We were in a meeting in the map room as it had come to be called. Twas nothing more than a report on the trade and how well it was doing. I think it was an excuse to come to Dragonhaven and drink. One of them said something and zoomed into the area in question to explain his point. Then it hit me. I had made it so that anyone could use my magic. I mean, yes, I knew it, but I didn’t think on it.

I was still sitting on my throne when Dorvus found me that evening.

“Michael?”

“Hmm?” I started. “Sorry, I was lost in thought.”

He cocked his head to the side. “I be seein that. What be botherin ya?”

“Not bother. I wish to try something. Can you build me a pair of archways that face each other. Large enough for an centaur to walk through about ten feet apart?”

He looked at me strangely. “Where ya be needin em?”

“I don’t know. Just somewhere private. Maybe in one of the empty storerooms back at my place.” I said, then paused. “If you build them there, will you be able to get them out?”

“I don’t be understandin, but yea, we could get them out. What ya be thinkin.”

“I am not sure yet. I think I may be changing the world again.”

“Oh, if that be all, then nothin new.” He laughed.

It was in the evening a week later when he came and told me it was done. I had a pretty good idea what I wanted to try, but I didn’t know if it would work. The ride back to my house was quiet as I think Dorvus sensed my mood. We made our way down to the storerooms and I saw the arches.

“Perfect.” I muttered.

“Thankee lord dragon.”

I walked around them studying them. Finally, I opened a portal, centering it on each arch. Then I tried to push the magic into the stone. And failed. The portal faded out.

I stared at them some more. I heard Dorvus shuffle his feet. I couldn’t figure out why it wouldn’t take. Both the calling crystals and the map crystal... wait. Crystals. I conjured two crystals and set one in the keystone point on each arch and tried it again. It worked. I found that only one crystal need be enchanted, but with both, it could be opened on either end. I walked through one arch and came out the other.

“Great goblin gods! What have ye done, Michael?”

I shut the portal down. “Walk up and touch the arch, Dorvus.”

He did and the portal reawakened. “Ya know, the world should be shakin because of this.”

I looked at him and sighed. “I know and this is just the start.”

“I think I may be more scared of ya now than I ere were before.” Dorvus said in a hushed voice.

So, one down. I made two more crystals and tried to link them. I had an idea in my mind of the old radios or cell phones. These would just use planar magic rather than a cell tower. I though on it further and made it so each was pretty much a transmitter and receiver. Then I walked across the room and placed one on the floor and the other across the room on the floor. I walked over by the door and thought to my crystal to contact the one on the right.

“Testing, testing.” I said

Out of the crystal on the right, my voice came out. “Testing, testing.”

The I checked the left one. I looked up and Dorvus was pale and shaking. “Ye don know wha ye do.” He said softly.

“Oh, I have a pretty good idea.” I said. “I will need to work on these some more. I think I will key the crystals to only certain people. Both the gates and the communication crystals.”

“Aye, that be wise.” He said, the shock wearing off. “Ya may want ta ha it make a noise so ya know someone be tryin to talk ta ya. It’d keep em from listenin in as well.”

“I was thinking about not letting them link unless you basically answered it.”

“So they wouldn’t work if ya just did whatever ya did. The other side would need ta let it work as well.”

“Less chance of them being abused, I think.” I said thoughtfully.

I picked the one off of the floor and enchanted the options, then handed it to Dorvus. “Here, this one can be yours. I think one for Haladoria and if they work, one for each of the nobles as well. I am not sure of the gates yet, but I think one in each town would be a good idea, if we keep them keyed to only certain people.”

“Aye, I wouldn’t let this get around to much till we know more about em.”

“I am also thinking of a map room in the towns as well, so we can keep an eye on the borders.”

Dorvus looked up at me for a minute. “Ya be thinking that trouble be comin?”

“Not really, but it would seem foolish not to expect it.” I shrugged “Besides, these are cheap, lives are not.”

“Aye. Well, I am for getting back now, I be thinkin.” Dorvus said with a shrug.

“Wait. One last thing. Can you have the blacksmith make me a steel tube with a hole about the size of my thumb about three feet long and about an inch and a half around?”

Dorvus shrugged. “Sure, I can do that.”

“Tell him to make it out of the hardest stuff that he has.”

“Do I wanna know what this be about?” Dorvus asked with a sigh.

“Probably not. I will probably be in town tomorrow at the Dragon Head. Maybe we can talk more then.”

“Aye, look forward to it.” Dorvus said as he headed out the door.

He stared at the portal gates and the com crystals then thought about the other idea. He shook off the melancholy feeling, then turned and went up the stairs.

“Master, how may I serve you? Ravina asked with a trace of husk in her voice.

I smiled and started to leave, then I thought about it. “Tell me, are you and the girls wishing to be entertained?”

Her face lit up. “Yes master. Which of us do you desire this eve?”

I smiled slightly “All of you.”

I entertained them all. Twice each. A few three times. Until they were all passed out on the bed. I admit I used them to break my mood and it worked somewhat. I gazed upon their smiling sleeping faces and felt my spirits lift.

Flying up to the caldera, Arienach spoke.

“You are going to alter this world in ways no one can predict, you know this.”

“I am well aware. I do not know why, but I am ill at ease.”

Arienach chuckled. “May have been something you ate.”

“No, the blond was quite tasty as was the red head.”

Arienach laughed. “They have quite the tale then, how they were eaten by a dragon and lived to tell of it.”

I laughed as well. “Good night old friend. Methinks the lava calls to me.”

“Sleep well, Michael. I must say that it has been very rewarding knowing you.”