chapter1

Firehawk. Coranthalas, Laura this is Dracolanin Falconheart. The Firehawks said hello. I asked. "Have you been informed to what it is that we undertaking?" Coranthalas answered. "That Sam has done so, and my sister and I are at your service." Bonkie came in and said. "Draco! I got them." And in a loud booming voice. "And here they are entering the Gold Dragon Inn at a combined weight of two hundred five pounds. Keith Swiftblade and Luke Dieheart, The fighters." I looked at Bonkie who was smiling, I said. "Was the really necessary?" Bonkie said. "I was trying to be cute." Just then, Connor and Talon came in with a female behind them. Talon said. "Draco, this is Kristine Loveheart." I said. "Greetings and welcome I am sure that Connor and Talon has informed you of what is going on." She said. "Yes they have and it is an honor to help Balord." Omzig said. "Good now that you have your party together, Sam has some rings and a belt for you." She had given us two rings or protection, two rings of cats speed, a ring of wizardry, and a belt of wizardry. Omzig said. "Talon I have something for you, and I think you will recognize it." He pulled a beautiful three bladed long sword from his bag of holding. Talon said. "My Family sword! Can Sam identify it for me, so I know what it does?" Sam said. "I have already identified it, and here is the list of what it does." Talon said. "Thank you." Keith said. "I will arrange horses for our travel needs." I said. "There is no need for horses." Keith asked. "How are we going to get there without horses?" I asked. "Talon do you remember what we talked about when we first met?" Talon answered. "Yes. Why do you ask?" I said. "Come with me, and I will show you all why we do not need horses and how we are going to get there."

They all followed me out to the clearing in the forest. I turned to them and said. "This is how we are going to get there." Bonkie said. "By standing here?" I said. "No this is how." I then changed forms they all stepped back in fear and shock. Bonkie said. "You a dragon? Neat you are like…" I interrupted Bonkie. "No one is to know about whom you were about to say, and no one is to know that I am a dragon. Do you all understand?" Everyone nodded in understanding. I said. "Now get on and we shall be on our way." Bonkie asked while stuttering. "May… May… May I… I… Sit on your head please? I… I can put a hammock between your horns and I will take it down when we land." I said. "Do not be afraid to ask a question of me. You all have nothing to be afraid from me for I will never harm you, and as for your question Bonkie no you may not, do you understand." He nodded his head. I said. "We will land a mile away from Wargothdore, so get on my back and we will go."

Everyone climbed up on to my back, I leaped into the air, and we were off to Wargothdore. Three minutes passed, and I said. "Hold on we are going to land shortly." We landed a little over a mile and I said. "Let us now prepare for what is to come." Everyone got off my back, and started to prepare then Bonkie asked. "You not going like that are you?" I answered. "No I am going to look like a Drow just as you are going to look." Everyone looked at me in confusion. I said. "There is no other way to get in, Laura Firehawk will you please step forth." As the shy elf came forward, I handed her a scroll and said. "I need you to cast this upon yourself and the others except for Bonkie I need you to be invisible, I need you up by me so you can tell me what you know of the Drow. Will you do this for me?" they both accepted the tasks that I had requested them. I then changed to the form of a Drow elf and said. "Bonkie and I will take point behind us I want Keith and Coranthalas and Laura and Kristine in the middle followed by Talon, Luke, and Connor I need you three in the back to protect the women and the other from any attacks from the rear." Just as I finished speaking, I had noticed movement behind us at a distance of one hundred to one hundred fifty yards. As the figure got closer and came into view

I prepared myself for a physical altercation, the figure was a female Drow elf. She came up to us and said. "Greetings, you are the ones who are going to save Balord Anvustrike are you not?" I answered." That has yet to be determined, but why is that any concern to you?" she answered as if she knew me for some time. "What is the matter with you? You have changed Draco. Have you lost all manors that your mother had taught you? I said. "Do not speak of my mother you do not know her. My mother is a great woman she had taught me much of who I am." She said. "Do you not mean she is a great dragon?" I said angrily. "Shut your mouth! You know nothing of me nor my mother, so do not speak to me as if you do." She said. "I do know you and your mother. Her name is Darastrix and you are Dracolanin Falconheart." I yelled "Stop! I do not know who you are. I have never met you in all my life." She said. Have you forgotten me? Have you forgotten your childhood?" I said. "I have not forgotten my childhood." She said. "Your father must have driven it from your memory. I said. "How dare you first you speak as if you know my mother and me, and now you attack my father with your words." She said. "I mean no disrespect and I mean no attack physical or other means upon one who is not here to defend them. Since you do not remember who I am, my name is Kristle Redheart. First of all I do need to speak to you alone Draco." I said. "Very well, everyone stay here keep watch should she attack me kill her and leave her carcass for the worms." They stood uncertain of reasoning for this woman to speak to me alone, but they stood ready to protect or defend me.

We move thirty yards behind the group, I turn to Kristle and said. "What is that you wish to speak to me alone?" She said. "Your father, Vanderlanthas was very strict with you was he not?" I said. "This again, yes he was. He expected nothing but the best from me. I had to give my all and nothing less. He wanted a son that was perfect in every way, but I fell short. I am not a full-blooded elf I am a half-breed. He wanted me to be more elven than dragon, I feel he feared my dragon half due to the strength and power. I was his son nonetheless, so I did as he asked out of respect and honor." She said. "I understand a little more now, but how can you not remember me. We are more alike than you may think, but I have a task to ask of you." I asked. "Which is what?" she answered. "I need you to not tell your friends of what I truly am." I said you are a dragon I know it is your scent that gave you away." She said. "True that maybe, but I and a half Gold, and half…Red dragon." I said. "Gold and Red dragons do not mate together." She said. "True but the deceitful bastard took the form of the one my mother loved after he killed him. It was quite some time before I hatched that she found out what he was. She was instructed to destroy my egg by the council of dragons, but for the love in her heart, she could not destroy her own child. Your mother sympathized and felt her pain. I will tell you more later since you cannot remember, but I am here to help in any way I can." I grabbed off to my left, Bonkie was struggling to get free. I said. "You are not to speak a word of what you have just heard to anyone. Do you understand?" Bonkie said. "Yes, please do not hurt me I is not going to say anything." I said. "Let us not waste any more time, let us go, and save Balord." Kristle said. "I will be in the front with you." I asked. "Why do you wish to be at point with Bonkie and me?" she answered. "I can speak Drow, and the Drow are female dominant, so it would be more believable if I were in the front." I responded. "That is great for I cannot speak Drow and I did not know that females ruled over the males in their race." We walked back to the group they all relaxed, Laura had already casted the spell now they all looked like Drow elves. I said. "This is Kristle Redheart. We are going to take our leads from her she knows the Drow culture more than I or Bonkie."

When we got to the entrance there were two guards standing far enough in that light would not hinder their sight, one of the guards said. "Halt! Where are you coming from? Kristle answered in Drow. "We are coming with more information about the West Elven Kingdom." one of the guards said. "Good maybe we will finally get rid of that bastard Gizby. My mother is the one who stuck down his parents…Go ahead may Lolth be with you." We went in about one hundred yards and stopped, I said. "Guys wait here, Kristle come with me. We are going to have a little fun like we use to…where that came from. Any way come with me and walk quietly." We silently snuck up behind the guards, and I put my sword in the back of one Kristle did the same. I said. "If you say a word you both are dead." The guard said. "Even if you kill us you shall be hunted down like dogs." I said. "And that is different from what? For we are always hunted... She and I. well we are dragons." Kristle said. "Did you not say if they spoke a word they were dead?" I said. "That is right I did say that." laughing. "The Drow race is not very smart is it." Kristle said. "I guess not. It must be the lack of sun light." I said. "That must be true, well you did speak." After killing the guards, we then picked up the bodies, pulled them out into the open, and threw them high up the mountain, and then we turned around and went back to the group, along the way Kristle picked up what looked like a map and handed it to me. When we got back to the group I said." From the way, it looks on the map we are going down into the heart of Wargothdore the central city of the Drow community. Let us try to fit in as best as we can and save our friend Balord." We started down the tunnel, it was about thirty yards when Coranthalas said. "Draco I found a lift." We all got in the lift, while going down I noticed Bonkie snickering I said. What is so funny Bonkie?" He answered. "I set traps so should anyone try to alert others know that we are here." I said. "Well done. Now be quite."

When we got to the bottom, many Drow elves were scurrying about setting up for what look to be an invasion of some kind. It was just then I heard the sounds of metal being shaped with a hammer. We all exited the lift and spread throughout the cavern. I looked over the cavern and I saw a well-built Drow pounding upon a piece of metal shaping it into a sword, I knew at once that was Balord from the disgruntled look upon his face and the chains that he was bond to. I had Bonkie and Kristine follow me, the three of us made our way to the weapon smith I said. "Work faster you traitor!" I said with my mind. "Balord we are from the Tri-Kingdom and we are here to get you out of this hell. Bonkie pick those locks and free him at once." Then a second later, I heard from the lift. "Intruders! Intruders!" I said. "Well so much for getting out of here without a fight. Bonkie get him free and get to the lift." Just then, six Drow came at me the closes one swung her sword and missed me by inches. I then turned toward them, used my breath weapon killing four, and mortally wounded the other two, at that moment Coranthalas yelled. "Draco get those guys and cover them!" I looked around to see where the others were I came to see Kristle covering them, out of nowhere a cyclone of fire appeared and it consumed everything and everyone including Coranthalas. The cyclone lasted for a minute then just as it appeared it disbursed just as quick. I yelled. "To the lift now go!" I heard a wisp of air as an arrow flying by my head. Connor yelled. "They are coming up the tunnel!" I yelled. "Kristle, Luke, and Laura get Balord out of here! Connor you should have a clean clear shot from there, Bonkie get more arrows for him when he is in need of them. Coranthalas stand by Connor and send them something hot and spicy. Talon and Keith stand on each side of the tunnel. Kristine be ready to heal, and when I say now get out of here and do not wait for me!" Just then, three Drow exited the tunnel Connor had shot one in the head, Talon and Keith had taken on the other two. Coranthalas sent a fireball shortly thereafter Keith and Talon had dispatched their foes. I yelled

"Go now get out go!" The rest of the group got into the lift Bonkie yelled. "What about you?" I answered. "Do not worry for me I shall be fine. Now go! Go now!" as the lift ascended seven Drow that looked like spiders were coming up the tunnel. With the speed of a spider, they surrounded me, they were all snarling, and one said. "Time for you to die." I replied. "This is how it is going to be? Well then, I will not keep you waiting. Come fight me if you wish, but it will be your death." One said. "Foolish worm we Driders shall tare you limb from limb." I growled. "Let us finish this." In an instant, I changed to my dragon form. One of the seven jumped upon my back and stabbed me with his sword hitting my lung. I swung my tail back and forth pushing the other, six back into the tunnel. They quickly got up and headed right back toward me, the one on my back was knocked off by something or someone. I could hear the sounds of fighting behind me, I knew due to the injury to my lung that my breath weapons strength had decreased even so I used it to kill the six coming up the tunnel. I then turned to the fighting behind me I saw Talon fighting it, The Drider was about to deliver a deathblow when Talon said. "You are not strong enough to kill me!" I saw the tip of Talons blade exit the back of the creature mortally wounding it. The creature said. "How could this be? How could you? I am the best of all Driders, how could I have failed." Then the Driders body fell to the ground lifeless with death, as I changed back to my elven form I said. "I thought I said not worry about me. Not to wait for me." Talon said. "My friend forgive me, for had I not interfered you would be lifeless just as that thing that is lying at your feet. You were outnumbered the odds were not quite in your favor." I said in pain and agony. "I thank you that you came back, but let us get back to the others"

When we got to the top, the others were waiting for us. Kristine ran to me and said. "You are wounded let me heal you." I said in pain. "Do not worry about me take care of Talon I will be fine I just need a few minutes. Kristle my friend get Balord out of here it is not safe." She said. "Draco what about… About what we talked about earlier?" I said. "Do not worry your secret is safe with them. Now go my friend go get him out of here." Kristle went to her dragon form, Balord hopped on her back and she flew away. Just as she, left I passed out from my injury.

During the time, I was out, I dreamt of when I was just a wyrmling in Gardon I was playing with another wyrmling and she seemed familiar as if I had just seen her just moments ago. When I came to, I saw Bonkie and Kristine kneeling over me praying. I sat up and Bonkie jumped to my neck hugging me and saying. "You are alive! Thank you Loki you have answered my prayer." I said. "Bonkie I am fine, you can let go now." Kristine said. "Draco I think the guys might need your help." I turned to see Talon fighting a Drider, Coranthalas, and Laura was fighting two Drow while Keith and Luke were fighting a Drider. I got up and ran to Talon when the Drider was trying to bite him. I grabbed it by the throat and said. "Leave my friends alone!" I then crush the windpipe of the Drider making it suffocate to death. I yelled Kristine come over here and heal Talon." I turned to help the others when Laura had used a spell killing one Drow, Coranthalas used a fireball killing the other, Keith, and Luke had worked together and killed the Drider that was attacking them. After the fight, Connor and Coranthalas wasted no time and started to block the entrance. I told them to move out of the way, I then changed to my dragon form and picked up a large bolder and slammed it into the mountain entrance. I said. "Hurry for it will not take very long for they will get through that in a short time." Everyone got on my back I said. "Let us go home and meet up with our friends." Then I took off to the West Elven

Kingdom, it took three minutes to get to the forest outside the city to land. When we landed, Kristle and Balord were waiting for us. I waited for everyone to get off my back, and then I changed back to my elf form. Balord came to me and said. "Thank you for saving me from that hell, and as payment for doing so all weapons and armor that you barrowed from my shop are now yours to keep and to do with as you please, now let us get back to the city and celebrate your great deed." On the way back to the city, Kristle grabbed my hand and whispered. "I wish to talk to you later alone." I nodded my head in understanding. The whole way to the city, she held my hand, and a warm feeling came over me. Then something happened that I have not done since my childhood. A smile had shown upon my face, and then I started to pray to Dracolanthin the mighty god of dragons, hoping he would give me the strength to shake this feeling.

When we approached the gates there was an old man in an old hat and holding a wooden stick as a cane, he said. "You there." I looked at Kristle. "Yes you two the ones that are holding hands, I wish to speak to you." We walked up to him and he introduced himself. "My name is… ah my name? I knew it a moment ago. Oh yes that is it, Flamebane. Flamebane Firebeard and you are Dracolanin Falconheart nice name it reminds me of myself and you are Kristle Redheart. Come with me to the forest please." We followed him in confusion. I thought to myself who was this man and how did he know our names when we did not even tell him was it by luck that he knew or just coincedence, but he knew nonetheless so we followed him.

We followed him out to the forest, he stopped in the clearing where I faced Sam. He turned and faced us and said. "I know who you both are and what you are. The two of you are good-hearted dragons, so I am going to do something that I have not done that is not until this day. Kristle I am going to make you a pure blooded gold dragon." I said. "Either you are a very knowledgeable mage or you are…" Flamebane interrupted. "That I am Dracolanin I am Dracolaithin." I asked. "Just her, what about me? I am a half elf half gold dragon." Dracolaithin looked at me and said. "There is no need for me to change anything about you Dracolanin." I asked. "What do you mean? I am a half dragon." He said. "Maybe so maybe not but she is two different dragons, and as for your prayer the feeling you have toward young Kristle is love. You had it when you were just a child and you still have that love. You love Kristle, the young woman standing before you. Now Kristle stay yourself for I am going to make you whole." I placed his hand just inches from her chest the reddish tint in her hair disappeared, and in the hand of Dracolaithin was a red orb. He took his other hand and crushed the red orb. I looked at Kristle and admired a newfound beauty toward her I ran my fingers through her golden locks, and when I looked into her eyes, they were no longer red but now they were gold in color the same as mine. I turned to Dracolaithin to thank him for the blessing that he gave Kristle, but I could not for he was gone. I said. "We must get back to the others." We turned and went back to the city.

As we neared the gates, a guard said. "You there the king wishes your presence in the hall of audience." "I show them the way private." An authoritative voice came. "Good evening allow me to introduce myself I am Julius Sebastian captain of the guard of the great city of Syvland, capital of the tri-kingdom. I am pleased to meet you Lord Dracolanin and Lady Kristle." We looked at each other in confusion that we were addressed with titles. "Will you please follow me." We followed Julius to the palace, as we entered the hall of audience a booming voice came. "King Gizby will now hear Lord Dracolanin and Lady Kristle

Falconheart." As we drew closer to the throne, I saw, Hal, Sam, the King and Queen, Julius, Ammie, Balord, and a female Drow. Gizby said. "Come forward Lord Dracolanin and Lady Kristle Falconheart." Again, Kristle and I looked at one another in confusion. Gizby said. "Allow me to explain for on this day, this vary hour, and at this moment the two known as Falconheart and Redheart have now become one, and now by royal decree they are now known as Lord and Lady Falconheart. This is my word and as such is beyond all contestation." At that moment, a servant came to us and handed us a parchment I opened it and it was a patents of nobility and with the patents was a map. Gizby said. "That is a map to your lands and holdings, but enough with official business. Let us go to the Gold Dragon Inn we have a wedding to celebrate."

When leaving Balord came to Kristle and me and said. "Congratulations Lord Draco." I said. "Please do not call me that. Draco will do just fine." He said. "Very well... Draco allow me to introduce my daughter Mayslyn." I said. 'Greetings Mayslyn." She said. "Greetings and thank you for saving my father." I said. "No thanks is needed it was the least I could do, besides I still do not know how one person can possibly stop a war." Mayslyn said. "By saving my father helped. All the weapons and armor for the kings army are forged by him, but I must bid you farewell congratulations on your marriage may it be long and fruitful." I bowed to her in thanks, we all then went to the gold Dragon Inn.

When we arrived at the Gold Dragon Inn, it was full of people. We were shown to the back of the Inn, the whole party was there talking to one another. Kristle sat across from the king, while the others took places around the table leaving a place open beside Kristle. I however leaned against the wall closest to the door where I could see everyone, soon after the party began, Talon came to me and asked. "Draco why are you over here? Please come join us after all it is you wedding party." I said. "Talon my friend I know you mean well, but I wish to be left to my thoughts." He said. "Very well my friend as you wish." A minute after Talon went back to his seat I caught a thick scent of Drow followed by a quick breeze. I walked over to Gizby knelt down and made it look like I was refastening my boot I whispered to Gizby. "There are Drow here continue in what you are doing." With my mind, I said. "Julius be ready there are Drow in our midst." Then suddenly the smell had got stronger, as I stood up I directed my dragon fear behind me from where the smell originated. The Drow that was right behind me was frozen in fear, I spun around, and swung my arm hitting the Drow making it hit the wall behind me. Then a voice came from the rafters. "You all pay for what you have done to my people!" I looked up and said. "Leave or deal with me." It said. "Fool, I will take your head and put it on a platter and give it to Lolth." I said. "So be it. Now sleep you insidious being." The Drow fell from the rafters into the grasping hands of Julius. The Drow that I had hit behind me went into an infernal rage and stabbed me deep in the back piercing my lung. I fell to the floor for the poison upon the blade started to do what it was meant for. Through a fog from which I could not clear, my head of I heard the tiny voice of Bonkie. "Leave my friends alone!" I looked back to see blood flowing from the neck of the Drow, then I saw Bonkie thrust his little sword into the skull of the dying Drow, while thrusting he said. "No one hurts friends of Bonkie Funblade!"

The look that now dawn the face of Bonkie was abnormal for a Pixie, it was red and full of anger rage and hostility. While gasping for air I said. "Bonkie my loyal friend I am…." I lost all consciousness. Shortly thereafter, I opened my eyes to see Sam wiping the sweat from my brow. The poison that was coursing through my body was rapidly snuffing the fire of life with