“Sounds like they did better than you hoped,” Ava said as she ran her fingers across Kaen’s chest. “Still feel like you are on track with your plans?”

Kaen nodded as he ran his fingers along her back. “We’re into month four of training, and things are going to only get harder on all of them. Hess is working on making the harnesses. I honestly believe that next month, both will be able to attempt riding their dragons.”

Ava chuckled and shook her head gently. “None of them have attempted it yet?”

Rolling his eyes even though Ava couldn’t see it, Kaen snorted and sighed. “Thankfully, not yet. Phillip and Foros discussed it the other day, but I would prefer to be safe… unlike Pammon and I were.”

Moaning softly, Ava snuggled against her husband and smiled. “I’m just glad you are better. It’s nice having the man I fell in love with back.”

Kissing her on the forehead, Kaen couldn’t help but smile. “It’s weird. Even with a battle that will determine so many things only a few months away, I haven’t been this happy in ages. Even Pammon seems to be doing well with all this.”

Ava barely responded, her breath slowing down, and Kaen knew she was asleep. As tired as he was, Kaen couldn’t help but feel content. It had been so long since he had felt this way.

“We have begun making armor, and the smiths are producing it as quickly as we can smelt the ore. The dwarves who are experienced in this have been a boon with some of the processes. They made things more efficient, and it has resulted in less waste.”

Kaen nodded as he read the reports Aldric had given him. The King was staring at the map they occasionally modified with tokens for troops. “With the armor and weapons, I think we can have done in the coming months, these two groups here can be listed as a medium armored group.”

Herb tapped one of the tokens he had placed a month ago. “I’ve got a group here that will be ready to help also. These adventurers have been getting a lot of practice with some of our older and more experienced ones. The mentoring has gone amazing.”

Glancing up from the report, Kaen looked at Herb even though the guild master wasn’t looking at him. “I’ll tell Selmah you called her older the next time I see her.”

Herb groaned and turned to see Kaen grinning. “She’d probably pretend to be upset because you told her that. Still, she has been instrumental in helping our mages get stronger. I only wish…”

Kaen nodded, knowing what Herb had hoped for. Amaranth had inspected Selmah and agreed she could do nothing to help the woman with her injury. The lines in a person's body controlling their mana had been damaged beyond repair. The fact she could still cast spells and possessed the magical power she did surprised the green dragon.

“That will be a great support group. Would you rather keep them bundled up or spread out?” Aldric asked as he picked up the small note card on the table that matched the token. “Forty mages spread out would do wonders and present less of a target for the enemy to focus on.”

Herb nodded. “I planned on it, but it’s easier to list them all under one thing. My real goal is to help outfit each of your groups with adventurers. A healer and warrior together can keep the lines strong. My archers and scouts, with yours, will help create chaos against any enemy we encounter.”

“And two dragons supporting each army along with a dragon rider,” Aldric added. He turned and saw Kaen looking at the two of them. “Did you three really kill that many Kobolds?”

“At least four thousand. It took a few days, but they cleared out enough to hurt their ranks for a while. Only one of them suffered a slight injury, and I’m glad it happened,” Kaen replied. Had they walked away unscathed from the battle, I feel it might have led to them being too overconfident.”

“We don’t need any more dragon riders with that problem,” teased Herb.

“You’re right,” Kaen said as he stood to join the men at the map. “I’ve suffered for it, as have others. Right now, my plan is simple: Help them grow and get stronger. We have three months, maybe four, max before we attack.”

“Especially since winter is here.”

Putting his hand on Aldric’s shoulder, Kaen squeezed and nodded. “Our food supplies are fine. The crops growing in the mountains have finally started producing. The winter crops will survive, and for the first time in a while, it appears the animals are starting to reproduce faster than we have eaten them.”

“And we got those two loads of dried fish in two weeks ago,” Herb said.

Sighing, Aldric scratched his chin as he looked at the map again. “Do you really think the dwarves and wood elves can be in place when we want to attack? The snow might not all be melted by then.”

“Dagan said they will be there. In the next six weeks, I will know how much more time we need until the attack. Once that date is set, there is no turning back.”

Aldric and Herb both nodded at Kaen’s words. They had six weeks to decide, and once they committed to the fight, Stioks would find out. There were spies in the capital, but nothing could be done about it.

“Well, I guess that completes our business here. Any plans?” asked Aldric.

Kaen groaned and then sighed. “I always have plans, but right now, I’m going to see my wife and spend some time with her before we get back to work.”

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Aldric reached out, shook Kaen’s hand, and smiled. “As always, I am grateful for your commitment to this task. May the spirits watch over you.”

Herb shook Kaen’s hand and grinned. “I only wish Fiola was still here to see you. I don’t think she would be surprised at how much you have grown.”

The mention of Fiola brought back a few memories, and Kaen smiled. Some were good, and some were bad, but he knew that Fiola had done what she thought was best for the adventurers' guild and the kingdom.

“You two stay warm, and thank you for trusting my judgment.”

“You’re sure you don’t want to come with us?”

Ava scowled and shook her head at him. “If it wouldn’t be ladylike like I’d give you the hand gesture, I always catch you and Hess sharing. No, I’m not getting on the back of a dragon and flying to the south side of this land in the snow. Unlike you, some of us would be frozen to the bone. Besides, your children are kicking me constantly.”

“My children? Why are they my children when they are kicking you?” Kaen teased as he moved over and put his hand on Ava’s stomach. He could feel that they were indeed kicking more often.

“Two more months, maybe three max,” Ava sighed. “Mom and Dad said they will be ready when the time comes since it is twins.”

As will I.

Ava turned and smiled, nodding at Amaranth, who was watching them. Her eyes were changing colors as they had a lot in the last while.

Smiling, Kaen got down on his knee and kept his hand on Ava’s belly. Closing his eyes, he willed his lifestone to flood him with power and saw his two children larger now, each growing and moving inside her. He could see their arms and legs pushing and shoving as the two of them were pressed against each other. Their heads had small features, and he could make out their eyes, noses, and mouths.

“They are beautiful,” he whispered as he watched them.

“You know that’s not fair,” Ava groaned, jealous of whenever he did this.

A thrumming noise came behind them, and Kaen and Ava turned toward Amaranth.

Kaen marveled at the power that outlined the green dragon as his eyes moved past Ava to Amaranth. She was always so bright, and her scales seemed filled with their own magical power and life.

Then he froze as he stared at the green dragon, and Pammon, who had been relaxing next to Amaranth, stood up quickly and began to trill.

“What in the world just happened?” Ava asked. “Did you two tell a joke or something?”

A grin broke out on Kaen, and he stared at Amaranth and saw her eyes and the light of them swirling.

Do you know?

Do I know what?

Pammon was almost giddy if one could call a dragon that, as he shifted from side to side.

She doesn’t know! I know, and she doesn’t know!

Glynnis had moved because of how Pammon had stood up, and the yellow dragon was staring at him.

Kaen turned his eyes and looked at Glynnis, wondering if he might find something similar. After looking for a bit, he realized that there was not the same thing inside her as inside Amaranth.

“Kaen!” Ava said loudly, trying to get his attention. “What is going on?”

“One second, my love,” Kaen said, turning his eyes back to Ava. After standing, he kissed her on the head. He grabbed her hand and led her slowly to where Amaranth was. The green dragon was shifting around, no longer lying down but instead nervous at why Kaen was coming toward her and why Pammon seemed ready to explode.

“Amaranth, lie back down if you will. I promise I’ll tell you in a moment.”

The green dragon grumbled, but she lay down, folding her wings against her.

Kaen got next to her and smiled. Looking up at the green dragon, she could see her eyelids pulled down halfway as she watched Kaen and Ava.

“Do me a favor and lift your wings and hold them up for a moment. I want to show Ava something.

PLEASE HURRY! I’m dying over here!

Kaen tried to not wince or laugh as he felt Pammon’s excitement about to burst. He tried to remember a time Pammon had acted this excited and knew there hadn’t been one.

“Kaen?”

“Trust me, my love. Here, let me guide you.”

Kaen moved behind Ava, held out both hands, angling them a little apart, and moved her to where he knew was the right spot.

“Can you feel it?”

“Feel wha–”

Ava stopped talking, and Kaen felt her tense up in his hands.

“Are you serious?” she whispered.

Someone best tell me what is going on!

It had taken every ounce of Kaen’s power to control what he had not said or revealed. Pammon had sensed it immediately and was about to give away the secret he knew.

“Pammon, would you like to tell her?”

YOU ARE PREGNANT!

Amaranth began to move, and Kaen gently took Ava in his grasp and pulled her back as the green dragon shifted. He looked at Pammon, who was smiling, every tooth he still had showing.

You are pregnant! He can see the egg! He can see–

Kaen started to laugh and then felt Pammon using his eyes.

Impossible! How did you?!

What?! What can he see?!

Amaranth’s voice was trembling, confusion and excitement flooding her words in both Kaen's and Ava’s heads.

His wife was trembling in his arms as she reached out and touched the side of Amaranth now that she had stopped moving around so much.

Two… there are two eggs.

Pammon’s words seemed to be quiet as he spoke. Disbelief in what he was seeing through Kaen’s eyes.

How did you hide that from me? How could I not know?

Kaen smiled and looked up at Pammon, letting his dragon see himself through the view Sedel used to see the world.

It took everything I had to, and I was almost unable to… but… congratulations! You’re going to be a father again.

Pammon sat down harder on the stone floor than he had intended, and the noise of it echoed through the cave.

Glynnis came over and nuzzled against Amaranth.

Congratulations sister! One dragon has not had two eggs in over five hundred years!

Amaranth said nothing, her body sagging against the ground next to Pammon as the words she had heard still ran through her mind.

“Congratulations!” Ava exclaimed. “Aren’t you excited?”

Amaranth nodded and turned her head toward Ava.

I am, and yet I do not know how to feel. I had hoped, but it often takes a while between eggs… and two eggs…

Turning her head to where Pammon was, Amaranth touched him with her snout.

What shall we do?

Pammon laughed, his thrumming echoing through the cavern.

We shall welcome two new children and need to build a bigger cave.

Kaen started to laugh and turned his lifestone off. Opening his eyes, he turned his wife around and kissed her.

“I guess you really are rubbing off on Amaranth after all.”