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Chapter 30
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In the center dais in the dragon temple courtyard, the statue of a huge black dragon had stood for five hundred years. Now, at least on this occasion, it held a platform. Today the dragon had other duties to perform. The platform was supporting the body of a town gate guard named Harvey. His body had been wrapped in fine linen and surrounded with flowers and ornamental garlands. The large skylight that illuminated the courtyard during the day had been temporarily removed for what was about to occur.
An honor guard of Harvey’s friends and co-workers stood at attention as the huge black dragon entered the courtyard and moved gracefully to sit respectfully near the wrapped body. Scores of humans seated on benches almost completely filled the courtyard. One of them looked especially young. Lothinar wondered if Harvey had much of a family. Probably a sister, he thought. Scattered among them were at least a few of Cantrell’s warden team. At some unseen signal, a beautiful elven woman, his mother, stood and walked to a small podium. At her waist was strapped a beautiful white sword. Her arm was wrapped in a black full-length bandage. She looked at those assembled and began to speak, not in elvish but in the speech common to men. Even in that language, her voice was melodic and sweet. She seemed to have a lot to say.
"What is she talking about ?" said Alberad to his son.
"Ssshhh." whispered Lothinar. "You are being too loud".
"She is describing the other elves' part in all this and my father’s actions," said Ardwynn, seated next to Lothinar but even farther yet from Alberad, meaning the commentary was louder.
“Quiet!”
“Now she is talking about Harvey's part of the battle and extolling his bravery," she continued in a softer whisper
"Ssshhh!"
"Look, I know that you are working wardens need a solid knowledge of human speech because you often interact with men that might be running around in the shared woods, but I don't think that it's right that I'm the only elf in the place that doesn't speak human," said Albarad loudly.
Lothinar just glared, glad to be well to the side. His seats were blocking a main hallway, having needed considerable room for the two smaller dragons, Tundor and Candasar, who sat behind them. This passageway appeared new and fairly wide. It looked like you could probably fit a good-sized wagon through here. In fact, some of the brick mortar still looked a little wet. He looked over and met the eyes of an older man standing nearby who smiled at him nervously.
Ardwella seemed to be finishing up. She stepped back, removed the podium, and threw a single red rose onto the wrapped body. The black dragon inhaled, then gently sent a stream of liquid fire into the pyre, igniting the body and the wood stacked strategically underneath it. It caught rapidly and burned hot. The smoke began to rise and pass through the hole in the roof. The temple priest stood and began to make a final speech to the crowd.
"Now, what's He saying?"
"He's actually trying to inspire a new partnership and cooperation between men and the elves that revere dragons. He is reminding the crowd that men have always done so, but now even some of their elven brothers have found the truth and want to embrace the beauty and majesty of being on team Dragon," whispered Ardwynn.
"That's not what he said!" said Lothinar. "Not exactly, anyway..."
"So I'm paraphrasing... I'm trying to keep the noise down." giggled Ardwynn.
Suddenly the gathered crowd gave a mighty shout.
"Now what?" asked Alberad.
"He asked how many gathered here would commit to this new partnership. I guess their strong response means yes."
"That's good news, right? I mean, we are probably going to need all the help we can get," said Alberad.
The smoke continued to rise and go out the hole. It was a beautiful send-off for Harvey.
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"I don't think your father is coming back." said Ulaire. “It’s been three days.”
”Maybe he dozed off somewhere” said Quinton with a smirk, then cast his eyes downward when his mother shot him a dirty look.
”Cantrell and the rest of the rangers have not returned either. They provide the vast majority of working infrastructure for this preserve. That they are gone too leaves this town vulnerable.” Said Ulaire.
”Vulnerable to what exactly?”
”Oh I don’t know, an attack from those fanatical dragon worshippers over in man town, or better yet, some righteously angry water dragons slithering up here somehow and biting our arms off. Did you see that poor elf?!”
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
”Mother, you are becoming hysterical!”
”Am I? Ardwynn is still missing, and your father has not come home before!”
”You know he is more than capable of taking care of himself “
”I don’t know. He was going after Ardwynn. He’s always had a soft spot for that girl, not that he would let her see it”
”He always pushed me pretty hard”
”That’s because you are like me, conniving and sneaky. Ardwynn has always been right up front and in your face. Just like him”
”You don’t think she actually turned on him?”
”No, not directly, but she was probably with those he was fighting, and somehow it might have made him hold back”
”I have a hard time believing anything could actually kill him,” said Quinton.
”How much do you actually know about dragons? Real ones I mean….” asked Ulaire.
”Obviously, not nearly enough.”
”We are probably going to need some help and there is still an egg delivery to make, even if it’s short a few. We will be leaving this afternoon for the capital.”
”You are coming with me this time?”
”After what you said to the water dragons, I certainly don’t feel safe down by the lake”
”Oh yeah, that. I’ll go get the horses ready”
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The crowd had dispersed, and the pyre had been removed. The floor was swept. The great black dragon sat once more upon the granite slab that had been her resting place for many centuries. Now restored to full wakefulness, sitting here felt very strange. Her bonded elf Ardwella sat by her side, softly stroking her front claw.
“You are still in a lot of pain from your burns, “ said the dragon. “Why did you not heal them or allow me to? You risk a scar”
”It is a reminder, “ the elf said, “of the painful price that human man Harvey paid to help save our lives and bring us this small victory “
”He wasn’t that small for an elf,” commented Esmarilla
“That’s not what I mean and you know it,” said Ardwynn
”Yes, I know we have a long way to go in the struggle to free my people,” admitted the dragon. “Harvey was very brave. But I’m sure he couldn’t see the danger in the glare of your beauty “
”Things like that shouldn’t be happening,” said the beautiful elf sadly “” Perhaps carrying a few scars would be a good thing “
”I don’t think Albarad would agree,” said the dragon.
”No, probably not. We fought, but I think Ardwynn and Candasar actually won that battle,” said Ardwella. “Did you know that she admitted to Lothinar that she didn’t even know she could breathe fire until it happened?”
”The blues have always been better at everything,” said Esmarilla a little jealously. “I wonder if she knows how rare she is?”
”She would never have been able to get that close if the Duke had not held back his lightning “
“Because of Ardwynn, yes.” Said Esmarilla. “It was foolish of me to leave her behind “
”I don’t think even the duke’s affection for his daughter would have stayed his attack if Ardwynn had been with me, riding you. You are just too massive and dangerous. He probably didn’t expect as much from Candasar. She is so newly returned to being an actual dragon and inexperienced. It was a lucky break.
“How is Ardwynn holding up? I don’t really get a good read on her emotions for some reason.
”Better than expected. Lothinar has all her attention right now. I’m sure it will come up again when she decides to deal with her mother and brother, “ said Ardwella.
”Her mother is an elf that really deserves to be dropped into the middle of the lake and let the dragon mothers go after her”
”You have a very creative mind Esmarilla.”
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Cantrell was feeling better, but he was still a little sore. It was a deep internal crispy feeling like his internal lubricants had run dry. Everything creaked. His tissues were restored, but the underpinnings were obviously going to take more time. He had received almost constant visits from his warden staff, although his status as their official leader was now presumably up for further review. Candasar had come by with Lothinar once more, but the blue dragon reported that she had done all the actual healing she could.
He felt it was high time to get out of bed and head back to Tasumakoji to see what was happening. Cenderick and Amstell had made the trip a day ago and reported that everything had looked surprisingly normal. Even quiet. He found it hard to believe that Dragons in flight and a dead ranger in a barn would allow things to remain essentially status quo. He would have to see for himself. The room was nice. Apparently, an old priest had retired recently, and it had somehow been available.
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Lothinar, Ardwynn, Candasar, and Tundor had all bunked down together in a huge empty storage room outside the temple but nearby. As such, being in essentially a warehouse they were subject to the foot traffic and noises as goods came and went from the neighbor's daily activities. The dragons obviously drew a lot of attention as well. People were almost constantly poking their heads through the large doors and asking if they needed anything. The lack of privacy seemed to be bothering Ardwynn a lot more than Lothinar for some reason. As a few days and nights passed, she seemed increasingly frustrated.
“What is it?” He finally asked as Ardwynn began yelling at a delivery man who was bringing them a couple of beautiful salads and a cow. She had, for some reason, been fiddling with the dress she was wearing.
“She wants to mate with you,” said Candasar abruptly. “Can you really not tell? Have you always been this oblivious?”
”Yes, he has! Yelled Ardwynn, as she broke into tears and went running from the room.
”Even I could tell!” Said Tundor.
”Listen closely, my elf. You will need to follow her. You will find her in a quiet and private place. You must calm her down and tell her that you indeed love her. You will kiss her. Then you will give her what she needs. You will do this immediately. More than once if you are able”
Lothinar’s eyes grew wide. He gulped. He looked at the two dragons. Candasar smiled. Then he ran quickly from the room.
”Wow, you sure told him,” said Tundor.
”Yes, my mate, and now that I finally have you alone…..”
”I guess the cow can wait,” said Tundor.
Mooo!
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The two water dragon elders, Killingsworth and Benedar, approached the blue female while she was gathering foxtails and water fronds for a new nest. She looked at them with reproach and disdain.
“What do you want now?” Have you come to insist that I must surrender my child to you? Do you seek to drown her as you tried to drown Tundor? I heard what happened. He is alive. My cousin Candasar saved him!”
”We were wrong. We apologize! we want your children to live,” said Killingsworth
“What has made you fools change your mind? Why should any of the mothers trust you?”
”We have heard that somehow Candasar has grown back her wings!” Said Benedar.
”That is very interesting. Leave me alone, then. I must have peace and quiet to try and focus my magic!”
’” You will go and tell the others…”
And they did.
The news spread like wildfire
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