Dagon’s frown gave way to a smile as he grabbed Fowl’s hand. “You, my boy, are everything I pray our people will become.” Max could see the smile on his friend's face grow larger as the King of the dwarves patted Fowl’s arm. “You have grown strong, and the fact that you defeated me by yourself tells me you will do fine in the tower.” “Thank you for honoring my request and everything you have done for us,” Fowl replied. Kneeling before Dagon, their warrior touched the back of his hand to his forehead. “I promise that whatever happens, I shall bring honor to our people and Ockrim.” “Then stand and stop that foolishness,” Dagon replied. “It’s bad enough I got my arse kicked by two different people this morning. Having one of the two who did it kneeling doesn’t feel right.” Laughing, Fowl stood and turned as Batrire ran to him, jumping into his arms. Laughing, the King motioned to the two guards who were still standing with their mouths slightly open. “Stop catching flies and go have my chef prepare us something to eat! There is much to celebrate, and I don’t want to miss out on any of the stories I can be told!” Max and Fowl sat with Dagon in plush chairs, sipping a small drink near a fire. The three women were with Velda, exploring a part of the castle that most dwarves never got to see. A few minutes of silence had been sat through as the King considered the few things Max had been able to share with him. “Your request is valid and I will honor it,” Dagon said. “I only ask for one thing in return.” “When the time comes for you to do the 99th floor, do it here.” Max glanced at Fowl, whose head swiveled between him and the King. “All you want is for us to enter the tower here? Why is that?” Sighing, Dagon stood up straight and spun the glass cup, which held only an inch of amber liquid. “Part of it is for the people. To see two of their own do such a thing will inspire them as it has your people. Already, some dwarves are leaving in small packs for your kingdom. Many believe that the tower over there must have aided in your success. Many will not listen to logic or reason when we tell them that it doesn’t matter which tower they enter. But you know dwarves…” He waited to see if the King would finish that thought, but Dagon never did. “I don’t think that should be a problem,” Max replied. “Fowl?” “Oh gods no! Batrire and I would be honored to do that request. I’m still in shock, that he’s giving you two bars so easily.” “It’s not easy,” Dagon replied. “But I know that you all need to defeat the tower no matter what and I'm sitting on them, waiting for the perfect moment to have them forged has come. I know in my heart that there is no other need as great as yours. “Besides, I’m in debt as it is. The number of dragon scales you have given me has changed the trajectory of our crafting hall. Our smiths are scouring old books, trying to find ways to use them best.” Dagon leaned forward and winked at both of them. “Still I am grateful that you are allowing us to keep the armor we had made for you. The irony that you no longer need it or that it wouldn’t fit as Fowl has sprouted up like a weed means some dwarves are anxiously trying to prove their worth. I may host a tournament in the coming year to give a prize to the winner. Perhaps I can find ways to draw back my people to this city and start a new era of adventuring.” “I’d come here for a tournament where the prize was dragon armor,” Fowl stated. “I mean, not now of course as one it wouldn’t be fair after I kicked your arse… my King.” Dagon roared with laughter and then finished off his drink in one go. He sighed and smiled, setting the cup on a small table beside his chair. “I’m going to miss this. The problem with being me is that I do not have the luxury of speaking freely with many as I am right now. Too often, most are caught up in not angering me or worrying that I might get upset and never sit with them again. I can tell neither of you cares about that.” “Nope, all we desire is to plunder your vaults,” Max replied. Max felt a tug in his mind as the three of them sat there, laughing and enjoying a quiet moment. You need to hurry up and return. Aerthen has come, and she wants to speak with you. Have you received any answer to the question I asked you? No. Right now, her mind is like a wall to me. I cannot read it as I could before. Whatever has happened… something is wrong. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Playing the role of a content man, Max sat in his chair, wondering what would happen upon his return to Peltagow. “Max Hoste… you are in trouble.” Aerthen’s humanoid form vibrated as she towered over him, seemingly unconcerned with Rakonath, who stood beside him, her eyes radiating with power. “It was not my fault.” She shook her head at his response and huffed. “That does not matter! You do not realize what you have done!” “I do realize it, which is why I had Rakonath come and find you,” Max replied. I needed to know what your Father thought. I tried—I really tried—not to fight Bekat, but he wouldn’t back down.” Man and dragon stood there, neither ready to move back, when a hand pressed against their chests. “You two need to stop now,” Rakonath said quietly. “Take a moment and breathe. Aerthen you know Max, he doesn’t do what you said he did.” The red dragon’s head snapped toward the younger one, and her eyes glowed. “You, eggling, do not understand what is being said across the dreamworld! You cannot yet see or hear the chaos that has ensued because of what he has done!” Max started to speak when he sensed his dragon’s fingers push him back a little more. “No, Aerthen, you do not understand that none of it matters. Those who say he is a threat will find Max upon my back and must face the two of us. None will find an easy meal.” Rakonath growled, and his chest vibrated as he snorted. There was almost a hint of smoke visible from his nostrils. “You already stated that our Father has not revealed any dreams. Some believe it means one thing and others believe it means something else. You do not get to speak for him any more than I get to speak for him. Just know, I am not the eggling you once watched over. If you attempt anything, I will not hesitate to defend him.” The tension between the two dragons was so thick that Max was certain he could have cut it with his weapon. Both snorted and pressed up against each other and Rakonath didn’t seem to care or notice that he was still over a foot shorter than the other. Glancing around them and glad to see no one was watching this spectacle play out in the corner of the Faction grounds, Max put a hand on his friend's shoulder. “Let it go. None of this will matter in a month.” “You’re a fool if you believe that!” Aerthen shouted. “If you defeat the tower there are already those who have sent out the dreams of them coming to find you and crush you as a response to what you did!” Sighing, Max shrugged. “Let them. I believe my record is still me winning every time against every dragon. Either your Father will end this madness or he wills it. The real question you have to ask is if this was all part of his plan, why is he allowing me to slaughter his children so recklessly?” Aerthen opened her mouth to reply and then clamped it shut. The fire in her eyes dimmed slightly as she glared at him. “What you are accusing the Father of is ludicrous. He would never…” She stopped talking and stepped back, Rakonath moving forward to take the place she had given up. “Let her go,” Max told his friend. “She sees it now. You and I already discussed this and we both know there was a reason Bekat was my foe. Out of all the creatures the tower could throw at me, he was the first and only one I gained anything from.” Rakonath grunted and retreated backward, never taking his eyes off the older dragon. “I consider you a friend, but this wound that has been made cuts deep in our kind,” Aerthen stated. “For the sake of our friendship, I shall take my leave and not push this issue any further. For now, I would not seek you out. If word comes from the Father that you are to blame, then I will–” “Do nothing. If you think for a moment I won’t hesitate to end your life if you threaten mine or any of my friends, I will end yours,” Max said. “Do not make a threat or promise you cannot carry out.” She huffed and turned, not responding. After a dozen yards, her body began to transform, and soon, Aerthen was airborne, her red wings sending gusts of wind at them as she flew upward into the evening sky. “That didn’t go well,” Rakonath said. “I had thought she would see reason.” “Rage and hurt often blind reason. Trust me, I have done things or acted out when I shouldn’t have because of that rage. It took a good friend to pull me back and see what I didn’t want to see,” Max replied. “She doesn’t want to see the truth.” “That we’re pieces in a game, even for our father?” Placing a hand on Rakonath’s shoulder, he squeezed. “Come. I don’t have a lot of time but I can’t think of a better way to learn this lesson.” Large tears rolled down Rakonath’s cheeks as he moved a piece on the board. Max sighed quietly as he watched his friend do what had to be done to win. “For someone so large and muscular, you sure cry a lot,” Fowl complained. “I mean, so what if you lose, it’s not the end of the world.” Pieces slid across the board as the two played the game. Fowl was grinning, his offensive pieces pushing deeper and deeper into the squares on the board, drawing closer and closer to the keep that Rakonath occasionally moved. He smiled slightly, having already taught his dragon how the game worked and shown him dozens of times he sacrificed smaller pieces to win. It had frustrated and angered Rakonath each time, yet the dragon couldn’t seem to do the same, not wanting to admit the lesson he was being taught. The pain of knowing you're nothing but a pawn or other small piece hurts. What kind of Father does this?! How can he just– Stop thinking he is like me. I don’t use lives , and I pray I never do. For now, move as I taught you. There is no other way you’ll win. You know this is true. Rakonath sighed as he shifted another piece, watching Fowl giggle as he used one of his attackers to claim the square and remove it from the board. Eight turns later, all smiles and laughter were gone as their warrior sat there, looking at the piece that had cut across the board, taking out the few defenders in its way and toppled his keep. “How did I not see this?” Fowl muttered. “I mean… I’m smarter now…” Max laughed and sighed, gently patting his dragon’s back as those silver eyes trembled. “I sacrificed almost everything to get the desired outcome,” Rakonath said quietly. “That’s why you never saw it coming.”