Albarad and Muina were riding horseback to the other side of the lake and then a few miles up into the mountains. It was likely to be a two-day trip, and they had packed accordingly. Albarad had done the packing. He seemed to have a barn full of supplies. Muina had asked him to help her see how Pepper and Salt were doing. Tundor's parents, Maud and Clay, were caring for the young black and white dragons. It was also very likely that their daughter Vanessa was still with her parents and helping them out.

When Mavis left for the capital with Mo-Rung, she asked her mother, Muina, to look in on them occasionally. Mavis had an almost unique double connection to the little dragons. She had been bonded to their mother, Aleena, who had died, and then subsequently to their father, Mo-Rung. He was still bonded to Mavis.

Muina knew that the circumstances that had led to that strange arrangement had been traumatic and terrible for her daughter. It had, however, been a crucible for incredible emotional growth. She had not emerged from the events the same person. Muina almost could not imagine the old Mavis caring about the two little dragons or asking her mother to check on them. The indulgent lifestyle of Argent’s family that she had experienced growing up had nearly ruined her. As with the others, Argent had kept her from both of her children as much as he could. At the time, there was not much that Muina could do about it. The new Mavis was on a much better path. How her daughter ended up marrying Cantrell was also a fascinating story. Muina thought that they were good together.

Muina had been going to see the young dragons every couple of days. That had not been difficult when they had been staying near the lake. Recently, through Lothinar’s seemingly ever-increasing magical abilities, most of the water-bound dragons had been given wings and real legs. They were transitioning to a life more like that of their ancestors. They were hunting from the air and eating deer and other animals in the forest. The local deer population had plummeted as a result. Although many dragons had been reluctant to leave the immediate area of the lake, Claud had moved his family up into the hills where the hunting was better. He had done so as soon as the little ones could safely fly.

Muina understood the decision but wasn't confident that the recently converted water dragons would be good parents. Maud and Clay had hidden Tundor when he was young to save him from the then hostile council, only to eventually turn him over when he was discovered. The planned mutilation of the original dragons into the creatures that inhabited the lake just to provide a source of magical eggs for Argent's family was truly despicable. Muina had been a key part of the plan of secret infiltration that had brought Argent down. It had not been easy. She still had nightmares about the experience. It had been very up close and personal. Until Albarad had begun showing her his tender love and attention she had sometimes wondered if she could even continue. His tender love and attention seemed to heal her more every day that she could spend with him, but she could tell that he was still intensely loyal to Ardwella.

"Is there even a path where we are headed?" asked Muina.

"The deer trails through here are pretty easy to follow even though they are fairly narrow. Watch your hair. You should probably tie it up. It might get caught on a low branch." he said smiling at her.

"Could you help me?" she asked. "I don't have a hair tie."

"Never go into the wilderness with a Queen. They will work you to death." he said with a chuckle.

He wheeled Jamison around and swung back. He turned the horse again and coming abreast of her stopped at her side. She once again noticed that he was an excellent horseman. He pulled a small tie from his shirt pocket and leaned toward her. The near stirrup creaked slightly with the shift in weight.

"Grab your hair and pull it back. I'll tie it up." he said leaning in closer.

He smelled of sandalwood and leather. She felt her heart start to speed up.

"You have a beautiful neck." he said, gently tying her hair up. "You should wear your hair back more often."

She flushed. Seeming not to noice, he gently kicked Jamison’s sides and the horse pulled away. Albarad had a broad back. She nudged her mare and followed him.

They rode a while. The terrain was difficult and the climb at times was steep. The horses were good ones. They seemed to be able to handle it with ease. Mavis had not ridden a lot as her life in the capital had consisted mostly of carriages. Gilded ones. Yet she knew a good horse when she was on one. Before the gilded carriages there had been Vanquish. That was a far different experience. A dragon would have had her to the young dragons in minutes, but spending some time with Albarad and his horses was an opportunity she couldn’t pass up.

Coming out of the trees into a clearing he stopped and waited for her. She rode up beside him stopping at the meadows edge in the last of the shade. The meadow was filled with wildflowers.

“We will give the horses a short rest here.” He said

”It’s a beautiful spot.” She said, nodding toward the flowers.

”Yes it is.” He said, but he was looking upwards at the empty blue sky than the meadow.

”How do you like riding Star?” He asked.

”Is that her name? She’s a wonderful mare.” Muina replied.

Albarad frowned.

“Didn’t I tell you her name?”

”I don’t think so” said Muina. “I think I would have remembered Star. Is it because of the marking on her forehead? It kind of looks like a star.”

”That’s right!” Said Albarad smiling again. “You’re very observant. But I should have told you her name.”

”What? Is it bad luck to climb on a horse without knowing their name or something like that? I really don’t know horse protocol at all.

Albarad laughed. “No nothing like that. I just feel that it’s important for the relationship. There are people that treat horses like they are just a tool. I have found that both men and elves treat them better when they know their name. They are not just strangers anymore. The horses usually get less abuse.

"Are you concerned that I might abuse Star?" Muina asked"

"No, I can't really see that happening." He said. "At least not on purpose."

"So accidentally then?"

"That's why we are having this little talk. While we are out here you are in charge of this horse. She knows that.”

Muina must have looked a little skeptical, because he added. ”Believe me, she does. And she knows her name. She is probably expecting a lot from you. She wants you to help make the decisions. She wants to know that she can trust you.”

I’m lucky I still remember how to ride” said Muina.

“Right now you are following me and Jamison. That reduces her stress. She trusts me. If you tried to take her off on your own you might start to have problems.”

”I’m not planning to do that. Following is fine. I like the view.”

He smiled but it quickly disappeared.

Things happen. We are out in the wilderness. I might fall off my horse or something.”

‘She scoffed and he smiled again.

“Ok I admit that is probably not going to happen, but let me ask you a question.”

”Go ahead.”

“How well do you trust these dragons? I don’t mean the ones you already know like Maud. The ones that we are going to visit even I probably trust enough. We have a working relationship. But there are a lot more dragons out here than just them.

Suddenly she understood what he meant. ”There are hungry dragons in these mountains that we don’t know." She said looking at the sky nervously. "Dragons that are just learning to hunt land animals. Dragons that might want to try eating a horse for the first time.

"When you spend a lot of time with dragons that you consider your friends it might be easy to forget that sort of thing I suppose." he said.

”Why did I think that this was a good idea?”she said nervously.

"I really doubt they would directly attack an elf." said Albard. "But it is possible. Lothinar watched Tundor accidentally take a bite out of a knife wielding elf a while back."

Muina raised her eyebrows at the word accidentally.

"It happened in my barn. The elf was trying to kill Lothinar and Ardwella." Albarad explained. Tundor spit out the bitten part instantly. He said it tasted terrible.”

‘That’s a hard way for a dragon to gain that important information for the first time. Especially if you are the elf.” She said macabrely.

”Isn’t it” he agreed. “Do you want to turn back, or do you think that these wild dragons will recognize the two of us and our horses as part of the do not eat list?”

"I actually think that it might be too late for that already" she said as a huge shadow crossed the meadow.

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Albarad grabbed Star's reins and quickly spurred them into the nearby thick trees and underbrush. He didn't stop. There was a thud and some crackling branches followed by an ungodly roar. It was a dragon. Muina had not seen it but it couldn't be anything else. Muina had watched Vanquish hunt and kill her prey thousands of times. This time the terror was hers! Albarad drove them on and the obvious fear of the horses gave them speed but from the sounds behind her, the dragon was gaining. Suddenly Albarad stopped his flight and whirled his mount. Somehow a bow had appeared in this hands. He reached in a pouch at Jamisons side and pulled an arrow. His face looked grim. Star ran past Jamison and pressed on breaking through the brush and weaving around trees. Muina tried to pull on the reins but the horse was terrified. She continued her charge. There was a huge angry bellow and then another. Muina continued to pull on the reins and finally Star began to slow. Muina patted her neck and whispered soothing things. It seemed to be working somewhat. She began to turn the horse. She needed to know what was going on back there!

"Comon Star! Just a little further!" she said urgently but the horse had stopped. She refused to go further. Muina slipped from her back and quickly tied the reins to a nearby low branch. She continued on foot. The woods were eerily quiet. Even the birds were silent. Muina could see the meadow off through the trees fifty yards away but her path back to the attack had not been direct. She tried to re-imagine their path. She stumbled around a bit but found the trail of destruction at the midpoint. She followed it back to Albarad's heroic stand with the bow. He was there. His quiver was empty. He was alive but Jamison was not. The horses neck was broken. Albarad was kneeling beside him. He was stroking his bloody mane. He looked up at her and his eyes were filled with tears.

"I never really liked dragons" he said. "I know for you that is probably a terrible thing to hear me say."

""It's fine. I understand. Where is the dragon." she asked also kneeling beside him.

"I put all my arrows in him and he just kept coming. He was a grey. He had to be one of them from the lake. I think I got an arrow into one of his eyes. That's what probably stopped him. But not before he got a hold of Jamison. He killed my horse!" He looked at her, his grief and passion on display. He took a few deep breaths.

"Are you ok?" he finally asked.

"Yes" she said.

"Where is Star?"

"Back in the trees. I tied her. Not far from here."

He jumped up. "We need to get to her. There might be more of them. I'm out of arrows. Show me where you left her!."

Muina could see the adrenaline was still pumping through his system. She quickly climbed to her feet and led him back to the mare.

Albarad shuddered and breathed a sigh of relief when he saw her still tied to the tree branch. He untied the mare and speaking soothing words led her back through the trees to where Jamison lay.

"I need a few things from my bags" he said. "I'll be quick. Then we need to get away from here. The dragons might smell the blood."

"I'm less worried about that then him telling his friends where to find us. Dragons are not your average predator" she said. "They can communicate with each other in ways that mountain lions and bears can't"

Albarad stopped and looked at her. "You are thinking that another one is going to come back. They want Jamison."

"Probably. They likely think that you deprived them of their kill" she said. " And unfortunately, they will want revenge for those arrows."

He quickly pulled some things from his saddlebags. He tried to pull on the bag that was pinned beneath the horse out but it was crushed and stuck under the body. He winced.

”That damned dragon dropped Jamison on Ardwella’s teapot. It was in this saddle bag. It’s broken. She’s not going to like that!”

He fumbled around some more and pulled out a long knife. Then he rose.

"Lets go."

"Wait a minute. Are we going back or onwards? How close are we to Maud and Clay?"

Albarad scrunched up his face and thought about it.

"You know you're right. We are a lot closer to our destination than to the lake. Maybe we can make it." he said. Then he shook his head. "I'm not that sure where they actually are. Ardwella said that Vanador did a fly over yesterday and thought that he saw them living with some other dragons. They are in some big rock formations near where the river comes down the mountain. If it's not them though we will have to keep looking..."

"The other dragon and his unknown friends may find us first." she said. "Just lead the way. I may have a way to keep us safe."

"I think Star can ride us double. It's not that far. he said. "You seem pretty calm. Do you have some way to deal with dragons that I don't know about?"

She nodded.

“What are you going to do?"

"Let me worry about that. I do have some knowledge about dragons." she said. "I'm truly sorry about Jamison, Albarad."

He nodded and climbed up on Star, then reached out his hand. She took it and he pulled her up, she settled in back of him as he slid forward in the saddle. They began to ride. His eyes were fixed on the treetops. She closed her eyes and hugged him around the waist as the horse began to move faster. She began to concentrate. She was trying to remember a very difficult spell.

A few minutes later Star passed through a break in the trees. The path of ahead of them grew wider. Standing on that path were two dragons. One was bleeding and several arrows were sticking out of him. Albarad had managed to hit an eye. Blood was running down his face. The eye was ruined but somehow the arrow’s shaft had been broken off. The other, a female was looking at them with surprise. Star shied away and sidestepped. Albarad regained control and pulled her to a halt.

"I thought you learned your lesson" Albarad shouted.

"I see that you are out of arrows." said the Male. The female nudged him. She was shaking her head.

"We need to leave Rolf." she said. "I recognize that female elf. She is Lothinar's mother. In case you have forgotten, Lothinar is the one that gave us our wings Rolf."

"But he shot me Penelope! It hurts! He needs to pay for that." said the dragon that was apparently Rolf.

"You said you killed his horse. Of course he was going to shoot at you!" said Penelope. "I'm sorry Ardwella. Rolf can be pretty stupid."

"I am not actually Ardwella. I'm her sister Muina. We just look alike. This is Albarad. He's pretty upset about his horse so I'm probably going to have to kill your boyfriend Rolf here. Sorry about that."

The female dragon backed up a few steps.

Not waiting for the female dragons reply the male growled menacingly. He charged toward the two elves on horseback.

"Infernium Totalium Draconis!" The words were guttural and harsh. They made Albarad's ears ache.

There was a flash and a gurgle. Rolf’s face caught on fire. He spun around. He twisted and turned. Flames were coming out of his mouth and nose. He crumpled to the ground rolling around frantically. He lay their twitching while Penelope watched in horror. Soon he wasn't moving any more.

"What exactly did you do?" asked Albarad.

"Do you remember that spell that ended the first war? The ones that the dragons were so afraid of?"

"Are you talking about the one that Ardwella spent all that time hunting down and killing everyone that knew it? That spell?" he asked.

"Ardwella is usually very thorough but she actually missed one of the people that knew that spell." said Muina. She shrugged. "I didn't have the heart to tell her. When you live in the palace a lot of secret information becomes available."

Albarad let out a breath. Long and slow.

"No wonder the dragons lost the war. It almost makes me feel sorry for them." he said. "But not this one. He totally deserved that."

"You shouldn't worry. I am probably the only one that could have found that secret scroll in Argent's things. I destroyed it afterwards. Somehow it stuck with me. I've never had any reason to use it before today. It' is very effective isn't it."

His face was unreadable. She started to worry. Then he smiled.

"Penelope! We need to have a talk. Come here if you want to live!" shouted Muina.

Penelope looked at the elves. She backed up, jumped into the air and began frantically flapping her wings. She tried to flee but she didn't make it. Muina cast again. Penelope burst into flames and fell like a meteor somewhere in the distant forest.

Albarad looked at Muina.

"I suppose that had to happen.” He said. “We need to keep the information about you knowing that spell from spreading."

He looked at Rolf the dragon who was no longer burning but just smoking slightly. He had been cooked from the inside.

"It looks like his fire is out," said Albarad. "But lets go check on the other one. We wouldn't want to start a forest fire."

Albarad nudged Star with his heels and together they went to find Penelope. It was a good thing they did because she was still burning. After they were sure that she was done they continued riding. Eventually they came to the place where Clay and Maud were staying.

Salt and Pepper were very glad to see them. Muina checked them over. She inspected their feet for burrs and thorns. They were healthy and well fed. The move into the hills had been good for the dragon family. Vanessa wasn't there unfortunately. Maud explained that she was out trying to meet up with a couple of her friends. Then she surprised her parents by coming back early.

”What happened Vanessa? Did you change your plans?” Maud asked her daughter.

”Nope, but I couldn’t find them. I wonder if they are off somewhere experimenting with sex?” Vanessa said without embarrassment.

”Well, then you probably should give them some privacy” said Maud. “I think you are still too young for that sort of thing”

Vanessa started to argue.

“Not now dear. The elves are listening. We can talk about this later.” Said Maud.

”Now doesn’t that sound familiar” asked Muina nudging Albarad with a smile.

He nodded but his thoughts seemed far away.

That night the elves made their camp a few hundred yards away from where the dragons were bedded down. They made love under the stars and on the saddle blanket of a horse named Star. That night something else also happened. Just like her daughter Mavis had broken the bond Ardwella held over Cantrel, Muina, full of enthusiasm and flushed from a victorious battle broke the pheromone bond that was holding Albarad. He awoke the next morning feeling like a different man. That was after all, exactly what Muina had in mind for this trip all along.

---------------------------

Did you hear what happened to Francine and Hellinth? Sahar asked Myron.

"I heard." replied Myron. "You have to admit what they were doing was very suspicious. They had no business being in that barn."

"The other sisters are worried. They say that it's just a matter of time until a dragon kills them too!" Sahar was practically shouting. "All of our father's sons are dead, except you. The sisters need to act. I can't believe you are taking Mandel's side!"

"We've been over this. Trying to wrest the throne from Mandel is just going to end up costing more lives. We might end up in a full blown civil war." said Myron.

"They are calling you a coward for your actions on the battlefield, brother." she said with a cruel sneer. "I'm starting to believe that they are right!"

"If it's eggs they want then I have to tell you that it's not going to happen." Myron said. "The lake is off limits to all but a few elves. It's. human territory now. Their King, Enderline, or whatever his name is, has soldiers everywhere. They are dragon lovers those humans. The dragons seem to love them back."

"That's easy for you to say. Look at you. You look younger than me and you are at least twenty years older. Do you still have any eggs stashed away?"

"You know I don't sister" he said. "All the remaining eggs were given up during the armistice. It was one of the conditions of surrender."

"Surrender! BAH! Do you expect the rest of us to just lay down and die of old age. Is that what you want?" she was practically screaming.

"I think we have been fooled into thinking that we might be able to live forever because of the evil things are father did to the dragons" he said. "That's just not how life works. It never has been." said Myron.

"We are going to act." said Sahar. With you or without you. Decide now!"

Myron formally bowed. "Then I must decline dear sister." he said sadly.

An arrow bloomed from his throat. He pulled it out. Another hit him in the chest just above the heart. He pulled that out too. Flesh quickly forming over the fatal wounds and closing off the spurting blood. A third, fourth and fifth followed. All struck in vital areas. Myron slumped forward in death.

A female elf stepped out of the shadows. She had a bow in her hand.

"Father would have been so disappointed." The elf with the bow said.

Sahar looked at her brother's body. She bent over and closed his eyes, locked open in death. She thought that he had a resigned look on his face.

"Gather the other sisters, Thelma. said Sahar. "We need to make plans. We are going to retake the capital. That's what father would have wanted. By the way, nice shooting."

"It's a shame. It was obviously a waste of perfectly good eggs." Thelma said. "I just need a few. I'm starting to get some bags around my eyes."

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