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Chapter 55
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Mo-Rung and Killingsworth watched as the humans "escorted" the elves and Candasar away.
"Are you going to stand there and let that happen?" asked Killingsworth incredulously. "I don't have any real legs to stand on, but I almost jumped out of this lake to fight those soldiers anyway."
Mo-Rung shrugged. "I don't think that would have worked out well for you. Those spears were long and sharp. And yes, I wanted to fight to defend my bond. I wouldn't say I like it one bit. Mavis asked me to stand down, though, so I guess I will."
"Is that what bonding does? Does it take away your self-will? Because that doesn't sound very appealing to me!"
"That was Cantrell's position on the matter. Dragon or Elf. If you bond right, then bonding seems mostly positive, and both are enhanced. The pair learns to compromise. If you somehow get the wrong one..."
"Like Tundor." interrupted Killingsworth.
"Yes, like Tundor, then they take control of you entirely. I am pretty sure Tundor didn't want to do that to Mavis. I don't think Ardwynn give him any choice."
"Can a dragon dominate an elf?" Asked Killingsworth. "Make them do the dragons will instead of their own?"
"I'm sure it is possible. It would have to be a big, powerful dragon. The elves seem to have a magical advantage. Perhaps it is education or spells learned. There is not a lot of book learning happening in lakes, as you know." speculated Mo-Rung. I am farther ahead in that area since bonding with Mavis. She filled in a lot of my gaps and continues to do so.
"And why were almost the first words out of Lothinar's mouth that question he asked me... Do I know any dragons that would bond with the half-elf? Are these elves that completely fixated on bonding one of us?"
"He has reasons for that. The woman is under his influence. She thinks she is in love with him. He thinks bonding will cancel the effect."
"Wouldn't most males want to be in that position? There are obvious advantages," he said, grinning.
"I think Lothinar is more concerned about how she came under his control. He would not want to take advantage of the situation," said Mo-Rung.
"She claimed to be the sister of the human queen," said Killingsworth. "I heard her say that."
"I believe that she is,” said Mo-Rung.
Killingsworth pondered that for a minute or two. "Perhaps I should try to bond with her myself. It may have political advantages."
"You are always scheming, aren't you, Killingsworth? We don't even know if a bond is possible with a half-human elf.
"I would be willing to try if it helped Lothinar out of a problem. I think he's the key to us dragons getting our wings back."
Firestorm had sat silently in the nest, listening to the conversation with great interest. Killingsworth had almost forgotten she was there.
"There are excellent advantages for dragons that bond," Firestorm said suddenly. "You just need to choose a good elf like Lothinar."
"What would you know about this subject, little one?" Killingsworth said, quite amused.
"Don't underestimate her; she is already bonded, and surprisingly, it is with Lothinar." Said Mo-Rung.
"How Is that possible? Asked Killingsworth. "I thought he was already bonded with Candasar."
"I am also curious about that." said her father, Mo-Rung. "Would. You explain to me how that happened, Firestorm?"
"I'm not completely sure." The little dragon replied. "It happened on the occasion during which he was augmenting me with these wings..."
"She uses really big words for a little dragon," commented Killingsworth.
Firestorm scowled at him. "That is part of what I was trying to communicate to you before you interrupted me, although my theory is purely conjectural."
Mo-Rung coughed, and Killingsworth nodded chagrined. He looked askance at Mo-Rung and mumbled, "I think I'm going to want a bond."
To Firestorm, he said. "I see. Please continue..."
"You will not get what I received from a regular bond. I'm less than a week old. I know that this is not normal. I somehow got part of Lothinar's intelligence or his mind."
"How could that possibly happen?" asked Mo-Rung.
"Don't get the wrong idea. I'm still me. But a newborn dragon's mind is a blank canvas. Almost everything I've learned and experienced since I left the egg has had Lothinar's experience to interpret it and guide me. From this, and what I can piece together, his intelligence and magical abilities are far above average. He was angry and wounded by what Ardwynn did. He was passionate about making me perfect while mending my wings and didn't just stop there. During the wing augmentation, he transformed my entire construction. He enhanced me.
"Are you still even a dragon?" Asked Mo-Rung, growing concerned for his daughter.
"You might as well ask if Lothinar is an elf. Of course, he is. But he is more. As I am more than just a dragon."
"Does Lothinar realize what he has done?" questioned Killingsworth.
"That is a fascinating question," Replied Firestorm. "Lothinar's mind was previously so overwhelmed with everything inside that it was almost too crowded in there to be efficient. Ardwynn called him Oblivious, but that wasn't accurate. During gestation, his mother was meddling with things she didn't understand. Esmarilla kept providing her with more magical power, and she kept finding what she thought were more advancements. There may be such a thing as too much.
"And him giving some of that to you somehow made him better?" asked Killingsworth.
"He seems to think so," said the baby dragon. "Of course, I didn't really know him before."
"I'm not sure how I feel about this," said Mo-Rung. "I think that you should be allowed to be a regular child and grow up normally without the added pressure to be perfect.”
"I departed the nest and found my bond on my second day out of the egg. I flew by myself soon after that. I will never be normal but I wouldn't want it any other way. Would you want to break your bond, Father? Would you give up half your intelligence, Killingsworth?”
"Half?" he said indignantly. Do you think that you are that much smarter than me?”
She looked at him. Then smiled.
"How do I know? I'm just an infant. Thanks again for the save out on the lake, Killingsworth. I'll make sure Lothinar gets you those wings soon."
Then Firestorm dropped back down into the nest and began snuggling with her little siblings. Suddenly she popped up again.
"What are you going to name these two, Father? If you haven't decided yet, then I've got a few suggestions."
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Candasar and the Elves were escorted to the city gate. There was a definite tension from the city guard as they approached. Lothinar thought that he recognized a few faces from the funeral of Harvey. A few of them smiled at him, but most maintained a stoic demeanor. The gate opened at their approach, and Starett stepped out to greet them. He looked them over. His face gave nothing away.
"Where is Albarad?" he asked.
"My father is in a secure place. I have come to try and make this situation right," said Lothinar.
"It can never be right until he answers for his crimes," said a voice stepping out from behind Starett. It was Enderline.
Ronniflass came forward and looked at the human king. "What are you doing, Enderline? "This isn't like you," she said.
The king looked upset. "Let's take this inside. All of you, please come with us to Starett's office." It was a fairly short walk. Once inside, they continued.
"This is a mistake" Enderline. said Ronni.
Enderline did not seem surprised to see his queen's sister among them. "I heard that you had taken up with the elves Ronette," he said bitterly.
"Where is my sister?" asked Ronniflass. The King did not answer.
"And you dragon. "The king said, turning and speaking to Candasar." Where do you stand? Are you truly with the elves that killed your people and banished your remaining ancestors to this lake to live like water beasts? We humans have served you faithfully, awaiting your reawakening. Now we are repaid by treachery! The Black Dragon has attacked her own faithful. We can only believe that she is somehow being controlled."
"The only one controlling Esmarilla is Ardwella, and I am told that she was unconscious at the time of the attack," said Cantrell. "You must understand that this is some terrible misunderstanding."
"Her husband went berserk and made an unprovoked attack against our priest, and then the dragon began trampling and burning us!" yelled the king.
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"How many were injured? asked Cantrell. "We may have the ability to heal them."
"Five," said the priest. "Not counting my minor injuries. Four soldiers and Queen Pricilla"
"Then take us to them!" said Lothinar. I will do what I can."
"That will not be possible," said Enderline. "My men died the night of the attack"
"Take me to my sister, please," cried Ronni. "Lothinar can heal her!"
The king had a strange look on his face. "That would be something to see, indeed," he said. "She also finally died about an hour ago."
Ronni burst into tears and fell to the floor in a heap. She looked up at Lothinar. It was the first time that she had ever looked at him and been so clearly furious.
Lothinar could only look back at her hopelessly. There was nothing he could do now.
"I am executing Ardwella for her murder tomorrow morning. That should free the dragon from her evil influence."
The soldier who had been in charge of the detail that brought them to the city slipped into the room. He gestured to Starett, who went to him. They spoke in hushed whispers. It went back and forth for quite a while.
"My King!" the priest said, bowing. "I must report that three more dragons have been spotted. In fact, they have just landed near the front gates. One matches the description of the white dragon Vanador. We know him. He is previously known to be peaceful. He is carrying two female elves. Another appears to be a smaller one, also white, known as Tundor.
Lothinar could not help but smile. Tundor must have somehow avoided the emperor.
The priest continued. Tundor was last known to be associated with the elf Ardwynn, She is part of Argent's extended family and not to be trusted. Ardwynn does not appear to be with him though and Tundor arrived with a young male elf on his back. And I probably should have mentioned this first... There is another dragon. An immense blue one. She is almost half again the size of any dragon that has ever been seen before. I have not idea who that dragon might be.
"Are they hostile? asked the king. "Any of them?
"They do not appear to be," said the soldier." And I don't think we want to try and fight them. We would take heavy casualties. The blue dragon alone appears capable of easily leveling the town.
"I will go and see what they want." said the king. He looked at the soldier. "Make sure everyone else stays here"
"Have they said anything yet?"
"Um, actually," said the soldier, "The big blue one said that she wants to speak with Lothinar"
"Well then, said the King looking at Lothinar skeptically. "I guess you are coming with me."
"I'm coming!" said Candasar.
"Why should I allow that?" asked the king.
"You need me," said Candasar. "I am fluent in blue dragon." The king didn't see it, but she winked at Lothinar.
"Come then," said the king as he walked quickly out of the room.
Lothinar and Candasar followed quickly after him.
"Got to give him one thing," said Cantrell. "He's brave."
"How's that? Asked Mavis.
"The king. He just condemned Ardwella to death, and he's going out to talk to her sisters."
"Sisters? asked Mavis confused.
"Siophra is back, of course. That explains Vanador. But the other female elf with her has to be your mother. Siophra left to go rescue her and bring her back from the capitol. It looks like she was successful."
"My mother is here?"
"I bet your brother is too. But I'm just guessing. The other young male elf could really be anybody. The blue dragon must be your mother's bond."
"My mother doesn't have a dragon. I think I would know about something like that," said Mavis.
"Of course she does. All of the sisters did." then he smiled and waited.
The gears were turning. Mavis's face was in a very funny position. Her thin and delicate eyebrows were climbing into her hair.
"My mother looks a great deal like Ardwella. I noticed that."
He waited some more.
"Lothinar is my cousin? Ew." She said. "Looks like I got smart just in time". She squeezed Cantrell’s hand and then pulled him close.
"It gets worse, actually." He said.
"How could almost falling for my cousin get worse?"
"Albarad is your father."
"You are telling me that Lothinar is my half-brother?"
"Yep"
"Ugh. That would have been so very bad. This is what you didn't want to tell me? Why not? It would have made things so much easier."
"But I would have always had questions. It might have been selfish, but I wanted to know that you would choose me over Lothinar without knowing that he was your brother. That I wasn't your second choice. It was important to me. It gives me the confidence to know that you loving me was a decision."
"A decision?"
"Yes. People fall in and out of love all the time. I've seen it my whole life. Feelings don't tend to last. The best and most enduring relationships are those that start with a decision." he said solemnly. "A true commitment to choose the other person because they are good for you and you are good for them."
"I can't believe you are romancing each other in here when my sister just died!" yelled Ronni.
"I'm sorry, Ronni, that was insensitive of me," said Cantrell. "I think my happiness just overflowed a little bit. I wouldn't worry too much, though...."
"What are you talking about? My sister is dead!"
"Well, apparently, a huge blue dragon just arrived outside. If I'm not mistaken, that will provide new options. She also has Vanador with her."
"Dead is dead!" she cried.
"Well, I think as my soon-to-be bride just recently discovered... If it's dealt with soon enough, dead is a relative term."
Ronniflass jumped up and ran out of the room, screaming for Lothinar. Cantrell and Mavis looked at the priest. They were the only ones left in the room.
"So I overheard. said Starett. "Did you want to get married now?"
"I do," they both said at exactly the same time. They looked at each other. Then they smiled.
"Your mother might be upset if she misses this," said Cantrell.
"This is about us," said Mavis. "I barely know my mother, and I'm not sure I really want to."
"That's probably a good decision," said her soon-to-be husband.
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"That's a really big dragon!" said Lothinar.
"Wow," said Candasar agreeing fully. They had just run out the main gate following the king. He had been running in a rather undignified manner but stopped and collected himself before proceeding. out of the gate.
"Where is the elf named Lothinar?" asked the blue dragon a third time. "I grow weary of these delays"
Lothinar looked up at the blue dragon's back and did a double take. Sitting behind his Aunt Siophra was his mother. But not his mother.
Both of the elven ladies jumped off Vanador and walked toward him.
The king seemed to be hanging back. He seemed willing to let Lothinar do the talking for now. Even with the recent death of his wife, Lothinar assumed that he didn't become king by acting like a fool. There was a lot of dragon flesh in the immediate vicinity. Discretion seemed a good decision.
"Things have gone to hell here, Siophra," said Lothinar.
"He is a handsome one" said the female elf that was not his mother. "Ardwella really must have put some effort in."
"There is no time for this," said the big blue dragon. "You are Lothinar?"
"Yes, and this is one of my bonds, Candasar," he replied.
The dragon seemed a bit surprised by that but continued. "I am Vanquish the mate of Vanador. If you trust him, then trust me. I am the eldest and most powerful of the remaining dragons. There may be a prophecy concerning you. I must verify this."
"Verify what?"
"Verify that you are the one. The dragon messiah, some might say. He that will bring the dragons back from the brink of extinction."
"How do you intend to do this verification? asked Lothinar.
"We must do magic together. Only then can I truly see inside your heart and spirit."
Suddenly Ronni came running out of the gate screaming Lothinars name. Several of the soldiers jumped and made a grab for her but missed. She grabbed Lothinar and clung to him in hysterics.
"Cantrell, he said... " She looked at Lothinar, and then her eyes shifted to the Vanquish. They opened wide in surprise... "Cantrell said that it might not be too late for my sister. That a blue dragon might still be able to bring her back."
"What is this woman talking about?" Asked Vanquish.
"Her sister was trampled and burned by Esmarilla. I was too late to save her. She died a while ago."
"How long?"
"Does it matter?"
"Yes, it actually does. How long"
The King finally spoke up. "Just under two hours"
"It has been too long. A blue dragon can not do this," said Vanquish.
The king's hopeful face fell. Ronni began to weep.
"But two blue dragons can!" Vanquish said smugly. "Come, sister, I am going to teach you something." Vanquish gestured, and Candasar followed her away a few yards. They began to speak dragon rapidly. In a few minutes, they stopped.
"We are ready."
"Lothinar, I said that we must work magic together for me to search your heart and spirit. This will be a true test. You can not fail. The powers we will be using will kill you if you are not who I think you might be."
"I am ready as well," said Lothinar.
"Somehow, I knew you were going to say that," Said Candasar rolling her. eyes. "We will stay outside and send you our power through my bond. It is going to hurt Lothinar. Take Ronni with you. You may need her to support your body so it does not fall over afterward.
"I will take you to her," said the King, who had been watching all this with fascination. "I think I am beginning to understand why we worship these creatures as our gods."
He took Lothinar and Ronniflass to a small bedroom. A body was under a sheet.
"I will leave you here." He looked at Lothinar. "Whatever happens, thank you for trying," he said. Lothinar nodded and approached the bed. He lifted the sheet and looked under it. The body was badly burned. There were obviously also some bones that were broken. Ronniflass gasped as she saw the extent of the damage.
"I appreciate that you are willing to try Lothinar, but this is too much. It will kill you. I know I was angry before, and...I actually still am. But it's not your fault. If you try this, it will probably kill you,"
Lothinar smiled gently. "Vanquish has a lot of power. It's going to be fine. More than that, Candasar believes we can succeed, or she wouldn't let me try. It's probably going to hurt, but it's not going to kill me. I can promise you that."
"I don't want to lose you too... Please be careful, Lothinar!"
"Vanquish has a new word spell for you, Lothinar," said Candasar through the bond. "Heil is not going to be enough for this one."
"Yes, This is definitely new. She is dead. There is a great deal of damage. "I'm having a hard time accepting that Esmarilla did this..."
"Do you think your mother was able to force her even while unconscious?" asked Candasar.
"We are going to have to talk to her about that. Esmarilla has been 'off' ever since the attack." said Lothinar.
"Vanquish says we don't have much more time. This spell can only work if the subject hasn't been dead that long."
What is it then? He asked. "She's pretty cold already"
"You will speak the word and then trust yourself to me and Vanquish. We will push the power through you. It will be like when you gave me wings but the amount of power that Esmarilla pushed through you then is nothing compared to what this will feel like. Tell Ronniflass to be ready if you begin to fall."
Lothinar looked at Ronni. "Apparently, I might pass out," he grimaced. "I'm supposed to tell you to catch me before I fall."
Her eyes grew wide, but she nodded. Her eyes were brimming with tears and admiration. "Thank you for doing this for my sister!"
"The words.. there are two. They are 'Restituet Vitam'. You must speak them together without stopping." said Candasar through the bond.
Lothinar didn't hesitate. He spoke the words. Then it felt like his insides began to burn. He held tightly to Pricilla's dead body and began to scream. A bright blue and white began to spill out of him. It spun like a small whirlwind around the dead queen, gently lifting and moving her body.
Out in the nest at the lake, Firestorm startled her dozing father, Mo-Rung, as she jumped into the air and began flying as fast as she could toward the human town. "No, Lothinar, No!" she cried.
As the power flowed around and through him, Lothinar thought he could feel a presence. Even through the burning it seemed like he could once again see the huge eyes of Vanquish as she sifted through the crackling fire that was his soul. She was searching for something. The pain went on and on. Finally, it stopped. He looked down to see smooth flesh and the naked half-elf. She looked a lot like Ronniflass. The woman opened her eyes and smiled at her sister. Ronniflass smiled back tenderly. She looked as if she had never been injured. Then the queen turned her gaze to Lothinar. Her face reacted in shock.
"Who is this Ronni?" she asked with alarm.
Ronniflass looked at Lothinar as well and then suddenly jumped back. She put her hand over her mouth as she registered her own shock. "No... No.. Oh Lothinar!"
Lothinar stumbled away and towards a mirror on the wall across the room. His eyes looked illuminated and strange. One was red as fire, and the other was shining a vivid bright blue. Along with the glowing eyes, a strange creature had appeared in the mirror. Lothinar realized that he could only be looking at himself. His hair was completely gone. Raised ridges went across the top of his skull, starting where his eyebrows used to be. They looked like the ones on dragons.
He swayed and started to fall but felt Ronni try to catch at him, she slowed his fall but he still hit the floor. Then he only knew darkness.
Outside the city gates standing next to Vanquish, Candasar asked her a question.
"I lost track of what you were doing there at the end. It seemed very complicated." She said. "Did he pass your test?"
"He did," said the big blue dragon. "He is worthy to wield the red sword Crimson. He will save our people!"
"Is he going to be ok right now?" asked Candasar. "I felt him pass out."
"Trust me, little one. He will soon wake and be better than ever," said Vanquish. "You'll also be pleased to know that I've also made him much more handsome."
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