I want to Thank rouge and mejinzs for the proofreading.  am planing to do a q&A post to answer some of your questions if you want to send me them, I will answer the ones that don’t spoil too much… i know i posted this last night on my blog spot... i was curious on who would read it there first...

as always without further ado, Chapter 23 

————————–Fafnir-POV——————

“Dang, my head hurts,” I thought to myself as I woke up. I looked around trying to remember what happened. I was in a stone room with no windows. I stood up, my legs wobbling a bit with the effort of trying to stop the world from spinning around me. I stumbled over to the door and tried to open it. I shook the handle with fore claw only to find it was locked.

“They wouldn’t dare, would they?” I thought to myself before tying the door again. It was still locked. Taking a deep breath I tried to focus the magic to undo the lock, and I was shocked as the door burst into flames. Calming myself I concentrated and again I released the magic. As quick as the flames started, they vanished, leaving only a charred door. I took a few steps back trying to remember what happened before I passed out. “I remember having a drink…” I murmured, trying to remember everything, “then another, then everything gets hazy…”

I laid down and waited for the splitting headache to subside. After about half an hour the pain subsided to a dull throb. I stood up and studied the charred door and noticed that there was no lock.  Feeling a bit embarrassed, I pulled open the door and I poked my head out into the empty hallway. I walked out into the hallway and made my way toward the end.  I cautiously peered around the corner and saw two guards standing in front of a large door, wondering  whether I should push my luck. This could all be a misunderstanding or something more sinister.

After about a minute I decided it is better to find out now rather than later. I stepped around the corner and started down the hall. After less than a minute I was spotted by one of the guards. They quickly turned around and knocked on the door, and shouted, “I’ sgiathatch naa kuile.”

I stopped for a second as I realized that I could not understand them. I reached up to where the brooch of tongues had been and found nothing. A little annoyed, I contained walking down the hall wondering who stole my brooch, as I got closer they urgently shouted, “mani lye umaya?”

I heard someone shout from the other side of the door, “lava ho waan- imya I’ anon.”

Relief was evident on the faces of the guards as they opened the door and stepped out of the way.

I eyed the guards as I walked through the door and noticed lord Ataryo sitting behind a desk surrounded by stacks of papers. “naa lle tyava eithel,” he said.

I replied in what broken human tongue I learned from Atheros, “Lost speaking gem, where did it go?”

Lord Ataryo stared at me for a few seconds before replying in broken human tongue, “Don’t know… talking… about.”

I pointed to where the gem used to rest on my horn and pointed to my tongue. Hoping he understood what I was saying. I could see a flash of recognition in his eyes as he understood what I needed. He got up and motioned me to follow him. We left the small study and headed down the hall we turned right into a mostly destroyed hallway. “That wasn’t like that yesterday…” I thought to myself when it clicked, “Did I do that?” I asked in broken human.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

He nodded and replied in human not much better then mine, “All left… you… destroyed… thing.”

“Well, dang,” I murmured. “ I don’t remember doing any of that.”

“Thing… there,” he said in his hobbled human.

I started to look about hoping to catch a glimpse of the broach with my draconic eyes. I saw several things glimmer in the light under the trees. I hopped from the destroyed hallway and glided towards one of the shimmering objects, but all that was there was some newly tarnished silverware. I spent the next half hour scouring the place for the broach, promising myself if I found it I would be more serious about learning the language. After rummaging through one of the walls I saw something glisten out in the courtyard, past where the wall used to be. I weaved through the rubble and in one of the bushes I found the small brooch. I affixed the now slightly warped broach to one of my horns and activated the magic within. I flew back into the manor and made my way through the hallways back to the study. the guards quickly waved me in. .

“I found it,” I said to the elf.

“I am glad you were able to pick through the rubble to find a small bauble,” he said sarcastically. “Now please remind me to never serve you any more elven spirits. It was very hard to get you to stop trying to show off your magic.”

“I will,” I sheepishly replied. “See you later.”

I hastily made my way through the halls once more before jumping out one of the broken walls. I flew over the city spotting Therin’s manor. I dived toward the house landing in front of the door, and tried to open it. Finding it locked, I knocked on the door and after a minute Atheros opened it.

“There you are, we were wondering when you would return.” He said barely containing his laughter.

“What is so funny?” I asked with my voice flat.

“Oh nothing,” he replied innocently, “though I heard something about a noble’s house exploding yesterday afternoon.”

“I have no clue what you are talking about,” I huffed.

“Of course not,” he replied, failing to keep a straight face, “from the letter we received yesterday afternoon you made an impression on your host with your skill in magic.”

“I unfortunately I do not recall doing any of that,” I replied while entering the house

“Ok, Fafnir, if you say so…” he replied.

I made my way back to my room where I returned to my normal size. I stretched before plopping down onto the hard floor. I gently grabbed one of the sheets of paper that I asked Atheros for yesterday. I dipped one of my claws in the ink well and started to write a list of supplies that I needed to procure if I was going to make a more permanent lair.

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as always me and rouge are mostly human, with mejinzs now becoming mostly human…, let us know if we missed anything, and comment below.