I decided to fly to the meeting with the dragons. I gave me time to think. While we were coming along nicely as a group, things like patrolling the borders and being able to contact each other in case of an emergency... or in case of a curious dragon showing up... about the same thing, actually, would be next on the to do list. I thought back to earth and wondered if the crystals I had been conjuring would be able to be enchanted to work like cell phones. Without the mindless games and such. I let my mind wander those channels until I saw that I was nearing the keep where Shryke said he had ran into them.

Opening my “radar”, I was going to have to figure out another name for it, I spotted them moonward and to the south. It would seem they were nervous about entering any of our claimed lands. I wondered about that. I met them at the border, no fire was exchanged this time.

“Greetings, what may I do for you this day.” I said with a smile.

“Hello Arienach.” Viennarinia said flatly.

I chuckled. “Tis good to see you too, Viennarinia.”

“We wish to come see what you are up to.”

“Up to? I told you before what I was doing.”

“It doesn’t ring true, Arienach. I think you are trying to take over this world.”

“One question,” I said as my smile faded. “If I wanted to take over this world, just what could stop me? I mean seriously.”

The two other dragons looked at each other nervously.

“I would stop you!” Viennarinia exclaimed.

I merely smiled at her. “How?” I waited a few moments, then added. “What level are you?”

She looked pissed. “I am level 3286.”

I chuckled. “Less than I thought. I would work on that a bit if I were you.”

She scoffed, so I added. “Something like maybe five thousand or so, you might be able to put up a fight.”

One of the other dragons asked. “What level?”

I looked at them all. “I am level 8764"

Viennarinia’s wings stopped for a moment before she caught herself. “No way.”

“Yes way.” I paused then continued. “Why do you think I started this project? I am bored out of my mind.”

“But... you could have...”

“Absolutely nothing. I already have planets to travel to, gold for the taking... with not a damn thing to spend it on. I have no challenge anymore. I can destroy a continent with a thought. But as I said, I cannot build. If you truly are curious, come with me. I will show you what the lesser races have to offer. I seek the subtle magic now, not to destroy, but to be able to create. For all I have, I have nothing.”

The white dragon spoke. “I think I understand. I will follow you.”

The Bronze agreed. “I as well.”

Viennarinia looked at them. “Then go. I will not be a part of this.” Then she turned and flew off. I felt a cold chill as I watched her leave. I shook it off and turned to the other two dragons.

“Might I know your names?”

“I am called Imar.” The white one spoke.

“And I am Tirreg.” The bronze added.

“Tis good to meet you. All I ask is that you harm no one.”

They looked at each other, then nodded. We flew to Dragonhaven in silence.

I landed first and shifted and they followed suit. Tirreg was large and broad, looking like a barbarian. His hair was the color of his scales. Imar was an albino, tall and thin. He drew the eye as his skin almost glowed. His white hair down to the middle of his back.

They surveyed the harbor and the docks in silence for a few minutes. Then Imar asked.

“Did you have them build this?”

“I told them I wanted a place to trade. I was thinking of the docks, but the rest they added.”

“You allowed it?” Tirreg asked.

“They are not my servants. They asked if some of them could stay and I told them to build as they would.”

Tirreg looked at me strangely. “Why?”

I chuckled. “What could I build? Seriously. They have made this land into a work of art.”

We walked around the harbor, the dragons stopping to look at a shop, a carving, a statue or even the paintings. One time they stopped at a local eatery and had some meat rolls while listening to a group of street singers.

Imar was watching a group working on a building and asked. “There are dwarves with elves and drow. I knew not that they even tolerated each other.”

“Normally they don’t. But they have changed since coming here. I really do not understand why, completely, but there have been no real problems since this town was built. Calalistos, down to the south is the same way now.”

“Passing strange.”

We started up the main street towards the valley to my lair. Again we stopped at odd times to see the sights. The rings that I had wondered about at their making turned out to be set for trees and they were growing rapidly. We stopped off at the Dragon Head and I introduced them to Elven Brandy. There was a bard there, so we listened to her tales for a while.

We continued till we were almost to the entrance of the valley and then they spotted the dragons carved into the mountains.

Tirreg exclaimed in a rather subdued voice. “Those are magnificent.”

“Aye.” Imar agreed.

Tirreg then looked squarely at me. “I see now what Viennarinia is so afraid of.”

I looked up startled. “Afraid?” I felt the chill again.

He chuckled. “Yes, afraid. You are changing the very way this world works. These people live in peace alongside dragons. They are growing to be less peasants and more free thinking.”

“Why would that scare her?”

“Because it is happening without us.”

“I don’t understand.”

“You wouldn’t. Nothing can touch you. In the end, the dragons will have little choice. Either join you or be left out. You are taking over the world, just not by conquest. The world is changing and if the others, whatever race they may be, do not join, then they will be left behind.”

“I see. Is this a bad thing that I do?”

Imar laughed. “No, that is the problem. If it were a threat, it could be battled. You lift up the land and the people. Even if you went away, they would keep this.”

“I never thought on it like that.”

“You know not what you have started. It will not be a boring time, that I am sure of. I would join with you.” Tirreg stated “I would as well. It is interesting how they serve you of their own free will.” Imar agreed.

“They live their lives and I simply observe. I am there to help when they need it, as when the black sails attacked and they are there for me. We will be leaving soon to free the island of Torgos.”

“Torgos?” Imar asked.

I sighed. “The black sails came from Torgos, it appears some king decided to expand his domain and sent a fleet to attack us. I stopped them and found out where they were based out of. He tried to take the rest of the island over as well, and that was prevented. The elves of Torgos, the Estaria are now allied with us to take this king down.”

“How hard can it be, we fly over and level the place.” Tirreg said.

“Not that simple. There are a lot of innocents there. It is hard to have free will without people.” I chuckled. “We are going to weed out the rats, then turn it back over to the proper owners.”

“Sounds overly complicated, but then again, it also does sound like a challenge. Would you like some help?” Tirreg said.

“I would go as well, I wish to see how you would do this.” Imar said.

“Well, I can show you what we have in mind, I would see what you suggest.”

We went to the chamber and I brought up the map. Imar stared at the crystal in the ceiling, then at me.

“How did you put your planar sight into a crystal?” He asked.

“Would you believe that I am not entirely sure?” I replied. “I just thought of what I wanted and then imprinted it in the crystal.”

“Interesting. I think you have surpassed your race limits.” He said.

Tori flew in a few moments later. “Michael, the other were wondering where you were, I will go fetch them.” And flew back out.

I shrugged. “I guess you will get to meet the rest of the crew.”

Dorvus, Cornal, Haladoria, Darhla and Shryke accompanied her back. I waited till they were all seated.

“I would like to introduce Tirreg and Imar. Two ancient dragons that will be joining us.”

Shryke hissed. “I know of you Tirreg.”

“And I of you Shryke.” Tirreg laughed.

“Well, the rest of the people are Darhla, Dorvus of the clan Rockheld and his second Cornal, Haladoria of the Horiel clan and the little one is Tory, the leader of the local fay.”

“You keep interesting friends Michael.” Tirreg grinned.

“I trust this is not a problem between the two of you.”

“Not unless Shryke there holds old injuries against me. I hold no ill will against him. I found him to be quite the brave to stand against an ancient in defense of his mate.”

Shryke spoke. “It is done. I will not hold it. We were dragons being dragons. I hope we can move beyond that now.”

Tirreg shrugged. “After what I have seen here, I can but try. I believe this may just be the hope for our people.”

Shryke’s eyes widened but he didn’t speak. Darhla snuggled in next to him.

I looked at both of them wondering what the story might be, but knew better than to ask. We had a tentative truce, so just move on.

“Now, this is what we have planned.” I said.

A few hours later, we had decided that Tirreg would go with Alistor and if he could recruit the clan at Veirania, so much the better. If not, Imar would hold the side. I conjured a calling stone for both Tirreg and Imar. And then opened a portal for Alistor. He eyed it warily, but stepped through. When he called, I would reopen it and if he didn’t come through, I would go fetch him. That meant that they tried to detain him and it would not go well for their town.

We sat and waited as the hour grew late. Finally I received the call. I opened the port and Alistor stepped though.

“Welcome back.”

He chuckled. “It was trying to hammer a nail with a twig, but I convinced them. They were not too fond of having a dragon along, once they finally believed that a dragon would actually help them and not eat them, but they will do it.”

I sighed with relief. “Then I will send you and Rainia back... where is she by the way?”

Haladoria spoke up. “She was in the library last I saw her.”

Alistor laughed. “Let her know that we will be back for her. If she found a library, we have lost her.”

I chuckled. “I understand. I will be up there to get your people into place. I will let you decide when to move. The rest should be in place.”

I opened a portal and he stepped though.

“Haladoria, how long to get the ships ready?”

“Send me back now and they will be ready by dawn.” She replied.

She kissed me on the cheek and left with the next portal.

“I already have our people in place. You probably need to get those ships there first. Then come back for us. I will meet you at the pad at first light.” Dorvus said as I turned to him.

“That works. Oh! We need lairs for Tirreg and Imar.”

“No problem. Just enter the inner ring and there is a line of them around the very entrance just inside.” Dorvus told them.

“If you need anything for them, let me know.”

“I thank you, sir dwarf.” Tirreg said.

“I as well.” Agreed Imar.

“I just be called Dorvus. I leave the sirs and lords to Michael.” He chuckled.

“Hey, don’t get them started too.” I said with a chuckle.

“I would not think of it.... lord dragon.” Imar said with a smirk.