The Dragon’s Mage

humans were not worthy of their attention.  We reap what we have sown.

I have never felt that way.  But it is a common feeling of the council.  She felt him sigh and pull her closer.  I am sorry little one. 

You forget that other things have changed as well.  Ladon mind spoke from behind them.  Dragons have found their mates among the human mages.  She will not be the last that finds sanctuary among our kind.

 Eben was thoughtful as he looked to the future.

Yes.  He finally said his voice thoughtful.  This will change things.

Ladon laughed.  Too right.  What do you think the mate-less among us will do when they find out that their mate could be among the Human mages?  Human mages that are being wiped from existence?

They will be at the Councils door, demanding the right to hunt.  Eben groaned.  There will be war with the humans.

Morgans mind voice was tentative.  With the Dark Mages maybe.  The humans without power won’t fight the dragons.  Certainly not over the magic users among them, they have already shown that.  Once the dark mages are gone, all you’d have to do is ask for them.  They’d be delivered to your door.  The last was bitter, but Ladon did not notice it.

Brilliant, little falcon.  Ladon laughed again.  We’ll just pick the ones we want and send the others back.

The ones you want?  As in the ones you can mate?  There was no mistaking the anger behind the question and the wind was suddenly turning cold around them...  What if they don’t want to be mate to a dragon?  They have no say in it?  And what happens to the others? You just send them back to certain death?

His mind voice came back in a confused sputter. Eben ended the discussion.

Clearly, we will have to think on this problem.  It is not something that can be decided between just the three of us.

Will I have a say in that discussion?  This time the bitterness was more than apparent.  Will any mage?  Or will dragons decide the fate of mage kind?

If you know nothing else, know that your happiness will always be at the forefront of my thoughts.

And mine.  Ladon seconded.

And that means what?

Your causes are our causes.  You will have a voice in any discussion that is vital to you, even if it is through our lips.

Morgan felt the truth in his thoughts and could breathe again.  The winds around them warmed noticeably.  A tendril curled around them like a warm caress across his scales.  Thank you Eben.

What he said.

She laughed.  Thank you too, Ladon.

Eben was sure she had no idea of what her power was doing.  With their mating, she had grown in power so much that the elements seemed to be but an extension of her feelings.  When she mastered her control, she would be a force to be reckoned with.

When they had come far enough on their journey Morgan lifted her face to the wind and breathed deep.  They are to the South.  Far from here.  Farther than they should be.  She was worried and it was clear in her voice.  Around them clouds began to form.

Little heart you must control your magic or we will soon be drenched.

 She looked at Eben, clearly surprised.  He felt her confusion and then she took a firmer grasp on her leaking magic.  It was harder than it should have been.  There was more contained inside her than ever before.

You are more than you were.  Sharing blood with dragons is no small thing.  Your powers are growing and your control must grow with it. 

She concentrated hard until her magic was once again locked tight away deep inside her.  It did not sit comfortably as it once had.  Always before she had needed to concentrate to use her magic, now, it was more like she had to concentrate not to use it.

What is it you fear?

The Dark Mages reside in the Valley of Silence, far to the South.  We all know that direction is death, but it feels as if that’s where they went.

You sense them?  Can you speak to them?

No.  I do not have that power.  I can feel that they’re all in that direction and I can feel that they still live, but that is the extent of it. 

Ladon sent a wave of reassuring warmth through her thoughts.  Whatever we face, we face together.  We will get them back.

Morgan pulled that warmth around her like a cloak, even as she pressed her head into Ebens soft scales.  Hurry please.  There’s no good reason for them to be where they are.

Eben pulled her in tighter, his tail a firm anchor around her middle.  She was cradled safe in his arms, but he could not protect her heart if something happened to the hatchlings.  The thought was unacceptable to both Dragons.

They wasted no more time on leisurely flight; instead, both unfurled power until their wings rode magic rather than wind.  They reached the last mountain peak overlooking the Valley of Silence before the afternoon was half-gone.  Unlike the mountains and valleys they had passed, all that was before them was flat and barren.  Even the mountains were a stark skeleton of rocks and dirt.  An eerie shadow of what should have been.

They stood together at the precipice, Morgan, with Eben and Ladon in their man forms, looking out across the desert that was once green fields.  It rivaled in many ways Ebens mountain fortress with high walls and grand towers, but where Ebens was a part of the mountain it was carved from, this castle and its walls was made of ebony glass that cut the life from the land.  There was one road tattooed across the sand that led to the first walled city of the blood mage.  None but the magnull and their soldiers crossed it voluntarily.  All others came in prison wagons to be presented, sacrifices for the dark mages power.  And this was only one of four such atrocities that scarred the land.

Morgans face had gone white, even the dragons couldn't contain their reaction.  They were repulsed by the death that surrounded the place like a cloud of evil vapor.  Such a killing of the land was anathema to their kind.  The Earth was the great mother from which all life sparked.  This was a clear rape of that life and it hurt to see it.

“I knew that the Magic had flown, but this...”  Ebens voice was rough.

“He has them.”  Morgan said flatly, her voice breaking only a little.  “He has my family in that place of nightmares.”

Ladon pulled her against his side without looking away from the death before them.  “Then we get them out.  Now.”

It took Eben another minute to deal with the rage that flowed.  That the dragons in their arrogance had allowed this to happen was offensive.  That it should continue, inconceivable.  The council had to be notified, but he could not leave an innocent within those walls for another minute.

“We will bring out your younglings.”  Eben said his voice an angry whip of dragon fire.  “Then we take this travesty to the council.  One way or another, this time of dark mages will be ended.”  He pointed to the barren wasteland before them.  “This will not stand.”  Then he turned back to Morgan.  “You will stay here.”

There was no room for argument, or discussion, they could all feel his utter refusal to have his mate enter such a place, even at his side.  He would let the world burn around them before he allowed that.  Ladon was in complete agreement.

Morgan wanted to argue, but she felt their resolve and she would not waste the time.  Instead, she pulled away from Ladon and stepped back.  “Go.  Hurry please; get them out of that place.  I'll stay here.  Just bring them