Avess left Lostcest when he felt strong enough to shift. He still cursed himself for changing to begin with, but what was done was done. There was no changing the past.

The forest outside the village was thick with brush and alive with life. More birds than he’d ever seen squawked at him. It made him laugh as they scolded him for disturbing their peace. The world was different when not the main predator, but it was also a welcome break.

Avess travelled for half the day, waiting till the sun was high overhead before he attempted to shift. His arm was still sore, but most of the aches inside dissipated to a light echo of what they were. Closing his eyes, he concentrated. Then a bright white light consumed him, and he was back to his normal self.

“I missed this,” he said, stretching his wings. He jumped into the air and flew westward, toward the cavern and home.

The concern he had for the village wouldn’t leave him, even if it seemed the people didn’t think anything of it. Why were the Magus being recalled? Was that happening in the south as well or just in Tregaron?

The cold air above the clouds was the perfect antidote to his concerns. He didn’t realize how much he missed this while stuck as a human. It helped to let his mind empty and focus on only flying.

It was another day before he made it back to the cavern. Jade dragon guards stationed outside greeted him.

“Welcome back Dragon Lord,” they said in unison, bowing as they did.

“It’s great to be back. I assume the Drakku are still together and my daughter hasn’t created chaos?”

One of the guards, a tall muscular dragon named Snearl laughed. “No sir, she has not. All is well.”

Avess smiled and nodded. “Very well then. Thank you for your service.”

He left them and entered the cavern, turning down a dark tunnel and then another turn before he stood above the vast space below, filled with Drakku from all the clans. Home, a place he longed to be.

“Father, you’re back!”

Avess turned and Etain rushed him, clutching him in a tight embrace.

“My dear, what a welcome sight. Were you worried I’d not be back? Afraid you might have to lead the Drakku?”

“I knew you’d be back. Who is strong enough to stop you? Who would be foolish enough to try?” She winked at him and the two held each others hands.

“It’s good to be back. However, we must not delay in our duties. Has Ildor left? Are any Magus here?”

“I thought he left when you did. None of the Magus are here. I haven’t seen any since the meeting with the griffons.”

“Troubling indeed,” he whispered. “My dear, as much as I want to relax and enjoy all this, something is not right and we need to figure out what it is.”

“Father?”

“Come dear, let’s eat to my return and then I can share what I mean.”

After dinner, Avess and Etain were alone on a ledge overlooking the cavern. The Drakku were alive down there. Laughter and the comfortable hum of conversation drifted upwards to them.

“Etain, they love you. You will be a great Dragon Lord.”

“Not all of them.”

He shifted to sit more comfortably. “No, probably not all of them. We never have that luxury. But enough. You’ll have to be fierce when needed, but merciful most of the time.”

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“Why do they argue so much? Why are there some who cannot accept the rule of the Dragon Lord?”

“Do you speak of the griffons? They’re a proud clan. Autonomy has been art of their identity for a long time now. In the end, they realize who they are.”

“No, not them. The dragons. Why do some question your rule? And mine, I guess.”

Avess nodded, understanding what she was hinting at.

“Grymryg.”

Etain said nothing.

“He’s a powerful dragon, and one of the best from the Onyx clan I’ve ever known. He’ll be a proud warrior someday. Others follow him because he has that aura, that special quality that cannot be learned or gained. If we were not the Dragon Lords, I’d have no doubt he’d do fine. But, he is controlled by his anger a little too much. If that got out of control, he’d drag the Drakku into something we don’t have any right to be part of.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Nor will you grasp the entirety of it all. Not yet anyway. When I was gone, I visited your mother.”

“I thought that’s where you’d gone.”

“On my way back, I came across a deserted village. Not just with people gone, but as if they were suddenly taken away. None of their belongings were missing as though they weren’t expecting to be gone.”

“What’s this have to do with Grymryg? I don’t follow your logic.”

“Listen,” he said harshly. “Like back with the griffons, just listen and you will see.”

He could tell he hurt her feelings, but that was not his intent. The moment passed and he continued.

“I was injured from a storm and foolishly shifted into my human form. I had to heal before changing back, so after that village, I traveled until I came upon Steelhorn. It was there I learned the Magus were recalled back to Tregaron.”

“All of them?”

“I think so.”

“But why?”

“I don’t know for sure, but I have a thought.”

Etain waited on his words, her anxiety showing on her face.

“What is it father? What worries you?”

“Ildor told me back when the Kull Naga Ornas ascended to his position that a small group of Magus believed they’d gain greater power by adhering the blood of dragons to their stones.”

Etain gasped, bringing her hand to her mouth. “No! They can’t be serious! They do know who they are, right?”

“One would think so. Ildor swore he was attempting to get to the truth and vanquish those who held such heresy. But there’s more.”

“More? How can there be more? What’s possibly worse than that?”

Avess composed himself, watching the Drakku flying over the peaceful valley below. When stoked, their anger was legendary, but left alone the Drakku were like any other creature; carefree and without malice.

“Ildor tells me a gray-soul has been spotted.”

“A gray…what? I have no idea what that means.”

“Nor should you have. It’s dark magic from long ago that we all thought was hidden from memory. But somehow, it had come back.”

“Father, you frighten me.”

“As you should be. Gray-souls are not something we Drakku should have ever had to worry about again.”

Avess paused, hoping he was not about to frighten Etain too much that she’d lose her nerve and lose sight of becoming the Dragon Lord.

“A powerful magic turns halflings into gray-souls, mindless creatures that serve their master without question or reserve. They are taken in their sleep as their dreams are devoured, and when all is gone, the halfling becomes a gray-soul.”

“That is horrible. How can this be?”

“Dark magic. And the catalyst for it all is the soul of a dragon. It’s dangerous to us all.”

Etain gasped again. “A dragon soul? But…I don’t understand.”

“My hope is that you never have to. I feel all of these events are connected in some way. We are in danger. If some, like Grymryg, were to find this out, they’d stop at nothing to fight against our allies. They’d enrage the entire Drakku, dragon and griffon alike, until there was no choice. Ildor promises it is but a small and insignificant faction within the Order that follow these hideous beliefs. He’s intent on stomping it out before it gets out of hand. The Drakku don’t need to know that a minority of our allies have evil working within them.”

“I understand your concern father. We’ve been allied for so long, something like this could needlessly threaten our relationship with the Order. Your discretion makes sense.”

“If only the events of that village made sense, then we’d make greater strides toward finding answers. For now, I must trust Ildor to come through with his promise and let the process play out.”

“I appreciate your trust in me father.”

“You’ll be Dragon Lord someday, you ought to know the complexities of dealing with such delicate matters. If the minority of the Order wins out, then we are in grave danger. If we decide to strike first and wipe them out, we are the monsters and will have ruined a long standing, peaceful bond between us. We must tread carefully, as the answers are not clear and any action can have dire consequences.”

He could see Etain thinking about all he’d shared. Good he thought. She does not let her emotions carry her.

“Father, may I be excused now?”

“Of course. Thank you for watching in my stead. And think upon what I’ve shared. Don’t spread it around, that is information only for the Dragon Lord.”

“And his daughter.” She smiled and took off, floating on the air, circling the Drakku below.

Avess leaned back and watched the Drakku. They had no idea how much danger they were in, and if he placed his trust correctly, they never would. To upset the balance of their relationship with the Order now, over rumors and a small grumbling group of Magus would be folly. Patience was needed, and he had plenty. For now.