CHAPTER 6 - REJOICE

Roe returned to the town of Babel, once again as his human form. The battle had happened quickly. Although the loss of life had been heavy, barely 20 minutes had passed, he had hoped to catch Laurel before she had left the General store but Kate told him he had just missed her.

Roe stayed and completed his Enchanting back list of requests before heading home to Laureline’s valley which was now in his new territory. He was looking forward to the look on Laurel's face when he told her. Unlike his original territory which only had a few nomadic tribes his new territory was fully developed and he just had to take the reigns. Many of his new islands had colonies from several Kingdoms. There were often epic sea and airship battles over shipping lanes and settlements. While undecided on whether or not he was going to stop any of that Roeg-Hiam was sure that whomever was on his Islands would start paying him to be there.

While working and planning his future a large man with wild red hair walked into the store. Roe expected Kate to intercept the customer so he was surprised when the man walked into his back room and sat down on the bench.

"Well met little brother, I am Doeleung the Azure."

The Azure, this was another Dragon Lord.

"Well met, I am Roeg-Hiam the Midnight."

"Midnight? Oh my, a black, how delightful." Doleung's face lit up. It seemed black Dragons were rare.

"How did you find me, I've been avoiding the Gods’ scrutiny by not using the Dragon Rules."

"I followed you back after you helped the Gods during the invasion. Don't be concerned, only another Dragon Lord could have done that." Doeleung reassured Roe when he saw his concern.

"I've come to invite you to meet the other Dragon Lords. Although they are hard to corral, like cats, I'll invite the rest over for a meet and greet. Can you make yourself available for my call?"

Roe happily accepted the invitation.

"I would enjoy that greatly. I've been curious about the other Dragon Lords, since I awakened I've yet to run into any."

"Good, here." Doeleung handed Roeg-Hiam a tile, like the one the Goddess had given him, this one also had his effigy on one side and his sigil on the other. Doleung's effigy was his true form.

Where Roeg-Hiam's body was more in-line with how European Dragons were imagined, like a top heavy dinosaur with horns and bat wings. Doeleung seemed a lot more Oriental in his origin. His face was gold, his horns were more like short antlers, he had a bright red mane around his head which trailed along the ridge of his long sinuous azure body and he had four huge paws, each with 5 claws.

"I'll listen out for your call brother." Roeg-Hiam said before Doeleung teleported away.

'I need to create a Sigil for myself as a Dragon Lord and another for myself as a Mage.' Roe thought to himself. After finishing his enchanting he began on creating his Sigils. It was nearly sunset when he finished and departed for home.

Roe teleported to the cabin and instantly felt how off everything was. It was too quiet, there was a smell of ozone and sulphur in the air. Slowly turning around and scanning the scene he noticed burn marks on the grass, that Paw, the Griffin's stable was broken open and that there was blood splatter in certain places. No bodies he noted. Roe quickly entered the cabin. The door was broken and the interior a mess. Paw the Griffin lay in the rubble, he had been tossed through the window and broke the dining table but he was still breathing. Roe scanned the building but no one else was here so he stopped to help the ailing beast. Healing magic poured through Paw's system repairing its lungs bones and torn ligaments.

Paw opened its eyes to see Roe and rubbed its head against him with great affection before painfully getting up and heading to the hallway to the magic door that led to Roe's Realm. This was a good sign. The door stood open showing a blank wall, another good sign. Only when he or Laureline opened the door did it lead anywhere. Roe closed the door before reopening it to his Realm.

He found a stone knight guarding the door. It stepped aside for him.

After letting Paw into the Realm he closed the door and headed to the kitchen.

When Roe walked in Laureline left her tea and jumped into his arms. Soaking up his warmth.

"Are you ok?" He asked.

"Yes, it's just Paw." She sobbed. The big Griffin poked his head into the kitchen at the mention of his name.

Laurel rushed past Roe to bury herself in her Griffin's soft feathers.

"Who was it Laurel?" Roe asked as he made himself some tea.

"I think it was my clan they were trying to capture me.

Paw saw me under attack and broke out of his stable to protect me.

They didn't show him the same level of mercy and I used his distraction to escape." Laureline returned to the table with Paw following. He laid down next to the long lunch table they were using and fell asleep.

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

"Why didn't you use the Crown scale to call me?"

"You were so concerned. I'd never even heard of a Dragon Lord being worried, I didn't want to distract you at a critical moment."

Roe shook his head.

"You would not have been a distraction, I have options as long as I know something is wrong."

"I'm no damsel in distress. I held my own against ten elite Knights out there." Even as she said that Laureline looked to the now sleeping Paw. He had nearly died today.

Roe didn’t bring this up.

"No one is accusing you of being weak, I'm just reminding you that you are no longer alone. Speaking of which, even if you did not want to call me back, why didn't you show them the Crown scale to stop the attack?" Was there actually someone foolish enough to ignore the threat of a Dragon Lord?

"You are hiding from the Gods. I didn't want to take it out and give you away." At Laureline’s reply Roe looked incredulous.

"I'm sorry if I gave you the impression that my playing around in the human Kingdoms is more important than your life," Roe reached across the table and held Laurel’s hand. "it is not." The two of them were silent, holding hands and enjoying the warm moment.

Roe sat back and downed his tea. He had made up his mind.

"Let's go solve this problem right away. We will announce you as my Matriarch. As you said I don't want to lose my Magister Roe identity so I'm going to need a new form when I'm conducting Dragon Lord business in smaller areas. Maybe a Drow to match you?"

Laureline blushed before making a suggestion.

"I still haven't seen your Dragon-Newt form. Isn't ‘moving around lesser species to do business’ what it’s for?"

"Dragon-Newt?" Roe was confused; he searched but there is nothing in his Dragon Lore about it.

"I read about it in the Hot News Herald. Goddess Zuriel's monthly publication. Basically you keep the Dragon head and wings, and put them on a human body. Lose the tail, it's havoc when trying to sit down." Laurel said proudly.

"Why does 'Hot News Herald' sound like some kind of gossip rag?"

Laureline’s blush deepened.

"Because it is. The church puts it out monthly. It brings in the most tithes."

"Either way, help me design my new form."

Laureline was delighted. They decided he should be a little larger than his human form and keep his star speckled black scales all over his body. As for clothing choice Laurel suggested he should be formal and was amazed when he started applying different business wear from his former world. She had never seen anything like a 3 piece suit or a tailored trench coat. In the end Roeg-Hiam ended up wearing a red dress shirt, black tie and vest with a white coat, pants and shoes. He topped off the look with a red scarf, which he let drape over his coat, the overall look was slick. Roe used his Magic to craft a red form fitting dress with a luxurious white fur coat for Laureline. He also removed the effect of her transformation potion and did her hair in an intricate updo.

Laureline got Roeg-Hiam to craft a painting of the two of them dressed like this to go over the fireplace.

"This is lovely." She said. "Can we put off our trip until tomorrow? I'm just tired."

"Of course love. You do look stunning and I need to put this new body through its paces." Roeg-Hiam said to her with a wicked smirk. Laureline took his arm and the couple retired to the master bedroom to lose themselves first in pleasure and then sleep.

The next afternoon Roeg-Hiam and Laureline left his Realm riding in a black carriage driven by black and red faceless magical golems, the same as the ones working as servants in his Realm. The carriage was drawn by two fire elementals that Roeg-Hiam had constructed into the shape of massive horses using Earth, Fire, Air and Wood spirits.

When he had made them Laureline let out a deafening squeal before begging, seducing and demanding he teach her, all in one breath.

"Please please please; I'll be so appreciative; you must teach me!"

Laureline had never seen Sorcery of this level. Summoning and controlling elemental spirits was one thing but combining the spirits into elemental constructs? Why had she had never heard of such a thing before. How was it done? She needed to know.

Fortunately Roeg-Hiam did not tease her and agreed to teach her later. So they were finally able to set out.

Everything belonging to Reog-Hiam was marked with his new crest, an inverted Triangle intertwined with a Mobius, the symbol for infinity. Above the triangle was a simplified 3 point crown. Roeg-Hiam had used his knowledge of Mana to integrate the symbol into himself. Just by drawing it or pouring energy into this mark you would gather Roeg-Hiam's attention similar to how a demon could be called via their mark but much weaker. No one could summon nor control him.

They appeared near an entrance to the Underdark within Roeg-Hiam's territory. He had told Laueline about his new territory last night during their pillow talk, she was delighted that she didn't have to move but was glad to have the option to do so.

Before entering the Underdark Roeg-Hiam took out his deed and activated it.

REJOICE,

THIS TERRITORY HAS BEEN CLAIMED BY DRAGON LORD ROEG-HIAM THE MIDNIGHT.

Those words were heard by everyone in Roeg-Hiam's territory, from the Adventurers in the forest to the nobles on the islands. Evey clan and monstrous beast and even those in the Underdark below his lands were in his Territory, they now knew they had a new Sovereign.

"Lets go.'' The carriage continued into the entrance. This entrance actually lead to the Dwarven city of Nilbrae. As such it was actually quite well developed. There were two lines outside of the mountains on the road to enter the underdark. A gate with dwarven guards acted as a checkpoint. Pedestrians were in one line while carts and carriages were in another. Roeg-Hiam's carriage ignored the lines and went straight to the front of the gate. There was a lot of murmuring and complaining in the lines and the guards moved to stop his entry. Roeg-Hiam opened his window and stuck his head out. Overwhelming power rolled off of him. It was the kind of power that could only be summoned by high class Demons, Gods, and Dragon Lords. Everything went silent. Roeg-Hiam said nothing, he just stared unblinking at the guards.

The golem riding shotgun in the cart announced.

"Make way for Dragon Lord Roeg-Hiam the Midnight ."

The guard felt like he could strangle the golem.

"Apologies Sovereign, I'll inform the Captain to escort you. Uh, pray tell, where are you going?"

"The Sovereign heads to the Underdark." The golem replied in Roeg-Hiam's stead.

"Hold." Laureline’s melodious voice came from within the carriage. All necks craned toward her when she peeked out from behind Roeg-Hiam. Even among the beautiful Elves Laureline was a stunner. Her smile nearly offset the stifling power Roeg-Hiam was radiating.

"It would be rude not to pay our respects to the city lord, my husband."

Roeg-Hiam nodded.

"The Dragon Lord will meet with the city lord before heading to the Underdark." The golem valet announced.

The guard captain and his troop had been informed of the situation and they quickly came out to be an escort.

The city lord was awaiting them.

"Greetings Sovereign I am Urthbrakr Rubyfist. We heard your announcement not long ago I am honoured to be the first to greet you. Are you perhaps thinking of making my city your headquarters that would be a great honour."

"Well met Lord Rubyfist. My Matriarch and I are just passing through." The muppet valet held the door as Roeg-Hiam stepped out of the carriage. He turned and held a hand out to his Matriarch Laureline who followed him with immense grace. Despite how unassuming and simple her lifestyle had seemed it was obvious she was born to rule.

"Well met Lord Rubyfist, it has been a long time." Laureline greeted the city lord warmly. The old dwarf was taken aback.

"Lady Laureline of clan Golden Silk?" Rubyfist was all smiles as Laureline walked over and gave him an affectionate hug.

"Milord you know I left my clan long ago, and now I'm of house Midnight." She replied as she returned to Roeg-Hiam's side. Lord Rubyfist looked at the Dragon Scale necklace Laureline wore and his smile broadened.

"Congratulations lass!" Lord Rubyfist said to Laureline before addressing Roeg-Hiam.

"I've known Lady Laureline all her life, she was always fascinated with the surface. She and her mother would spend the first month of spring in my city. My own children would often accompany her."

"He's like an uncle to me, husband may we stay awhile I'd like to catch up."

"I'd be fascinated by tales of young Laureline. Lord Rubyfist what have you to drink."

They all adjourned to lord Rubyfist's office for fine drinks, which led into an early dinner before Laureline and Roeg-Hiam continued on their journey.