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Chapter 24
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He awoke to the smell of buckwheat cakes and maple syrup. His father was cooking. He didn’t cook often, but when he did, he fell back on a few easy but delicious favorites. He was also whistling. Lothinar took that as a very good sign at least some reconciliation had occurred between his parents. No, actually, from the spring in his step, his father must have reconciled quite enthusiastically. That made the young warden happy. Both of his parents deserved all the joy they could find. He wondered now how things would be changing. They were leaving this house. His baby brother or sister would be growing up quite differently.
”It’s a Sister.” came the rumbling thoughts of Esmarilla.
”Ok, that’s great,” Replied Lothinar. “I guess you should be able to tell”
”I do have some experience with watching human babies grow. I watched you! Feeling your sleepy thoughts. It was enjoyable! Your sister isn’t that far along yet, but I’m looking forward to it. “
”I am honored to have such a special relationship with you said Lothinar. That you empowered my development while my mother carried me must be unique.
"Yes," said Esmarilla. When I was suspended, in statue form, my energies were largely channeled towards your mother. It gave her some abnormal advantages. Now that I am active again, there will be... How do you say it?
"Less of you to go around?" Asked Lothinar.
"Perhaps it is something like that," agreed the dragon.
“I wonder where Candasar is? I kind of expected to hear from her first thing”
”She is out of range, but wanted to wish you a good morning “
”What!?”
”Yes, we are currently flying over a small pasture of cows near the man town.” Candasar is very excited.
”She’s flying?” I thought she needed lessons!"
"Yes, she got them this morning"
“Did you have concerns?” He asked nervously.
”Well, dragons usually learn at a much younger age, but she did spend years swimming underwater. Both activities require getting used to working in three dimensions. She caught on right away. She sends her regrets that we snuck out and you missed it, but we are on a tight schedule this morning “
”She couldn't tell me that herself?"
”To avoid being seen, we departed long before first light. Remember we had to walk at first. She didn't want to wake you that early. You had a very hard day yesterday."
”Yeah, I feel a bit better, but I won’t be doing anything like that very soon “
"We both will need some time. Your channels need to heal, and my magic reserves need to be refilled". ”I have told Tundor that he must be patient about getting his wings. ‘
”You lost a lot of color depth yesterday.” said Lothinar to the dragon. Are you going to be all right?
”I can explain more about that later, but right now, I am very hungry, and these cows don’t seem willing to wait. There is also a human here that I may need to appease “
Lothinar laughed “ I’ll see you when you get back.
Don’t worry about not being able to talk to her from here. The range of your bond will soon improve. Ardwella communicated with me from that very house when I was hibernating in the temple. I don’t think Candasar wanted to tell you about the flying until she was sure she could do it. She wants to make you proud of her."
"I am already proud of her!"
”Hey, we will grab some cows and head back. Tell Tundor I’ll bring him one, too He’s been looking forward to it”
”Wait a minute, if you two are out flying, is it just Tundor guarding Jontain? He’s a sneaky bastard!”
”Don’t worry, eat some breakfast! Ardwella’s out there with him too”
Lothinar gulped. “I’d better hurry then!”
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"Listen, girl, You are going to untie me this instant. I am a warden, and you are in big trouble!"'
Lothinar returned to the barn to see his mother, her hands on her hips, staring down his co-worker Jontain. Spittle flew from his lips as his red face scrunched up in fury.
A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
As Lothinar entered the barn, Jontain's eyes followed him, and he exclaimed, "Lothinar, thank the Gods. Tell your sister to untie me, and I won't press charges!"
"My Sister?" Lothinar asked with a smile. He thought, "Sure, let's go with that."
"Sister dear," said Lothinar to Ardwella with a wink; how long has my fine colleague been awake?"
"Well, he seemed. to wake up shortly after our two other friends left the barn. I suppose that could be expected"
"I just heard from Miss Black. She will probably be done with her errands soon. Perhaps you can help me escort Jontain down to the warden’s office so we can get all of this sorted out with Cantrell."
"Yes, I'd love to help you make your report to Cantrell. I'll untie his legs."
"You will untie all of me, girl!"
Lothinar sighed. "Look, Jontain, I don't think sneaking around following women at night is good for your reputation, but taking you through town with your hands tied behind your back is sure to get people talking. If I untie you, will you give me your word that you will go with me to Cantrell's office and let him get this all sorted out? No Theatrics?"
"Sure," smirked Jontain, but I wonder what he is going to say about the DRAGON I saw with you last night?"
"I guess we will just have to find out, won't we? " said Lothinar, beginning to untie the rope.
Jontain stood relatively still until the ropes were removed. He rubbed his wrists and stretched out his legs before asking.
"So, are you two the only ones around this morning? I thought I saw Ardwynn earlier."
"She went home. She had some things to do," Said Lothinar.
"Then there is nobody to stop me from doing this!" cried Jontain as he pulled out an amazingly long and wicked-looking knife from concealment somewhere on his body. He swung viciously for Lothinar's neck. Lothinar barely jumped back in time. He stumbled badly. He felt the knife swish past. Somehow his head was still attached. It had been close. He could feel blood trickling down from a small cut on his Adam's apple.
"Why?” Croaked Lothinar
"You’ve been interfering with my goals for a long time! You are already in trouble with Cantrell. I'm sure he won't be surprised to hear that you have been seen with a dragon. It will only make sense that I had to kill you... Hiding the existence of a winged dragon is still a capital crime!"
"Don't do this, Jontain! We can sort this all out!"
"What's the fun in that? While you are bleeding here out on the barn floor, I'll have a go at that delicious sister of yours over there on one of those hay bales. She’s too fine not to keep her around for entertainment, but eventually, I will have to wrap up that loose end as well"
Strangely Ardwella hadn't moved. If Lothinar hadn't known better she would seem paralyzed with fear.
Jontain was fast, Lothinar had to admit. He had obviously had some training. It was all Lothinar could do to avoid the pointy end of that knife. He had a manic look on his face as he pulled back the knife for a finishing overhead blow. Suddenly, much of his arm, between shoulder and wrist, disappeared. The knife fell into the hay. Arterial spray shot out toward the barn wall behind Lothinars head. Some of it sprayed the front of his clothes and face. There was a high-pitched shrieking. Most of an arm with an elbow reappeared and fell to the ground next to the writhing elf. He looked up at them with wild and confused eyes.
"Blech!" Said Tundor. I don't believe the history at all. Elves really don't taste very good."
Ardwella waved her hand, and Tundor shimmered into view. His muzzle was covered with blood.
"He made his choice," Said Ardwella. "I told you it would probably have been easier to deal with this last night...."
Lothinar could only nod.
It didn't take very long for Jontain to die. That Tundor kept his front claw firmly on his chest the whole time probably didn't help his prospects.
Shortly thereafter, Lothinar got an unfortunate second look at his buckwheat cakes.
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It took almost a whole cow for Tundor to get the taste of elf out of his mouth.
Having left pre-dawn to avoid detection, Esmarilla had consulted with Ardwella, and the two now airborne dragons had decided to forego the slower invisible, clandestine walk-in and flew straight to the barn. The cow arrived first. The group was leaving. Immediately, if not sooner, after Tundor ate his breakfast. It probably would not matter that much if they were seen. The amount of evidence they had been leaving behind almost certainly ensured that the knowledge that dragons had escaped the lake was soon to be widely known.
The plan was for a quick exit in order to beat any pursuit to the temple. They doubted they could be stopped without an organized response from the head warden’s forces. For now, they had decided to rely on Cantrell’s deliberate nonaction and the men of Delora Natine. The wagon had been tied down, and the house locked. Jamison had been hitched and was ready to go. Lothinar had quickly cleaned up and changed his clothes. Only one question remained. Where was Ardwynn?
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Cantrell looked at the two elves seated across from him at his desk at the warden's office. He had seen only one of them before. Immaculately dressed, the male was large and impressively muscled. His golden hair was worn long but tied back. His flawless face held perfect white teeth and mysterious dark eyes. He had carried himself through the open front door and across the office with liquid grace and restrained energy before plopping himself into one of the chairs. He stared at the head warden with an undefinable smirk. One of his hands held tightly to his companion, who wasn’t actively struggling but seemed troubled and uneasy at his touch. She sat next to him, glaring at him side-eyed. She was, of course, someone he had seen before. Recently. It was Ardwynn.
“I am Quinton from the Imperial Palace.” The newcomer said in high elvish. “I need to speak with you about a few things”
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McDonald had, of course, been up with the cows. Milking was an early business. His still-pretty wife was seated on the milking stool. He could hear the squish squish sound of the milk streaming into the metal pail.
“I think that there are only three more to go,” she said, standing and leading the docile cow deeper into the barn for a well-earned cup of oats. “Bring in the next one.”
‘McDonald looked out the barn door at the small holding pasture outside. A huge black dragon was carving on a log in his woodpile with one of her front claws. It was the darnedest thing he had ever seen. Finishing, she chucked the log toward the barn's open door, where it bounced twice and rolled to a stop near his feet.
“Honey, why don’t you change into a nice dress ‘cause I’m taking you into town this morning “
She looked at him with a puzzled expression.
”What about the last three cows?”
”They have already been taken care of,” he said, picking up the piece of firewood.
He watched as the two dragons pumped their wings to clear the stand of trees near the edge of his property. The huge black one held a squirming cow between its talons. He could barely make out a mournful moo. The much smaller, beautiful sky-blue one wobbled a bit as they disappeared in the distance.
‘It’s about to get extremely interesting around these parts,” he said to his wife.
Her still pretty eyes grew wide.
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