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Thirteen
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Mavis and Mo-Rung were talking over the bond. It seemed that they did so even more while separated than when together.
“The truth,” thought Mavis, “Is that I’m lonely. It’s strange because I’ve always been so independent. Now I miss Cantrell more than I ever thought possible. I can’t even talk with him. Just his dragon. And the dragon sure can’t hold me in the middle of the night. I’ve even started sleeping in the warehouse that Esmarilla is using as a stable just to feel closer to him.”
”’So you have obviously figured out that Esmarilla snores.” Said Mo-Rung.
“You snore worse.” Said Mavis.
“Let’s unpack that. I might snore more often and longer than Esmarilla but I definitely don’t snore worse. She’d blow the roof off some poorly made barns.”
”Well, I’ll admit that when she really starts to cut loose I leave and go back to my apartment.” Said Mavis.
”Unfortunately I don’t have that option.” Said the Mo-Rung.
”Has a dragon ever caught anything on fire in their sleep? It seems like excessive snoring might accidentally lead to that.” Asked Mavis.
“You should ask Esmarilla about that. It could be a nice neutral way to bring up the subject of her snoring. Maybe she doesn’t even know. You would be doing me a favor.” Said Mo-Rung.
“You certainly were eager to be with her before you knew she snored so loudly. ” Said Mavis.
“Well she’s beautiful! Well worth putting up with the snoring. It will just take some getting used to.” Said Mo-Rung. “Aleena never snored, Helena didn't either.”
"Who is that? I've never heard you mention Helena before."
"Oh. She died long before you were born. That was Candisar's grandmother. She was actually very dear to me." said Mo-Rung.
"Sometimes I forget how old you are Mo-Rung!"
"I'm not nearly as old as Esmarilla or her brother Vanador. Vanquish is older than both of them. Old dragons from our distant past. They are treasures. They know things that we have forgotten." said Mo-Rung.
"I understand that quite a few of the young dragons that recently hatched from that cache that Ardwella found have additional information that is important to your culture." said Mavis.
"Yes, that's why I want to get Salt and Pepper back among them. My children are going to need that sort of education. "
"I'm sure Tundor's parents, are doing their best for them."
"Yes, I appreciate what they have done for me. All the lake born dragons seem to be adjusting to a new way of life but there is still a lot we don't know about how we once lived. They really don't know much about dragon history or customs."
"Well, there is really no one who has attempted to teach them." said Mavis. "Vanquish could probably do it but she left with Candasar."
"Salt and Pepper have been flying farther everyday. I am going to take them back with me to Delora Natine this afternoon.” Said Mo-Rung to Mavis. "Ronni assures me that there is enough room at the dairy and I'm actually going to be staying there as well. I should have them with me. They grow up so fast and I've imposed on Tundor's parents for far too long."
----------------------
The white dragon Vanador had healed Killingsworth's broken spine almost as fast as he had severed it. Killingsworth had acknowledged that he certainly would have died without Vanador's assistance. His body still felt strange however. He could walk, and more importantly breathe. He could even move his wings. He just didn't feel coordinated or strong enough to fly. Zinariya the Golden dragon, who mysteriously inhabited the body of an elf, had checked out Vanador's healing of his injuries. Her piercing gaze had seemed to look right through him.
‘The nerves were completely severed.” She had said. “Vanador has reattached them correctly but something in your spirit does not yet understand this. You must find harmony. When your body and spirit once more agree then you will be able to fly.
“I don’t understand! Do my wings work or not?” Killingsworth had asked.
”Do you think that these leathery flaps are the only thing that lifts you from the ground?”
”Well, actually yes I do.” Said Killingsworth.
”For the young and the small this is true.” Zinariya had said. “But you are neither of these things anymore.”
She had looked at Vanador and smiled.
”Could a dragon the size of my friend Vanador actually flap his wings fast enough to fly?”
That had given Killingsworth something to think about.
Metaphysical mysteries aside, he hadn't really solved the issue of the burned dragon that he had found up in the mountains a few days before. Muina had actually sought him out and addressed his concerns herself once things had settled down. She said that she didn't know the spell that burned up dragons and didn't know at all how it had happened. Her reputation was impeccable and now that he was out from under Platinum's influence, Killingsworth was more inclined to believe her.
For all Killingsworth knew, Rolf had experienced some sort of bodily malfunction. Lothinar had healed all the dragons before he had left for Sivantra, but he had done it in a hurry. Anything was possible. Killingsworth himself had noticed his that his own bowls had struggled somewhat making the transition from fish to red meat. There had been a lot of gas! Perhaps some critical tubing had come undone inside the young male and he had farted wrong with disastrous consequences.
Until he could somehow convince his wings to cooperate Killingsworth would have to find his answers on foot. It would take more time but he was undeterred. He did promise himself to stay clear of the Platinum dragon in the future. She was nothing but trouble. Vanador seemed to agree. He had not even offered to heal her torn wings.
"Maybe Platinum will learn a lesson from this" he had said. "It's the closest thing we dragons probably have to the human custom of spanking!"
”Is my not being able to fly a spanking too?” Killingsworth had not been afraid to ask.
”If it is, then it is self inflicted” said Vanador. “I did not hold back on your healing to punish you.”
For a dragon that had spent most of his life swimming in the water and not even being able to walk, Having to wait a little longer to fly seemed a small price to pay for his mistakes. He thought about what the gold dragon had said as he slowly trudged back up into the hills. He needed to talk to Penelope's parents.
——————
When she woke up from her kick in the head, the Platinum dragon had remained surly and defiant. She completely refused to try and withdraw her bond from Albarad and Ardwella's baby girl. This almost got her finished off for good as both Ardwella and Muina had to intervene to keep Albarad from killing her then and there.
"It could traumatize the child" they had said. Albarad had just stood there clenching and unclenching his fists. Eventually growling and swearing he had gone to shovel out the stalls in the barn. The sisters had looked at each other with alarm.
"This doesn't seem like Albarad at all" commented Ardwella. Muina looked at her guiltily.
"His pheromone bond to you is broken. I'm sure it's a big adjustment to his mental state." she said.
Ardwella raised an eyebrow.
"You broke my bond?”
"Yes, I wasn't sure it was going to actually happen. I got the idea from when my daughter Mavis broke your hold on Cantrell with lots and lots of very close personal contact"
"You mean sex." said Ardwella. "I was willing to share him with you. Did you feel that you had to try to take him away from me?"
"Yes! I mean no." Said Muina. She looked embarrassed and sorrowful. "I've never had a relationship like you have with Albarad. I was married to a monster. You know the reasons why."
"We made that decision together Muina." said Ardwella. "Don't try to blame this on me!"
"I'm not. I was jealous for a long time. I was wounded and broken. I felt untouchable. Albarad’s tenderness put me back together. Before that Argent’s taint was all over me. Elven men, at least the good ones, looked at me like I had a disease!"
"I understood all of that." said Ardwella. "I also realize that you have your own children with him. I shared him! I was being magnanimous!"
"I didn't want your charity! I wanted something else."
"What more could I have given you?"
"Equal footing! Not being his second choice! Always second to my impossibly beautiful and younger looking sister. We are twins! I already look so much older than you!"
"That was because of Esmarilla. If you had stayed with Vanquish..."
"We both know that was not possible, for several reasons. Argent would have smelled a rat and besides Vanquish would never have let me put myself in that kind of situation. She did care about me you know."
"And I didn't?"
"You cared about me, but you cared about saving the dragons more! You sacrificed me to that monster!" Muina started to cry. "How could you let me do that?"
"I've been wondering the same thing myself" said Albarad. He was standing in the doorway with shit on his shoes. He was still wearing the torn and shredded shirt that Platinum had ripped with her claws. Snow had healed the skin underneath but the shirt was rags.
"You're very hard on the people that you claim to love Ardwella. All for the dragons. Siophra, Muina, Lothinar, your baby daughter. Me. Is that ever going to change? You've won your war now. When are you coming home?
"I thought that I was home." she said blinking back tears.
"Only if you want to be." said Albarad. "You need to let this dragon saving obsession go. We need to get that Platinum dragon out of your daughter. Lothinar and Muina's children are old enough to make their own decisions about their involvement with dragons but Charity isn't.
"You've finally named her?"
"I felt that I had to, or the blasted dragon would have probably done it soon. She's our child, not that dragon's Ardwella. We need to protect her!"
"Ok, I see that. But what can we do?" the beautiful elf asked.
"We do what I set out to do in the first place!"
"We kill her." said Muina. "Before Vanador drags her off with him to the Capitol."
Ardwella looked at both of them. She looked down. Then she sighed.
"Ok" said Ardwella, "I'm in. We have to act tonight before she leaves. We're killing Platinum, but here's how I am going to do it! ,"
"You already have a plan? asked Muina.
"I'm an assassin. I've always got a plan." said Ardwella.
"That's my girl!" said Albarad.
"I'm not your girl. I'm one of your two wives. But we are going to get your girl back!"
-------------------------
Platinum was lying down in the temple courtyard. Vanador had told her in no uncertain terms to stay there. He had also instructed most people and dragons to stay away from the area. The platinum dragon couldn’t be trusted not to try and influence others. Zinariya had dragged a comfortable chair out of one of the ante rooms and was sitting in it a few feet away from the dragon. She hadn’t yet said anything. There was a pile of construction materials nearby. The temple was always working on some construction project or another. She dragged over a few boards and propped them against the chair. She pulled some fruit from her pocket and began eating it. Quite a while went by. The platinum dragon was obviously sulking. Finally she spoke.
"What are you doing with those boards." she asked.
"They are in case you get out of line." said Zinariya.”
Platinum laughed.
"Those really aren't much of a deterrant. That won’t protect you from my dragon magic.”
"I don't really need to worry about that." said Zinariya.
"Vanador certainly seemed to be concerned that I might use my persuasive magic against someone. He cleared out the whole temple for the night. Why are you immune?"
”I’m a dragon.” Said Zinariya.
"You are obviously an elf,” The platinum dragon sniffed. “but there is a strange odor of dragon magic about you. It is definitely not normal.”
”You don’t believe me?”
”Even if you were somehow a dragon, I controlled Killingsworth." said Platinum.
"I'm not worried." said Zinariya. She went back to eating her banana.
"See that just proves my point." said Platinum. "No real dragon eats bananas."
"The elf that I'm staying in eats bananas. She loves them in fact. I have several with me. I'm eating them to be a good tenant. I've even have a pickle for desert."
"I think that the two legs eat the sweet things last. A banana should be sweeter than a pickle. You should have eaten the pickle first."
"Doesn't matter to me. This elf likes them both." said Zinariya. "Her body has work to do soon. It needs nutrition. Bananas have lots of potassium.”
"Don’t you have other things to do? Asked Platinum.
"Sure, but someone needs to guard you and keep you from getting into trouble. You've been very naughty." said Zinariya. "Vanador asked me to do it. He and my host go way back. Plus it might give me a chance to rehabilitate you."
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
"I don’t need rehabilitation.”
"Perhaps then, I will have the opportunity to adjust your attitude. From what I can tell, it needs work.”
”I think you may be biting off more than you can chew banana eater.”
"We’ll see. Vanador is pretty sure that you're going to do something stupid. Make a break for it, try to run... Perhaps attempt to take over my mind like you did to those others.. He thought it might be best if I acted as if I was one of your missing parents and provided you with some discipline."
”Why didn’t he do it himself?”
”He is tired from healing Killingsworth and has to fly tomorrow morning. I encouraged him to get some rest. I told him I would watch you.”
"What makes you think that you can resist my powers?" asked Platinum.
"Maybe I'm wrong. Why don't you try. We can see what happens." said Zinariya.
The Pewter dragon looked at her. It looked at her with great intensity. Siophra started to sway. She scrunched up her face. Then she picked up a big piece of two by four lumber that she had laying next to her right hand. She grabbed it with both hands and swung it hard at the Platinum dragon. CRACK. It shattered across her back. Splinters flew.
"Ouch! HEY! snarled the dragon. Why did you do that?"
"It got the point across." said Zinariya smiling brightly. "They call this sort of thing a spanking. And you know exactly why I did that. You tried to use your mental powers on me."
"I thought I had you there for a second."
"Yeah no. I find it's best to create hope before you crush it. Plus it lets me work on my acting skills."
Zinariya picked up another two by four from a nearby pile of them.
"As you can see. I've got plenty. Care to try again?"
"No" said the Platinum dragon sullenly. "What's your name?"
"My name is Zinariya.”
“‘I’ll admit it sounds exotic but what does it mean?”
”It means Gold.”
”Hmmph said Platinum. “You should have just named yourself Gold.”
“I like Zinariya. It’s more mysterious and it doesn’t feel like I’m shoving my prestigious rank in everyone’s face”
”And you think I am?”
”I think that you are a very young dragon that could possibly have a lot of potential. Right now the biggest problem is that you don’t know how to treat others with respect.”
“I have a lot that I want to accomplish. Trying to play nice is going to waste too much of my precious time.”
”You might find it better in the long run to make real friends instead of forcing people to be your slaves. Eventually someone like me is going to take offense and put a stop to it. Like today.”
”You only won today because you showed up out of nowhere and took me by surprise. That won’t happen again. A Platinum should still beat a gold you know."
"Not by much and besides, I've got this elf helping me. This body and the mind with it are a huge factor in my resisting you."
"I suppose you're right." sighed the platinum dragon. "I should just give up." Then she stared at Zinariya again. She seemed to stare harder this time.
CRACK! Another board broke across the dragon's back.
"Ok OW Ok. I get it. I can't dominate you."
”That did feel a little bit stronger.” Said Zinariya. “Do your powers work better when you know your victim’s name?”
”Usually.” Confessed Platinum.
The fact that you keep trying, is in itself a very large cause of concern for me." said Zinariya. "It’s a serious character flaw. You are still quite young but you need to learn to control yourself. When you are older it could be a big problem for everyone. You just shouldn’t be doing that to others.”
"This power is my birthright! I'm the best. I know best." said Platinum.
”I need to talk to Vanador about this.” Thought Zinariya. “This dragon must have stayed in her egg too long.”
”Even if you did, which you clearly don’t, you need to learn to consider other people’s feelings! For example, why did you try to force that young girl to marry the king”
”I saw the way he looked at her. She definitely attracted his attention. Her life wouldn’t have been so bad you know. I could have gotten a lot done with that white and black dragon duo working together. Night-Sky had already bonded with the king. We just needed someone for Snow. And suddenly there she was! It was fate. It was perfect. Than that elf Albarad had to ruin it.”
“The girl is still quite young. She was alone and afraid. You can’t blame her for refusing.”
”Yes I can. I also blame that elf for helping her get away. It broke the momentum.” Said Platinum.
”How do you justify forcing her to marry against her wishes?” Asked Zinariya.
”Because my wishes are obviously more important. If I’d had just five more minutes without Albarad interfering I could have come back and controlled the girl. I would have made her happy to marry the King. She would never have even known the difference!”
“By taking her free will and making her your slave?”
”I think you might be jealous of my awesome powers.”
"I can tell this is going to be a long night." said Zinariya. "Do you want to try a banana? Maybe it would sweeten you up."
Blech. said Platinum.
The sound of soft footsteps caught Zinariya's attention from across the courtyard. She turned to look. It was Ardwella. She briefly locked eyes with Zinariya before closing in on the Platinum dragon. She stopped just a few feet away.
”What do you want?” Asked Platinum.
"I've come to ask you once again to consider releasing my child from your control." she said.
"I've already given you my answer to that" said Platinum haughtily. "You will thank me later for this great honor.”
”Very well,” said Ardwella, “But I would like to tell you a story.”
”I don’t have time for foolish elven stories.” Said the dragon.
”Yes, in fact you do.” Said Zinariya. ‘You are not going anywhere until the morning. And I’m intrigued. Ardwella may continue.”
”Thank you. This won’t take too long.” The elf said.
Pewter grimaced.
Ardwella nodded at the golden dragon that had once been her sister.
”If I start to sway it might be Platinum trying to take over my mind.” She said.
”Don’t worry. If she tries it I’ll know. Then I’ll smack her again “ said Zinariya. “Don’t worry.”
Pewter gave both of them a dirty look.
”Very well,” said Ardwella. “When the student is ready the teacher appears.”
She smiled sincerely at Zinariya then turned to address the dragon.
”For many years, my people, the elves had an incredibly evil ruler. His name was Argent. He was born a long time ago. He had power and he took what he wanted when he could. He ruled for a long time. He enslaved your people the dragons and even hurt many of his own.”
”I have heard the name.” Said the Platinum dragon.
”The many horrors and crimes that he committed were bad, but it is the ones committed against the people you love the most that seem to be the worst because they are personal. Did you know that he enslaved and tortured my sister?”
”I thought Muina was his wife.” Said Platinum,
“Not that sister. He imprisoned and tortured my sister Siophra for hundreds of years.”
Zinariya’s eyes had gotten large. Her golden orbs were locked on Ardwella.
”That is very interesting and probably sad, but what’s your point?” Asked Platinum.
”Well I heard you both talking before I actually walked in. You were discussing names.”
”That was a waste of time.” Said Platinum.
”The name Argent represents a silvery color. You remind me of him. I think you should consider that as your name.” Said Ardwella.
”No” said Platinum “It’s an intriguing name but his rein has been far too recent. It still has negative connotations for some. ”
“But not to you?”
“Why would it, I never met him.” Said Platinum.
”Did you know that Argent and I were almost the same age?” Asked Ardwella.
”That is unlikely.” Said Platinum. “I heard he was very old and senile. You look far younger.”
”It’s true. Before he became the Emperor I once ran into him at a social event. I’ve often thought that if I had just known then, what kind of monster he was about to become, I might have been able to do something about that.”
”Are you saying that you would have killed him before he actually did anything bad?”
”He had done some bad things already. There were pretty clear signs that he was going to get much worse even then. But I, along with almost everyone else ignored the warning signs. My sister Siophra even made one last trip to the capitol to try and discuss things. She tried to reason with him.”
””How did that go?” Asked Platinum.
”Not very well at all.” Said Siophra standing up. Her eyes were green!
”Doesn’t the way this dragon acts remind you of a young Argent, Siophra?”
There was a tearing sound and a wet squelch. A large pink mass of goo and bloody tissue fell to the floor next to the platinum dragon. Her body slumped and then fell to the floor. Strangely it seemed like she suddenly grew larger. Siophra swooned but Ardwella quickly closed the space and adroitly caught her. The elf carefully lowered her green eyed sister back down into the chair. She looked up at her face in surprise.
“Ardwella! What’s happened? Where are we?
”Shhh. Everything’s fine. You did well Siophra. I’m very proud of you!”
The dragon groaned and wobbled to her feet. She looked at the sisters.
“Zinariya I presume” said Ardwella. “Thanks for taking good care of my sister but it was time that you gave her back!”
”That was extremely hard to do." said the platinum colored dragon. "It took some high powered fast healing to remove Platinum's brain and nervous system and replace it with mine."
"Is Siophra going to be allright? asked Ardwella. "Your not leaving her injured are you?"
"I hadn't replaced her. We were just sharing the space" said Zinariya. "She will be fine in a few moments."
Ardwella knelt down in front of her sister's chair. She looked into her eyes.
"I don't know if I've ever told you this but you are one of the most amazing people that I know. You are so brave!"
"Brave people often appear that way because they are just trying to survive. They don't have a choice. If I could have missed all that I certainly would have. I would have run away."
”Was that story you told true or did you just make it up to solve the problem with your daughter?”
”It was true.” Said Siophra, answering for Ardwella. “I gave Argent another chance. It cost me. The price of that decision was far too high!”
"If I had realized that you were still alive and in a cell in Argent's tower I would have come and got you out or died trying." said Ardwella.
"We can only try to do better going forward said Siophra. There is nothing we can do about it now, well, except something like this. We try to keep it from happening again."
”There have always been good dragons and bad dragons.” Said Ardwella. “Good elves and bad elves. I think in trying to save the dragons I somehow lost sight of that.”
”I hope you believe me to be a good dragon.” Said Zinariya. “I don’t think I would want you for an enemy Ardwella.”
”You came through for me on the porch but before that you also took my sister. I’ll be considering carefully your future behavior,”
”Using Siophra’s body was an emergency situation. She was also dying so I thought it was best at the time.”
”I appreciate the help but I’m grateful that you were finally willing to move along.” Said Siophra.
”Well I really just needed a suitable body and Platinum wasn’t going to be using this one anymore.”
”You got bigger!” Said Ardwella.
”Yes there are almost two dragons in here. I am currently still integrating. I am also less dense. It’s quite a relief actually. A dragon skin fits me better. Not a huge fan of this color though.” She said trying to look herself over. “What color are my eyes?”
”Still Gold.” Said Ardwella. “Other than your larger size that’s the only change I can see.”
”What’s probably more important to you is that I feel no connection to your child. You might want to see how she is doing though.”
”She is being monitored.” Said Ardwella “but I will return to her very soon.”
”You couldn’t have planned this. Said Zinariya.
”My plans went somewhat differently, but this worked out better.” Said Ardwella. She swung open her coat to reveal a shining blue sword hanging at her waist. “In my first scenario Platinum was not going to survive the night.”
”What would you have done if I, wearing your sister’s body would not have cooperated?”
”I would have temporarily frozen you. I’m glad I didn’t have to do that. I put my faith in Siophra. I only hoped she could stop you once properly motivated.”
”That was a big risk. You were fortunate that I had such a low opinion of Platinum already.”
“Is there anything remaining in her body that might begin to reassert itself?” Asked Ardwella. ”Are you sure that you got out all the mean nasty parts?”
“Yes, I teleported them right on the floor over there.” Gestured the dragon.
”Ew! Is that her brain and spinal column?” Asked Siophra.
“Those were the mean and nasty parts, yes.” Said Zinariya. “I think I can work with the rest.”
There was another plop and some more red organs joined the pile. The dragon grimaced and swayed a little.
“Her ovaries.” She explained. “I’ll want to be sure to use my own eventually.”
”If that’s it then, I’ll go and get a bucket and the mop.”
”Are we going to tell Vanador? Asked Siophra.
””I’m sure he will probably be able to figure it out for himself.” Said Ardwella.
”Where is Tundor? I want to let him know as soon as possible that I’m back!” Said Siophra.
”Me being inside you was no doubt interfering with your bond.” Said Zinariya. “You will probably feel him soon”
”You know, you’re right! I’m starting to feel something. I think he’s sleeping.
“Wake up Tundor!” Sent Siophra.
-----------------
Tundor opened his eyes. He groaned and tried to roll over. He hit the barn. Luckily it was well constructed and didn't fall down.
"Whoa" he said. "Who shrunk the barn?"
Cantrell had been sitting on the pasture fence watching him.
"Well, you've done it Tundor. You've eaten yourself out of house and home. Ronni's going to have to build a bigger barn if you want to stay here anymore."
"Slow down Cantrell. I'm not feeling very well."
"You are probably very hungry. But you're in luck. You've got great friends. Cenderick went hunting and shot you a couple of deer. Then he and I spent most of the afternoon dragging them back here for you. We had to keep your kids off them, but that's ok. They have discovered weasels. They are regular self feeders at the moment."
"Constance and Vigilant? You let them go out alone? Siophra says that they are still too little to hunt by themselves."
"Well they were THREE DAYS AGO when you ate that golden eggshell. But no longer. They've grown. Just not as much as you. Don’t worry they are not far.”
”Wait a minute! What did you say about Siophra?”
”She said that my children were too little…” Then the huge white dragon whooped for joy. ‘She’s back Cantrell! I feel her! She is back!”
Cantrell was smiling at the dragon.
”Is your other daughter alright? Zinariya I mean.”
Tundor looked lost in thought.
”Siophra said that Zinariya was able to find her another body. A dragon this time. She’s good!”
”Well that’s great news too I guess. Is this new dragon body going to be a permanent thing or just another loaner?
”Siophra thinks it looks kind of permanent.” Said Tundor.
“Tell her we will collect Zinariya’s siblings and try to get down there as soon as possible.” Said Cantrell.
Tundor looked at the barn again.
“You said the eggshell would increase my magic. Instead it just made me grow. I won’t even fit in barns anymore. What’s going to happen when it rains?”
”You’ll get wet like the rest of the small mountains around here. How did Vanquish stay dry?
”When I met her she was living inside an abandoned cathedral. But that was a long way away from here, and she accidentally knocked it down.”
”Tundor, I have a feeling that there are going to be a great many things different about your life from now on.” Said Cantrell.
Cenderick came out of the house.
“I see that sleeping beauty is finally awake.” He said.
”Yes and he says that he’s talking with Siophra. Your Siophra.”
Cenderick looked like he was about to cry.
“Well that’s good news.” He finally said.
”Who is this sleeping beauty?” Asked Tundor.
“It’s an imaginary story told to elvish children before bedtime.” Said Cenderick.
“I remember hearing that Ardwynn’s father Tempton slept a lot. He was also very large for an elf. Did his sleeping so much cause his abnormal size?”
”I’d kind of forgotten about that” admitted Cantrell. “I thought at the time that it was consumption of dragon eggs and abnormal magical absorption that made him so big.”
”Isn’t that exactly what just happened to Tundor? Asked Cenderick.
”Elves don’t look like dragons but perhaps the way magic is stored inside us is similar.” Suggested Tundor. “perhaps we are not so different as it appears”
”Lothinar is walking around with some dragon parts and now. I need to think more about this.” Said Cantrell.
Tundor’s stomach rumbled.
”Did you mention a couple of deer?” He asked.
”Over behind the barn. Don’t knock it down. Ronni is already going to kill me about the quilt that I ruined.”
After you eat we should lock up the house and leave for Delora Natine. Constance and Vigilant are flying well enough to make it but we might have to make a couple of stops along the way. Esmarilla says that they could probably use our help down at the dairy.”
”I thought Esmarilla was at the Capitol.” Said Cenderick.
“That’s right. MoRung is at the dairy. Mo-Rung suggested that they could use some help. He sent that to Mavis.
“Ok.” Said Cenderick.
”Mavis tells Esmarilla. They are physically proximate at the capitol.”
”Then Esmarilla tells you. That seems really complicated. A lot could go wrong.”
”You’re right. It will get a lot less complex when I finally get to the dairy. That’s where I was supposed to end up in the first place.”
”Then you learned that it’s not really that safe up here” said Cenderick.
”Yes we sure found that out the hard way” said Tundor.
”Tundor, anyone that sees you now is going to think long and hard about causing you trouble.” Said Cantrell. .
”I guess you’re right.” Said Tundor. “Just look at Vanquish. She’s practically invincible.”
——————
Back at the home of Albarad and his two beautiful wives a baby was crying. Albarad quickly went to pick her up. He held her close. She didn’t glare at him at all. Muina smiled at the two of them as she walked into the room.
“Dragon’s gone” he said. “A father can feel these things.”
“You know,” she said, “Seeing you holding her makes me want another one. What do you think about that?”
The baby had stopped crying and very soon went back to sleep. Albarad softly laid her back down into the crib.
”What I want to say is that we should get started on that right now!” But then he frowned.
”What’s that look for?” Muina asked.
“Killingsworth obviously found that first dragon we killed but I don’t think he’s found the second one yet. One burned dragon might be an accident but two of them are going to be harder to explain. I need to ride up there and bury that body before Killingsworth finds it.”
”Do you think an hour or so is going to make that much of a difference?” She asked stepping in close and reaching for him.
She could see the conflict in his face beginning to melt away.
”Probably not.” He said gathering her into his strong arms.
—————-
Down the hall, even though she hadn’t meant to, Heirwynn had listened to the strange conversation. She looked at Snow who just shrugged. Her bother Night-Sky answered the unspoken question.
”We are going to let this one go. This family has certainly earned a little dragon forgiveness. A couple of insignificant grey mountain dragons is a small price to pay for Ardwella taking care of my Platinum problem.”
”If you say so.” Said Heirwynn. “They are my new family.”
”Yes they are.” Said Night-Sky. “And it’s pretty obvious that those dragons attacked them first.”
”Don’t you think that they should explain that to Killingsworth? He seems to be the grey dragons unofficial leader.”
”I’m rather hopeful that with Mo-Rung back, he will step into that roll. He is the perfect liaison between the lake born dragons and this new generation.”
“Is that why you had snow interfere while Vanador was healing Killingsworth? I did notice that you know. It made Snow nervous. I think she was afraid Vanador would notice.”
Night-Sky looked at Heirwynn with a strange gleam in his eye.
”You are getting a lot better at feeling Snow. That’s actually great news. I just wanted to slow Killingsworth down for a little while longer. It was such a small tweak even Zinariya didn’t notice it.”
”But he’s walking! How is he going to hunt on foot. He might starve.” Said Heirwynn
”Not if he comes back to the dairy. And he will have to. That’s where I want him for now. Not stirring up more trouble for our new family.”
”You actually are pretty smart. Said Heirwyn. “And a little devious.”
”Don’t worry. Snow hasn’t got a devious bone in her whole body. That’s why we work so well together and why I can’t allow us to be separated. She’s my counterbalance. Now I just need to solve my Enderline problem. He’s a mess. Did you know that Platinum forced me to bond with Enderline?‘
”What can you do about it now? Is he really that bad?”
”He’s been thinking about a human woman named Michelle all day. He wishes Snow had waited and bonded with her instead of you!”
”That does seem sudden, but Platinum’s influence seems to have been everywhere.” Said Heirwynn.
”Not everywhere. Most of the other dragons made their own choices.”
“You have to admit that Snow bonding with me and me not marrying Enderline has made your situation more complicated.”
”It has. Are you actually having second thoughts about perhaps marrying him?” Asked Night-Sky.
“No, ‘I’m not interested in being wife number two. But didn’t someone mention that Albarad has a son?”
”That’s going to be tough. Lothinar is already married and Ronniflass will probably end up as his second wife.” Said Night-Sky.
”Not him! The other one. The elven Emperor.”
”Mandel? Of course! He’s Albarad’s son too. You sure don’t aim low young lady. Now there’s an idea. Maybe I should help find Enderline another dragon!”
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