“Be safe and remember your training. We all have faith in you.”

Frederick nodded as he sat on Tazorath’s neck, clipped into the saddle. He looked like a dragon rider, covered in a full suit of armor except for the boots, which were leather ones he would swap out later for chain ones. The shield on his back and sword on his hip came from Aldric, a gift from the King. Baskets of arrows were strapped to Glynnis, and every other weapon the boy would need was on her to help with the weight.

“Thank you again for believing in us,” Frederick replied as he waved. “We shall see you in a few weeks, flying over the land after defeating those who seek to do terrible things.”

“Spoken like a true dragon rider!” Kaen exclaimed. “Now go and tell Bosgreth I am summoning the dwarves to war.”

Tazorath roared, her mother joining in a moment later. Kaen felt chills as their cry carried across the courtyard of the adventurer guild.

Both dragons leaped into the sky, the sun reflecting off the red and yellow dragon’s scales.

“That makes me want to head out,” Phillip declared as he watched his lifelong friend fly off. “Waiting isn’t going to be fun.”

Kaen shook his head and gave Phillip a side punch. “There won’t be any waiting. We've got a lot of stuff to do, and according to my mother-in-law, my wife is due to give birth any day.”

“You’re certain about sending them with the dwarves and elves, not me?”

Putting his hand on Phillip's shoulder, Kaen nodded. “We discussed things, and in the end, it all rested upon Ava not having the children yet. She wants to be able to go, and if I sent you, Amaranth wouldn’t be able to come. It’s just too many variables.”

The young man nodded, glad to know the reason wasn’t a lack of faith in him.

“Congratulations, by the way,” Phillip said, digging into his pocket and pulling a small item wrapped in sloth and tied with a red string. It was something from Frederick and me.”

Kaen moved the package around in his hand, feeling two items were inside. “Should I ask?”

Laughing, Phillip shook his head. “Just open it already.”

Smiling, Kaen undid the knot and carefully unfolded the layers of cloth after the string was removed. When he reached the gift inside, his fingers fumbled momentarily.

“Phillip… I…”

“We thought your children might one day want them, and we owe a debt we cannot repay. Hopefully, this will go toward showing you our gratitude. Those things changed our lives just as you did. Know that we are committed to whatever path you ask us to take.”

Kaen blinked and sniffed as a few tears welled in his eyes. Slowly he picked up one of the lifestones and held it up to his face. The stone was clear, and Kaen couldn’t help but smile at what it represented.

“Thank you, Phillip, for everything.”

“Just promise us not to tell us if you get ones like yours. I won’t lie. They were difficult to come by, but Aldric understood our request.”

“He gave these to you?” Kaen asked, impressed that the King still had some.

“No, we paid for them. Aldirc offered to give them, but Frederick and I couldn’t accept. You have paid so much for us and this kingdom. We needed to pay that back somehow.”

Carefully wrapping the stones back in the cloth, Kaen slid it into his pouch and then grabbed Phillip, hugging the boy tightly.

A few moments passed as each said more in that moment of embrace, and when they both gave three taps on each other's back, they separated, smiling and laughing at the tears each had shared.

“I’ll go and show these to Ava right now. She will love them.”

“Should I ask what that means for me?” Phillip asked, groaning after asking the question.

“Go find Hess. He is at the inn. Bren has the training ground ready for you to land.”

Phillip nodded and slapped Kaen’s arm before jogging to where Foros waited.

Thank you for giving him to me.

Kaen nodded in acknowledgment at the silver dragon staring at him with his golden eyes.

“Take care of each other. I’ll see you both soon.”

Before Foros took off, he roared like his sister, causing Phillip to laugh as they flew toward the town.

While I might not be old, they make me feel old. The weight of responsibility isn’t heavy yet on their shoulders. Getting to enjoy life like that brings back many fond memories.

Turning, Kaen smiled at Pammon.

If only the council knew what dragons were missing out on by not having a rider, they might start to fight to get one.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

Pammon thrummed and shook his head as Kaen started climbing his scales.

I doubt that day will ever come, but one day, when we revisit them, I cannot wait to see how they cower. Perhaps you can make more than one piss themselves again.

I’m trying to climb. Stop trying to make me laugh.

Pammon continued to thrum, his chest vibrating as Kaen cursed his dragon for a moment.

Come on. We need to see our mates.

Ava began to sob, and Kaen regretted showing her the lifestones the boys had given them.

“I… I didn’t know,” he whispered to Lady Hurem, who was giving him a disapproving glare.

“You didn’t think that the pregnant and still emotional woman might be overwhelmed by such a beautiful gesture?”

“It’s okay, Mom,” Ava said, wiping away her tears. “I’m glad to know those two boys have grown up and become men. It may be hard to call them men for a while, but they have earned that right no matter their age.”

Nodding, Kaen took the lifestone his wife had been holding and put it with the other, wrapping them up again before heading toward the wooden chest they kept things in.

“I’m glad you are feeling better. I was beginning to worry you might have our children today.”

Groaning, Ava shuffled toward the chair she spent time in and began to sit down until a grunt from her mother stopped her.

“We need to walk… again.”

“Uggg… I’m tired, mother. We have walked…” Ava paused, wincing as she held her side. “Fine, we can walk again.”

Lady Hurem nodded and smiled. As Ava began to move to where her mother waited with an outstretched hand, Kaen saw his mother-in-law looking at him.

“Be a good dear and go retrieve my husband if you would. Tell him to bring the bag.”

“The bag?” Kaen asked, tilting his head slightly at such an ambiguous name.

“He will know. Now go and hurry. If your wife is lucky, you two will be holding your children within the next day.

Kaen perked up, and Ava smiled, wincing for a moment.

“I’ll be back, my love,” Kaen said as he ran to where Pammon was beginning to move.

“Oh, the bag!” exclaimed Lord Hurem. “That means it’s time!”

“Seriously?!” Kaen shouted as his father-in-law ran to a door the servants usually used.

The older man said nothing until he opened the door and shouted, “BRING THE BAG!”

After he had done so, Lord Hurem took another breath and cupped his hands, “BRING MY CHEST!”

“Uh… sir… do we have time for a chest?” Kaen asked as the man hurried back to where he and Pammon were waiting.

“Time? Yes! I doubt I would need anything in the chest for your wife, especially with the amazing Amaranth there, but I will need something to pass the time as we wait for your children.”

“Wait, you just said it was time,” Kaen replied. “How long are we talking?”

Lord Hurem shrugged and made a face, suggesting he had no real idea. “It could be an hour, or it could be an entire day like my wife said. All we know is we need to hurry.”

The door banged open, and two servants came carrying a massive chest with straps to keep it closed.

“You want to bring that with us?!”

“Please, Kaen, you and I both know that Pammon can easily fly with that, and you could lift that with one hand,” Lord Hurem declared. I’d ask you not to do that but to try and keep it level. There are lots of instruments and vials inside, some with yours and Pammon’s blood in them. Keeping them safe is always best, so I don’t have to ask for more.

You better keep that chest level, or you may end up walking to this battle if you break something with my blood in it.

Kaen started to laugh, but his father-in-law backed up, sensing an aura coming from Pammon.

“Is he upset?”

“Oh, he just threatened me not to let any of your stuff break. It wouldn’t be wise of me.”

“Well, he is right! Pammon knows the value of things!”

Groaning, Kaen rolled his eyes and waited for the two servants who started to set the chest down.

The door banged open again, and another servant came running, holding a rather large bag.

“Ahh, my good man, Kurt! Thank you for retrieving that!”

The servant was out of breath and sweating, running farther than the other two. Lord Hurem took the bag from him and slung the leather strap over his shoulder.

“I’m ready if you two are, but I’m not certain what the best way to get on Pammon with this chest is.”

“Wait here, I can help with that.”

I swear this man is remarkable sometimes. Who brings a chest like that to their daughter's first birth? Kaen asked as he climbed Pammon’s scales. I mean, it's a twenty-foot or more climb without that chest, and he expects me to–

Stop complaining… just get the rope and get this done. Amaranth is nagging me about being gone as long as we have been.

Stopping near the top of Pammon’s back, Kaen looked at Pammon and frowned.

Is she having the baby?!

Soon. That is all Amaranth will say.

Groaning, Kaen reached the top of Pammon’s back and dug through the packs that were always tied to the saddles. Finding the rope he was looking for, Kaen moved to the edge of his dragon and started to unroll it.

I’m unsure I can handle any more kids if Lord Hurem is always like this.

You can choose your friends, but you can’t pick your family, Hess told me.

Groaning, Kaen finished unwrapping the rope and lowered both ends to the ground, keeping the middle section up top with him.

“Tie the sides, and I’ll pull it up here!” Kaen shouted.

The servants ran forward and grabbed the rope, doing as Kaen had instructed.

With the chest halfway up, Kaen looked at Pammon and began shaking his head.

“Don’t tell me that!” he exclaimed, starting to yank the rope up faster and not caring if it banged against his dragon's scales.

Yes, I was informed with a much more emphatic need to hurry, and so I suggest you get that up quickly.

“Dad, you better start climbing! We were told it’s time!”

Lord Hurem yelped and ran to the scales, no longer afraid of being under the chest, and started scampering up Pammon’s side.

“I’m sorry! The chest was a bad decision!”

Kaen ignored Lord Hurem's words and grabbed the chest, putting it next to the saddle and quickly wrapping the loose rope around it and the saddle.

“Sit!” Kaen exclaimed as his father-in-law reached the top.

The moment Lord Hurems but hit the saddle and the strap was clicked around him, Pammon leaped into the air.

Hold on, this is going to get rough.

As Pammon cleared the rooftop and angled toward the cave, Kaen grabbed the saddle with one hand and the rope to Lord Hurem's chest, which he supposedly needed.

[ Flight Burst Activated ]

Hold on, my love, we are coming!