His eyes were drawn to the largest mound of gold and medure he had ever seen. It was dotted with other bits of jewels and fine, mortal-made items such as bejeweled silver goblets. He continued to survey the pile, seeing that there were weapons, crowns, jewelry, refined medure and unrefined chucks of the same ore. Such wealth was beyond his ability to calculate.

The dragon finally dragged its large form to the pile of treasure. He watched in awe as the dragon climbed onto the mound and wiggled into it as if it were a bed of feathers. The flickering torches created dancing lights on the walls of the cave as the light reflected on various items in the huge pile. The sound of skittering metals mixed with Keensight's loud breath. Alador jumped when the dragon finally spoke again.

"Well, don't just stand there like a hatchling; you came to speak to me. Now, let's be honest. I might kill you - actually, it is quite likely." The dragon made that strange huffing noise. "You can try to convince me otherwise, but I am quite hard to convince." The great beast laid its head down onto its forefeet, the movement sending medure and jewels skittering down its sides. "I also expect an apology for that arrow. It took forever to get it out of the back of my throat." He raised his head and scratched at his neck as he let out a menacing growl.

Alador swallowed hard and slipped off his pack, finally tearing his eyes away from the mound of treasure. He set it on the ground at the edge where the cave opened up, then with slow, measured steps made his way in front of the dragon. Alador was very aware that Keensight was watching him closely the whole time. He appeared larger in size than he had when he had a.s.saulted the village, and he had appeared enormous then.

Alador had expected the dragon to want an apology, and he had decided he would not give him one. He had to show the dragon that he was not weak or fearful. He met the dragon's gaze boldly "I'm not here to offer an apology," Alador declared, "but to receive yours." The mage crossed his arms as he stood and planted his feet in a.s.sured defiance before the great dragon.

The dragon raised its head with obvious surprise, and the spines along his back became rigid. "Me?" Keensight pointed to his chest with a claw that was nearly half as long as Alador's height. "Apologize? I will remind you that you were the one with a bow." The dragon shook its head from side to side. "I am not sure if you are brave or just stupid."

Alador moved forward as he began to speak. "I will remind YOU that you a.s.saulted Smallbrook without provocation and killed six of my kin." Alador began to count out the damage on his fingers, his voice increasingly accusatory. "You nearly destroyed half the town by flame. And, had I not shot you, you would have killed many small ones as well. The village of Smallbrook is due compensation for your temper." Alador held his ground, though his heart beat with genuine fear. "Oh, and don't let me forget that I hold your best friend's geas and that my death will draw a final line under his."

The dragon let out a great snort of disbelief and soot flew from his nostrils. When it was done settling, the only part of Alador that was not black was his eyes. He looked down at the covering and back up at the dragon. At least it had been soot and not fire.

The dragon fired his answer right back. "And your village is the one who disturbed my friend's place of rest." Keensight glared at him. "He should have been left in peace."

"Then you did not know Renamaum well." Alador dusted off some of the soot. "He planned for his stone of power to be found. He invades my dreams. He has forced me by magical means to a task that I cannot complete alone, even with his powers vested within me." Alador bravely took a step forward. "You were his best friend, but he still told me where to shoot to stop your attack on Smallbrook."

"I should burn you where you stand for your insolence," the dragon hissed, rising part way up from his position on the pile of treasure.

"You could. That would end each of our complaints," Alador agreed, crossing his arms defiantly again, his eyes challenging Keensight as he began to offer an alternative in a slow, vengeful voice. "Or... you can listen to what I've to say, and get your revenge on those that slew Renamaum, your mate, and took your hatchling." Alador cast out the only bait he had.

A strange tense silence fell between them. Alador was afraid to make the first move and the cave echoed with the rasping breath of the beast. Each stared at the other; neither one spoke nor made a sound. Finally, Keensight hissed out a long breath of fire that flared towards Alador. He dove for the floor sure that Keensight had chosen the first option. He rolled to the side, watching the dragon closely, finding his center in case he needed a shield...

Finally, the dragon plopped his head back down into the pile. "What do you have in mind?"

Chapter Fifteen.

Alador smiled. Revenge was a powerful motivator, and Henrick had hinted that dragons might hold on to a slight for as long as they lived. The death of the dragon's mate and the stealing of his egg were far more than a slight. "We take out the council-sponsored bloodmine."

The dragon harrumphed, rolling its great eyes. "We have tried that. It only results in the death of the dragons chained and then the stealing of more eggs. If that is all you have to suggest, then I am better off eating you instead." The dragon's tone was arrogant and dismissive.

"You have never had help from within the mine before," Alador pointed out, clasping his hands behind them. They burned from the sc.r.a.pes and cuts in them, but he needed to stay focused.

"Now we are speaking on things that interest me. Go on," the dragon grumbled. He suddenly lifted up his head and shouted. "Oh, wait!" The dragon's bellow interrupted Alador as he opened his mouth to explain.

The sudden increase in sound rattled pebbles on the floor and dust fell from the cavern roof. The suddenness of it had made Alador jump in surprise, snapping his mouth shut. He eyed the dragon with concern.

"I have forgotten the manners Henrick taught me. Let me get you a chair." The dragon heaved its bulk up and swung around as if looking for something. "I know it is here ... somewhere..." As he moved, the huge ball-like end of his tail swung about, and had Alador not ducked, he would have been impaled on its lethal spikes.

"Really, it is no bother, I am fine." Alador called out with concern, more worried about the damage the dragon could do looking for the chair than the need to sit.

"No, no. A proper host sees to his guest's comfort. Ah, here it is." The dragon turned back around, forcing Alador to duck under the tail again. Keensight's 'chair' turned out to be a throne. He lumbered over with the throne in his mouth and sat it carefully before his treasure pile. "There you go. Have a seat. After all, you did decide to climb a wall rather than get wet."

Alador stared at the throne in amazement. It was covered in the richest red material he had ever seen. The elaborate scroll work was craftsmanship the like of which he had never seen before. It was gilded with the finest gold-leaf and set with glistening rubies laid out in unique patterns. "Where did you get this?" he asked in awe, moving to trace the patterns and touch the fabric.

Keensight made his way back to his indent in the pile. "That old thing? I found it in a tree house. It was so shiny that I could not resist borrowing it."

Alador chuckled. "Did the owner mind that you borrowed his chair?"

"I don't think so. He was rather dead at the time. He had had the audacity to shoot at me," Keensight answered, looking pointedly at Alador.

Alador ignored this barb as he cast a cantrip to clean the soot from his body before he sat on the throne. It was indeed a comfortable seat; the previous owner must have loved his comforts. He felt odd sitting on a throne before a dragon in a cave. It was a scene that less than a turn ago, he would never have envisaged, let alone calculated the likelihood of it ever coming to pa.s.s. "Shall I continue?" he asked the red beast politely.

"One moment, let me get comfortable. Mortal men are so impatient." Keensight huffed as he writhed and rustled his body until he was settled once more. "There, please continue." The dragon propped his head up upon his right claw.

"I propose to ensure a group of men loyal to the pact and the Daezun people are on guard duty the night that we agree to a.s.sault the mine. This will enable the dragons to free the fledglings with minimal risk. My men will ensure that not a single spear thrower is on duty that night. We will take on any guard who tries to resist the attack." He put one hand to his chest and gestured to the dragon. "Your... um... companions will be able to release the dragons and set them free." Alador was careful to use more formal language.

"I see three problems with your plan..." Keensight's tone, however, was one of discussion rather than dismissal. His guttural utterances were surprisingly easy to follow, as he spoke slowly.

"I am listening." Alador had never seen the mine; Keensight had.

"First, the dragons on the ground will never have learned how to fly." Keensight slightly expanded his wings for emphasis. "They have not been taught anything of their true nature, so they will need to walk out. Secondly, given that my 'companions' as you called them are accustomed to killing any mortal in sight, they will not be able to discern friend from foe. To be honest, some may not even care to discriminate: killing them anyway just to be on the safe side."

"I had given that possibility some thought. I hope you can select for this mission only dragons you can trust not to kill those that are a.s.sisting them. Your human allies will all be wearing a blue tabard with Renamaum's image emblazoned on it," Alador suggested. "Our donning of them could be the signal to attack."

The dragon's great head extended towards Alador, his scent overwhelming. "You take a great risk proposing such a plan, given your Guldalian blood. You directly descend from the one who first broke the pact."

Keensight's gaze was unnerving; silently Alador cursed the fact that the dragon's gaze could cut to his very soul. He was convinced he would never become used to it. "I was once told that one's bloodline does not determine who one chooses to become. I would like to believe that is true. I can't make amends for what was done before I came of age, but I can make a difference in my lifetime. I would see the pact restored."

The guffaw that rolled out of Keensight made Alador's heart race. "A lofty goal for a mortal... You are up against turns of betrayal and hatred," Keensight reminded him.

"I know that. It is a three way dilemma. The Daezun lost the war that was to make the Lerdenian's pay for their crimes against the dragons." Alador leaned forward on his throne. "But the Daezun people have not forgotten the old ways. Why... in Oldmeadow they have planted apple trees above their town for the dragons' pleasure..." 'I have to convince him,' Alador thought. 'One man and one dragon... We can make the difference, but only united.'

"You don't say?" Keensight sounded strangely amused.

"You said there were three problems," Alador said, changing the subject. "What is the third?"

"The eggs... The dragons will want any remaining eggs, and they are buried deep in a cave. A bronze could manipulate the stone to get to them, but not without risk of breakages, and maybe breaking them all." Keensight had calculated the risk and was clearly not optimistic. It was a serious stumbling block.

Alador had to admit that the dilemma of the dragon eggs had also been perplexing him. "How big is a dragon egg?"

"About half your size, some a bit smaller," Keensight replied.

Alador sighed. "So a single man couldn't carry one out in a battle without serious risk to the egg." He ran a hand through his loose hair. "I see no way to release the eggs safely without first killing or subduing every guard present "

"Is that something you are willing to do?" Keensight asked, still watching him closely.

Alador thought about Jon. If Jon chose to side with his G.o.ddess and guard the mine, he did not know if he could kill him and he doubted Jon would subdue easily. Then again, he could decide to be true to his Daezun cultural roots, and not use his considerable striking force against his friend's objectives. He weighed his thoughts and concerns carefully. "Yes," he finally answered. He sincerely hoped that Jon would come down on his side.

"Now... I see..." - Alador swallowed down his hesitation - "...a problem." His words were drawn out as the harsh realization washed over him. Alador frowned, realizing that he could not just subdue the guards and deny any culpability to his Uncle. "The bodies of the guards who perish will be examined for clues as to what actually happened. There can't be any evidence of Daezun involvement, nor can any be allowed to escape."

A hardness formed within him as he buried his remorse for the men who would die obeying orders. "In the future, I plan to remove the High Minister from power. For the time being, my hands must appear clean of any involvement in this... enterprise."

"I have kin who prefer Lerdenians toasted," Keensight rumbled. "I will take care of any evidence. Scorched ground tells few tales."

Bile rose in Alador's throat as he realized his plans went beyond just freeing the dragons from bloodmining: an idea, a purpose that had seemed n.o.ble whenever he had thought of it. He was planning coldly to end the lives of men and women, some of whom he had trained with in the Blackguard.

"You have gone pale, boy, and your heart rate is up," Keensight observed. "Don't you have the stomach for it?"

Alador did not even want to think about how the dragon could sense that. "It is one thing to think of a n.o.ble goal and another to realize the steps that must be taken to reach it," Alador murmured. "It bothers me to know that I must kill my own kind to free yours."

"If it did not, I think I might have a need to kill you here before we start. War is harsh, Alador, and comes with a high cost: not only to the men who fight such wars, but to those who command them as well. A man that can send a group into battle knowing they will die and do so without conscience is headed for certain death, or on his way to a brutal dictatorship." Keensight's tone was slow and teaching; it held no censor. "A true leader sends that order with true regret for the men he will lose; but even in the face of his grief, he sends the order anyway."

"And if he cannot give the order?" Alador looked up at the dragon. His way of sharing things was oddly familiar. Maybe it came from spending too much time with Henrick.

"Then he is not a leader that men will follow long," the dragon answered coolly with a smile - which was eerie, as it looked far more like the precursor to a snarl. It was unsettling to see so many teeth.

Alador nodded. "I will need time to arrange things so that I have the people I need in place."

"I will as well. I will have to pick carefully those that will fight by my side and not end the mortals that aid us." They both fell silent.

Alador mulled over their conversation before moving on to the next point he needed to discuss. "I have a question for you..." Alador picked at his leathers as he tried to decide how best to ask it.

"Only one...?" Keensight sounded bemused and Alador swore that the dragon was trying not to laugh. The magnificent beast hauled himself up to sit on his haunches.

"Well, one to focus on at the moment," Alador corrected. "Have you ever seen a black dragon in a bloodmine?"

Keensight raised his head as he considered the question. "No. No, I've never seen a black fledgling."

"A friend of mine suggested that the Black Flight - and maybe even the G.o.ddess Dethara - are in league with those running the mines. He went on to suggest that the Black Flight is providing information on where to find other flights' eggs." He looked up from his leathers to the dragon, and his eyes grew wide with alarm.

Keensight was rising onto all fours, his eye narrowed into mere slits. Every spine on the dragon's back had risen. His wings had expanded as much as the s.p.a.ce around him allowed, and they twitched with the fury in his tone. "If this turns out to be true... they will ALL die! I will help hunt down any and every dragon involved in such a heinous betrayal of our sacred heritage," he bellowed. Fire spat in short bursts from his mouth as rage overtook reason.

Alador's hands sprang to his ears as he stared at the furious beast. He shrank back into the shaking throne, afraid the rocks peppering him were just the beginnings of a cave-in. He watched in horror as the dragon's tail hit the wall, dislodging even more of the ceiling.

Alador shouted out. "You are causing a cave-in! Calm down!!" Dirt and rocks rained down from the ceiling, a large boulder rolling past his chair. It seemed likely that Keensight would bury them both...

...but seeming to hear him, Keensight drew in his wings and tail. Only when the dragon had calmed somewhat, and the dust had settled, did Alador dare to speak again. "I only brought it up because you might not want to tell any black dragons what we are about." Alador eyed the clearly still angry dragon.

"I had never... I should have..." Keensight snarled, barely able to finish his own thoughts. "If it is true, it changes everything..." The dragon's nostrils flared and smoke billowed from them.

"Please don't roast the bearer of bad news." Alador was feebly trying to pour a little humor on an inflammable situation. However, the dragon must have taken him seriously, for it plopped down into the pile of treasure, sending stones and slips rattling everywhere.

"My apologies." Despite the attempt to remain calm, Keensight's rage was snarled out in his words. "It is just that I know of one of the Black Flight who knew where my mate nested. If he betrayed her to the egg-hunters, I will kill him. I will make his death so slow and so painful that he will regret ever being hatched." Keensight's anger rumbled the pile.

"I know how it is to be betrayed by those you trust. If this is true, I'm very sorry." Alador was honestly sharing a familiar pain. The two fell into silence.

Alador was unsure of how much time had pa.s.sed. He did not press the dragon, and he was considering their exchange as well. So far, it was going very well, all things considered. Well, discounting the fact that his words had almost ended in a collapse of the dragon's cave.

It was better than he had dared to hope: Henrick had made it sound like this would be an impossible task. He kept an eye on the angered dragon, watching his tail flick angrily back and forth, sweeping jewels and medure in its wake.

Suddenly Keensight lifted his great head, startling Alador out of his own deep reverie. "I must leave for a short time. There is an area against the east wall partway down the flight of stairs I told you about. Henrick makes himself at home there." He slithered his incredible bulk off the pile, starting a treasure-slide as he headed for the entrance. "I doubt he will object to your making use of it. When I return, I will bring a meal." Keensight called back as his tail was disappearing: "Do not touch my bed."

Alador eyed the enormous pile of treasure Despite its size, he suspected that Keensight would know if a single jeweled cup went missing. He slowly pried his aching body from the chair, realizing he could use some water and a nap. The exhausted young mage made his way to the wall of the cavern that the dragon had indicated, and sure enough, there was a flight of rickety wooden stairs fixed precariously to the jagged, glistening rock...

Taking a flickering torch from a sconce on the wall, he made his way down the treacherously slippy stairs, and came to a small area recessed into the rock, just where Keensight had said. It had obviously been kitted out for human comfort: there was a bed, a desk and a small bookshelf, though the books appeared mildewed and untouched for some time.

He could see a small pool of water in a hollowed rock a little farther down, fed by the spray of the falls. Carefully he descended the rest of the stairs and moved over to the small pool. Eyeing his hands, he pulled off the shredded gloves, wincing as some cuts were reopened by the removal of the leather caked in dried blood.

He bathed them carefully, then called on his magic to form strips of linen. He frowned at the strangeness of magic while carefully bandaged his hands: it was odd that he could make it rain, call lightning, create linen, and yet he could not heal his own wounds.

He made his way back up to the ledge and fell onto the bed. The covers were just out of reach of the spray of the falls, but still had drawn moisture from the damp surroundings. He dried the blankets with a simple cantrip, and then pulled the rough blankets over himself. Alador had no idea how long Keensight would be gone. He had left angry and with an obvious purpose. Alador was unsure if mentioning the absence of black fledglings was to his advantage or not. However, if Jon's suspicions were true, then any black dragon was a danger to their plans.

He really was exhausted. Taking into account the many days in a sickbed, and the climbing of that cliff face... Alador snorted with frustration: a cliff he had not even had to climb. He could not help wondering if Henrick had left that small detail out on purpose. He made note to punch his father when next he saw him. The warmth of the covers, the lulling sound of falling water and exhaustion finally combined and Alador fell asleep.

Chapter Sixteen.

Alador was uncertain how long he had slept by the time that he heard the dragon return, the noise of his movements carrying over the sound of the waterfall. He stretched and groaned as every muscle in his body seemed to protest such simple movement. Pulling himself out of the bed, Alador formed a bit of light in his hand to illuminate what the torch, long burnt out, no longer did. There was no light coming through the water, indicating it was still night outside the cave.

Making his way up the fragile stairs carefully, he tread lightly so as to not make a sound, as he was not certain what mood the dragon would be in when he made it to the top. He realized, as he made it to the top, that it was unlikely he was sneaking up on the beast.

Carefully, he peered into the cavern, searching the large room. Keensight was once more nestled on the top of his mound. A table had been set by the throne and a steaming carca.s.s of prang was draped across it. He could tell that the dragon had not bothered to skin it before he cooked it. The mage shook his head with a bit of a grin. At least the dragon was trying to be hospitable.

He moved across the cavern floor feeling the eyes of Keensight follow him as he made for the table. "Thank you for dinner," Alador politely said.

"You're welcome, I know your kind prefers kills for food dressed out, but with these..." Keensight held up the huge talons, "Skinning them really isn't that easy. I was able to remove its insides. I like that part best anyway."

Smiling at the words of the dragon, Alador pulled his knife from his boot and used it to pull away the skin. He then carved off a healthy piece of meat. It was still too hot to eat, so he set it aside on the table to cool. The smell of scorched hair was mingled with the roasted meat, dampening the appeal somewhat.

"I hope you have regained your temper?" He watched the dragon and attempted to hold no sarcasm in his tone. He flopped down in the throne, still eying the dragon with a bit of concern.

"It was a fact that I should have seen myself," Keensight growled. "That a mortal had to show me the obvious is irritating at best." He shifted with that irritation and a bowl rolled free of the pile then spun at Alador's feet, the slow wobbling stop drawing the mage's eye.

"Yes, well I would guess that even the purest of dragons are not perfect," Alador offered almost absently, watching the jeweled bowl come to a stop. He looked up as Keensight raised his head and slapped his right paw onto the pile making Alador flinch.

"I would not go that far," Keensight protested.

Alador c.o.c.ked his head and for a moment, he was sure that he had just hurt the dragon's feelings. "Let me rephrase, you were probably too close to the problem to observe such a fluid detail. I'm sure the fledglings in the mine are changed often," Alador offered, so as to soothe the ego of the arrogant beast. Keensight let out a low growl, and Alador realized that he had just picked at the grieving wound of the dragon. The only reason that the fledglings would have changed was that they were unable to offer viable blood any longer.

"Yes, yes, that is likely it. I was too close to it to see." Keensight grabbed at the morsel of balm, but his voice held the pain of the reminder. Silence rose between them as Alador was attempting to eat the hot meat and Keensight was absorbing their conversation.

After a long while, the dragon sniffed and his long neck stretched toward the table where the prang rested. "You going to eat that?" Keensight eyed the prang hungrily as his tongue snaked out as if to taste the very air emanating from it.

Alador had not found Keensight's way of cleaning and cooking the prang very palatable, so waved towards the steaming carca.s.s. "I've carved off a piece more than enough for me, so if you wish the rest, by all means, it's yours." He did not have to offer twice.