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Chapter 41
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The dragons and their riders had traveled quite a distance. The elves had dismounted and watched from afar as the dragons had killed and fed on the two of the deer. Tundor claimed that Mo-Rung had oversold the whole experience. It wasn't worth the trip. Candasar disagreed and thought that they were delicious. She admitted that it probably wouldn’t make sense to make the long trip out here on a regular basis just for the additional flavor. Lothinar brought up the fact that with the pressure that an increasing dragon population would bring, it was good to have options.
Lothinar wondered if it might be a genetic thing. She might have something different about her tastebuds that Tundor did not. After all, Candy was Mo-Rungs granddaughter. They were red and blue dragons. Perhaps there was a genetic predisposition to enjoy darkberry mountain deer.
Lothinar had heard of this kind of thing before. He loved Mung beans, and so did his mother. His father couldn’t stand them. He said eating them hurt his stomach. Ardwella never even thought of cooking Mung beans for Alberad. Instead, when Lothinar was a small child growing up, it had become one of their little things to do together. Sneaking off to the Mung bean vendor, soaking them and then cooking them on the stove at the house. Mung bean feasts with his mother were fondly remembered.
"Well, the dragons needed the exercise anyway. You know, it seems really strange, but since I've bonded with Tundor, the thought of eating meat isn't quite as revolting to me as it used to be. Don't get me wrong, I'm not going to do it anytime soon. It’s the ethics. I think that really was what held me back from the eggs as well. Although those grilled cow sandwiches with the round buns that the humans were eating at our wedding looked interesting. I think they had pickles on them.
Lothinar had to agree. The pickles were great.
"We'd better get back". Said. Lothinar. "I don't like to be gone for a whole morning like this. Who knows what's happened since we left."
"Don't worry". Laughed Ardwynn, "Until the Emperor shows up, it's probably going to be very boring around here. Just look at the crowd the dragons attracted at the city gate just before we left. All those people standing around wanting to see dragons, then we came out, climbed on, and off we flew."
"I hope that they weren't disappointed, leaving them nothing to see." agreed Lothinar.
"Hey, on the way back do you want to stop and get some mung bean soup?. I know a place."
"I can't stand Mung Beans said Ardwynn." But. you can get some if you want. Just don't expect me to ever cook them for you!"
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Cantrell watched as Ardwella led Siophra and her dragon into the human city through the main gate. The humans bowed reverently as the two largest dragons in existence walked past. Vanador and Esmarilla already seemed lost in their own private conversation. The black dragon was making some pretty horrible angry faces. Cantrell was glad that they were not directed at him. A bird flew near the pair and looked as if it might land on Vanador. His head and neck snapped out in a flash, obliterating the avian trespasser from existence. A cloud of feathers fluttered to the ground.
"Never again," Cantrell thought he heard the white dragon say"
He turned to Mavis about to comment on the bird's demise and found her staring thunderously at him. Her hand was on her ample hip, and her face was compressed into a serious pout.
"So what? You were just going to stand there and let that prudish ancient elf fry me with her fire sword? I thought you and I were in this together?"
Cantrell immediately realized that he had made a grave mistake.
"It totally caught me by surprise! I had no idea she was angry with you, personally!"
"I don't think she really was, even if she has no taste in clothes... She is obviously quite peeved with my father. Not that I can blame her. Still I thought you might take an interest in somehow keeping me alive. Sort of jump in front? Wave your arms? Say something like... "No, please don't shoot my sweetheart?" What were you thinking?"
"Well, she had just been handed the black sword. She seemed rather calm up until that actual moment. Perhaps having the sword in her hand again triggered something. said Cantrell thinking it through
“Siophra has obviously been through a lot. Ultimately she didn't hurt you just to get back at your father. That says a lot about what kind of person she is deep down inside. In spite of all that your father put her through. I’m sure she’s not completely sane. Vanador is probably the only thing keeping her together.”
"Well", Mavis finally smiled, "Aleena thinks I should give you another chance. It’s a good thing that I love you because I could take you not speaking up for me as a bad sign for our relationship. “
"Don't take it that way," said Cantrell. "I definitely want a future together enough to jump in front of a flaming sword for you. I have an excellent history of doing heroic things like that. Ask anyone."
”I already have,” said Mavis. “That’s why I was surprised when you didn’t do that this time”
”It happened really fast, and I must be tired. You haven’t really let me get much sleep”
”I didn’t hear you complaining last night!”
“The way she swung around that black sword actually caught me by surprise too,” said Mavis. ‘I’ll try to be more aware of it. It looks just like one my father used to own”.
“My father isn’t known for being subtle. When he comes after us, you will know he’s coming. I’m sure his generals are the same way. They are all his sons.”
“They will probably try to kill me on sight if he suspects me of being involved with you.”
Mavis actually paused on that, giving it some thought. "Perhaps we should prioritize getting wings for both our dragons. We might need to get out of town quickly. With dragons we should be able to go somewhere that they can’t find us.”
"What about the nest and baby Firestorm?"
"Don't worry, darling, she's still small. We will bring her and the eggs with us! We can start a new dragon enclave way up in the mountains somewhere. I’m going to miss clothes shopping, but I know how to make sacrifices!”
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Cantrell was starting to realize how much the new post-bond Mavis was being affected by Aleena.
"I'd like to have a long talk with you about just exactly what you think your father the Emperor, is going to do"
"Like I'd know". My father's daughters are not privy to such matters. "I do know that he won't be happy about not getting all the dragon eggs he can"
"Are any of your brothers more reasonable?"
"Hmm.. Maybe one." All the brothers are from different mothers. I only have one full brother. I don't know him that well. They took him away at birth. We were actually twins." We are the youngest of all of the emperor's children. Apparently, it was a big deal because my parents had relations so infrequently. According to my mother, my father had been slowing down in that regard.
"Now that's some information we might be able to use." Said Cantrell. "Just in case, I'd better start working on mobility as a backup plan. Mo-Rungs conversion is going to be a lot like Tundor’s. He at least has all the right parts. He’s just larger. He’s a big investment in power but a dragon his size should be useful in a fight”
“Aleena told me that red dragons excel at fire.” Said Mavis.
“Aleena is going to take a serious amount of physical changing. You were not around to see when Lothinar and Ardwella were working on Candasar. I was there. It looked violent and painful.” Said Cantrell.
“Perhaps we can convince the large white dragon to help us. He still owes me for the clothes.”
‘I think we are probably well past the value of a few clothes”
”You don’t know where I shop. It's quite an expensive place. You’d be surprised “
“I suspect knowing that information might curb my enthusiasm slightly,” said Cantrell jokingly.
”Did I tell you that the whole Royal family is rich?”
“Yes, I suppose you probably are. But it is starting to seem like we come from rather different worlds”
“You still haven’t bonded with Mo-Rung,” Said Mavis. “If you are having second thoughts about me this would be the time to say so. Before you bond with Aleena’s mate”
“There is another thing,” said Cantrell. “I don’t know if I could just run away from these people. They still need my help.”
"For a world traveler, you sure seem reluctant to get out of here. Is that the lingering powers of Ardwella talking?”
"I really don’t think so. It just feels wrong to leave everyone else in the lurch," said Cantrell. "I'd better talk to Lothinar. I wonder where that boy went off to?"
Cantrell heard the murmurs of the crowd first. They were looking into the sky. Two dragons approached low and fast. They were landing in front of the gates. It was Candasar and Tundor. Lothinar jumped off his dragon and headed over. Ardwynn was close behind him. The dragons followed after.
"Cantrell. What are you doing out here?" Lothinar asked.
"Big news!" said Mavis. "Your Aunt just got back with Vanador. Your mom took them all inside. Your Aunt isn’t well. It's quite a story. Actually, your aunt tried to kill me. She had this flaming sword and everything. I think she hesitated mostly because of all these human witnesses. It’s lucky that they were here. Mavis sniffed again, and then she smiled.
"Hey, is that Mung Bean soup?"
Yeah, it’s from a place in Tasumakoji. said Lothinar. I picked it up on the way back. Take it if you want it. I got extra. I've already had some."
"Oooh! Goody," said Mavis. "Mung Bean soup has always been one of my my favorites. I make a great version myself. I was going to bring you some the day I saw you flying past my house!"
Ardwynn just stared at Mavis and shook her head. "I don't know how you and I can be cousins!"
"What? said Mavis. Anybody who doesn't like Mung Beans has a serious character flaw."
Lothinar had a strange look on his face. "I Hope not. I guess I should go and meet my Aunt"
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Apparently, being the Emperor of the whole Elven nation could get you a steak dinner, even in a nation of vegetarians. There were even a few human sellouts brownnosing in the Capitol that were willing to butcher a cow and cook it for him. It could not, however, get your army to move on one day's notice.
Argent sat at the head of the table, looking at his five generals. Each of them was a son from a different century. Each of them had been born to different mothers. Argent liked his wives young. He could have all the daughters they would bear him, but once he had a son, they were moved on. He didn't discard them like unwanted trash, but each of them was tucked nicely away in a corner of the kingdom so as to not be able to use the son they bore to threaten his power.
Each of his sons had specific duties in his military. They all wore their father's hard countenance and handsome physical traits like a badge of honor. The first and oldest was in charge of Troop physical training, The second, Weapons procurement, The third Magical training and spells, Fourth was Supply Logistics and his youngest, the fifth, the one that didn't look anything like him... was Payroll and records.
Argent had been suspicious when he was born as a twin. That had never happened before, at least to him. He and his sister didn't really look that much like Argent, but their mother was a rare beauty. That could skew things. She had most of the staff at the palace trying to earn her favor. Argent was the suspicious type, so he had double-checked. He had the children tested to make sure that they were indeed his. The bespectacled but gorgeous genetic researcher who had performed the tests had come with the highest recommendations from the scholar Talmadge. Talmadge had never been wrong. It was a pity he had been killed when the library roof had caved in.
Now all of them were arguing about why they would not be ready to do the emperor's will and march tomorrow morning toward battle and glory.
It seemed some of the payments for supplies had been lost or somehow delayed.
"My troops can't march on an empty stomach!" said the first.
"The supplies are in the warehouse," said Fourth. "We just don't know what is in the boxes. All the labels are switched around. We have to open each one and check"
"I can't even find all the spears," said the second.
"Boys! said the Argent. When can we be ready to go?
"It's going to be at least a couple of more days," said the Fifth.
"Damn if he didn't look just like his mother." thought Argent. Mandel's twin sister, Mavis, had inherited her mother's beauty. I haven’t seen that girl in a while. It’s about time I find a husband for her and get her married off. She has always had a tendency to be strong-willed.
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Siophra had devoured the Mung Bean Soup. She had cried when Starett had actually produced a banana. McDonald, the farmer, had been called and had rushed over with a barrel of pickles. Siophra had pulled one out of the barrel and just stared at it with her whole body quivering.
She had devoured the banana and one pickle and then closed her eyes in obvious exhaustion. Now she had fallen asleep right on the bare floor of his office. Apparently, the poor abused elf had been accustomed to sleeping in less-than-ideal conditions. Starett bent over and scooped her up and was amazed to notice that she weighed almost nothing. Ardwella, who had been watching her sister with a sad expression on her face, suddenly stood and motioned the priest to follow her. They walked to Womber's old suite where Ardwella now resided and tucked her sister into bed. She smiled as she pulled the covers over her.
”You’re safe now, Siophra,” she whispered.
"Thank you Starett,” Ardwella said. “My sister has been through a terrible time"
"Am I to understand that your sister was a prisoner of the elven emperor for over five hundred years?"
"Yes, as impossible as that sounds, that is correct."
"What kind of monster is he?"
"I'm sure we all will be finding out soon enough," said Ardwella sadly. It's time that I have a long talk with Mavis."
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Enderline watched the sails swollen with the wind as they drove the ships forward. The flagship he traveled on was one of ten. Each held thirty warriors. His elite troops. The very best the kingdom had to offer. He would have brought more but he only had so many of the tall wooden ships. Right now, he was praying to the dragon god for good weather. Storms this time of year could be treacherous. He intended to help the dragons in any way he could.
He was a young king but knew his duty. The dragons had been good friends to his kingdom. Communication had always been a challenge, but now Enderline had a secret. Standing at his side was his bride. He blushed at her beauty and to know that she was his. She was a half-elf, and her name was Pricilla. It was her sister Ronette who had sent the message letting them know that the great black dragon had awakened. She smiled up at him, thrilled to be on their way.
She could help him speak with the dragons. It was impossible to believe that one of his ancestor kings had allowed so much of the human territory to be absorbed by the elves. Enderline knew that once the dragon protectors had fallen to the twisted elven magic, the kings of old had retreated to the archipelago and licked their wounds. Now it was time to take back what was theirs. The dragons would surely help drive the elves off their lands!
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