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Chapter 21

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The bricklayer had finished the repairs in the cracked walkway and been paid. The Potter had finished and set up several decorative urns throughout the courtyard. He had also been paid. Starett didn't know what he would do about his ex-boss, but he knew he wouldn't be much help around here. Now that he had been caught out stealing from the temple coffers and relegated to serve his punishment as a laborer, it had become problematic.

The Dragon had told Starett that she expected him to be around to ensure he did not weasel out of discipline. Therefore, he was still a mouth to feed. He had hoped to have at least the old man contribute a little to the repairs and upkeep of the place. Unfortunately, years of sitting around had not done much for his work ethic. The dragon was not around, leaving only Starett to enforce a sense of responsibility on the old priest. Donations were up because of all the recent excitement, but he was sure it wouldn't last. He wasn't sure if he should try to replace the statue of the big black dragon god that had stood in the center of the courtyard. Its conspicuous absence was affecting the morale of the faithful. They loved to gaze at the beautiful dragon. It seemed to calm and rejuvenate them somehow. They were becoming anxious now that it had been gone for several days. That it had been a real dragon, somehow sleeping in the temple these many years, had greatly increased the excitement and religious fervor. Starrett didn't think she would likely be coming back around soon unless it was to check up on the thieving priest.

Suddenly, some shouting and noise could be heard near the entryway.

"You can't bring that cart in here! What are you doing?

Scarlett looked over to see a cart being pushed past several temple acolytes and into the courtyard. On it was a large tree stump. It was being pushed by an angry-looking farmer.

"I found this in my yard, and I need to talk to someone named Starett!"

The young man walked over and read the scrawl carved into the wood. Then he reread it. Then he reached for his money purse.

"How much is a cow?" He asked.

"Not just a cow... a dairy cow, two of them," said the man holding out his hand. You must be Starett. "

Starett was happy the elvish couple had insisted he keep half of the old priest's ill gotten gains for future expenses. They must have known something.

“I’m McDonald, by the way. Pleased to meet ya. Do you think this is going to turn into a thing?”

”Probably. Can I get a volume discount?”

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Alberad had to admit that travel by dragon back sure beat walking. They had landed discreetly outside of town, and the three had walked in together. Ardwella had some sort of word of obfuscation that she had cast on the dragon leaving the human village. She cast it again to sneak the huge black dragon past the eyes of anyone who might be looking around near their isolated home. Alberad watched in amazement as the black dragon shimmered and then disappeared. Looking down, he could still see immense footprints on the dusty path leading up toward the house. Ardwella waved a hand, and a small breeze blew them away. Once back at their barn, they had opened the door to a very startled horse. He couldn't see the dragon, but he knew a predator when he smelled one. Alberad suspected that the trusty old gelding was looking at him suspiciously and probably thinking of him as a traitor. He turned out some fresh straw in the large open area in the middle of the barn and saw it squash flat as the dragon settled. She apparently did not feel the need to discuss anything further. She was probably very tired, he thought.

"How long can we keep this up, Ardwella? " Alberad asked, standing in the doorway leading into the kitchen. They had arrived back at the home they had left just a day before, but now everything seemed to have changed.

"As long as it takes," my husband Ardwella said, forcing a strained smile.

Gods, she is beautiful, he thought, not for the ten thousandth time. But now, there was something troubling that seemed to cloud his vision. How could he have missed all this? Her mannerisms, clothing choices, books, and even how she spiced the meals she faithfully prepared for him over the years seemed like echoes of some distant past. It had been so obvious. He had never really asked. He supposed it was his own fault. She had lived an entire lifetime and a half before he was born. And during that lifetime, she had hunted down and killed over a hundred elves. He had been trying to convince himself that they deserved it. How could someone so very old still be so incredibly hot? She squeezed past him into the cooking area, causing him to pull back out of her way involuntarily. Normally, he would have used the "Pay the Toll" Game, asking for a kiss for safe passage through the crowded doorway. She looked at him with a hint of great sadness, obviously seeming to notice his reluctance to play their old game.

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"I'll start dinner," was all she said. "You relax. It has been a busy couple of days"

"Sounds good," he said, "but first, I want to go check on the horse."

She almost laughed, but not quite.

"Don't worry about Jamison," Esmarilla won't eat him.

"It's not me you have to convince," said Albarad. walking out toward the barn.

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The woods were alive! Candasar watched in amazement as the two elves and two dragons worked their way through the trees and across flowered meadows. The colors, the smells, the sunshine. She had never felt more joyful. A part of herself that she hadn't even known existed had been dying inside her, starving for such beauty. She couldn't get enough. Tundor was in a good mood too. He just kept running around trying to show her things that he himself had discovered for himself before. He was doing his best to tell her the words for all the things that they were seeing. Occasionally he had to stop and ask Lothinar or Ardwynn for some help. The Elves were happy to oblige him with lessons in nature. They seemed happy, too, walking hand in hand and stealing long glances at each other while trying to remain inconspicuous about it. It wasn't working. They both were far too observant. Candasar was adjusting to the feeling of having something lying across her back. Looking back, she looked in wonder again at her wings' veined but silky surface, HER WINGS! Oh my, she shuddered in absolute happiness. Is this what it feels like when your dreams all come true?

"So, you have learned much about my family in the last couple of days," started Lothinar. "What are yours like?"

"Lothinar! Are you asking to meet my parents already?" Giggled Ardwynn

"Well, I guess I should show some sort of interest in what to expect when I meet them; I mean, they aren't 'big egg consumers' or anything like that," He joked.

She got a funny look on her face.

"No. No eggs. That is really bothering me, Lothinar. How could we not have understood what was going on here? I've worked here for over five years..."

"It's been fifteen for me." It just wasn't something I had ever even considered.

"Do you think that whoever is doing this is using some kind of spell to prevent anyone from noticing what is happening? I mean, now it seems so obvious."

"It's a possibility. I'll have to ask my mother or Esmarilla, I suppose."

"Yes, they would probably know about something like that," she said.

"Well, Esmarilla has been out of the loop for a long, long time." My mom was traveling too, for a while". He looked down, suddenly embarrassed, remembering again what his mom had really been doing for those many years.

Ardwynn seemed to understand and gave him a little side squeeze

"You know, if someone had killed my family and my friends, even if some of them were dragons, I think I would probably do the same thing"

"I don't know, killing in self-defense is sort of understandable, but making it your life mission to hunt down and destroy a group of people is a little extreme. I'm still coming to grips that my sweet, mild-mannered mom is capable of that. I think my dad is struggling quite a bit with it too."

"So your mom is so damn hot! I don't really know how I feel about that. "

"I saw you talking to her about her leathers. Do you really want to dress like that?"

"Look, you dummy, I've been trying to attract your attention for such a long time that I am afraid that I have become rather desperate and insecure!"

"Well, don't worry, I'm not one of those guys secretly wishing he was in a strange relationship with his mother."

"I actually asked Cantrell what he thought about that...."

"What did he say?"

"He told me to ask you... So I just did."

"Hmm, sighed Lothinar. Now that you mention it..."

She punched him in the arm.

"Ow! Easy there, I'm sore all over from all that work on Candy over there!"

"Candy, is it now?"

"Lothinar can call me Candy, and Tundor too, I guess," said Candasar butting in.

"I can?" asked Tundor. "Great! By the way, what is a candy?"

"It's something sweet and delicious: replied Ardwynn

"See, that's such a weird thing..." Said Lothinar. "My new bond with Candasar... Candy fills in some gaps for her. She knew what candy was, but she had been asking Tundor all morning about the plants and flowers"

"Oh, I know what they are called, Lothinar," replied Candasar. "Our bond is quite adequate. Its just that it gives him such pleasure to talk to me about them, I just let him go on and on."

Tundor looked a little abashed.

"I was going on and on?"

"A little", the beautiful dragon smiled, but I love you so much I just couldn't stop you..."

Tundor wiggled so much that his tail started wagging.

"I love you too! Candy!"

"That is so sweet," Said Ardwynn. Oh, look, we are almost back to the village. How will we get the dragons in there without being seen?"

"My mother taught us a word, but I'm so fried right now. I will have to tell it to you, then hopefully, you can cast it on the dragons. If you can't, then I'll stay out here with them while you go to my parent's house and get word to my mom. She will come out and take care of it."

"I think I can probably handle a single-word spell"

"Ok, it is 'Transphoton'. "

"That is a strange one, Ardwynn said, rolling it around on her tongue."

"You know you look really cute doing that with your tongue," Said Lothinar.

Ardwynn blushed

"Just wait. I have many skills, my dear elf"

She tried the word again and Tundor disappeared.

"I can only do one," She said sadly. "I can feel it pulling quite a bit of power. I had better hurry if I'm going to get Tundor all the way into town without being seen"

"I'll wait here with Candasar," Lothinar said. "Send my mom back when you can. We'll be fine"

"I'll hurry," said Ardwynn. "Hurry and follow me, Tundor. "

Lothinar heard but did not see Tundor as he crashed through the bushes a little, catching up to the quick-moving elf.

As she disappeared from sight, Lothinar finally realized that she hadn't answered any of the questions about her parents, for some reason that worried him.

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Ulaire surveyed the rocky beach near where Benedar had told him they had confronted Candasar. There was no sign of the water dragon or the misfit. Someone had made an effort to hide the fact that something extremely troubling had been going on here. The bloated bodies of at least two of the large males, no three, floated nearby. Two near the shore and one a bit farther out. There was a lot of blood on the beach. How could one water dragon do all this? It was just not possible, she thought. She had to have help. She would have to figure out a stealthy way to make inquiries of the Warden. What was his name? Yes. Cantrell would need a visit from someone persuasive. She knew the exact person for the job. She hoped Cantrell was cooperative. Things could get violent when Quentin did not get the answers he wanted.