` Gersius stood in an open field looking at the mountains on the distant horizon. Somewhere in those cold peaks was an army of his enemy waiting to strike at his empire. Through a supreme act of recklessness, Lilly had discovered the truth that they were closer to the keeps, planning to strike from behind. If she was right, that attack was coming soon, and the war was about to take on a whole new level of bloodshed.

He searched that distant land, hoping to find them and draw that army into a battle they couldn't win. However, hours of flying by Sarah and Shadros had revealed nothing but stone and ice, a bleak land where no army could linger for long. Thanks to Lilly, he hadn't expected to find them as she had learned some of how they were hiding. They used tents with irregular shapes and colored to match the ground to hide their scouts, while the bulk of the army used tunnels.

He let out a long sigh as Lilly's warning that the Doan were using tunnels cut by dragons to hide chilled his blood. If dragons were working this closely with the enemy, then he could expect them to show during the fight. With only Sarah and Shadros to protect them, it was almost certain his army would see dragon attacks.

Sarah was as on edge as he had ever known her, the pain of Lilly's absence driving her wild. She was desperate to sleep at night so she might meet Lilly in the dream and have some measure of connection. He would dearly love for all of them to go into the dream and be there to greet her, but the situation was dire. That army could surface at any time, and the sooner it was spotted, the better.

He rubbed his eyes as the sounds of wild beasts and screaming men filled his ears. He stood alone, yet in his thoughts, he was back in the Greenwall as his small force was ambushed by bandersooks. He could see men fighting with no armor on, caught in their sleep by the savage animals. They reached out to him for salvation as the bandersooks dragged them, screaming away to tear them to shreds.

“Stop that!” Thayle commanded as her hands came around his sides. “Your emotions flare to terrible levels when you think such horrible thoughts. It becomes impossible to block you from the binding, and we have to share that terrible pain with you.”

“I am sorry, I thought I was alone,” he replied as his eyes never left the horizon.

“My husband, it isn't going to happen again,” Thayle said soothingly. “Lilly has warned us how they are hiding and you have a wall of scouts between them and us.”

“I had scouts around my camp in the woods,” Gersius countered.

“You had a tiny handful of men who were half asleep because nobody expected any danger,” Thayle replied. “You admitted it yourself the other day. You were hundreds of miles away from the fighting and nobody knew you were there. Well, only the people you should have been able to trust.”

Gersius nodded as he considered how his betrayal had come from the highest office in his order. He wondered why Astikar hadn't sent him the warning sense in the presence of the Father Abbot. Perhaps the Father Abbot was shielded by a magic weave like Carigarra was.

“He probably was,” Thayle agreed. “They have taken very few chances when it comes to you. They planned traps and pitfalls to stop you well before you even set on your quest. I am sure anyone who might have alerted you to the danger was kept far away or carefully protected to avoid detection.”

“But why?” Gersius asked as he looked skyward. “Why have they gone to so much trouble to stop me? Why do the dragons fear Balisha’s return to power, and why do they hate the human form?”

“Look at how Lilly was when you first met her,” Thayle urged as she came to his side to hold a hand. “You have both told me how arrogant she was, proclaiming that she was a queen of the sky. She was blinded to any possibility except the belief that dragons were perfect and humans were rodents. The rest of them probably see it the same way or worse. To them, the human form is an insult to their strength.”

“Maybe you are right,” Gersius said with a nod as his eyes never wavered. “But we can't forget what we learned from Rose and the dragons we fought recovering the seals. They have some plan to resurrect or replace Solesta, and they want to finish off Balisha for good.”

“But we don't know for sure,” Thayle insisted. “Let's not forget, what that dragon told you was a surprise to Rose. We all saw her aura; she was sure we were lying to try and deceive her. She firmly believes their plan is to resurrect Solesta. For all we know, both stories are lies told to obfuscate their true intention.”

Gersius had to consider the truth of her words as they rang true. The enemy was waging a war of deception meant to keep his attention away from their true objective. He had to assume that anything he had learned was somehow a tool of their plans. It had started years ago, before the Doan had even begun their attacks by keeping Gersius occupied in nearly constant military campaigns. They slowly tried to prepare him for recruitment before losing control. Then they betrayed him, proving they would kill their own brothers to stop him. To the divine's credit, they had foreseen all this and kept turning their twisted plans against them. Every ambush or trap only served to push Gerisus through the steps of the prophecy, and now here he stood, the undisputed dragon knight of a new age. Even more, the divines twisted the prophecy, creating a second dragon knight to stand at his side. This time they could count on deception from within to win the day. Gersius had been taught the bitter lesson not to trust a man simply because duty demanded it. Now he had the aura sight, the warning sense, and a cold, calculating mind that looked deep into the souls of those around him. Anyone found wanting in their loyalty was removed, and Gersius went forward with his battles.

“I wish you wouldn't look at it like that,” Thayle urged as she listened to his thoughts. “You aren't a cold, methodical soldier. Never forget you started this war to save lives and build a family. When you lost heart after your betrayal, it was your love for Lilly that brought you back. Love has been your guiding principle since the beginning, and it will see you through all these challenges.”

He nodded for a moment as he considered that idea as well. Thayle was right, this was always about his dream of having a family, and every step forward had been to that end. Of course, he would fight to bring that stability and safety to the whole of the empire so others could share his simple dream. Now that he thought about it, this was why Lilly was with the enemy. She now shared his dream, so much so she had asked Balisha for the blessing to have children with him. She had born him an egg and now was trying to end the war in time to be at peace when it hatched.

“That’s exactly what she is doing,” Thayle said as she turned to clutch at his arm. “She has become like you, willing to do whatever it takes to bring peace to the land.”

“But the risk,” Gersius countered.

“Lilly only knows of humans from interaction with us and the people of the empire,” Thayle said. “She has seen you solve significant problems by talking and avoiding unnecessary bloodshed. She has not seen what it is like to try and negotiate with someone who will not turn from their path. Maybe this moment is important in her education. Lilly needs to learn that not all humans can be reasoned with.”

“Let us hope she lives to profit from her education,” Gersius said as he put an arm around Thayle. “I pray to the divines her interpretation of that dream is wrong.”

“It is wrong,” Thayle said as she leaned on his chest. “I wasn't in it either, and I am safe in your arms. I know we are all afraid, and I was on Sarah's side at first, but I quickly saw the hand of the divine in this plan. Never forget, they chose her just as they chose you. She is the dragon of the dragon knight and without her, the prophecy cannot go forward.”

Once again he nodded but it did little to ease the tension. None of them would be at peace until Lilly was safely back in their arms. He took a deep breath and studied the distant mountains once more, knowing full well the enemy was out there, waiting for the command to strike.

“Common,” Thayle urged and pulled at his arm. “Let’s go back to camp and be with Sarah.”

“I am still not sure this is a good idea,” Gersius said as they headed back.

“She is worried sick,” Thayle said. “You have to let her have one night to try and see Lilly. Maybe we all should go into the dream with her.”

“But the risk,” Gersius insisted as they walked across the windswept field.

“We have done everything we can to mitigate the danger. You have tripled the number of sentries and scouts. I have a quarter of my women in armor through the night, so a contingent is ready to fight at all times.” Thayle countered. “Nobody is going to be able to reach that camp without being seen. Now you have to relax and give Sarah her chance to speak to Lilly. She can't go on as upset as she is.”

He let out a sigh of defeat and returned to his lines as Thayle escorted him the whole way. The camp was surrounded by a line of soldiers who would rotate through the night to ensure an active defense. Still, if somehow the camp were pressed quickly, that line wouldn't hold for long, and soldiers would once again find themselves fighting terrible odds in their bedclothes.

“It isn't going to happen,” Thayle insisted as she pulled him along. They eventually reached the meeting tent, where Ayawa, Tavis, Gedris, and Sarah were locked in a tense conversation. Sarah wanted Ayawa to tell Lilly to go directly to the valley where she would be waiting. Ayawa asked why Sarah couldn't use the temple of Ulustrah, but the answer became clear a moment later. Sarah had never been to the temple of Ulustrah and had no emotional connection to it. She would need to use Thayle or Gersius to reach it, and they would need more discipline to facilitate that.

“I am sorry, but it has to be you,” Sarah insisted. “I will be waiting for her.”

“I can't guarantee she will even show up,” Ayawa argued. “She said she is being watched night and day. She is afraid to remain asleep for very long and I have missed her before.”

“We have to try,” Sarah insisted. “I need to speak to my wife. I need to know she is safe.”

“Sarah,” Thayle interrupted as she approached with Gersius. “We know she is safe, at least for the time being. They are either honoring their promise of safety or keeping her safe for some future event. Either way, worrying about it will only make you sick.”

“I don’t understand why you’re not worried,” Sarah snapped. “I can see your light when she is around. You are completely in love with her.”

“Lilly is a part of me as she is for you and our husband,” Thayle countered. “Of course, I feel that way about her. I feel that way about you and I have risked everything to save you once before. Lilly is doing what she thinks is right, and we must honor that. We had to leave her and rush back, or the north would be in chaos.”

“We have done nothing but move west,” Sarah countered.

“Our presence here is what stabilizes the situation,” Thayle said. “The people need to know we are here fighting for them. People would panic even more if word got out that Lilly was behind enemy lines and we went after her. Our supply lines would collapse, followed by the front lines, as they ran short of everything. Not to mention the northern provinces would be recalling their soldiers to defend their territories. It would weaken us to the point of destruction.”

“She is right,” Gersius said as he approached to take Sarah's hands. “Lilly is in the care of the divines now, and we have to trust them to see her through.”

“Why did you want me to know this pain?” Sarah asked as tears rimmed her eyes. “Human feelings can hurt so much.”

Thayle went to her arms and held her fast as she nearly broke down before the crowd. Gersius came up beside her and put an arm around them, sharing their pain.

They discussed the current situation and the plan for tonight, hoping that Sarah could speak to Lilly. Ayawa wanted to know why Sarah couldn't come to the temple of Ulustrah, but Sarah explained it in great detail. She had never seen the temple of Ulustrah in Westgate, nor could she envision this wing of the building. Ayawa's emotional connection to the place gave her power to reach it, and unless Ayawa wanted to join their bind, Sarah couldn't use that.

“What about Gersius or Thayle?” Ayawa pressed. “They both have an emotional attachment to the location?”

“Somebody has to be awake to lead the camp in the event of an attack,” Gersius pointed out.

“Only one of you needs to be awake,” Ayawa insisted. “Surely you could do it for one night.”

Gersius ran a hand through his wild brown hair as he dreaded the idea of all the leadership being asleep at so critical a juncture. Sarah being out of the sky was risky enough, but having Thayle or himself asleep was doubling the danger.

“All you need do is tell her I am waiting for her in the valley, Sarah insisted. “Then only I need to be asleep.”

“I will try,” Ayawa said with a nervous twitch. “But I can’t promise you she will come.”

“That is all we can hope for,” Gersius said, pulling Sarah in tight.

“They are so in love,” Gedris said as she admired their light.

“Those two were made for each other,” Thayle agreed. “Sarah was supposed to be the dragon in the prophecy by the divines altered the plan to foil the enemy.”

“Is that why they made you a dragon knight as well?” Gedris asked.

“We believe so,” Thayle replied. “They have guided our steps through moments of great trial and suffering. Lilly being with the Doan is only the latest such event. We have to trust that the divines meant for this to happen and are using it to their advantage.”

“Considering how much they had intervened so far, I agree this must be part of their plan,” Gedris said.

“I hope it is,” Tavis added as he tipped his hat low. “For all our sakes.”

“I wonder what Lilly is doing right now?” Gedris asked.

“Spying, probably,” Thayle guessed. “Or trying to befriend someone.”

Lilly watched the camp as it filled with activity, the Doan preparing for their festival on the eve of battle. Lilly was gripped with a sense of dread knowing the invasion was about to begin but being no closer to knowing where the army was. She stood at the edge of the wise one's camp, close to Hurrock's tent, hoping to see the nobleman again.

“Excuse me,” a woman said as she approached with a hooded cowl on.

Lilly turned to regard the strange woman with fair skin and long golden hair. Her body was slender and graceful with bright brown eyes and a gentle smile. She wore a dress of eastern make, and Lilly immediately wondered if she was a slave captured in the early part of the invasion. That thought was difficult to maintain as something about the woman struck her as eerily familiar. She couldn't place what it was but this woman reminded her of somebody she knew.

“Do I know you?” Lilly asked as she took a cautious step back.

“No,” the woman replied with an accent common to the north of the empire. “But I have heard a great deal about you.”

Lilly saw no danger in the woman's aura, only a light of curiosity and flashing that indicated she was trying to make a hard decision. She studied the woman's outfit to see no sign of a weapon, and there was no warning of danger from Astikar.

“My name is Lilly,” she said and waited for the woman to respond.

“My name is Sophia,” the woman said and bowed her head graciously.

“Sophia?” Lilly repeated as she struggled to remember where she had heard that name before. She was sure somebody had uttered it, maybe a woman of Ulustrah or some member of her own order.

“I was hoping you and I could talk for a bit,” Sophia said. “There is much I would like to ask you.”

“Are you spying for the dragons?” Lilly asked warily and studied the light of the woman’s response.

“I do not serve the dragons in the west,” Sophia replied. “But, would you be willing to walk with me?”

“I can't,” Lilly replied and looked around the blue tents of the wise one's camp. “I am forbidden to leave the wise ones.”

“You are in the presence of a wise one,” Sophia replied with a tilt of her head.

Lilly was shocked to hear a woman so young claim to be a wise one but the flash of light in her aura said it was true. Still, she felt the others needed to be told she was leaving the camp, so Sophia relented and led the way.

They weaved through the tents until they reached the clearing where the others were gathered. Hurrock was there, arguing with the women that hosting their festival would make the Doan unmanageable if there were further delays. He was also concerned about Grelm and his insistence that Lilly be judged by Doan standards.

“Grelm wants to use her as a catalyst to promote himself to grand chief,” Sophia said as she entered the group.

“Ah, so the flower of the east has returned,” Cindri said with a frown.

“It is good to see you as well,” Sophia replied with a smile that made some of the wise ones giggle.

Lilly could see the exchange of heated glares between the two women, but Sophia held her ground and addressed those gathered. Then, she announced that she was going to take Lilly for a walk along the river to discuss matters close to her heart.

“Out of the question,” Cindri snapped as she jumped to her feet. “The warriors would be eager to catch her so alone outside the safety of our tents.”

“Are you suggesting the Doan have so little honor that they would betray your promise of protection?” Sophia asked as if Cindri's statement had been foolish.

Once again, the women exchanged heated glares, and red fire flared in Cindri's aura. The woman hated Sophia and would probably love to drive a dagger into the woman's heart.

“Come now, there is no reason for this debate,” Valindra interjected as the creases on her face deepened. “But, honorable as the Doan are, such an action carries other risks. Suppose she tries to escape to fly east with what she has heard here.”

“I vowed to remain,” Lilly insisted. “I will do so until your plan, whatever it is, is done.”

“You will forgive us if we do not trust in your word,” Valindra said, then tapped at her lips. “Tell me, why do you undress when you change?”

“Because the clothing will be torn when my changes,” Lilly replied.

“Then what if you wore a collar of metal,” Valindra suggested. “Then you would not be able to change and fly off.”

“You want to ensure I can’t take my dragon form,” Lilly stammered. “I gave you my word.”

“Do you have some reason to deny our request?” Cindri asked as she glared at Lilly.

“I do not like being chained,” Lilly shot back.

“It isn't a change, only a guarantee you can't fly away,” Valindra insisted. “We have been freely open with you about our plans and cannot afford you flying off to warn our enemies. If you wish to leave this camp, you will wear the collar, and Hurrock will escort you.”

Hurrock flinched at this pronouncement and asked why he was being pressed into this matter. Valindra smiled and reminded him that he was one of the greatest chiefs of the Doan. Therefore, no one would dare to attempt to lay a finger on Lilly while he was in her presence.

He suggested they send some of their elite guards instead, but Valindra was insistent. If Lilly was going to walk with Sophia, Hurrock had to be present.

“Very well,” he replied in a rumble. “But I will not vouch for her safety.”

“I am sure we will be perfectly fine,” Sophia replied and turned to Lilly. “Now, will you please wear the collar?”

“Men tried to shackle me once,” Lilly replied with trembling hands. “I do not like the idea of letting them do it again.”

“It will come off as soon as you return,” Valindra replied.

“Why would my honor be more trustworthy inside the camp than out?” Lilly asked.

“I agree,” Cindri stated. “She should wear it always.”

“What? No!” Lilly protested as her hands curled into fists.

“It would do much to quell the camp's suspicions,” Lacindra stated.

“It would be a great sign of intent,” Jhandi agreed. “If she wore the collar, the camp could be certain she meant what she said.”

“I don’t want to wear a collar,” Lilly insisted when a hand closed around hers.

“Is it really too much to ask?” Sophia asked with a pleading look. “I am sure they will take it off when it is time to send you home.”

“We will take it off the moment our plan is through,” Valindra agreed.

“Please,” Sophia begged.

“No,” came the dissenting voice of Hurrock. “She should not be put to such a task. She should not have been invited to stay if her word is not good enough for us.”

“Hurrock, this is important!” Sophia snapped.

“You should not have stayed either,” he snapped back with a pointed finger.

“That isn't up to you,” Valindra quickly commented as she got to her feet.

“This is all a mistake and it shows we lack honor to treat a mother of scale in such a way,” Hurrock argued as he turned to address the other wise women. “If she was offered protection and invited to stay, she should not have to prove herself worthy of it. If you had doubts, you should have denied her request and sent her away.”

“She is one of the fallen dragons,” Cindri argued as she addressed the women. “Not only is she a fallen dragon, but the wife of our enemy and the high priestess of the hated goddess. That we have shown her this much respect is a testament to our patience. Is it any wonder that we fear for her safety? Is it not to our credit that we seek to protect her? If she is to remain here, it is only wise to do what we can to soothe the camp's concerns. A collar to prevent her changing forms will only increase her safety and make it easier for us to sway those that have concerns.”

Lilly could see heads nodding as women agreed with the argument. Hurrock did his best to sway them back but they were not interested in his assertion that it was an insult to a dragon.

“I will hold the key,” Valindra said firmly. “She must wear the device.”

Lilly was horrified at the decision, but Hurrock was even more incensed. His aura flooded with outrage and disgust at the decision of the woman. He looked at Sophia and accused her of bringing this shame on the Doan, but she snapped back that he wasn't seeing it clearly.

Lilly nearly changed as a metal look that hinged at the back and clasped over a ring was brought to the camp. It came with a small metal lock that fastened the device and kept it securely in place. Tears started to fall as it was fastened in place, and with a click, she was shackled once more. What bothered her the most was the pleasure flooding Cindri's aura, the woman delighted to see Lilly brought so low.

“Now, let's walk,” Sophia said and took Lilly by the hand. She said nothing else until they were well outside of camp. The two women walked ahead as Hurrock followed behind. Lilly spent the time wiping her eyes as she trembled in fear, her strength locked away so she couldn't use it.

“I should kill you,” Hurrock said from behind with a voice that promised it would happen one day.

“And what would the others think of your foolish action?” Sophia replied with a glance back at him.

“I don’t care what they would think,” he replied with a growl. “You wouldn’t be the first wise woman slain by an angry chief.”

“No, but we all know that you would be dishonored, and with you out of the way, Grelm would certainly become grand chief,” Sophia said. “You would lose control over your own clan, and your men would fight under his banner.”

“Hmm,” Hurrock rumbled as Lilly sniffed.

“Why did you do this to me?” Lilly asked in a broken voice.

“I am sorry,” Sophia said, her voice finally sounding distressed. “I didn’t mean for this to happen. I agree with Hurrock, your word should have been enough, but I am wise enough not to fight the wise ones. He can get away with such brash actions because he has his clan at his back. I am more of an outcast with no one to call on for support.”

“Cindri would love to see you toppled,” Hurrock added.

“Cindri hates me,” Lilly sniffed. “She was so happy to see me in chains.”

“Cindri hates everybody, and you’re not in chains,” Sophia insisted.

“Yes, she is,” Hurrock corrected. “Because of you.”

“I didn't want this to happen!” Sophia shouted and turned on him. “You know why I wanted to speak to her, so why don't you stop being so difficult.”

“You should have found a way to tell her in the camp!” Hurrock insisted.

“And if anyone had heard us we would both be dead,” Sophia shot back.

“You should both have fled east long ago,” Hurrock argued. “It isn’t safe for either of you to be here.”

“Then maybe you shouldn’t have brought me here!” Sophia shouted back at him.

“If I hadn't brought you back, you would be sowing a crop and with a baby on your back by now,” Hurrock insisted.

“I don’t understand,” Lilly interrupted as Sophia looked up with tears of her own.

“I am sorry we haven't explained ourselves. I am as much a prisoner here as you are,” Sophia said as she shot Hurrock a glare. “But I managed to convince the wise ones that I had some value to their plans.”

“By telling them of the empire's secrets,” Hurrock accused.

“I had no choice!” Sophia shouted. “Hurrock, I have explained this to you many times. Why don’t you understand?”

He came to her and took her hands as she looked down, the tears falling at her feet.

“I do not believe your plan will succeed,” he replied. “But I do respect your desire to try.”

“What plan?” Lilly asked as she saw the light of pain and frustration flaring between them. There was a tenseness to this moment, something she hadn't quite grasped. Sophia was filled with the colors of pain, anguish, and despair as she looked away from Hurrock. He was filled with deep concern, anger, and dashes of love. Lilly wasn't sure what to make of the exchange, but she noticed their light flowing to one another.

“What aren’t you telling me?” Lilly asked when the silence had gone on too long. “Tell me why you have brought me out here. Tell me why what you had to say couldn’t be said in camp.”

“Lilly,” Sophia began and paused to lick at her lips, the pain in her eyes evident. “Why do you love my brother?”