“Now,” he murmured. “We can go home.”
Epilogue
Khollo slid down from Kanin’s back, his booted feet landing with a muffled thump on the square of exposed stone before the great hall of the Keepers, the same space he and Kanin had uncovered when they first came to Ethgalin. A few vines were trying to bury the stones again already, but Kanin put an end to that with a quick burst of flame.
Home, the dragon said contentedly, looking around.
“Yes,” Khollo agreed. “Home.”
Kanin paced majestically across the ancient courtyard, looking curiously at the great hall with its multitude of columns, ensnared by the jungle. Khollo stood where he was, thinking. So much had changed since that fateful day he freed Kanin. He had awakened an ancient legacy, ended a war, and destroyed an enemy stronghold. No small feat for a boy of eighteen years.
Not a boy, a Keeper, Khollo reminded himself.
And that was the heart of the problem. Freeing Kanin had led to many wonderful things, but now Khollo was stuck halfway between his old life and his new life. On one hand, he would like nothing better than to return to the West Bank and spend his days in the company of his friends, and his uncle. But he could not keep Kanin at the West Bank. The dragon would never be happy there, with all of the people and crowds and noise. And Khollo knew he could not abandon Ethgalin. He loved the island too much, loved the peace and the natural beauty of the Keepers’ stronghold.
What now? Kanin asked, looking back at Khollo.
Khollo shrugged. I don’t know. We have all the time in the world now.
But what do we do with it? Where do we start? Kanin wondered.
The northern mountains? Khollo suggested. Begin our search for more dragons?
Eventually, maybe, Kanin agreed. But I would prefer to stay on Ethgalin for now. We have earned a rest, I think.
I agree, Khollo said quickly. We can spend a few weeks here before we visit the continent again.
Exploring? Kanin asked hopefully.
And restoring, Khollo promised, kneeling and ripping up a cluster of vines. The jungle will have to be tamed.
No small task, Kanin observed. We should explore first, find out what all is here.
Very well. Did you have any particular place in mind?
Follow the stone path?
Khollo looked south, towards the end of the clearing opposite the Keepers’ hall. Why not?
The young warrior began walking along the clearing, looking around with every step, searching the jungle. Kanin followed at his side, sniffing curiously, occasionally flaming particularly thick patches of green for his amusement.
At the far end of the courtyard, Khollo stopped, puzzled. There was a low wall before him, roughly waist high, for which he could see no purpose. As he made to climb over it, Kanin roared suddenly, quivering with excitement.
What is it, Kanin? Khollo asked, concerned.
Look with your eyes, Kanin said. The wall rings a great pit, covered by the jungle, like the roof of the library.
Khollo realized that Kanin was right. The vines were thick enough that Khollo had not realized this was not just a random clearing. The total absence of trees in the space should have clued him in that something was amiss though.
Kanin snorted, then breathed a gentle stream of flame over the web of creepers, watching them shrivel and turn to ash in glittering streams of fire. Bit by bit, he revealed a dark hole, large enough for multiple dragons to enter at once.
What is this? Khollo wondered, excited by their find.
A council chamber for dragons? Kanin asked, peering into the gloom. It is certainly large enough.
Khollo scrambled up Kanin’s foreleg eagerly. Let’s check it out.
Kanin spread his wings and descended slowly into the pit, sustaining a small fire between his jaws that gave them some light and cast eerie shadows on the walls. By the feeble light, Khollo could make out curving walls that disappeared into the gloom to the left and right, creating a great conical chamber many dragon lengths across.
The air became stiflingly hot as they descended until at last Kanin landed on a stone floor, claws clacking noisily in the silent darkness. Khollo dismounted, noticing as he did that much of the walls were too far away to see and the hole through which they had entered was little more than a tiny glittering dot high above.
We are deep in the earth, Kanin said reverently. This heat makes me feel alive.
I’m glad someone is enjoying it, Khollo replied, wiping sweat from his brow. What is this place?
There is another chamber ahead, Kanin said softly. But no fresh air comes from there. I think it is small with only the one entrance. And there are no other entrances to this larger chamber, he added, turning in a slow circle.
So a place only dragons can reach, Khollo mused. A place only Keepers could reach. What do you think is in the smaller chamber? Can you see anything?
I cannot, Kanin reported. What would the Keepers have stored down here? Treasure, perhaps?
Let’s take a look, Khollo said impulsively, stepping forward. He stopped as Kanin grunted in laughter.
What?
You are going the wrong way. Turn to your left and try again, the dragon replied, still chuckling quietly.
Khollo sighed with frustration. Why don’t you lead, Kanin? After all, this place was clearly meant for dragons.
Kanin paced slowly across the hall. As he moved, he increased his flame so that they could see more easily. By the faint light, Khollo saw the vague outline of an archway, large enough for two or three dragons of Kanin’s size
