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Chapter 50
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Mo-Rung and Mavis had descended the mountain and returned to his usual stomping grounds up at the cave. Cantrell had been there waiting for the red dragon. For some reason, he had not been overly surprised to find Mavis with him or disappointed to find that Mo-Rung had allowed Mavis to bond with him.
“I laid Aleena’s body to rest in an open space, a pretty glade actually about halfway between your hose and the lake,” said Cantrell. “Four of the other wardens assisted me.”
”Thank you, Cantrell.” Said Mo-Rung. This burial on land is somewhat strange to my thoughts but I grew up and spent the first part of my life in the water dragon culture. I prefer what you have done to just allowing Aleena to decompose in the lake.”
”I think I know the location. It’s lovely. I think she would be pleased with your choice of the spot.“ agreed Mavis.
”Dragons have lost so much of their lore and ways due to Argent changing them said Cantrell. “Because elves identify so much with the land, it is most common for our race to choose burial. Returning nutrients to the soil. Most of the humans burn their dead, as we saw with the gate guard Harvey.”
”Water dragons have not had much of a choice before in this matter of the disposing of our dead,” said Mo-Rung. “They have no fire, and the thought of going onto land and trying to form a hole large enough with flippers seems impossible.”
“Because the elven way is burial, it feels right to me for you to have buried Aleena as you did,” said Mavis. “I add my thanks as well.”
Mavis observed that Cantrell seemed to be watching her more intensely than usual and found herself self-conscious because of it.
“You have a strange look on your face. Are you angry at me for bonding with Mo-Rung, Cantrell?”
”Oh, was I staring? I apologize. It must be all this talk of death and, I suppose, your recent brush with it. If Esmarilla and Vanador had been delayed I could have just as easily been burying you next to Aleena. That would have been terribly hard for me.”
“Of course. That makes sense. Thank you for your concern for me, “ said Mavis
Cantrell tried to meet her eyes and see her choice of that particular word was a brush-off, but she looked away.
I’ve recently figured out some things and have a lot on my mind. ”he said. “No, of course, I'm not angry. I clearly had my own opportunity to bond with Mo-Rung and let it pass me by. I have no hard feelings whatsoever.”
The large dragon grunted.
“I must concede that your reluctance was well founded. It never felt quite right for us. I can see that more clearly now. Thank you for not rushing into things,” he said.
”Regarding things like burial, I think that it is important to also consider that with regard to dragon culture and traditions that with the bonding you are actually forming a third race." said Cantrell. "The original dragon culture, whatever it looked like, is more or less extinguished. We may find evidence of it as we move back into their original territories. Certainly there will be dragons that choose not to bond. They will have to find their own way... But the new race, the bonded, will be a mixture of dragon and elf. A gestalt culture. Hopefully, the best of both.”
”Will you seek out another dragon to bond with?” asked Mavis.
”I think it is somewhat different for me than for you, honestly.” He replied. “You are still very young and willing to embrace change. It seems you throw yourself fully into such things, in fact.”
Mavis found herself blushing, thinking about what he might be referring to.
Cantrell seemed to be able to ignore the heat in her face
”I am quite a bit older. I guess it might be that I am fairly satisfied with who I am and the way that I think and approach life. A bond would certainly change that. I don’t know if I could get used to dragon thoughts crowding into my mind. As stimulating and exciting as that might be.”
”Immortality doesn’t tempt you?”
”Of course it does, but I have long ascribed to the belief that it is not how long you live that is most important but how well you live. That you leave the world a better place for having been in it.”
”I suppose the elf that I used to think of as my father is a good example of how extending hollow years can turn out very badly.”
”Argent. Yes, exactly.” He agreed.
”Though achieving quality does have a better chance if has some quantity to work with” said Mo-Rung.
Cantrell took a deep breath and held it for a moment before looking at her.
”Do you think that you could be in a relationship with an elf that is not bonded, Mavis?” asked Cantrell, suddenly very serious.
She looked away.
”I’ve recently been thinking a great deal about things of that nature.” She said. “I don’t think I told you that we found Lothinar.”
”Is he all right?”
”He was injured trying to restore Aleena and Mo-rung’s daughter Firestorm.”
”I was aware of that much. Why couldn’t Candasar find him?”
”Somehow, what he tried to do also created a second bond with the hatchling Firestorm. Her thoughts, being extremely young, didn’t understand what was going on. The telepathic bond was formed but Lothinar’s confused mental state kept him from communicating with both dragons simultaneously. Candasar got locked out.”
”That elf exceeds at new ways to get into trouble!”
”What made it so much worse is that somehow the half-elf from the dairy…”
”Ronette.”
”She is embracing her elven heritage now and calls herself Ronniflass. Somehow a day or two before this happened, she got too close to Lothinar. She got exposed to his pheromones.”
”I, of all people, know how powerful a compulsion like that can be."
”Yes, of course,” she nodded and blushed a little.
”She was stalking him and, luckily, was right there when he passed out and fell into the water. She saved his life, which I’m sure we all appreciate, but then took him away to a family estate up on the mountain.
”She kidnapped him? Is she going to give him back?”
”No, not really. That's just it. Lothinar doesn’t seem to want to come back. He feels guilty about accidentally causing her to fall for him. He’s prepared to stand by her regardless of how they came to be together or how he really might feel about her.”
Cantrell considered this for a few moments.
”You do realize that he did the exact same thing when Ardwynn fell in love with him?” said Cantrell.
Mavis looked a little shocked at the realization.
”Something’s got to be wrong with him. Nobody’s that nice!”
‘Lothinar actually is. He seems to be genuinely self-sacrificing.” Cantrell observed. “I have to assume that the things Ardwella did carrying him and raising him caused him to have that characteristic. He just showed us something like that again when he almost killed himself fixing Firestorm.”
”Lothinar wants to try and find a way to get Ronni a bond. She’s only half-elf! I don’t think anyone half-human has ever tried to bond before.” Mavis said with frustration. “I think he realizes that only a bond will give her the opportunity for choice. He wants to give her that choice but he made a commitment to stay with her until she releases him. She might never bond, Cantrell! She might not be able to!”
”You seem upset about that, Mavis.” Said Cantrell. “And don't think I didn't notice that you didn't answer my question earlier about being in a relationship with someone who isn't bonded. You started talking about Lothinar instead." he paused. "You’re in love with him now? Is that what you are trying to tell me?"
"Of course not!"
The red dragon coughed.
"Look, don't you start in on me to Mo-Rung! There is a big difference between feeling an attraction for someone and being in love. Lothinar is very handsome, yes. But I walked out of there. I practically ran. Mo-Rung, were you actually listening to me on that talk we had going up the mountain?"
"Um.. yeah.." said Mo-Rung. "Mostly"
“My observation is that Lothinar seems to have made a major commitment to a non-dragon bonded individual. He’s probably going to have to watch her grow old and die while he stays forever young. “That’s probably going to be very hard,” said Mavis.
“Accidents happen. Nobody gets a sure thing.” Said, Cantrell. “Even if you are bonded. Remember, I just watched you almost die. Aleena did die.
”I don’t need you to remind me of that again!” she said angrily.
“Look, I’m sorry. I know that you have really been through a lot. I’m not trying to pressure you. About your potential feelings for Lothinar or even about me. I’m normally not the jealous type. I just need to start making some decisions and didn’t want to leave you out if you wanted to be in.”
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She raised an eyebrow.
He continued trying to put it into perspective. "Argent is going to have to make a move soon. Albarad is off helping transport the human army, and I am pretty sure Lothinar’s new half-elf is sister to their queen. My wardens are getting restless, and I think Ardwella is about to go to the capital to try and find another ancient dragon…”
”Another dragon?” Asked Mavis in surprise. “Who are we missing?”
Cantrell looked uncomfortable. He obviously hadn’t intended for that last part to come out.
”I misspoke “
That is not like you at all, Cantrell." Mavis said. "What is going on? What are you not telling me?"
"I can't tell you. It's a secret that is not mine to share," he finally said. "
"You won't tell me?" she asked heatedly. "I think you might owe me a little consideration, don't you think? Didn’t I help you get over Ardwella's unwanted influence?"
"What you did was kind, and I appreciate it more than you can ever know. I’m here right now, asking these questions and trying to figure out where that puts us. But answering that question is going to get very complicated, and I don't think you are going to like hearing what I have to say." Cantrell said, looking her squarely in the eyes. The answers will probably change your life, and giving them to you now feels entirely too self-serving. It is important to me that you find the answer to how you feel about us without you knowing.
"OOOH! You make me so mad!" exclaimed Mavis stalking off angrily toward the lake.
"Have you ever noticed that she kind of looks like Ardwella when she's angry?" asked Cantrell.
"Sure," said Mo-Rung. "But all you elves look almost the same to me."
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“I’m going with you,” said Siophra.
"If this goes badly, I can't let you be captured by Argent again. I won't let that happen!"
"At least I'm prepared for what he might do. I've practically developed an immunity to it through the years"
"I'm going in fast, just Esmarilla and me. I'm going to get Muina and Mandel and get out of there as fast as I can."
"I want to help. She's my sister too!"
"I need to leave right now if this is going to work at all. You and Vanador are not ready"
"That is because you sprung this on me just this minute! You did that on purpose. What am I supposed to do?"
"You are going to do me a favor," said Ardwella
"What's that?"
"If we don't come back, tell Albarad that I'm sorry and that I love him!"
"Ok, sighed Siophra. “I guess I have no choice”
"Thank you, sister! Ardwella looked over her shoulder and called out to the large black dragon Esmarilla. "Ok, we need to get going!"
Ardwella never saw Siophra step back and swing the black sword so that the flat of the blade hit her in the back of the head. There was a resounding thwack. The beautiful elf crumpled to the floor."
Esmarilla jumped toward Siophra.
"Hold it, dragon! She will be fine. You already knew I wasn't letting my pregnant sister go into a situation where she could be captured by Argent, didn't you?" said Siophra.
The black dragon nodded and looked a little abashed. "I was hoping you would feel that way. That's why I told Vanador. I knew he would have to tell you. I was counting on you to stop her. When she took that last lightning blast, it was very hard on her unborn child. I don’t think she could survive another.”
"She is going to be very angry with you. And with me."
"She has a husband, a son, and an unborn child." I just couldn't let her do this. She will have to understand.
"Siophra bent over and looked at Ardwella. She pulled back her eyelids and looked into her eyes. Call the priest and get her into a bed. She will wake up with a headache but should be fine. Then she unbuckled the white sword at her sister’s waist and attached it to her other side. “Since she refused to let me come, I guess I’ll be borrowing her sword. Now tell me where I am going."
"Your sister Muila is in the imperial palace. She can probably help you find Mandel. If you can get to her, you can have her release Vanquish from her slumber. The chaos that ensues ought to provide enough of a distraction for you to try and get into contact with Mandel. Both Muina and Madel have been warned that something like this could happen at any time. Ardwella still has a secure contact in the capital. His name is Talmadge.
"How can I get in touch with him?"
"He works in the library."
"Is this the same library that had its roof cave in when Argent shot lighting at us?" asked Vanador
"Let's hope not. That would be really bad luck."
"Vanador, we are leaving," said Siophra as she slipped her sword into its sheath and ran up her dragon's front flank, threw a leg out, and straddled his neck.
"I'm glad I wore pants today," she thought to herself. "This was so much more uncomfortable naked!"
Esmarilla watched as her brother Vanador and Siophra climbed into the sky and flew away into the night. Then she called for Starret. As usual, the human priest was entirely accommodating.
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“Can you hear me, Dragon?”
Tundor was awakened by a whisper. It was Clark, the elf that had unlocked the gate. Tundor looked over at the cot where Ardwynn was still sleeping in alarm. He was exceedingly relieved to see that she hadn’t moved.
”I was able to sneak a sedative into some food that was sent down earlier, but it was a weak dose. Just before waking you, I poured a stronger one into her sleeping mouth and made sure she swallowed it. It should take her deeper into unconsciousness and allow you to temporarily break free of her compulsion.”
”Aren’t you taking a big risk testing my loyalty to her by doing this?”
”I suppose so, but she told me at the gate that her sleeping on a cot in the barn was to stop you from causing trouble. I took a chance. Tell me I didn’t make a mistake.”
”You didn’t. She tricked me into bonding with her. I am her prisoner."
”Ok then. Let’s get out of here. That sleeping drought won’t keep someone with magic as strong as hers down for very long”
”You’re not going to kill her?” Asked Tundor feeling strangely guilty for even suggesting it.
”Do you want me to? I don't know if you realize this, but it might kill you too, or at least seriously incapacitate you through the bond. We need mobility right now. If you want me to take a chance, I certainly could be talked into ridding the world of anyone related to Argent.”
Tundor thought about Ardwynn’s claim that she was carrying Lothinar’s child. He considered how she had forced him to kill Mavis and showed absolutely no remorse. He wondered, for his own safety, if the bond should send Ardwynn’s dying energies back to kill him.
”I guess we should leave her, Clark. Perhaps the emperor will solve this problem for us.”
The elf provided a grim smile.
“You may be right, but you can’t easily predict Argent’s whims”
”What do you know about breaking a dragon bond Clark? Ardwynn and the Emperor were going to do that to me. switching my bond to Argent. This morning, in fact.”
”it sounds like I made the right decision to act immediately then,” said the elf. “I don’t know how to break such a bond, but I may know someone who can. We must hurry. I gave Ardwynn a strong dose, but if she awakens, she will be able to find us through your bond. That would undo everything.”
Tundor followed Clark out of the barn and across the darkened yard. There he stopped.
"I'm assuming you can fly. I saw you walk here."
"Yes, I can. She was afraid I'd toss her off on the way"
"Look, if you are in the habit of doing things like that to your passengers, this whole rescuing your thing isn't going to work out," said Clark. He seemed a little nervous.
"First-time flyer?" asked Tundor
"Um, isn't just about everyone... At least in this century?"
"I suppose you’re right. Hey," Said Tundor. "You kind of look like a good friend of mine. Everyone thinks he’s handsome. I think Ardwynn even mentioned it."
"It opens up doors," said Clark. Then he laughed. "Or gates". Then he became serious. “I managed to get this job by stringing along the head housekeeper. I’ve just about run out of excuses not to bed her. She is probably looking for me right now.”
"We really, really need to get out of here. She or someone else on the household staff could find us at any minute. How do I... Climb up?"
"Just grab on anywhere, jump up, and swing your leg over. You can't really hurt me."'
The elf did so, leaning forward awkwardly on Tundor's neck.
"Ok, what do I hold on toooooo!" was all that the elf could get out as Tundor jumped into the sky.
He was not staying around here any longer. He had a feeling that Ardwynn was going to wake up in a very bad mood.
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We need to find out if you can bond. Said Lothinar. That means we need to go down to the lake and introduce you to some dragons.
"I've met Firestorm and Candasar," said Ronni. They have been around me. Can't we ask them what they think?"
Ronni and Lothinar were in the barn. Lothinar was changing out the hay where Candasar would be sleeping tonight. The bull had made a mess of it. He assumed he could still find a place inside the house for Firestorm.
"I know it seems simple, but it's really not," said Lothinar. Dragons can be kind of particular. I'm hoping I can incentivize them with some priority healing.
Candasar had Firestorm out in the nearby forest, trying to give her hunting lessons. They were working on small game, which Candasar didn't have a lot of experience with. Lothinar could feel through both their bonds that it wasn't going very well. It was a very strange experience hearing two dragons argue through the bond he had with both of them.
"Every dragon and elf pairing is different. Do you remember that ice cream you served at my wedding reception?"
Based on her face, that was definitely the wrong example to bring up.
"Yes, I remember," she said. Her lip quivered.
"There were several flavors. Some liked one kind more than another." Elves apparently have flavors.
"I bet you are delicious," she said, smiling.
"Hey Lothinar. I just caught a weasel!" Said Firestorm. "Two weasels. Now that's a supper!"
"Glad to hear it!" said Lothinar. "Did Candasar help you?"
"No! She's off flying around looking for deer." Said Firestorm. "She said she doesn't do weasels well. I figured it out for myself. They were hiding under a rock pile. I'm getting much better at pouncing."
"I'm proud of you!" he said. "Come back when you are done, please? I don't want you out there alone. There are definitely some animals bigger than weasels in the forest."
"Sure. I'll be back soon!" said Firestorm.
Ronniflass noticed his distraction and walked up next to him. She tried to kiss him. He let her, then when she stepped back, he sighed.
"Uh-oh," she said, trying to force a smile. "A kiss isn't supposed to elicit that sort of response."
"I'm sorry, Ronni, I'm having a hard time trusting your feelings"
"Is it because Ardwynn betrayed you?"
"It's very complicated. She, like you, fell in love with me due to the chemicals that my body makes. It isn't real love"
"It feels real to me." She moved closer to kiss him again.
He put out his hand. The look on her face almost broke his heart. He was trying really hard to figure out a way to explain how he felt without hurting her more. Suddenly she brightened.
"I've got a great idea. I'll go inside and get started on making us some dinner. They say a way to a male's heart is through his stomach!"
Ready to take any respite from her overt attention, he could only nod.
"Sounds good. I'll check up on the dragons and come inside in a few minutes."
"Candasar, I've changed out the hay in the barn. It's nice and new!"
"Oh my. Thank you! I thought I was going to have to sleep on that straw," she said. "I just finished killing a deer. It was a pretty small one."
"Don't worry. You won't have to share it with Firestorm. She's having weasel." he said.
"What are you having for dinner Lothinar."
"I don't know yet; Ronni's making something," he replied. "I'm worried she has me on the menu for dessert."
"You know, you don't have to do this. Say the word, and I'll fly you and Firestorm out of here right now." said the blue dragon
"She saved my life. I at least owe her for that," he said.
"Lothinar, if she gets what she wants, then you will be paying for that for a very long time."
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Jamison pulled the wagon over the top of the rise. The wagon was carrying supplies, and naturally, he had fallen slightly behind. Albarad didn't mind and wasn't in much of a hurry. He had seen it all before. Below and off to the right, he could see the lake shimmering in the moonlight. Ahead of him almost three hundred men at arms had descended the pass and gathered around the human city of Delora Natine. Albarad's elven eyes, sharp even in the dark could see the priestly delegation coming out of the gate to stand awaiting the king. Standing outside the gate and off to the side was a large black dragon. Esmarilla. She looked fearsome and beautiful. The king approached her and raised his sword in salute. The dragon nodded and blew a trumpeting blast gouting a flame into the sky. It was spectacular in the darkness. Albarad could see the human priest Starett kneel in supplication. He raised his head. Even from this distance, Albarad's marvelous elven ears could hear the sounds of a human conversation. It was a pity that he still couldn't speak the language of men. He would have to try and remember to do something about that. Something began nagging at the back of Albarad's mind. It started as a whisper and sprang full-throated into his consciousness. Esmarilla was there! But where was Ardwella? He slapped the reins, and Jamison broke into a gallop and thundered down the hill. Cookware and weapons carefully stacked and tied for transport began flying off the wagon. He skidded the wagon to a stop in front of the king and his assembled troops. Ignoring them, he ran up to Starett. Somehow, to Albarad's eyes, the priest looked extremely guilty.
"Where is Ardwella Starett? You ask me to deliver some horses and when I return, my wife is not here!"
"Yes, um... said Starett. She is here but in the temple. I'm very sorry. A situation has developed, and there has been an accident"
Albarad, usually a man of calm consideration, didn't hesitate. He punched the priest right in the mouth.
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