“What's that?” Sebastian asked.
“After you came to us and asked for our help, one of the things we thought might help was separating Asala from you. What you endured in those experiments was torturous. The two of you suffered magical experiments that tried to tear apart your being. You asked us to help but we went too far,” Qaa told them. “
You asked us for help and we gave you pain. Those memories are going to be unpleasant. You did not want us to continue but we were still stronger than you and thought ourselves wiser and felt that we could do it,” Qaa continued.
“What gave you the right to do that? Asala sacrificed her life for us and you dishonored her like that. I lost a friend and you tried to take her sacrifice from us. We asked you to stop but you still forced your experiments on us. You had better hope I die in this war because if I don't, I will end your species,” Sebastian said and started walking away. “Nothing has changed. You're still the overbearing controllers you were at Atlantis.”
“Wait,” Absillion said. “Please.”
“Why should I?” Sebastian said and stopped, still with his back to the dragons.
“Because I loved my daughter and you are all that is left of her. I want to make amends. I was wrong. I have lived a long time and amassed great power. I would give it all to undo what was done to you. Before your memories were restored, I wanted you to know the truth. It has caused me great pain throughout the millennia to know what we did but it causes me more pain to think of the opportunity we missed.”
“I have watched you throughout the ages go from primitives with stone weapons to conquering the world. After the fey army led by you and the humans defeated the drebs in the years following Atlantis, your species became dominant. You were at peace with the majority of the fey and only through the actions of the remaining drebs was that peace ever shattered.”
“Asala was right. The fey, all the fey, are not our children. Onis once said you were our brothers and one day we may have cause to fear you. I think he was right about you being our brothers. We are all children of the Weave, but we should have no reason to fear each other. Let us shed the mistrust and mistakes of the past. We would extend you the proverbial olive branch between our peoples. I urge you to accept it but if you continue your path and walk out, we cannot blame you and should you choose to hunt us, I cannot speak for the others, but I will not run nor fight. My death would be a small penance for what I have done but a penance I am willing to give,” Absillion told him.
“If we accept, can we count on your help in this war?” Sebastian asked.
“You cannot. After Atlantis, we swore never to directly interfere with the fey again. We will not break that oath and will remain observers but never interfere,” Absillion told him.
“And what of our memories?” Sebastian asked.
“That is something we have offered and will give you regardless. Are you certain you want them back? It could be painful. Your mind is going to have thousands of years of memories rush back and we honestly do not know what that will do to you,” Qaa told them.
Sebastian looked at Chelsea and she nodded. “We do,” Sebastian told them.
“As for the olive branch, I think only time will tell. We have a war with the drebs to finish, one that was started with the betrayal at Atlantis. Until that war is over, I can't say what the future holds but more than that, you must understand we don't rule this world. I will pass along your request to President Yassim and that's for her and UniGov to decide,” Sebastian told them.
“It is a start. Every alliance must have a beginning. We have started with Bahta. She is our envoy and has all of our trust,” Absillion told them. “Do you want time to prepare?”
“What is required?” Sebastian asked.
“Very little. I crafted the spell we used, and we can remove it easily. How long it takes you to recover is another matter. The effects on you are unpredictable and you may be unstable afterward. If you need, you have a home here until you are ready to return to the world,” Absillion told them.
“Then I think it's time. I see no reason for further hesitation,” Sebastian said.
“Then we must kill you,” Absillion told them.
“You what?” Chelsea asked.
“The spell does not remove or restore memories. When you die, you told us you have all your memories as the Weave holds you in stasis waiting to be reborn. When you exit the Weave, the spell allows you to choose to remember or not. We will simply remove the spell that gives you the choice and you will awake with all your memories intact. It is a simple matter to restore your life. You would hover on death's door a moment then we would wake you,” Absillion told them.
“Morgana, this sounds dangerous. Can we trust them? I mean really trust them,” Sebastian said to her.
“You can,” she replied.
Chelsea hugged her mother. “If I'm not the same after this, know that I love you.”
Morgana hugged her daughter. “You have had many mothers and fathers throughout history and will remember them all, but I was your first mother and will love you always no matter what happens.”
Chelsea walked beside Sebastian and they held hands. “We're ready.”
Absillion roared and blue flame flowed from his mouth and engulfed Sebastian and Chelsea. It was followed by waves of energy from the other dragons that struck them and drove into their mind. When he was done, both grabbed their heads. They dropped to their knees then fell over, still screaming, then slumped down, lifeless. After a minute, Absillion cast a spell at them and the two awoke.
Magical energy flowed from both in the form of fire, electricity, energy waves and several other forms of destructive magic. The dragons had to move quickly to avoid being hit but the volume of spells made that impossible. Qaa and Onis were both hit with numerous blasts and injured. Trall fell unconscious from some kind of mental attack. Sebastian and Chelsea writhed in agony on the floor as magic continued to pour forth. Even though Morgana was very close, no spell went near her despite the fact she was unprepared and had no time to react or defend.
Absillion and Doga managed to render the two of them into a deep sleep. “Sark, take them to the chamber you prepared.”
Sark curved his wings and placed one on each then left down a hallway.
“They'll be taken care of as we agreed. They will sleep for a while. The chamber Sark prepared will suppress their magic until they are in control of their minds again. Once that happens, they'll be free to go. Until then, they are a danger to everyone, including themselves,” Doga told Morgana.
“Thank you for coming and bringing them here. I fear without your presence, they would not have come,” Absillion told her.
“They would have come, just not as calmly. They were broken and needed to be healed. Thank you for telling them the truth about what you did. You do realize when they are stable they may hate you and even try to kill you and will more than likely be a lot more powerful,” she said.
“I am aware and if my life is forfeit then so be it. I deserve it for what I did,” Absillion told her.
“I am not qualified to judge you. I understand your perspective as a parent, but I can't condone your actions,” she replied.
“Nor should you condone my actions. They were wrong,” Absillion said.
“If you have no further need of me, I would like to go home. I would also like to return often to check on them as agreed,” she said.
“Our doors will always be open to you henceforth. Be well, Morgana,” Absillion said.
“Be well, Absillion and watch over them. They're the only family I have left,” she said and teleported out.
#
Baldric and Malka felt the wind rush fast over their faces as Asala soared. It was feeding time for her and as they often did, they accompanied her on the hunt. She favored large herbivores and would fly for her favored foods sometimes crossing deserts, sometimes in great forests with trees that seemed to touch the sky but today they flew to a remote barren
wasteland to hunt large fur covered beasts with enormous tusks. She told them the meat was a favorite of her kind and many of them made the long journey for it.
Normally, they would have been freezing in the cold air, but the magic needed to stay warm was a simple matter for two Archmages. Asala could tolerate a much larger temperature range and didn't notice the chill air.
She swooped low, diving fast and steep and over a migrating tribe of primitives. They couldn't hear them over the sound of the rushing wind but could see them shouting and running. Some threw their spears at her but had no hope of hitting her, much less doing any damage. Asala laughed and tendrils of blue flame flowed from her nose and mouth.
She turned and headed northward and passed over a small lake with drifts of ice on it. On the edge of the lake, a group of the lumbering beasts they sought was drinking the icy water. Asala swooped again and passed close over them. The herd broke and ran, stampeding away. She could have easily killed one or more but instead, she chose to spook them. She liked the chase. It got her blood pumping as she smelled the fear coming from them.
The ground rushed by them. A mature dragon at full flight could move with astonishing speed and agility. She continued to swoop down at the stampede until their formation broke and several ran in different directions.
“Are you hungry my friends?” Asala asked her human companions.
“I haven't eaten since the morning meal,” Malka told her.
It was late in the day; their journey had taken much of it and both were famished.
Asala laughed. “Then go find yourselves a meal,” Asala told them and turned until she was upside down then shook violently, throwing both humans off. Asala laughed again and went after one of the larger males that was running away from the herd.
Baldric and Malka fell fast towards the oncoming ground. They were falling at an angle, still moving forward with much of the speed Asala had when she dumped them and now had the ground rushing towards them. They managed to stabilize themselves magically and slowed their descent. They hit the ground on their feet and stood there watching Asala soar away.
“I hate when she does that,” Malka said to Baldric.
“I think that's the very reason why she does it,” Baldric replied with a laugh. “She is just having fun.”
“Come on, let's find some game. I'm starving,” Malka said.
Baldric closed his eyes and let his mind flow until he found an avian species flying overhead. He reached out and touched its mind and after a few seconds, he was able to see what it saw. After a few more seconds, he guided the creature, taking control gently so as not to harm its mind.
He traversed the area and spotted what at first, he thought was a deer. As he got closer to it, he found it strange compared to those in lands near Atlantis. It was much larger than the deer they were used to, and its antlers were flat and had a large plate-like area from which the rest of the antlers spread out in single, rounded prongs. Its muzzle was also broader and more rounded. He noted its position and freed the bird.
“This way,” he told Malka. “There is some type of large deer. Let's take it.”
The two of them moved quickly to the area then stopped before they got to its grazing location. The moved very slowly the rest of the way, making no sound and their skin and clothing blending in with the sparse vegetation and icy rocks, rendering them nearly invisible.
As they neared the area, it finally came into view. It was huge compared to the deer of their homeland. The moved slowly towards it and when they got within spear range, they both quietly drew their spears. They slowly, carefully, took aim then threw them. Both found their target perfectly and pierced the creature in the ribs, sinking deep within it thanks to the enhanced strength of the two. The created reared in pain and bellowed, blood coming from its mouth and nose as it did so. It fell over dead before its front feet even returned to the ground.
“I should have killed it magically. It would have felt no pain that way,” Baldric said.
“This is our last hunt. I wanted to do it this way,” Malka told him.
“As did I. I miss the old days already. Since I started preparing for the coronation, since I was replaced as Lord Marshall, our lives have become tame. I miss the training. I miss the hunts. My place is in the world, defending my people and not sitting on a throne settling disputes and making proclamations,” Baldric said.
“It is the greatest honor that can be given and cannot be refused,” Malka told him.
“Why not? Who are the dragons to dictate our lives? They helped build our city and helped us civilize but now, they have almost no involvement in our lives and just show up to tell us who will sit in what chair and wear what badge of rank. We should stop taking orders from them. We are able to rule ourselves and do not need them treating us like children any longer,” he told her.
The walked up to their prey and Baldric kneeled next to it. He took his finger and used the creature’s blood to draw on a symbol on it, the Atlantean rune for 'thanks.' He took out a knife made of obsidian and gold, decorated with jewels and runes and began field dressing the creature.
Asala landed across from them with one of the huge, tusked creatures in her mouth. She dropped it on the ground.
“Those are tasty. Not as much as this creature but it will satiate you,” she said.
“It looks like your hunt was successful as well,” Malka said to their large friend.
“It was. I am pleased we were able to take one last trip together before you are crowned,” Asala told them. “I heard your discussion and you are correct. You need us no longer. If you do break the yoke of the dragons, I hope I may continue to be your friend.”
“I would have it no other way. Change takes time though and we won't see the end of our current arrangement for quite a while,” Baldric replied. “We have to take things slowly.”
“I will miss our hunts together. I will not need to feed again for several lunar cycles and by then you will be on the throne and will have no time for hunts,” Asala told him.
“And you will be busy training the Vanguard and we will not see each other much. The dragons only contact the monarchy when they want something. I fear your father will force you to continue that policy,” Malka said.
“Maybe we can continue our friendship even if we can't hunt together. There are some things about dragons we have not told you,” Asala told them and changed her form to a reptilian humanoid.
“That is no secret. We've seen you do it before,” Baldric said. “It would still be forbidden. Absillion is not one to waver on his commands.”
“He may not allow me in this or my natural form but,” Asala said and changed again. She appeared as a tall woman with deep ebony skin, long brown hair and green eyes. She appeared completely human. “An adviser or some such position would explain the occasional visits of a human.”
“Asala!” exclaimed Malka. “That is amazing. Can all dragons do that?”
“We can,” Asala said and changed again. She looked like dreb. She changed again and appeared as an ogre.
“Draconic magic is as diverse as fey magic. Changing our form takes little effort but it's generally considered distasteful. Most dragons believe our natural form to be the only one we should ever use,” she said and returned to the human form. She noticed Baldric was averting his gaze and smiled.
“You do not have to look away. We also do not have the concept of shame in our appearance as you do,” Asala told them.
“It's not shame, it's just...not proper,” he replied.
“I believe it is the jealousy of your mate you wish to avoid,” Asala said with a smile.
“I'm not jealous. I have faith in him and know his heart is only for me,” Malka told her.
“You should watch out, Malka. Maybe someday I'll take this form forever and steal him away,” Asala said and laughed.
“You always have a welcome place in our home, whether we are the lords of Atlantis or simple peasants. My friends are always
welcome,” Baldric told Asala, trying to change the subject.
Asala returned to her normal shape as Baldric and Chelsea cut chunks of the herbivore they had killed. Malka conjured a fire and began cooking the pieces of the deer creature over it.
“Disgusting. I never understood why you char your food,” Asala said as she ripped huge pieces of her kill with her claws and teeth and swallowed them whole, licking the blood from around her mouth.
Baldric laughed at her. “Charring food is disgusting says the one ripping an animal apart with her teeth.”
“We hunt, and we kill. This keeps us close to our prey, so we can respect it. This creature gave its life so mine can continue. That sacrifice is sacred to us,” Asala told him.
“I know. I have seen it in you when we have hunted together. I respect that,” Malka told her.
“I can see that,” Asala said looking at the remains of the large deer. “You give thanks to your prey. We are more alike than my brethren are willing to admit.”
“I find you much different than the others. We have trained with Doga as much as you in recent years and yet he is still aloof and standoffish. He acts at times as if his training of the fey is a burden. You though, you seem to delight in the time you spend with us,” Malka said as Asala wolfed down a leg from the beast.
“I do,” she said between swallows. “The others, they can't let go of the past. We lived for so long with no other sentient species they feel as if you are intruding in their world. During the council session that agreed to guide you, some called for your eradication. Your progenitor species was already gone and the fey on the edge of forced extinction at the hands of my brethren, but my father would not allow it,” Asala said.
“Progenitor?” Baldric asked. “What progenitor?”
“You must not repeat what I tell you. It is forbidden to discuss,” Asala replied as she ate.
“You know us better than that. We would never betray your trust,” Malka said.
“Once, over a thousand passes of the Eye ago, there was only one fey. That was what they called themselves. We have told you fey is our word for 'child' translated into your tongue, but it is not. It is the name of the species that came before you. Few of you know the truth. Not even every liege is given this knowledge,” Asala told them.
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