I decided to ride into town. I had been just flying or porting from place to place, that I had missed what was going on around me. I stopped at each of the buildings around my home and explored. The first one they had completed was an arena or a meeting place, I wasn’t sure which. It rather reminded me of the Colosseum. The others were not completed, but I found inside of them a bunch of rooms.

The trip into town was done at a slow pace. I found many stakes in the ground and finally took the horse off the main road and went to look at the pattern they formed. In closer to my lair, I found them quite close together with spaces in between them. They led around the lair mountain in concentric circles. The pattern repeated itself as I moved farther out. Further out, the land wasn’t subdivided as much and I had little trouble seeing that it was laid out as farm lands.

Returning to the road, I made my way to the valley. Just inside the start of the valley, to either side, there was towers with a wall being built. I couldn’t help but think that they had taken my idea about developing around the lair and ran with it. Since I gave them no constraints, it would be a time of discovery for me as each piece of the puzzle was built.

The valley itself had been smoothed at the base. I had carved the valley with fire balls so it wouldn’t have the smooth polished look that magma left. More natural. They had cut into the sides and made an inner wall that was carved, of course, with dragons. They had also added all the races that inhabited the land as well, and the completed designs showed everyone working together in harmony. I rather liked it. I noticed doors in either side, wide spaced and as I let my gaze travel upwards, I found windows. The first two layers were nothing more than slits, but above that there were tall wide windows and in some cases, patios carve into the sides.

I had told the dwarves to move in and they had done a very complete job of it. I stopped the horse and tied it of to a pillar set into the ground with a ring on top of it. The pillar was carved into the likeness of a dragon. Seems to be that the entire empire had a thing for dragons now. Making my way into one of the doors on the left side, it wasn’t long before someone found me. After saying I wished to see Dorvus, I was led across the road and to a door further back. We went into the corridors making rights and lefts, seemingly at random, till we arrived before a plain wooden door. My guide turned and left.

“Ah, greetins lord dragon.” He said as he opened the door. “It be good ta see ya.”

“Greetings lord dwarf, it be good to see you as well.”

He laughed and motioned for me to come it. The room we entered looked as if it could would fit in with any large apartment on old earth. Neatly done with decorations here and there. There was a long couch and a few overstuffed chairs set around a large round coffee table.

“Would you be needing anything?”

I glanced up and my eyes widened. It was another of the elf slaves that I had rescued.

“Nay Felicia. No, come ta think on it, bring us some coffee.”

I glanced over at Dorvus. “Coffee?”

“It be a black drink that may help ta wake ya up.”

“I know what coffee is, I just didn’t realize you had it here.”

“Ah, be a poorer world that does nay have coffee, Michael.”

Felicia returned with two steaming cups. She smiled at me when she sat them down. “Will you need anything else?” Looking me in the eyes.

“Arg, don’t be stealin my servants, dragon.”

I laughed and asked Felicia. “How is the old dwarf treating you?”

“Oh, I have all I could ask for here. He treats us all well and we have money to spend now. The others don’t look down on us, either.” She said enthusiastically.

I chuckled. “I suppose I should look into paying my help. I hadn’t thought.”

Dorvus laughed. “It be taken care of dragon. We knows ya have a lot on yer mind.”

I smiled as I looked at Dorvus “Out of curiosity. How many of that group made it here?”

He shook his head. “Eventually, most everyone, including a few that had been in the slave pens we took out. They were not welcome with their own people because they were soiled.”

“And you found them all work?”

“Yea, Tirreg and Imar took a couple a piece. From what they be saying, those dragons spoil em rotten. Haladoria and I took a few ourselves and the others found jobs.”

I smiled, then frowned as I got a summons from Calalistos. “Sorry, but I have to go, I just got called from Calalistos.”

Dorvus frowned. “Ya better get goin lad, last time it were black sails.”

“I will let you know when I know.”

I ported and found myself on my landing pad... with seven dragons facing me and a few more flying behind them. Haladoria came running up from the stone to stand with me, which didn’t do much for my nerves.

“Michael, these dragon just flew in and started asking for you.” She said breathlessly.

I looked back around to the dragons. “I am called Michael. What may I do for you?”

An old green ancient spoke. “I be Noregus. We come to tell you that Viennarinia has been stirring up trouble. She is saying that you are wanting to take over the world and make all the dragons slaves.”

I was stunned. “Slaves?”

“Yes.” Noregus continued. “She says you trick dragons into joining you and then tie them to the people of the lands so they cannot escape. Is this true?”

I shook my head. “No. Just a moment.” I took out my crystal and called Dorvus. “Dorvus, can you get the other dragons down here as fast as possible? Seems their friends are worried about them.” After he acknowledged, I turned back to Noregus. “Can you shift so your friends can land? We have a while before the others can make it here.” Then turning to Haladoria. “Could you fetch us some brandy? This might take a while.”

Noregus shifted as well as the others and they were a motley group. They grouped on the dock and didn’t wander too far, but pointed at this and that, talking with each other. Many seemed fascinated with the statue and it’s calling stone. After the brandy arrived and was passed around, they seemed to relax a bit. It was over an hour and a half later when Tirreg, Imar and Shryke came flying in.

“What’s up Michael?” Shryke said as he landed.

I laughed. “Greetings slave.”

“What the hell? What are you talking about?” He took a step back in shock.

Noregus looked at him, sizing him up. “Viennarinia claims you are enslaved here.”

Shryke looked at me puzzled, but it was Imar who broke in. “Noregus, what the hell are you doing here? I didn’t think your fat ass could leave your cavern.”

Noregus jumped a bit. “Imar?”

“Yes, this is me. What the hell is that silly bitch going on about? We are here because we want to be.”

“You want to be amongst these...”

“People, Noregus. They are people. And we are learning much from them.” Imar said firmly.

“People? But they are weak.”

“Yes and we are fools. Your point?”

I noticed as we talked that the others had been drawing closer. “Haladoria, could you bring us some more brandy, this might take a while.”

She laughed at me then kissed my cheek, causing a stir amongst the other dragons, and skipped off to the bar for our refills. The dragons weren’t quite arguing. It was close, but it wasn’t an argument. I noticed upon Haladoria’s return, they mellowed somewhat. It was strange having Imar, Shryke and Tirreg arguing in my stead, but I figured if I stayed out of it, it would carry more weight.

Haladoria slipped over next to me and whispered in my ear. “I have the bard going to your arena.”

I turned to her smiling and kissed her. “Thank you.”

She grinned. “Maybe we need more invading dragons, I liked that.”

I rolled my eyes at her, then turned to the crowd. “Okay! Have we decided that the dragons here don’t wear collars yet?”

Noregus had the grace to look embarrassed. “Yes.”

“What say we take a flight. I would show you this land if you would. There is also a bard who will perform at the Lair’s Arena if you wish to listen.”

“Denora is going to sing?” Shryke asked. “Oh yes, let’s go!”

I found it strange that Shryke knew her name and I didn’t. “We can stop where you would and we will answer any questions you might have. If you so wish.”

They talked amongst themselves and two shifted and flew away.

Imar came over to me. “Let us do this. Viennarinia has been working to turn them against you. Better if you are not along, I think.”

“You still have your stones, correct?”

“Yes, we will call if we have any trouble.” He smiled. “This is better than I had thought it to be.”

“You expected this?”

“I expected much worse. I will contact you when we reach your theater and you can join us. Looks like they are ready to go. Wish us luck.”

I watched as they flew off, my mind a whir. Haladoria started to lead me away and I followed numbly. We walked past the pub and to a large home towards the center of town. As we walked in, we were met by her new servants.

“May we serve you this day?” One asked.

Haladoria looked up at me with a wicked grin. “Oh yes ladies. We have to sooth a savage beast here, methinks it will take all of us to tame him.”