When Darin opened his eyes, no elder dared to speak a word. The room was silent, but for the murmuring and dripping of water. Was there dripping before? A breeze from the ocean washed over him, blissful, cool and refreshing. Had he been on a beach, he’d not have thought twice about it. But deep inside a mountain, it sent shivers down his spine. Darin turned about, at a cautious pace, unsure of what awaited him.

“Hello, little one.” She said in a gentle tone, one that still caused the floor to vibrate. She was the most beautifully sculpted dragon that Darin had ever seen. Her muscles spoke of tremendous power, her claws looked sharp enough to cleave stone with ease, and yet the lines of her body held a gentle and artful grace. She was large enough to pick up an elder by their wings, or to snap them in half on a whim. And her color, it was not one color but many, and it was hypnotic.

“Hel-…Hello Mother.” Darin managed to stammer out, before averting his gaze by lowering his eyes. Fearful to insult her, he lowered his head until his beak touched the stone and spread his wings. Oh gods, I hope I’m showing proper respect. They never told me what to do if I meet a God, he complained in his head. It must have worked, for a room filled with the sounds of motion. A glance to the side, showed that the elders had stopped gawking and now copied his gesture. Copycats. I guess they had no idea either…

“So formal, the children these days.” The goddess said, with some mirth. “But so you know, little one. I preferred the singing, to the stares and the bowing.”

“Oh.” Darin managed to say, as he blinked and raised his head. His simple reaction caused deep and rumbling laughter to fill the room. When he looked at her again, he was more prepared this time and more able to appreciate what he saw. Her scales did not mark her as a single breed or evolution. Her colors shifted through every tone her children wore. Copper, silver, bronze, gold, the blues, the grays, the marbled blends, the red of flame, the black of night, and untold other shades. Darin looked to her eyes instead, surprised to see they did not change. Her eyes looked back, perfect silver mirrors, in which the world could easily see itself.

“First you sing for me. But now you barely speak?” She asked. It broke him from his distraction, as he most definitely did not with to offend her.

“I am honored by your presence, Mother of Dragons.” He stated formally, to which she seemed pleased. And yet she waited, forcing him to speak more into the silence. “And I thank you, for joining me in song.” In response she smiled, it was both less and more frightening all at once. There was warmth in her smile, but her teeth put any sword to shame.

“I thank you, for singing.” She began, pausing to look about. “They, have all forgotten to sing. But I do suspect, that you have reminded them.”

“After your visit, dear Mother, I would image so.” Darin stated. He paused a moment as he noticed the rite was still recording the exchange. She raised the ridge above her eye, then turned her attention to the larger room.

“Perhaps one of you would be so kind as to tell my why a Trial of Lore takes place in my chamber?” She asked, pointing out her own prior claim on the chamber. There were a few murmured whispers but none of the elders seemed eager to speak.

“It was because his egg, from so long ago, recently hatched. With his blood true and his memories strong, we wanted to learn all we could from him. At least, that was our intent.” Blood Claw stated, her tone dipped a bit as it was clear that reality and intentions had taken separate paths.

“And then why do I see that several of my children fell near him, and were sent to brief slumber?” The goddess asked, viewing the outlines that lingered on. She swept her gaze across the gathered elders, but many of them looked down or glanced away.

“Not all were willing to accept the truth when they hear it. Nor the runes, when they see them, honored Mother.” Tome stated, giving his most formal bow. She studied the runes beneath him a moment, looked around the chamber and sighed.

“And what could they not believe about the truth that is written?” Demanded the Mother. When no one answered right away, the room seemed to grow darker in her presence. Best screenshot, ever. She glanced at Darin a moment, before returning her focus to the rest. Oh shit, did she sense that? “Do you doubt my craftsmanship? Do you doubt that the children I created, were adaptable enough to survive the times of sorrow? Do you mock your own existence, or that of your ancestors?” The goddess asked them with roar. Once the echos cleared, the room was silent for a few moments.

“Honored and beloved Mother. It is not that they mock the life you gave us. Nor is it that they mock your first children. I strongly suspect, it was their shock at how much our people have changed with the passing of time. Our knowledge of our past is lacking, we know little of the time before the stars fell. Much was lost when we were scattered. And in the time before we felt the call to return home.” Tome explained, trying to ease the Mother’s anger. She turned her gaze on him and let it linger there. After a few breaths, she sighed.

“You speak the truth, as politely as you can word it. You are wise, little wyvern. Your name was given well. Had you been less fascinated with your records…” She trailed off, not bothering to finish.

“You honor me, great Mother of us all.” Tome replied, bowing his head.

“So if you were attacked, little one, why do you still live?” The goddess asked, turning her attention back to Darin. It caught him off guard, and he answered before thinking.

“I would have been killed in moments. The elders each have tremendous power, any one of them could smite me with ease.” He stated, which caused her to smile for a moment. “It was the circle from the Trial itself, that protected me. And the honorable Den Mother, she refused to dispel it at their whim.”

“Oh?” She asked, with traces of amusement in her voice. Looking down at the golden dragoness, she studied her with intensity. “Do not the Elders outrank a mere Den Mother? Could they not have easily killed you for your insolence? And yet you still breathe, while they slumber. Explain this.”

“You are correct, Mother. Every elder outranks me, and thus I am at their mercy. I refused to dispel the circle, as the Trial had not ended. If I am to be punished for disobedience, then so be it.” Blood Claw admitted, seeming resigned to her fate. To her credit, she tried to shelter those who had protected her.

“I will deal with you in a moment, Den Mother.” The goddess declared. She glanced at Darin, then turned to the assembled elders. “She did not slay several elders on her own. So I would like to know Who has shed blood in my chamber and Why.” She announced. Her expression grew angry, when no one else spoke up. Her mouth opened to say something, but stopped at the sound of flapping wings. A few seconds later, Firebrand landed near the circle.

“It was the Fire Clan who struck them down. And it was I, Firebrand, who gave the order. If I am to be punished for this, I accept what you so choose.” She declared, holding her head high and showing no sign of regret. She’s protecting her clan. As the Mother did not reply right away, she spoke again. “Those who disrupted this Trial, did so because of their pride. It would not allow them to accept that he,” she gestured at Darin, “was an ancestor.”

“So then, you killed them for their pride?” The goddess asked, her tone of voice was flat.

“Not so, honored Mother. We killed them, because they acted without honor or justice. They disrupted a ceremony and moved to slay the Den Mother for doing her duty. Such actions, could not be allowed to continue. The oath of the Fire Clan requires us to uphold the honor of our people. If you feel the need to punish me for this, my life is yours great Mother.” Firebrand stated, with resigned determination. The goddess glared at her for a long moment before she spoke.

“Your life, was already mine Firebrand. It is my choice, of when you meet the ferryman and go to your final sleep. You, and all other dragons, would do well to remember that.” Declared the Mother, in a somewhat scolding tone. Oh shit, she controls our ability to respawn?

“It is as you say.” Firebrand agreed. A moment later, every other adult dragon in the room repeated those same words. Yea. That’s not creepy at all The goddess turned to look at Darin for his silence, then returned her attention to the elders.

“Do any others protest the account of today’s events?” She asked. When none answered, she nodded and closed her eyes in thought. Several seconds passed before the Mother moved or spoke. “I have come to a decision about Firebrand and the other members of the Fire Clan.” She stated, causing the red dragoness to cringe. She’d shown no fear for herself, but it seems she did fear for her clan. “I am most displeased, that my children shed each other’s blood in my chamber.”

“Yes, Mother.” Was all Firebrand choose to say. The room grew tense as she spoke. For the next several seconds, only silence filled the air.

“And I have not forgotten, that you chose to ignore the requests of the elders.” She stated, looking at Blood Claw. The Den Mother simply lowered her head in silent apology. For the first time in his life, Darin could sense actual fear coming from another entity.

“Please don’t be too harsh on them. They only did what they felt was right.” Darin pleaded, before realizing he was in no position to ask. Every eye in the room turned to him, for daring to speak out of turn. Unlike the adults, he did gulp. The dragon goddess leaned in, and towered over him for a moment. Looking up at her mirrored eyes, he wanted to shrink even more to escape her sight.

“So even a nameless whelp, would dare make such a request. Interesting.” She stated, letting the last word echo around the chamber. “Very well little one, I will give you a choice. You may bow your head and apologize now, or you can throw your lot in with them. Whatever befalls one, will echo on the others.” She paused a moment, to let her words sink in before she asked. “So what do you choose?”

Oh shit. If I side with them, I might make things worse. If I don’t side with them, then pleading for mercy was just a fickle act. A few seconds had passed in silence and the Mother began to narrow her eyes. Screenshot. Screw it! “I accept!”

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Author’s Note: Sorry it took 2 days to get this chapter out. Life has been busy the last few days, and it wasn’t an easy chapter. I hope everyone liked it. Thank you again, for all the positive feedback and support. It does make it a bit easier to stay up an extra hour or two at the keyboard. Let me know if I missed any bad typos.