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Epilogue
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Two elves were talking. Both had once been leaders, Generals in the now-dead emperor Argent's army. They once had been thought of as brothers. The current situation and full disclosure of their accurate pedigrees had now destroyed that myth. They had been the closest in age. Perhaps that was why Myron had been willing to trust Mandel enough to surrender and face the new political landscape. The dragons had returned and the elven emperor that had enslaved them was dead.
“The elves that King Enderline's forces captured in the forest are calling me a coward," said Myron. "They are saying things would have gone very differently if I had followed Argent into the forest and battle. Almost all of them saying these things are our father's..." He looked at Mandel strangely. "um, I mean, Argent’s elite personal guard.”
Mandel acknowledged his former brother's verbal mistake with a wry smile. "Things would have gone differently, but that doesn't make you a coward. It makes you the only one brave enough to make the correct choice," said Mandel. "Argent was insane, you know. He had to be over seven hundred years old. Magic obtained by those twisted means gave him power and extended his li,fe but the weight of years took a toll on his mind.”
"I could see that, certainly." Said Myron. "I think the other brothers did as well. They had just gone too far down the path themselves to be willing to turn around. They were trapped. If they gave up the eggs, their lives would have been over. But you could see it in Buscoe's eyes. He was afraid of him."
"We all were, and for good reason. Argent hoarded his power and was only concerned about himself," said Mandel. "He certainly didn't trust anyone. Even his sons."
”There were only five, well, actually four sons." he paused, looking at Mandel. "Eating dragon eggs changed his physiology somehow. Perhaps it was the dragon's final curse. He conceived daughters, but Father seemed to only have a son about once every hundred years. Buscoe, Byron, and Fignair were already at the age where the consumption of eggs was the only reason they had not yet died of old age." said Myron.
"Do you know if any of the daughters ate the dragon eggs?" asked Mandel. "I don't know any of the older ones at all. Argent married them off, and they have become obscured over time."
"Did you eat the dragon eggs, Myron?" Mandel asked, "The dragons are going to want to know."
"There was a time when eggs were not in such short supply. So, yes. I admit I did. I did eat a few. Seeing what the dragons really are, I regret that now immensely. If I'm very careful and don't use up my magic, I might get an extra hundred years of life from what the dragon eggs gave me."
"That's unfortunate,. The dragons will have to judge you. Considering your wise decision on the battlefield, I suspect they will be lenient. They will probably never really forgive you, though. That will make it rough if you intend to stick around and try and help with the new government. I won't be able to put you in a position of authority and stay in their good graces. They have long memories."
"As far as I know, only the males got access to the eggs. I know my younger sister Sahar didn't. She already looks a lot older than me." he said somewhat sadly.
"I'm still young, so Argent never offered them to me, which was a relief," said Mandel. "It would have certainly been awkward.
"It used to be a sign that you were in Argent's favor. Now, it has just become a badge of shame," said Myron.
”My mother and her sisters are around the same age Argent was. The actual dragon bonds allowed them to hold up better both physically and mentally than he did. Unfortunately, they also have been through some horrible situations. I don’t expect them to see things the way a normal elf would. I will do my best to keep them out of the new government.”
”I heard about the experiments on Siophra in the tower. They were more than rumors. I hope she doesn’t pass a familial grudge on to me. I heard she is a little crazy.”
”Siophra got the revenge that she needed. That should appease her for now. She is the only one of Lothinex’s granddaughters that is currently bonded. She has a new and different dragon these days. He's one that Ardwynn tried to steal. Neither of them is going to want to see you, but as long as you keep out of the public eye, they probably won’t come after you. I will talk be sure to talk with her about what you did.”
Myron shuddered. “I would appreciate that.”
"Will you take the throne then?" asked Myron. "I won't stand in your way. You are our best chance to get along with the dragons."
"It looks like I may not have much of a choice," said Mandel. "Vanquish has asked me to."
"What is to become of the elven kingdom? Our leaders were corrupted, but I believe that there are a lot of good people there."
"These lands here, and quite a way south, will return to human control. We will use the borders from before the war. In that aspect, the Human King is being reasonable. Enderline has sent word to the islands. More humans will be coming. The dragons will be enforcing that border as well. They have formed an 'eternal alliance'. It will not easily be broken. The humans have always sided with the dragons. Now the dragons have even more reason to trust them. Believe it or not, some of the humans have bonded with recently hatched dragon young. The King is one of them. A dragon chose the Queen as well, but that's less of a surprise. She is half elf."
"But the humans have no magic. How does that work?"
"I guess if the dragons are young enough and paradoxically old enough, they can make it happen somehow. Many dragons just hatched that are actually hundreds of years old. Dragons back then were very untrusting of elves for obvious reasons. Their parents must have worked some lost magic into their conception that makes that possible. It's a rare opportunity for the humans. Unless the dragons now can figure out how it was done, that opportunity probably won't come again.
"That's wonderful for them. It must be something the humans have always wanted," said Myron.
"Yes, there are many happy humans right now. The life extension for them is a really big deal. Humans normally die so young you know." said Mandel. "Enderline and Pricilla both found bonds among the newly hatched dragons. Of course, it will take a long time before they are ready to carry a rider."
"How many flight-capable dragons did you actually have? Esmarilla told us that you had hundreds," said Myron.
"She exaggerated, of course. She will be glad to hear that it worked to intimidate you." laughed Mandel. "There are only six, well, seven if you count Firestorm. She's still too small to carry a person but she is flying herself around now pretty well.
Except for her, they are all mated pairs. Vanquish and Vanador, Esmarilla and Mo-Rung, and the third pair are Candasar and Tundor. The first three dragons I named are the only old ones. That's what the young dragons are calling those that were hatched before the war. The others were hatched in the lake fairly recently. They had to be given back their wings. Undoing the way that Argent had the whole race crippled is very difficult.
"Incredibly, you could beat us with only six dragons," said Myron.
"The truth is that without Lothinar, even the dragons we had wouldn't have been enough to beat Argent. He was the key to all of it," said Mandel. "That and the red sword."
"Someone told me that you were upset about that," said Myron
"I was, but Vanquish convinced me that Crimson would have gotten me into a lot of trouble. It is better suited for Lothinar. I don't feel cheated. Siophra gave me Mortimer," he said, patting the scabbard at his waist. It is, in its own way, as powerful. Siophra gave it to me because she said she was done with fighting. She came very close to dying during that last battle."
Myron looked at the sword. "That's the sword that finally killed my father Argent," he said. "It's probably fitting that you should wear it as you establish the new government. It intimidates the hell out of me! I hope you don't need it very much. There may be some holdouts still loyal to Argent around. You will need to keep a close eye on all of Argent’s daughters.
“I may try to have Mavis help me with that. She has a dragon and a new husband too. I have to admit, he’s pretty sharp. He’s worked as an ambassador before.”
”From what I remember, Mavis never liked the politics of the capital. It might be a hard sell.” Said Myron.
"I'm going back to the capital soon to draw up some papers for an official peace treaty to officially end the war with the humans. I'd appreciate it, after the dragons talk with you if you could come with me and help smooth things over as I take charge."
"Of course," said Myron.
“The elves that followed you and surrendered will be going back with us. The ones captured fighting will be held here for further evaluation before they can be released,” said Mandel. "I'll say this again: you are not a coward, Myron," said Mandel. "You did the right thing. It saved a lot of lives. I'll make sure the history books know about that."
"Thank you for not holding my past against me," said Myron. "Is there anything else the dragons want?"
"They want Ardwynn. She is still locked up in the tower."
"Oh, that's right. She failed to bring Argent the white dragon. You would think that the dragons would appreciate that."
"She failed, but that doesn't mean she didn't try. She betrayed her bond. She betrayed Lothinar as well. They were married, you know."
The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
"Is he angry? Is he going to kill her?"
"No, I think he's trying to save her. The dragons want her tried for murder!"
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After it had been made clear that Argent was no longer coming for them, The King and Queen had decided that the baby dragons were to be cared for over at the dairy. It was easier to bring the young dragons there, and they had more room. McDonald had taken the Queen's money and left. He hadn't even said goodbye to Ronni. He had begrudgingly admitted to the King and Queen that it was Ronni's money that had paid for the dairy in the first place. The Queen paid him for his half anyway. He said he was going to move to Dween and retire on the proceeds.
Firestorm had led the procession as the babies had made their way up out of the tunnel, into the city, and then to the Dairy. The townspeople's eyes were wide as hundreds of the well-mannered hatchling dragons came walking and hopping through the town and straight out the gates. Ardwella and Muina had followed behind making sure not to lose any stragglers. Ardwella was starting to show with her now obvious pregnancy. She had initially been very surprised that Esmarilla had chosen another bond and shocked that it had been Cantrell.
"You have taken Esmarilla," she said. "Were you still that angry with me that you had to take my dragon?"
"If I had not acted, Esmarilla would have surely died. You may not believe this, but you played no part whatsoever in that decision," he said sincerely.
She had made a strange face and walked away, not saying much at all after that. Albarad had come up and patted Cantrell on the back.
"Don't worry about it," he said, smiling. "After her pregnancy, I'll find her a nice horse. I've always been a little jealous of that dragon."
Albarad had been part of the team searching the forest and fields for wounded soldiers and horses. He rode Jamison around the area with parties of the king's men finding men and horses wounded in battle. They found a few. Argent's royal guard had not taken prisoners, nor had they usually allowed themselves to be captured. They had fought with a feral intensity. The Humans had overcome them only because Myron's decision had substantially diminished their numbers. The horses had usually not been targeted directly so there were a few more of them that they were able to save. He brought them back to his house and barn in Tasumakoji. His barn and the one at Ardwynn's parent's house were both filled with animals. Their presence seemed to please Albarad very. much. Some of them still had wounds and Albarad had asked Vanador to heal them. The amicable white dragon had been willing to help. The king had requested the use of some of the horses to make his eventual return trip to the coast. He seemed to have forgotten the trouble between them.
When he had returned from the battlefield Mavis had greeted him with great enthusiasm. They were currently staying in her little house over in Tasumakoji. Esmarilla and Mo-Rung were staying at the dairy with the young dragons. Ronni, her sister Priscilla, and Enderline the King were filling their days, spending as much time with their new dragons as possible. Esmarilla was enthusiastic about her role as a mother to many. Motherhood was what she had always wanted. She was also in love. She and Mo-Rung were inseparable. That gave Mavis and Cantrell a lot of time for themselves. Perhaps it was their bonded dragon's newfound ardor, but their nights and even their days seemed filled with substantial passion. Cantrell was very glad that he wasn't going to be getting any older.
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About a week after the day of the fateful battle, the humans had a service for their dead. There was a lot of smoke. Not counting the King and Queen, of the three hundred humans that had boarded ships in Sivantra, only about half had survived the voyage and the battle.
Far more elves would be going home than humans. They were the ones who had surrendered. The incorrigible elves, Ardwella, had used the blue sword on. Freezing them one by one, stacking them like cordwood in a temple storage room. They, like Starett, would await judgment until after the time Mandel could take firm control of the elven capital.
As he prepared to go back, Mandel wanted to speak with Vanquish before he left.
"Are you satisfied with this outcome? Mandel asked Vanquish.
This bonding with Humans is unknown. It will also change the humans a great deal. They will probably inherit some magical abilities because of it." Said Vanquish "These newly hatched dragons seem to be the only dragons that can do this. Perhaps their original parents wished to aid the humans in the fight against the elves and passed on human bonding as a desire. The elves were the original oppressors, after all. The humans fought very bravely for the dragons. Perhaps they wanted to reward them."
"It's not like we can stop it," said Mandel. "The young dragons are actually older than they look. They seem to know what they are doing."
"I am still uncomfortable with all this bonding. I prefer dragons to remain free,” said Vanquish. "Seven more hatchlings bonded with humans today. I've tried to talk to them, but they keep doing it. Almost half of the two hundred hatchlings are bonded now. Most of them to human soldiers." They will leave us and take the dragons back with them. That will reduce the genetic diversity for those that stay behind."
"A dragon's life is long. They may fly back and forth from here to Sivantra to mate." said Mandel "I know that is a long time off yet. You will also have the dragons from the lake here once they have finished transitioning them.
"Lothinar is taking care of that. He has already begun. Killingsworth now has his wings. Tundor has come into his own as a healing white dragon and Candasar has received magical training from me. Together with Lothinar they are visiting the lake every day and restoring dragons as fast as they can." said Vanquish. "Lothinar has the most experience doing that. Candasar was the first water dragon he changed. The two of them know best how to get it done. "
"Who are they changing first?"
"I have no idea. Firestorm seems to have made some sort of list," said Vanquish.
"What is Siophra doing? Myron is afraid she might be after him," asked Mandel.
"She has been seen with one of Cantrell's rangers. I think his name is Cenderick. I think she likes his attention." smiled Vanquish. "She deserves some happiness. You should try to leave for the Capital as soon as you possibly can, though. She may have different opinions on his continuing to exist than you or I do."
"I'll keep that in mind," said Mandel.
"Will you be able to peacefully take control of Argent's government?" asked Vanquish
"Myron says that I will and that he will help. I am taking Mavis and Cantrell and their dragons along as well. That should ensure success." he grinned. "Argent's family will never have the throne again. The eggs will never again be taken."
"We are counting on you for peace," said Vanquish. "It is why you were placed there. It is what your mother made her sacrifices for."
"I understand that now. I didn't always. I will have to thank her.," said Mandel.
"Everyone did their part," said the big blue dragon.
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Albarad was coming out of his barn. Muina was standing just outside.
"I've been meaning to talk to you," she said.
He nodded. "I've been expecting that you might."
"I am sorry that Ardwella and I tricked you. That she helped sneak me into your bed, and I used you to conceive my twins."
"They seem to have turned out to be fine young people, despite the environment that they were raised in. I guess I have to thank you for that," said Albarad.
"They took Mandel away from me for a long time. Argent had a policy about that. He didn't want the mother corrupting his male children. Mavis, likewise, was largely raised by nursemaids and nannies. It took a long time for me to be able to work myself back into their lives. It was dangerous for all of us. I was finally able to start to have some influence. I took Mandel to meet Vanquish. He fell in love with dragons, Which helped immensely. "
Albarad just nodded. "It must have been difficult for you," he said.
"What I'm trying to say, I think, is that Ardwella told me that you were one of the kindest and decent people she had ever met in all her years of traveling around. We hoped that children raised in the courts would still have those characteristics. We hoped that your goodness would prevail over the self-indulgence that surrounded them."
"I see," he said. "That's also why she picked me to be Lothinar's father. Because I care for people and want to help them. He got a lot of that from me presumably. It made him easy to manipulate."
"That sounds really bad when you put it that way," she said.
"It is bad. When people do terrible things for what they consider the right reasons, it kind of defeats the purpose, don't you think?"
She looked ashamed.
"One thing you got wrong, though."
"What's that?" she asked.
"You didn't trick me. I knew it wasn't Ardwella. You look like her, but you certainly don't smell like her."
"The super Pheromones, of course," she said. "You knew! Yet you went through with it?"
"Ardwella was obviously in on it, and you are very beautiful. It was very hard to resist. I don't think any male could, given the circumstances."
"You'd be surprised. Since I was in Argent's bed, no male seems willing to even look me in the eye," said Muina.
"Do you know that Ardwella and I have never even talked about this? said Albarad. "Everyone knows at this point. Don't. you think she should have at least said something to me?"
"Perhaps she is embarrassed," offered the twin.
"I don't. What I think is that she is so used to me going along with anything she wants that she doesn't even think about my feelings anymore," he said with some rising heat. "
"She lost Esmarilla. She is very busy. She has so many things on her mind." said Muina.
"Sure. Everything but her husband." Albarad said
"I'll try to talk with her. You deserve more," Muina said.
"Well, thank you for apologizing and for the talk," said Albarad. "I think it helped a little"
She turned to go, then stopped.
"Is that your barn?" asked Muina.
"Yes," said Albarad.
"So, do you want to go for a roll in the hay?" asked Muina. "Just for old times' sake?"
Albarad closed and locked the door of the barn.
"Let's use the house. Hay can get so scratchy,"
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Ardwynn was still in her cell. She didn't know what was taking so long. Her love, Lothinar, should have come for her by now. They were treating her a lot better since Mandel had come to visit her a few weeks ago. He had said that they were keeping her here for her own safety. He did come by every day to make sure she was alright. It was amazing how much Mandel reminded her of Lothinar. He just didn't smell as good. Mavis and Cantrell had come by as well. That was awkward. Tundor must not have shaken her that hard. That dragon had been such a disappointment. She should have never bonded with him. Ardwynn suspected that it was probably better for her at this point that Mavis hadn't died. She had not said much, just stared at her. Then she left. Cantrell had stayed a little longer. He said that Lothinar was busy but that he was planning to come soon. Apparently, the whole capital was in turmoil. That old fart Argent had finally died, and Mandel was the emperor now. Not everyone was happy about it, but things were going to get better soon. Cantrell and Mavis were helping during the transition. Another week passed.
The door opened. There was a strange-looking bald elf looking inside her cell. He had strange ridges that went from the top of each of his eyes all the way across his head. What was even stranger was his eyes. One was blue, and one was red.
"Who are you?" she asked "What do you want?"
The elf grunted and then waved his hand in front of his face. His face shimmered with magic. His face became the face of Lothinar. Ardwynn walked closer. She sniffed. Then she jumped into his arms and began hugging him tightly. It was Lothinar. She knew that smell.
"It's you! You came!" she began weeping on his shoulder.
He held her for a moment, then stepped back and took a look at her. He was looking at her swollen abdomen. She blushed.
"I'm carrying our child Lothinar! Isn't this wonderful?"
He nodded, but he looked quite sad.
"Let's get out of here," he said.
She followed him up the stairs of the tower until they came out on the roof. Candasar was there. A smaller red dragon was there too. The blue dragon seemed to be quite a lot bigger since she had last seen her.
"You remember Candasar?" Lothinar asked.
"How could I forget Candasar? she asked. "Tundor's not around, is he?" she asked nervously. "I can't remember entirely why but I don't think he's too happy with me for some reason. "
"Don't worry, He's not here," said Lothinar. "The smaller red dragon is Firestorm. We were waiting until she was old enough to make the flight."
Lothinar climbed back on Candasar, he gestured, and Ardwynn climbed up in front of him.
"Where are we going?" she asked.
"I'm taking you on a trip," he said. "We are going to Sivantra. You are going to have our baby there."
"The human islands? Why there?"
"There are no un-bonded dragons in Sivantra," he said.
"Let's go, slowpoke!" yelled Firestorm, jumping off the roof.
Candasar looked back at Lothinar.
"Kids grow up so fast today," she said. Then she smiled.
Lothinar thought it was a very fine smile indeed.
The dragons had both been well-rested and fed. Mandel had been a very good host. She went to the edge of the building and jumped off. She spread her wings. It was a long way to Sivantra, but she had Lothinar's magic to sustain her and the very best directions.
"Thanks for doing this Candy," said Lothinar through the bond.
"No problem. I needed a break," she said. "But Tundor had better take good care of those eggs while I'm gone."
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