"Why, if the queen is a dragon, won't her baby be a dragon too?" Eri had her hand on the monarch's belly as she asked her mother. Previously, she had been told that humans had human babies and dragons had dragon babies. She had harbored the hope that the new offspring would be like her. Runaesthera didn't know how to respond; it was very complicated for a girl of almost seven years. She was very smart, but that only complicated things further. She arrived at conclusions that, in a way, made sense, making it difficult to explain that reality didn't quite align, much like explaining magic itself. "So the queen won't lay an egg? How strange, Mrs. Mera says that babies come from eggs," she said, scratching her head, adopting that habit from the young stable boy.

"Only dragon babies, Eri," Mera could be an excellent teacher, but she had the disadvantage of not being entirely human. "That's not true, chickens too. I've seen them," she said indignantly, as if suspecting she was being lied to. "Then how are babies made? Didn't Peony come from an egg either?"

"Eri, sweetheart," the queen said in a tender but evidently urgent voice, "I promise to tell you everything you want to know, but now, please, darling, can you tell me if you can see its soul?" The queen feared that despite her optimism, due to her weak body or some unknown restriction, her baby might not survive.

The healers of Pellegrin and even Master Genwill assured her that everything was fine, but this test needed to calm her finally. Runa wondered if, had it been her, she would experience the same anxiety. Oregdor held his queen's hand, sweating, despite the desert sun having nothing to do with it.

Eri used the power she had taken from the green prince; a purple flame enveloped her as she exhaled with her eyes closed. When she opened them, her pupils had the same violet glow as the flames. "Everyone has a little light in their chest. Is that it?" The queen nodded at Eri's question, biting her lower lip.

"There’s a very tiny one in your belly. But there’s none in your chest, nor in Mrs. Mera's, but I can see their dragon bodies and fire as if reflected in the window."

That was exactly what they had hoped to hear. Clessa finally breathed, returning to her usual self. Runa found it hard to recognize her when she didn't smile. "Oh, blessed sun," Runa reflected for a moment... Did dragons believe in gods? "Well, that settles everything, Ori. You can return to your duties now.We’ll see you soon, I promise." The kiss she gave her now-fiancé was highly inappropriate in front of a child. It was a good thing that Eri was distracted. When she used that power, she saw very strange things.

Oregdor excused himself from those present and returned to the palace's interior, followed by some dragon guards and Bestenar, who was instructing him in the one thing he was an expert at besides flowers: being a prince. Runa still doubted whether that was a good idea. No matter how much he had changed, she found it hard to trust the brat.

They were at the palace’s main door, which was under the bridge, as above, there were only columns except for the throne room. After bidding farewell to her future consort, she led them to the river docks. She wanted to show them that mysterious project. Frey was very quiet; since the news about Jimmer, he spoke little and gave smiles so forced they appeared sad. Runa knew how he felt; she had lived through it too many times. At night, when they were alone, she hugged him and gave him comfort; he only allowed himself to cry during those moments. Floating on the river was the barge that had brought them from Axandor, captained by a Valderant who looked less satisfied than ever. The boat had wooden beams extending horizontally from the hull on both port and starboard, to which what looked like leather harnesses and chains had been attached. Several royal engineers were still moving scales and counterweights around the deck.

"Why did it have to be one of my ships?" said Val, always reluctant about anything to do with dragons or with her. "I have already agreed to train your silly order of dragon riders. Why do I have to do this now?"

"You've become insolent, dear," Clessa narrowed her eyes, menacingly—dragon eyes. "That's good; it means you're gaining confidence. Soon, we can be friends." She climbed onto the deck to place her hand on the blonde woman's shoulder. "But your prejudices still prevent you from recognizing opportunities. Stop being petty and put those sailors to work; they’ve had enough time to practice with the new sails."

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Runa couldn’t see any sails anywhere; they had even removed the main mast. "Alright, Your Majesty," Valderant said, carrying the word with more resignation than disdain or sarcasm—a sign of progress. "The two tests went well; we can take this monstrosity to Meyrin without any problems."

"Have you estimated the time, dear?"

"The engineers believe we can arrive in eight hours, but I recommend we slow the pace a bit. I estimate ten, maximum twelve hours, if we encounter a storm."

It was inconceivable to cover the distance between the two kingdoms in half a day, except maybe flying on Saltarín or Peonia, but each could only carry one rider. "If the little one lends us her power," Clessa said, stroking Eri's head as she spoke, "it won't be necessary. Please, let’s show our guests what we have prepared for them."

The engineers left the barge, leaving two sturdy guards of the queen, the sailors, the queen herself, and the royal family of Artemia on deck. They used poles to move it until they passed the bridge and were under the sun.

Then, both guards transformed into dragons. They were small compared to those present, but they immediately took flight to avoid sinking the barge, each placing their hind legs on one of the beams on the sides of the vessel. The sailors hurried to attach the harnesses and chains to the creatures with the same efficiency they once used to handle sails. A few flaps and the vessel rose steadily over the river, it seemed incredible how well the dragons coordinated to keep it from swaying too much.

"They are Ektaren and Ekteran, they are loves," the queen said, looking at them with the coquettish eyes she used with humans. "They will take you to Meyrin by morning and return here, don’t worry, the captain knows the way and will guide you. These days she has diligently learned that if we are spoken to with love, we dragons understand. I would love to go with you, but the healer told me it could be bad for my little one."

Runa was astonished, but Freydelhart's demeanor changed completely, reminding her of those days in Unermia when they acquired their pegasus. He stood at the prow looking around, perhaps thinking about how high they could reach in that strange vessel.

"Aunt Clessa," in Eri's eyes, fear had vanished weeks ago, but what was growing there was something new, different from what she felt for Runa or Mera. "Can you explain to me where human babies come from?"

"Oh my child, of course, you see," she crouched a bit while raising a finger and explained with a smile, "unlike dragons, women's bodies..."

Runa placed a hand on Clessa's shoulder just in time to stop her.

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"So, you don't mind that she's a dragon?" Bestenar was sitting in that same establishment where the false dawn had surprised them with Oregdor and Freydelhart; the master-farmer had wanted to invite them for a drink, as soon they would all part ways.

"Well, no, as you can see, I don't mind, and now that I know it was never because of her power, even less so. We grew up together, a bit in secret. My father is an ambassador, as you know, a trusted man of the council, so he often went to the palace between his trips and duties. The day she sent me, not just my father, to Artemia, I thought she was mad at me. That she wanted me far away. I think I couldn't see she was preparing me for this, she wanted me to be important, to learn, so we could be together. I also have to thank you both for that. The master's support and the reputation I gained by receiving the scimitar you rejected eased the council's concerns when we announced our plans."

"I'm happy for you, boy," that knightly impersonation rarely missed a chance to act paternal, which annoyed Bestenar, yet sometimes he needed it. "But to be honest, you're about to face one of the greatest challenges of your life. It's not easy to keep these beings on your side, and at the slightest provocation, they can turn against you and end you."

"Your Highness, Prince Freydelhart, Master…"

"Frey, please, Oregdor."

"Frey, surely someone like you can handle the idea of having a dragon in your family. You can't be serious."

"What? Oh no, I'm talking about women."

They all chuckled a bit, though the comment was embarrassing.

"Well, look, Frey," he said, laughing under that thick beard so common in Pellegrin, "I'd rather take your advice about dragons than about women."

This time, only Bestenar and Oregdor laughed.

"Well, take this advice anyway. Care for her as if she needed you, and take care of yourself. Beings with long lives perceive time differently; you will be but a moment in her life. Make that moment the best in the millennia she has lived."

They all fell silent for a moment.

"Well, that's good advice, Frey, thanks." Bestenar saw something in Oregdor's eyes that made him feel lucky to love someone with a human lifespan.

They stood up after a long while, chatting about what the future held for them, their hopes for the world, and, of course, continued talking about women and dragons. At the end of that night, perhaps they would never see each other again, but they would leave a memory in each of them, a bond that would unite them whether they liked it or not, because that was the friendship between those who have come together to fight and defend what they love.

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Eri would spend the last night at Aunt Clessa's house. She no longer liked calling her anything else. Mom had grown to love her a lot, just as Dad did with Uncle Jim, and it seemed appropriate. Although she was something like an older sister, that wasn't their relationship; it wasn’t like what she had with silly Bestenar. Koro and Orval were there. Orval would even accompany them to Meyrin with his mom. How strange, Dad said that if she also wanted to call Mrs. Valderant "aunt," he wouldn't mind, but Mom got angry, so she didn’t. What Eri didn't understand was that every time she moved away a little, Orval whispered something to Koro, and when she came back, he was red, and Orval laughed like a fool. The last time, Koro yelled at him and hit him on the head.

"Enough, boys," Eri realized she sounded like Mom, "stop fighting."

"We're not fighting," Orval said, "it's just that your friend Koro is a coward."

"Shut up, I'm not a coward," Koro replied, almost biting his tongue in anger.

Eri defended Koro. "It's true, Koro always goes with me to dangerous places."

"But he’s still a coward, he's afraid of—"

"Shut up!" Koro and Orval chased each other around until it was time to sleep. Eri thanked the Goddess for not being as silly as Dad, though it had taken her a while.

The next morning, they all boarded the flying barge. Valderant had called it the "Sun’s spear." Queen Clessa gave Runa some scrolls to create a similar boat that could withstand flight and be stable, but with the peculiarity that it was designed for just one large dragon. They didn’t let Lady Mera see it.