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Chapter 40
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"You want to move out?" Asked Ardwynn
“I know that we really just moved in here, but I think Starett was hinting that he wanted the room back,” said Lothinar. “He said he was expecting some important visitors”
“I guess now that my father isn’t trying to hunt us down and kill us, we could go back to Tasumakoji. At least until my uncle, the Emperor, arrives to hunt us down and then kill us.” Said Ardwynn. “I'm sorry again, by the way, that my family seems to always focus on this hunting down and killing sort of thing.”
“It does seem to run in the family, present company excepted,” he agreed.
“I suppose it comes from associating with dragons so much. Your family kind of started that. I think the emperor is the only one who really has it out for them, and that’s only because they completely rejected bonding with him. He was filled with jealousy and bitterness.
“What kind of twisted mind must he have had, even as a younger elf, to cause a dragon, all the dragons, to utterly reject him?”
“I wouldn’t know. You’ve met him, right? What did you think?”
”Briefly, once or twice. He’s very old and crazy. My father was quite a bit younger than his brother. It would be a gap, something like you will have with your unborn baby sister. For humans, that’s a whole generation. He didn’t really want any of us around him. He is very volatile. My Uncle didn’t insist on really knowing us. Being female made it easier. The emperor really only has one use for the opposite sex. He's had more than a few wives.
I’m rather surprised my mother was given responsibility for the egg supply. My father slept so much that she probably had to get involved. Quinton had many more expectations laid on him. He was a jerk, but now that he’s gone, I actually feel a little sorry for him.
Ardwynn got a strange look on her face.
Lothinar realized that this was the first time she had started to open up about her family. He was trying not to feel this way, but hearing her talk about them made him nervous. He realized that their whirlwind relationship was still very new. A lot depended on it. He would have to tread carefully. If she suddenly started blaming him for what had happened it could destroy their relationship. He felt more than a little agreement from Candasar about that. She was now always a part of his thoughts, even as he was part of hers.
"If you really want to know more about what my uncle the emperor is going to do or what he may be thinking, then you should ask his daughter Mavis."
"Mavis? The young elf that's dating Cantrell right now? She's his daughter? The emperor's actual daughter? Didn't you think it might be a good idea to mention that?!"
"I didn't want to draw any of your attention to her. She's pretty cute. She's been stalking you, in case you didn't notice. And until very recently, I would have considered her the competition."
Lothinar scowled at her just a little.
She shrugged. “You've got to remember what kind of strange hold you had on me. Tundor bonding with me has made me less needy. That’s a good thing. But maybe I should have let Mavis have you. Then you could have used her as leverage to buy yourself some time." said Ardwynn.
"I could never do something like that!"
"The leverage of my being with you bought us enough time for your dragon to incinerate my father. That was certainly convenient!"
"Candasar was saving our lives!"
"I know, I know. I'm sorry. It just all feels so different now."
"Anyway, Cantrell is in a relationship with my cousin Mavis. She is Argent's daughter. It's a real mess. For what it's worth, I think Mavis is a nice girl. I'm sure she has no idea how bad her father is or what he's been doing to the dragons."
"Does Cantrell even know how much trouble he's in?" asked Lothinar, trying to process it all.
"Remember, Mr. Oblivious. You had no idea how much trouble you were going to be in when you got together with me." She laughed.
There was a long pause as Ardwynn seemed to be listening to something.
”Oh! Big surprise, Tundor says he’s hungry again!” Said Ardwynn. “He wants deer, but Mo-Rung told him that the ones farther from the lake taste different. He thinks it’s because they eat some dark berries that grow up there. Mo-Rung only had them a few times because the men had to carry them a far distance. They resorted to hunting on the other side of the mountain when the warden patrols at the lake were cracking down on ‘deer poachers’ more aggressively. He and Candasar are going to fly out a bit and strengthen their wings before they hunt. Are you coming?”
”Yeah, it’s strange, but of course, I got all that at exactly the same time from Candy. I’m realizing that us being together and bonded to a mated pair of dragons is going to make for a lot of redundant conversations”
”It must be strange for them too. Did you want to break up?” Is it too much to handle? She asked, apparently joking
“Of course not,” he exclaimed.
“Just checking, “ she said with a sly smile. "Then let's go take a flying lesson with our dragons!"
"We are waiting for you just outside the town gate," Said Candasar. "Better hurry. We are attracting a crowd."
——————-
Vanador had rushed off with his mouthful of the latest fashions leaving Cantrell staring at the young elf woman that he was falling in love with. The one that apparently was the emperor’s daughter or at least one of them.
Cantrell remembered hearing that the emperor had children, but with his advanced age he had assumed that they all had to be much older. Another thought rushed into his mind and he found himself backtracking the last week wondering how it had never come up..
“Mavis, do you know a female elf named Ardwynn?”
”Of course I do. She is my cousin. Somehow she outmaneuvered me and got to Lothar first. I thought he would never take her seriously, but then suddenly, they were married. I didn’t even get invited to the wedding! How can you not know this? We even talked about it.”
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She must have misread his shocked expression because she smiled warmly at him and pulled him in for a kiss.
“Don’t be jealous of past infatuations, sweetheart. I think I got the better man with you. All those pheromones Lothinar was throwing out can really mess with a girl's mind. I think falling in love naturally and sharing common interests has much more appeal, don’t you?” Then she kissed him again. “You are going to be such a wonderful tour guide as we go through life. You have been practically everywhere, and I’m such a curious girl. You have the answers to the questions I haven’t even thought about yet and a very beautiful singing voice I might add. Once you’ve bonded, our age difference won’t even matter.”
”What originally brought you out here so far from the capitol? Why are you at this outpost, Mavis?” He finally managed to get out.
”Well, obviously, this is the only place that I was ever going to be able to bond with a dragon. Daddy has always been so obsessed with them. The added lifespan alone. This world is such a big place, so much to see. You need a lot of time to travel, apparently even on a dragon's back. And the idea of even thinking about eating their eggs just makes me want to hurl. You know, throw up. Ew! Gag me with a wooden spoon and twist it.”
“Daddy made a big mistake. It only makes sense to be friends with dragons."
Cantrell just couldn’t stop staring at her. She began to blush a little.
“People do gag, you know… it happens “
Cantrell stopped her right there.
“Look, Mavis…that’s not at all what I’m talking about, at least not right now.
“Just what is it that you actually want to know, sweetheart? Just ask your question I’ll answer the best I can.” Mavis said.
Their conversation was interrupted by crashing sounds as the white dragon returned, running fast and knocking over a few smaller trees as he tried to stop. He was wheezing a little. At least he missed the clothesline. On his back was an impeccably dressed, wild-eyed, yet beautiful elf. She gave Mavis a curious look before yelling at Cantrell.
“Vanador says you know Ardwella. Take me to her. It’s urgent!” “Uh, please?”
”Should I climb up?” Asked Cantrell. “So that you know, I’m not going anywhere without Mavis.”
That earned Cantrell another radiant smile from the beautiful elf at his side. Cantrell loved Mavis's smile.
“Fine, fine, both of you then. Vanador can handle it.”
The white dragon winced and rolled his eyes.
“Siophra, It’s a good thing that you were on a diet recently” he said. “These running take-offs from flat ground aren’t easy. Did you not notice there are some pretty big trees around here? This wood is thick with them!"
”Just take a second and catch your breath, sweetie,” said Mavis, looking at Vanador as she started pulling a few more things off the clothesline. "I need to get dressed first. I’m not getting up there wearing just an apron."
Cantrell watched in amazement as Mavis color-matched and accessorized. She was ready in no time.
"Siophra," Mavis asked suspiciously, "you aren't getting bird poop on my good clothes, are you?"
"She is not!" Said Vanador, defensively. We both bathed on our way here!"
———————
Down at the lakeside, Aleena and Mo-Rung had been watching the egg wobble and shake for a couple of hours. Finally, there came a little pop and crackle, and a hole appeared in the shell. There was more violent wiggling. A little snout poked out. It drew back inside, followed by the appearance of an eye. It looked about. Seeing its mother, the little dragon gave a mighty shove, and the egg cracked in two. The small dragon flopped exhausted into the soft ferns of the nest. Aleena could see small wings and normal dragon feet and breathed a big sigh of relief. A few minutes later, it looked up expectantly.
"What do you have to eat around here?" she said in a squeaky little voice.
"Your first meal will be something called deer," said her father. We have been waiting for you, little red dragon... Your name shall be Firestorm"
On the back of Vanador, Mavis began squealing.
"Hey, I missed that tree by a mile!" said Vanador crossly. His great wings pumping frantically for altitude. They had decided to trot back over to the barn for a bigger break in the trees that provided more runway for takeoff. Vanador had reluctantly admitted that he was a little out of shape.
"It's not you, Vanny, said Mavis excitedly. I just got some great news! Aleena, just send me a message! Cantrell and I just became aunt and uncle to a new baby dragon named Firestorm!"
"Things sure have changed around here," thought Siophra. These apparently stylish new clothes barely cover up anything at all!"
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Esmarilla felt something strange. It had been so long since she had felt this presence that, at first, she didn't even know what it was. It was like someone threw a warm blanket over her chilly soul.
At almost the same second, Ardwella jumped up from the couch where she had been studying a book on ways to protect homes from lightning strikes and said abruptly.
"Albarad, I've got something urgent to take care of. I think my sister is back.
"Your sister that has been missing for like five hundred years?"
"I have to go to her. She and her dragon are landing right now outside the city gate," she said urgently.
She sent a message to Esmarilla.
"I don't know how, but Vanador and Siophra came back! You are closer, Esmarilla! Go outside and greet them. I am going to gather a few things, and then I'll meet you there."
Esmarilla didn't hesitate. Of course! The warm feeling was Vanador!. She barreled out of the courtyard and past the startled temple staff almost plowing over farmer McDonald pulling a reluctant cow down the main passageway. She stopped for a second, backed up, and addressed him.
"Would you mind bringing Bessy here out to the front gate? I'd like to give her to my brother as a welcoming gift"
"No problem, Dragon god.. Just put your mark right here"
Esmarilla scratched an "X" on a wooden shingle. Be a dear and get me a couple more for later please? And tell Starett that I have a very large guest. He will be sharing my courtyard.
"Yes, Maam," said McDonald marking down two more X's and pocketing the shingle.
Esmarilla and arrived at the front gate at the same time Vanador touched down in a cloud of dust. There were three people on his back. Having recently been a dragon god statue herself, Esmarilla thought she saw the signs of dragon hibernation. He didn't look great, but it was nothing a few cows couldn't fix.
Esmarilla couldn't be sure, but it seemed that there were a lot of extra humans hanging around outside the city gates this morning. They clearly had been there before Vanador had arrived. It was a big gathering. Did they know he was coming? "Oh well, It must be market day," she thought.
Siophra looked terrible. Esmarilla had seen her when she was young. If anyone had ever been more beautiful than Ardwella, it would have been Siophra. The gaunt elf slid slowly down Vanador and moved stiffly. Her face was locked in a strange rictus of unreadable emotion. She had obviously been through a lot. Cantrell and Mavis jumped down beside her.
"I'll be expecting a finder's fee," said Cantrell smugly to Esmarilla.
"I actually found them," Said Mavis. The dragon was taking my clothes, remember?"
Siophra was staring back toward the gate. The guard there winced. Then Cantrell saw Ardwynn. The crowd of humans parted respectfully as she appeared. She was walking out of the gate and slowly toward them.
"I got your message Ardwella. It saved Vanador's life. But the Emperor caught us. He kept me in a prison cell all this time". said Siophra "He tortured me for hundreds of years!"
Tears were streaming down Ardwella's face.
"I had no idea where you were. How to find you? I'm just so glad you are alive and that you and Vanador made it. "
"Were you the one that killed Argent's soldiers that burned the dragons? Did you somehow destroy all the scrolls? Asked Siophra.
"Yes, I killed them all. I got the last one about fifty years ago."
I just heard the news about that today, and once I realized Vanador was safe, I came straight here. Thank you for that."
"What do you need most right now? asked Ardwella. "What can I do for you?"
"Do you have my sword?"
"Yes, it's right here".
Siophra reached out and took the offered black blade. She ran her fingers over the runes. A flame burst forth along the blade. In its glow, you could really see the crazy in her eyes.
She looked at Mavis, and a strange look passed through her almost vacant eyes.
"There are a lot of things I want. I want to get my revenge for all the things Argent did to me."
"I want some clothes that don't make me look like a floozy"
Mavis gasped.
Siophra swung the black sword around until it was pointed at Mavis.
"Thanks for the clothes."
"Of course," said Mavis. "It was the right thing to do"
"Loaning them to me just probably just saved your life". said Siophra.
"Well, I appreciate you not killing me". For what it's worth, my father is a disgusting pig!"
"I'm glad you see it that way," said Siophra. Her face was a wooden mask. Her dragon shifted awkwardly from foot to foot.
"Uh, Ardwella, I'd appreciate it if you could attend to your sister. She's going to be ok in time, but she's been through a lot," said Vanador.
Siophra nodded as if in agreement. "That would be great. Thank you."
The flaming sword extinguished with a pop. A little smoke rose from the tip.
The human crowd sighed in relief.
"Does anybody know where I can get a banana? Oh! and maybe a pickle?" said Siophra longingly.
"Come on inside," Said Ardwella. I'll introduce you to Starett. He has everything!"