Graniel was deep in thought on the way back to the village. His mind was screaming to him that he had just talked with Arienach. The destroyer. The king of the dragons. Why did it call itself Michael? He figured it didn’t matter. He could call himself anything he wanted, he was still Arienach. His mind was going in circles as he remembered the stories of the five elven armies that had marched out to fight the winged menace. The dragon killed them all, supposedly with one breath. Judging from the size of it, it didn’t sound so far fetched as when he heard it as a young elf. The story went on to tell of the dragon finding each of the lands that had sponsored the mission and destroying them as well. He hadn’t felt warm since he saw the great dragon. His body was sweating, but his soul felt cold. He felt again the stone that rode in his pack. It was probably worth a kings ransom. For the good it did.

Those were his thoughts as he rode into the village. The people excited as they saw the cattle only to stop cold at the look on his face. He didn’t notice. The rest had stopped, but he continued on. On to see Haladoria. She had come from her hut like a ray of sunshine through the clouds. He smiled grimly, enjoying seeing her, but thinking that he may have just bargained away her life. Her and her peoples life.

“Graniel?”

She hadn’t said more than his name, but the tone had asked several questions. She saw his state and understood right away that something was not right.

“Lady, I brought you cattle and possibly our downfall.”

“Please explain, Graniel.”

“I met Arienach. Those are his. He gave them to us with the… request… to see our village and to meet with you.”

“Arienach? The destroyer?”

“He called himself Michael, but he was… he was huge and silver… I have never ever seen anything that size before. It had to be him. We had found a herd in the mountains and were bringing them back when he found us. He told me they were his. Then asked why we were taking them. I told him of the greenskins and our need… Then he offered us half. But he wishes to come here. I know not what for.”

“Arienach… He did not kill you but gave you cattle? No dragon has ever given anything besides death before. He spoke?”

“Aye, a great rumbling speech. I didn’t know that dragons could speak. He sounded… amused. But he was polite. He said he would see no one suffer. I don’t know what to think.”

“If it is him, what can we do?”

“What do you mean, milady?”

“He is the king of the dragons. If he wishes us, there is no where to hide. You did nothing, once he found you, he knew of us.”

“I could have gone elsewhere.”

“It is in the past. You have found food where there was none. The dragon? If he wished you dead, or us, we would already be there.”

It made Graniel stop. She was right. But what could the dragon possibly want?

“Milady, you ease my mind somewhat, but I can not feel easy on this. Who knows the ways of dragons? We didn’t even know they could speak.”

“We have no council left, so let us talk with the people. We do need to make a place for him, however. It is only polite. There is no way to avoid the meeting, but we may yet survive it. I take the sign of the cattle as good.”

He brought out the stone.

“When we are ready, this will call him.”

The both stared at the stone. Perfect. Glowing. It seemed to bring home the truth of the story.