"I will give what help I can, but..." Kallaayt gave Arragh a twisted smile. "But you think me foolish and ill-advised dragon." Arragh shook his great head. "I think you disregard how shifting saps power and strength, and because of this may put yourself, and this human female, in danger." Dark green eyes flashed sapphire blue. "You think me young and reckless!" Arragh stilled Kallaayt's arm with sheathed claws. A hundred was young in dragon time, and Kallaayt had ever been prone to taking offense. "Not that. I killed two innocent, human women before I brought my Myfanwy back to our world. Would you carry that on your soul?" Kallaayt stared in shock for several long seconds. "Not, you! Their own people slaughtered them!" "And if I had never entered their land, they would still be spinning and weaving by their own firesides." "You entered their land to bring back a fertile mate." "Yes." A slow smile curved Arragh's wide mouth. "I did." As if on cue, Myfanwy and a group of females appeared from one of the caves in the valley. As they passed beneath the two dragons perched on the crater, the females waved. Kallaayt's dragon sight caught the smile Myfanwy flashed Arragh's way, before she walked on, her swollen belly ripe with young dragon. Arragh followed her with his eyes. "A most worthy mate," he said as if to himself. "Gwen is equally worthy." A dragon would have to be deaf and senseless to miss the affront in those four words. "You have chosen her. How could any one of us doubt? My question is not her worth, but her acceptance of your nature. Never forget, humans are taught to fear and despise us." "Myfanwy does not fear you." "Not now, but when she first saw me..." "She was afraid?" "Terrified! I smelt her fear from a hundred meters. They had her lashed to a tree, while her cowardly brothers fled to save their own worthless hides. She was petrified, but looked me in the eye and never flinched. Then, Kallaayt was when I fell in love." Arragh smiled. "I wish that same joy to every unmated dragon among us, but never forget humans use tales of ravening worms to frighten their children. We are the bogey men of their nightmares. What if your Gwen cannot accept your true nature?" "Myfanwy did." "Yes." Arragh nodded, "But she knew me as dragon from the first. Gwen believes you human, a wandering trader. She may take fright when you reveal yourself. "Not Gwen. She has courage enough to accept, and loves me. Last harvest, she agreed to wait for me." Arragh forbore to point out she'd agreed to wait for Kall the trader, not a dreaded worm of destruction. "When will you leave for her?" "Less than a sennight. Even now, I gather my wares. Marbra and the others have prepared treen to trade. Rarrp has made me fine clay vessels. Even your Myfanwy has turned shell buttons for me to carry. They all wish me success." How could they not? The whole mountain was agog with the prospect
of the first live birth after five decades. The expectation of a
second fecund female was enough to turn everyone's heads - including
young Kallaayt's. "I wish you and your chosen well, but ask
that you not go "You think me incapable?" Sweet Goddess preserve him from young dragons with tender egos! "Not that at all! Two minds are always better than one. Why not take your brother?" A snort greeted that suggestion. "Kallauwn? I can find a bride by myself!" "Bringing Gwen back is but part of your quest. Humans and
their towns are changeable and unpredictable. Who knows what may
have happened since you were there? Ask Kallauwn to accompany you
as far as Tintawn. He can wait there. If you need him, summon him."
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