It was early morning when the call came in from Calalistos. It shocked me awake, but I wasn’t quite focused. I felt a soft weight on my right side and in confusion, I reached over…

“Good morning to you too!” Haladoria said with a sleepy grin.”

I came fully awake at that point. “Um…”

“I take it you are not used to sleeping with company.”

I shook my head. “I just got a call from Calalistos. I am not quite awake yet.”

She shot out of bed and started to get dressed. I have to admit that I lost track of what I was doing, it was a sight to behold.

“You had better get moving lord dragon.”

With a sigh, I rolled out and dressed myself. “Spoil sport.”

She laughed.

By the time I was finished, she was waiting on me. She was even first through the portal, which I considered rather foolhardy. I followed her and almost ran into her. The dock was crowded, but not with dragons this time. There was a ship I recognized docked in close to my landing pad. Haladoria had made a bee line towards it. I followed at a more sedate pace, not seeing flames or multiple dragons this time. By the time I caught up to her, she was already greeting Lord Alistor.

“Greetings Lord Alistor. It is good to see you.” I said with a smile.

“Greetings Lord Dragon.” He said with a mischievous grin.

I just rolled my eyes.

He turned to Haladoria and said; “I see what you mean about it is fun to tease him.”

I sighed. “It’s a conspiracy now, I take it.”

They both just laughed.

“What brings you to our corner of the world?” I continued.

“I wish for you to come to Torgos and meet with the new council there. We would also like for you to bring a few of your winged friends as well.”

I laughed. “How many would you like to visit? We seemed to have picked up a few more residents here lately.”

He smiled. “As many as you please. The others of the council wish to meet you and any of them who want to visit.”

I shrugged. “I will ask them. When would you like for us to drop in?”

“As soon as possible. I was hoping to ride back with you.”

“I would be honored, but my neck is a bit large for you to sit comfortably.”

“True. I would be at the mercy of your smaller brethren, I suppose.”

“I doubt that will be a real problem. If you don’t mind waiting, I will go back up and see if any wish to come along. Methinks that Lady Haladoria will take care of you in my absence.”

“I would be honored.” Turning to Alistor. “Would you care for some brandy? Tis the dragon’s favorite.”

I laughed and ported back to Dragonhaven.

I found Imar first and we split up to find the others. Imar found a few in the lairs and I ran across Darhla and Shryke in Dragonhaven. All told we found about six ancients and one other adult. With Darhla and Shryke, we had about ten dragons, including Noregus, who was beyond curious. It was strange, but he seemed much happier than the first impression I had gotten of him that first day.

We took wing and I opened a portal to Calalistos. As we passed over, the streets were packed with people pointing up at us and cheering. The new dragons in the group were surprised at their greeting. I had them land one at a time and change. I followed and approached Alistor.

“Will ten do?” I smiled.

He seemed a little shocked. “That will be fine. I didn’t realize that many lived here.”

“They didn’t till recently. I am not sure if more will come or not, however. They do not trust in what I do here.”

“Uniting the people and the lands?”

“And making dragons aware that they can be more than winged destruction.”

“Why would that bother them?”

“I suppose that they are afraid of change. At least that seems to be what Imar thinks. The dragons are convinced that I will control this world. Whether I like it or not. Twould seem that the ones who fear this think they will be trapped here.”

“And if they are trapped, they will fight?”

“Wouldn’t you?”

“Yes. Yes I would. You do what you have to, to protect your people.”

“Precisely.” I sighed. “I may have a way to diffuse the situation, but it will take time to put it into place. I have yet to talk to the other dragons about it though.”

“Well, what say we go to Torgos and talk about this later? The others were rather anxious to talk to you.”

I was curious. “Why would they be anxious?”

He just smiled and shrugged.

I called over Shryke and Darhla to ask about playing transport. They were more than happy to. Darhla was to take Alistor and Shryke was to take Haladoria. The dragons took wing and circled, much to the delight of the crowd, and then formed up in a line. I took wing and flew to the front, opening a portal.

We came out over Harroina. While not the sendoff that we got from Calalistos, they were still happy to see dragons in their skies. Strange how much had changed in such a short time. Maybe the dragons were right to worry. As we overflew their town, they started running towards the villa.

Darhla canted to the right and started to glide down towards the villa where I had released the slaves and ended Ralph’s rule. She flew over it and landed on the plains behind it, where there was a group of people gathered. I stayed in the air as the dragons landed one by one. It gave me an opportunity to take a look at the gathering. There were Elves, a few dwarves, a small group of centaurs and humans. I smiled to myself at the mix. It gave me a sense of hope. Maybe they would sign a trade treaty with us.

When it came to be my turn, I was feeling playful, so I flew up till I was straight vertical, then let myself fall backwards till I was in a dive straight down. I opened my wings full and did a full turn in the air then pulled up into a hard bank, slightly descending. As I lined up where I wanted to land, I went to full kite of my wings and touched down… As I did, all of the dragons roared.

The people started to clap and cheer. I chuckled to myself, a year ago, they would have been running to hide if they heard a dragon roar. Now there were nine of them and they thought it a grand thing. I shifted and approached Alistor and the small group in the center of the ring of dragons. It was strange to see all of the other people mixed in with the dragons, a few taking shade and talking to them. I was smiling as I got to the group… when as one they all dropped to a knee and bowed.

“As the legal representatives of the lands of Torgos and the people herein, we hereby request entrance to the empire and swear fealty before the emperor, the most ancient Michael Arienach.”

I came to a dead stop. I suppose I would not have to worry about a trade agreement. Now what was I suppose to do? I looked around and the people all dropped to their knees. Then the dragons joined them in most formal bows. I sighed.

“First, let it be known that you will make your own laws and administer them. This land is yours and it is your responsibility. There will be no tax levied by me, nor patent against your lands. I only ask that you treat all creatures as brothers until they prove themselves different. I will take your fealty and I will become your servant as such. Your responsibility is to your land and yourselves, mine is to protect and to nurture you. I will say now, I am a dragon. Do not bow to me, but talk to me. It is not possible to do the work of the land on your knees.” I slowly looked around the circle. “Welcome to the dragon empire!”

The people roared almost as loud as the dragons.

Haladoria came running up and hugged me. “Did you know about this?” I asked.

She shook her head no, with tears coming down her cheeks. I put my arm around her waist and turned to the approaching delegation.

“Tis strange that all the years we thought ourselves so important, twasn’t till we stopped that were are venerated.”

I smiled at the thought.

“Greetings Lord Dragon!” Alistor had a huge grin as he said it.

I just stared at him for a few moments. “I suppose Michael is out of the question?”

Haladoria started laughing and after a moment, I joined her.

We moved our little meeting to the local pub. This would be one tradition that I would not discourage. After meeting and promptly forgetting the names of all of the leaders and nobles, we talked about what was needed for the land. It was summed up nicely in two words. Trading fleet. The only ships belonged to the people of Veirania and the few that the Estaria had which were not merchants. I smiled an opened a portal to my caldera. This time I pulled through four spheres, six inches across and gave one each to the town leaders. I had learned to plan ahead.

“I would also speak with an artist and the head shipwright of the Haversten ship yards.” I said, then thought for a few. “I also want a building commissioned. Octagonal in shape with twenty foot ceilings as the minimum. On each of the interior walls, I want archways built with a triangular cap stone as large as you can make them. In the middle, I want a bare circular floor at least thirty feet in diameter with enough room around it to have seating.”

“This sounds a strange building, but we will do it. I will send for the artist, the shipwright is already here somewhere.” Alistor said.

“I think I saw him back at the villa talking to David earlier.” Haladoria added.

“Yes, he was wanting to know if we would send him lumber. He was also talking of a dock.” David was smiling. “Thank you Michael.”

I looked up at him, curiously. “For what?”

“For saving our land from the pirates and our souls from ourselves.” David said. “We never worked together like this before.”

I didn’t know what to say. I was saved as the artist came into the room. I had her start a sketch that after the first broad strokes had everyones attention. She was almost finished with the side view when the shipwright walked in.

“What the bloody hell? Who’s idea of a jest is that?”

I chuckled. “It’s mine.”

“Well, you need to stick to ruling then. That thing won’t support a decent set of masts, especially for it’s size.” He looked like he was trying to teach a two year old.

“Well, it won’t need masts.”

He just stared at me. “Are all of you dragons crazy?”

I pulled another sphere of gold from my lair and handed it to him. “Just start laying the hull, surely you have built ships for eccentric people with too much gold before?”

He was about to say something when Alistor caught his eye and shook his head no. “Remember where those carriages were built. I would suggest you might want to start laying that hull.”

I smiled. “Tell you what. Build a ten foot long model of it, first.”

He picked up the sketches and walked out muttering to himself.

Haladoria looked to the artist. “Could you draw another set of those? I have seen what that crazy dragon can do.” She said with a grin. Then she looked up at me. “By chance does this have anything to do with that sketch you gave the blacksmith the other day?”

I smiled back at her. “Now whatever gave you that idea, my dear?”

She smacked me on the shoulder and I laughed.

It was a few hours later when Alistor came up to me. “One last thing I would ask of you. What do you want done about the oath breakers?”

“I would have thought that you would have taken care of them. What would you suggest?”

“They are good people for the most part. We didn’t invite them to the governing of the land because their offense was with you, Michael.”

“I see.” I thought for a few moments. “I will go talk with them. If they have lost their bigotry, I will bring them back, will that be acceptable?”

“If that is your wish.”

“No… You have to live with them. I would see them accepted back into the lands or not at all.”

“I see. Go and speak to them. If you find them acceptable, so shall we.”

“Good enough. I will return.”

I walked out and onto the street. A portal later, I was walking the road to Veirania. I had opened it about a half mile outside of town. It was quiet and there were few people out as I walked in. There was a strange feel to the town, almost like it was waiting. No one seemed to pay me any attention, so I kept walking till I got to the town square. I drew a cup from the fountain and sat down to wait. It was almost ten minutes later when someone came along and noticed me sitting there.

“Excuse me, could you tell me who I need to see as the leader of this town?” I asked.

“Just begone stranger. We have no real leader now and our town is dead. We are oath breakers and do not belong here.”

“Who says you do not belong here?” I asked quietly.

“There was an emperor named today. Our town gave insult to him and one of his people. We broke our word to him and to Lord Alistor of our people. No one will want us now, because of our anger and stupidity.”

“Is is stupid to realize that you have made a mistake? I would still talk with your leader.”

The elf looked at me funny. “Who are you?”

I smiled. “Just call me Michael.”

The elf’s eyes widened. “I will return shortly, my lord.”

I sighed. “Just Michael?”

He ran off and I took a sip from my cup.

“You know, you might as well give up on Michael.”

I chuckled. “You can’t blame me for trying.”

“I suppose not… Lord Dragon.”

I had to choke back a laugh as a very unhappy elf was brought to me. “Who might I have the pleasure of talking to? My name is Michael.”

“I was called Jearomy. I know who you are, lord dragon.”

“Then you are still called Jearomy and I still prefer to be called Michael.”

He looked at me strangely. “We will leave your land as soon as we can, lord.”

“Why?”

He stared. “Do you make jest?”

“No.” I paused. “Tell me, before you knew of me and my people, what did you know of dragons?”

“Just what we had seen and the stories we were taught. That you were cruel and spiteful, a curse upon the lands.”

“Ah. What changed your mind?”

“You saved the entire land from the pirates.”

“So, other than that, you had nothing to go by except past experience and legend.”

“Yes?”

“Your legends were true, Jearomy. Which brings me to a point I would like you to think on. It has only been in the last passing year or so that I helped some starving elves and found out just how much of a plague our kind has been. Then I studied them and found honor and beauty. I made a mistake. I lived a mistake for many centuries. Should I leave?”

He stared at me for a long time. “You mean that we have hope?”

I laughed. “You would have to make up for many centuries to even come close to being as I was. I would be quite the hypocrite to turn my back on you for just one mistake. Come back with me to see your brethren. I talked to Alistor before I left, he will accept you. Just know that you are part of the empire now. You will owe me no taxes and the laws are your own. I only ask that you judge no other creature unless they prove themselves to be evil.”

I hadn’t noticed but there were a few elves that had gathered. I smiled at them and then knelt. “Rise, I am a dragon, I would rather talk with you than have you bow to me. Learn by your mistakes and judge not those who make mistakes, as we all have them in common.”

I opened a portal and stepped through with Jearomy. We were back in the tavern and Haladoria and Alistor was still there chatting and drinking. I walked over and bowed to them.

“Milord, milady, might this old dragon have a seat with your noble selves?”

Haladoria and Alistor laughed, then looked up at the elf that was with me. “Jearomy?” Alistor asked.

“I came to apologize Lord Alistor.”

Alistor looked at me puzzled. “I explained that I would be a fine one to point a claw at making a mistake. The legends of dragons WERE true, you know.”

Lord Alistor looked back at Jearomy. “Then have a seat and make sure to call Michael Lord. It is tradition now.”

I sighed. “A damn conspiracy.”

Haladoria laughed and hugged me. “You love it lord dragon.”