Scales and Honor: Swirling Storm

Chapter 17

The rest of the year passed fairly quickly for the blue dragon, so much that so he was honestly surprised when it was time for Jandar to return home. The entire year had been spent with the delightful odd teal dragoness hanging around his cave to keep him company. They would share stories to one another, enjoy the other's warm presence, and of course mate passionately in the night. Then summer turned into fall, the hot weather being traded for a much more mild climate. He and Fremra had flown blissfully through the multicolored forests together, joy in their breathes as Ramakox had felt like a dragon at least hundreds of years younger. They would cuddle up against one another in the brisk winds, and start to whisper sweet nothings to one another. Each one that passed from her lips would make the blue's heart flutter, and his senses tingle in loving delight.

From the pleasant crisp air of autumn came the snow that signified the swift change to winter. The frozen ice blanketed the countryside in fields of white and various greys and blues, and stretched out as far as the blue dragon's eyes could see. It was the coldest mornings of the year that he was even more thankful to have Fremra by his side, and her warmth to snuggle against in his soft bed. For when she would cuddle up against him, wrapped within his limbs ever so delightfully, he would feel joy radiating from his heart. Those sweet nothings from earlier in the year soon turned into praises, delightful words of love that made Ramakox's heart soar, and threaten to beat out of his chest. It was then they had even started introducing the sea-foam dragoness slowly to the townsfolk of East Cliff, one by one.

Ramakox started her off with Fenix and some guards first. The wolven more then happy to smile and greet the dragoness with warmth and a friendly attitude. He had provided her with a list of questions that he and his guards had, and she was happy to answer them with fluttering frills and a large smile stretching from ear to ear as she spoke in her sweet singsong voice. After the guards they tried smaller groups of people, that way she was not bombarded by the whole town, and get her used to bigger groups of mortals. From all her little meetings, Fremra's favorite person in the town was Jandar's wrinkled grand-mother. The aging woman having had baked her a loaf of bread in the shape of the dragoness' body. Fremra had been so happy that her voice cracked as she sang the woman's praises with fluttering wings. Ramakox had simply watched and smile at every interaction that she had, and delighted in the fact that this dragoness was starting to become more and more cemented into his life.

So eventually the land thawed away, the snow disappearing before the dragon's eyes to reveal the green countryside below it. From the grass sprung flowers, animals that had slept, and the winds that signified spring. Birds were currently chirping away noisily as Ramakox stood proudly before his lair, the morning sun practically sparkling off his cerulean scales. He kneaded the stone with his claw as his eyes cast away the pleasing soft blue sky, the fluffy white clouds that floated in the air, and the vast green quilt of the forest. They instead fell to the worn road leading out of town, the one that Jandar would be coming down like he always did.

“You look like an expectant mother awaiting her hatchlings to well...hatch.” Fremra chuckled, taking a seat beside him, and curling her tail around him gently as she started to lick her forepaws. “It's pawsitively adorable.”

Ramakox turned to see that she had a sly silly smile on her snout as she continued to work around her fine scales with her long pink tongue, like she was the most clever thing on the entire planet. “N-now that might be true..but..Nice pun there....” He snorted, gesturing to her paws as she giggled in delight. “How can I not be?” He turned back to the road, to the exact spot on the horizon that he would first see his mortal. He felt a small tingling sensation in his chest, that spread forth and filled the rest of his body with excitement. He could hardly contain it as he fidgeted in place with a flick of his tail on the hard stone. “Each year he brings stories, more adventures, treasure, and knowledge of people he has helped in my good name.”

“Plus you like him hanging around for the time he is here.” Fremra rumbled, shifting her careful licks to the other forelimb.

“Well..There is that too.” He rumbled from his throat, as he flicked his tail softly. He took a deep breath as a breeze washed over him, tickling his membranes and having him shift them behind his back once more.

“Are you going to stand there all day? Or are you going to go out and fly?” the playful dragoness rolled over to him, stopping at his paws on her back. She smacked his forelimb with one of her own with a infectious grin. “Honestly you should stay up here.” She laid her head back down onto the stone as she let out a pleased rumble from her throat. “The warmth is sooooo inviting.” she groaned, her claws grasping at the air as she tail wiggled against the grey stone.

Ramakox looked away from the dragoness, part of him wishing to stay right here with her, and nestle up beside her with a rumble. It got even harder when her playful wiggling, and her feelings of delight creept their way under his armored hide. He closed his eyes briefly, imagining her heat pressed up against his scales, and making him rumble in approval. The thought occurred to him that they might even get time for a session of lovemaking, complete with him knotting her. He sighed as he pictured her wet hole, and the sensation of her folds rippling over his pulsating maleness like it had done so many times before. No...Focus....Jandar. His mind snapped him from his arousing thoughts, grumbling in the back of his throat. He pushed the lusty images of the dragoness down, while dragging a talon across the stone beneath him. There is always time for that later after all.

“When he shows up on the horizon.” the dragon pointed to the section of the road where it's brown touched the blue of the sky. “Than I will fly out to meet him.”

“Well, you should move around more Rammy. You look like a statue standing still like that.” Fremra sighed, batting her limbs against the air again as she wiggles once more. She than opened her maw wide and let out a loud laugh. “Are you sure you don't wish to join me?” She rose her head with a mischievous grin plastered on her snout. “We could even preform lewd things on one another.”

“The thought occurred to my my sea lilly.” he grumbled, his nickname for her rolling off the tongue easily. His tail flicked behind him in irritation at his decision to not stay here and mate the clearly willing dragoness.

“Awwww.” she groaned loudly, throwing her limbs into the air dramatically.

“We can mate later, when I am not thinking of my mortal's arrival.” He snorted, causing her to let out a pleased trill.

“Well at least we can have some fun today. Although....Won't little Jandar be surprised.” Fremra pressed her snout against his, a small purr rumbling it's way from her throat as she did so. “That I am now living with you...Probably be pleased you have company all the time.”

“He was never concerned too much about my loneliness.” Ramakox wiggled his talons at the unsureness of that statement. He honestly did not know what the man had thought about it, never taking an interest that much of Jandar's feelings concerning himself. How could he not? His mind whispered to him as he spread his wings and gave them a mighty test flap in the air, creating a small gust of wind. Ramakox wrinkled his snout as his eyes drifted to the bright blue sky. Surely he will be happy that I have found a dragoness to share the lonely times, to bring meaning to the other times, and retire from the weariness of the day.

Right before he was going to settle back down and refold his wings, something caught his eyes. On the distant horizon came the large royal blue covered wagon that signified the coming caravan of various travelers, merchants, and most likely some adventurers mixed into the bunch. It was also the caravan that Jandar, always was a part of when he made his trips home. His silver eyes were instantly drawn to the top of the wagon, knowing it bore a large dragon bust in his image, a grin formed onto his snout. He gave Fremra a quick affectionate nuzzle around the neck, before bounding into the air with quickened breath and anticipation rising in his chest like the sea.

“Be careful!” she shouted, her tail flicking behind her as she righted herself onto her belly.

“You don't wish to come?” he asked, entering a hover with several beats of his wings. He tilted his head to the side as he watched her start to stretch like a cat, arcing her back and rising her flank into the air.

“Large crowds....Aggg.” she gave a tongue curling yawn as she pushed out her forepaws. “You go meet your mortal. I will be waiting here for you two.” She waved to him as she settled back down with another flick of her tail. “Don't worry that spined head of yours.” she grinned at him, starting to clean herself once again. “I will be fine, I won't destroy the place...” She shrugged, shooting him a another grin. “Well...at least the entire place.” she chuckled, her tongue returning to her scales as she started to hum and tap her tail in tune.

“Then I will be careful.” he smiled, turning back towards the caravan with the next beat of his wings. “And you better not destroy things in there! Or I will have to punish you for it!”

“Promises, promises!” she shouted back in a singsong voice, not looking up from her delicate work on her scales.

He pulled his mind from her with a pleased croon, his eyes returning once more to the collection of wooden wagons that carried the mortal he sought. He rose through the air with grace, his tail swinging behind him as he climbed ever higher with each beat of his mighty wings. He took in a breath of the cool air, delighting in the rushing air battering against his snout. However nice it felt to be in the sky, the sun's rays on his back, the delightful feeling of the air brushing his scales, and the joy pounding in his heart. None of it compared to the excitement that was quickly overtaking his senses with each beat of his wings towards that caravan.

He remembered that despite having some gryphon friends who could fly the man back sooner, the human had always opted to use the caravan instead. Something about it being nice to observe the scenery, and not cheating by flying there.

The dragon's wings carried him swiftly over the mountains of sturdy stone, rising up from the earth like dragon teeth to eat at the sky. The vast viridian forests below that were broken up by the bright sapphire rivers, passed quickly enough below his wings. All of this belongs to me. The thought made him smile as he picked up the pace, taking note that he was far closer than he had been before. Time seemed to have warped around him, making the trip seem all the while shorter. The anticipation lurking inside of him now was almost close to bursting through his scales, filling his limbs with a tingling sensation that made him want to let out a loud trill, as his heart began to beat faster and faster.

He had never been this excited to see Jandar after so long before. He wondered for a moment why that was, but the answer was obvious with the next flap of his wings against the spring air. He knew deep within his very scales that it was because of Fremra, and the soothing fire that she was against the cool night wind. He spread his wings to enter a glide as he slowly started his descent towards the caravan or mortals that contained his son.

Ramakox already planned it in his mind as he neared the collection of wooden wagons. He would swoop around the caravan like he usually did, give off a loud roar of welcome to his son and all the new guests to his territory. He would then walk the collection of stunned mortals to East Cliff. During this time he would get a chance to talk to the mortal that he cared about most, and the others would get a chance to admire the great Swirling Storm before their eyes. He grinned as he imagined all their stunned faces, mouths agape as he landed before them with a gust of wind and flaring his wings wide. It made a rumble escape from his throat as he pictured himself having to fight off numerous questions from the joyous mortals before setting his attention to his mortal. Hell he might even let the man ride on his neck, while the smiling man regaled him with stories of the past year.

Jandar would tell him of the adventures that he had, the close calls,and the wondrous things that he had seen. All of the tales building upon the greatness of the mighty Swirling Storm. I can't wait. He snorted, stretching out his limbs as he neared the collection of gathered mortals. He spied several of them riding horses with light brown fur, or dire wolves of dark grey. The mortals riding them pointed out with their arms as he passed by overhead with a grin. He let out his roar of greeting, a joyous thing that all should rejoice in. It tickled his scales when he heard a collection of cheers, gasps, and clapping from several of the mortals below.

The blue dragon back winged a far distance from the mortals watching him intently. So when he scattered up loose dirt and rocks it did not go out and strike the mortals he was trying to impress. He settled onto his paws as he refolded his wings against his back, striding out from the dust cloud he had risen with his landing. He flared out his wings when he had emerged from the lingering brown cloud, practically singing when he heard more shouts of praise about his wings and membranes. 'Greetings mortals!” Ramakox spoke with a loud brassy voice as he once more reset his wings against his armored back, and strode over to them with a swelled out chest. “I am the Mighty Swirling Storm...The protector of these lands.” he smiled as a rider in leather armor smiled at him and crossed their arms. “I am looking for the one called Jandar among you.” he stopped with a flick of his tail as faces not walking along the wooden wagons peered out from behind boxes and other various goods to get a good look of the blue dragon before them. His heart skipped a beat when from the sea of mortal faces, he saw the blue scales of his son.

Joy sprang to his chest as he bound to the human he loved, nearly borrowing over several guards with his large frame. The dragon gave a great big warm smile as the mortal wearing dark teal robes stepped out into the shining sun. The first thing that Ramakox noticed however was the quite obvious to the eye. “You have a tail!” the dragon gasped, pointing to the wiggling appendage attached to the mortals backside. “Since when do you have a tail?”

“Good to see you too.” Jandar laughed, “I missed you as well.”

“Oh..Of course that as well.” Ramakox snapped his snout shut, kneading his claws against the dirt. He felt the half-dragon human give his forelimb a quick hug, pressing it firmly to his chest. It caused the older dragon to lower his snout and offer him a quick nuzzle with closed eyes. “I missed you much little one.” he rumbled truthfully from his throat, resisting the urge to pick the human up and twirl him around in a great big hug. Can't do that. He reminded himself with a flick of his tail. Have to maintain the old dragonic dignity, one nuzzle should be enough to get the point across.

“Well, let's carry on!” on the guards shouted out to the others, waving to the collection of mortals to keep walking along the road. There was a series of groans, as several people returned to their cards with disappointed faces or muzzles. It made the dragon snort in delight at such sounds.

“So what tales are to be told now?” Ramakox asked, lowering himself closer to the ground for his human to climb up onto his back. “What adventure did my Jandar get up to? What treasure did he win?” He gestured to his back with an arch of his neck and drummed his talons on the ground. He resisted the thought to just pick up the human and plopping him onto his back for his hesitation.

“There is certainly all of that.” Jandar laughed, with a large smile on his scaled face. “Wait till you hear about our time in Rothdell, it is such a fantastic place!” the man's spirit seemed to soar as he was imagining the place. “But first, I have some news to share with you.” the human clasped his claws together tightly with a smack as he spun around in a single foot. He gestured to the collection of mortals with a smile and outstretched arms.

The dragon followed the mortal's arms with his eyes, the man apparently not gesturing to all of the caravan like the dragon had first thought. It seemed Jandar was gesturing to one person in particular, it was an olive skinned human female with shoulder length soft almond hair. She looked to his blue scales with her kind apricot eyes, as she held her hands together against her plain brown traveling clothes. She seemed to be anxiously waiting for something, if her happy face and fidgeting were any indication to his eyes.

“I am getting married.” Jandar smiled proudly, crossing his arms across his chest.

“You're getting what?” Ramakox gasped, pulling his neck back into the shape of an S in surprise. He snapped his snout to look at the proud human, and tilting his head to the side. “Married?”

“Yes married you blue thing...to that woman over there.”

The blue dragon returned his attention to the smiling woman, who waved to him as the other mortals started to shuffle passed them, following the caravans departure towards east cliff.

*

“So what is your name my dear?” Ramakox asked as Jandar and the woman climbed up onto his back with hardly a fuss. It seemed like she knew a thing or two about mounting creatures larger than herself. She did so with a large smile on her face.

“Names Imzel Dyernina.” She said proudly with a smirk as the wind made her simple brown clothes flutter in the wind. “Nice to finally meet ya Mr. Storm.”

“It's the Swirling Storm.” Ramakox said with a snort, and flick of his tail. “Only Jandar can call me storm.”

“Oh!” she quickly replied, her face starting to grow a slight shade of crimson as she looked to Jandar.

“Don't worry, dragons use titles for mortals. Once you've grown on him, you'll get his name. You will also learn he is not this un feeling thing. He actually is a big softy inside.” Jandar chuckled, patting his scales.

“Don't go ruining my appearance to the girl.” the blue wrinkled his snout. “My scales are quite armored.”

“Okay, well it's nice to meet ya Swirling Storm, Jandar tells me all so much about you.” She settled into place with her scales on his neck. “Only the nicest things of course. Its really an honor to meet you.”

“The feeling is returned Imzel.” Ramakox rumbled as he caught the departing wagons with a trot, causing some guards to look to him and chatter something about his large size. “ Not every day you meet someone who is marrying Jandar here. So of course I have to ask...How did you two meet?”

Imzel explained that she had met Jandar while on a trip to her town almost two years back, smiling that the handsome blue scaled human had saved her brother with the help of his friends.

Ramakox had chuckled at the story, for it was yet another thing to add to the growing list of deeds that Jandar had done in his name. Imzel explained with red faced glances to Jandar that the man had won her heart after several more journeys together, describing romantic situations where the human had held her tight, and whispered most pleasing words that made her heart melt upon hearing them. The dragon turned to Jandar as the woman continued on talking about his praises, each one music to the dragon's proud head that made his chest swell with pride.

When they neared East Cliff the dragon lowered himself for the pair, gesturing to his scales back as he rumbled his approval. He delighted with the woman's pleasurable screams of delight as they bounded into his domain. Her sounds of intense joy made blood rush to his cheeks as each one brought such delight to his mind. It was then Jandar's turn to ask questions as they passed over the rivers around his home. The man's voice of genuine interest was mixed with a coy smile as Ramakox had looked to him with a grin. He had a feeling under his scales that the human knew something beneath those amused eyes.

With a loud cheerful voice, Ramakox spoke of the teal dragoness that had graced his life for the past year. The one that had filled his heart with such warmth and affection that it made him want to sing her praises to the very heavens. When the human chuckled at his words, Ramakox snorted in reply and told the human how the pair had met. He spoke of her odd interesting behavior, each detailed description on how she had driven him crazy at first. Each word that passed through his maw seemed to make the human's grin grow ever larger with each passing moment of the dragon's tale. Finally he got to the point of his tale where he spoke of how she was now living with him,and filling his days with cheer.

Jandar's smug smile disappeared as he gasped in surprise. He stroked the dragon's smooth scales affectionately. The human then asked him if she was now his mate, to which Ramakox rumbled his amusement at the thought. Although his mind lingered on the idea, fondly imagining little wrymlings of his own racing around his paws. It was not too far of a stretch to see himself as a parent after all, he had practically raised Jandar himself. With their quick words exchanged the dragon angled his wings and brought them down towards his lair, offering another roar of greeting, this time to the dragoness he loved. He smiled when he spied her form laying around a roaring fire outside the mouth of the cave, raising her own scaled neck and returning the greeting with a roar of her own.

*

“So you two are doing well.” Jandar asked after biting into a piece of a roasted stag that Fremra had caught while the group had been on their way back to the mountain lair. They had all taken spots around the fire, the sun's rays just beginning to vanish, leaving the sky a glowing warm orange, mixed with the encroaching blackness of night. If you looked, you could even start to see the twinkling stars starting to come out. The scaled human smiled as his eyes went to Imzel before ripping another chunk of the meat in his hand with his sharpened teeth, steam escaping from the flesh and curling slowly around his head.

“You could say that.” Fremra replied, starting to lick her paws slowly in time with the soft tapping of her tail on the stone as she hummed quietly to herself. “My nights have been most pleasing since being here. Especially since my sleep is no longer barren and cold.” She ceased her careful licks to smile warmly up at the blue dragon watching her intently.

Ramakox felt his chest start to grow warm at her affectionate gesture. It made his limbs tingle as he felt blood rush to his cheeks. He returned the smile, gazing deeply into her purple spheres.

“And you?” Jandar laughed. “I noticed you are not being your typical grumpy self. Which I have to admit is a VAST improvement.”

“I wasn't THAT grumpy.” Ramakox snapped back with a wrinkled nose and narrowed eyes. He turned back to Fremra when he heard the dragoness stifle a laugh with her paws. “Yes Fremra?” he asked as she hit her snout with one of wing membranes.

“Nothing Rammy...Nothing at..all.” He saw her paw on the ground twitch as she apparently was trying her hardest to fight off the laughter swirling around in her body. One that she was losing the battle to contain with each soft noise escaping her snout.

“Regardless.” The blue dragon snorted, returning his narrowed gaze to Jandar. “I wasn't THAT grumpy all the time.”

“AHAHAHAHAHAHA” Fremra fell over, bursting out in laughter as she clutched at her scales sides. “YOU WERE SO GRUMPY ALL THE TIME!” she cackled, as her tail thrashed behind her.

Ramakox just returned her laughter with a snort, and narrowed eyes once more. He rolled them away from the dragoness he cared about back towards the two grinning humans, ignoring Fremra's continuing laughter.

Imzel was pressed up against Jandar with her head resting comfortably on his shoulder, with a warm smile of content. The scaled human, had his arm wrapped around her side, and seemed to be holding her against himself.

“So are you going to tell me more about the journeys you have had?” Ramakox rumbled from his throat, “I would love to hear about how the past year has gone for you.” When the woman raised a brow at the request the dragon sighed, and drummed his talons softly onto the stone. “It's tradition you see, for Jandar here to return home and tell me about his adventures.”

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

“I see.” she nodded, turning to Jandar, who had stood up with wide arms and a smile on his face.

“Well..there was this one time..” the man moved his hands to his hips as he glanced up into the dragon's eyes. “That we were surrounded on all sides by displacer beasts.” Jandar paused and held up his hand. “Okay, long story, the short version is that they were killing a bunch of the wild life around this village, and we went out to get rid of the dangerous magical creatures....And our dwarven guide....I think her name was Merlia Gallogalar..” Jandar laughed again, holding up his other claw. “A loud mouthed woman with a mind of her own, led us to the beasts lair. When we arrived at the place in question we were in for a big surprise. What we thought was only two or three of the large beasts, ended up being a whole bloody pack of the things!”

Ramakox gasped at that claim. Displacer beasts were a rather annoying panther like creature that was the size of a horse. They had dense black fur with two large tentacle like appendages that ended with spines that they used for snaring prey. This however was not what made them dangerous, for it was their magical ability to project a fake copy of themselves to the real one. So it was fairly easy for ones sword, spell, or claws to simply meet empty air.

“So thanks to some crafty illusions of our own, and that blasted dwarve's enthusiasm. We were able to fend off those pesky things one by one. Now not saying it was easy mind you, they were snarling and lashing through every defense we had.” Jandar held up his left bicep and pulled up his shirt to reveal a section of his arm that had been scared over. “I got a nasty bite right here.” the human smiled with his eyes closed. “Made our cleric frightful it did.”

“Well..You're obviously fine now.” Ramakox replied calmly, trying to mask his concern for the man. “Trained you better then to be done away with by some weird twisted cat creature.” He looked away to complete his facade as his mind wandered to the other situations were the man had slipped through by the skin of his teeth. He sighed, trying to not imagine the other various ways that the human could get maimed or killed. But it's all for the good name. He told himself with his next worried breath. You trained him well...and he's obviously not dead.

“See there he is trying to mask his feelings again.” Fremra chuckled, having settled down from her laughter and sat upright before them with a grin. She started licking one of her paws again as she flicked her tail casually behind her. “You can see it by the way his wing fluttered when he spoke.”

“Fremra!” he snapped his snout to the dragoness, who stopped her insistent cleaning to offer him a sly grin and a pleased croon.

“It's okay..We all know that you care about my safety like a mother.” Jandar laughed, smiling up at the warm faced dragon.

Ramakox grumbled to himself as another series of chuckles rose up from his gathered company. He closed his eyes and pushed the irritation from his mind with another soothing breath. “So if we are sharing things now, I would like to know a little more about how you two met.” Ramakox opened his eyes and gestured to Jandar, and then Fremra with a wave of his forepaw. “How you managed to push a beautiful dragoness into my life.” he felt a pleased rumble rise up from his throat as his eyes fell to the dragoness' sea foam scales. He readjusted his wings when he felt his body tingle in the warm feeling of affection. “My Sea Lilly.”

“Oh thank you.” she purred, striding over to the blue dragon and settling down beside him. She wrapped her head around him and intertwined her tail with his own with a soft sigh. “You know how to say the most pleasing things at times.” she smiled, “Do go on with your words...My dearest Radiant Sapphire.....They make my heart flutter ever so wonderfully.”

“After I hear more about how you and Jandar met.” he nuzzled her affectionately, making her warble , and tremble in delight. Ramakox gave a pleased rumble, and smiled when he heard Imzel let out a loud. “Dawww. They are so adorable!”

“Honestly...though.” Jandar spoke up, smiling weakly as he leaned onto Imzel, and offered her a quick kiss to her reddening cheek. “We attacked a group of those red hand fellas that jumped us.” Jandar gestured to his scales and tail. “They seemed determined to think I was some sort of demotic hybrid, proof that dragons corrupt other's to their own version of the world.” The human rolled his draconic eyes.

“You're not a demon!” his fiance kissed his cheek back. “They are the monsters.”

“Agreed.” Fremra replied with a more aggressive tone that usual. Ramakox felt her tail pull tighter against his own as she closed her snout and gave a harsh snort.

“Well, we quickly dispatched them with sword and sorcery.” Jandar held up one of his claws and wiggled the digits. “And when we were done we found a most peculiar book. One that was of larger size and clearly made by dragons. For I could read the scratching, admire the doodles, and look at the paw prints that had clearly been dipped in ink.” Jandar sighed as he looked to Fremra, and gestured to her with an outstretched palm. “It was then that we found her, all huddled up alone in that cave we decided to spend the night in.

“I growled at him, and snarled.” the dragoness said softly. “I even threatened to kill all of you were you stood.”

“But that's when I took a leap of faith.” Jandar replied with just as soft of a voice. “I asked this clearly upset dragoness what was wrong. I had just wanted to understand what was the matter.” The human smiled as he folded his arms. “And woe and behold she had all her things destroyed by the very same group we had stood up to. Then it was with my great pleasure I returned her book...Storm you should have heard her trills of joy. I thought she was going to start proclaiming her undying love for me.”

“I almost did!” Fremra chuckled, “You were a little miracle given to me by the grace of Bahamut. It was like she herself sent you to return my most treasured item.” The dragoness sighed as she pressed herself up tenderly to Ramakox, and relaxed onto his scales. “Then he told me about the mighty Swirling Storm, and I knew it was a sign. I needed to go there if I wanted to be safe.

“Why thank you.” Ramakox rumbled his approval as he felt his cheeks once more feel like they had been soaked in the sun for far too long. He gave Fremra several warm affectionate licks across her snout, which caused the dragoness to release a soft pleased purr from her throat. “So that explains one curiosity of mine.” he grinned, as when he finished his licks Fremra wrapped her neck around his once again. “Now please tell me about this marriage of yours.”

“We're actually on our way northward to get the thing done.” Jandar chuckled, smiling once more to his beloved.

“It's when my village does them.” Imzel smiled. “When our leaders unite all the couples that flock there...It is a most joyous and intimate thing.”

“Which village?” Ramakox tilted his head in curiosity as he drummed his talons onto the stone with soft clinks.

“The village of Holbeck.” she replied without skipping a beat. “You just keep heading north for a few days by horse, it's right passed the town of Venzor..You know the one, the place were they have those large farms for the dire wolves.” The woman's hand went down to her stomach, and rubbed in circular motions with a smile. “And we wanted to get it done on account of..” She paused, warmly looking to Jandar. “Because I am also with his child.”

Ramakox felt his senses go numb for a moment as he tried to catch his brain that seemed to have entered free fall through a vast sky. “Y-you're going to be a father?” he asked, snapping his snout to look at Jandar in the eyes. The human's face that still had skin was starting to turn a bright crimson as he smiled.

Jandar nodded in response without words, the smile now dominating his face.

The blue dragon could not help it, he let loose a loud trill of his own as joy overfilled his heart. “That's fantastic!” he exclaimed, almost picking up the man and swinging him around like he was a doll. “That's absolutely wonderful!” he thumped his tail, keeping that outburst in check as the others giggled at his show of emotions. “Oh you can all just sit their and laugh all you want!” Ramakox smiled larger than he had ever done in his life. “My son is having his own offspring!” the dragon shouted, already his mind going to celebration. They would need some sort of drink, something to raise the spirits even more.

“Woah.” Jandar gasped in surprise, looking to Ramakox with a tilted head, making the dragon almost think that he was taking after him,. “Y-you called me your son.”

The blue dragon sat down gently before him. The realization sinking into him too, that no matter how often he had considered the human his son, he had never told him that. He only hesitated for a moment, before lowering his snout to nuzzle him most affectionately. “I have considered it so for many seasons now Jandar.” he let out rumbling from his throat as the human caressed the sides of his face with his warm claws.

“It means a lot.” the human laughed, as Ramakox pressed his snout to his chest.

“Of course it does little one! I have watched you grow so much!.” He pulled back his head and could not help letting out another loud trill into the air, as Fremra offered her own congratulations to Imzel. The dragoness quickly questioned her about the child's name, how long she had been carrying, and if she knew the gender of the child.

The answers that came from the woman's mouth flowed like the river as she could not stop smiling. She had not picked the child's name, she was four months pregnant, and did not want to know the child's gender.

Ramakox perked up at her answers, figuring the last one was for the best. He also liked the idea of the offspring being a surprise for the expectant parents, besides what did it matter in the long run of things anyway? “Come on, lets go find some spirits.” Ramakox rumbled as he returned his attention to his human. He pulled him along with any resistance towards his cave, and guiding him with a wing towards the treasure.

“This place always seems to get more and more resplendent with each of my visits.” Jandar smiled, his face still red from the previous conversation. “Always something new to see.” the man gestured to a large statue of the blue dragon crafted out of pristine granite.

“Oh that.” Ramakox chuckled in the back of his throat as they admired his likeness frozen in the stone. “Gift from the town of Rayleth, for that problem with the....the...” the blue dragon wrinkled his snout as he drummed his talons against the floor, trying to pull the memory from the depths of his mind. “The....uh..” he narrowed his eyes at the statue's chin as he struggled. “Ah yes!” the he smiled as he pulled the memory finally. “Those loose constructs!” he turned to the man with a smile, remembering the tale at how a bunch of towering flesh golems had been loosed on that said town, and thanks to some crafty traps and smart thinking, the mortals had been victorious as they always where. They had even saved the local lord's daughter, and thus the reason for the statue's creation was born.

“Come on, as good as I look in stone.” Ramakox smirked at the statue, letting out a pleased rumble from his throat. “It is not the reason why we are in here.” he wrapped a wing around the man and guided him passed the statue. It became apparent as they came closer to mounds of coins that Jandar still had a red face,and by the way he was carrying himself looked to be nervous about something. “What seems to be the problem?” he asked almost instantly the thought came to him.

“Nothing...nothing really.” Jandar rubbed the back of his neck. “I thought you might be a little upset about the whole kid thing....I'm honestly happy you're thrilled around it.”

“Why would I be upset about it?” Ramakox snorted, raising a brow as he wrinkled his snout. He stopped in his tracks to curl his body around his son, his wings resettling onto his back as he did so. He lowered his snout to look into those worry filled spheres, and offered him a face of warmth and comfort. “Why would I be upset for my son at such joyous news?” he asked, excitement building in his voice with each word. “You're going to be a father!”

“Well...” Jandar fidgeted with a weak laugh. “I thought since you'd realize that I would not be free to go out and spread your name anymore.....We were going to settle down near her village.” We already had a place picked out and everything.”

Ramakox froze at the words coming from his human's mouth. It had not occurred to him until that moment, he had been too swept up in the joyous news that filled him with warmth. At first his mind rebelled at the notion of Jandar settling down. How could he do that? After all the time I had spent training and readying him for that task? It was his job to spread my name! The blue wrinkled his snout as he looked away from the human, his mind still trying to make sense of what he had been told. He desires a life. His mind scolded him as he thought to the years spent with the human. You said he was your son, so treat him as such, not as a pawn in some great plan. Ramakox let out a long drawn out sigh as he shrugged his shoulders. “I...am not angry.” he replied with a tap of his tail on the floor. “You deserve to be happy Jandar.” he felt his heart start to ache, as if it were starting to be stretched in two different directions at once. “You are my son, and you should be able to be happy...You don't need to help spread my name any longer...Besides...Look around.” the blue dragon swept around the vast treasure room with a sweep of his paws. “I have all of this and more to come thanks to you.” He wrapped a forelimb around his human and pulled him close against his dark blue scales.

“T-thanks.” Jandar replied softly, pressing his head against the dark blue scales with sigh. “I was stupid for being nervous.”

“That goes without saying.” the dragon rumbled, causing his human to laugh within his grip. Ramakox continued the hug for a minute or two, enjoying the closeness and warmth that his mortal was providing him with the affectionate embrace. With a low rumble he let go of Jandar, and dropped to all fours again. “Well...enough of that I think.”he said, his voice adopting it's usual gruff tone.

“Ah yes, that way we can picture that Rammy has little to no emotions.” Jandar laughed with a coy grin, crossing his arms.

“Oh don't you start that too. Fremra already picks at my scales for it.” the dragon spun around with a snort. “And don't call me that...Only she does that....you can call me..”

“Dad?” Jandar quickly added with a giggle that caused the dragon to groan lightly.

“I suppose if you wanted too..”

“That's alright Ramakox....Let it just be a formality between us....I'll always see you as that stern, brooding, mostly grumpy dragon anyway.”

“Hey.” he turned back from his walking to narrow his eyes at the amused human. “I am still a dragon, I'd watch what you say.”

“Or you will snuggle me to death? We both know I have been here far too often. Under your wings enough to know that you wouldn't do anything to me.”

“Ah yes, but I could snatch you up and go flying with you. I think it would be adorable to show your new fiance how loud you can scream no?” he looked away as he put a claw to his chest, loving that Jandar gasped loudly at his proclamation.

“You...Wouldn't...Dare.” the human exclaimed with a hushed whisper, picking up his stride until he was beside the dragon. “Say you wouldn't Ramakox.”

“I think she would get a great laugh out of it.” the dragon mused, imagining the woman that loved Jandar gasping for breath as she clutched her sides in laughter. “Almost piss her self at the sight of you howling like a banshee.” Ramakox grinned, flashing his teeth to Jandar.

“Yea? If you try it I will have you bound faster then you can say wrong move.”

“Is that so?” Ramakox spun around playfully, opening his maw and letting electricity dance around his pearly whites, that cast a faint glow to the surrounding coins.

“Yeah!” Jandar jumped back, his hands already starting to glow a vibrant orange as he glanced at the teasing dragon.

“Fine fine.” Ramakox chuckled, closing his mouth quickly, and spinning around once again. His tail passed close enough to Jandar's head to brush his remaining hair. “Come on then, do keep up...I know I have this drink somewhere.” Ramakox snorted, his eyes scanning the treasure for the old worn chest with the symbol of a sheep with wings. He knew it was a strange symbol,but it belonged to the noble house called Chergoba , who had very pleasant spirits.

He knew the drink he was looking for had a fruity flavor floor, something he was not ashamed to admit in the slightest.

“Another thing that was bugging me about it.” Jandar suddenly spoke as Ramakox eyes settled onto a chest full of silver goblets given to him by a group of passing merchants.

“And what would that be?” the dragon wrinkled his snout as he passed the chest back, irritation lingering in his mind. Certainly time to organize everything again in embarrassing. To not be able to find it....Perhaps I drank it?...No...I couldn't have.

“That she got pregnant at all...Came as a surprise.”

“How could it have been a surprise?” Ramakox chuckled as he remembered human's could breed at any time of the year. “I thought we had this talk when you were thirteen.” he turned back back with a grin, teasing the human he cared for. “Of had you forgotten? Well you see when two people really want to have some fun....”

“N-No, not that!” laughed Jandar loudly, his voice carrying through the cavern. “You see...We were careful, were even using bitterweed.”

“Bitterweed?” Ramakox raised brow, he never had heard of such a plant before.

“Yes...It's used to stop consumation in mortals if brewed correctly into a potion...Which is what we were doing.”

“Are you so arrogant that you believe you could not have made a mistake?” the dragon turned his attention to a suit armor, the one that Jandar had knocked over as a child. He gave a pleased rumble when he spotted the symbol of what they were looking for painted onto an worn dark brown wooden box half buried in golden coins. Ramakox took a breath and released a snort as he began to stride towards the box with a strut in his step.

“Well..no...I know I can make a mistake storm...It's just that we were being super careful. I was sure to check each time, and we made sure that she took it...It should have worked.”

The blue dragon grabbed the box with one of his claws as they came to it. His human's dilema interesting him as he gave Jandar a sigh. “What do you think happened then? Don't forget the story of Zeorvuth, always-”

“Expect the unexpected.” Jandar sighed, “I know all the storied you told me...The only creatures that ignore bitterweed are dragons.”

Ramakox felt his blood ice over at that mention, memories surfacing and bringing a pang of guilt to his heart. The Ritual. “Perhaps your little dragon infusion gave you our virility.” Ramakox chuckled, “Clearly you have strong essence.”

“Ok okay, the is no way I am having that conversation with you.” Jandar chuckled, padding his way over to the box of spirits and tapping it with a finger. “Ah this the stuff eh? A bit fruity don't you think?” the scaled human raised a brow and gave the dragon a teasing smile that made the dragon roll his eyes.

“Nice topic change , Like I was going to ask a question about your cock.” Ramakox snaked his snout towards the box, giving the wooden planks a sniff. He could still smell trace of that gryphonberry plants that resided near their plantation, or so he was told. “And you can cease your teasing.” the dragon grumbled with a snort. “I rather like the fruity flavor, it also makes my maw feel all bubbly.”

“Ah yes, the things dragon's say to make people think they are big softies.” Jandar chuckled, flicking his finger with a smirk. The heavy box buried in the coins suddenly levitated up several feet off the ground, seemingly lifted by nothing. Ramakox looked to Jandar, the man had a blue claw extended with his eyes intently focused on the hovering crate of wood. “Ah yes, a levitate spell...Seems you've mastered it” the dragon cooed, pride swelling in his chest and making his wings all tingly.

“Don't mess up now, just take a break of concentration and crack.” The blue dragon slowly followed the human, creeping up on his tense body.

“Ramakox I swear if you make me loose concentration, you understand I will break all your precious booze right?”

The blue dragon wrinkled his snout, he of course had forgotten about that. He pulled his snout away and proceeded to walk casually with his human back towards the entrance to his cave.

“Don't you think this is a bit much?” Jandar laughed, “I don't think even I could drink this much booze..And I've had practice!”

“Drink a lot did you?” the dragon chuckled, imaging his human's face bright red as he sang some sort of drinking song, or danced on the long wooden tables that frequented taverns and the like. “I had not idea that my son was a drunkard.....and the amount?” He arched his head to offer the human a sly grin. “You do realize that there are two adult dragons out there? This amount of drink will hardly get us tipsy!”

“Hah? You tipsy? I would kill to see that...Course it will be funny to see Imzel drunk as well.”

“What about her being pregnant?” Ramakox gasped, “Isn't that terrible for the-”

“Don't worry about it.” Jandar waved to him dismissively at him. “We've been working on a spell for that. Should eliminate the alcohol in the drink for her, but she will still feel the effects of a buzz.

“Some nifty enchantment eh? That certainly sounds like a good one. Certainly lets the girl in the good cheer....That was clever thinking...I'm proud of you...”

“I know..for..” Jandar chuckled softly, his eyes not leaving the crate.

“Not just for that...For everything you do.” Ramakox said softly, trying to show the human he cared.

“Hey..Don't go soft on me.” the human smiled, “Going to put a damper on that Mighty Swirling Storm bit I tell everyone.”

“I'm..Trying to show.” he wrinkled his snout, narrowing his eyes. Irritation start to swirl beneath his scales.

“I know Storm.” Jandar added, instantly pushing those feelings the dragon had stirring. “It...It means a lot to hear you say them.”

“Then you are most welcome.” Ramakox rumbled, a fire suddenly spreading from his heart as he smiled wide. “We can now go back to discussing your transformation.” He raised a brow, “Have you actually changed down there to be a dragon?” He laughed, his eyes gesturing to the man's trousers.

Jandar just rolled his eyes as his cheeks grew red at the mention of his maleness, “If you must know, and mind you...It's to get you to stop talking about it...Yes.” The man sighed, kicking some coins as he passed a large mound of the glittering treasure with his boot. “Been quite some time since I had the standard human package as it were..Balls up and disappeared inside me one day...Got nothing but a slit and internals now.” The flustered man just laughed weakly, hand not leaving the box he was continuing to levitate. “Was quite the shock when I woke up one day, and poof no more meat and grapes to grace my eyes. Should have heard me scream that morning, our cleric swore I broke every window in that place....and at least three miles away.” Jandar carefully avoided a goblet laying on it's side. “Won't let me live the damn thing down. Always seemed to bring it up at every tavern when enough mead had graced his lips. “Says I have the voice of a bloody angel.”

“Ah but I knew that when I plucked you from the earth and brought you to the sky.” the blue dragon smirked, picturing his human held within his arms when he was but a small child. “I have heard opera has little words in it and sort of sounds like the shouts you make. Perhaps as you are settled down you should find a local theater to preform in and make some coin? They could certainly use your....unique talent.”

Jandar held in a laugh with a crimson face. “Great...next thing you will be telling me is that I had a throat for it.”

“I would never!” Ramakox held a claw to his chest with a snort. “Would be far too easy to make dick jokes at your expense....You know...about cocks sliding down your gullet.”

“I know!” the human snapped back with a laugh. “You don't need to talk to me about dick swallowing Ramakox...Or is a subject that you are particularly well versed in?”

“Nice little come back.” the blue dragon flicked his tail as he snorted at the humans clever rebuttal.” But what if I had? What if I experimented back in my youth?” The blue dragon looked away in a dramatic fashion that he had seen Fremra do many times when she would tease him. “Swallowed a dragon's spear or moved my tail aside so that he could mount me like female? Would you still make your little jokes then?”

“I would!” Jandar roared, the box quivering as he clutched his side in laughter. With a quick stifled laugh and eyes wide, the human held his hand out once more before he box could drop to the ground below.”Because you seem to be insisting on ways to make this lewd!”

“I am not...Now mind your tongue about it.” Ramakox snorted, dragging a talon across the stone with a loud scrape. He gestured to Fremra when the vibrant teal dragoness came into view with the Imzel laughing away. The teal dragon had pressed herself up against the red faced human, he claw rubbing the human's stomach gently with her frills fluttering softly.

“Oh you two are back.” Imzel smiled, looking up as they neared the fire with their next careful steps and paws. “Got the enchantment I take it?” she asked as Fremra continued to caress her stomach only the care of a previous mother could do. “Can't wait to have some of the spirits, feels like ages since I had a good drink grace these lips of mine.”

“Wait what about the...” Fremra shot her a concerned look, but Ramakox eased her mind as he told her Jandar's plans with the enchantment spell. He watched as her concerned look melted away, and smiled at him warmly, making him almost want to trill at the way the sensations made his wings tickle.

“Oooooo!” she exclaimed when her purple spheres fell onto the crate, “You had Chergoba's stock? They were always my favorite! She shout out with a loud croon, tapping her tail in delight.

“And yet another thing you two share in common.” Jandar laughed, as he crossed his arms the moment the crate gentle landed onto the stone before him. The thing hardly made a noise as the wood was pressed firmly against the hard stone. “Good thing that I am such an expert matchmaker huh?”The man turned around to Ramakox with a smug grin plastered on his scaled face.

The boy's look got under the dragon's scales as he moved based him with a firm shake of his clinking scales and a snort escaping his flared nostrils. “Oh shush your snout.”

The human said nothing but started to chuckle at the dragon's display. Crossing his arms and giving him a coy smile, that made it ever hard to not snort air at him.

“Didn't need your help.” The dragon grasped the wooden plank of the crate firmly in his firm claw. He gripped the wood tightly, before with a loud resounding crack, the material gave way and the crate was ripped open. He tossed the now lid of the box to the side, it clattering onto the rock as he flared his nostrils and took in the alluring smell wafting up from the container and making his scales shiver in delight. “There we are.” he groaned, tongue almost lolling out of his mouth as he pulled out four large casks with the sloshing liquid inside. Each sound of the spirits splattering the wood inside made the blue dragon lip his in anticipation, his tongue already tasting the divine tasting alcohol. He sat down onto his launches as he took another waft of the air, his tail twitching behind him.

“There he is...Trying to hide his, excited yet again.” Fremra laughed in her singsong voice, “We best be careful lest he get really excited.”

“Oh my Sea Lilly. If I ever truly got excited, you would certainly be able to smell or even see my excitement. Some of you might be impressed!”

“Hey!” Jandar exclaimed, pointing a finger harshly as the sea foam dragoness who just laughed and fell to her side.

“That's why I said some of you.” the blue dragon smiled. “I was already not counting your anticipation of seeing my growing maleness.” Ramakox then settled onto his hinds with a dull thud as he let his tail fail roughly to the floor.

“Storm...That's my fiance.” the human stated flatly, his mouth threatening to stay open as the dragon chuckled all the time.

“I know that.” Ramakox waved to the human with a snort, and drumming of his talons on the floor. He lowered his snout towards the darkened brown liquid, taking the alluring scent of berries into his nose. He happily opened his mouth,once more letting his tongue fall out and dangle off the side of his maw.

“Are you certain you won't be cresting from your sheath?” Fremra laughed, gesturing to his deep breaths. “ I have not seen you so pleased as you do sniffing those spirits. Hell I don't even think you looked that way while enjoying me.”

“I know what it is Fremra.” he smiled, closing his eyes and letting the smell envelop him in it's scent and remind him of the bright future ahead of them. He looked down when he heard the dull clinks of wood, spotting that his son had grabbed two wooden tankards, that had been inside the crate that the blue dragon had not seen.

Jandar filled up his first tankard with the red liquid. It sploshed and splattered inside of it's wooden confines. The mag swirled his hand around the liquid, sections of the concoction following along with his moments, With a smile the human handed Imzel the divine tasting liquid,and delighting when she gulped it down without a question or concern. “

With the female had been given first dibs, Ramakox found he and Fremra going to the same keg to savor their meal of sweet tasting drink. The blue dragon laughed up a slight growl, betraying his calmness at the situation. “Here.” he gestured to the open box of spirits

“How pleasing of you.” the blue teal dragoness chuckled, sliding beside him, his tail curling around her most affectionately. “Thanks Rammy.” she smiled, nuzzling under his chin with her snout, causing the armored dragon to rumble his approval and close his eyes softly from the warm affection.

The blue dragon offered her first dip into the keg of dark liquid, that was already bubbling at the surface. He felt his maw begin to salivate in anticipation as she savored the alluring, fruity smell in the air that seemed to stick to his senses like glue. He fidgeted slightly as her tongue snaked out and sampled the surface, lapping some up some of the delightful drink.

“Mmmmm.” she rumbled, closing her eyes in delight as she began to purr. “Delightful as always.” she rose her snout, snapping several times to collect as small droplets dripped down from her jaws to the stone below.

Ramakox resisted the urge to plunk his horned head down and slurp as much as he could, and instead copied the way that the dragoness had carefully lapped. He licked the surface with the broad side of his tapered tongue, the fruit flavor of cherries mixed with apples and strawberries danced on his tongue and made his scales shiver as he gulped it down. He smiled to himself as the other thing that he loved about this drink was it worked just as well on dragon's as it did mortals. He was reminded of this fact as his face started to feel warm, and a slight fuzziness that appeared ever so lightly in the back of his head. “Yes...Very good.” he grumbled after slurping his snout away from any dripping spirits as he rose his neck into the shape of an S. “Now Jandar...Why are your friends not here to celebrate the good occasion such as this?” He turned to the mortal,imagining his friends possibly shunning or abandoning his mortal.

How dare they...Might have to find them and give them a nice long chat about manners...Thankfully he was not left in suspense for long as Jandar finished off what was in his mug with a gasp and a loud chest pounding burp.

“Don't worry bout that Storm, they didn't abandon me..And don't say you didn't think that...I can see it in the way you're looking at me.” the man smirked up at him, eyes already starting to glaze over from the delightful drink.

Am I that easy to read? Ramakox wrinkled his snout as Fremra took another sip from the keg, and Jandar let out another loud burp into the air. This time the human ended it with a chuckle and wipe of his lips on his sleeve.

“They are waiting for us in the village of course! Twas my idea to come get you for the ceremony.” Jandar smiled up at him, nearly ear to ear at this point. “Figured you could be my best man...Er dragon I suppose the case is.” the man gestured to Ramakox's chest, who rose a paw and placed it on his scales.

“You want me to go to this thing? And be this...Best dragon?” the blue released a throaty purr as he liked that title. Best dragon indeed.

“Of course he does!” Imzel smiled, “Couldn't think of anyone better in the whole wide world right?” she nudged Jandar with her elbow, as she took a sip from her own drink.

“No...No I could not.” the man smiled, refilling his cup at the flask, sighing with closed eyes. “You know...this drink does smell really good.”

“See?” the blue dragon snorted with a grin. “And you decided to poke fun at the old dragon. Almost as if you never learned any manners at all. Especially if one if in said dragon's home.”

“I'll try to keep that in mind.” Jandar chuckled, swishing the drink in his mug before bringing it to his lips and giving a loud slurp as he once more tasted the intoxicating concoction.

“Course...Now that your drink is refilled.” Ramakox dunked his head back down to slurp once more of the bubbling drink, swallowing it down with a pleased rumble. He leaned up against Fremra, and flashed the human a smile. “Tell us another one of your stories...Make it one of the good ones.”

“Course I will.” the human tossed him a wink as he stood up, raising his arms wide. “Just like the ones you used to tell me when I was a boy.” The next tale that he told was filled with excitement practically leaking from the human's snout as he prided himself with every word. Ramakox watched him go on and on with glee as he described in detail their adventure, one such time about how they had looted an ancient tomb. The human held up a small ring on his finger of polished brass that had small runes in the shape of flames carved into the surface. Jandar had been awfully proud of it as he took another sip and continued with his tale. This one seemingly containing mummies, noble houses, and Iron constructs that stomped and made the earth shake.

When the night weaned down, and the drink gone, the group retired to the cave. Jandar and his fiance took the mortal's old bed within the lair, still there and well taken care of. Ramakox himself settled down with Fremra and fell asleep pleasantly pressed up against her scales, listening to the sound of her heart beats.

*

They headed out the next morning towards the village of Holbeck, the ever present joy in Ramakox's heart threatening to spill out and make him sing the entire way there. The journey took them several days of flying, resting, and nights filled with laughter and even more stories of adventures and memories passed. The blue dragon had spent each one with a smile on his snout, and good cheer coating his senses. Fremra had even joked around that she did not know who he was anymore, and nuzzled him affectionately with her snout.

When they arrived at the village it was a large and loud affair, with many different couples of various species being wed together. One by one the couples of different sexes and races stood before the village leaders and were bound together with words and kisses. Ramakox had waited with bated breath until it had been Jandar's turn to be untied with Imzel as mates. He watched with a fuzzy heart as Fremra leaned up against him, and smiled as Jandar said his vows and kissed the woman he loved dearly. The blue dragon even sniffed at that moment, and became blurry eyed for just a moment at the pride and joy he felt for the mortal was simply beyond his ability to hold in. Jandar turned around, holding Imzel's hand tightly with a smile that carried such light it could cast aside any darkness. Ramakox smiled as the couple were lost within the sea of their friends. He glanced to Fremra for a moment, licking her snout tenderly as she pushed back against him with a rumbling pleased purr. The dragon thought back to all that he had gotten. The treasure, the mortal, the land, and the fame. He tapped his tail at his success, and when Jandar and Imzel strode over to them, he thought he could never be happier.