    "He took some damage, but your husband is still alive," Cantrell said seriously. "But you should be safe from him or any of the other troublemakers here. They will never bother you again. I''ll have something drawn up to make it official. As of this afternoon, the kingdom recognizes you as officially divorced."


    "Then there is nothing stopping me from doing this," she said, stepping up on toe-tip and pressing her soft lips to his.


    He accepted the kiss for a second but soon stepped back. He smiled but shook his head.


    "Have a nice night," he said, turning and walking down the stairs.


    Standing alone in the doorway to her new room, she frowned. She closed the door. It had been a risky play trying to seduce Cantrell. It had failed, but at least now she was free from her husband, Robert. He had made her life miserable since she was fifteen years old. It seemed immensely strange not to have a man controlling her life for the very first time. Perhaps instead of feeling like she needed to replace him immediately, she should try to savor the experience. Yes, that would be a healthier path. She sighed wistfully, then locked the door.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-


    Albarad looked over his shoulder at the line of single-file horses he had tethered together. At the end of the line, Heirwyn lifted her hand and signaled with an upraised thumb. She was ready to move out. Albarad gave his mount a little kick, and the horse train began to move. He took it relatively slowly through the old part of town, letting the beautiful animals get used to the structure of the formation before kicking Star into a trot. Dust clouds rose from the pounding hooves, and Heirwynn moved from the rear to ride slightly off to the side, avoiding most of it.


    Tasumakoji was not a big town. It was an elven outpost created to support the secret and nefarious harvesting of Dragon eggs for the Emperor and his family¡¯s private use. The eggs had been full of magical energy. Knowing full well that dragons were sentient creatures made this practice especially diabolical. Other than the warden''s office, most of the structures were tiny homes that had been occupied by the wardens and the people who supported them with a simple infrastructure.


    Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.


    Since it had been constructed for Argent''s brother and his wife, the house Albarad was headed towards was an outlier. It was extremely large for the area and situated well away from the nearest neighbors. It fell outside normal elven proclivities to endure the smell of bacon cooking at breakfast time. There was even a tall fence surrounding the property. Albarad hadn¡¯t bothered to close the gate when he had rescued Ardwynn¡¯s horses. Now he and his equine entourage rode right through. Approaching the house, Albarad wrinkled his nose at the smell of cooking beef.


    Albarad pulled to a stop, and the well-trained horses in the line did as well. He waited as Heirwynn rode up alongside him. Handing her the end of the long lead, he swung his leg over Star¡¯s back and nimbly dropped to the ground.


    ¡°Someone¡¯s inside.¡± He said. ¡°But I don¡¯t see any dragons in the yard. I¡¯d better go have a quick peek in the barn.¡±


    He jogged over and pulled on the heavy doors. They swung silently open, revealing only straw and horse-sized stalls. There were no dragons. Albarad looked back at Heirwynn, who just shrugged.


    ¡°Perhaps you should try knocking on the door,¡± Heirwynn said as Albarad returned and looked up at her on horseback. ¡°While I start leading the horses into the barn.¡±


    He nodded and started up the stairs for the porch. The house had only been constructed in the last twenty years or so. The boards didn¡¯t even squeak. He knocked on the door.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-


    Zinariya looked at the elf that was kneeling in front of her. He had called her a queen. That had to be a serious misunderstanding. It was, however, one that she didn''t want to immediately correct. She was in a strange place, all alone. A little deference from him might come in handy. Perhaps she could learn something before being exposed as a fraud.


    "What is your name?" she asked the aged elf haughtily.


    "My name is Xerxes, my lady," he whispered. He sounded afraid. "Please forgive my ignorance. I didn''t mean to offend. Don''t hurt me."


    Zinariya couldn''t carry it through. She let her bluster fade. Xerxes looked so weak and pitiful. It sounded like he was genuinely afraid that she would hurt him. Perhaps it was Lothinar''s kindness that made her feel this way, but Zinariya just couldn''t pretend to be angry at him. She gave him a genuine smile.


    "It''s fine," she said. "Get up. I''m not royalty, and I''m certainly not going to hurt you."


    He cringed. "I''ve heard that before," he said meekly. "Other dragons have tried to lure me into a false sense of security just to punish me even more severely when I least expect it.¡±


    "Well, not me." she insisted. "I promise that I''m not going to do that.¡±


    "That''s wonderful news," Winston said. He hopped to his feet and winked at her.


    She jumped straight back. That feeling of fear returned along with surprise.


    "Oh, pardon me. Don''t be alarmed. It was just a little test." he said, smiling. "You passed!"


    "What are. you talking about?" she almost shouted. Now she nearly did want to hurt him, a little bit at least, For scaring her.


    "Where are you coming from?" he asked, still maintaining his grin. "I don''t recall seeing you in the transport room before. Are you new? You look a bit new. You''re eyes look like a shiny pennies. Wait a minute... He looked again. "You''re not a copper! And you¡¯re definitely not a brass. His eyes grew wide. ¡°You''re a gold dragon! That''s impossible!"


    It was at that moment that Zinariya felt Lothinar get quite concerned. It was strange to feel his emotions through the bond. It was even stranger that his worry and then, his anger were specifically on her behalf. She felt his resolve solidify into a forceful use of directed magic. Then communication was cut off. She had only been bonded for a little over an hour and a half, but now, being cut off from Lothinar, she had never felt more alone.


    ------------------------


    "Where are you hiding the young platinum dragon Lothinar? You will turn her over to me for training and discipline. I won''t ask again!"


    Lothinar stood. He looked at Candasar before clearing his throat.


    "Although I appreciate that you may have the best of intentions, I am not going to turn one of my bonds over to you. Not under any circumstances," he said cooly.


    "YOU DARE!" Marg stood to her feet. Her body began to enlarge. She grew a full head taller than even Tundor. Although standing still at the table, the chair that she had been sitting in made a scraping noise on the floor as it slid backward to accommodate her increased bulk. Her eyes flamed into golden light, and her jaw extended. Her face took on a decidedly dragon shape and golden wings erupted out of her back. She stared down at Lothinar with fury.


    Lothinar did something he had never done before. He took power. Zinariya''s bond and subsequent teleport had stripped a large amount of his natural energy level away. At this point, he needed some help. He tapped into Candasar and Firestorm¡¯s magic hard and without warning them. He felt their surprise as he instantly filled his magical reservoir with their power. To their credit, both of them masked their discomfort well. Candasar¡¯s lustrous blue-black hair immediately changed to the color of a daytime sky. Firestorm, however, hadn¡¯t stopped eating. She quickly took a large bite of steak, and swallowed, somehow managing to keep her hair from turning pink. Marg glanced at Candasar and if it was possible, glared at Lothinar even harder.


    Focusing most of his now nearly restored power, he hit the golden dragon matriarch with a focused pulse of energy. It was not a measured magical transfer of energy like he had given Zinariya, but a high-powered blast, intending to completely disable her.


    Marg rocked on her feet and winced. Her eyes grew wide and then began to roll back in her head. While she was still swaying, he hit her with another jolt, almost draining his magic dry. The dragon hybrid dropped to the floor with the sound of splintering, followed by a heavy thud, crashing through the chair that she had been sitting in.


    Siophra jumped up from her seat and rushed to the fallen dragon.


    "She''s out!" she proclaimed. "No telling how long... whatever you¡¯re going to do, you should hurry.¡±


    "Get my mother!" Lothinar croaked. "Tell her to bring her sword! We need it to freeze her!."


    ¡±I hate to say this, but you should probably kill her now.¡± Said Michelle grimly. ¡°While you still can.¡±


    ¡±We can¡¯t.¡± Lothinar said, breathing as hard as if he had just run a sprint. We might need her to retrieve Zinariya. I would try and freeze her without the sword but the last trickle of my power is what¡¯s keeping her down right now. She¡¯s incredibly resilient!¡±


    "Tundor!¡± Siophra said urgently. "Let''s go! We need to help Lothinar by getting that sword!¡± The white-haired elf and Siophra ran towards the door, only to stop in surprise as a knock was heard. Siophra quickly opened it, peeking around the doorframe. On the porch was Lothinar''s father Albarad.


    "A bit of an emergency here, Albarad," said Siophra. "Is Ardwella with you?" she asked, looking around the yard."


    "No, Just Heirwynn and a bunch of horses," he said. "I came to ask Ardwynn if I can use the barn for a while. Mine is full of dragons."


    "We''ve got more than our share here in the house," she smirked. "One of them is pretty dangerous. Lothinar just had to knock her out. We were hoping to borrow Ardwella''s blue sword to keep it that way. We were just going to rush over there and ask to borrow it."


    "I''ve got a better idea," Albarad said. "My dragon Night-Sky will bring it over. A one-way trip is going to be a lot faster. I¡¯ll tell him to hurry.¡±


    "I''ve got the sword, Albarad, " said Night-Sky a minute or two later. "Ardwella is insisting on coming along, though. I''m going to try and give her a ride."


    "Just don''t let her slow you down. I think this is a matter of some urgency." Albarard said. "And don''t tell Esmarilla that Lothinar had to subdue her mother. I don''t know how she is going to react to that."


    "I''m on my way, Albarad." But I''m sure that your wife Ardwella is not very happy with me. I just grabbed the sword and ran out the door!"


    "Just get here as fast as you can. I''ll deal with Ardwella later," he said. A scant few minutes later Night-Sky landed in the yard. A blue sword was clutched in his jaws. He was just in time. Albarad snatched the sword from him, pulled it from the sheath, and ran it into the house, handing it to his son. Marg had opened her eyes and was struggling under Tundor, who was sitting on her, trying to hold her down. She heaved, arching her back, and threw him off. His massive body tumbled like a giant rag-doll, crashing through chairs and breaking the top of the large dining room table. Lothinar pointed the sword at her and hit her with a blast of blue magic. She shrugged it off and stood up. He hit her again, this time jumping forward and touching the sword to her still strangely morphing body. The half-elf and half-rapidly expanding golden dragon glowed with a blue light and froze in place. She had a hideous, angry look on her face, but her body no longer moved. It stood in the dining room, a hulking twisted combination of elf and dragon. Her eyes, however, seemed to follow Lothinar as he stepped back and drew a ragged breath.


    ¡±That was close!¡± He said with immense relief. ¡°Thank you everyone!¡±


    ¡°This is why we can¡¯t have nice things, Lothinar.¡± Said Ardwynn. ¡°Just look at my formal dining room set!¡±


    ¡±Take it out of what you owe me for our last trip to the Capital together,¡± said Tundor. ¡°You remember that, don¡¯t you?¡±


    Ardwynn met his eyes and nodded grimly. ¡°I do.¡± She said. Her eyes filled with tears. ¡°Take the whole house, Tundor. I can never come close to repaying you for what the Argent taint made me do!¡±


    The huge elf stepped over to her, reached down, and gave her a gentle hug.


    ¡°Somehow, it all worked out,¡± Tundor said sadly. ¡°I think we can be friends again. You¡¯re important to Lothinar and I¡¯m not going to stop trusting him now. He just went toe to toe with an ancient golden dragon to save my daughter.¡±


    ¡±She¡¯s not entirely saved yet.¡± Said Lothinar. ¡°I still need to find a way to get to the moon. I don¡¯t think Marg is going to be willing to cooperate.¡±


    ¡±Are you talking about Chelseben?¡± Asked Albarad. ¡°There isn¡¯t much up there to see anymore. Why would you want to go there?¡±


    Lothinar stared at his father. His jaw was hanging slightly open. He closed it. ¡°How do you even know about Chelseben?¡± He asked incredulously.


    ¡±My maternal grandmother took me there a few times when I was quite young,¡± his father answered. ¡°There used to be a functional portal in the Capital. It may not even work anymore. I¡¯m sure nobody¡¯s used it in years. It¡¯s probably out of power.¡±


    ¡± What kind of power are we talking about?¡± Asked Lothinar.


    ¡°Strange power,¡± said Albarad. ¡°My grandmother used to call it ¡®Legtricity¡¯¡±


    ¡°YOU FOOLS!¡± Came the sharp jab of thought directly into Lothinar¡¯s mind. Somehow it was Marg. Though physically immobilized, she was somehow still awake and conscious. ¡°YOU''RE PLAYING WITH THINGS YOU CANNOT POSSIBLY UNDERSTAND!¡±


    ¡±What I do understand is that you came into our home and demanded that I surrender one of my bonds to you. That was never going to happen.¡± He said back telepathically.


    This was not the instant communication of a shared bond, but rudimentary mind speaking like he had used on Tundor when they had first met. This form of communication took considerably more effort to transmit the words. With his dangerously low magic level, replying to Marg had made his low-grade headache get worse. He began rubbing his temples.


    ¡±Are you feeling alright, Lothinar?¡± Firestorm asked. ¡°You have a strained and painful look on your face.¡±


    "I think I''ll be alright in a while," he said. "Somehow, Marg is still able to communicate with me, even with her body immobilized."


    "That makes me very nervous," Michelle said, backing up a few more steps.


    "Me too!" said Lothinar. "Watch her for me, Michelle; I''ve lost contact with Zinariya myself. My magic must finally be that low. I need to eat something. What Firestorm did by eating as I took her power reminded me that our bodies need nutritional sustenance to make magic."


    "Hold on, Lothinar," Michelle said. "You''re forgetting me. I can transfer power to you as well. Remember how I augmented Candasar during the fight with the Rocs?"


    "Of course!" he said awkwardly. "It''s just that you''re not my bond, and our relationship is not quite the same." He suddenly looked embarrassed. "I guess I forgot to ask."


    A cool invigorating energy began to flow into him from the Michelle/Vanquish entwined pair. Lothinar''s headache faded, and he immediately felt better.


    "Thanks," he said. "That felt surprisingly intimate."


    "There''s a lot more where that came from," said Michelle blushing a little. "Don''t hesitate to ask."


    Lothinar refocused his thoughts on Zinariya.


    "Zinariya! Can you hear me? Are you all right?"


    "Oh my! Lothinar! Thank goodness. I was so worried. I just got this horrible image of Marg growing larger, and then everything went silent from you!"


    "We''re fine here now." He said. "We managed to subdue Marg, But that certainly could have gone either way."


    "Lothinar, this is important. I want to tell you this fast in case we lose communication again." Zinariya said. "Marg has been holding the people up here in Chelseben hostage for almost seven hundred years! Supposedly she was working with Argent. He would never have been able to stay in power if they could have returned to the planet. They are about to throw me a party! I''m going to be their way home!"


    ¡±That¡¯s wonderful Zinariya.¡± Lothinar replied. ¡°Did you tell them that we captured Marg?¡±


    ¡±No, hold on a second¡­.¡±


    Lothinar looked at the Golden. He knew the scowl on her face was made during the conflict. He had no way to judge her current mood. He strongly suspected that it had not improved.


    ¡°Kill her, Lothinar! They say that spell will never hold her, at least not for long!¡±


    He took another quick glance at Marg. She was getting bigger. The blue sword¡¯s power over Marg had begun to fail! Before he could act, Rose plunged an extremely long knife into the golden dragon¡¯s right eye. It was one of the butchering knives they had used to disassemble the cow they had just eaten. Lothinar had seen her with it but had just assumed she was going to use it to get another steak. Marg stopped getting larger. There was no blood whatsoever when Rose yanked out the knife and stabbed the blade into the other eye. She let go of the knife and spun toward Lothinar. Behind her, Marg¡¯s vertical body fell backward, crashing to the floor and destroying yet another chair. The room got silent as everyone stared at Rose.


    ¡°I think she was about to get loose! I¡¯m sorry, Lothinar, I guess that means Zinariya is probably going to be stuck up in Chelseben for a long time.¡± She smiled apologetically, but Lothinar could tell she wasn¡¯t too sad about that.


    ¡°You reacted very quickly, Rose. It¡¯s almost like you were already contemplating how to kill Marg before she started to break free.¡± Said Lothinar. ¡°Even though that would have permanently stranded Zinariya in Chelseben. Not that I shouldn¡¯t thank you for taking decisive action. That was absolutely the right thing to do. You probably saved us all.¡±


    ¡±I think I told you that, Lothinar,¡± Michelle said. ¡°An angry golden dragon is a true calamity!¡±


    Siophra squatted by the body. ¡°Dead. But it¡¯s kind of hard to tell what with her body still under at least some of the sword immobilizing power.¡± She grimaced, then grabbed the knife handle and rotated her wrist in a circular motion to move the long blade around inside the skull. She glanced up to see everyone staring at her morbidly.


    She chuckled grimly. ¡°Just trying to make sure.¡± She said.


    Lothinar walked over with the blue sword and touched the golden dragon¡¯s body. The blue sheen disappeared, but Marg stayed down


    ¡°It looks like she actually is dead.¡± He said sadly.


    ¡°Better her than all of us.¡± Said Michelle. ¡°If she had somehow realized we had access to a second golden dragon, she would have definitely killed both you and Candasar. Probably Tundor too. Somehow the three of you broke the rules and were able to create Zinariya. That¡¯s supposed to be impossible.¡±


    ¡±I was thinking about how she helped me and Candasar restore all those dead humans in Delora. I appreciated that. I am sure we still have a lot to learn about magic. Marg could have provided many answers if she hadn¡¯t been so self-serving.¡±


    ¡±Not everyone is so altruistically concerned about others, Lothinar.¡± His Mother, Ardwella, was standing in the entryway. Despite Night-Sky running off with her sword and leaving her behind, she had finally made it. She continued. ¡°It took a few minutes, but I convinced Esmarilla to bring me over.¡± She looked at Marg, laid out on the floor. ¡°Are you going to tell her that you killed her mother, or am I? She¡¯s out in the yard.¡±


    Lothinar sighed. ¡°I¡¯ll tell her. It will probably go better coming from me.¡±


    Rose stepped up with him. He gave her a strange look.


    ¡±What? I¡¯m not going to let you go out there alone.¡± She said.


    Lothinar leaned over and kissed her tenderly. Then again, with more passion. Her lips were exceedingly warm. She blinked at him in surprise. Then she began grinning.


    ¡±That was nice. Thank you, Lothinar. Now, if Esmarilla kills me, I¡¯ll die happy.¡±


    ¡±She¡¯s not going to kill you. She¡¯d have to get through me first.¡±


    Rose reached up with her lips and pressed them to Lothinar¡¯s yet again.


    ¡°I¡¯m going back to using Firestorm as my name for both shapes,¡± she said. ¡°So that you are never tempted to forget how my warm lips feel against yours.¡±


    ¡±I won¡¯t forget.¡± He said. ¡°But I think the best is yet to come.¡±


    ¡±You have no idea.¡± Said Firestorm. "But after I get back from seeing Michelle on her way, you''re going to."


    -----------------

 Volume 3: Chapter 11: Too Little Too Late.

    *************


    Chapter 11


    *************


    Heirwynn had been impressed with the barn. It still had good straw and hay, so someone had been looking in on it occasionally, even though it had been empty for many months. She raked the hay into the individual stalls and led the horses into them. They seemed to know the place and settled in immediately. There was even reasonably clean water stored in a large stone cistern. She filled the stall buckets and made sure the horses had water. By then, she was growing pretty tired. Where was Albarad? She didn¡¯t mind helping but something must have seriously distracted him for Albarad to leave all the relocation work to her. She took a quick peek outside the barn to see Esmarilla pacing back and forth in the yard. She looked upset or, at the very least, nervous. She hadn¡¯t really introduced herself to the huge black dragon before but walked over anyway. Getting up close to one of these ancient dragons was intimidating compared to smaller ones like Night-Sky and Snow. The little dragons were still very young and still fit inside the house. Spotting Heirwynn before she even spoke, Esmarilla completely surprised her by speaking first.


    ¡°Heirwynn, my dear, could you do me a favor?¡±


    She blinked.


    ¡°Do you know me?¡± Heirwynn asked with a bit of surprise. ¡°I don¡¯t recall introducing myself.¡±


    ¡±Oh, sorry. I know you quite well, although we have never spoken in person. I¡¯m Cantrell¡¯s bond, after all.¡± Said the dragon.


    ¡±My benefactor? That Cantrell? The one that provided for me after my brother¡¯s death?¡±


    ¡±Yes, dear, of course. Cantrell is still in the Capital right now, as I¡¯m sure you know, but he¡¯s never forgotten about you or what your brother did on that terrible day. Because of the bond, I know as much about you as he does.¡±


    Heirwynn was still processing that but decided to move on to the favor she had requested.


    ¡°So what can I do for you?¡± She asked.


    ¡±Well, it¡¯s pretty simple actually. I¡¯m too big to fit through the front door, and I desperately want to know what¡¯s happening in there!¡± I¡¯ve even tried to contact Lothinar telepathically! We usually have a reliable link, even over distance, but he seems unwilling or unable to answer me. I brought his mother, Ardwella, over here. She ran in a few minutes ago and hasn¡¯t come out, so I¡¯m in the dark here. I¡¯m not used to it, and it¡¯s annoying!¡±


    Heirwynn almost laughed but didn¡¯t. The big dragon seemed genuinely upset, and ¡®Heirwynn had her own questions about Albarad¡¯s whereabouts.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take a look.¡± She said. ¡°I¡¯ll be right back. If I don¡¯t come out in a minute, you should probably tear the front of the house off because something really bad is happening inside, and I¡¯ll need help.¡±


    The dragon got a strange look on her face.


    ¡°Ok, but tearing another wall off a house with Ardwynn inside it is probably not going to be received well. We kind of got it overlooked the first time when Mo-Rung did it. But if I do it again, there are probably going to be serious consequences!¡±


    ¡± Don''t worry. I¡¯m sure that I¡¯ll be right back.¡± Heirwynn said. She ran up the steps and opened the door.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    Ardwynn watched her husband kiss Firestorm. Then she kissed him back. Right there in the formal entryway of her parent¡¯s house. She knew that she was paying for the sins of her previous self. That elf that had been tainted with Argent¡¯s curse. She was the one who had thrown Lothinar away, leaving behind his ring as a declaration of divorce. But seeing him now showing affection to someone else still irked her. Michelle put her hand on Ardwynn¡¯s shoulder, drawing Ardwynn''s eyes off Lothinar and his all-too-pretty fire-haired dragon.


    ¡±You had to know that this was eventually coming.¡± Michelle said softly. ¡°I¡¯m actually surprised and a little jealous that it isn¡¯t me over there getting a kiss right now. Would it make it any easier if it was?¡±


    ¡±I don¡¯t know. Maybe. But probably not.¡± Said Ardwynn, meeting Michelle¡¯s eyes and frowning. ¡°At least you have talked it over with me. Firestorm hasn¡¯t. It¡¯s like she feels that she owns him. I don¡¯t think she wants to share. She used to be the one keeping me from him when we were living in the ambassador¡¯s house in Silvantra. She literally blocked the hallway.¡±


    ¡±Those were different circumstances, and you know it.¡± Said Michelle. ¡°She blocked me too, remember? Before Vanquish and I entwined. I was relentlessly after him.¡±


    Ardwynn sighed. ¡°Firestorm just saved all our lives, not to mention my dining room ceiling, by stopping Marg. I suppose she deserves some sort of reward. My mother¡¯s dress probably isn¡¯t enough.¡±


    ¡±We should probably be glad she is wearing it right now. She just can¡¯t make it disappear like her conjured clothes.¡± Chuckled Michelle.


    ¡±She is shameless and impetuous when it comes to Lothinar.¡± Said Ardwynn.


    ¡±Aren¡¯t we all?¡± Said Michelle with a grin. ¡°Oh look, Heirwynn¡¯s here as well. I don''t think she''s made her play yet, but I suspect she will eventually.


    "For Lothinar? Really?" asked Ardwynn. "Aren''t there any other men in town?"


    "I heard she turned down King Enderline," Michelle said.


    "Wow, a king," said Ardwynn.


    "He''s pretty good looking too. Even up close," said Michelle. "I met him at a party once. "


    "You told me about that." Said Ardwynn. "You were going to try and convince your father that Enderline had knocked you up."


    "That''s right!" said Michelle, laughing. "I was desperate. It would have never worked."


    "Aren''t you about to do the same thing soon?" asked Ardwynn. "Turn down Enderline, I mean. That''s not going to make your father happy when he finds out."


    Michelle laughed. "I suppose my father will be disappointed. But before I can turn Enderline down, I first must connect with him on his return trip. Every day I wait puts his fleet further out to sea. It''s just so hard to leave and turn away from all this excitement around here! And I''ve got to pry Firestorm away from Lothinar for a few days. She¡¯s going to be my ride. That''s going to be the hard part. Especially now.


    ----------------


    Heirwynn was in a hurry. She didn''t want Esmarilla to rip the front of the house off. She didn''t even have time to smile at Lothinar as she rushed past him. Besides, he looked deeply involved in talking to some very pretty red-headed elf that Heirwynn had never seen before. Esmarilla had brought Ardwella here. The way Heirwynn saw things, she shouldn''t have left the black dragon hanging around outside with no information. Heirwynn spotted Ardwella and Albarad. They were clustered together with Siophra and an enormous white-haired elf that Heirwynn had never seen before. Heirwynn stifled a gasp. They were standing over a monstrosity! It looked like a strange amalgamation of elf and dragon. It was lying down but filling a large part of the floor. A huge knife handle was sticking out of one of its eyes. Heirwynn stepped back in shock. The stifled gasp escaped.


    ¡°Is that Marg!?¡± She stammered.


    ¡±I¡¯m afraid so.¡± Replied Albarad. ¡°She attacked Lothinar. He tried to subdue her with Ardwella''s magical sword. She overcame that, so Firestorm stabbed her in the eye.¡±


    ¡±It was actually both eyes, dear,¡± said Ardwella. ¡°Then Siophra twisted the knife.¡±


    ¡±I was trying to be succinct.¡± Albarad said.


    "I just wanted to be clear," said Ardwella. "The specifics of killing have always been my specialty."


    "I thought you were giving that all up," he said.


    "Yes, but my sword was mentioned. I''m just distancing myself from this by providing the additional information. That''s how rumors run amok. I don''t want anyone to think that I''m back in the business."


    "Ah. Probably a good idea then," said Albarad.


    ¡°So she¡¯s dead, I¡¯m assuming.¡± Said Heirwynn. ¡°And now her huge nervous daughter is just outside. Esmarilla is about to tear the front of this place off with worry. Who¡¯s going to be the one to tell her about this?¡±


    ¡±Lothinar was on his way to do that, but he seems to have become distracted.¡± Said Siophra.


    ¡°Well, he¡¯s got about five seconds before Esmarilla makes a hole and comes in.¡± Said Heirwynn.


    The big white-haired elf blanched at that and ran across the room. He physically grabbed Lothinar, picking him up off the floor and carrying him quickly outside. Lothinar squirmed a little in the huge elf¡¯s grasp. Firestorm shot him a dirty look for his trouble. The screen door banged shut.


    "Who was that?" asked Heirwynn.


    "That, Heirwynn," said Siophra proudly. "Was Tundor."


    "Then the cute redhead with Lothinar is?" asked Heirwynn.


    "Firestorm," said Siophra. "Candasar is upstairs, also in her elven form. As are Constance and Vigilant. She¡¯s trying to get them to go to sleep. Even comfortable beds don''t seem to be doing it. I suppose there is just far too much excitement going on downstairs."


    Ardwynn looked at Marg''s dead body.


    "I don''t think I could sleep with that in the house either," she said. "Where is Zinariya?¡±


    "Now that," said Siophra, "Is the question of the day."


    ------------


    ¡±Lothinar! Thank goodness. I¡¯ve been trying to contact you. What is going on in there?¡± Asked Esmarilla with grave concern. She had her front claw raised and was reaching for the porch. She quickly lowered it, trying not to look guilty.


    Tundor set Lothinar down. He straightened his shirt before replying.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know how to say this any easier. Your mother is dead.¡± Lothinar said sadly.


    ¡°How is that even possible?¡± The black dragon asked in shock.


    She tried to kill me. All of us, actually. I tried to subdue her, then hold her in place with Ardwella¡¯s sword. The blue blade''s power held her for a bit, but she was eventually able to wiggle out of that.¡±


    Esmarilla was just staring at him.


    ¡°That sounds like my mother.¡± She finally said. ¡°How did you manage to actually stop her?¡±


    ¡±It was a long, sharp knife through the eye,¡± said Firestorm, stepping out onto the porch. ¡°I did it. Twice. I¡¯d do it again if it meant protecting Lothinar. And the rest of them,¡± she hastily added.


    ¡±You actually killed her.¡± Said Esmarilla. Her face was an unreadable mask. ¡°This is going to cause a lot of problems. Probably not immediately, but eventually. We might be looking at a planet-wide extinction event! Chelseben could fall. There are certain aspects of orbital maintenance that only a golden dragon can do. And now there is no way to get Zinariya up there. We are totally screwed.¡±


    ¡±So, glass half full," Said Lothinar with a sad smile. "Zinariya is already up there. Even though we had to kill your mom, we might still have a chance. That¡¯s how this whole debacle got started. Zinariya bonded with me and drained most of my power before teleporting away. She somehow ended up at Chelseben. Marg felt the power release that it took to get her there and came sniffing around. She demanded that I turn Zinariya over to her.¡±


    Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.


    ¡±I¡¯m sure she did.¡± Said Esmarilla. ¡°But Zinariya is just a baby, really. She won¡¯t know anything about keeping the moon from eventually falling out of the sky.¡±


    "Aren''t moons supposed to stay where they are put?" asked Tundor. "That seems rather precarious and irresponsible, leaving just one person with the responsibility to hold up a moon!¡±


    ¡±Then we will just have to figure it out together.¡± Said Lothinar. ¡°Any additional information you have on space stations would be a big help.¡±


    ¡±Me?¡± I know practically nothing. Vanador probably knows a little more. If only Xerxes were still alive. He¡¯s got to be dead by now. He was old when I was hatched.¡±


    ¡±He¡¯s still alive and on the station.¡± Said Lothinar. ¡°Zinariya¡¯s already met him.¡±


    ¡±Well then, all I can say at this point is ¡°Ding Dong the Witch is Dead. It¡¯s about damn time.¡±


    Tundor looked at Esmarilla. "So, what do we do with Marg''s body? You are obviously next of kin," he said cautiously.


    She looked at Tundor with keen interest. "You look good, Tundor. Did my mother help you with that?"


    He blushed a little. "Yes. One minute, she was so nice, and the next, she was about to turn into a demon. I''m quite confused about how I actually feel about her dying."


    "My mother always had some sort of agenda. At least, that''s what Vanador told me. I''d never actually seen her in person until the other night up at Ronniflass''s place. If she turned you into an elf, she probably had more than one reason to do that. Perhaps she saw how virile you are and was thinking about having another clutch of eggs."


    "Whoa!" said Tundor. "She knew that I was with Candasar. I''m sure we told her at some point."


    "It wouldn''t matter. She''d probably teleport you off to her lair and not let you go until she''d had her way with you. Until you''d given her what she needed."


    "You don''t have a very high opinion of her. Perhaps I should reach out to Vanador somehow." Tundor said.


    Esmarilla sighed. "No, you''re right. She had her good points. Can you help me by carrying her body out the back? I''ll take her away somewhere nice and plant her. I''ll even get Cantrell to carve a little stone. Eventually. Maybe in the grove near Aleena. That would be nice, don''t you think."


    "I suppose," said Tundor. "I''ll go get her now."


    Tundor walked back into the house and picked up the golden''s body. It was surprisingly heavy. But not as heavy as a cow. On the way back through the kitchen, he saw Firestorm there, eating again. Ardwynn walked in through one door just as Tundor was walking out with Marg over his shoulder.


    "Oh my. Thank you, Tundor." Ardwynn said. I had no idea how to move her."


    "Esmarilla is going to make final arrangements with the body," he said. ¡°I''m meeting her out back."


    "I''m sure that''s fine," said Ardwynn. Tell Esmarilla that I''m sorry for her loss."


    Firestorm was standing over the stove, eating steak out of the pan. Her mouth was full so she couldn''t speak, but she rolled her eyes. Ardwynn somehow seemed to catch sight of it.


    "We need to have a conversation, young lady," Ardwynn said.


    "What now?" said Firestorm, still chewing and with her mouth full.


    Tundor didn''t have time for that. He carried the body through the door and outside. Esmarilla was waiting.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-


    Vanador sped through the afternoon sky. He needed to find his mother. Only she could unlock the ability that would allow him to take the shape of an elf. It wouldn''t be the life he had planned, but perhaps, in some way, Vanquish and he might still have a future together. He wanted to ask for Vanquish''s forgiveness as an elf. It would prove that he was serious about being with her. He just hoped she would be able to forgive him and that it wasn''t too late.


    His mother could be almost anywhere, but he knew she would eventually come back to her lair. If she wasn''t there, she might be up on Chelseben. That was out of reach, but Perhaps Zinariya could help him. It was risky to expose the existence of a second golden dragon to his mother by asking the youngster for a teleport. That could lead to trouble. It was a risk he would have to take. He would reclaim his life with the one that he loved.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-


    Michelle was saying goodbye.


    ¡°I¡¯m actually somewhat surprised that you are still leaving,¡± Lothinar said to Michelle. ¡°I thought that was one of ¡®Marg¡¯s demands. She''s not going to be able to enforce anything now."


    ¡±It was, but she was right about that much, at least. We¡¯ve lost so much, Lothinar. The dragons, I mean. I¡¯m the second generation. I was born here, but at least I know what I don¡¯t know. As Zinariya begins to learn about the mysteries of Chelseben, your mind is probably going to explode.¡±


    He frowned. ¡°I certainly hope not!¡±


    ¡±Figure of speech, ¡° she said. ¡°You¡¯re going to be fine as long as the people up there can coach Zinariya on some of the specific tasks Marg was performing. It¡¯s not like it took all her time, but it''s probably very technical and needs to be done right.¡±


    ¡±I know.¡± He grimaced. ¡°You mentioned the downside of failure. It¡¯s quite literally a down. side.¡±


    ¡±That¡¯s a pretty terrible attempt at a joke, Lothinar.¡± Said Michelle. ¡°Hey, make me a promise.¡±


    ¡±Sure. I¡¯ll do whatever I can. You are important to me.¡± He smiled.


    There is not much of what I would consider ''high ground'' in Silvantra. If Chelseben comes down, there will be Tsunamis. Huge tidal waves. If you fail, please let me know as soon as you can. I''ll need some time to evacuate. Me and the young dragons. I''ll warn Enderline, but there probably won''t be much he can do. Additionally, you might want to explore up in the high mountains for someplace where you can relocate. Send someone out to take a look for good spots to ride out a water disaster. There will probably be enormous floods. Dween will be gone. Even here in Delora, we are still too close to the ocean."


    "You don''t seem to have a lot of faith in Zinariya," Lothinar said.


    "I''m about to go to an island Lothinar. An island with very low-lying foothills. That ought to tell you something. I think the worst-case scenario will be averted."


    "That''s good to hear," he said.


    But you should know that my faith isn''t in Zinariya. It''s in you. This has always been about you. You just seem to blunder along without realizing how important you are. You have already fulfilled several prophecies. Yes, they were a bit vague, but most prophecies are."


    "So, no pressure," he said with a smile.


    Michelle leaned in suddenly and kissed him. "That''s from both of us," she said. "Michelle and Vanquish. It''s taken a while for old blue, but we both love you."


    "Lothinar looked, and Michelle''s eyes were the green of the human girl. She blushed when she caught him checking.


    "Maybe you shouldn''t go after all," he said suddenly. "I''ll be worried."


    "Consider it motivation to succeed," she said. Like I said, just give me as much time as you can if it all goes to hell. I''d like to save as many lives as I can."


    "You''re wonderful. Do you know that?" Lothinar asked, looking at her fondly.


    "Firestorm! Are you ready or not? Get me out of here before I beg Lothinar to make me stay!"


    "I''m coming! I''m coming!" Firestorm yelled as she ran onto the porch. You don''t expect me to fly on an empty stomach, do you? There was more steak in the kitchen!"


    The red-haired elf ran down the stairs and onto the lawn, wiping her mouth on the sleeve of a very expensive dress. The air shimmered, and there was a ripping sound. The dress flew apart as Firestorm''s dragon''s body materialized. The beautiful redhead was gone. In her place was a vibrant red dragon.


    "I hope you are not still afraid to fly, Michelle," said Firestorm.


    "Ok, youngster, you need to have another dragon take you up when you are in elf form. That way, you can experience flying from my side of things. It won''t feel at all the same. I promise."


    "Ok," said Firestorm. I''ll try to fly gently. Let''s go. I want to get back as quickly as I can." She wiggled her dragon eyebrows at Lothinar. "I''ve got a date. Nice dress, by the way, Michelle. Are you sure you want to fly wearing it?"


    "Yes, I''d like to make an entrance, and it''s going to be dangerous to try and change once on Dragonback," said Michelle. She climbed up and straddled Firestorm''s neck. She looked down.


    "Ardwynn''s going to be upset when she sees what you did to that other one, It was a pretty nice dress," said Michelle.


    Lothinar quickly scooped up the torn dress and put it behind his back. "I''ll just hide this then," he laughed.


    "Don''t forget the thong," said Firestorm. It''s probably down there somewhere, but it might have shot off into the bushes. That elastic was pretty strong. It resisted a bit as I shifted before it finally snapped." she said with a strange and mysterious grin.


    Then Firestorm, with Michelle gripping her tightly, jumped into the air.


    "Goodbye! Goodbye!" yelled Michelle as they flew out of sight.


    "Take good care of her, Firestorm," Lothinar said through the bond.


    "Don''t worry. I won''t drop her or anything. She''s obviously the most reasonable of the bunch." Firestorm replied.


    "The bunch?" he asked.


    "Yes, the females that are in love with you. The bunch! Of course, I include myself in that. Your Harem in waiting."


    "Ok...." he said. "I suppose that you have all made it pretty clear how you feel."


    "No, not all of us," Firestorm disagreed. "Heirwynn''s inside talking to your wife. She''s trying to convince Ardwynn to take her on as a nanny for young Harvey. Personally, I think she''s just trying to get closer to you."


    "You are far too suspicious," he said.


    "HA!" Just wait and see. That girl has stars in her eyes. I saw the way that she was looking at you."


    "I''m sure you''re mistaken. She''s just trying to be nice," he said.


    "She''s tricky and devious. I don''t trust her," said Firestorm, "even if Snow speaks highly of her."


    "You''re not making me think that she would be a good nanny," he said. My father seems to like her. He considers her a daughter. I think he might object to his son even considering her as a potential mate."


    "Come on, Lothinar. You know she''s not blood-related. She''s not even the same race!"


    "Ok, I''ll watch out for her underhanded, dirty-dealing affection. But putting that aside for now," he said. "Why did you say that Michelle is the most reasonable of the bunch?"


    "I guess it''s compared to....others."


    "You mean Ardwynn. Is she being difficult?"  he asked.


    ¡±Yes! She cornered me with food in my mouth. I couldn¡¯t even defend myself. She saw you giving me that kiss!¡± She kind of lost it. She started talking some nonsense about us all taking turns with you so nobody feels left out. That I needed to share. It¡¯s not my fault that she¡¯s yesterday¡¯s romance! I almost spit out my steak to give her a piece of my mind.¡±


    "You know that sounds totally reasonable, don''t you?" He asked slowly.


    "But we are bonded!" she complained. "That''s a connection of mental intimacy that will bring my future physical relationship with you to a whole new level! None of the others will be able to compete with that!"


    "I might be able to give you some competition on that score," said Zinariya. "By the way, I find this whole conversation fascinating."


    "Now, you stay out of this," Firestorm yelled telepathically. "You''re stuck up on the moon, and your mother has made it very clear that..."


    "My mother does not run my life, Firestorm," Zinariya replied.


    "LADIES!" Lothinar interrupted vigorously. "We have very important problems to solve right now, and this is not going to help. At all. Firestorm, please talk about this with Michelle. She''s right there with you. Perhaps, as you said, she can give you some thoughts on the matter. Zinariya, I''m quite inclined to honor your mother''s wishes on this matter. In addition you are way too young to be even thinking about these things."


    "Your mother had some very interesting thoughts, Lothinar," Zinariya said.


    "I''m sorry that you had to grow up so fast, but you really need to give yourself time before trying to deal with this sort of thing. Promise me that you''ll try and do that."


    "Ok. Lothinar," she sulked. "But it was fun teasing Firestorm."


    "I''m surprised that Candasar didn''t jump in right there." said the red dragon.


    "She must have gotten the other children to finally fall asleep," Lothinar replied. "I haven''t tried them out yet, but Ardwynn''s beds looked pretty comfortable. She probably laid down next to them and fell asleep too. I should probably head back inside and get some shut-eye myself. I feel like I''ve been up for days."


    "Sure, go right back to Ardwynn the minute I''m out of town." Firestorm huffed. "You''re not going to get anywhere, you know."


    "What are you talking about," he asked, confused.


    "I stole the vial with the mung bean extract and hid it where you''ll never find it. You''re out of luck, buddy. Ardwynn won''t even be interested."


    "I''ll try not to take that as a personal challenge." Lothinar laughed. "You know, Ardwynn and I go way back. I never needed mung bean extract before."


    "Rats!" said Firestorm. "Don''t wear yourself out. I''ll be back soon."


    ------------------------------------


    Esmarilla reached out to Cantrell through the bond.


    "I need a favor Cantrell." said Esmarilla.


    "Yes, I know. You need a statue of your mother. I''ll start on it in the morning. There are plenty of gold coins in the treasury. I''ll melt enough of them down to make a nice memorial.."


    "You don''t think it''s excessive? That it will cost too much?"


    "I know that your relationship with your mother wasn''t what you wished it was," said Cantrell, "but she deserves to be remembered. How do you want it? Elf or dragon-shaped?"


    "Oh. dragon, I guess. That will take more gold. Is that going to be alright?" Esmarilla asked.


    "Sure. I''ll do that. Don''t worry about the expense. It''s Argent''s money, after all. "


    "I''m kind of worried that someone will try to steal it," she said.


    "The grove is isolated. Nobody really knows it''s even there except us. It''ll be fine." he answered.


    "She didn''t love me, you know. She barely acknowledged that I existed. To her, I was an immense failure."


    "You''re not!" Cantrell said. "You helped birth the dragon god. That got your mother''s attention in the end."


    "I guess," said Esmarilla. "I have an empty place inside me now. I know I should feel something about her passing. I just don''t."


    "Give it time," Cantrell said. "You''ll just be going about your day sometime soon, and it will hit you. The loss. Not of what you had, but what you hoped it might eventually be. Then you will be able to make peace with it."


    "I''ll wait for that. Thanks, my bond. You are wise."


    "I thought you kept me around for my sculpting talents."


    "That too. I miss you, Cantrell. I think I''m going to come back tomorrow."


    "Please do. I miss you too. Terribly. I could use a hug. Your brother absolutely refused to give me one yesterday."


    "He really took off? Vanador just left?"


    "Yes, he''s probably headed your way. He''s looking for Michelle, I think."


    "He''s a little late for something like that. Her heart belongs to Lothinar now. She is also on her way to Silvantra."


    "None of this is going to matter if that moon comes down. I hope Lothinar is taking this seriously."


    "I''m sure he is. I think that he and Zinariya have been discussing the next steps. Now that Firestorm left, the drama is probably going to go way down for him. I''ll let you know what''s going on as soon as I can about that Chelseben stuff. But right now, I''m digging a hole.


    "That probably deserves your complete attention. I''ll talk to you soon, love. Let me know if there is anything else I can do."


    "Just keep being you, Cantrell. I didn''t know an elf could be so wonderful to be bonded to. Thanks for that."


    "The pleasure is entirely mine. I love you,"  he said.


    Esmarilla dropped the body in the hole. She took one last look at her mother''s face, still permanently scrunched up in an angry scowl. It seemed to fit her. She threw in the dirt and packed it down.


    ------------------

 Volume 3 Chapter 12: Trapped by Love

    ******************


    Chapter 12


    ******************


    It was getting late. Tundor had helped Lothinar remove the remnants of the enormous dining room table and a couple of the broken chairs. They were so much kindling at this point. They stacked the lustrous wood fragments out of the backyard. Siophra had found a rag and a bottle of vinegar somewhere and was scrubbing and dabbling at the small bloodstains on the floor where Marg had met her demise.


    "Before you head home, I have a question, Father." Said Lothinar. "It''s about your grandmother taking you to Chelseben. Did I understand that correctly?"


    Standing beside him, his mother gasped. "Albarad, is what our son said true?"


    "You''re not the only one with secrets coming into this marriage, Ardwella." He said, giving her the side eye, but then he turned his gaze back to Lothinar.


    "I did say that I''d been to Chelseben, son," Albarad said calmly. "but not via golden dragon. My grandmother used the ancient portal in the capital. Even then, she said it was on its last legs. She said the ''legtricity'' was getting very low."


    "Could you tell me where that portal is?" Lothinar asked. "Perhaps there is something we can do to make it usable again." He gazed at the golden moon, still low in the sky. "It might be easier to solve the problems that will lead to Chelseben falling if we can get up there to help Zinariya."


    "I remember the room where my grandmother took me. I can probably find it again. Hey!" Albarad said suddenly. "This isn''t some trick to try and get me involved in taking over for Mandel because that is out of the question. I''m not a politician. I never wanted to be."


    Lothinar''s mother was still staring at his father in shock.


    "You''re the lost heir. The missing prince. How could I not have realized this?"


    "I thought you did." Said Albarad. "Especially when you snuck Muina into my bed. That would have been a good way to try and wrest the kingdom back away from the usurpers. Pretty dangerous if Argent was to find out, though."


    "Muina and I just thought it might be a good idea to try and infiltrate the upper levels of government with someone who wasn''t insane. Someone who might be able to look more favorably on giving the dragons another chance. Maybe not devour every magical egg they could get their hands on." Ardwella said.


    "I''m not trying to get you to reclaim your rights to the throne, father. I''m much more interested in the portal you mentioned." Lothinar said. "If I can get it working again, it might save the planet."


    Albarad sighed. "I was pretty young. There were secret doors. I will need to see it and hope something jogs my childhood memories. Getting there, though, Night-Sky certainly isn''t up for that. We will need the assistance of your dragon friends, or we''ll be down to the horses. Not that I find a several-day trip on horseback getting reacquainted with my son a bad idea."


    Lothinar grinned at him." I''d enjoy that, father, but time will be a significant factor here."


    Are we having a shortage of large dragons again?" asked Siophra, walking over.


    "Just trying to allocate travel resources since Zinariya''s teleportation is out of range," Lothinar replied. "We have certainly become spoiled when flying on dragon back is the slow way to get somewhere."


    "Let''s see," said Tundor. "Esmarilla will probably be back soon. She''s out burying her mother, poor thing. I suspect she is headed back to the capitol soon anyway. She would probably be willing to give someone a ride. He nodded towards Albarad. Mo-Rung might be available, but taking him away from Mavis now might be bad."


    "You''re very insightful, Tundor." Lothinar agreed. "I think Mavis and Mo-Rung are both emotionally fragile right now. I prefer to leave them out of anything stressful if we can. She''s also going to help facilitate Mandel''s recovery. We certainly want him better as quickly as possible."


    "Going back to the Capitol will probably give me the creeps," Siophra said, squinting. But I''d be willing to give someone a ride on Tundor." She gestured to the sizeable white-haired elf, "Assuming you are willing, of course."


    "We''re not leaving right away, are we?" Tundor asked. "I made Candasar a promise that we''d spend tonight together." He paused and blushed. "As elves. It would be our first time all over again. She said she''s looking forward to it."


    "Don''t tell me anymore!" said Siophra, covering her ears. "I''m going to get jealous!" Then she grinned and slapped him on the back. "What are you still doing here talking to us?" she demanded. "We will be leaving in the morning. Go Go. Get out of here!"


    Tundor wasted no time in running into the house.


    Siophra grinned. "He did look eager, didn''t he? How many bedrooms does this place have anyway? She asked.


    "Enough that they can find some privacy," Lothinar said. "I''m going to shield myself from Candasar''s thoughts for a while. I don''t think she would appreciate my telepathic peeking."


    "You''re shaming me. I was going to peek," said Siophra. She sounded a little embarrassed. "Now I''ll have to recuse myself mentally. I wanted to give him some pointers."


    "Do you think Tundor would appreciate that kind of help?" asked Lothinar.


    "Being elves, they are going to have many more options when they make love," Siophra said.


    "Perhaps you should allow them to figure those things out for themselves, at least for now. It adds to the surprise," said Lothinar. If I know Candasar, she should be able to give him sufficient encouragement, at least for tonight."


    "What am I supposed to do with the time then?" Siophra asked. "At least you have Ardwynn upstairs. She''s probably already waiting for you to come up. I''ve got nobody. Poor me!"


    She flinched at Lothinar''s embarrassed expression. Albarad''s too. Ardwella cleared her throat.


    "Hey! Don''t look at me," Albarad said quickly. Eyeing his wife. "Two sisters are already too much for me. I''ve got my hands full."


    "No. Husband, That''s not what I was suggesting at all," said Ardwella. "It''s pretty apparent to me, at least, who Siophra has been pining for."


    "Don''t give my secrets away, sister," said Siophra.


    Zinariya broke in through her bond with Lothinar.


    "It''s Cantrell, of course," Zinariya told Lothinar through the bond. "She''s been interested in him since he carried her body into the house when Argent''s daughters attacked her. I, too, was taken with his strength and gentleness."


    "That is a terrible idea. For both of you!" answered Lothinar. "It''s unfair to Mavis and might have huge political ramifications. You need to stop."


    "Talk to your aunt. I''m over him. I''m making other long-term plans, " Zinariya said.


    "I''m afraid to ask what those might be," Lothinar said. "Your mother''s wishes are fundamental to me."


    "Don''t worry. Xerxes is pretty old, but he''s still got some good years left in him." Zinariya replied. "Mom will just have to get over it."


    "Xerxes? That''s the ancient, scrawny guy you met when you first arrived! He must be over eight hundred years old!"


    "Are you jealous, Lothinar? You sound jealous!"


    "I am very concerned about you making poor decisions. Zinariya. They are going to affect everyone. Mostly, I want you to be happy and well-adjusted. You should take some time to think about it, but if you love this... Xerxes, I will try to convince your mother..."


    "You''re no fun, Lothinar. I was trying to make you jealous, and you just went all noble about this. Xerxes is a wrinkled old prune. I would never...."


    "Get some sleep, Zinariya. In the morning, we all are going to hit this problem hard. The first thing I''m going to try to do is get up there with you. I might have to see what you''re dealing with to understand what we need to do. I will make a fast trip to the capital in the morning and find the transport portal my father was talking about. If it works, I''ll be seeing you in no time."


    Seeing that he''d been telepathically interrupted, Lothinar''s parents and aunt had already gone inside the barn. Lothinar caught up with them. Albarad was saddling three horses.


    "Sorry about that. Zinariya wanted to tell me something," he said.


    Albarad nodded. "Of course. We all understand," he said.


    "Ardwella''s going to stay with the baby, but I will bring Siophra back in the morning. We will travel together. He pulled his son in for a confidential whisper. "Siophra is going to spend the night at our place. She thought a little distance from Tundor during this night of exploration might allow her to sleep better." He winked.


    "It''s not just the dragons doing all the exploration at this point," Lothinar replied. "Everything I''ve been doing is new. I''m trying not to be terrified every day. The moon might be falling and did you know that Firestorm is convinced that I am destined to be her lover?"


    "She''s pretty young." his father said.


    "Did you somehow miss the part that she''s a dragon dad? All you''ve got to say is: ''She''s pretty young?''


    "Well, she is. I remember when she hatched like it was yesterday. Try to stall. Maybe she''ll find someone else. Maybe he will even be a dragon. But you know the heart wants what it wants." his father said sagely. I haven''t exactly been an excellent example of a traditional relationship myself, you know. Marrying two sisters and all that. I was worried your mother would suggest a trifecta for a minute back there."


    "At least you all would all be the same race!" Lothinar exclaimed.


    Albarad shrugged. "From what I''ve been led to understand, you are not entirely pure elf anymore anyway, Lothinar. Didn''t Vanquish change at least some parts of you into a dragon?"


    "Uh, yeah. I sort of forgot about that, I guess." Lothinar said.


    "Look. Don''t worry. I saw Firestorm in there. She''s beautiful, fierce, and loyal. She took action when she needed to. She had your back. As far as the sex part of it goes, while she''s an elf, you probably won''t be able to tell the difference. If I were you, I''d be more worried about the naked mental vulnerability that comes with that package. She''ll be inside your head. She''ll know your secrets. Every marriage needs a little bit of mystery. You won''t have much. But with your bonds, you already don''t. Not really. Night-Sky has already exposed my big one several times. He''s got his own agenda. I''d never have agreed to be bonded with him if I hadn''t needed him to stay alive to rescue Heirwynn from that terrible situation."


    "Yeah, that was bad," said Lothinar.


    "Speaking of Heirwynn, you may have noticed that she''s staying. Ardwynn accepted her offer to help with the baby. Snow will be coming over in the morning when we come back. I''ll have Snow watching you all like a hawk, so treat your new adopted sister respectfully. I''m not so much worried about you. I''m more concerned about the females in your small clan. Night-Sky will stay with me for now. They won''t like splitting up, but it''s not that far between here and my place. Albaarad took a huge breath.


    "Have I given you enough fatherly advice yet, my son?"


    "I don''t think I''ve ever heard you say that many words all at once!" Lothinar said, laughing. "Wow!"


    "It''s late. Think about what I said." Albarad smiled. "I''m proud of you son. Get some sleep. Tomorrow, we need to save the planet."


    The three elves climbed on horses and rode out into the night. Lothinar wearily turned back toward the house, walked up the steps, and entered.


    "Sssh!" came Heirwynn''s voice from the darkness of the front room. Everyone''s asleep. "Well, probably not Tundor and Candasar, but they''ve finally quieted down."


    "So why are you waiting for me down here in the dark?" he asked.


    "I''m just making sure," she said softly.


    "Sure about what? My father told me you were staying to help with the baby. I thought that you discussed that with my wife."


    "I''m making sure that it''s alright... with you."


    "Why wouldn''t it be?" he asked. "You''re not planning on murdering us all in our sleep or something, are you?"


    She chuckled at that. Lothinar couldn''t see her face in the dark.


    Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    "No, quite the opposite. I want to make myself useful to you. Your father made me part of your family. He saved me from a couple of really terrible situations. I want to be very helpful. I want to belong somewhere."


    "It sounds like you probably belong at my mother''s house. She no doubt needs your help with my little sister as well."


    "Muina and Ardwella have that covered. Now that Ardwella is back, at least. You named your son Harvey. That means a lot to me. I feel like I''m connected to him somehow. And now to you."


    Lothinar sighed. "He was a brave man. From what I''ve heard, you''re also a brave young woman. Welcome to the family," he said. He slipped past her on the stairs and ascended into the darkness of the second floor. As he entered the Master suite, a little of Cheleseben''s light trickled through the window. Ardwynn stirred.


    "I heard your voice downstairs. You must have been speaking with Heirwynn," she said. "I''ve asked her to stay on. She''s going to be helping me with Harvey."


    "Do you need help?" he asked.


    "I''m probably not going to be a great mother, Lothinar. I didn''t have the best example. I''m sure it will be even worse now that Michelle is gone. She had a way of keeping me focused on what''s important. "


    "And you think having another woman around here will make it easier for you?" he almost laughed, but he didn''t.


    "I want to be your partner. I''ll probably follow you around like a puppy. I love you, Lothinar, and worse yet, I''m suddenly very insecure. Things are changing. We have new challenges. There will be places that you are going where you can''t take Harvey and me, but maybe you''ll let me go with you once in a while? Do you think you could let me do that? She sounded hopeful but resigned.


    He sat down heavily on the bed.


    "I''m missing the days." he said. "when we worked as wardens together. I always enjoyed your company, Ardwynn. I''ll take you everywhere I can." He paused, scratching his head. "But, like you said, things have changed quite a bit since then. It''s not just about us or our friendship anymore. We''ve both been through a lot. You left me, Ardwynn. It almost destroyed me."


    "I know," she whispered. "I''m sorry."


    He laid down next to her in the soft, warm bed. She moved closer, reaching out to touch and caress his face. His eyes were shut. Unexpectedly, he opened his mouth, and a little snore came out. He was asleep.


    "I guess I won''t be wanting this," she said to herself. She placed the closed vial of Mung Bean extract on the nightstand. "Not that I needed it." She looked at Lothinar in the moonlight. "He''s so beautiful," she thought.


    Firestorm is terrible at hiding things, especially in this house. I¡¯ve lived here before. I know all the good places.


    -------------------------------------


    "What do you mean you can''t transform?" asked Lothinar. "You were able to do it yesterday."


    "I tried early this morning, " Candasar replied worriedly. I was a little hungry. Firestorm ate most of the steaks while I was distracted. I was hungry for a deer. It was a long night, and I wanted to clear my head by flying. I went out to the yard early and tried to change into my dragon form. I just can''t. Nothing happened."


    "How about you, Tundor?" Lothinar asked.


    The well-muscled white-haired elf walked a short distance out into the front yard; The air sparkled as he became a huge white dragon. "Phew," he said. "That''s a relief."


    Lothinar walked over to Candasar. He activated his inner sight. He took a good look around inside the blue dragon''s elf'' body. She squirmed a little under his intense gaze but endured it.


    "Uh-oh," he said. "It''s really early, but you''re pregnant."


    The look on her face was indescribable. Tundor, however, whooped with joy.


    "So that answers that question," said Ardwynn grinning. "The fetus is protected. Something in Candasar''s body is going to stop her from changing back while she''s carrying a baby. It makes sense! It''s unrealistic to expect an unborn elven child to suddenly turn into a dragon egg. If she had gotten pregnant as a dragon, I''m sure she would be unable to shift until after she laid the egg!"


    "I''m stuck as an elf?" Candasar asked in horror. "For how long? Surely not for nine whole months! Then what? Will I have to go through a live childbirth? Like Ardwynn did?"


    "Yes, just like I did when I was coming back from Silvantra riding on you, my dear." cackled Ardwynn.


    "Will my child be an elf or a dragon" Candasar suddenly asked.


    "An elf, I''m pretty sure," said Lothinar. "I can''t see it turning out any other way."


    "We wanted more children." Tundor rumbled.


    "Yes, but dragon children!" Candasar said. "I don''t even know what to think right now!" She lowered her head and ran into the house.


    Lothinar looked at Tundor. "You or me?" he asked.


    "You''re smaller," grinned Tundor. "I don''t think she''s going to want to talk to me right now anyway."


    "I''m sure you''re right," Lothinar replied. He climbed the steps.


    Candasar was up in her room. The same room where she had gotten pregnant just last night.


    Lothinar knocked on the door and then went in without awaiting a reply. Candasar was lying on her back, with one of her arms across her face, The inside of her elbow was covering her eyes. She lowered her arm and glared at him.


    "I never expected this. You will remember that I resisted letting Marg change me. I knew that there had to be a catch." she said angrily.


    "It''s really not so bad," Lothinar said.


    "I''m totally useless now!" she snapped back. "How am I going to help you? Take you anywhere. Help you fight? I can''t even fly you to the capitol. My daughter is stuck up on the moon, and I''m stuck here in this soft, squishy.... pregnant body! I feel my boobs growing Lothinar. I''m not even supposed to have boobs!"


    "You don''t feel. that. It must be your imagination. .. It''s way too early. You just got pregnant last night. For pregnancy to make your breasts grow takes a while. Or so I''m told. You may need to talk to Ardwynn about that."


    "Sure, I''ll just ask Ardwynn. About everything. She¡¯s obviously the expert. Now what? Do I just sit here for nine months and take up knitting? What am I going to do if the moon falls? I won''t even be able to fly away. I''ll die!"


    "I won''t let that happen," he said with great certainty. Neither will Tundor, for that matter."


    He paused, thinking.


    "If you really are that upset, there is one thing that I could do," he said.


    "What''s that?" she asked.


    "I could end the pregnancy. Now. Today."


    "Kill my baby?" she asked.


    "It''s extremely small right now. It wouldn''t take much at all. I could just...."


    "No!" she said, sitting up and glaring at him. "Please don''t do that."


    "I''m just giving you options, Candasar. You are the one that was complaining. It would make me very sorry to do it, not to mention how Tundor would feel. Of course, neither of us has to bear your burden. Carrying your baby to term. Only you really have the right to make that choice."


    "I will accept this child," Candasar said. "Whatever price I must pay. Even if it is an elf, it will be filled with our magic."


    "That''s what I was hoping you would say," said Lothinar. "I was terrified you might take me up on that. Let''s go on this voyage of exploration together. We might find something wonderful in the destination.¡±


    -------------------


    Michelle stood on the foredeck. She had both hands outstretched in front of her. She was about to shoot a blast of blue magic into the medium-sized sea serpent coiled around the vessel''s bow. Then she noticed something unusual. The serpent had a sword in its mouth. It was glowing red. She dropped it onto the deck. For Michelle quickly noticed it was, indeed a she. The sword stuck upright in the wood.


    "Do not attackss. I haves comes to claims the rewardses thats the red ssword promissssed me!" The serpent hissed loudly. ¡°Takess me to the Lothinar!"


    Enderline looked at the sword vibrating vertically in the wooden deck. ¡°Now, where in the world did she find that?¡± he asked.


    ¡°A few hours off the coast of Silvantra,¡± Michelle answered. ¡°Right, where Lothinar dropped it, fighting some Rocs. Do you think it would be too much trouble to ask if you could turn just one of these ships around? I think he¡¯s going to need the electrical generation abilities of this sword to save the planet.''¡±


    ¡°How can Lothinar having that sword back help save the planet?¡± Enderline asked curiously.


    ¡°He needs it to prop up the moon, which is going to fall soon.¡±


    ¡°Now I¡¯ve heard everything.¡± Enderline scoffed. ¡°The moon looked perfectly normal last night!¡±


    ¡°No! Magical human girl isss corrects. Wees cans feels ssomethings hass changed withs the tidess! Moon makess tidess!¡± The sea serpent hissed.


    ¡°Roth!¡± The king bellowed. How far away are we right now from Silvantra?¡±


    ¡°We are just slightly under halfway, Your Majesty,¡± Roth replied primly.


    ¡°Exactly how many dragons and their bonds are currently on the flagship? Enderline asked.


    ¡°The Sinspirilla is light on dragons. We do have almost all of your unbonded soldiers on board, though. We are carrying only my dragon, Ember, and Queen Pricilla¡¯s, Ivy. Unless you count¡­her.¡± Roth gestured to the long grey sea serpent now coiled around the foremost spar.


    ¡°Run up the full stop semaphore. We will transfer most of our food supplies to the other ships. Then the other ships will continue on to Silvana. The Sinspirilla is turning back.¡±


    Enderline looked at Michelle. ¡®Also, I need to write a letter to your father explaining things. I was hoping you could deliver it to him, along with the rest of the young dragons. To do that, you will need to transfer to another one of my ships. Your father may have questions impossible to answer in a letter. I¡¯m also charging you¡­.well, asking you to ensure the rest of my ships are protected from other aquatic visitors for the duration of the journey. I feel that with you with them, they have the best chance of arriving safely.


    ¡°I will change ships and deliver your letters. If you have someone that can row me over. I obviously can no longer fly. If at all possible, I will also get the young dragons safely to Silvantra. I will start educating them immediately.¡± Michelle replied. She watched as sailors began scurrying around in the rigging, lowering the huge sails.


    ¡°Thank you. Us splitting up is probably for the best anyway,¡± Enderline confided to Michelle quietly. ¡°I think your presence makes Pricilla very nervous.¡±


    The small fleet of ships finally came to a stop out in the open water. It took some time to transfer supplies and a little more to finish juggling the crew by dingy. Michelle was among them. She found herself aboard a tidy ship named the Starfish. The sea snake remained curled tightly to the front of Enderline¡¯s flagship. She was on a mission to find ¡®the Lothinar¡¯, and Michelle was obviously going the wrong way. The red sword was still stuck in the wooden deck. The serpent had strenuously objected when Enderline had sought to remove it.


    ¡°It¡¯ss onlys fors the Lothinarss!¡± She had hissed angrily at the attempt to store the sword elsewhere.


    Finally, the sails were raised again, and Michelle watched as the Sinspirilla and Enderline sailed out of sight. The little fleet was still over three days from Silvanta, even with the very favorable winds they were now experiencing. Enderline would have a much harder time heading back. Michelle hoped the sea dragon minded her manners. She suddenly realized that she hadn''t even asked for her name.


    Arjori remained tightly curled around the bowspit. Her eyes carefully followed the sailors doing their busy jobs in the rigging as the ship began the arduous task of tacking back and forth against the wind steadily blowing off the mainland. She was guarding the red sword. It was her opportunity to find a different kind of life. Far away from the stupid, overly persistent males who continuously sniffed after her. She wasn''t ready for a life tending eggs in the underwater grotto. There was a big world out here.. There was a lot still to see. She wasn''t hungry. She had eaten well just days before. She had feasted on the body of a huge Roc that had sunk to the bottom near her tribe''s nesting grounds. The bird meat was a surprising delicacy, although she had swallowed too many wet feathers. She alone had found the soggy bird and the sword, which was hidden in the mud under the carcass. She had listened to its strange voice replaying the strange words in her head over and over until it had finally clicked.


    ¡°Not my fault! You dropped ME! Lothinar!¡± it kept saying over and over. When the distracted sword finally noticed her, it insisted that she take it to the surface to find the Lothinar. The sword''s request became an obligation and an obsession in her mind. At least now, she was making some progress. These humans seemed to know where to find the Lothinar. She really hoped it wasn''t too far from shore. Slithering in dry places tended to be dusty and uncomfortable.


    -----------------


    Daisy awoke in a large comfortable bed. She was alone. The room was well-furnished and had private indoor plumbing, which was always nice. She performed her morning absolution and cleaned up under a luxurious hot shower. It was amazing. As she was finishing up, there was a knock on the door. She was only wearing a towel but cracked it open. It was an apologetic palace servant bringing her, of all things, fresh clean clothes. Cantrell hadn''t been kidding when he had said he would take care of things. She accepted the clothes gratefully and closed the door. There were three choices of dresses in three different styles. She put on the simple but well-made blue one. It was knee-length, and It brought out her eyes. A few minutes later, there was another knock. It was Cantrell.


    "I was hoping you might be free for breakfast," he said. "In case you are hesitant, I promise that the cafeteria has things other than mung beans."


    She laughed. "I''m sure it does. You had me at the company I would be keeping."


    He paused, "I hope you weren''t hurt or offended that I declined your advances yesterday. I''m a little old-fashioned. I keep my commitments, and I really do love Mavis."


    "You''re sweet to ask," she replied. "I did some thinking last night. I don''t even know why I tried to do that. I think I''ve become so used to being dependent upon a male, even a horrible one, that I felt I had to immediately fill a void. I realize now that was a really bad idea."


    "I could use a friend," he said. "I''m also alone here in the city at the moment and bearing great responsibilities. I wasn''t kidding when I said I might need a hug."


    "One chaste hug coming right up!" she said, smiling. She pulled him in and gave him one. She even leaned in with her shoulder so that her breasts wouldn''t press on him too noticeably. He stepped back awkwardly.


    "Thanks. he said. "I''m not lying when I say that it helped somewhat. After breakfast, I''ve got some names to go over with you. Distant relatives of Argents family. Cousins mostly. I want to ask you if you can connect them with any of our records of misdeeds or troublemaking. That sort of thing."


    "It sounds like you are certainly being thorough. I''m also surprised that you actually trust me. We really just met. yesterday, and I could be misdirecting you terribly."


    "Why would you do that?" he asked. He didn''t sound surprised, just curious about her possible motivations.


    "I might have some personal grudges I wished to settle. Folks that I dislike personally that aren''t really a threat to you or the crown. You could help me get rid of them."


    Cantrell narrowed his eyes. "Is that what you are doing? I mean, your husband was obviously personal."


    "Oh no. He was a traitor." Daisy said. "Although he probably thinks of himself as a patriot. He''s loyal to Argent, or at least his memory and his family. He was actively engaged in standing in Mandel''s way. Causing disruptions and trouble wherever and whenever he could. I think I heard you ask him about his brother. He was killed a few weeks back while fighting."


    "Yeah, unfortunately, that was me." Said Cantrell. "I was working with an assassin and she sent me up to a balcony he was on. He had a bow. I had a knife. It was closer than I preferred it. He almost got me."


    "So, you''re a real hands-on guy. Taking on the enemy yourself, personally. It takes bravery and a special kind of demeanor to be able to function like that."


    "So, that''s been a problem for me, I have to admit," Cantrell said, shrugging. " I learned a little trick from my bonded dragon. It''s a way to turn down my conscience. It''s a temporary measure. It all comes crashing back down on me when I turn it off, but at least I can function in the interim "


    "Your bond. She''s the big black dragon everyone''s seen flying around. And she''s the sister of the white dragon I met yesterday? The one with the regrets and lost loves? The white one called her Esmarelda?"


    "Not quite. Her name is Esmarilla," said Cantrell as a gentle correction. "She and some of my other friends are flying in later today. I''m really looking forward to her coming back. All of them, actually. They are searching for something. They are going to be checking for hidden passageways here in the capital."


    "That sounds very mysterious and exciting," said Daisy.


    She let Cantrell take her to breakfast and then looked through lists of names and sketches of some of the people that Cantrell had deemed suspicious. She did find a few that she knew had been active in the rebellion and pointed them out to him. By the time she was finished with that, it was lunchtime. Cantrell and she ate in the cafeteria yet again. Just as they were finished, he got a strange happy smile on his face.


    "They made good time!" he said. "Come on! I''ll introduce you to my friends. They will be landing in the main courtyard any minute." They rushed downstairs. His excitement was infectious.


    Daisy looked up. A huge white dragon, even bigger than the one yesterday, was coming down fast. On his tail was a slightly smaller black one. She glanced at Cantrell.


    "Yep. That''s my Esmarilla. That''s Albarad riding her. Lothinar is with him. He''s Albarad''s son. The big white dragon is Tundor. Oh, that''s a surprise. There is a female elf that I don''t recognize riding together with Siophra. Esmarilla Is telling me that the dark-haired elf is actually Candasar. She''s Tundor''s mate.


    "Tundor is mated with an elf?" How''s that supposed to work?" asked Daisy incredulously.


    "Oh, she''s not an elf all the time. She started out as a dragon." Cantrell said mischievously. "She''s not too happy right now. That was her first trip when she wasn''t actually doing the flying. Esmarilla said she complained all the way here."


    "You have some strange friends, Cantrell," said Daisy.


    The dragons landed, and Candasar was the very first to jump off. "I''m never giving Michelle a hard time about flying again!" she said, obviously relieved to be back on the ground.


    Daisy turned her attention to the blonde elf that had been flying with Candasar. They locked eyes. It was like looking into a mirror.


    "So who''s this?" Siophra demanded. She had a very strange look on her face. It probably looked exactly like her own.


    "Oh! Said Cantrell. "I''d like to introduce you all to my new friend Daisy! She''s helping me weed out the last participants of the rebellion."


    "It can''t have escaped your attention that she looks exactly like me," said Siophra.


    "Does she?" asked Cantrell, surprised. He looked again. "Oh wow. She does. How did I miss that?"


    "Just what are you trying to pull here, Cantrell?" Siophra asked. "Don''t tell me that I''ve missed my opportunity and that I''m too late."


    "Late for what?" Cantrell asked.


    ---------------------------

 Volume 3: Chapter 13: Upsy Daisy.

    ****************


    Chapter 13


    ***************


    Xerxes looked concerned.


    "Are you certain Marg won''t be able to return?" he asked nervously.


    "I told you, she''s dead, met her demise. She''s an ex-dragon. She''s pushing up daisies right now."


    He scowled.


    "You must forgive me if I find that very hard to believe. Gold dragons are virtually unkillable."


    "Unkillable, eh? I know someone who said that before about an ancient blue dragon, but she died," said Zinariya. Then, she thought a little more about Vanquish¡¯s story.


    "Lothinar? We may have a problem." she transmitted through the Bond.


    "You mean something more urgent than the moon falling out of the sky problem?" he asked.


    "Maybe, but if the problem I''m worried about is actually a problem, then our moon falling problem might not be an actual problem," she said.


    "It''s a good thing that I can read your mind, or I''d never be able to understand that. "Look, I''m not near the lake. We''re minutes from landing at the Capital. Your mother is here with me and throwing a fit, by the way. Dragons make terrible passengers when they ride other dragons. Now your father has gotten his feelings hurt. Your mother told him that he jerks his wings too hard when he flies. Anyway, there is nobody near the lake that I can immediately contact via Bond to check this out. Firestorm is probably still hours out. She''s the closest and going in the right direction. I''ll have her check out the gravesite when she returns. I''m sure Marg is right where Esmarilla planted her."


    "I can hear you, Lothinar." Firestorm joined the conversation. "Give me two... maybe three hours. I''ll check it out. Don''t worry. Things that I kill have usually stayed dead before."


    Zinariya smiled at Xerxes. "We''re checking it out," she said.


    The old elf nodded. "You can never be too careful,"


    "Firestorm?" Zinariya transmitted.


    "Busy. Flying a lot faster right now, pipsqueak," said Firestorm


    "If Marg''s grave is still there. You should probably dig her up and burn her," said Zinariya.


    "My name is Firestorm. You don''t think I''ve already considered that?"


    "Of course you have," said Zinariya. "Thanks Firestorm."


    "Yep, no problem. I''m the one who stabbed Marg in the eye. I don''t think that will make her remember me fondly. If she''s still alive, that could be hazardous to my health."


    Zinariya returned her attention to the ancient elf sitting across from her.


    "I am curious," said Xerxes, "what you intend to do about stabilizing our orbit. Has your elf friend offered any insights as to how to proceed?"


    "Lothinar is on his way now," Zinariya replied. "He''s going to use the portal in the capital."


    "Which Capital?" Xerxes asked. "Other than Gold Dragon visits, we have not been able to establish a connection with any of the portals in a very long time."


    ¡°There¡¯s more than one capital?¡± Zinariya asked.


    Xerxes made a face that made it clear that he was losing his patience.


    ¡°If your associates on the planet have, as you claim, indeed killed Marg, you probably have killed us all,¡± he growled. ¡°Marg was a tyrant, but at least she could get things done.¡±


    ¡°What do you need me to do? My friends will find a way to get here, but is there something urgent that needs doing right now?¡±


    Xerxes nodded and walked over to a large round window. He peered through it, then used his hand to wipe at the fog on the glass surface created by his breath. ¡°About kilometer over that way,¡± he said, pointing to the window. ¡°Is a small outbuilding. Inside are some large bags. They look like burlap sacks. They are not burlap, and the bags are hefty. The bags are used to store the type of fuel that we use. We use that fuel to make electricity, among other things. He looked down at a round gauge with a needle pointer on it. Zinariya couldn''t read the words written next to the gauge but observed the needle was pointed pretty close to the number zero on its face. Xerxes turned to her. ¡°Marg could lift one of those bags and drop it down the feeder chute. I don''t think you will be able to do that.¡±


    Zinariya took a second to update Lothinar on the correct pronunciation of the word that his father had used.


    "Your dad was just a little boy then, but he must have misheard his Grandmother. He mentioned something called ''legtricity when you were back at the house....." she said awkwardly.


    "Ok," said Lothinar. "I''ll let him know about the mispronunciation. When I get the chance."


    Zinariya asked Xerxes, her host, another question.


    ¡°So why can''t I just open the bag and pour the fuel into the chute a little at a time?¡± she asked.


    He shook his head. ¡°The contents of the bag are filled with a toxic poison as well. If the bag opens, you will die. It provides a shielding¡­ Nevermind.¡± He sighed. I suppose that I will have to accompany you. You can teleport others as well as yourself?¡±


    ¡°I have. Many times.¡± Zinariya said.


    He beckoned her over to the window and pointed outside. She looked across the desolate landscape and saw the small building he had mentioned. It was painted an ominous red.


    ¡°Can you get us over there?¡± Xerxes asked. ¡°You can not miss. We need to be inside when we arrive.¡±


    ¡°You are making that part sound rather important,¡± Zinariya said. I¡¯m sure I can get us close.¡±


    ¡°Close will not be good enough!¡± the old elf said sternly. We both must arrive inside¡ªcompletely inside,¡± he emphasized again. If you were to miss¡­. then we would both die!¡±


    Zinariya gulped. She felt a little stomach acid burble up. That was one of the few things she didn''t like about being an elf. She had never had any digestive problems as a dragon. It seemed her dragon gullet was made of sterner stuff. Of course, it took a lot more to fill it. Perhaps because dragons often swallowed the bones of their prey, their stomachs needed to be tougher. Zinariya eyeballed the distance to the small red building. Then instead of just popping over, she asked Xerxes how far he thought the distance actually was.


    He smiled approvingly. ¡°It''s a thousand meters,¡± he said. ¡°Almost exactly.¡±


    Zinariya knew from the vast amount of information she had been absorbing from Lothinar that there was something called a meter. It was an ancient and largely unused unit of measurement. She even had a pretty good idea about its length.


    ¡±Ok! So about a thousand yards,¡± she said, grabbing ahold of the old elf for easier teleportation. ¡°I can certainly get us that far!¡±


    Xerxes slapped her hand away. He looked pale. ¡°You are going to kill us with a rounding error, young dragon!¡± he proclaimed angrily.


    ¡°Do they teach you nothing in school? A meter is 1.09 yards! That''s 3.2 feet! A yard is only 3 feet. You were about to teleport us 93 feet too far. We would have missed the building!¡±


    ¡°Oops!¡± Zinariya said.


    ¡°Oops indeed,¡± said Lothinat through their Bond. ¡°Let me help. Please look through that window again, Zinariya. I will do a bit better if I can see where you are trying to go through your eyes.¡±


    Lothinar did something through the Bond, and Zinariya twitched in surprise. Suddenly, Zinariya was watching two different Siophras. One wore practical leather riding pants, boots, and a long-sleeved green top, and the other wore a simple blue dress. One of the Siophras, the one in green, was giving the other one unhappy, angry looks.


    ¡°That didn''t work. My eyes seem to be broken, Lothinar. I¡¯m seeing some things double!¡± Zinariya gasped.


    ¡°Oh, sorry about that.¡± Lothinar chuckled. ¡°I should have warned you. Cantrell made a new friend. As coincidence would have it, she looks just like Siophra." He paused before continuing. "I believe I¡¯ve got the distance now. If you allow me to help you with a bit of fine adjustment, I will be able to help you safely teleport into that red building. Please ask Xerxes if he¡¯s been inside and if there are any large objects near the center of the room.¡±


    ¡°That''s thinking ahead.¡± Zinariya said approvingly.


    She asked Xerxes about the arrangement of objects inside the room.


    Xerxes said the center of the room was a large, clear area. He nodded approvingly and looked at her with slightly less apprehension.


    Zinariya¡¯s view out the window returned to normal. For some reason, she felt extremely confident about making this teleport. She grabbed Xerxes, who squeaked in terror and then jumped.


    ------------------


    Daisy stepped back. The angry look she had received from Siophra was unwarranted and unexpected.


    ¡°I should go, Cantrell,¡± she said haltingly. ¡°You need time to assist your friends with their search. I don''t know anything about secret passageways or hidden rooms. I won''t be of much help.¡±


    Cantrell narrowed his eyes. ¡°What has gotten into you, Siophra? Daisey has lived in this city her whole life. She probably knows a lot more specifics about the Capital than anyone here! You lived here longer, but most of your time was spent in the tower...¡±


    ¡°Did you have to bring that up?¡± Siophra cringed, then began to pout. Lothinar seemed to have had enough. He grabbed Siophra by the arm and pulled her far off to the side of the courtyard for a quick conversation. They began to whisper to each other in hushed voices. Candasar looked at Tundor who studiously looked away. Albarad suddenly realized that both of the dragons could listen in on Lothinar¡¯s admonitions to Siophra and her distant replies, no matter how soft their whispers were.


    Albarad stepped over and took Daisy¡¯s hand, shaking it.


    ¡°I¡¯m Albarad,¡± he said. Lothinar¡¯s father. I¡¯m the reason we came. I occasionally visited one of my relatives here as a child. I¡¯m afraid my memories of that time are a bit rusty. We all,¡± and he let that word linger, ¡°appreciate your help. I¡¯m looking for a particular room. It''s more of a large closet. It had some strange dials and knobs on the wall.¡±


    ¡±I¡¯ve heard about a few places that might match that description.¡± Daisy said, smiling at the reduction in tension. ¡°All that mysterious broom storage stuff is in the old town. Some of those places got torn down when Argent built the new library.¡±


    Albarad¡¯s face fell.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Daisy smiled, trying to sound optimistic. ¡°Not every building in the area was destroyed when the library exploded. Some of them survived. A few seemed abnormally well constructed.¡±


    ¡°That''s probably where we should head next, then,¡± Lothinar said, walking up to them with a smile. Daisy stuck out her hand to shake it, as she had with Albarad. Lothinar didn''t take it. He looked down at her hand apologetically.


    ¡°Sorry,¡± he said. I have a strange skin condition. It''s probably better if we don''t shake hands.¡±


    Daisy pulled her hand back quickly, embarrassed. Behind Lothinar, she thought she had caught a glimpse of Siophra smirking. Her evil twin saw her notice that, and her face quickly returned to a neutral smile.


    ¡°My Aunt Siophra has promised to be on her best behavior,¡± Lothinar said. ¡°Can you help us find this ¡®Old Town¡± about which you were speaking? Daisy was a little confused. She didn''t know how Lothinar had heard what she had said to Albarad when he had been almost across the courtyard talking with his Aunt. Only the elf with the lustrous dark blue hair had been anywhere near them.


    If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    The blue-haired elf smiled at her and finally spoke. ¡°I¡¯m Candasar. I¡¯m Lothinar¡¯s first Bond.¡± She reached out, actually shaking her hand, which Daisy realized she had thrown forward automatically. ¡°Thank you for helping us rescue my daughter!¡±


    ¡°Wait! Did you say Bond? Are you somehow a dragon?¡± Daisy asked. Her head was spinning slightly.


    ¡°Not for another nine months or so, it seems.¡± the beautiful elf said, sadly. ¡°We will be in your care.¡±


    ¡°Let''s get started, then,¡± said Cantrell, striding away. There was a large pop, and the big white dragon disappeared. Where it had been standing was a really large elf. He had abnormally white hair for someone obviously so young. He was also covered with rippling muscles. He grinned at Daisy.


    ¡°It''s unbelievable, actually, how much you look like my Siophra,¡± he said. Daisy felt the hairs standing up on the back of her neck. This whole set of circumstances was crazy.


    ¡°Oh, terrific!¡± came a huge, angry rumble. The black dragon Cantrell had named Esmarilla was now glaring at the white-haired elf. ¡°Just go on, then¡­with them. I guess I¡¯ll just find my own way over to the stables. By myself! I do manage to remember where they are.¡± The black dragon jumped into the air. Her down-swept wings blasted them with air. Everyone else hurried after Cantrell, including Daisy. This was shaping up to be a very unusual afternoon.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    Heirwynn was feeding Harvey with a bottle. He didn''t seem to like it. He was making angry baby faces.


    ¡°Now, now, little man. It''s the exact same stuff. It''s just in a different package.¡± Heirwynn insisted. Little Harvey wasn''t buying it.


    Ardwynn sighed. ¡°Give him here. She took the baby, lifted her top, and gave him what he wanted. Her breast.


    ¡°So pumping and putting milk in a bottle isn¡¯t going to work. I knew it was probably too soon,¡± she said.


    Heirwnn grimaced. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I know that you wanted to go with Lothinar this morning. It took me some time to run around and find the equipment for that. Bottles and breast pumps just aren''t that common around here."


    ¡°I¡¯ll try again later, Your efforts won''t be wasted," Ardwynn replied. ¡®With Candasar down and Firestorm still gone, they were already doubled up as it is.¡±


    ¡°Tundor is obviously big enough to carry three,¡± Heirwynn said.


    Ardwynn made a face.


    ¡°The last time I rode Tundor to the capitol, it was under far different circumstances. It was not a pleasant experience for him, to say the least. We have reached a truce of sorts, but bringing up those memories¡­.¡± she trailed off. She switched sides, and little Harvey reattached to her second breast greedily.


    ¡°I really do appreciate you being willing to stay here and help me,¡± Ardwynn said. ¡°Candasar is whining about her new nine-month commitment. I don''t think she¡¯s thought it through. The baby elf she¡¯s carrying is going to need an attentive mother even after it¡¯s born. Dragons pop out of their eggs and can be self-sufficient pretty quickly. That''s not really the case for elf babies or even human ones.¡±


    "No, I suppose not," replied Heirwynn. She looked down at the small dragon, Snow, who was completely fascinated by Ardwynn''s breastfeeding of Harvey.


    "Does that hurt?" Snow suddenly asked. She was obviously addressing Ardwynn. "He''s drinking you," she said.


    Ardwynn laughed. "No, but I''m not looking forward to his first teeth coming in," she said. "The milk is not really part of me. I just make it here in these overly large flesh bags for a short time. Breast milk is only until the baby is old enough to eat more regular food."


    "Being born a dragon seems to have advantages," Snow said. "I had teeth at birth. Nobody was around to take care of us except Ardwella. There were also so many of us. It was fortunate that the dairy was within walking distance. We were eating cows almost immediately. I''d find lapping up milk a bit strange."


    "If the cows had been able to weigh in, they might have suggested that." laughed Ardwynn. "It would have been easier on their numbers. Eating the actual cow inhibits milk production."


    "I suppose on the cow''s part, it is a different sort of commitment," said Snow. ¡°Poor cows!¡±


    ¡°That may be the first time I¡¯ve heard a dragon feeling sorry for their prey,¡± said Ardwynn.


    ¡°She¡¯s like that,¡± said Heirwynn. ¡°She often thinks of others. ¡°It''s why we are such a good fit.¡±


    ¡°So why are you actually here Heirwynn? Not that I don''t appreciate the help. Are you just trying to get closer to Lothinar?¡± Ardwynn asked abruptly. That¡¯s what Michelle suspected before she left.¡±


    Heirwynn looked down. She did not immediately answer.


    ¡°Allow me to make my case.¡± She finally said.


    ¡°I am bonded to a white dragon. Any harm that might come to Harvey or to any of your future children would be instantly healed. You would never have to be worried about skinned knees or anything!¡± Heirwynn said. ¡°I¡¯d do a good job, so you probably wouldn''t have to even worry about that stuff. I¡¯d watch all the kids. Candasar¡¯s too! You all could travel with Lothinar on great adventures! I just¡­.¡±


    ¡°Just what?¡± asked Ardwynn.


    ¡°Lothinar¡¯s important. He¡¯s handsome yes, but I¡¯ve heard the stories. How he fought Argent¡¯s army to a standstill almost single-handedly. He''s bonded to three dragons. Three! I know that lots of beautiful elves and human women like Michelle are going to be hanging around¡­¡±


    ¡®You have no idea.¡± interrupted Ardwynn. ¡°Now that some dragons are able to transform they want him too! Firestorm¡¯s already making a play.¡±


    ¡°I saw that.¡± Said Heirwynn.


    ¡°So why complicate things? Why would you want to be part of this mess?¡±


    ¡°Why do you? You¡¯re sitting here, now, in this house. A place that your parents built to harvest and ship dragon eggs. Your mother and brother were killed by dragons and your father killed my brother. Your closest remaining relatives almost killed me a few nights ago when they murdered, well tried to murder, almost everyone. That was in my hometown! I could take umbrage at that you know!¡± Heirwynn was almost shouting.


    Ardwynn blinked. ¡°When you put it that way.¡± she finally said. She was holding Harvey close and eyeing the door.


    Heirwynn laughed, but not unkindly. ¡°Don''t worry. I would never hurt you. It''s just not our nature.¡± She gazed lovingly at Snow. ¡°But don''t forget. You owe me,¡± she said firmly.


    ¡°I suppose I do,¡± Ardwynn said. ¡°I won¡¯t stand in your way regarding Lothinar. But remember, his actually accepting this is ultimately up to him.¡±


    ¡°I have several ways of dealing with that,¡± Heirwynn said.


    ----------------------------


    Firestorm was nervous about going to the burial grove alone. On her way past, she stopped by Albarad''s and got her father involved. Mo-Rung had just returned from a hunting flight and had returned with a second deer. Once he saw her, He offered it to Firestorm.


    "You couldn''t have known that I was coming, father," she said. "Who did you bring the extra deer for?"


    "I thought I might offer it to Night-Sky. But he''s not here," said Mo-Rung. "He and Emerald went over to the lake to do some fishing again. He seems to like her, and he probably needs some exercise. They took Mandel and Mavis as well. Muina is helping Ardwella. They are making some new clothes for Lothinar''s baby sister. Supposedly she is growing like an unwanted, interloping garden plant. Whatever that means. Personally, I''ve had enough fish to last a lifetime, but the green dragons seem committed to that path for their dietary needs. I''m not sure if those dragons will be able to grow to their full potential if they don''t get some red meat into their diet."


    He looked at his daughter, who was easily as large as he was.


    "How did you get so big, so fast?" he asked her.


    "Lothinar''s magic, I suppose," she said distractedly. "I appreciate the offer of the deer, but that''s going to have to wait." Firestorm began. "We have concerns that the gold dragon Marg might not be all the way dead."


    "Esmarilla obviously told me what happened," her father said. "She stopped by after burying HER mother in the same grove as YOUR mother, Aleena. I couldn''t really object. That little glen seems to have become the family plot, so to speak."


    "Will you come with me, father? I''m nervous! What if Marg''s not there?"


    "What if she is? Boo! " Then he chuckled.


    "Father!"


    "Stop thinking the worst," Mo-Rung said. "Let''s go check it out. It''s not far. We should probably walk. Landing in that wooded grove would be really tricky."


    They left the deer near the barn. It already had a few too many flies on it for Firestorm''s taste, anyway. "Besides, how could she eat it raw and without spices?" she thought to herself.


    The short walk to the burial grove was uneventful. The two red dragons looked around. Nothing looked disturbed. Aleena''s silver statue was still standing guard over the buried body Cantrell and his wardens had placed there. A short distance away, there were signs of fresh digging, but it looked like everything was in place. Firestorm was feeling a bit paranoid. She walked over to the burial place, which was covered in freshly turned dirt, and put her considerable weight on the soil. It immediately crushed down, leaving a Marg-sized depression on the earth.


    "Uh oh!" she said. She began digging. Mo Rung helped. They dug down a long way. Nobody was home.


    "Lothinar," Firestorm reported. "Xerxes was right. We have a huge problem!"


    --------------------------------


    Zinariya hit the room dead center. It was cold in here. Her breath fogged in front of her face when she exhaled.


    "Give me some warning next time!" Xerxes hollered. Then he looked around. "Nice job, actually. And to think that I doubted you."


    "You should thank my bond Lothinar," Zinariya said.


    "I sure will once I meet him," said the old elf. Let''s get the reactor fed.


    The old man walked over to a stack of red bags. "Now for the hard part," he said. "We need to drop one of those extremely heavy sacks into that chute over there!" He looked at Zinariya appraisingly. "How strong are you?"


    Zinariya went over to one of the bags and grabbed an end. It didn''t budge. "Hmm. she said. Stand back. I''m going to need some room for this."


    "No! don''t!" the elf shouted. "The room isn''t big eno...."


    POP. Zinariya transformed. It was quite cramped. She hadn''t realized that she had been growing so much. Xerxes was pressed up against the wall pushing against her tail. She grabbed the red sack with both her front claws and lifted it. Then she pushed it over the lip of the chute and dropped it inside. It made a crunchy noise and then disappeared into the hole at the bottom. Over on the wall, a needle on a round gauge began rising.


    "Good job," said Xerxes. I''m sorry for the outburst earlier. I didn''t realize that you were still so small. You have to admit, you almost didn''t fit."


    "I''m growing every day," said Zinariya. I might not fit by tomorrow. Should I throw another sack in? Just in case?"


    "Heavens no! That sack should fuel that reactor for twenty years. I think one is enough for now." Xerxes said.


    "You should know that in as little as twenty DAYS, I probably won''t fit in here," Zinariya said. At least as a dragon."


    "I''m feeling a little cramped right now," said Xerxes. "Do you mind?"


    Zinariya transformed. The elf breathed out. "Let''s get out of here," he said. "I''m getting cold."


    ---------------------------


    Cantrell stayed with the group for about an hour, then begged off.


    "Esmarilla is taking being left alone harder than I expected," Cantrell said. "I need to go see her and then take care of some administrative things," He looked at Daisy.


    "I know it''s short notice but could you finish showing my friends the rest of the mysterious broom closets of old town? I have a feeling you would actually be better at that then I am." He smiled, and then he pulled out a silver card. "This is one of Mandel''s courtesy passes. If you need get into somewhere that someone won¡¯t allow, show the card to them. It should get you in."


    "You''re trusting me with this?" Daisy asked.


    "Well, I''ll want it back, probably." he grinned. "Let''s see how well you do with it first." Then he hurried away.


    Soon Lothinar was standing in a small room looking at strange knobs and dials. He couldn''t make much sense of it. Thankfully, Tundor had quickly cleared out the brooms and a rickety old cleaning cart. And a mop.


    Albarad, though, had gotten excited. "This is it! I''m sure I''ve seen something like this before!" he almost shouted.


    A short time later, Albarad was scratching his chin and nodding. "I think it was this one!" He pushed a lever. Nothing happened. He sighed. "I guess not. Then....What about this one?"


    "Don''t touch that one!" said Lothinar. It''s red. I''ve recently learned more about how whoever put this together thinks. Red might be bad," said Lothinar.


    "We won''t really know unless we try, will we" Albarad grinned. "I wish Gran was still around."


    "Didn''t your grandmother pass away a really long time ago?" asked Daisy.


    "Yeah," said Lothinar. But now we have dragons! You probably don''t want to know how old my own mother is," he said. Mom''s probably older than your own Grandmother, Dad."


    "Oh. That''s probably right," said Albarad. He had a strange look on his face. He called out into the hallway. "Hey Siophra? Did you ever meet anybody named Elverta?"


    It took a few seconds, but Siophra poked her head into the cramped closet. "No, Never heard of her. Why?"


    "Just asking," said Albarad. Siophra rolled her eyes and went back out into the hallway. Lothinar could hear her stomping a bit as she walked away.


    "Always good solid boots, that one." Lothinar thought.


    "This is just weird," said Daisy. "Is Siophra really as old as your grandmother?" Albarad.


    "Don''t bring it up," Albarad replied. "Siophra''s being extra sensitive right now."


    Lothinar looked puzzled. "She really is!" said Lothinar, "I talked with her. I leveraged some good behavior out of her because I had Zinariya''s help guessing her secret. But how do you know, Dad?"


    "Son, I''m married to both of her sisters. I know the signs." Albarad said. "You''d have to be blind not to see she''s upset about something."


    "I hope it''s not on my account," said Daisy.


    "It''s not you, Daisy," said Lothinar. "It''s what you possibly represent," said Lothinar.


    "Well, that hardly seems fair," Daisy replied.


    "Why don''t you come out of the closet, Lothinar?" Candasar asked from just outside the door. She used her voice and not the Bond to ask.


    "You''re probably right. None of these levers or buttons seem to be doing anything anyway." He said.


    "Also, Don''t you think it is a bad idea to get that close to Daisy?" Candasar transmitted. "I know you haven''t touched her yet, but you''re in close proximity in that small space. I''m sure you don''t want to give her a dose of your pheromones."


    "Please excuse me," Candasar said to Daisy. "I heard my dragon calling." He carefully squeezed past her and out into the hallway. Tundor and Siophra were a short distance down the hall. Even Tundor seemed to be arguing with Siophra today. The big elf had his arms crossed, and he was staring down at her. His eyes were kind, but his body posture said things were tense. Lothinar was beginning to wish he hadn''t allowed Siophra to come along. She did provide the dragon, though.


    Daisy stuck her head out of the door. "We found a hidden gold button Lothinar! That might be promising!" She ducked back inside. Lothinar could hear Albarad and Daisy discussing something loudly. Suddenly there was a whooshing sound. Lothinar felt the floor tremble under his feet. Then it stopped. He quickly looked. The closet was empty.


    "What do you think you''re doing, Lothinar? Zinariya''s voice entered his head. "I need YOU up here, not your father and Siophra''s look alike."


    "Well, at least we know it works!"  he replied. "I''m sorry I didn''t make it myself."


    "It''s fine," said Zinariya. "Xerxes said we have already fueled the reactor, and the moon won''t fall for another twenty years or so. Unfortunately, unless you are actually here to grant me some additional power, I don''t think that I have the range to teleport home on my own. Now your father and Daisy are stuck here too. By the way, she''s kind of freaking out a bit. She''s obviously also not a good traveler Lothinar! Xerxes is trying to calm her down. She¡¯s pushing on buttons that even Xerxes doesn''t know what they do.


    "More trouble. Firestorm just checked in. Marg''s gone."


    "Get me home, Lothinar. Soon." Zinariya pleaded. "I really don''t want to be here when she shows up!"


    "I''m really trying, Zinariya." Lothinar said.


    "By the way. Bring some food when you come. Xerxes says he''s all out of space food sticks. Whatever those are. Wait a second....."


    Lothinar went back into the broom closet and poked around a little. He couldn''t seem to find the gold button. He looked twice.


    "Ok, Xerxes says to skip the space food sticks. He''s sick of them anyway. He''s hoping you can bring up some mung beans. But your father is vigorously shaking his head no. Daisy is really becoming a problem. We may have to restrain her!¡±


    Lothinar continued to search for the button. It seemed hopeless. Suddenly, there was a sizzle and a pop. A blonde elf in a blue dress that looked suspiciously like Siophra materialized out of thin air and practically fell into his arms. He caught her reflexively. It was Daisy. She was back!


    "I had to get out of there! She said. "I think I must be slightly claustrophobic. Did you know this broom closet goes straight to the freakin moon? Sorry! I was terrified!"


    "Yes, I did," said Lothinar, standing her to her feet. She was just staring at him. She straightened her dress and licked her lips. Lothinar knew the look by now. He had unintentionally just hit her with a direct dose of pheromones.


    "So, just where is that gold button?" he asked.


    "I might tell you if you give me a kiss," she said coyly. Her cute dimples deepened as she smiled.


    Candasar stumbled into the room. She had run down the hallway so quickly that she barely managed to turn the corner. She glared at Daisy. ¡°Show me the gold button elf!¡± she demanded.


    ¡°EEK!¡± Daisy feigned terror and jumped into Lothinar¡¯s arms. She batted her eyelashes. ¡°Save me Lothinar,¡± she said in a low sultry voice.


    ¡°Somehow, you managed to do it again Lothinar!¡± Candasar sent via Bond.


    Out in the hall they both could hear Siophra giggling. ¡°Well, that''s a relief!¡± she said. "I''ve got less competition for Cantrell."


    "This is absolutely terrible," said Firestorm. "Blondes have always been Lothinar''s strike zone. Ardwynn, Michelle..even Zinariya! But I could take comfort that at least his Aunt was way out of bounds. Now this! A lowly redhead doesn''t stand a chance! I need some hair dye! Lothinar? do they have hair dye in the capital?"


    "Aren''t you at all worried about Marg?"  Lothinar asked, trying to change the subject.


    "You''re right! She''s a blonde too!" Firestorm wailed.


    -------------------------

 Volume 3: Chapter 14: A Penny for Your Thoughts

    **************


    Chapter 14


    **************


    "It''s peaceful here," said Mavis. "Thanks for bringing me along, brother."


    "It was Emerald''s idea. And Night-Sky''s too, I suppose." Mandel replied. "But I¡¯m glad to have you."


    They were sitting on a sandy section of beach, watching the dragons fish. At the moment, the swimming dragons were treading water, waiting for the net to drop. Mavis had to admit that treading water wasn''t what they were doing. It was more like hastily swimming in circles while thrashing their bodies through the water. Night-Sky was, surprisingly, doing pretty well. He wasn''t as big as the green dragons but seemed enthusiastic. Edgar, the dragon holding the net, seemed irritable and, in Mavis''s opinion, was deliberately procrastinating.


    "Night-Sky''s swimming still needs some work," Mandel said.


    Mavis looked at him, questioning. "Is that you talking, or Emerald?"


    ¡°Me. Emerald is more about acknowledging attitude, progress, and effort, which Night-Sky obviously has in spades. Plus, she is way too nice to criticize him out loud. She¡¯s more likely to offer a helpful suggestion.¡±


    Mavis had had enough. She stood up. "What''s that one''s name?" she asked her brother.


    "Oh. That''s Edgar," he said.


    "HEY EDGAR!" Mavis bellowed. "Yeah, you with the net! Get going! Chop Chop! They are waiting for you out there, dumb-ass!"


    The green dragon whirled on her. His face was furious. For a moment, Mavis thought he was going to charge at her. Then he suddenly stopped and looked at her appraisingly. Edgar looked down. Kicking at rocks on the shore, he sullenly grabbed the fishing net and jumped into the sky. Gaining some height, he then flew out and over the swimming dragons. Just when it appeared that he was about to drop the net, he suddenly and impulsively diverted his course and began flying away. He still had the fishing net clenched in his jaws.


    ¡±Hey! He flew off with the net! ¡° Mavis exclaimed. ¡°How are the rest of them supposed to fish now?¡±


    Mandel shrugged. ¡°If only these dragons knew someone in the new government to whom they could appeal. You know, to address their legitimate grievances against Edgar. It¡¯s failing to deal with these civil inequities that make or break a kingdom,¡± he said.


    Mavis gave him a strange look.


    "I think you are getting better," Mavis said. "I am delighted to see that."


    "Probably so," Mandel said. "But Edgar has me feeling a little angry right now."


    ¡°If the rest of them feel the same," she said. ¡°I¡¯d just gather this pack of angry green dragons, chase Edgar down, and give him a beating!¡±


    ¡°Emerald isn''t opposed to that suggestion,¡± said Mandel, grinning.


    "So a more direct approach then?" asked Mavis.


    "Emerald wants us to hurry," said Mandel. "She''s concerned Edgar will get away. Then the group will need to get a new net."


    "I wouldn''t worry about that." Said Mavis. "I''ve already contacted Mo-Rung. He''s in the air, and he already has Edgar in sight. He''s always ready for a good scrap."


    "Tell him to watch out for those teeth," said Mandel. "Emerald just reminded me that green dragons are poisonous."


    "Mo-Rung understands." Mavis said after a few seconds. "He will keep his distance until Emerald and the other green dragons arrive. He appreciates the warning."


    Emerald and the other dragons ran up onto the beach. They looked angry and betrayed. One of the other green dragons, a female like Emerald, looked at Mavis suspiciously.


    "Whats did you ssays to Edgar?" she asked accusingly.


    Emerald shoulder charged the other female, knocking her back a step.


    "Nothing we shouldn''t have said to him long ago!" she growled. "He''s been acting terrible for weeks! He''s surly and uncooperative most of the time!"


    "Needss ssex." said the female.


    "I didn''t see you stepping up to take care of that, Athena! " Emerald retorted. "I hope you''re not thinking that was MY responsibility!"


    "You knows I''m with Fenwick." the green female said. "You are the one thats brokes our even pairings."


    Night Sky, who had returned to the beach with the greens, looked surprised and, if Mavis wasn''t mistaken, a little hurt.


    "I hadn''t realized that you were with Edgar before," he said to Emerald.


    "I wasn''t," said Emerald, whirling on him in rebuke. "In his dreams, maybe!" She looked back at Athena. "Is that what he said? Did Edgar tell you we were mating?"


    "Perhaps he exaggerated," Athena said, shrugging.


    Mandel stepped over to Emerald and patted her lovingly. "Your virtue is not in doubt, Emerald. Let''s worry about this later. We need to go get your net back," he said.


    Four dragons jumped into the air: three green and a black. Only two were carrying riders. Mavis had opted to take Night-Sky up on his offer to try to give her a ride back to Mo-Rung. She was lighter than Albarad, and the black dragon wanted to try carrying someone. It was only after they were out over the lake''s water that the dragon made her nervous."


    "You can swim? Can''t you, Mavis?" he asked. "We are over water."


    "Are you planning to drop me Night-Sky?"


    "No, but you''re heavier than I thought. If we go down, I will be right there with you. But at least I can swim." Night said. Mavis couldn''t help but feel a little pride sneaking into his voice.


    "It feels good to learn new things and accomplish something for yourself, doesn''t it, Night?" she asked, holding on tighter. "Don''t worry. I can swim quite well. My first dragon, Aleena, insisted that I learn."


    "I wish I could have met her. " Night said. "I have recently begun to realize that there are many things that we can learn from these dragons of humble beginnings."


    "It''s not how you begin," said Mavis. "It''s how you finish. Aleena finished very strong."


    With Mavis guiding them, it didn''t take long for the flight of dragons to find the place where Mo-Rung had forced Edgar to land. The green dragon had dropped the net and was hissing loudly and lunging at Mo-Rung with his head, neck, and teeth. The red dragon had been able to keep him at bay with periodic bursts of liquid flame. Edgar''s scales showed signs of blisters and blackened soot. He was also boiling mad to the point that he had lost his ability to reason. The other dragons'' landing seemed to incite him further. Even vastly outnumbered, Edgar lunged and snapped at the new dragons who moved to encircle him. It was Emerald herself who charged in and grabbed him by the neck, pinning his head to the ground. He continued struggling, his tail thrashing at anyone attempting to close on him from behind. Mavis slipped off Night-Sky¡¯s back, landing gracefully on the ground.


    "Why did you take the net?" Mavis asked, shouting over the considerable commotion.


    "Punish!" he shrieked. "No one shall eat!"


    "Including you, you stupid dragon!" Mavis yelled back. "They can get another net, but you won''t find it so easy to find new friends to help you fish after pulling a stunt like that!"


    "Don''t care! Will hunt alone. Don''t need them." The dragon said. At least he had stopped his tail thrashing. Emerald released her hold on his neck and jumped back in case he decided to snap at her.


    Surprisingly, it was Mo-Rung who spoke up for him.


    "This dragon is probably lashing out because he is disappointed and frustrated." the red dragon said. Emotional wounds and disappointments can close your eyes to common sense. "


    Mavis looked at her bond with surprise. In fact, so did everyone.


    "Since when have you become so sage, Oh wise one?" Mavis laughed.


    "Painful lessons can permeate the thickest skull." he countered. "I''ve had a few too many."


    "How would you deal with this theft and betrayal?" demanded Emerald. "I''m not sensing a lot of repentance for HIS actions right now! We can no longer trust him."


    "Take your net and let him go," said Mo-Rung. "Hunger will teach him lessons for free. When he learns them, he may be back with an empty belly and the repentance you seek."


    "Why should we takes him backs," asked Fenwick.


    "Because you are reasonable and not unkind," said Mo-Rung. "You are able to understand the ways of a wounded heart. And, eventually, you might miss his help."


    "Not coming back!" shouted Edgar, leaping into the air. "Would rather eat skunks!" He flapped away unsteadily across the lake.


    Night-Sky looked at Mo-Rung with curiosity. "I recall hearing stories in which you behaved quite differently," he said.


    "Everyone grows up eventually," Mo-Rung said. "If they survive that long."


    "Oh my!" Night-Sky suddenly said. "Albarad flew off to the capital with Lothinar this morning, and now he''s on the moon!"


    "Perhaps it''s time I head back and look in on things." Said Mandel.


    "Do they have tasty fish?" Asked Emerald.


    "No, and we are definitely going to have to do something about that." said the Emperor.


    -----------------------


    Daisy was pouting. She had tried to trade the gold button''s location for a kiss but hadn''t gotten it. Instead, Lothinar had found it without her. Ultimately, it had come down to the fact that Lothinar¡¯s father, Albarad, had seen where she had been standing when she pushed it, so he told Zinariya the approximate area. Zinariya told Lothinar, of course, through their mind-to-mind connection. Daisy didn''t think it was fair for the three of them to gang up on her like that. Then Candasar had more or less dragged her from Lothinat¡¯s presence while he insisted on experimenting ¡°alone¡± with the golden button she had found! In her opinion, he could have been a lot more grateful and appreciative.


    Now, the dark blue-haired elf was looking at Daisy with concern.


    "How are you feeling?" she asked.


    "I''m a little woozy," she said. "Thanks for asking. Bouncing back and forth to the moon was unnerving! I might feel better if you let me talk to Lothinar about it."


    "I don''t quite know how to tell you this, Daisy, but it''s probably not your trip up and back. It might be Lothinar who is responsible for the woozy part of your feelings. He did warn you about his skin condition."


    "Look, Candasar. You probably mean well, but look here at this little card Cantrell gave me. It''s got the Emperor''s seal on it and everything. If I show it to you, then you are supposed to grant me full access to anything I want to see. Right now, I want to see Lothinar." Daisy said firmly.


    Candasar quickly reached out and plucked the card from Daisy''s fingers.


    "HEY! When I see Cantrell, I will report you for that!¡± The blonde said. ¡°Cantrell specifically gave that to me!¡±


    "I think Cantrell will understand," said Candasar. "Believe it or not, he was once in your position."


    "He''s in love with Lothinar, too?" Daisy said, her eyes growing wide. "No wonder he was able to resist my advances yesterday. They both appear to be quite heterosexual and, frankly, ooze masculinity. I would never have known. Wait. Cantrell''s married! And I know for a fact, it''s not to a man."


    Candasar blushed. "Lothinar isn''t interested in males. I''m his bond. I would know. Neither is Cantrell, for that matter. By saying that he had been in your position, I meant that Cantrell, at one point, had been exposed to a chemical that made him highly attracted to someone. In Cantrell''s case, it was Lothinar''s mom. She also has the same skin condition."


    Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    "I see," said Daisy. "What a relief!"


    "Lothinar is married as well, Daisy," said Tundor. "He''s married to Argent''s niece."


    "Uh, oh," Daisy said, raising her eyebrows. "Does Cantrell know about that?"


    "He does," said Candasar. "It''s fine because the original Ardwynn was killed to remove the taint."


    "That sounds pretty bad. This story will probably just keep getting worse the longer you try to explain it, Candasar." Tundor interrupted.


    "It sounds like Lothinar needs a new wife," said Daisy.


    "Ardwynn is alive," said Candasar. "It was blue dragon magic."


    "I certainly don''t know anything about that; you all must live exciting lives," Daisy said, blowing a stray hair out of her face.


    Candasar''s elven eyes bored into Daisy''s, trying, by force of will, to make her somehow understand. She began to speak more slowly.


    "This is important. You have been exposed to a chemical. It made you fall in love with Lothinar. We have a good chance of getting you cured. We must keep you away from him and get you into a bath." She said.


    "I just had a shower this morning. I''m more concerned that Lothinar might not understand just how dangerous Argent''s niece might be. I, of all people, should know. Those people are crazy. Is it true that she is married to Lothinar? What was he thinking?"


    Candasar shook her head and then nodded. She was beginning to despair about her chances of actually being understood.


    Daisy kept going. "He''s going to need a replacement wife then," She said. "All of Argent''s relatives are no damn good! Cantrell''s been taking them out pretty methodically. I''m prepared to console Lothinar after his impending loss.."


    Candasar met Tundor''s eyes. They shared a meaningful look. The broad white-haired dragon was standing in the doorway of the small room they were holding Daisy in while Lothinar was puzzling out buttons, effectively preventing Daisy''s escape.


    "You have to admit, Ardwynn''s story is going to be a difficult one to explain to outsiders," said Tundor.


    "I''ve seen this all before," said Candasar. "You should have seen Michelle when first exposed. Daisy is doing pretty well by comparison. She hasn''t even tried to sneak past you...yet."


    -----------


    "Ooh, this is tricky." Lothinar thought. The button was hidden under a little cover that had to be swiveled out of the way even to see it. Unfortunately, after he had cleared the room and pushed it, there had only been a sputtering sound. Nothing else happened. Then a red light had started flashing on a panel. Shortly afterward, a metal rod popped out of a hole in the wall. A metallic voice in an ancient elven dialect spoke. It said. "Attach approved legricity source." Lothinar was suddenly even more grateful for his mother''s emphasis on teaching him old elvish. At the time, he was amazed at her proficiency in it. Of course, he hadn''t realized that she had grown up speaking it. It was becoming useful now! It seemed the last two trips had been it. The transporter needed some more ''legtricity''. Now, with the transporter out of commission, Albarad, his father, was stuck in Chelseben along with Zinariya. At least Xerxes, the ancient caretaker of the place, said that, due to Zinariya''s efforts, it wasn''t about to descend and smash into the planet anytime soon.


    Desperate times. Marg was missing and might show up at any time. He didn''t want Zinariya to have to face her without him. Lothinar stretched out his hand. He raised a little power. Small arcs and sparks began dancing from his fingertips. Tentatively, he touched the metal rod that had presented itself. There was a snapping pop. Above him, the illuminated panel that lit the room went dark. So did some of the dials, indicators, and, more importantly, the gold button.


    "Oops," he said.


    "Oops Lothinar? This is certainly not the time for oops." Zinariya complained.


    "I think I gave it too much, " he said. Now the whole thing went dark."


    There was a strained silence.


    "Xerxes says it''s probably just a fuse. Whatever that means. There should be a small drawer off to the left. There should be little colored things inside it. Look for the melted one. I sure wish I didn''t have to repeat all this stuff. It would be so much easier if you could talk to Xerxes directly." Zinariya said.


    Lothinar thought about how his sword crimson could capture and store lightning. That must be what Xerxes was talking about.


    "Found it!" said Lothinar. "Yep. One of these is torched. It''s totally melted."


    "Xerxes says that you will need something that will carry electricity. Something metallic." Lothinar thought about how his missing sword had been able to channel lightning. He dug around in his pocket for loose change. Nothing. Sticking his head out the door, he beckoned to Siophra with his eyes. She walked over.


    ¡°Do you have any coins on you?¡± he asked. ¡°I need something small and metallic to bypass a blown fuse.¡±


    Siophra shared a meaningful look with Tundor, who was standing across a doorway just down the hall.


    ¡°I knew we should have stopped by the bank first!¡± the muscular white-haired dragon said loudly, without taking his eyes off the room''s occupants. He and Candasar were keeping Daisy busy, or at least out of Lothinar''s hair, for the moment.


    Siophra rolled her eyes.


    ¡°No, Lothinar. I have no coins. Not only have I had no reason to carry them for quite some time, but even you must realize that keeping little pictures of Argent¡¯s face in my purse is going to reawaken old traumas! I¡¯m going to have to insist that Cantrell begin issuing updated currency. I¡¯m sure that I¡¯m not the only one who is bothered by seeing Argent¡¯s face everywhere!¡± It¡¯s on every denomination! What a vain, arrogant bastard he was!¡±


    Lothinar blinked at the sudden, raw outpouring of pent-up anger. Returning to the capital seemed to have taken an emotional toll on his aunt. He walked over, took her hand, and pulled her in for a hug. She responded stiffly but then melted, returning the hug. He heard her sniff back tears as he stepped back. She smiled at him.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I don''t know what¡¯s gotten into me today, Lothinar. I came here to help, and I¡¯ve been nothing but a bother. Also, I shouldn''t have acted that way about Daisy. If I had been more friendly with her, I could have helped you keep your distance.¡±


    Siophra looked about conspiratorially. ¡°What are you going to do about that?¡± she asked.


    ¡°I don''t know yet,¡± Lothinar admitted. ¡°Back in Silvantra, I danced with a few human girls one night at a party. Before you start, yes, I know that was a terrible idea. The point is that most of them eventually got over being exposed to me. It took only time and isolation.


    ¡°But not Michelle,¡± said Siophra. ¡°You ended up having to bring her back with you.¡±


    ¡°She was very persistent,¡± admitted Lothinar. ¡°She kept coming back and getting re-exposed somehow. Also, and I¡¯m not trying to bring up a difficult subject, but Cantrell was able to break the hold my mother¡¯s pheromones had on him by¡­.uh inundating himself with Mavis,¡±


    ¡°Inundating?¡± his aunt smirked. ¡°You are so very polite, Lothinar. I might have said..¡±


    ¡°It doesn''t matter," he said quickly. " I doubt there is somebody else around that Daisy could use as a remedy for what¡¯s happened. If anything, my pheromones seem to be even more powerful than my mother''s. We need to try isolation first, at least from me. She also needs to take a bath. As soon as possible.¡±


    ¡°You''re not interested in keeping her, I suppose?¡± his aunt asked. "She is pretty cute if I do say so myself.¡±


    ¡°She seems nice, but I¡¯m afraid not. By the way, you reacted to Argent¡¯s coinage; you, of all people, should be able to guess why.¡± Lothinar said with a frown.


    Siophra reached up to touch her own face. She looked thoughtful... ¡°I guess I can see your point, That might be awkward. But Lothinar?"


    "Yes?"


    "Someday, I may meet a handsome elf that I hit it off with that, mysteriously, looks a lot like you. Don''t be expecting me to turn him down."


    Lothinar sighed. "I''m starting to wish I had followed Vanquish''s advice and left my face looking more appealing to dragons," he said.


    "Now THAT face would have looked really interesting on the new coinage!" said Siophra enthusiastically.


    "But I''m not the emperor." he protested.


    "No, but you probably should be," she said firmly.


    Zinariya interrupted through the telepathic bond. ¡±So, should I go ahead and tell Xerxes that he isn''t getting his mung beans any time soon?¡±


    ----------


    Just as Zinariya asked her question, there was a commotion down the hall, Lothinar saw an elf wearing a blue dress slide between Tundor''s legs, pop to her feet, and begin running directly at him. Siophra looked back over her shoulder, then nonchalantly stuck out her arm, clotheslining her. The elf in the blue dress fell backward, tumbled, and rolled, stopping directly at Lothinar''s feet. Laying flat out on the floor, she looked up at him and smiled.


    "Did you call me Lothinar? I''m sure I heard you say my name. Do you need more help with the buttons ''cause obviously, I''ve got a knack for these sorts of things?"


    "So sorry, Lothinar!" Candasar said, running up. "She got past us, somehow."


    Tundor looked abashed. "She''s quicker than she looks," he said. "It''s Candasar''s fault. She gave her the idea."


    Lothinar grimaced but had to ask. "So Daisy, do you have any spare change?"


    "Of course I do!" she said, climbing to her feet and reaching into a pocket of her blue dress. "What kind of coins do you need? I have most of them."


    "Do you have a one-cent piece?" he asked. "I think a copper might work best for this situation."


    "I sure do!" Daisy said. "But pennies cost one kiss each."


    Lothinar paid. It was an emergency, after all. An angry Marg could appear on Chelseben at any time. Zinariya and his father were at risk. Lothinar burned through several of the small copper coins before he was able to power up the transporter with the sparks coming off his hand. At last, the metallic voice chirped out the message. "Ready for transport."


    Lothinar pushed the golden button.


    ---------------------------


    When Tundor had changed into an elf and left her as the only dragon in the courtyard. Cantrell realized that Esmarilla had become a little jealous. He had also known her long enough to realize when she was trying to deflect. At the moment she was thrusting her own disappointments onto her brother.


    ¡°Vanador''s going to be disappointed when he realizes what happened to our mother," Esmarilla said. "I think he was counting on her to unlock his ability to become bipedal. There was a lot riding on that because he wanted to try and patch things up with Michelle that Vanquish is inhabiting. Now that''s clearly out of the question."


    "And what about you? How are you taking your mother''s demise? Are you wishing that she had shared the ability to transform with you as well?" Cantrell asked. He wasn''t buying that this was suddenly just about Vanador.


    "My mother''s actions with Lothinar''s group were unexpected. I''m really trying to understand the reasons why she did this. Before this, my mother was quite reluctant to unlock the ability to transform in others. Now before you know it, all of Lothinar¡¯s bonds have the ability. Tundor even does too! I have to admit to being a little upset that she never offered that opportunity to Vanador or me. It''s just surprising."


    "It has been some time since she''s been around," said Cantrell. "Things have changed."


    "Lothinar changed everything," said Esmarilla. "He''s breaking all the rules. Relationships between dragons and elves will never be the same."


    ¡±Did you actually want that ability?¡± Asked Cantrell. ¡®Cause up til now, I didn¡¯t have an inkling that you even cared.¡±


    ¡°You must understand that way back when, in dragon society, transforming into elves just wasn¡¯t done! The others held my mother¡¯s ability in contempt. It was¡­¡± she lowered her voice substantially. ¡°Considered sexual deviancy. That''s why Vanador took off when Michelle appeared."


    ¡°In that situation, I guess I can understand Vanador''s reaction, but just because a dragon can turn into an elf doesn¡¯t mean they have to start having sex with non-dragons,¡± Cantrell said.


    "I suppose not," admitted Esmarilla. "I''m starting to see that there might be other reasons, like taking up less space, fitting inside buildings, requiring less food, sleeping in comfortable beds, giving hugs..."


    "Wait, did you say giving hugs?" Cantrell asked.


    "Yes, now that the social consequences are less severe, It would make it easier for me to give you one of those chaste and supportive hugs that you got from Daisy yesterday."


    "You noticed that did you?"


    "Yes, I did. I monitor your emotional state fairly carefully, especially lately. You''re under a lot of stress, and your well-being is my job. Now that Mavis is out of town, I don''t think it''s wise to have to depend on the hugs of relative strangers. Daisy giving you a hug made me nervous. She was married to someone in the resistance, you know. What if she slipped a knife into your ribs? Did you even consider the risks, Cantrell?"


    "Daisy has a sad and compelling story," said Cantrell. The way her family exploited her as a young girl is heart-wrenching. It''s something I want to do something about for young women in this kingdom."


    "I don''t know if you should start taking on long-term projects like that, Cantrell. You said you didn''t want this job in the first place."


    "I may be stuck with it unless Mandel gets better," said Cantrell.


    "I think you are forgetting about Mavis. This job almost made her crack. You had to send her away. If you stay here and try to reform the place you will probably have to do it without Mavis." said Esmarilla.


    "Once we deal with the last of the rebellion, things will get easier," said Cantrell. "I''ll bring her back."


    "There is always going to be something new and very difficult. I''m really surprised to hear you even contemplating this." said the black dragon.


    "I think that''s sweet that you''re jealous of Daisy hugging me," said Cantrell.


    "Chaste hugs Cantrell. I said Chaste. Totally above the waist." Esmarilla re-emphasized.


    "I''m sure you would make a lovely elf, Esmarilla. But you know I love Mavis."


    "I''m way too old for you anyway, Cantrell," Esmarilla said with a dragon grin.


    "Sooo," Cantrell asked. "What would be the equivalent of a hug, dragon to dragon, I mean. I wouldn''t want to deny you the ability to express your support and affection."


    "Fairly ferocious little love nips," said Esmarilla, matter of factly. "Do you want one? Where?


    Cantrell stepped back in alarm.


    "Perhaps we should check in with Lothinar and Zinariya; she may be able to teach you what is needed," Cantrell said seriously. "Hugs are good."


    The black dragon grinned wickedly.


    "Hey, What if a dragon wanted to hide in plain sight from a crazy emperor who wanted to kill them,¡± Cantrell asked, squinting at her. I¡¯m wondering if there are dragons that tried that. Besides your mother, I mean. Is there anyone else that had that ability?"


    "Only my mother would know," Esmarilla said. But an elf like that would be very, very old.¡± Said Esmarilla. So old as to be abnormally noticeable.¡±


    ¡±Old, like Zinariya¡¯s recent acquaintance Xerxes? He¡¯s that old." Cantrell observed. "That''s how Zinariya described him to Lothinar at least."


    "Damn!" said Esmarilla. "We need to warn them! I don''t think he has grey hair. It must be silver!"


    "You think he might be a silver dragon?" asked Cantrell.


    ''Yes! and Silver dragons are the worst!"


    ----------------------


    Ivy looked at the sea serpent with skepticism. The thing was stupid. It had stayed on deck coiled around the fore-spar for three days and nights as the Sinspirilla tacked endlessly into the wind, trying to return to the mainland. The serpent had neither eaten nor drank. It hadn''t even asked for water. Not that anyone could understand the strange hissing and gurgles that came out of its mouth if anyone even approached the sword. The red blade was still stuck in the deck where the sea snake had dropped it.


    Pricilla came on deck. "I see she''s still there. The pilot tells me we are only a few hours out of Dween. I hope turning around and making this trip back will be worth it." the Queen said.


    "At least we aren''t traveling along with that floozy Michelle," said Ivy. "I don''t think we could have trusted Enderline not to develop feelings for her if she was around."


    "That''s not exactly a vote of confidence for my female charms," said Pricilla.


    "Well, you have to admit you''ve been a bit moody and unsociable since shortly after the pregnancy began," said Ivy. Enderline seems to talk more with me than you these days. I think he''s lonely."


    "Hmm," said Pricilla. "I hadn''t noticed."


    "Well, so far, I''ve been blaming it on seasickness, but now, with us almost back in port, you''re going to have to step up. Put on a cheerful face and all that," said Ivy. "I''ll be all out of excuses to make for you. At least regarding Enderline."


    "How did I ever stay married to him without you?" Pricilla asked snarkily.


    "That was probably before you had so much good competition," said Ivy.


    Pricilla''s face twisted into a frown. Her eyes started to tear up. "I''m trying!" she said. "I thought I wanted this baby, but these conditions, traveling to and fro between Delora and Dween, and now on this ship. It''s hard to get comfortable. I feel nauseous all the time. I didn''t think pregnancy would change me this much!"


    Ivy nodded. "I wonder if you are having a difficult time because half-elves normally can''t even get pregnant. Maybe it''s something physical. It could be some sort of elf-human uterus incompatibility.¡±


    ¡°When we get back, we should warn your sister about it. You really should have asked Michelle about this while she was still around. She might have had some of the answers you need.


    "I was petty and stupid. I let my jealousy get in the way." Pricilla admitted. "Now I''m getting worried that I might lose the baby!"


    ¡°It¡¯s that bad?¡± Ivy asked


    Pricilla nodded. ¡°I¡¯ve had some spotting.¡±


    "Let''s get that sword back to Lothinar. He was the one that fixed you up in the first place. Perhaps he can help you again."


    "How are we going to get that sword away from the sea snake?" asked Pricilla.


    "We''re not," said Ivy. We get the whole package to Lothinar and let him figure out what to do with her."


    "How are we going to get her to Lothinar? She''s got no legs! It''s an overland journey, if you remember." Asked Pricilla.


    "Can crawl!" Said the sea serpent.


    "Whoops!" Said Ivy. "Her hearing is obviously better than I thought.


    "Also, ssword ssays the Lothinar wills comes to hims ifs he knowses its is in the drys agains."


    "What did the sword promise you that Lothinar was going to do for you Arjori?" Asked Ivy, curiously.


    "Not just one thing!" she said eagerly. "Lothinar iss genie, likes in famouss, old sstories. Whens I rubs the ssword, I gotss three wisshess!"


    "So what are you going to ask for?" Ivy asked curiously.


    "Legs, Wings, and a bond." The serpent said quickly. "I wants to be a dragon!"


    ________________________

 Volume 3: Chapter 15. Tarnished Silver

    *************


    Chapter 15


    *************


    Xerxes was staring at her again. Zinariya was suddenly very glad Lothinar¡¯s father was here with her. Although Xerxes had been reasonably pleasant, something about how he kept looking at her caused her to feel uncomfortably inspected. It had become much more of an issue after Xerxes had seen her take dragon form. After her talk with Michelle and Ardwynn about the possibility of over-passionate males or either species, That more or less confirmed her suspicions that Xerxes wasn''t an elf at all but a shifted dragon. Her female dragon form had been more appealing to him than her elven one. Zinariya had begun to wonder if the old Elf craved more than mung beans.


    Suddenly, the room began to spin. It was disorienting. Zinariya swayed on her feet and reached out to stabilize herself on the nearby wall.


    ¡®I know this isn¡¯t the best time to mention this, but I don¡¯t feel well.¡± said Zinariya, her head spinning. ¡°I''m dizzy and have a headache. I may need to lie down!"


    Albarad stepped over to help stabilize her.


    Xerxes gave him a piercing look. He pulled out a black box. Attached to it was a string, and at the end of it was a small stick-like rod.


    ¡°Show me your hands,¡± he said to Zinariya.


    She displayed them. Xerxes waved the wand around. A clicking noise came out of the box when he reached her right hand.¡±


    ¡°Uh oh,¡± he said. ¡°Your dragon claw somehow must have pierced the fuel bag. We probably should have considered trimming them before going over. I didn¡¯t realize you would need dragon strength to throw it in. I assumed your elf body would be stronger. Marg certainly is strong enough. I should have taken into account how young you are.¡±


    ¡± I¡¯ll be okay if I rest a bit.¡± Zinariya said.


    ¡°We need to cut off the contamination,¡± Xerxes said suddenly.


    Zinariya jerked back her hand. ¡°Yeeks!¡± she exclaimed. "You are not cutting off my hand!"


    ¡°We must!¡± Xerxes insisted. ¡°I might be able to remove just the tip if we hurry!¡±


    ¡°You want to ruin my manicure? Michelle just did these for me. Ardwynn¡¯s mother had several different colors of nail polish. Michelle gave me a little nail polish lesson. Apparently, it''s one of the things every elf girl has to know! I had to let it dry before trying on the clothes." Zinariya paused. "Now that I think about it, she might have been trying to ensure the first pick of the dresses in the closet with that ploy,"


    "If you want to live, give me your fingernail!" said Xerxes.


    Zinariya held out her elven hand.


    "Not that one! Turn yourself back into a dragon." he almost snarled.


    Zinariya took a deep breath and prepared to transform.


    "Not here, foolish girl! You''ll break something! Go over to the middle of the room." He pointed. "Over there. Just look out for my equipment."


    Once in the middle of the open space, Zinariya called forth the transformation. Her dragon form appeared in the center of the room. She looked down at her claw.


    "It must be this splitting headache." she thought. "My eyes are blurry." Immediately after turning back into a dragon, her claw had appeared normal, but now, one of the nails looked black and murky instead of its regular lustrous gold. She heard a buzzing sound and jumped.


    "What''s that?" she yelped.


    "This!" said Xerxes. "Is a reciprocating saw with a diamond-edged blade. " He approached her strangely colored talon. He looked at it with concern.


    "Just as I feared," he said thoughtfully. "It''s got to come off."


    "Will it hurt?" Zinariya asked.


    "Excruciatingly," said Xerxes. "But it''s the only way." He made the saw buzz ominously.


    The old Elf pressed the ¡°saw¡± against her nail. It began to vibrate, and a screeching noise ensued. It then began to smoke.


    ¡°Whoops! Xerxes said, stopping his assault on her nail. ¡°We shouldn¡¯t breathe this dust. It''s likely quite toxic."


    The old Elf produced breathing masks for Albarad and himself.


    "What about Zinariya?" Albarad asked. "She will be breathing this too!"


    "We obviously don''t have her size," Xerxes said dismissively. "Hold your breath!" he commanded Zinariya before starting in again. The air soon began to fill with acrid smoke as the Elf sawed on her nail. Just about when Zinariya thought she could no longer hold her air, he was through. The tip of her claw dropped to the floor with a heavy clunk.


    "Shift back!" he commanded, setting down the saw and holding out a third mask.


    Zinariya complied and grabbed the mask, putting it on over her mouth and nose as she had seen Albarad do. She also stepped away from the slowly settling golden dust cloud created by the saw. She looked around for the large tip of her nail, just in time to see Xerxes picking it up with tongs. Then he grabbed a small broom and a dustpan and swept up the dust. He dropped the dust and the nail into a small bag. It looked like a much smaller version of the red fuel bag she had dropped into the fuel chute. He sealed it and stood up.


    "There we are," he said, starting to put the red bag into a cupboard. "Nobody should open this for..." He looked at a band on his wrist. "About eighty-seven years."


    "That hurt a lot less than you led me to believe," Zinariya said. "Wait!" Zinariya said. That''s mine! Give that back to me."


    "But why? It''s far too dangerous for you to keep, even in this little bag."


    "I guess I just want to talk to Lothinar first. I''m just suspicious about my body parts, even if it''s only a nail. It wouldn''t be the first time someone appropriated something biologically mine. My father ate my eggshell."


    "Really?" asked Xerxes with apparent interest. "What happened?"


    "He grew really big and strong," said Albarad. "And if you don''t give her that bag, I promise you will get to meet him."


    Xerxes seemed annoyed at that but, after another severe stare from Albarad, reluctantly handed the bag back to Zinariya.


    "I''ll give you a little time to say goodbye to your fingernail, but I will need that back."


    Then he laughed the awkward moment off. Do you feel any better?"


    "As a matter of fact, my headache is gone!" said Zinariya.


    "Good. That means we got it all, and in time." the old Elf said, smirking at her. "You should begin thinking of ways to thank me. That could have been quite serious!"


    "So could the moon falling to earth." Zinariya retorted. "I hate to disappoint you, but I think we''re even." She didn''t like the look of expectation on Xerxes''s face.


    --------------------


    While flying away from the Capitol, Vanador had asked himself, more than once, why he had let a brief conversation with an elf he had just met affect him so much. He didn''t usually pay that much attention to the advice of elves. Perhaps it was that, at least visually, she reminded him a great deal of Siophra. To compound the similarities, Daisy also had been trapped in a terrible situation over which she had no control. That sounded far too familiar. Daisy had been somewhat appalled at Vanador''s assertion that he might be able to do something about his broken relationships and hadn¡¯t even tried. Her kind but candid criticism had given Vanador something to think about. Now, he wanted to talk with the human that somehow bore the personality and memories of Vanquish. . It was impossible now for them to live together as mated dragons, but some fraction of their relationship might still be saved. It seemed that whatever her form was now, he missed her. The longing to see her made his wings flap faster.


    ¡®Michelle¡¯s last known whereabouts had been the cabin in the mountains owned by Ronniflass, so he flew first there. But when he looked around the place, it was deserted. Next, he checked for Michelle in Delora. She wasn''t there, but he did find clues. They were named Ronniflass and Cenderick. After landing in the dairy''s main field, he spotted them and asked them about Michelle.


    "I have no idea where Michelle is at the moment," Ronniflass admitted. She raised her eyebrows. "Are you having second thoughts? Because of the way you treated her when she tried to talk with you, it might be too late. I think you made her sad and angry."


    Vanador suddenly realized that although Ronni seemed friendly, how he panicked and ran away when Michelle tried to speak with him had consequences among those he considered his friends. Ronni, at least, seemed to have a great deal of sympathy for Michelle.


    "Michelle was staying at my place in the mountains, as you know, but I believe all of them have moved into Ardwynn''s parent''s old house over to Tasumakoji. It''s the Elven outpost at the other end of the lake. It has more rooms, and Mo-Rung wrecked my place.


    ¡°I saw the back wall,¡± Vanador said. ¡°I¡¯m sure it can be fixed.¡±


    ¡±Yes, and I talked about that with Mavis yesterday. She didn¡¯t have a problem paying for the repairs. She has financial connections in the capital.¡± Then Ronni winked.


    ¡°You do realize that she¡¯s the functional Empress right now.¡± Vanador deadpanned.


    ¡±Yes, but I heard Mandel is improving rapidly. He might try to ignore financial claims he didn¡¯t personally approve of.¡±


    Vanador blinked. ¡°Look, I¡¯ll admit, I¡¯m not ¡®Mandel¡¯s biggest fan, but I don¡¯t think even he would¡­¡±


    ¡±It was a joke, Vanador. You¡¯re always so serious!¡± She chuckled. ¡°Michelle was staying with Ardwynn and Lothinar. You do remember where Tasumakoji is, don¡¯t you?¡±


    "I remember," he said. "That''s where Siophra''s childhood home is located. It''s also where I brought her when we escaped from Argent''s prison. Mavis lent Siophra some clothes. It was a pretty traumatic time."


    "Yes, Ardwynn''s parent''s house is on the other side of town from there. It''s the biggest house in the area. I''m sure you will be able to find it from the air." Ronni added.


    "Ok. Thanks!" said Vanador.


    Cenderick finally spoke. "I hope you find her Vanador. I think she wanted to talk to you." Cenderick said sadly.


    "I''m trying to make that right." The white dragon acknowledged. "Sometimes we spend our adult lives trying to get over the scars of a too-short youth," he said. "I just hope it''s not too late."


    Vanador had quickly excused himself, but not before insisting on signing an IOU for a quick snack. One cow would have to tide him over for now. Ronni seemed to realize he had no immediate way to pay but insisted he take the cow anyway. Vanador suspected that she never intended to collect.


    Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.


    "I''ll put it on Siophra''s tab for old time''s sake." The beautiful half-elf had said as she laughed. "I''m sure she won''t mind."


    Siophra. That was another relationship he had mistakenly let go. Now, Siophra was bonded to another. It was too late to change that. Tundor was a lucky dragon.


    Heirwynn greeted Vanador as he landed in the yard of the deceased Duke''s house. It was actually more of a mansion. Heirwynn had been in the barn tending the horses but heard him arrive and ran out.


    "Oh! It''s you, Vanador. I thought it might be Tundor returning. He and Esmarilla took Lothinar and several others to the Capital this morning. They were trying to find a way to rescue Zinariya from her latest mess. She seems to have accidentally teleported herself to some place called Chelseben. They are trying to get her back."


    Vanador''s blood ran cold. Chelseben was on the moon! His mother''s involvement with it was well known. It was also where she kept her servant, Xerxes. The silver dragon maintained the place and was more or less her prisoner there. He and his mind magic were trouble. Some of Vanador¡¯s concerns must have been evident from his expression because Heirwynn regarded him cautiously.


    "This might seem presumptuous of me, Vanador, but why are you here, if you don''t mind me asking?"


    "I was looking for Michelle," he said. "I think I might owe her an apology."


    "You don''t know, do you?" Heirwynn asked the dragon apprehensively.


    "What are you talking about?" asked Vanador.


    "Marg was here," said Heirwynn. "She argued with Lothinar."


    "It must have been a small one, or Lothinar probably wouldn''t be alive," Vanador said. "My mother can be somewhat difficult. Do you know where she is? I''m looking for her as well."


    "See, that''s a problem," said Heirwynn. "The argument was serious. It was regarding turning Zinariya over to her. Lothinar refused, and neither of them backed down. I regret to have to tell you that your mother is dead. Your sister Esmarilla buried her near Aleena''s grave in the forest near here. "


    "Lothinar''s strong, but that''s just not possible," Vanador said with alarm. "An ancient gold dragon, like my mother, has too much magic to be killable."


    "I''m afraid it''s true," said Heirwynn. "I''m sorry."


    "Don''t apologize too soon," said Firestorm, dropping to the ground in the yard. "I just came from the grove. Marg''s body is missing! I don''t think she''s as dead as we thought!"


    "I could have told you that," said Vanador. "What was Esmarilla thinking? Now you''ve probably just gone and made her good and mad."


    "Terrific!" said Firestorm. "Cause I''m the one that stuck a knife in her eye. I did it twice to make sure!"


    "Well, that will probably slow her down," said Vanador. "But not for long. I''ll look for her, but if I don''t find her first, you all had better hide. I would recommend the southern continent, but that''s probably not far enough."


    ¡°I¡¯ve got a feeling.¡± Said Firestorm, ¡°That you didn¡¯t drop by to talk about your mother.¡±


    ¡±No,¡± he answered. ¡°I came to speak with Vanquish.¡±


    ¡±She¡¯s going by Michelle more often these days. And you¡¯re a little late. She¡¯s on her way back to Silvantra.¡±


    "Terrific!" Vanador said. "Now I''ve got to decide between pursuing my lost love or attempting to prevent the death of most of my friends."


    "Tough choice," said Firestorm. "What if one of your friends was the recipient of your lost love''s most recent attention?"


    "You must be talking about Lothinar." I assume." Vanador said, sighing. "It wouldn''t surprise me if that pretty human girl Michelle turned to him after I behaved so poorly towards her."


    "Yes, but I, for one, don''t need any more competition for Lothinar''s affection," said Firestorm. "I''m prepared to work out a deal. You help us deal with your mother, and I''ll convince Zinariya to teach you how to shift into an elf. That should improve your chances considerably. How do you feel about teaching children?


    "Vanquish and I always wanted children," Vanador said.


    "Well, if you can work it out with her, then you''re going to have a bunch of them," Firestorm said happily. "You will, however, have to move to Silvantra."


    -------------------


    "INCOMING TRANSPORT!" A mechanical voice spoke from some unknown place.


    Xerxes jumped in surprise.


    Zinariya knew this moment was coming from her bond with Lothinar but wry relieved when he teleported onto the station. He didn''t arrive where she had, in one of the small side rooms, but on a large elevated pad off to one side. It was the same place Daisy and Albarad had materialized. Lothinar seemed momentarily disoriented but almost immediately found her. He smiled, his handsome face lighting up with true joy.


    "I told you I would figure it out!" he said happily.


    "Fascinating," said Xerxes, although he didn''t seem happy.


    With Lothinar''s arrival, Zinariya began to feel a steady flow of magic moving into her once again. Before the bond, it had been powerful, like listening to someone playing music much too loud. Raucous energy. Now, it felt warm and welcoming. It was her favorite song. She soaked it in. Lothinar must have noticed. He smiled at her again.


    "I''m glad I got here in time. I was worried about you," Lothinar said. She believed him. She could feel his concern for her so much more strongly now that he was present. She had barely finished bonding with him before accidentally teleporting away to come up here. She would have never wanted to leave him if she had felt his overwhelming love and acceptance for even a few more seconds. Her complicated relationship with her mother had caused her to panic.


    Lothinar suddenly frowned.


    ¡°What happened to your nail?¡± He asked.


    She held out the little red bag to him. ¡°It¡¯s inside here. Xerxes cut it off for me. He said it was making me feel sick.¡±


    Lothinar paused and seemed to be thinking about something. Zinariya felt a strange, not unpleasant, tickle in her mind and realized that Lothinar was replaying her memories of the blackened nail being removed and the conversation with Xerxes afterward. He reached out and took the red bag. It looked very much like he intended to open it.


    ¡±what are you doing?!¡± Xerxes shouted. ¡°You¡¯ll kill us all! The shielding of that bag¡­.¡± When Lothinar had arrived, the old Elf had retreated and stepped back a few yards. He seemed to be evaluating Lothinar somehow. The expression on his face when Lothinar took the bag switched from puzzlement to outright alarm.


    The thick bag had been closed with some sort of sticky residue on the end flap, leaving no obvious and easy way to open it. However, Lothinar managed to tear it open almost effortlessly. He turned it over and dumped out her nail. It was beautiful, golden, and pristine. Zinariya blinked in surprise.


    ¡±Shit!¡± Xerxes roared.


    ¡°Letta,¡± Lothinar replied, freezing the old Elf in place just as he raised some device and started to point it at them.


    ¡±You sure went to a lot of work trying to sell that deception." Lothinar''s words were directed at the immobilized Elf. "You tried to convince them both that a poison contaminated the nail.¡± He walked over and plucked what had to be some weapon from the immobilized Xerxes'' outstretched hand. The ¡®Letta¡± spell had stopped Xerxes body, but obviously not his consciousness. His eyes followed Lothinar as he moved. He looked afraid.


    ¡°That nail was black when he put it in the bag, son,¡± Albarad said. ¡°I saw it myself.¡±


    ¡±It was an Illusion.¡± Lothinar replied. ¡°He is a silver dragon. That''s one of their powers. He''s not as strong as a Platinum, who can actually force you to do things, but Silver dragons can trick your senses, allowing them to deceive. Esmarilla warned me about him just before I came up.¡±


    ¡°But I thought Esmarilla left for the stables. Cantrell followed her.¡± Said Albarad.


    ¡°You may have forgotten that even though Esmarilla and I are not bonded, I have a close connection to her. She can talk to me telepathically, especially when we¡¯re in the same city. Esmarilla shared her suspicions about Xerxes with me. For over nine months, she poured almost all of her considerable black dragon energy into me while my mother was carrying me. Esmarilla has considerable power. She¡¯s Marg¡¯s daughter, after all. Mom contributed, too. They gave me the foundation on which to expand these powers I now employ.¡±


    ¡±Sometimes I wonder why Ardwella even needed me at all!¡± Murmured Albarad.


    ¡°What I got from you, father, is probably what keeps me sane. Thank you for that.¡± Lothinar said.


    ¡°Your powers are even stronger than before!¡± Said Zinariya. ¡°I can tell!¡±


    Lothinar shook his head.


    ¡°Perhaps a little.¡± He said. ¡°The rate of increase is pretty slow. You might be getting more efficient absorption since we are now bonded.¡±


    ¡°You are definitely tastier,¡± Zinariya replied.


    Lothinar gave her a strange look.


    Lothinar took the golden claw in one hand and, with the other, grabbed Zinariya¡¯s elven hand. He placed her dragon toenail in her palm and curled his hand around both, closing her hand around it. The nail felt big and hard, like a piece of wood from the end of a tree branch.


    ¡°Heil.¡± He said. The claw disappeared, and her finger throbbed angrily.


    "Ouch!" She complained. "That hurt worse than when he cut it off!"


    "I reconnected it physically, but the talon was separated for a time. It might take a while for it to reconnect magically,"


    Lothinar turned to address Xerxes. "I don''t appreciate what you tried to do to my bond. You were trying to handicap her abilities and probably wanted to eat her magic."


    The old Elf looked awkward, but he didn''t try to deny it.


    "Marg will eventually return." Xerxes sent mind to mind. "You have no idea what you''re dealing with!"


    "There are two different ways this could go," Lothinar told the ancient Elf. "You can drop the act and come clean with us..."


    "Marg will kill me!" he interrupted.


    "I''m partial to dragons, but I... will do the same if need be." Said Lothinar. "The way you treated Zinariya was pretty despicable."


    "I was desperate. The station was almost out of power," Xerxes said. "Marg is forever leaving things until the last minute. I really did need Zinariya to get over to the fuel chute and do something about that. The refueling chute and reactor are far enough away to provide a measure of safety. It''s an airless void out there!"


    "But then you used your illusion powers to lie!" Lothinar said accusingly. "You made her feel dizzy and sick, and then you cut off the tip of her finger to inhibit her ability to teleport. I suspect that was s of precursor to a future rape attempt. Somehow, from your dealings with Marg, you knew that a golden must be physically unharmed to teleport. There can be no missing pieces. If not, some biological safety mechanism kicks in."


    "That''s preposterous!" shouted Xerxes through mind-to-mind. "I''ll admit she is pretty, especially as a dragon, but a biological safety mechanism? Do you know how ridiculous that sounds?"


    "My recent experiences tell me otherwise," said Lothinar. "Just this morning, my bond, Candasar, Zinariya''s mother, tried to shift back into a dragon. She wasn''t able to do that because she was pregnant. A biological safety mechanism kicked in to protect the unborn child. Dragon physiology is not as random as you want me to believe."


    Xerxes did not respond. Instead, his eyes looked away. It seemed he didn''t want to discuss the subject further.


    "Zinariya?" Lothinar called. "How''s your finger?"


    Zinariya had been distracted by listening in, through the bond to Lothinar''s conversation with Xerxes. She hadn''t at all been considering or augmenting her healing. Lothinar had already put it back, but something still wasn''t quite right. It still tingled quite a bit. Suddenly, she considered the dust masks lying on the nearby table. Part of her was trapped in the dust in those masks, and even more of her gold dragon dust had fallen on the floor. There were little pieces of her magic trapped in that dust! She tried a short teleport just across the room. Nothing happened!


    Zinariya began to panic.


    "What did he do to me, Lothnar?" she squeaked.


    His confidence and calm washed over her once more. He took her hand. "It''s just the dust you''re missing now, Zinariya. You could probably do this yourself."


    She felt his power again flare, and her hand suddenly became warm.


    "Try again," he said.


    Whatever he had done this second time worked! His healing was complete. She felt her power rise. She aimed at her target and let it burst. There was a familiar popping noise. It was the sound of a teleport.


    Lothinar briefly looked confused. Then he sighed.


    "Where did you send him?" he asked.


    "I put him in time out," Zinariya said.


    "Time out?" He asked, then he rushed to one of the windows. Outside, in the stark white light, a silver dragon was staggering around in the chalky dust. His eyes reached for Lothinar with a desperate pleading.


    "That''s strange," Lothinar said. "The teleport must have fractured the ''letta'' spell. He''s moving around.


    "That, or the shift did it. Perhaps even stilled with ''letta,'' he was able to transform. We will have to experiment. It might come in handy for our family to know that in an emergency." Zinariya said quite seriously. My missing toenail kept me from teleporting but didn¡¯t stop me from changing shape. I have so many questions, Lothinar!¡±


    ¡±We will figure all this out together.¡± Lothinar said confidently. Zinariya noticed, however, that Lothinar seemed far more concerned with Xerxes'' plight than she did.


    "You know, now that he has shifted back into a dragon, he''s too big to teleport inside," Lothinar said.


    "Perhaps he felt he would survive longer outside in that form," Zinariya said. "It does, however, limit my options."


    "I didn''t want to kill him," said Lothinar. "Perhaps I was too optimistic about reforming him. Marg''s had him under her influence for a long time." He gazed sadly out the window. I suppose some people are better off dead. Marg would probably have killed him for disappointing her anyway.¡±


    The silver dragon was failing. He had fallen to his knees a few feet from the window. His wing flapping was futile without atmosphere.


    Lothinar¡¯s surprising compassion for the tricky old dragon must be influencing her. Zinariya felt surprising regret. ¡°Lend me some power, Lothinar," Zinariya said. "I can''t go through with it. I''m sending him back down to the planet."


    "You know that if he survives, he will probably be quite angry," Lothinar said. "And worse yet, he''ll be free to find and help Marg. We don''t even know where she is right now. Letting him live may get us both killed.¡±


    "Yes, but I¡¯m suddenly feeling pretty strongly that it¡¯s the right thing to do.¡± And as to finding Marg, think about it, Lothinar. She left a lot of blood and fluids on the carpet in Ardwynn''s house. Her teleportation will be broken or at least vastly weakened. She won''t be far.¡±


    Lothinar gave Zinariya the power she requested. There was a sudden and definite drain on his reserves. He looked back out the window and saw that the silver dragon was gone.


    "I hope he can still fly," Zinariya said sheepishly. ¡°He¡¯s a big dragon. I don¡¯t think I got him all the way to the surface.¡±


    ____________________


    The silver dragon materialized over the planet at a high altitude. He gasped for breath and spent the first thirty seconds just falling, end over end. He used his second and fourth breaths to scream. The first scream was terror. The second was frustration. He finally managed to unfurl his wings in the frigid air. They snapped taught, and he began to glide. His eyes were inflamed and injured from being exposed to the hostile vacuum of the moon. From this vantage point, he was still high enough to see the earth''s curvature. It was a long way down. Once he was low enough, he began to make out specific landmarks. He trimmed his course accordingly.


    Though it had been close, Zinariya had not left him to die outside the dome. She had probably shown him more mercy than Marg would have.   Xerxes actually felt a small amount of gratitude for that. Briefly, he considered rewarding her generosity by disappearing and hoping that Marg was really dead or somehow would never find him. He gave up that foolish thought quickly. He knew Marg had to be still alive. What had delayed her was bad, but she would be back. She would want retribution. Xerxes would have to explain to her how he lost control of the station. He hoped he would survive being the bearer of bad news. He would, of course, blame Lothinar and his new statistically impossible Golden dragon. To think that he had considered trying to seduce her. He should have known better. With Lothinar as her bond, he wouldn''t be able to get away with any more deceptions.   It was a long way down.  He had plenty of time to contemplate his next steps.  First, of course, he would have to find Marg.  He needed to do it before Lothinar did.

 Volume 3: Chapter 16 "The Purge of the Urge to Merge"

    **************


    Chapter 16


    **************


    Daisy had been dismayed when Lothinar pressed the golden button and disappeared. Staying as close to him as possible was her plan to become his new wife. She would be a better match for him than one of Argent''s wretched family members, even if she were only his niece. Daisy was suddenly suspicious that there might be other competition for the position. It was going to be tricky working her way into his inner circle. She looked awkwardly at Siophra, Tundor, and Candasar. She knew convincing them she was best for Lothinar would be challenging. She sighed. Her new motto had to become ''Everyone Lothinar values is someone I need to convince.''


    Daisy was sure that Lothinar was kind. He cared about others. If she couldn''t convince him directly, she would work to ensure that the peer pressure of his friends made it far too damaging to his reputation to cast her aside easily. She looked at his friends and smiled. Tundor and Candasar smiled back. Siophra, not so much. She had been the one interested in Cantrell. Didn''t she know that Daisy''s strong passion for Lothinar ensured she was no longer a threat to her ambitions?


    As to Cantrell, there was no way Cantrell would let Argent''s predictably evil niece remain married to his friend Lothinar. It was just too risky for the kingdom. She would have to inform him of this travesty immediately. She straightened her dress and marched resolutely off to find him. She didn''t have to go far. Cantrell was walking up.


    "Daisy!" he beamed at her. "I heard you were a big help to my friends," Cantrell said. "Quite an adventure, eh? Uh, where is Lothinar?"


    "He managed to get the transporter thing working again," Daisy said brightly. "I let him go alone because Lothinar assures me he thinks of Zinariya as more of a daughter. If he hadn''t spelled that out, I would have been loathe to leave them unchaperoned. But not to worry. I believe Lothinar to be an honorable elf."


    "I believe that as well," said Cantrell, smiling.


    "So why," Daisy leaned in conspiratorily, "Are you allowing him to remain married to one of Argent''s closest remaining relatives? You were so willing to grant me separation and a divorce in just such circumstances," she asked. "You must know that this... Ardwynn needs to be questioned and eliminated. There is no end to the trouble she could cause!"


    "You have no idea," he mumbled.


    Siophra walked past Daisy and approached Cantrell. She leaned over and whispered something in Cantrell''s ear. It caused Cantrell to grimace.


    "It''s worth a try," he said, nodding. "I''ll see to it that no one interferes." He turned to Daisy.


    "I''m sure you''re tired after your big adventure. Wouldn''t it be nice to head back to the tower for a long hot soak and a shower?" Cantrell asked, seeming to completely ignore Daisy''s recommendations regarding Argent''s niece and her tainted bloodline.


    Suddenly, Candasar and Tundor walked up behind her. That made Daisy nervous. They looked innocent enough until they grabbed her! Kicking and screaming, she was carried through the city and back to the tower. Strangely, other elves they passed seemed to look the other way. She yelled louder. It did no good. Once back in her room, Candasar summarily stripped her and threw her in a warm bubble bath. She held her head underwater for a few seconds, vigorously scrubbing at her beautiful blonde hair.


    Candasar grabbed the lovely blue dress and undergarments she had worn, throwing them out of the bathroom.


    "Make sure that gets burned!" She yelled to Tundor, who was waiting outside.


    "This doesn''t seem fair!" Daisy wailed. "Why are you doing this? I was hoping to make you one of my new favorite friends!"


    Candasar was rinsing her off with the showerhead, but she stopped to answer her.


    "It''s for your own good! And for Lothinar''s. I think it''s probably too late after those kisses you made him give you. But we at least need to try."


    Daisy''s eyes narrowed. "You want him for yourself, don''t you?" she asked suspiciously.


    "I already have him," Candasar answered wearily, turning back on the water. "I was his first bond. Out of everyone who wants a part of Lothinar, I have had to learn to share the most. He''s become a part of me. I may very well love him more than my mate Tundor. Please don''t raise your eyebrows at me! I love him in an entirely different way! Unlike others, I prefer to breed in my dragon form. I''ve recently discovered it creates far fewer complications!"


    Daisy involuntarily gasped. She hadn''t realized the person squirting her down was actually Lothinar''s dragon. Daisy knew the big white-haired elf was a dragon; He had flown into the courtyard and changed. But Candasar had been riding him and not that happily from the complaints she had made after landing. Candasar took a breath. She obviously wasn''t finished.


    What you are experiencing, though, isn''t love. It''s drugs and chemicals. A weakness and flaw occurred when the other powerful traits that Lothinar has were put in place. He hates this as much as I do. He wants you to be free!" She squirted Daisy again with the shower attachment. She rubbed her again with stinky soap and then squirted her some more. She was relentless in her aggressive scrubbing.


    "Stop! Stop! It''s fine. I''m fine. I think it''s working!" Daisy cried, finally at last, soggy and sputtering. "I think you got it all!"


    "Really?" Candasar asked. She looked hopeful.


    "That Bastard!" yelled Daisy. "I am so angry! I know he didn''t mean to do it. He was only trying to keep me from falling in the teleportation room, but... That Bastard!" she yelled again. "I just got out of a messed-up relationship. How dare he infect me with his sweaty skin! I''m so glad you made me wash it all off! Who would want to fall for an elf like him!"


    "That''s the spirit!" said Candasar. "Way to go, Daisy! I''m impressed!"


    "Help me out of this tub and hand me a robe," Daisy said.


    Surprisingly, Candasar complied.


    "Now you and your big, muscly, white-haired companion must clear out. This is my room, and I''ve got some thinking to do. But thanks for the help. I appreciate it."


    Candasar suddenly looked less confident.


    "Perhaps we should stay. Just in case you suddenly have a relapse." she offered.


    "And give me back my little card," said Daisy. "Cantrell gave that to me. Only he can take it back."


    "Uh, sorry, Daisy, I already returned it to Cantrell. You will have to ask him for another one. He thought it was the best way to go under the circumstances. I mean." stammered Candasar.


    There was a knock on the door. Candasar opened it. It was Cantrell. He looked a little upset.


    "I need to speak with Daisy," he said. "Albarad just came back down via the transporter. He explained some things. Now even I know where the teleport activation button is." He glanced nervously at Daisy. "I have been told it¡¯s only got a few charges left. Only Lothinar can charge it. I tried it myself and blew a penny right in half."


    "The button seemed hard to find." Candasar said, "But Daisy knows how; I hope you have posted guards inside and outside the teleport room so she can''t get back to Lothinar by using it."


    "I have," Cantrell said. He smiled apologetically and watched Daisy¡¯s face, but she remained impassive.


    "Like I care about that." she huffed.


    "I''ve only done this, Daisy because I understand just how compelling this addiction to Lothinar can be."


    He returned his attention to Candasar. "As you probably know, Lothinar and your daughter will stay at the station just a little longer. They are trying to make sure everything is set to run automatically. Marg is still a significant unknown factor, but the moon will be stable for quite a while. Albarad.is waiting for you with Siophra in the courtyard. He nodded to Tundor, who was still standing in the doorway in case Daisy was faking her cure. "I''m sure Tundor can handle the three of you on the return trip to the lake. Esmarilla will be staying here with me."


    ¡®The white-haired elf nodded. ¡°Of course.¡±


    "Even with them leaving later, Zinariya and Lothinar will probably beat you back to Ardwynn''s." Cantrell finished. "Daisy will be in my care."


    Candasar looked a bit concerned but agreed. "Okay, Cantrell. It''s your show now," she said. "Be careful!" They walked out, shutting the door.


    Cantrell didn''t say anything for a while. He just stared at Daisy sorrowfully.


    "So somehow I got infected," Daisy said awkwardly.


    "I am aware," said Cantrell sadly. "It''s entirely my fault. I should have never asked you to show them around. I don''t know what I was thinking."


    "Candasar washed me quite thoroughly," Daisy said. "All better now! I couldn''t care less that stupid Lothinar doesn¡¯t want..." Her lip quivered.


    Cantrell moved closer. He paused before reaching for her.


    "I''m going to return that hug you gave me," he said. "Is that alright?"


    "That hug seems like a long time ago, right now," Daisy said.


    He smiled. "Believe it or not, it was only this morning," he said.


    "Candasar said that you also got trapped like this. How did you beat it, Cantrell? It isn''t easy at the moment. Lothinar is all I can think about."


    "I had some excellent help from a friend," he said. He seemed to be contemplating something.


    "The only thing I can offer you is to return that hug." He said. "With interest. Perhaps if I''m interesting enough, I can make you forget about Lothinar."


    "Are you suggesting that if you woo me tonight, you might undo my addiction to Lothinar?" Daisy asked. "Under different circumstances, that would be a great pickup line. Unfortunately, I know how you feel about being disloyal to your wife."


    "I have ways of disassociating myself from feelings of guilt about things these days, and in this case, I''d probably tell Mavis. She might even understand. She''s the one that helped me when I was in such a state."


    "You''re a sweet elf, Cantrell." Said Daisy. "But I believe that I will need to wallow in this misery for a while. I''m going to try to solve this problem with time and soapsuds."


    Daisy tried not to notice how relieved Cantrell seemed to look.


    "Hey," she said. "Don''t look so happy about me turning you down. We would have been great together. I know how to please."


    "That''s what I was probably the most afraid of," Cantrell admitted.


    After Cantrell politely left, Daisy cried herself to sleep. Part of it was that her skin felt scratched and abraded away by a bristle brush. What most certainly hurt more was her unfulfilled longing for Lothinar.


    The following day, before dawn, she went down to the stables. She needed to talk to a dragon.


    ------------------------


    Lothinar was looking at mysterious flashing lights, buttons, and displays. He was searching for something and muttering to himself. She had questions about this station and its reason for being here, but for now, Zinariya was content to allow the operation of this mysterious technology to be Lothinar''s problem. She was concentrating on filling her magical channels with his abundant ambient energy. It was strangely satisfying. While searching, Lothinar was munching on some cookies he had found in one of the station cupboards. Zinariya observed that he wasn''t being conscientious about crumbs.


    The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.


    "I think I''ve absorbed enough power from you now for me to teleport us back down safely," Zinariya said. I feel like if I take much more of your energy, I might pop.¡±


    "Good! Because these cookies are terrible!" he said vehemently. You said you saw Xerxes eating them, but I don''t understand how he could even choke them down. Oh my! Look at the date printed on this bag! I think these cookies are as old as my mother!" Lothinar complained.


    "Ardwella probably baked them." giggled Zinariya. "She has many skills you are unaware of."


    "No," he replied almost instantly. "I''ve eaten her cookies, and these are not..."


    Lothinar got an awkward look on his face.


    "You know, we can talk about it if you want," said Lothinanr. "Or not. The time that you spent living in the bodies of my mother and aunt. If it''s too awkward for you, I can always look back at your memories from that time. I haven''t yet." he clarified. ¡°I''ve been pretty busy since we bonded."


    "Do you really want to relive all that? It was a difficult time for me," said Zinariya. "Your mother was far more troublesome than your aunt. I have to admit to liking Aunt Siophra quite a bit better. But they are both crazy, you know."


    Lothinar choked a little.


    "Sorry," said Zinariya, "But it''s the truth."


    "Oh, it''s not what you said. You''re not wrong," said Lothinar. It''s these terrible cookies. Do you want one? Come on, help a guy out. I hate just to toss them.¡±


    "Not a chance," said Zinariya, grinning. "Funny thing. When I''m around you, I don''t think I seem to need food. I suppose that''s a nutritionally short-sighted strategy, but my energy requirements seem naturally satisfied. I wonder where the power you''re giving me actually comes from?"


    "Where does the power that powers this station come from?" counted Lothinar. "There seem to be some things we don''t yet understand."


    "You weren''t here, but I had to put a big red fuel bag in a chute. It was just over there." She gestured to the window. "I can show you where I did it if you want. As far as I can tell, nobody''s putting fuel in your slot, but something must be giving you energy anyway. I''ve barely seen you eat!"


    "What about these cookies? They''re food. I also had part of a steak the other night before Marg got nasty." he countered.


    "Compared to the power I''ve personally taken from you, that''s nothing," said Zinariya. "And you gave energy in the form of legricity to the transporter machine in the capital. Where is it all coming from, Lothinar?"


    "Honestly, I think it somehow comes from gravity itself," Lothinar said. "When I''m really using and consciously thinking about it, I see planets revolving around each other in a strange cosmic pattern."


    "Gravity?" Like the thing that pulls us down to the earth? That gravity?"


    "I''m afraid I don''t have a better answer," Lothinar sighed.


    "That''s just weird," said Zinariya.


    "Firestorm also said something similar about absorbing my energy," Lothinar said, shrugging off her comment. "She''s growing rapidly since my last evolution. I''m quite surprised she hasn''t been hounding me through the bond to get back down there. Those dozen or so steaks she ate at the house yesterday must have been enough to keep her satiated while I''m gone. It was nice for Tundor to bring them. By the way, please remind me to thank him and Siophra. Firestorm''s capacity to eat them impressed me. I could see a dragon eating that much, but I''ve never seen an elf eat that way, especially a female."


    "Real elves generally don''t eat meat anyway, Lothinar. But I think I might be able to eat that much if it impresses you."


    "I wasn''t trying to make it a contest between you and Firestorm Zinariya."


    "Hmm." said Zinariya. "Perhaps I''m naturally competitive. How did you cook the steaks? I''m probably more used to my beef on the raw side."


    "Marg cooked them," Lothinar replied. "They were quite tasty."


    "Oh, I see," said Zinariya, scanning back along Lothinar''s recent memories. "Everything was going along quite pleasantly. I can see it all here in your mind. It gets rather messy at the end of the dinner. Wow, skipping ahead...Firestorm was savage. How did things go bad so fast with Marg?"


    "It was rather surprising," he admitted. "Marg is a paradox. She''s Vanador and Esmarilla''s mother, for one thing. I owe both those dragons a lot. She also stepped up firmly to help us undo the damage that Argent''s daughters and soldiers inflicted on Delora. That was a big plus in her favor. I thought we had made a genuine friend. A mighty older dragon who would help us, like Vanquish was. However, Esmarilla''s reaction to seeing her mother again was not what I expected. Esmarilla seemed wary of her and almost afraid of her. That alone should have been a sign that we needed to handle her carefully.


    "Then Marg sensed that I had bonded again. She demanded that I give you to her," Lothinar said. "Although she was a little confused about your actual type. She incorrectly assumed you were a Platinum. Supposedly, only one golden dragon can exist at a time."


    "That''s interesting. You know, it might have been easier to give me up." the young golden dragon said. "Trade a weak young dragon for the favor of a strong older one."


    "You were already up here at the station, and I wasn''t going to tell Marg that. It would also have broken your mother''s heart."


    "You did all this for my mother?" Zinariya asked, just a little peeved.


    "Well, I also hate bulies," said Lothinar. Then he smiled. "Seriously, I love your mother. I''d do anything for her, and I''d like to think she feels the same. Well, I know she does. We aren''t in the kind of relationship she shares with your birth father, Tundor, and we both intend to keep it that way. Yet, somehow, miraculously, we''ve had a child together. That''s you, by the way. I wasn''t going to give you up to anyone."


    "So that''s it then. I''m your child. Is that really the path before us?"


    "Well, you''ll have to share me with little Harvey," he said. "I suspect he''s going to be a handful. I will need you to be mature about me not being fair with my time. At least while he''s so young."


    "Hmm." said Zinariya. "I don''t feel young anymore. Perhaps it''s because I''ve shared bodies with a couple of old lady elves. It could also be all the information and life experience my connection to you keeps supplying me, but I feel quite mature."


    "I''m sorry that I was in Silvantra when you were hatched and wasn''t there for you," Lothinar said sadly. "Traumatic events led to your innocent youth being stolen from you. "


    Despite her trying to impress him, Zinariya felt herself tearing up. He noticed. He reached out and pulled her into a hug.


    "I''m going to ensure you get the chance to have an actual childhood," he vowed. "You should have never been asked to do some of the things you had to do."


    Zinariya felt her heart go ker-thump. She quickly attempted to shield her mind. She didn''t want her true feelings to show through the bond. He either didn''t notice or acted like he didn''t care. It was a hollow victory.


    Her traitorous tongue betrayed her.


    "Hey! What about Firestorm? She''s pretty young? You kissed her."


    "And Ardwynn, Michelle, and Daisy. " Lothinar reminded her.


    "Daisy?" Are you including her in our family already?"


    "It wasn''t planned, but I might have to," said Lothinar. "It''s not her fault that I infected her. Look at my memories of how I handled Ronniflass. I''ll need to check with Cantrell and see how Daisy responds to the treatment Candasar just gave her. Your mom gave her a pretty thorough scrubbing."


    "I can only imagine," Zinariya said, giggling again.


    "It''s quite a serious situation," Lothinar said.


    "Hmm," Zinariya said again. "Being bonded with you is surely going to be interesting."


    "Right now, it''s too interesting. We need to put the station in automatic mode and get out of here before Marg shows up. Having to fight her here on the station would be a terrible idea."


    "Can you imagine?" asked Zinariya. "If you think Mo-Rung knocking down a bedroom wall was bad...."


    "Exactly," said Lothinar.


    Firestorm has already verified that Marg is not where Esmarilla left her. If she''s not nearby, Vanador has some ideas about where she might have tried to go. Can you take us to the yard in front of Ardwynn''s house? We can meet up with them there."


    "I told you I was ready," said Zinariya. "But it''s not just Ardwynn''s house anymore. It''s our house. I''ll be staying there now. With you."


    He gave her a warning look.


    "In another room, of course," she said, grinning.


    "Exactly," he replied.


    "At least for now," she added.


    "Look Zinariya. If you want to stay with us, you must listen to and follow Candasar''s rules. It would be best if you tried to get along," Lothinar said seriously. I won''t accept anything like what happened before between you two."


    "Well, you had better prepare us to argue silently inside your head, Lothinar. Because we''re not going to agree about a few things."


    Lothinar flipped a switch on a panel. "Finally! Here it is. I''m glad Ardwella taught me to read old Elvish. It''s the one that says ''unattended operation.'' I''ve just set it to ''ON.''


    "I don''t know," said Zinariya. "I''ve enjoyed having you all to myself for a few hours. I don''t think I will get that chance too often down below."


    "You might be right, but I really need to get something better to eat than these cookies," said Lothinar. Firestorm''s back and says Heirwynn just finished making dinner. It''s Mung Beans! I''m so happy!"


    "Heirwynn is staying with us too, I suppose," said Zinariya, sighing. You didn''t mention her name earlier."


    "She''s just the nanny," said Lothinar.


    "Sure she is. My mother is right about this much. When it comes to females who want you, you are oblivious."


    "It seems to work, most of the time," said Lothinar. "Why change now? It''s a pretty solid defense."


    ------------------------------


    Michelle stepped off the Starfish and onto the dock. She held Enderline''s letter in her hand. She handed it to her father. He took it but didn''t even look at it, which did not surprise her.


    "You''re the last person I expected to see on this boat," he said. "What happened to the Sinspirilla and Enderline?"


    "The flagship had to turn back. It''s all in the letter, father," she said. "Don''t be too disappointed. I didn''t end up marrying him."


    "But what about the baby?" he whispered cautiously, looking around.


    A single line of dragons began streaming down the gangplank. That caught her father''s attention.


    "Dragons!" he yelped.


    "Yes. I brought Dragons to Silvantra father. These are the only babies I will be concerned about for a while." she said. "When you read that letter, you will see that I am starting a school."


    "A school for dragons?" he asked incredulously. "What makes you think you can teach dragons anything?"


    "Because I am one!" She flared her eyes from green to glowing blue. He stepped back in shock. "I see, he said, narrowing his eyes.


    "I will stay in the Ambassador''s residence until the school is constructed. That is a priority project, by the way. The dragons and their bonds will bivouac on and about the premises. We won''t need anything fancy. Tents with good mosquito netting and some basic supplies."


    "Did that Elf Lothinar do this to you? Is my daughter still in there at all?" he finally asked.


    "I''m still in here," said Michelle. She let her eyes drift back to green. She smiled at him, but it was half-hearted. "I will come by later. I will tell you more, but right now, I have to get these dragons settled."


    She strode off down the dock and stepped onto the island of Silvantra. She was home. It was the last place she had ever expected to see again. Right now, she missed Lothinar terribly. The line of dragons followed her uphill, past the town, and through the gates of the Ambassador''s mansion. The Cook opened the door as she walked up the steps to the porch. He looked out over the stream of dragons and their humans still crossing the yard.


    "I''m going to need to buy groceries," he said. "A little warning would have been nice."


    "Don''t worry, you''re not feeding the dragons," Michelle said. "I''ve got an angle on a whole tribe of tasty goats. The little dragons will think it''s just part of the adventure."


    "It still looks like over a hundred hungry humans out there." said the Cook.


    "A big order of franks and mung beans will suffice. We''ll serve them campout style out back. We will spread out blankets and call it a picnic."


    "Don''t try and tell me my business." said the Cook. "I can manage better than that, even on short notice. My professional reputation is at stake."


    "Knock yourself out," said Michelle. "Just know that I''m not doing dishes. Get paper plates."


    "This illustrious manor does not have ''paper plates, '' the Cook said brusquely. We have held parties with guest lists in the hundreds. We have twelve sets of fine china, one for each holiday during the year. In just a few hours I can have a full staff of waiters and servers to take care of our guests. It will be a meal they will not soon forget."


    "But can you do that day in and day out for the rest of the year?" asked Michelle.


    "What''s the budget?" asked the Cook.


    "Most of these human folks are soldiers. They don''t need anything fancy," said Michelle. "I think they were afraid they might have to eat horse meat on the voyage here. They didn''t. The beef jerky held out, but the dragons did. Throw together whatever you have for the humans tonight. I''m about to go back over there and try to describe where to find goats to over a hundred hungry baby dragons, and I can''t fly them over there to show them. I''m sure it will all work out. We can get as fancy as you want tomorrow."


    "I beg your pardon, but you are not as nice to work for as Mrs. Lothinar," said the Cook, gritting his teeth.


    "I''m sorry, I''m half dragon." Said Michelle. "My manners are probably pretty atrocious. The other half of me is Regent Courtney''s spoiled rotten little girl. I''m used to getting what I want."


    "I see." said the Cook. "Will Regent Courtney be by later? Perhaps I can discuss the food budget with him?"


    "I''m sure he will be by." said Michelle, "But I have letters from the King authorizing a more permanent relationship with these humans and their dragons. We will be starting a school."


    "I see," sniffed the Cook. "So my genius is to be relegated to.... cafeteria food, then."


    "No, but I am interested to see what you can do with a goat," she said with a grin.


    ------------------------


    The black dragon opened one eye. Despite her concerns, she responded to the question.


    "What makes you think I can get in touch with Lothinar?" Esmarilla asked. "And even if I could, why should I help you?"


    "I met your brother Vanador," said Daisy, trembling a little at the audacity of waking up a dragon. "And you''re Cantrell''s bond. I figured out that much. I know that you share information. He''s far too kind to allow you to eat me.¡±


    "Blech! You have no idea how disgusting that sounds," said Esmarilla. "I don''t mind killing elves that much, but don''t worry, I won''t eat your body." She rolled over and put her back to the elf. The sound of obviously fake snoring began immediately.


    Daisy walked over to her substantial black backside and gave Esmarilla a little kick. The snoring stopped.


    "You''re pushing your luck, elf!" came a dangerous low growl. Now go away!"


    "I''m trying to save Cantrell''s marriage here!" Daisy said in an urgent whisper. "You obviously know what he offered to do with me last night! I''d consider this a matter of national importance, wouldn''t you? I''d hate for word of something like this to get out! It might shatter a delicate political situation, People could talk. The wrong sorts of people."


    "You remind me of someone," said Esmarilla flipping back over and stretching out her wings. Who is it? Ah! You said that you had met my brother. I bet he was quite taken with you. He''s always had a soft spot for a blonde elf named Siophra. She''s a nice lady, I have to admit."


    "She didn''t seem very nice yesterday," said Daisy with a grimace.


    "Of course not. You''re a threat." said Esmarilla sagely. "Siophra has had it bad for Cantrell for a long time."


    "Cantrell know this?" Daisy asked, surprised.


    "What do you think? Of course, he does. But Cantrell doesn''t do crazy. He might go as far as very eccentric, which you are closing in on fast, by the way. That''s halfway to crazy. Mavis is eccentric. You need a little spice."


    "I need a ride," said Daisy, growing impatient. "To wherever Lothinar is."


    "There are some very nice horses right over there," said Esmarilla. Go ahead. I don''t think anybody will miss one. Saddles are hanging right there on the wall. You''re welcome. Let''s talk again sometime."


    Daisy just stood there with her hands on her hips. Glaring.


    "Damn. You really do look like Siophra." Esmarilla said. "Fine! I need to hunt anyway. Nobody brings food down here anymore. You would think my bond would remember, but no, he''s got ''important stuff'' on his mind these days. Climb up. You know, I just did this flight yesterday!"


    "Thank you," said Daisy. "I knew I could count on you."


    "It''s not just you," said Esmarilla. "I''m sure Lothinar would never forgive me if you got ambushed and raped by bandits or fell off your horse and broke your neck on your way to try and find him. He takes his responsibility to those he infects quite seriously."


    "That''s what I thought," said Daisy. "I was counting on it. And you have a very vivid imagination."


    "When you''ve been alive as long as I have, you don''t need much of an imagination anymore," said Esmarilla. "I just have an excellent memory. Now hold on, I''m in a hurry."


    -----------------

 Volume 3: Chapter 17: Diamond Jubilee

    *************


    Chapter 17


    *************


    Marg lay on the rich earth, among the ferns, panting. Being buried alive had left her oxygen-deprived. She couldn''t seem to focus. That pipsqueak red dragon had done something. She had stabbed her with a steak knife. Twice. In both eyes! It would have never happened if Lothinar hadn''t immobilized her. The magic he had used to hold her had been incredibly powerful for an elf. She knew Lothinar''s magic was strong, but she may have underestimated him. Then, when she had begun to break free, he had augmented his spell with the power of an ancient sword. Ironically, the use of that sword probably saved her life. It had frozen her biological functions, minimizing the damage from the knives, and then when her foolish daughter Esmarilla had buried her in the ground, she hadn''t immediately suffocated.


    Now, though, instead of heading back for immediate revenge, trying to survive was of greater importance. For some reason, Marg''s usually vast supply of magic was gone entirely. She had managed one short teleport, but it had taken every scrap of magic she had! It had gotten her out of the ground and about a hundred yards. She was lying in an older grove of trees. It would have been a picturesque spot, but she had intersected one of the forest¡¯s few saplings when she reappeared. Mistakes like that had been known to happen when teleporting blind. The small tree had pierced one of her wings. It was not her full, dragon-sized wing but one of the smaller ones that typically sprouted from her back in her hybrid form. Marg rarely used that in-between shape. It was functionally rather useless, but it was damn intimidating. She had assumed it trying to scare Lothinar into compliance. Now injured, it hurt way too much to tear herself free. She would have remained in her much smaller elf form if she had not wanted to scare him. Her smaller size would have much more easily avoided obstacles to teleportation. She tried to teleport again, to free herself from the tree, but now, even more than before, something in her ability to teleport was broken. Things just kept getting worse.


    She couldn''t understand why Lothinar had been so stubborn. Hadn''t she been helpful? Now, she had no choice but to dispense her vengeance on all of them. That included Esmarilla. Assuming she was dead and then burying her had been the final insult.


    Lying there fuming, Marg suddenly heard the sound of voices. They were arguing or at least having a loud discussion.


    "This is where Cantrell and the other rangers buried Aleena." said a voice.


    "I see signs of new digging." said another. "Oh No! Did you see that? It caved in when I put my weight on it. The depression is just about the size of Marg''s body!"


    "I guess I''m going to have to get dirty. Let''s see what''s down there." said the first.


    Marg heard the sound of dragon grunts and digging. A few minutes went by. The voices resumed.


    "Ok, that confirms it. There is nothing here. Marg''s gone. We need to find her and finish this!"


    ¡°How are we going to do that? She could be anywhere by now!¡±


    Marg held her breath, trying to remain silent. She didn''t need a couple of strong dragons to find her now, especially when she was most vulnerable to attack. As weak as she was at the moment, they might be able to actually finish her off. For most of her long life, she had been the apex predator. It was extraordinary to suddenly feel like prey.


    "Look, I would stay and help you look, but something just came up. Mavis is calling me. It''s urgent. Emerald and her friends will probably have to fight one of the green dragons. He just stole something, and they need to get it back.¡±


    "You think that is more important than leaving me alone to find Marg?"


    "Sorry, kid. I do need to go. It¡¯s Mavis. You know that I can''t let anything happen to her. I suggest you wait until your mother and Lothinar return before hunting for Marg. It''s probably safer."


    "Go then, Father. I understand. Lothinar thinks he should be back soon anyway."


    The voices faded into the distance.


    Marg''s anger simmered. She knew that voice. It was that red dragon Firestorm. She was the one who had stabbed her. If Marg could unimpale herself and regenerate some magic, she would teach her to fear the power of a golden dragon. Until then, she would have to wait a little longer.


    Suddenly, the ground began to shake. Whatever it was, it seemed some distance away, but Marg could feel it lying down. Earthquake? Moon instabilities could cause that.


    "Oh no!" she thought. "Did I forget to put fuel in the Chelseben reactor again?" Usually, she would just be able to drop by and take care of things. Instead, here she was, impaled on this scrawny sapling and entirely out of magic.


    Marg began to wonder if she had made a mistake that would destroy the entire planet.


    ----------


    Enderline had noticed that Arjoie had become much more active since land had come into sight. Before that, the sea serpent almost seemed to have entered a meditative state. Arjorie had not spoken, but the King wondered if she was sharing some mental communication with the nearby sword. Pricilla had spoken with Arjorie and told him that the sword had promised that Lothinar would do things to the serpent. Enacting extreme changes that Enderline was highly suspicious that even Lothinar could not deliver. Now that they were near land again, Enderline thought it might be best to revise the sea snake''s expectations.


    "I don''t think Lothinar will be meeting us at the docks, you know," Enderline said nonchalantly. "He probably isn''t even aware we are coming back this way."


    This information increased Arjorie''s agitation. She moved closer to the sword, which remained stuck in the wooden planks of the foredeck.


    "Can you ssend messsage?" she asked.


    "Perhaps, in time. We are not sure where Lothinar is now, " Enderline replied.


    "SSword SSays the Lothinar wills come" Arjorie said. She sounded confident. Also, somehow, Enderline found it easier to understand her despite the speech impediment.


    "We will dock in about two hours. Once we do, I will seek news of Lothinar''s whereabouts." Enderline said encouragingly. "Don''t worry, I''ve heard the stories of him fighting with that sword. He''s going to want it back."


    "Want reward." insisted Arjoie. "Ssword Promisssed!"


    "I''m sure Lothinar will do his best," said Enderline. "I''ve seen him do some amazing things. Enderline paused, unsure how to broach the subject, "Why do you want to be a dragon and bond with Lothinar? I can''t imagine your people would have even heard of him."


    "Musst. Ssword Whissperss many thingss whiles under the ssea." said the serpent. "Lothinar has propheciesss. Will resstore old wayss! I need represents my kindss."


    "Well, I wish you good luck. I will do what I can to help you find him. Thank you for behaving yourself while on my ship. I won a lot of money from the crew.


    Arjoie looked at him in puzzlement, and Enderline laughed.


    "Yes, I gambled on you. My troops bet me you would tear the ship up and send us to the bottom if I allowed you to stay. You proved them wrong. I don''t think I''ve ever been so glad to win a bet," Enderline said, smiling.


    "Made deal!" Arjorie said, somewhat annoyed. "Keep promisess!"


    "Yes, Arjorie. You kept your promise. You can travel on my ship anytime," said the King, thinking of the dragon Night-Sky, who had made a bond with him and then changed his mind. "You seem to have higher integrity and better manners than some of the winged dragons I have met.


    Enderline reached under his coat and pulled out a small bird. He looked in his pocket and selected one of several long strips of brightly colored paper that he held. The strip had writing on it. He securely tied it to the bird''s leg and tossed it into the air. The bird fluttered away toward the mainland.


    "That might even save us a little time." The King said. He hoped someone at the temple in Delora Natine was paying attention. He, of course, did not know about the attack on Delora Natine and, specifically, the attack on the temple that had burned it to the ground, with several loyal staff member¡¯s bodies still inside.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    Taking a tip from Siophra''s playbook about practical shoes, Ardwynn''s thick-soled heavy boots crunched on the remains of the burned ceiling timbers that had once supported the beautiful temple roof. If she had calculated right, she was standing approximately where she and Lothinar had been married. Of course, she had been inside the building then, not standing on the collapsed ruin. She had not been in Delora Natine the night of the attacks and fire but had certainly heard about them. Lothinar, Candasar, and, strangely enough, Marg had restored most of the lives that her cousin''s greed and evil deeds had taken, but certainly not all.


    Lothinar had also meted final justice to the perpetrators of these heinous acts. They had used Lothinar¡¯s growing power to augment Marg''s impressive teleportation range and sent the murderers who had attacked the town and temple in the direction of the rising sun -- through space. Perhaps they had even gotten them all the way there¡ªan instant firey execution versus choking on the vacuum of space. Either death seemed too quick and merciful a punishment for the terror and suffering they had dispensed before being brought to heel.


    Although the old Ardwynn might have easily participated in the despicable acts her cousins and their minions had committed, their awful behavior saddened the new Ardwynn. The emotional disconnect between her previous standards and her current feelings created a profoundly troubling and strange irony in her mind. She held baby Harvey a little closer. The baby was a good reminder that life went on.


    ¡°It¡¯s so much worse than I thought,¡± said Mandel loudly. ¡°But so typical of the evil often committed by those with Argent¡¯s bloodline.¡± He was grandstanding a bit and strutting about. Not having Ardwynn''s burned-out temple beam walking footwear at his disposal, he was standing over to the side. Just before his outburst, he had been talking in hushed tones with his sister, Mavis. He suddenly stared at Ardwynn with a strange gleam in his eye.


    "Nice boots, by the way," he said.


    Ardwynn grimaced but didn''t shy away from the truth. "They were my mothers. I think she used them to gather dragon eggs."


    "It''s pretty brave for you to wear those here," he said. "This is, after all, the dragon temple."


    "Just because something was once used for evil doesn''t mean it can''t be repurposed for good," Mo-Rung interrupted Mandel. The red dragon gave Ardwynn a meaningful look. He obviously wasn''t looking to further his previous grudge against her. Ardwynn speculated that Lothinar''s punishment and Mavis''s graceful bond had significantly changed his previous attitude.


    ¡°You should have seen this place on fire!¡± said Night-Sky, innocently ignoring the deeper meaning of the exchange. ¡°We were pretty lucky it didn''t spread to the rest of the town. Of course, the temple wasn''t burning yet when Albarad and I fought our way here."


    "We will rebuild it, of course," said Mandel, boasting. "It will be grander than ever before."


    "It won''t do anything to replace the lives lost," Ardwynn said bitterly, kicking at a burned timber with the toe of her boot. But I suppose it''s one way to go."


    Mandel''s face grew clouded. He didn''t seem to appreciate Ardwynn''s negativity regarding his promises to rebuild the temple.


    Murmurs came from the crowd of humans who had quickly gathered when word went out that the elven emperor himself was here to inspect the burned-out temple. One of them spoke up, yelling at the assembled elves.


    "Have all of Argent''s family been executed? Or should we be expecting more trouble in these parts?" The yelling human appeared to be wearing the livery of the town guard.


    Mandel suddenly grinned as Ardwynn blanched at the question. Mandel wasn''t sure why he did it, but he suddenly pounced. His vitriol took Ardwynn by surprise.


    "What do you say to that Ardwynn?" shouted Mandel. "Are there any more of Argent''s relatives that should be dealt with? This crowd wants to know!"


    Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    Mavis shot her brother a disappointed look. "You''re being unnecessarily vindictive," she said with a hushed voice. "You know what Ardwynn has been through. She¡¯s been completely changed. Even I, of all people, have fully accepted that. And don¡¯t forget, until recently, we, too, were considered part of Argent¡¯s family. This might be a bad time to remind these humans of that.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ve never carried the taint, sister. Even among these ignorant villagers, that should be well known.¡± Mandel let his voice rise above a whisper. That elicited a few glares from some of the closer humans.


    From over near Mo-Rung, Emerald, who had been only silently observing, suddenly began pacing nervously. She looked distressed. Mandel felt her reach him through the bond.


    ¡°The humans here are kind. They care for dragons. Some even provide the nets I use to catch fish. They are not so uninformed as you might think, Mandel.¡± Emerald swiftly sent.


    ¡°I think I know best how to speak with a group of mere humans, Emerald. It would be best to stay out of this!¡± commanded Mandel silently.


    ¡°It¡¯s just that I think we should try to be kind whenever possible.¡± The green dragon tried to protest. ¡°And don''t forget that Ardwynn IS Lothinar¡¯s wife. All the lake dragons owe him a great debt. You won''t be making friends by doing this."


    ¡°Lothinar, Lothinar, Lothinar! ¡° Everyone is always so ridiculously impressed with Lothinar. Mandel said out loud. This raised a few eyebrows amongst the townspeople. ¡°He certainly could have made better decisions regarding who to marry!¡±


    From the middle of the burned-down roof, Ardwynn suddenly wondered if Mandel''s recent assassination and resurrection had created a new level of bitterness in Mandel toward her bloodline and her in particular. A hidden memory resurfaced. One that Vanquish had probably tried hard to lock away. Ardwynn suddenly didn''t just see Mandel. She recognized him as "Clark," the gate guard, the handsome elf who had allowed her to pass through the gate of her estate in the capital just before betraying her. The betrayal had freed Tundor but had not worked out especially well for her. Losing Tundor''s bond had dropped her back under the control of Lothinar''s pheromones. Then, she was imprisoned by her uncle and tortured for her mistake. That had been a terrible day!


    She felt an old anger flare. It was petty and unreasonable. She crushed it down relentlessly. That was not the Ardwynn she was anymore! There was a lot more at stake here! The people watching her were growing angry and restless. She needed to deal with this immediately!


    Mandel¡¯s public questioning about her family and the implication that she might still be carrying Argent¡¯s taint hung in the air. People were staring at her.


    Ardwynn briefly considered avoiding answering or even running away, but standing here on the blackened beams of the temple, she went deep inside herself. It was a long way down. She fell through the memories and emotions, tumbling and spinning through them until she hit hard upon a solid blue core. It was cool but shining with a pent-up fire. She felt her magic expand. It seemed to grow and crystallize. She suddenly understood. The knowledge gave her the words she had been looking for. She cleared her throat and spoke. Her voice rose and carried out over the temple grounds.


    "Some of you may have seen me around Delora," she spoke loudly and clearly.


    "My name is Ardwynn. I was married to Lothinar in this exact spot. You may have heard of him and, perhaps less favorably, of me."


    The murmurs grew louder. Almost everyone had heard of Lothinar''s wife''s traitorous betrayal and her link to Argent''s family.


    "Yes, Argent was my uncle by blood. I bear that scar, if not in my current body, at least in my mind and memories. The dragon Vanquish burned the taint of Argent''s corruption from me in an agonizing ritual that destroyed part of my body and then put it back together with her blue magic. She changed me profoundly. Ardwynn looked down at her baby. "Vanquish did the same for my son, Harvey."


    More murmurs ensued.


    "Vanquish paid for this huge transformation with her life to give me a second chance. Also, Like Lothinar, she somehow made me part dragon. She gave me substantial and unknown dragon powers. She rolled the magical dice, hoping for the best, and somehow got lucky. It was more than I deserved. I realize, of course, that she did not do this for me. She did it for Lothinar. She found him and his happiness important and possibly necessary for some reason. She knew he was loyal and had stupidly fallen in love with me¡ªan honor and distinction I did not deserve at the time. I was just fortunate enough to be there at the beginning of all of this and was able to snare his loyalty. You probably know by now that Lothinar''s loyalty is not easily revoked."


    "Lothinar and Candasar brought my young daughter and son back to life!" shouted one of the guards.


    "He gave me my wife back!" yelled another.


    "My daughter died in this temple," came another anguished cry. "Her burned body lies beneath your fancy boots!"


    Ardwynn winced but steeled herself to continue. But before she could, another voice interrupted her.


    "Ardwynn has paid for her sins!" the voice said. It was Heirwynn. She pushed through the crowd and stood near them on a mound of rubble. "She speaks the truth. I have had my dragon Snow test her scent. There are no traces of the corruption that her family is well known to bear. Snow is a white dragon. It was Argent''s desire for a white dragon that started this mess. Snow has vouched for her. Ardwynn is clean!" Heirwynn shouted.


    "Where is Lothinar? We will hear him on this matter." someone yelled.


    "She fooled him once!" someone yelled in return. "How can we know for sure?"


    "Ardwynn''s father killed my brother Harvey!" Heirwynn shot back. "If I weren''t certain her taint was gone, she wouldn''t still be alive," Heirwynn said confidently. "She even named her son after my brother. "


    "Thank you, Heirwynn, I appreciate your saying those things, but I want these people to know who I am, not just from my words, but from my deeds," Ardwynn said loudly. Vanquish changed me. She made me a fitting and equal mate for Lothinar."


    Ardwynn locked her stare on Mandel.


    "I don''t think anyone here fully understood what that meant until now!¡± She beckoned to Heirwynn, who quickly and nimbly ran over to take Harvey from Ardwyann''s outstretched arms and then ran back to the side.


    "You all may want to step back quite a bit more," Ardwynn said. Then she began to glow.


    "All dragons have a specific unique power," Ardwynn shouted. "Some heal, others teleport. You are all obviously familiar with blue dragon resurrections!" Ardwynn hadn''t taken her eyes off Mandel. "Only one type of dragon has the power that Vanquish surprisingly was able to evoke in me. It is exceedingly rare. Lucky for you, I have just discovered it.


    Mavis looked at Mandel and frowned.


    "You do realize it took Lothinar some time for his powers to fully develop into what he can do now, don''t you? I hope you haven''t gone and made Ardwynn angry at you!" she said.


    "Crap!" said Mandel as a cloud of sparkling dust began to swirl and rise from beneath Ardwynn''s boots. The cloud grew suddenly larger, and soon, no one could see inside it. There were flashes and sounds of groaning timbers and smashing stones. The earth beneath their feet began shaking violently. There was a fair amount of crying and outright screaming from the humans. Then suddenly, there was silence.


    Mavis looked up from the place on the ground where she had fallen. Ardwynn was still standing on the roof of the temple. The temple roof, however, was completely restored! Ardwynn was now standing on it, at least 40 feet up in the air. Ardwaynn sagged a little, swayed, and sat down on the uppermost beam. It was unburned. All at once, several humans ran out of the temple structure through the front doors. They looked dazed and confused. Cries of joy erupted from the gathered humans, who were also climbing to their feet after being knocked to the ground.


    "It''s my daughter! She''s alive!"


    "She didn''t fix the temple!" someone shouted. "That''s the original one! I remember that discolored block of stone!"


    Mavis, along with everyone else, rushed inside to look. She poked her brother in the ribs with her finger.


    "You need to play dumb again!" she whispered angrily. "Brain damage is going to be your only excuse! I think you not only pissed off Lothinar''s wife but the planet''s only Diamond Dragon!"


    "What the hell is a Diamond Dragon?" asked Mandel.


    "They are the ones that can turn back time in a specific geographical location!" hissed Mavis. "Don''t you read anything in the royal archives? What do you do with your time besides chasing that serving wench? What? You think I didn''t know about that?"


    "Ardwynn isn''t a dragon!" Mandel asked, his face falling. "Is she?"


    Behind them, Ardwynn strolled into the temple building. She looked a little pale, but her face was smiling.


    "I may need your help, everyone," she said, looking around. "To bring back the temple and the workers, I returned this building and its contents back to a time shortly before the attack. There will undoubtedly be a bunch of frozen troops loyal to my uncle in one of the storage closets. They are extremely dangerous. We must definitively deal with them before they are accidentally awakened again.


    Mavis stared uneasily at the "frozen" platinum dragon statue still standing on the center dias. That was just outright creepy. She had heard that the dragon''s body had been carved up and eaten by Argent''s last two living daughters, Jundahryn and Preen. Although much older, they had been considered her "sisters" growing up. Not that they were ever close. Mavis found herself wondering how they could have ever sunk that far.


    "You chose a fine time to pick a fight with someone who just might have the powers of a god!" she muttered to her brother.


    Mandel just gritted his teeth and said nothing.


    Ardwynn walked toward the two siblings.


    "You know," she said. "I think one of the reasons Argent''s bloodline is so corrupted and crazy is that we have always had a much greater affinity for magic than an average elf. That''s why my father and Uncle could so easily throw lightning. It was pretty easy, for example, for me to subdue and control Tundor through the bond.


    "That''s not something I would be bragging about." snarled Mandel.


    "I''m not bragging. Just stating facts and trying to explain something," said Ardwynn.


    That much magic, filling and changing them, damaged their frail minds. It overwhelmed me as well. Argent was insane, but nobody ever said he wasn''t powerful. Lothinar''s pheromones brought me a brief clarity of purpose. To be able to use magic like I just did, well, It takes a dragon. Fortunately, what Vanquish did to us solved that problem, at least for me and Lothinar. We probably have more magic than any other elves alive. I''m not saying all that magic hasn''t made us quirky, but at least we can be pretty reasonable. And we don''t need dragon eggs to be powerful.


    "Of course, she made both of you part actual dragon," said Mavis, understanding. "The dragon parts reinforce your magical capacity."


    "Yes," said Ardwynn. Without causing the mental illness and the accompanying smell of rotting magic."


    "What will you do with all that power?" asked Mavis hesitantly.


    "Don''t worry, Lothinar, and I don''t want your thrones," said Ardwynn. "We will have more important things to do. I''m sure we both would like to look in occasionally and ensure things are going as they should."


    "What if I object to that?" asked Mandel. He still didn''t seem to understand that things had just radically changed.


    "Are you sure that''s what you want to do?" asked Ardwynn. Her eyebrows raised warningly. "I don''t think it will work out well for you.


    "I think you are forgetting that I am the emperor," said Mandel.


    "Then I will talk it over with Lothinar and remove you," Ardwynn said. "You probably won''t even know it happened. You''ll wake up one day in your mother''s crib, and she''ll be singing you lullabies again."


    Mandel blinked. "You could do that?" he asked.


    "Just try me," said Ardwynn. "My advice is to listen to your dragon. I think she will make you into a better Emperor."


    Mandel nodded. Here in Delora Natine, without his guards or soldiers, He didn''t seem to have anything else to say.


    "So, are we good?" Ardwynn asked Mavis, but her eyes were looking at Mandel.


    "I do believe so," said Mavis. "Perhaps later I could have you look at Ronniflass''s cabin? Mo-Rung made a mess of things up there."


    "I''ve seen it," said Ardwynn. "As you know. I was in the room." She paused. This might be the project your brother is looking for to help make things right. Now that I''ve stolen his thunder by restoring the temple, I mean. Perhaps in his case, it might be best to start small."


    Mandel said nothing, but Mavis could hear his teeth grinding.


    Ardwynn seemed to be finished with them. She looked very happy  as the people who had died in the temple collapse and fire were suddenly and miraculously reunited with their families.


    "Don''t forget about the boogymen in the closet." she reminded them. "Oh, and bring me the priest. His name is Starett." Ardwynn said. "He''s got a lot of splainin to do."


    -------------------


    The white dragon flew high over the small mountain lake that had come to symbolically mark the halfway point between the Elven capital and Delora Natine. There would be no stopping to hunt or even for a short rest this time.


    "Lothinar''s back at the house," Candasar said, leaning forward to speak the information into Siophra''s pointy ear. Siophra held up a thumb in acknowledgment, as she had found shouting back in the wind generated by Tundor''s wings a problematic way to communicate. Candasar knew Siophra would immediately share the information with Tundor, on whose back they all were riding. This meant that effectively, Albarad, who was with them, would be the last to know his son was back down once again from the Chelseben station.


    Candasar was concerned that her daughter had an overwrought attraction for their shared bond, but Lothinar had clearly established his guidelines and expectations. Now that Candasar and Zinariya both shared Lothinar''s bond, Candasar hoped she could better influence her daughter''s thoughts and behavior. Zinariya had the makings of becoming a rebellious and wild child. A mother and daughter sharing a mental bond with one elf, even if it was Lothinar, was bound to create a strange and challenging dynamic.


    Suddenly, Albarad tensed up. Candasar knew this because he was riding behind her in the third spot. She had asked him to do that as sitting too close to Tundor''s harsh and vigorous flapping set her teeth on edge.


    "Something''s going on with Ardwynn," Albarad said. "She is at the burned temple. Night-Sky says she''s using a new power."


    "Uh-oh," said Candasar under her breath. She wondered when Vanquish''s work on the newly created elf-dragon hybrid Ardwynn would begin to manifest itself.


    "Does Night-Sky know what skills she is using?" Candasar asked. She put her cheek near Albarad''s mouth to be heard.


    "It''s some sort of very localized time displacement," Albarad said in shock. ¡°Night-Sky says that she just brought back the burned-down temple. It looks as if it was never damaged!"


    "Definitely Diamond then," said Candasar. "That should simplify things, at least with regard to Daisy.


    "Daisy?" Albarad sputtered. "Aren''t you at all worried about Marg?"


    "She threatened my child," Candasar said menacingly. "She won''t survive that. I think I can count on Ardwynn for at least that much!"


    -------------------


    Mavis watched as the town guard carried yet another dangerous-looking Elven soldier out of the temple where Ardwella was waiting with her blue sword. She wasn''t there to awaken them. She was there to make sure they did not.


    Argent''s fighters were not given time to renounce their behavior. They were not given a second chance. The town guard had decided to follow through with what they knew had been the group of elite warrior''s eventual fate, which had been death. There were even a few town guards who searched the faces of the frozen warriors and took a strange pleasure in personally separating their heads from their frozen bodies. Mavis speculated that some of these soldiers had made a personal enemy of these particular town guards. They must have done things genuinely diabolical. Her brother had climbed on Emerald and disappeared somewhere. Mavis sincerely hoped he could come to terms with the new power dynamic. He had always been a difficult child. After Ardwynn''s threat, she definitely didn''t want to put her mother through that again. Although perhaps being raised in a loving home without an asshole emperor for a father, things might turn out differently.


    Ardwynn turned her attention to Starett''s frozen body. He had been stopped mid-stride and had an arrogant, angry look on his face. The town guard placed him gently on the center-raised platform near the now once again un-eaten Platinum dragon''s body. He was lying face down. When Ardwella finally walked up to join her, her mother-in-law only had one question.


    "Are you ready? It''s not every day you get to dispense justice on the priest who married you to your husband."


    "That was probably the least of his crimes." laughed Ardwynn. Then, her face fell. "Do you know how Starett went so wrong?" asked Ardwynn. ¡°He started out so well!¡±


    Ardwella sighed. "Starett was probably afraid that Argent might do the same thing to this temple that his daughters eventually did, so he tried to cut a deal. And the priest was probably right.¡± Ardwella said. "If Argent had made it all the way here, I doubt he would have left this temple standing. Starett just didn''t have faith that Lothinar could win the battle. Not everyone is cut out to be a martyr."


    "Don''t unfreeze him yet. I''m going to wait for Lothinar," Ardwynn said. ¡°He might have some questions he wants to ask the priest. I know I do."


    -----------------------------

 Volume 3: Chapter 18: Returns and Loose Ends

    After the turmoil of restoring the temple had settled down, Ardwynn had slipped away into a quiet corner of the courtyard, where she sat down wearily on a bench. Looking around once again, she marveled at the beautiful design of the building. When it had been destroyed by her cousins, Argent¡¯s daughters, in their evil attack, it had been an unfathomable tragedy. That was not even considering the terrible and needless loss of life. Ardwynn¡¯s intervention had been impulsive and risky, but looking again at the temple¡¯s innate beauty and seeing the smiles on so many grateful faces reassured her that she had made the right decision. It was clear to her, however, that the power she had used to manipulate time and bring the temple and its contents forward from its previously undamaged state was full of paradoxes. There would be a price to pay, and there would undoubtedly be further expectations. Ardwynn¡¯s experience showed that people always seemed to want something more from their gods. Suddenly, being perceived as one made her a bit uncomfortable. At least for now, they were willing to give her a few minutes to herself.


    The beautiful blonde elf in the robust hiking boots suddenly found her eyes drawn to the statue-like figure of the dragon Platinum, whose body was perfectly preserved but unlike the others that had been frozen, empty of life. She had heard the story of how the body of the deceased platinum dragon had been cooked and consumed so that her now-dead cousins and their minions could eat the dragon¡¯s flesh and appropriate the latent magic stored within it. Due to her intervention, the dragon¡¯s body was here, uneaten, and returned to suspension, just as before the insurrection.


    It had turned out that most of the still living frozen with suspension magic had not survived their thawing. After coming to terms with the situation that dangerous mercenaries had been haphazardly kept in one of the temple''s storage rooms, the humans of Delora Natine had chosen to act swiftly. There would be no second chances. The immobilized bodies of Emperor Argent''s soldiers had been taken from the storage closet, still immobilized, and dragged outside for a final Coup de Grace. They had been dispatched in a silent but grizzly ceremony of justice, never allowed to regain consciousness. Ardwynn could hardly blame them and had intervened only once. She had requested that the young human priest Starett''s body be set aside and placed near the platinum dragon. The grateful humans had been surprised but willing to acquiesce to the request. They certainly owed her one. Ardwynn gazed at Starett''s immobilized body sadly. At one point, she considered him a friend to Lothinar and her. In light of what she had observed of his character, his betrayal had been a considerable surprise. Ardwynn had been unsuccessful in trying to puzzle it out. She had talked to people about Starett''s behavior during the attack. Only the human girl Heirwynn had interacted with him before the temple burned. From her brief account, Starett had done what he could to try and help her. It wasn''t enough to exonerate his actions, but it might be worth further looking into. Ardwella had frozen the priest mid-stride, trying to flee their confrontation. Ardwynn could understand that. Her mother-in-law could be terrifying! Because of Starett''s unnatural position, his body would not stand; he had been propped up and was now leaning in the corner. There, it would stay until Lothinar returned, and they could sort it out together.


    Ardwynn had once been subject to the freezing spell while pregnant, flying home from Silvantra. She had entered labor, flying on Candasar''s back. Lothinar and Michelle had joined their powers and placed her and her unborn child in magical stasis to delay the baby¡¯s delivery. Ardwynn remembered absolutely nothing of that time, but the use of the magic had spared her a lot of unnecessary discomfort. She hoped that Starett, who, despite his allegedly traitorous actions, was not suffering. As far as Ardwynn knew, Starett was the last person still under the power of Ardwella''s blue sword. Being frozen like that and still conscious would be unbearable.


    Ardwynn heard the noise of hurried footsteps and looked over to see Lothinar''s mother entering the central courtyard. She beckoned her over. Heaving a weary sigh, Ardwella sat down beside her daughter-in-law. "That''s all of them, except for Starett," she said. "And the platinum dragon," She gestured at Starett. ¡°What are you going to do with him?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure,¡± Ardwynn said, scrunching up her face. ¡°I have questions. I¡¯m having difficulty understanding how Starett could have been convinced to betray all he stood for. The dragons and.. well, us. It just doesn''t make sense.¡±


    ¡°It surprised me too,¡± Ardwella admitted. ¡°I can assure you, though, that he worked for Argent there in the end. If I hadn''t stopped him, things would have gone very differently. At least you can have me thaw him to ask your questions. You won''t be able to do the same with the platinum dragon.¡±


    "I understand the dragon is dead," Ardwynn said, ¡°Didn''t Zinariya remove her brain?"


    "That''s correct. Zinariya was using Siophra as a host at the time. Siophra began asserting herself and thought Zinariya should move along. After it became necessary for Platinum to die, the plan was for the young golden dragon to use the platinum body instead of an elven one until her body could finish developing. Zinariya¡¯s original egg was damaged during an attack. Platinum''s personality and powers were found to be twisted and extremely dangerous. After Zinariya was forced to kill her, she borrowed the recently dead body; It turned out that she didn''t keep it long. Zinariya wanted to move aggressively against Argent''s remaining family. We decided to work together at that point, and allowing her to inhabit my body made more sense. Platinum''s body was left behind. It was only because Vanador froze the body that it didn''t immediately begin to decay.¡±


    "Well, we seem past that point now," commented Ardwynn. "Zinariya certainly isn''t going to be needing it. Why keep it around?¡±


    "The humans want to keep it.¡± Ardwella grinned. ¡° It seems natural to have a dragon back in the temple courtyard. My bond, Esmarilla, sat there, hiding in plain sight for hundreds of years. Of course, she was much larger."


    "Knowing the body is not just frozen, but dead, I find it rather morbid. Vanquish lost her dragon body. I wonder if there is any way Vanquish could reinhabit Platinum? She could live as a dragon again?¡± Ardwynn thought out loud.


    "That''s a complicated question," said Ardwella. "What would become of the human Michelle? She would be separated from Vanquish. They''ve become rather accustomed to one another by now."


    "I don''t see why Michelle, as a human, could not remain bonded with Vanquish in that Platinum dragon body. " Ardwynn thought out loud.


    "Platinum''s body is missing a brain and spinal cord. That will make things considerably more difficult if someone else wants to use that body," said Ardwella. "If not impossible. But do you have other reasons for suggesting that?"


    "It certainly would help solve one of my dilemmas," admitted Ardwynn.


    "Ah!" Ardwella nodded. Were you having second thoughts about the other females surrounding my son?" Ardwella asked with widening eyes. "You think if Vanquish could somehow inhabit a dragon body again, she might be more willing to return to her relationship with Vanador and quit her claim on Lothinar?¡±


    "It crossed my mind. I must admit that I''m irritated about so many clamoring for Lothinar''s attention. I will probably have to share him more than I would like to if things stay as they are."


    "What does Lothinar think about that?" Ardwella asked pensively. "Have you talked about it?"


    "We have, to a point. And it''s strange. With all the female attention he gets, Lothinar has only ever been intimate with me. For a male, he''s been surprisingly resistant to others taking things that far." Ardwinn said. ¡°He is also so kind that it¡¯s hard for the others to tell when he¡¯s making excuses. Now that she can take human form, Firestorm has aggressively tried to push him into that kind of relationship.


    "I think you might have forgotten about Ronniflass kidnapping him," Ardwella said with a sympathetic smile. Then, her face grew harder. "That was right after you left him. You broke my son''s heart!"


    Ardwynn winced. "You know that I''m sorry for that. The person who did those things no longer exists. I don''t think FIrestorm has ever really forgiven me for hurting Lothinar. That''s part of the problem now."


    "And a young dragon''s passions can be powerful," Ardwella said knowingly. "It''s not like she isn''t already in a deep personal relationship with him. They are bonded. Candasar was out of connection with him at that time, but Firestorm felt all of Lothinar''s hurt and confusion,"


    Ardwynn frowned. "I don''t think other wives have to deal with such things."


    "Most people don''t live with dragons! Bonding changes everything." Ardwella smiled sympathetically. "Now that Firestorm has found a way to join with him physically, I don''t think you will be able to prevent that forever, even if Lothinar has been able to stall up until now. And with all of my son''s many strengths, he has one great weakness," Ardwella said cautiously. "He hates to hurt anyone¡¯s feelings. Especially those he loves. You should be glad Candasar is more of a traditionalist with her eyes on Tundor."


    "I understand Firestorm''s feelings. Ardwynn nodded, then suddenly asked. "But What about my feelings?"


    "Perhaps you have not made your position as clear as you believe," Ardwella said, smiling slightly. "If you are struggling, perhaps you should remedy that.¡± She looked about cautiously. ¡°It also can not have escaped you that your new powers might help you change things a bit."


    "What do you mean?" Ardwynn asked, suddenly standing and beginning to pace back and forth.


    "Look Ardwynn. I''ve made many mistakes over the years," Ardwella said bitterly, "But letting those troops loyal to Argent live, somehow thinking they were redeemable, was one of my worst. But now you''ve changed everything. You''ve reset things. I and the people of this town owe you a great deal for that. You must carefully consider what you will do with your new godlike powers. Perhaps it''s time to do something for yourself."


    "What do you mean?" Ardwynn asked suspiciously.


    "So, regarding time. How far back can you go?" Ardwella asked.


    Ardwynn shook her head. "Are you suggesting I further change the timeline? That sounds dangerous!"


    "Of course it is, but you already have!" Ardwella said suddenly. "This temple and the lives you restored by bringing it here are not supposed to exist. Yet they do. I''m not telling you what to do, but I probably couldn''t resist making a few changes to make my life happier. You might not be able to change Firestorm''s affection for him, but you might be able to change how she expresses those feelings.¡±


    "If I were to do that," Ardwynn looked distressed. "Go back and change things..." Ardwynn faltered. What would happen to my son? What would happen to Harvey?"


    "That''s certainly a concern," Ardwella admitted. "I guess you''ll just have to get used to sharing then. Forget I said anything."


    Ardwynn frowned. "You''re after something yourself, aren''t you? That''s what this is all about, isn''t it?"


    "I could solve some of this." Ardwella suddenly said quietly. "Perhaps all of it. What if someone with my skills could travel back and kill Argent before he came to power? I could save all the dragons that were burned alive! I knew quite a few of them. We could even save my grandfather! I¡¯d volunteer for that!"


    Ardwynn clicked her tongue and shook her head slightly.


    "It''s far too risky. Changing that much could have extreme repercussions, especially when dealing with someone as influential as Argent. Would you have bonded with Esmarilla without Argent''s war on the dragons? You might not have married Albarad or given birth to Lothinar. If we do these things, this world will be vastly different, even unrecognizable. I must consider this and tread carefully."


    "Clearly, I do not understand," said Ardwella somewhat crossly. "In this instance, except in this specific location, you didn''t change that much. My mind still remembers the burning of the temple and the deaths. How can that be the case if you moved it forward in time before that happened? When Argent''s daughters Preen and Junderyn were plotting to sneak in to murder the temple workers and free the soldiers, what did they see? Did you move the broken stones and burned beams back simultaneously? You were certainly standing on the fallen roof this morning."


    "I don''t have the answers you seek." Ardwynn shrugged. "This is the first time I have done this! What I did came from a place deep inside me filled with complex emotions, not logic. It is magic, after all."


    "How convenient!" Ardwella said, rolling her eyes. "Telling me that you don¡¯t know what you¡¯re doing isn''t exactly filling me with confidence! And I won¡¯t be alone. Other intelligent people are going to begin asking the questions that I am. It would help if you started thinking logically about what you did and how you did it. It''s going to be critical for the next time."


    "I never said there was going to be a next time," Ardwynn replied.


    "I just want you to think about it," said Ardwella, looking disappointed. ¡°Or could it be that you don''t trust me?¡±


    A temple acolyte cleared her throat. The young human woman was one that Ardwynn had pulled forward through time. She looked at the two elves nervously, and it was clear she wasn''t eager to interrupt them.


    This bird came for you," she said. "I wouldn''t usually bother you, but I''m pretty sure it''s from King Enderline." She gazed at Ardwynn with genuine and unmistakable reverence. Ardwynn suspected that one of her relatives must have told her of her fate in the other timeline. Had she not brought the temple and its contents forward, the acolyte would have been ruthlessly murdered or died in the fire. Preventing this sincere young woman¡¯s death, along with the other dragon temple acolytes, was the most satisfying part of what she had done.


    Ardwynn contemplated these things as she took the note. She looked at it and handed it back. She smiled, deciding to proceed as if nothing extraordinary had happened.


    "Can you read this?" she asked. "It''s total gibberish to me!"


    The young acolyte looked surprised and then laughed. "Of course. We use a form of shorthand code," she said. I''ll have to teach it to you." Then she lowered her eyes. "If you wish it," she added respectfully.If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.


    The human maiden laid the strip of red paper out on the table and examined it. "This symbol here is the royal identifier. The next is a request for a meeting. I''m assuming symbols three, four, and five are the first three letters of Lothinar''s name. See here ''L. O. T." That''s probably Lothinar. OH! she gasped. I think this part means that the King is coming back here! Didn''t they leave for Silvantra?"


    "They did. And Firestorm didn''t mention anything. She dropped Michelle off about halfway there. Something must have happened!" Ardwynn said with surprise.


    ¡°The message continues.¡± said the girl. ¡°It says ¡®Red Sword Recovered.¡±


    Ardwynn looked at the acolyte who had brought her the message. "Thank you. I''ll be sure to tell Lothinar that Enderline is back and looking for him, "she said. I''m sure he will find that red sword part interesting."


    "It''s probably not as fascinating as what you did to the temple this morning," the pretty acolyte said. Are you going to be taking the job of high priestess? "


    "I may have someone else in mind," said Ardwynn. She looked over into the corner where Heirwynn and Snow were sitting. Heirwynn was seated in a chair while Snow was curled up contentedly by her feet. Heirwynn was holding and looking at little Harvey. She had the most sweet and tender smile as she gazed at him. He giggled and grabbed her nose. She pulled back, surprised, but continued smiling at him. Then, Heirwynn suddenly realized that Ardwynn was looking at her.


    "What?" she asked.


    "I''m giving you a promotion, Heirwynn," said Ardwynn. "I would like you to assume control of this temple."


    "Who me?" she asked with surprise. "But I was planning to help care for Harvey!!" she protested.


    "You still can, but you are passionate about this town, and I think you would make an excellent high priestess for this temple."


    Heirwynn frowned. "Thank you, but that''s only part of what I hoped..."


    "Yes, yes... Lothinar. I didn''t forget." muttered Ardwynn. "But remember, that''s up to him."


    Ardwella smiled at her daughter-in-law. "Something tells me this conversation isn''t exactly over," she said.


    -------------------


    Daisy looked down at a pristine mountain lake from the black dragon''s broad back.


    "We are stopping here for a little while," said Esmarilla through the wind.


    "Is this where Lothinar is?" asked Daisy.


    "No. But it''s a nice spot about halfway to where Lothinar is." The black dragon explained. "And like I said before, I''m hungry. I need a deer or two. And after that, I''d like to have a bit of a chat. Trying to communicate while in the air is difficult."


    "You seem to be doing fine. I can hear you great," said Daisy.


    "That''s because my words are deep and rumble a bit." said the dragon. "You, however, are shrieking into the wind. Even though you''re behind my ears, I''m not enjoying the experience. I promise it will be a conversation worth your time."


    "Not much I can do," said Daisy. "I''m bumming a ride as it is."


    ¡®Exactly," said Esmarilla, landing softly. "Now get off."


    "You wouldn''t leave me here by this lake in the mountains all alone, would you? you?" Asked Daisy, suddenly suspicious.


    "No, Cantrell is already upset that I brought you this far in the first place. He seems to have taken on a strange and unnatural interest in your well-being. He''s strongly suggesting that I bring you back to the Capital."


    "Is that what you''re going to do?" asked Daisy.


    "It depends on how our conversation goes," replied the dragon. If I''m going to risk making my bond angry, I''m going to need to chat with you first."


    "I see," said Daisy, climbing down. "It is a pretty spot."


    "The water''s safe to drink or bathe in, if you choose."


    Daisy shuddered. "I''ve had enough bathing for a while, I think," she said.


    "Well, make yourself comfortable," said Esmarilla. "I''ll be back soon."


    The black dragon leaped into the air and flew off across the lake. Daisy could see her flying a search pattern over the forest on the other side. Suddenly, the black shape flashed down, disappearing behind the trees. She must have spotted a deer. Daisy suddenly felt entirely alone. However, it was a pleasant day, and sitting in the sun for a little while wouldn''t make her too hot. A large, smooth piece of granite jutted out from the shore, and Daisy made her way there, looking at the water. It was quiet and peaceful here. She hadn''t spent any time to speak of outside the Capital. She suddenly wondered what kind of town or village Lothinar lived in. She must be crazy to follow after him without knowing anything about him or his life.


    The thought struck her like a lightning bolt. What was she doing? All last evening and this morning, she had nothing on her mind except Lothinar. Now standing here, she began to question her motivations. His smiling face came quickly back to her mind. What was going on? She felt nauseous and strange. It was suddenly very hot. She stripped off her clothes and jumped into the calm mountain lake, belatedly remembering that she wasn''t much of a swimmer. Sputtering and choking on water, she thrashed her way back to shore, climbing back onto the rock and lying panting and naked in the warm sun. The lack of sleep the night before suddenly caught up with her, and she felt incredibly sleepy. She closed her eyes.


    "If I were a wolf, you would look like a tasty treat." said the dragon. "It''s a good thing I know elves taste awful."


    Daisy jerked awake. She shrieked. Esmarilla was looming over her.


    "Hey! Calm down!" said the dragon. "I thought you didn''t want to go swimming!"


    Daisy reached for her clothes and hastily put them on. Luckily, the rising slight breeze hadn''t blown them very far.


    "I''m not feeling very well," said Daisy. "I feel hungover, and I didn''t even do any drinking!"


    "That''s not surprising at all," said Esmarilla. "I think what you might be feeling is Lothinar''s pheromones finally passing out of your system."


    ¡°So is this going to get worse, this Lothinar poisoning?¡±


    Esmarilla laughed out loud. Her voice was a deep rumble of mirth.


    ¡°The fact that you are calling it something like that is probably a good sign that you are almost done with it,¡± Esmarilla answered. "Now that I¡¯ve filled up on a few deer, your answer to my next question will tell me for certain. Here it is: Do you want me to continue bringing you to Lothinar, or do you want to go home?¡±


    ¡°Home? You mean the Capital? "Daisy asked. "Do you think Cantrell has given away my room?¡±


    The dragon laughed again. ¡°No, but he''s having it thoroughly cleaned as we speak. All the bedding, sheets, pillowcases, and the like have been removed and burned. He doesn''t want you or anyone else to come into contact with those addictive chemicals.¡±


    ¡°That elf is just walking around infecting people like that? He¡¯s a hazard!¡±


    ¡°Believe me, he knows. He usually tries to keep to himself or associate only with folks that are bonded to dragons. Being dragon bonded makes you immune to the effects.¡±


    "I''m not getting anywhere near him again!" Daisy exclaimed. "Take me home!"


    "I guess that means that you pass the test. You''re free of Lothinar." Esmarilla laughed. "Congratulations! You may be the first to get over him that quickly, and without bonding with a dragon to do it."


    "Then I feel very sorry for the others." Daisy grimaced.


    "Lothinar''s really not a bad guy," Esmarilla said. "He''s actually kind and quite amazing. You could probably be friends if you were dragon bonded. Perhaps I should reintroduce you to my brother Vanador. He has a soft spot for pretty blonde elves that look like you."


    "I''ve met him," said Daisy, climbing up on Esmarilla''s back. "He''s got some serious problems to solve before I could ever get involved with a dragon with that much baggage."


    "You''re probably right," said Esmarilla, leaping into the air and unfurling her great wings. "But every dragon I''ve ever met has problems. Don''t rule out bonding altogether. It doesn''t always work out terribly. Sometimes, the right elf and dragon can make a great team. I''m pretty satisfied with Cantrell but don''t ask me about my first bond. That was a disaster!"


    "Who was that?" Daisy asked.


    "Believe it or not, it was Lothinar''s mother! She''s the one that killed most of Argent''s family."


    "Well then, she can''t be all bad," said Daisy. "They needed killing."


    "I tend to agree, but you might change your opinion of her when I tell you that she is the one who decided to give Lothinar those powerful pheromones. She has them herself."


    "I think I might be a little too close to the situation to be objective," Daisy said, leaning forward to yell into the black dragon''s ear. "What does Cantrell think of her?" Daisy suddenly asked.


    "He''s not a big fan of Ardwella." Esmarilla chuckled. "And neither am I."


    The black dragon turned in the air and began her flight back to the Capital. Daisy wouldn''t be stalking Lothinar. She couldn''t help thinking that she might have saved Lothinar some considerable trouble.


    Now that she was free of the compulsion to get back to Lothinar, Daisy could concentrate on the experience of flying on a dragon. It was amazing. She found herself thinking that she could get used to this!


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-


    The air shimmered in the front yard of Ardwynn¡¯s house, and there was a resounding pop. Two figures appeared. Lothinar reached out to steady Zinariya as she swayed and almost fell over.


    "Easy there!" he said. "That was a long teleport! Especially since there were two of us this time."


    Zinariya grimaced.


    "Ouch!" Zinariya complained, shaking her right hand back and forth. ¡°I didn''t expect it to hurt!¡±


    "I should have probably warned you about that," said Lothinar. "Your claw won''t be able to fully heal until you retake dragon form. We''ve only worked on this when you have been an elf. You should probably change back and stay that way for at least a few hours. That should finalize the healing process."


    "How do you even know these things?" Zinariya asked crossly, staring at Lothinar. Do you have an owner''s guide for Dragons you''ve been reading behind my back?" She suddenly noticed Firestorm staring at her with a strange look in her eye.


    Knowing Lothinar was about to return, Firestorm had been watching with nervous anticipation as Zinariya successfully teleported Lothinar and herself back to the place from which she had left¡ªthe front yard of Ardwynn''s house.


    "Welcome back from the moon, Lothinar," Firestorm said stiffly. The red dragon was still in her dragon form. Zinariya was suddenly acutely aware of how big Firestorm had grown. It was somewhat overwhelming while Zinariya was standing here in the form of a young blonde elf. Up to this point, while being hosted by both Siophra and Ardwella, Zinariya had spent most of her life in this shape. She found herself wondering if she would ever feel normal being a dragon. Perhaps it was because Lothinar was an elf and had infused her mother''s egg with so much of his own image, but the young dragon still found taking the form of a dragon somewhat perplexing.


    Firestorm cleared her throat. "You are clinging to him, Zinariya. "Are you not feeling well?" Then Firestorm scowled. It had been phrased as a question, but it didn''t sound like one to Zinariya. It sounded more like a challenge. Zinariya reluctantly let go of Lothinar.


    "I got him home, didn''t I?" retorted Zinariya. "I obviously have brought him farther distances than you have!"


    Firestorm snorted. "You had to cheat!"


    "Stop it! This is not a competition between you two!" Lothinar interrupted. "We are all bonded. I share both of your thoughts and Candasar''s as well. I will have to insist that you two get along!"


    "I know that I''m new to this common bond and telepathy, but shouldn''t I be able to hear Firestorm''s thoughts right now?" asked Zinariya.


    Lothinar''s face grew puzzled. "Yes. As a matter of fact, I can''t even hear her right now. she''s been silent for quite a while. Are you shutting us out, Firestorm? Why would you want to do that?"


    "I wanted you to come here first so we could talk and not go straight to the temple," Firestorm said.


    ¡®Temple?¡± Lothinar asked. His face revealed his confusion.


    Firestorm opened the mental door that allowed her thoughts and memories to flow to Lothinar once again. He blinked quickly as he got caught up on the last few hours and began processing the information Firestorm had been keeping from him.


    "The temple is back! That''s amazing! Ardwynn manifested her power.¡± he finally said. "Don''t you think that what she did at the temple today is something I should know about Firestorm? Why did you keep that from me?" he asked.


    "You had a lot on your mind, Lothinar, and I didn''t want to distract you," Firestorm said, looking down somewhat guiltily.


    Zinariya, although new to the bond, instantly knew that there was something more going on.


    Firestorm seemed frustrated and upset. She might even be considered angry. Feeling another dragon''s emotions through Lothinar''s bond was new to her. Lothinar, however, was more accustomed to sharing his feelings through dragon telepathy. He waited about thirty seconds, processing the images and emotions before he spoke.


    "I''m disappointed," he said.


    "So am I! You kissed Daisy,¡± she retorted.


    "She extorted me," he explained. "I really needed her loose change."


    "That''s ridiculous! You are too nice! You should have just turned her upside down and shaken the coins out of her pockets. Nobody would have stopped you!"


    "Now, wouldn''t that have been a sight," he said. Me, shaking that poor girl by her feet. You have to be joking."


    "I''m jealous," she said angrily.


    "Ok! Now we''re getting somewhere," he said. At least you''re finally being honest!"


    Zinariya watched this back and forth, bantering with amazement. Suddenly, it dawned on her: She knew what this was¡ªIt looked like a lover''s quarrel.


    The air shimmered, and the red dragon vanished. In the place where she had stood, a beautiful red-haired elf appeared. She was crying!


    "Another blonde!" Firestorm lamented. "How could you? I''m not blonde, but I love you!" she sniffed.


    Lothinar closed the distance between them and opened his arms. The red-haired elf fell into them, sobbing on his shoulder.


    "Zanaria c-can teleport and n-now Ard-w-wynn just became very p-powerful. Where does that leave me L-othinar? I''m going to be the l-last one i-in the pecking order again! I think y-you have even k-kissed this complete stranger, Daisy more times than m-me!"


    Lothinar frowned. "There is something you might not have thought through, Firestorm," he said. "Candasar and Tundor spent the night together as elves. Candasar immediately became pregnant. Now, she is stuck in elf form until the baby is born. That means no more flying,"


    "Are you planning to get me pregnant, Lothinar?" Firestorm asked, pushing him back but holding onto his hands. She gazed into his eyes. "Because I''m willing to take that risk!"


    "This is really terrible timing!" Zinariya said for no reason except that she knew it would annoy Firestorm.


    ¡°Look, Zinariya,¡± Firestorm seethed, ¡°You¡¯ve had him all to yourself for most of the day. I¡¯m just asking for an hour or two.¡±


    "We don''t have time for that kind of thing right now!" Zinariya almost shouted. "Marg is still out there somewhere. We need to deal with that first! Remember, she probably still wants to kill you all, and she doesn''t really even know about me yet!"


    "You''re right," said Lothinar. We need to go to the temple and see if they know anything more. I also need to talk with Ardwynn."


    Candasar broke into the conversation through the bond.


    "We''re almost back, Lothinar. Despite his uneven and jerky flapping, Tundor seems to have made good time. We now know about the temple too! We''ll all meet you there! Make sure Zinariya comes along. I need to talk with my daughter."


    "Oh, that''s great. Another Lecture, I suppose." Zinariya said as she shimmered and changed forms. She turned back into a dragon.


    Lothinar watched the transition. He''d seen it many times now, but it was still amazing. Back in dragon form, it was even more obvious to Lothinar how young and small the golden dragon really was. Her golden scales, however, were quite beautiful. Lothinar gave her a second look.


    "What?" she asked self-consciously.


    "I suppose that I''m just more used to you in elf form," he said softly.


    "I was just thinking the same thing myself," she replied. "Do you like what you see?"


    Still standing next to Lothinar, Firestorm switched back into dragon form herself with a red shimmer.


    "Get on, Lothinar!" she growled, side-eyeing the young golden. "Let''s go see what Ardwynn has to say. The sooner this gets resolved, the sooner I can have some time with you alone!"


    Lothinar leaped up on the red dragon without replying. Privately, Zinariya wondered how the new Ardwynn would actually feel about that.


    As Firestorm jumped into the air, Zinariya realized that the time she had spent in dragon form and actually flying was actually limited. She jumped off the ground and flared her much smaller wings. It was obvious that the mechanics of flight took some practice.


    "I suppose I should probably get some practice being an actual dragon," she thought to herself. However, she soon realized that Firestorm had not waited for her.


    "Ha!" She said to herself. "You can''t leave a dragon that can teleport behind!" Once in the air Zinariya teleported, closing the gap and targeting the air off to the side of the quickly disappearing Firestorm. She exited the teleport parallel to the red dragon. Wincing, she tried to ignore the sharp pain in the toenail of her front claw. She was suddenly regretting allowing Xerxes to live.


    At her appearance, Firestorm jerked a little in surprise but recovered quickly. The temple wasn''t far and was already in sight. Both dragons flew down for a landing. There was a crowd of humans outside. When they saw Lothinar and the two dragons, they bowed their heads in respect.


    Lothinar suspected that someone must have informed those inside of their arrival because a minute or two later, Ardwynn stepped out the front doors. Behind her, with a concerned look on her face, was his mother, Ardwella.


    "Come inside, husband," she said. "Bring your dragons. We need to talk."


    Firestorm and Zinariya looked at each other.


    "Ooh. that sounded scary!" Firestorm said suddenly.


    "Candasar and Tundor will be here soon," said Lothinar.


    "Tell them to meet us inside," Ardynn said, her face was troubled. "I have asked for food to be prepared. We can eat while we talk. There are decisions to be made."


    Lothinar reached out and gathered Ardwynn into his arms, pulling her close. "Nice job on the temple, Ardwynn," he whispered. "I''m proud of you. This is quite a surprise!"


    Warmed by his praise, Ardwynn looked up into his eyes. "Wait till you get my bill," she said with a dark chuckle. "It might be more than you are willing to pay."


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