*******************************
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
*******************************
Ardwella looked at the front door of her family home. The last few weeks had been filled with the worst sort of behavior from her. The mindset she had assumed to become a killer had made her extremely successful at the task, but had done other harm as well. She had turned off her conscience. While in that state she had schemed to seduce Cantrell, her nieces husband. She felt sick to her stomach and simultaneously grateful that Cantrell had been a better man than most. He had resisted her shameless advances at every turn. She actually owed him a great debt of gratitude. He had hurt her pride but probably saved her relationship with Albarad. At least she could honestly say that nothing had happened between them. She didn’t really deserve to come home to him, but she was ready to try. She took a deep breath and turned the doorknob.
In the front room she spotted her sister Muina. She was sitting in an old brown rocking chair. She was leaning back with a sleeping baby propped over her shoulder. An empty feeding bottle sat on the side table. The baby seemed to be sleeping. Muina’s blue eyes were slitted but flew wide when she saw Ardwella standing in the hallway.
Muina gracefully rose to her feet, smiled and silently mouthed the words “She’s finally asleep. Let me try to put her in the crib.”
Ardwella resisted the impulse to take the baby from her as she walked past and down the other hallway. She had washed up after this morning’s round of assassinations but still somehow felt that her hands were still covered in blood. Muina soon returned and softly closed the door to the baby’s room behind her as she did. Muina had obviously not lost the vital skills of motherhood in the long gap between the birth of her twins and now. Her sister gestured that they move a little farther from the bedroom door before speaking softly.
”Charity is fine.” Her eyes searched Ardwella’s soul. “How are you sister?”
”Well enough I suppose” she answered.
”You look great! Amazing in fact!” Muina suddenly bit her lip. “You actually look like you did when we were just getting started with all of this terrible business. What is your apparent age, about twenty?”
”I think so, yes. Zinariya did some work on me.”
”Maybe I should ask for a turn!” Said Muina with some jealousy. “Siophra looks great too!”
“Don’t even say that Muina. The price for looking like this was far too high. I’ve done terrible things.”
”Oh, that reminds me!” Muina said suddenly and in regular voice, but then quickly dropped into a whisper. “Heirwynn and her dragons accidentally stumbled over a Capitol plot to kill dragons here in Delora. The Night and Snow managed to kill three of Argent’s daughters somehow.”
”They were here? In Delora Natine?”
”Yes. They managed to set up some kind of big crossbow thingy on a rooftop. The town guard have it dismantled now but they said it could have easily killed a dragon as big as Vanquish.”
”If they were here, there might be others! I need to go!”
“But you just got back!”
”I’ll be back soon, I promise!”
Muina scowled. ”That’s what you said the last time.”
“Where is Albarad right now? I might need some help with this.”
”He’s helping Heirwyn clean her apartment. She was collecting the last of her things from there when she found the….”
”No time! Thanks Muina. I really will be right back!”
She dashed for the barn She needed a horse. Albarad always had an extra horse or two. She prepared to flip the switch in her mind that would allow her to kill again. She suddenly stopped. She found herself turning around. Looking back at the house she saw Muina staring at her from the porch. Her sister smiled hopefully at her. Ardwella sighed and walked slowly back to her, though her pulse was racing.
"What am I doing?" she asked.
"Your doing what you always do. Trying to save everyone." said her her sister.
"Don't you think it's time that I gave that job to someone else.?" she asked seriously.
"I've actually thought that for a long time. You have a daughter to raise."
"Yes I do." said Ardwella. She walked back into the house. Even thought they were not actually dirty, she did wash her hands several times before picking up the baby. Ardwella held the still sleeping baby to her breast.
"How could I ever have left her?" she asked herself.
Muina just watched her. She thought that it was probably going to take some time before Ardwella's heart actually came home. She was wrong.
When Charity finally awoke, she did seem to notice the difference. She clung tightly to her mother. Muina tried her best not to be jealous. This was the way it should be. She would have her own baby soon enough.
---------------------------------------
Heirwynn and Albarad were cleaning up the blood and mess that had been left behind when Night-Sky had shredded the elves in her apartment. They had been at it all day. Arbarad was currently up on a ladder and had just finished pulling a crossbow bolt out of a ceiling beam.
"I've got some wood putty back home that should fix this right up." he said. "I'm not sure if the color is a perfect match though."
"Just leave it. I bet the landlord won’t even notice. Nobody ever looks up at the ceiling anyway.." said Heirwynn. "I appreciate that you are willing to remove all evidence of the attack but i’m not going to be living here anymore. I won’t be haunted by that reminder.”
”She’s already lost her brother and now this happens.” Thought Albarad silently.
"How are you actually doing?" Albarad asked. He was on the top of the ladder and looking down at her with a concerned look on his face."
"I don't know." she admitted. "it feels surreal. I should probably be dead. That bolt would have killed me if Night hadn't surprised them from above."
"I'm not sure that was a wise move actually." said Albarad. "That could have gone either way."
"What do you mean?" asked Night snippily. He was lying on a clean part of the floor well out of the blood splatter zone. "It worked didn't it?"
"Yes, but you left Heirwynn and your sister Snow directly in the path of that crossbow. If she hadn't pulled her shot high...."
"I think you are forgetting about our healing abilities." Night said brusquely.
"And what if that bolt had gone through an important part of your sister? How much healing can you do yourself without her? asked Albarad.
The black dragon looked at the floor.
"None." He admitted, somewhat embarrassed.
Heirwynn let him off the hook. "You were very brave, Night-Sky, as were you Snow." she said. "Let's just hope we don't find ourselves in that kind of situation again."
"Not much chance of that." said Night-Sky. The city guards have been all over this town. The threat is over."
"Don't ever say something like that!" hissed Albarad. "Your tempting fate!"
"I think that fate is afraid of dragons, even young ones." said night sky haughtily.
Albarad just shook his head. He knew far better. Fate had a way of showing the arrogant who was actually in charge. He climbed down from the ladder and filled a mop bucket with soapy water. The city guard had removed the bodies. The one Snow had killed had killed by breaking her neck had been intact, but the two Night had slain had been messily ripped apart. Albarad was afraid the blood on the floor was a stain that would never come out. After scrubbing a while, he was sure. It would be a shame to cover these beautiful hardwood floors with a carpet, but he might not have a choice. He suddenly remembered a nice area rug that Ardwella had changed out for a newer one in her office. The old one was still in decent shape and rolled up somewhere in one of the storage closets. It would probably fit in Heirwynn's apartment. It was also large enough to hide the blood stains.
"I'll be back in a few!" he said heading out the front door. "I'm going over to the temple to pick up something."
"While you're gone I'll finish boxing up the last of my things. Then I just need to return the keys and we can head home."
"Can I come with you Albarad?" asked Night-Sky.
"I thought walking through the temple still bothered you. Looking at the body of Platinum just standing there and all that." said Albarad.
"It's fine, I know that she can't force me to do anything anymore, and every time I see her, it gets a little easier." said the dragon.
"Ok. Come along then. You can help me carry the carpet."
"I'm not going to end up with carpet fibers in my teeth am I?"
"You might, Night-Sky. But you made the mess in the first place, remember."
"I suppose your right." sighed Night. "If I was still Enderline's dragon he probably wouldn't make me carry carpet."
Albarad looked at him in disbelief. "I think you had better make up your mind about what you actually want out of life." he said.
Night-Sky grinned mischievously. "I'm still young. I've got plenty of time."
"That's what Platinum probably believed," thought Albarad.
--------------------------------------------------------
Starett blinked and focused. He didn't recognize the face. An older female elf was pointing at him. She had a glowing blue ring on her finger. He drew a breath but his lungs felt tingly. He jumped up and tried to run but his limbs didn't seem to be working very well at the moment.
"Hold on!" The female elf shouted in a commanding voice. "You're not under attack. At least at the moment."
He slowly got to his feet and forced himself to remain calm and still.
"I thought we weren't going to wake the human priest." came another voice from behind him and off to his right. "We don't know where his loyalties really lie."
"We discussed this, Preen, If he's been kept frozen in here with all the others, I suspect he was the human priest that father had struck a deal with." said the first elf.
"Frozen?" he thought. A few moments ago he was in a confrontation with Ardwella. She had confronted him over turning traitor to the dragon's cause. Argent and his troops were on their way to exterminate them. He needed to get out of here!
"A deal he might have struck with our father is not going to be much help at this point, Jundahryn."
"No but I overheard father talking about secret passageways. If he is that priest he might know how to access them."
Come take the ring." the other one said. "My magic is low and we need to wake a few more of our soldiers. Then we can go eat some more and recharge."
Starett finally finished looking around the room. It had been his office, but things had changed. There was a photograph of Albarad and a boy sitting on the desk. The boy looked like a much younger Lothinar. So, it was Ardwella's office now. She must have taken over some roll in the temple. It looked like she was probably in charge now. She had obviously frozen him. He had no idea how much time had actually passed or what the current state of the war was. Starett recognized from his studies of Elvish history, the names he had heard spoken as those belonging to two of Argent's daughters. He needed to tread carefully.
The other female had taken the ring and entered one of the larger storage closets. She emerged a minute later with two large male elves dressed in fighting leathers. They were rubbing their arms and shaking out their legs as if they were feeling the same strange tingle from being frozen as he did. They scowled at him as they passed but did not speak. They followed Preen and the three of them exited through the door that would take them into the main temple area.
The remaining elf turned her attention back to him.
"So are you the dragon priest?" she asked him.
He nodded. "Yes, and you must be one of Argent's daughters."
"I am." she replied. "My name is Jundahryn. You will either help us or die!"
"I'll obviously help" he stammered.
"Good boy." she smiled. "If you are lucky you won't even be too late for the barbecue. We're having dragon!" He followed as she exited the office and entered the main sanctuary chamber. What Starrett saw there left him speechless. On a raised structure of loose brickwork a grate had been laid. A fire was crackling low. On the grate were sizzling several thick steaks and other cuts of meat. Off to the side was a dead silver colored dragon. It was obvious that her body had been butchered.
"There were no eggs in the city." said Jundahryn. But we discovered that there is still a great deal of magic to be had by eating young dragon. Especially this one for some reason."
"She must have been a platinum" Starett said. He couldn't keep some sorrow from creeping into his voice. "They are known to be quite powerful. How did you kill her?"
"That's the funny part. Someone had just left her there, posed of all things. We used the ring's power to unfreeze her and she just dropped down to the ground. She was already dead."
"I really can't imagine why she was left here." said Starett truthfully. "Are any of the temple workers around to ask how that happened?"
"Oh, we had to kill them. All of them. They were not nearly as cooperative as you." said Jundahryn. "Now don't make me regret saying that," she smiled at him. "Do you want a steak? They are actually pretty good."
That was a shock. He felt himself throw up a little bit. He quickly swallowed it, hoping she didn't notice.
"Ardwella and her family must all be dead." thought Starrett.
"Steak?" she asked again.
Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
"Humans don't really have magic." he finally answered. "I don't think eating dragon would do the same thing for me as it does for you. It would be a pity to waste the magical flesh on me." He tried not to shudder while answering.
"We have already taken this temple. Troops loyal to my father's rule are being released from their captivity. We are using the dragon flesh to top up our magic and that of our troops. Very soon we will take the rest of the town. And after that, the dairy. That's where the last of the baby dragons are. According to the now dead temple workers, there are actually not many. All the older dragons that we were warned about have mysteriously left.
"What about King Enderline and his troops?" asked Starett.
"They have returned to their boats and set sail. The human king has given up the city. " she said.
"The war ended up just as I thought it would." thought Starett to himself. "It's lucky for me that I picked the right side."
------------------------
Lothinar was talking to Firestorm. It was one of those rare moments when they were alone. Zinariya and Vanquish had teleported away to inspect the platinum dragon's body and discuss their own plans. Ardwynn was, at last, asleep with the baby in the remaining intact bedroom, Candasar and her other children had retired to the barn and Tundor was snoring in the pasture. The reverberations shook the window panes. Lothinar noticed that there seemed to be a place squished into the grass that was just his size.
Lothinar was too keyed up to sleep and with his strange new magical energy flowing through him, he really didn't feel the need to. Because only Firestorm was left awake, The red dragon, had decided to keep him company and somehow managed to squeeze into the living room with him. She took up almost all of the floor. The way she was growing it wouldn't be long until she would have to remain outside of human or elvish dwellings.
"I can't believe I missed my father" she said.
"He wasn't behaving very well at all." replied Lothinar. "I tried to explain to him that Ardwynn had been changed. No, scratch that. I couldn't even get him to stop attacking long enough to listen."
"Maybe if I had been there...." said Firestorm. "Instead of sleeping."
""Everyone else was knocked out. You probably were too." said Lothinar.
"I suppose that's a difficult distinction to make." said Firestorm, "Being knocked our or just sleeping, but I woke up feeling quite refreshed and invigorated. I wasn't suffering from the slight headache and nausea that the others seem to be feeling. Right now I can feel some sort of power coming out of you and it's soaking directly into me."
"That's very interesting." said Lothinar. "Zinariya said she felt something like that herself."
"I think I'm growing too." said Firestorm. "Somewhat quickly in fact. What's even weirder is that I'm not even hungry."
"Hmm." he said. "Let me try something. What do you think about this?"
Lothinar tried to cut back on the magical power that was flowing out of him but was only somewhat successful. There was too much power to shut off entirely.
"Did you turn it down? I can feel that." said Firestorm. "It's like the magical wind went from a gale to a breeze. That's actually a better amount for just sitting around. It's easier to absorb. I hope you can turn it up again when I need to use a lot of magic or something."
"Sure," said Lothinar. "Just let me know."
Lothinar suddenly remembered something. "You know, back when I first healed you in Aleena's nest."
"When we became bonded." added Firestorm.
"Yes, that too. When we met I sent you a huge blast of magical power. It knocked me out. It was just before Ronni brought me up here to this cabin. Sometime after that you said that you thought I gave you part of my soul." said Lothinar.
"Yes. I remember that." said Firestorm. "I picked up quite a vocabulary at the time as well."
"I'm just wondering if you, like Zinariya somehow are specially attuned to my my magic. "
"Your just noticing this now Lothinar? Of course I am! Sheesh! I've been trying to bring this up for ages. I'm way more similar to you magically than Candasar is! Don't you remember how I sensed you from far away, followed after you and then tracked you down up here in the mountains?"
"Is that magical connection what allowed you to do that when Candasar couldn't?"
"Of course! You can be pretty dense sometimes Lothinar."
The red dragon was now jumping up and down. She wasn't as little as she used to be and Lothinar was afraid she was going to break through the floorboards. At that point he would probably just have to burn Ronni's house to the ground and start over.
"Hey hey! watch the floor!" he implored. Firestorm at least stopped hopping.
"Does this mean we can renegotiate the pecking order? Can I be first dragon bond?"
"Um, Well, Candasar was first after all."
"Ah Ha! There is a pecking order! Candasar denied that there even was one! I sometimes feel pecked Lothinar!"
"I doubt it actually means anything." said Lothinar. "I love you both."
"Yes, but who had to carry the scared to fly strangling my neck with her legs Vanquish all the way back here while Candasar got to carry you and the easy peasey sleeping Ardwynn?"
"That situation was not about who was closer to me and you know it. I was too heavy for you at the time. Plus Candasar ended up having to fight rocs" he said.
"We both fought the rocs, Lothinar."
"Wow! I had no idea that that frustrated you so much." he finally said.
"I just want to be special to you." said Firestorm.
"Well, now I certainly have been reminded how extremely special you really are. You have a very direct connection to my magic. You will probably be outgrowing Candasar for size in no time. Then I promise to ride you."
The red dragon smiled at that, then seemed to have another thought.
"Only I don't want to get as big as Tundor!" Please don't let that happen to me! Also I've got to take this growth slow. Thanks for reducing the power output! I don't want to get stretch marks."
Lothinar laughed.
Then he added, "I don't think dragons get stretch marks."
Firestorm grimaced. "I saw some of those on Ardwynns stomach. I don't want to take a chance."
"Do you want me to completely stop sending you magical power?"
Firestorm seemed to be considering this.
"No, this amount is fine. I want to be at least as big as Candasar, but let's not startle anyone. Tundor's new size is quite confusing and I don't want Candasar to think that I have any designs on her male. Because I don't!"
"That never crossed my mind, Firestorm." said Lothinar.
"Lets hope it never occurs to her either."
"You know that I heard all of that!" came Candasar's thoughts through the bond.
"Oops! I thought you were finally asleep." said Firestorm.
"I'm quite sure that you did." said Candasar.
"Do you think she's mad?" asked Firestorm.
"She will get over it." said Lothinar. "Probably."
"I'm kind of looking forward to wrestling with her." said Firestorm.
"I've had a lot of experience fighting." said Candasar. "I was fighting males bigger than I was long before you were born."
"I can vouch for that." said Lothinar. "She's terribly ferocious."
They both could feel Candasar laughing at that.
A few more minutes past. Finally Firestorm spoke again. She was trying to whisper and she had turned off her telepathic link.
"So, I think Candasar's finally really asleep."
Lothinar reached out a tendril of magic. He confirmed that Candasar at last finally was. She was dreaming about Tundor. Lothinar quickly drew back his thoughts. Candasar could have some interesting dreams. They often had to do with making more children. He respected her privacy.
"Was there something else you wanted to talk about?" he asked Firestorm.
"Yes, I know that I joke around a lot," she began. "But there is one thing I really do want to talk about."
Lothinar's pleasant smile grew serious.
"What is it." he asked.
"Do you think Zinariya is going to try to join our bonded group? I think she wants to. She obviously knows about your magic and what it can do for her."
Lothinar drew a breath.
"Zinariya is a puzzle. I'm actually more concerned with her wanting to live life as an elf or even a human. Not only that but she's Candasar's daughter. That could really make our relationship complicated. Especially if she ends up with Michelle as a host."
"I see several problems here." said Firestorm. "I just want to be sure that you see them too."
"Why don''t we compare notes?" Lothinar chuckled.
"Ok, the first, and largest is obviously Zinariya. She is powerful, but also young and impulsive."
"Coming from you...."
"I know, but hear me out."
"I know that, like me, she somehow absorbed a lot of your magic. I find that odd, because she doesn't really act that much like you at all."
"What do you mean specifically?"
"She has taken liberties with others. It seems to me like she takes what she wants. She has also done a lot of killing already."
"She obviously had a terrible start to life." said Lothinar in her defense.
"She's Candasar and Tundor's daughter, yes, and that makes her family." continued FIrestorm. "But you need to decide if you can actually handle a personality like that as a bond."
"Three bonds sounds pretty unlikely."
"So was two, but here we are. Anyway, be ready for Zinariya to push for that. You should probably think about what you want to do. before she asks."
Lothinar nodded. "Ok, what's next?"
"What are you going to do about Michelle if Vanquish decides to become a dragon again? Michelle would be back to just being human and it will be much harder to put off a physical relationship. We've seen her without Vanquish intervening before. She was almost unstoppable."
"Michelle has earned her place here with us, if she wants it." said Lothinar firmly. "I only hope for her sake that she's not selling herself short and giving up too many opportunities to stay here."
"Even though I think I know the answer," began Firestorm, "I need to ask the question. What do you want Lothinar? Do you think you could grow to love her and make her a real part of your life?"
Lothinar winced. "I don't know Firestorm."
"We don't need another Ronniflass situation. To be honest it's better for everyone if you end it now. especially if you don't think it's going to work out." said the dragon.
"Do you think that she should do as her father hopes and join with King Enderline?" he asked.
"I would be very surprised if Vanquish would do that." She replied. "If it's just Michelle, that might be her best play. We are going to know more when they get back from talking to Vanador."
"I wonder if he is going to accept her wearing Platinum's body?" Lothinar asked.
"I'm more worried about how Vanador is going to react to the death of her first body." said Firestorm.
"I think that's why she thought it best to go speak with him as Michelle first, before committing to swap bodies."
"Would you easily accept someone that claimed to be your mate if they were in another body? I wonder how much sharing a body effects you long term?" wondered Firestorm. "Hosting Vanquish is bound to have had an effect on Michelle. Neither of them will ever be the same."
"Ardwynn rather presented me with the opposite problem, you know." said Lothinar. "I'm still grappling with the ramifications of that."
"At least she's not evil anymore." asserted Firestorm.
"I wonder how the parts of Ardwynn that died would feel about that statement" he said slowly.
"You would go back to the way things were?"
"Not now, no. But who could ever have imagined that such a thing was even possible. All of these things. Sometimes I wonder what will be next? I think Michelle and Vanquish should each do what makes them the most likely to be happy. If Michelle still wants to stay with us then I can accept that. In spite of her words before, I just don't know if Ardwynn can. I'm certainly not going to rush things either way."
"You don't really have one of those highly intense male sex drives do you Lothinar?"
The elf looked a little surprised that Firestorm had asked the question.
"I get by" he said. "I've had no complaints."
"That's not what I'm talking about." she said. She cleared her throat. "What I've heard is that some males are fixated on conquest. They are a great deal more aggressive and promiscuous."
The handsome elf nodded.
"Yes, but I believe that for me, It's more about how I feel about the person. It's the relationship that we have together. I really don't like hurting people for temporary gratification. That seems quite selfish."
"That's rather inspiring." said the red dragon. "If you don't mind I think I'll try to live up to that goal in the future myself."
"Imitation is one of the greatest forms of showing respect." said Lothinar. "I'm honored that you feel that way."
There was an awkward silence.
"Well, I had better go outside before I don't fit through the door." said Firestorm.
"Don't worry, you can always go out through the bedroom wall." he reminded her.
--------------------------
For some reason Vanador found Mandel annoying. Although he had assumed the roll of presumptive emperor, he had done little personally to deserve the great honor. The title had just been handed to him on a silver platter. The original strategy had been to try and pass him off as a legitimate son of Argent to secure a hereditary route to the throne. Munia had taken great pains to infiltrate Argent's family with a child that would not carry the evil taint. By now, however, everyone obviously knew he wasn’t a real son or just didn’t feel inspired enough to follow him. The vacuum of decisive and charismatic leadership was clear for all to see. Cantrell had done more to secure an end to the war than the spineless Mandel. Cantrell had courage and integrity. His beloved Mavis was next in line to the throne. Vanador truly believed that she would be a better choice to rule than her indecisive brother.
Vanador wondered, not for the first time why the elves seemed to require a male to be emperor, His mate Vanquish was clearly the largest and most powerful dragon. If the dragons were to choose a Queen, it most assuredly would be her. He missed her. He hoped that she would return to him soon.
There was a popping noise and Vanador looked around.
”Did you hear that?” He asked.
Esmarilla raised her head from where it rested between her front legs and sniffed the air.
“I smell a dragon, and a human. Both females, I think.”
Mo-Rung who had been lying near her also raised his head. "I definitely smell Zinariya." he said. "And an unknown human."
He lay back down, still obviously exhausted from his failed battle with Lothinar.
They heard whispering.
”Ok I got you here. The rest is up to you!”
Then a second voice, whispering louder.
”I can’t do this! I’m not ready! Take me back!”
”I used up all my teleportation power for now. You might as well talk to him.”
"You are obviously lying."
Vanador cleared his throat.
“There is only one individual that I know of that can actually teleport. Zinariya, is that you?” He rumbled.
A small golden dragon peeked out from behind one of the stalls. The stalls were sized for horses. Vanador wouldn’t fit inside it but a baby dragon certainly would. She blinked at him.
”Your bigger than I remember.”
”And you’re smaller, and an actual dragon now!” Said Vanador with a smile.
”Where’s Ardwella?” Esmarilla suddenly asked. “Did you two separate amicably or did you leave her bleeding in a ditch somewhere?”
Vanador shot his sister a hard look. “I think you should probably start trying to make peace with your old bond. Her efforts of late have been more than helpful.”
Esmarilla nodded. “I’m sorry Zinariya. Thank you for helping Cantrell and Ardwella with that unpleasant task. Is she ok?”
”She’s probably fine. I sent her home. Lothinar got angry and separated us. I’m afraid he wasn’t very happy with me at the time.”
“That’s probably for the best. Ardwella becomes a completely different person when she’s killing. Who is that with you?” Asked Esmarilla. That’s not Ardwynn is it? She sort of looks like her but she is obviously a human.
Zinariya looked back over her shoulder into the dark stall.
“I met someone who is currently in a similar situation as I was, with Ardwella. She found it necessary to use a human body as a host. The host’s name is Michelle. She’s from Silvantra.”
The little gold dragon paused. She coughed. She tried again.
”This is Michelle! She is From Silvantra!” A few more seconds went by. The gold dragon jumped back into the shadows. There was indistinguishable urgent whispering.
At last a beautiful green eyed girl crept out of the stall and into the light. The little gold dragon sheepishly followed.
”She’s a little shy.” Zinariya said.
“Hello your Dragon Magesties” the human said, her voice quivering slightly.
“Did I hear you correctly when you claimed that this human girl was in a similar situation as you were with Ardwella?” Asked Esmarilla. “You girl, do you have a dragon inside you? If so, it must be quite small or its actual body has died.” She snorted in disbelief.
”Is this some sort of a strange joke Zinariya?” Scoffed Vanador. “There are no dragons in Sivantra, at least not yet. Enderline’s ships have barely set sail…..” His voice trailed off. “No!” He roared. “I refuse to believe this!”
”I can fix this Vanador!” The human girl yelled. Her eyes were now bright blue. “There is a way for me to be a dragon again!”
“Vanquish?” Esmarilla almost choked on the name.
The pretty blond human just stood there and nodded. A huge tear rolled down her cheek.
Vanador jumped up and started to run toward the doors.
”Where are you going?” Yelled Esmarilla.
”I need some air!”
”When a dragon says he needs some air it could mean something totally different” observed Zinariya.
”Have you even flown yet?” Asked Esmarilla. “Your still fairly small.”
”No, I’ve just been teleporting everywhere. It seems pretty handy.”
"He doesn't even want to talk to me." moaned Vanquish.
"It is a shock." said Esmarilla. "You can't really blame him."
"Actually I do." said Vanquish. "But I blame myself more. I guess that answers several questions. It helps make this decision easier."
"What decision?" asked the black dragon.
Vanquish looked at Zinariya.
"I'm staying human." she said. "Your Platinum dragon will remain a beautiful statue."
Esmarilla finally seemed to catch up.
"You are Vanquish! You were going to become a dragon again to try and have a life with my brother." she finally said. "Don't rule out that possibility. Vanador may just need some time."
"He wouldn't even speak with me." said Vanquish.
”He will be back.” Said Esmarilla. “He always comes back.”
"And I'll be gone." she said. "Zinariya. Please take me back. I have some questions that I want to ask Lothinar."
There was a pop. Esmarilla and Mo-Rung were left in the stable alone.
"Vanquish is essentially dead!" she said "What little of her remains must be some sort of magical construct."
"Don't you think Vanador should have at least listened to her?" asked Mo-Rung. "I think he owes her at least that much."
"It was devastating news." said Esmarilla. "They had planned for a future together. They had waited so long for that."
"I have lost several wives." said Mo-Rung. "I feel his dismay and pain."
Esmarilla scowled and him. "Your recent behavior indicates that such a loss is not easy to forget."
"He didn't even ask how she died?" Wouldn't it be ironic if it was Ardwynn again? How do you think everyone will feel about that?" asked Mo-Rung.
"I think that you are still overly obsessed with Ardwynn." said Esmarilla. "The odds of that happening are very low."
"But what if it is her?" he asked.
"Then for my brother's sake, I will kill her myself." said Esmarilla.
————————-