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Chapter 48
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Four wardens helped Cantrell bury Aleena the blue water dragon. They had found a good place. It was a beautiful sunlit glade halfway between the lake and Mavis's yard. Cantrell suspected the elf would not object to having her bond's final resting place near her house. Most of the water dragon's bodies, when they died were left to feed the fish of the lake. That had certainly been the case during Candasar's battle with the previous elders. It just seemed right to Cantrell that this dragon that somehow seemed to span both worlds should be buried between the water and the home of her elven bond. With magic, they lifted the body, slowly and respectfully hovering it between the trees into the glade. That was the most difficult part. It took all five of them. The rest of the work they did with shovels taken from the warden’s shed. The five of them made fairly quick work of digging and filling the hole.
Cantrell thanked each of them individually for helping him put the dragon to rest.
"Cenderick, Amstell, Caliber and Yewstrong. Thank you for coming and assisting me," said Cantrell. It means a lot."
"Not a problem, boss, but do you mind if we have a quick meeting?” asked Cenderick. He looked uncomfortable.
Cantrell had been leading men for a long time. He had known this conversation was coming.
"We all got swept up in this when it first started," began Cenderick. "That asshole Tempton came into your office threatening everyone and throwing his power around"
"That Asshole was the Emperor's brother!" said Amstell, needlessly reminding all of them.
"We've been talking to the men that have been feeding the big red dragon up in the hills. They have family in town. They say the Emperor and his troops are eventually coming," Said Yewstrong.
"To squash us flat and kill anyone that resists!" said Caliber.
"Exactly. And so... the other guys, and us.. well...we have some decisions to make," said Amstell.
"You want to know if this really is your fight? Should you stick around and possibly get slaughtered along with the humans?" guessed Cantrell.
"Fighting with the dragons against the emperor doesn't seem to be in doubt for the humans. Those humans really love their dragons!" said Caliber. "And yet...Even some of the townspeople are wondering what their part is in this conflict."
"The priest and the temple acolytes are doing a good job with the dragon-worshipping faithful.. but the average human in the city seems like they are just trying to live a peaceful life," said Yewstrong.
"I think everyone wishes for that," said Cantrell. "Even the dragons. They would be happy if the emperor just left them alone."
"What have the dragons really done for the humans anyway?" asked Cenderick., "Or even the average elf for that matter.. I understand that there is a special relationship if you bond with one of them...but.." he tapered off.
"But you couldn't help but notice that I had not bonded to one yet..." said Cantrell. "Even given every opportunity"
"A couple of the guys, yeah, I'll admit, felt a little sorry for Mo-Rung. They wondered if they should offer. "Not me, of course..." said Caliber.
They didn't want to step on your toes, boss." said Yewstrong.
"And with Lothinar missing, they don't know if there is any way to return these dragons to flying status. You would think Mo-Rung would be about first on the list for that..." said Caliber.
"I just have a feeling that Mo-Rung and I wouldn't have been a great fit... for a lot of reasons, actually," said Cantrell, looking at the grave. Things may have changed now."
"Yeah, that, of course. We know about Mavis and you. That has to be very complicated." said Yewstrong sympathetically.
"Mavis is devastated. We just buried her dragon. Ardwynn's actions came as a shock." said Cantrell. "It seems like the Emperor can reach us even out here."
"The Capitol is far away, and being away from the politics and ugliness of the big city is kind of why most of us took this kind of job". Said Cenderick.
"You mean the abundance of fine dining, loose ladies, and luxury accommodations in the elven village of Tasumakoji wasn't what brought you all here?" laughed Cantrell.
"We all love what we do, boss. Or we wouldn't be here in the first place. Perhaps somehow, the stories of the dragons and the war had a greater impact on us growing up. I just kind of wanted to see the dragons and was curious what happened to them." said Yewstrong.
"Now everything we were all told turns out to be a big lie," said Amstell. "It makes you wonder about a lot of things!"
"Well, one of the things I was wondering about was if we were still going to be getting paid as wardens," said Cantrell. "That was answered this morning. The payroll funds for all of us showed up at the office this morning by courier. I put your portions in your storage lockers in the office. I really don't understand that. Someone in the Capitol is still making sure we have our payroll is met. Make sure to tell the other guys to pick up their portion. I know you all still have ongoing expenses."
"It makes you wonder who is really running the government doesn't it?" said Cenderick.
"I think that the payroll department is one of the responsibilities of Mavis's brother Mandel. He's one of the five generals. We just recently learned that he's not really the emperor's son." said Cantrell.
"That might explain a lot," said Yewstrong.
"If you or the other wardens feel that you would like to take the money and run, I would completely understand," said Cantrell. "It's probably not going to stay quiet around here much longer"
Yewstrong looked at the large pile of dirt left over after filling the hole.
"I'd hardly say it's been quiet," he said.
"I, for one, think I'm going to stick around and watch history in the making," said Cenderick. "Maybe I can find a dragon to bond with and get a chance to really have a really exciting life!"
"From what I've seen, it hasn't worked out that great for the elves that have done it," said Cantrell. "Ask any of them."
When they got back to the house, Mavis was gone.
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Tundor stood in the putrid throne room. The stench was overwhelming. Lately he had been noticing that Ardwynn had a faint reek about her. It reminded him of that garlic plant that the humans liked to eat. Strong but not nasty like this. This was garlic, yes, but something infinitely worse. It smelled like an abandoned bird's nest he had stumbled into once while hunting, just infinitely worse. He had stepped on the eggs releasing a terrible smell. The birds had been small. This was the olfactory onslaught of thousands upon thousands of rotten dragon eggs that had all gathered together in one place. The white-haired emperor gazed at him with half-lidded eyes. Tundor realized that the smell he was experiencing was not really in the air. It was the putrid magical force that kept the emperor alive. The psychic screams of consumed baby dragons. His black sister was probably one of them.
"Come closer, dragon," he commanded. His voice was more the rush of air than vibrating vocal cords.
Tundor dug his claws into the stonework beneath his feet. Behind him, he heard Ardwynn moving up. He felt the pressure of her thoughts through the bond pushing him forward again, but loathing and disgust were on his side. They fortified his resistance. He was unable to flee, but he stayed stock, still resisting the emperor's order. He could feel her straining.
She was not only trying to make him get physically closer to the emperor, but she was also subduing Tundor's loathing and hatred for this horrible smell.
"What is going on here, Ardwynn? came the crackly voice.
"I must be tired. It has been a long day. If you allow me to rest... Perhaps in the morning."
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"My patience has grown thin, my niece".
Ardwynn must have felt some desperation because she played her trump card.
"There are probably more important things. you should attend to right now than trying to break this dragon," she said
"You would instruct me in my duties?" came his surprised reply
"You have a traitor among your generals, my Emperor!"
"You know that they are all my sons. This accusation is a bold thing!"
"I have been bolder still. Before I came here, I killed Mavis. She was not your daughter."
"How do you know this to be true? The emperor asked, enraged. "Know that your life is forfeit, dragon or not if your answer is a poor one."
"She bonded. Easily, in fact."
"The emperor's eyebrows raised in surprise". Then her brother....."
"A twin, yes. Not identical, no, but a very, very low chance that you are his father."
"There is a wolf in the woodpile!" said the Emperor darkly. "If you have lied to me in any way concerning this..."
"Check your own sources, Uncle. But you should work quickly to root out this problem before it becomes our undoing!"
"Take this dragon and teach him some manners. Come back and see me tomorrow morning. We will have our answers."
Ardwynn turned to leave.
"Ardwynn... If you are wrong, you will be taking up residence in Siophras old room in the tower"
"I would expect nothing less, my emperor, but I am not wrong."
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Enderline and Pricilla stood on the deck and watched as nine of their ships entered the bay. Just out of sight behind the headland, he knew lay the port city of Dween. It had been a difficult crossing, but only one ship had failed to make it. It had been attacked by a great Kraken of the deep. The creature had risen from the depths without warning. The Beaufort had been pulled apart, spilling its crew and his troops into the sea. Thankfully twenty-two of the thirty on board had managed to swim to an accompanying vessel. They had lost all their gear but that which they carried on their backs but they were alive. The rest had become the Kraken's feast. Eight of his best had gone down the gullet.
This was his first time making the journey himself, but Enderline had heard stories of much more costly crossings. The ship that had made the rescue was his own flagship, the Sinspirilla. The ship's pilot had panicked and initially refused to turn back into the blood-tinted water until he himself had held a sword to his neck, compelling the rescue. The attack of the Kraken had happened only two days from land. Rations were stretched, so nobody had starved. At last, they were near their goal. Enderline looked down at his half-elf wife holding onto the railing as the ship chopped its way through the sea. Pricilla was clearly excited about coming to the mainland. Perhaps it was her impending reunion with her sister. Once they docked, they would obtain hoses and supplies before heading to Della Nadine. He sincerely hoped he would be able to acquire enough horses to outfit his men. Horses would get them there in a couple of days. Marching all the way to the dragon temple would take forever.
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Mavis followed Firestorm into the house. The little dragon had not hesitated to flee from the possibility of Mo-Rung's yet unexpressed anger at her running off after Lothinar. Mavis wondered how Mo-Rung felt about suddenly having his daughter bonded to the elf along with his granddaughter Candasar. Mavis didn't feel any anger in Mo-Rung regarding Lothinar's actions. Through her relatively new bond with him, she actually felt relief. She realized that Mo-Rung really didn't want to be responsible for raising a little flying dragon. He had two eggs in a nest back at the lake that he needed to worry about for now. He trusted Candasar and would have probably accepted her offer to raise Firestorm as her own. It was actually much simpler this way for the old red dragon.
Mo-Rung's bond felt so very different than Aleena's. He was a lot older and she hated to admit it, a lot smarter than Aleena. No, perhaps it wasn't intelligence, just that Aleena had been focused more heavily on different things. Motherhood and her children. She had a sense of destiny and purpose. Mavis wondered again why the blue water dragon had offered to bond with her and then heroically kept her alive when Aleena had so many of her own responsibilities to live for.
Mavis had heard the word destiny a few times. She hoped that wasn't the reason Aleena had acted the way she had. Mavis didn't think she would ever be able to live up to those kinds of expectations. Right now, she had a broken-hearted elf and his chemically infatuated kidnapper to deal with.
Lothinar was sitting at the table. Firestorm was standing on it, licking his face. It was cute, but Lothinar was clearly not in the mood for the rough dragon tongue trying to see what he had just eaten for breakfast.
"Is that buckwheat cakes?" I know what they are from your memories but have never tasted them before. They are definitely better than the skunk flavor. I don't recommend those at all." Firestorm prattled.
Lothinar pushed her back but gently.
"I think what you are tasting is honey," said the elf. "I must have still had some on my lips. You kind of interrupted my breakfast by appearing in the window"
Mavis decided to let them talk and went into the bedroom to deal with Lothinar's lonely fan club.
The elf, previously known as Ronette, was sitting on the bed sulking. Lothinar was right. It was a pretty quilt. Mavis sat down on the bed across from her.
"You know I have lived my whole life in the shadow of people like you!" she suddenly said bitterly. "Perfect and beautiful elves that think that they can take anything they want from me"
"What have I taken from you... Ronniflass?" Mavis tried using her elven name to soothe her.
"I bet you think I'm ridiculous using even using an elven name. It really is my name, though. My father was an important ambassador. He was the elf that named me. Only my mother was human."
"She must have been extremely beautiful," said Mavis. "Personally, I think that blending the races makes half-elves look very exotic. But do you mind me asking? How old are you?"
Ronniflass shot her a dirty look. Then looked away. "I'm probably way too old for Lothinar, actually. I'm almost fifty."
"For an elf that's still pretty young, but for a human...."
"I know. He's just so beautiful. Did you know that he's kind too? Really sweet. I know that what I'm feeling is caused by some sort of chemicals, but I don't care! I love him!"
"Yes, he's quite a catch. I've always thought so... Even after being bonded and supposedly immune to his chemical charms"
"Now you are here to steal him away from me!"
"No, surprisingly not. I've kind of had a change of heart about that. It's very complicated, but I was just about dead yesterday, and I'm seeing life in a whole new way. "
"You almost died? How?"
"Lothinar's wife Ardwynn sent her dragon Tundor after me. He violently broke my neck," said Mavis,
"Does Lothinar know this? asked Ronniflass
"He does now!" said Lothinar walking into the bedroom, followed by Firestorm. "Perhaps you should tell me more about what happened."
"Oooh!. Nice quilt," said Firestorm leaping onto the bed.
"Watch the claws!" said Lothinar. "Dragons can be so destructive even when they don't really mean to be. In fact..."
Lothinar scooped Firestorm up into his arms and sat next to the half-elf on the bed. Mavis thought that he was going to put the little dragon outside or at least on the floor, but he didn't. He continued to hold her in his lap. The little dragon initially squirmed a bit but settled down. Lothinar began petting her gently, almost like a cat. A little rumble actually was coming out of her throat.
"See what I mean! said Ronniflass.
Lothinar blushed a little.
"Ronniflass," he began. "Ronni, look, what happened to you is not your fault, and now I've kind of ruined your life. It's the way my mother made me. I'm not even sure why."
"It was a largely unhappy marriage," she began. But he interrupted her.
"It doesn't matter. Even if McDonald were the best guy in the world, you would have become involved with me anyway. It's just the chemicals"
"So you are throwing me away?" She almost wailed.
"No, I'm not!" he said. "I know what it's like to have been left... abandoned and thrown away. and it's a terrible feeling. I may never get over it."
Ronni nodded. She was waiting for the rest of his words like her life depended on them. Maybe it did, thought Mavis. Yes. it probably did.
"I think, though, that what is most important is that you get a choice. Like Mavis did. She used to be infatuated with me before, too, but she's not anymore. Right?" he said, looking at her.
Mavis could only nod at his very handsome face. This Elf. My goodness! He wasn't just pheromones, thought Mavis.
"So I think the only way that you and I can decide where this relationship should go is for you to get a bond. Then you might feel differently."
"I won't! I know it!" said Ronni.
"I know that you feel that way now, and I'm promising you that I won't leave you or forsake you."
"You won't?" she asked breathlessly.
"Not unless you tell me to," said Lothinar. His gaze never wavering from her eyes.
Mavis felt herself melting.
"We will get you a bond. Even if I have to call in a few favors. And then, if you still think that you love me, we won't have to be concerned about any age differences."
"Mavis suddenly felt overheated. These quilts were very warm. She stood up and walked out of the room. She left the house and walked right into a couple of dragons with expectant faces.
"Is he coming home with us? Asked Candasar. "Did you convince him?"
Mavis was just staring into space. Her beautiful face was going through strange permutations.
"Uh oh" . said Mo-Rung. "Candasar, I think we have a problem!"
"Don't tell me." said the blue dragon.
"Yes, Mavis is falling for Lothinar again, even without the pheromones." said the red dragon.
"I warned you!" Candasar said, shaking her head. "When are you going to start listening to me?"
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Starett had called Alberad into his office to ask for a favor. The usually pleasant and polite elf that was Lothinar's father didn't seem to be very happy about it.
"It's only for a few days," continued Starett. "We've had word that our king is coming to Della Nadine. His ships are supposed to arrive soon at our port in Dween. He's trying to move about three hundred men at arms up here to our little town. You know how helpful they will probably be when the emperor's troops show up.
"So you want to borrow my horses"
"Yes. That's about it," said Starett. "It's just to move the men quickly. I'll re-emphasize it's not a permanent requisition. It's just a loan. We will take them down to the port, load the men and supplies and turn right around and come back here."
"They aren't even all my horses!" said Albarad. "Three of them belong to my daughter-in-law."
"I spoke to Ardwella first about this, and she said that she didn't think that Ardwynn would be coming back for them any time soon."
Albarad nodded sadly.
"I suppose she's right, as usual"
"But you know, she entrusted them to me personally and to make sure they get the best of care, I think I should go along to watch out for them."
The priest looked surprised.
"Well, that would be fine. Terrific, in fact. That will free up one of my acolytes to continue with our building project. Can you be ready to go by this afternoon?
"Sure. I've hardly unpacked from our last trip," said Albarad.
"I appreciate it so very much. Thank you!" said Starett.
"You know, this will be the first time I'll have been away from Ardwella for more than a day since before we were married". said the elf frowning.
"You don't have to go," said Starett. "If you are worried about something."
"I just hope she doesn't get too lonely without me," said Albarad. "You'd never know it but she's kind of needy and insecure"
"Well, I'd never have believed that unless you'd told me," said Starett. "I'll make sure someone looks in on her"
"As long as it's not Cantrell," said Albarad with a frown. "I don't trust him very much"
"He seems to be the very finest sort of gentleman," said Starett.
"That's the kind you have to worry about," said Albarad.
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