Sir George looked confused. 'You don't need me to hunt.'
'We need your company more than they do,' Jherdar told him as discreedy as possible.
Sir George finally got the hint. He climbed back into the saddle as jherdar lowered himself to the ground. Then the two older dragons leapt into the sky, following the valley southward before they began to rise and move away to the west. With the deep forests of the Sylvan realm only a few miles to the southwest, between the mountains and the coast, they would be able to find good hunting as well as keep themselves away for the promised time. Thelvyn and Kharendaen both had been trying very hard to hide their amusement, but now they sat back and smiled.
'I didn't know your brother was so considerate in such matters,' Thelvyn said as he lowered himself slowly to lie down in the soft grass. The long journey from the east had left him weary and in considerable pain, and he had never quite recovered from his fight with the gemstone dragons the evening before.
'Marthaen is finally beginning to recognize that some things are inevitable,' Kharendaen said, moving slowly to lie down close beside him. 'Although it seems a little late now.'
Thelvyn stared at the ground. 'Everyone, including myself, lias been assuming that this is a time for farewells. But that seems a little premature. There would be no point in my undertaking this quest if I weren't going to return to fight the Overlord.'
'But you cannot stay with me,' she complained.
'I cannot stay,' he said, 'but there might be some other place where we can be together. I don't know where, but there seem to be many possibilities. You loved the person I used to he, before I assumed the shape of a dragon. Will you love whatever person I become?'
Kharendaen did not answer in words. Instead, she rubbed her cheek gently along the side of his neck. 'I do not know what is going to happen, but I cannot help but be very anxious all this is over with and we have discovered just what our futures hold. Perhaps we were fools to love so much when we have always known our futures were so uncertain.'
'Do you have any regrets?' Thelvyn asked.
'I have no regrets,' she said. 'But now that the moment is at hand, I find that I do not want our time together to end.'
Thelvyn shook his head slowly. 'I never expected this parting to be an easy one. Even having these last few weeks to prepare myself has not made it any easier.'
She looked at him. 'You knew that this was going to happen?'
'I suspected it,' he admitted. 'Ever since the night when we spoke with the Great One at Silvermist. I realized then that there was only one reason why an Immortal should take such trouble to have a child.'
'I should have guessed,' Kharendaen said, sitting up on her haunches. 'Are you going to take your harness and weapons when you go?'
'I don't think so,' he answered uncertainly.
Responding to her gentle prompting, he rolled over on his side so that she could release the buckles of his harness. Then he sat up for a moment so she could pull away the heavy leather straps, tossing the harness and the massive sword to one side. After that, she carefully removed the Collar of the Dragons from his neck and laid it aside, returning to press herself closely against his breast. For a time, he sat upright so that he could hold her against him in his arms, and the two dragons gently rubbed their cheeks and muzzles together.
'How is your back?' Kharendaen asked as they lay very close against one another.
'Not too bad,' he admitted. 'In fact, it might even help to give it some exercise.'
For their last hour together, they were able to forget their concerns as they made love in the fading light of evening. They were still lying together, stroking each other's necks, when their companions finally returned. Day had long since given way to a cool, star-filled night. Marthaen and Jherdar circled discreetly for a time, waiting until they were seen before landing. Each carried the carcass of an elk, already dressed out and ready to be cooked. Jherdar collected firewood from the forest while Sir George hurried to prepare a fire, and in a short time, dinner was cooking.
Thelvyn thought that they should hurry, since he had no idea how long it would be before he was called. He had already put on the Collar of the Dragons once more, waiting patiently while Kharendaen fastened it about his neck. In the absence of other instructions on the matter, he had decided he should wear the collar. It had been made for the Dragonking, and as such, it seemed to be tied to his fate. He also considered again whether or not he should wear his harness and weapons, electing to leave them behind with Kharendaen.
Before they knew it, the meat was cooked, but no one had much appetite. It might be only minutes before Thelvyn was summoned. Kharendaen was bearing the wait with the calm patience of a cleric, but Marthaen couldn't hide his unrest. Sir George was also obviously quite worried, although he had always felt he was something of a father to Thelvyn, and he tried to seem good-natured and unconcerned. Curiously, Jherdar was having the hardest time of all. He was both sad and also rather sullen that the Dragonking was having to make some sacrifice that he did not entirely understand.
'I am reminded of a story told to me by my friend Alendhae, a sorcerer among the Eldar,' Marthaen said as they sat staring into the fire. 'The Eldar once believed in a concept they called the Burden of Time. On the first day after the world was created, the elemental Immortals brought into being the Eldar, the first and oldest of all the races, who were granted the power to remember, to measure, and to mark the passage of time; They believed that time began only when there was someone in the world who was aware of its passage, and that time would end when no one was left to mark its passage. Of course, Alendhae thought the story only proved the egocentricity of his ancestors.'
'That somehow sounds like a very draconic concept,' Sir George remarked.
'Remember, they were also our ancestors.'
Jherdar sighed loudly, almost a low growl. 'Do you know what is going to happen?'
Thelvyn shook his head. 'I know nothing of what to expect. Those who have taken this path before me have not said much about what they saw. Cheer up. A few weeks ago, you would have done anything to be rid of me.'
'It's not something to laugh about,' the red dragon complained, looking off into the night. 'You turned out to be a better king than I expected you would. I don't want you to do this, but I love you all the more because you are willing to do it to protect our people. You've never lost your capacity for surprising me.'
Thelvyn glanced away. 'I should have come alone. This wait is a torment to us all.'
'Perhaps it is,' Sir George agreed, 'but I would still rather be right here with you.'
The others paused, suddenly aware that Thelvyn and Kharendaen had both lifted their heads and were staring across the fire into the night. Turning quickly, they saw the image of the Great One standing at the edge of the woods behind them, just as he had appeared to them in the mountains far to the east the night before. Marthaen and Jherdar both rose and moved quickly to the other side of the fire, standing almost behind the Dragonking. Sir George retreated as well, nearly hiding behind Kharendaen.
'I am ready,' Thelvyn said, trying to sound brave.
'The time is at hand,' the Great One told him. 'Now you must go alone into the Citadel of the Ancients, where you will surrender the armor of the Dragonlord. Tonight your time of service as the second Dragonlord will come to an end. Wait there. When all is ready, I will come for you.'
'I understand.'
'Dismiss your companions to return to the east, where the other dragons need them,' the Great One continued. 'You will join them soon.'
Thelvyn bowed his head, and the Great One was gone when he looked up again. He sat again for a moment, feeling very uncertain now that the moment had come. Then he saw that Kharendaen was watching him, and he leaned forward quickly to rub his cheek against hers. The best parting, he thought, would be a quick one, sparing no time for painful farewells.
'I will be back as soon as I can,' he assured them. 'Keep the dragons out of danger until I return.'
'Remember me,' Kharendaen called after him as he moved farther out into the clearing.
Thelvyn looked back at her, surprised by her words. 'How could I ever forget you?'
Spreading his wings, he crouched low and then sprang upward, launching himself into the air. He circled once to gather speed, then climbed quickly toward the dark form of the Citadel of the Ancients standing on the side of the peak high above. The others watched him for as long as they could, but after a few moments, he
