Author's Note: Please read this note before you continue on with the story.
So I'd like to address a recent comment made. First, to a guest who commented that Leon would probably not be accepted back at his covert for revealing his face. You don't have to worry about that. Like I said in the author's note of the first chapter, Leon would be different from Din Djarin. His covert isn't part of the Children of the Watch, so he's free to reveal his face whenever he wants. His creator, Nitro zeus, made it clear on that. Also, thanks to that other guest two days later who wanted to make it clear.
Thank you all for your support. Any and all comments are welcome.
Leon took point on leading the kids through the forest on the cover of night. They walked for what felt like hours with the dragon egg safely tucked in Ezran's backpack. All the while, Rayla's mind still reeled back to one of her ribbons being removed.
"Hey, Leon," Callum said, "Not to sound a bit impatient, but how long until we get to this covert place? We've been walking for an hour."
"Any minute now." Leon replied. "Just be patient."
Callum frowned at those words. They weren't exactly what he wanted to hear, but he took it anyway.
Just like Leon promised, they arrived at their destination. Before them was what looked like half of a metal dome with a sealed door on the flat end. Leon approached it and knocked on the door. A slot on the door opened up.
"Leon, you're back." Said the Mandalorian on the other side. "And the kids?"
"They're with me." Leon said. "Let us in."
The slot closed, and a second later, the door opened wide. Behind it was a dark staircase. The Mandalorian who opened the door for them allowed them to pass.
It took a minute, but the four of them made it down to the tunnel floor. It didn't take long for them to catch the eyes of every Mandalorian that were in the hallway with them.
"Uh… Are they all right?" Ezran asked.
"It's fine." Leon said. "It's just not every day outsiders come into our coverts."
Callum looked on over at the Mandalorians who returned to everything they were doing. "Wow. So these are Mandalorians? Wait, what's that?" Callum pointed at a large metal door that looked as thick as it was big.
"That's just our beskar depository." Leon explained as he walked down the hallway with them. "It's where we keep all of our beskar."
"What's beskar?" Ezran asked.
"A rare metal." Leon answered. "We Mandalorians use it to craft, reinforce, or repair our armor. It's nearly indestructible and it repels some magic spells. It's quite the best armor for people like us."
Rayla took her eyes off of her wrist to gaze at a passing room. Inside, she found several kids gathered in a group. "Wait, are those children?"
"Foundlings, but yes." Leon replied. "Whenever we find lost children, Mandalorians take them in and give them a place to stay. After that, they either come of age and choose their own path, or we bring them back to their own people. This is the Way."
"You guys look after kids?" Callum asked. "Why do the humans and elves both hate you?"
"…Come with me. You'll see when we meet the Broker."
The kids kept following Leon to the stand where the Broker waited. She clapped her hands when she saw Leon approach her desk.
"Well, look who came back after another successful run. I gotta say, I was worried when you decided to break into the castle. Glad I was wrong. And I see you found yourself a few Foundlings to top it off. Way to go."
"They're not Foundlings actually." Leon said. "They're here as my guests. Broker, meet Prince Callum and Ezran of Katolis. The elf is Rayla."
"Nice to meet you." Ezran said.
"Well, they certainly look lively." The Broker said. "So you kids actually helped Leon pull off his job?"
"Actually, the job didn't get done." Leon said. "There's been an unexpected development that changed the whole plan."
"Whatchu talkin' 'bout, Leon?" the Broker asked.
"Show her." Leon told to Ezran. The young prince removed his backpack and opened its top to her.
Once she saw what was inside, the Broker nearly fell out of her desk. She regained her composure and stared right at it.
"By Vizsla's name!" she gasped. Rayla noticed a different change in her voice. "Is that… But how…"
"Wait a minute." Rayla said. "That tone… Are you…"
The Broker looked at Rayla before shrugging. She removed her helmet revealing her dark skin and raven-black hair. But what got the kids' attention were her pointy ears.
"Yeah. You got me. I'm a Sunfire elf. I would have thought it was my eight fingers that would give me away."
"Wait. You're an elf and a Mandalorian?" Callum asked.
"Kid, Mandalorian isn't a race. It's a religion, a warrior's religion." Leon said.
"Guess the kid's not too familiar with our way, is he?" the Broker asked.
"Up until a couple of hours ago, he had no idea what a Mandalorian is." Leon answered.
"Okay. I get it. I don't know anything about Mandalorians." Callum said. "But I feel like I should know, so somebody please tell me."
The Broker stared at Callum before sighing. "All right. But before anything, we have to take it up with Rukas."
"Who's Rukas?" Rayla asked.
All of a sudden, the far door opened up and a new Mandalorian appeared. He was bigger than most of the other armored people there and he gestured his hands toward himself. Leon, the Broker, and the kids followed.
"I'm guessing that's Rukas." Ezran said.
In the room they were lead to, Rukas sat in a large chair with the others in his presence. He stared inside of Ezran's backpack eyeing the dragon egg inside before turning to them.
"Hello. I am Rukas. I am the head of this covert."
"Hi." Callum greeted nervously. "I'm Prince Cal…"
"I know who you are, boy." Rukas said. "I'm not deaf to the stories of the royal family of Katolis. Although, the fact that you boys found the egg of the Dragon Prince made me believe this was all a dream at first. But seeing it for myself… This is everything we could ever want."
"We know." Ezran said. "We can stop the war if we deliver this egg back to its mother."
"If we do this right, we can do so much more than stop the war." Rukas said. "We may be able to return to Mandalore."
Leon and the Broker exchanged surprised looks toward each other. The kids however looked confused.
"Mandalore?" Rayla asked. "But I thought it was just a myth, a story made up by Mandalorian fanatics."
"It's anything but a myth, child." Rukas said. "It's the original home of our people, a separate kingdom that didn't answer to humans nor dragons. Our ancestors built our home united by the common beliefs that we shared. Whether you're human or elf, you're welcome into our ranks as long as you are a devoted follower of the Way of Mandalore."
"Why aren't you there now?" Callum asked.
"The same reason humans aren't welcome into Xadia." Leon explained. "After the mage, Ziard, discovered dark magic, everything changed. Humans were exiled to the west side of the continent. As for Mandalorians… We were forced to abandon Mandalore. The ruler pleaded with the dragons saying we had nothing to do with dark magic and we would never use it, but they didn't make any exceptions. They chased all Mandalorians out. And now, we're scattered to the winds hiding in secret coverts in both the human kingdoms and Xadia."
"We Mandalorians have nothing to gain from this conflict between both sides of Xadia." The Broker said. "If we take sides, we'll be forsaking our Way, and we'd never forsake our way. Just the fact that the Way of Mandalore takes in both humans and elves makes us hated in both sides."
"That's horrible." Ezran commented. "You guys shouldn't have to hide just because of your beliefs."
"If we do this, we won't have to for much longer." Rukas said. "Leon, have you claimed the Dragon Prince as your Foundling?"
"Yes, sir."
"Then you are to be his guardian. As the Way of Mandalore states, you must bring him back to his own kind, his mother over at Sky Spire. Take the princes with you. They must be the ones to hand the egg back to her. If a Mandalorian brings the egg back, it will look like we're making an desperate attempt to mend things between the two nations. They won't accept it unless it was given by humans."
"So instead of him saying sorry for us, we have to be the ones to say sorry." Callum said.
"I'll go too." Rayla said. "I know Xadia better than the rest of you. Once we get there, you're going to need a guide."
"Sounds like I've got my party." Leon said.
"It's done then." Rukas said. "Broker, prepare all the necessary supplies for Leon. Give him everything he needs on the house."
"Sir?" Broker asked.
"This might just turn the tide of Mandalorian history and allow us to return home. That should be payment enough. This is the Way."
The Broker nodded and put her helmet back on. "This is the Way."
"One more thing." Leon said. "Since this is going to be a long trip, I'll need to take Scar with me."
"Understood." Rukas said. "Broker, prepare something for the wolf too."
"You have a wolf?" Ezran asked Leon. "That's really cool."
"Right. Well, for now," Leon said, "You kids can shelter here until dawn. We'll make our journey then."
"Good." Callum yawned. "After this long night, I'll need a rest."
"Me too." Ezran said with heavy eyes.
Rayla tried her best not to show her exhaustion, but she couldn't help herself. She ended up yawning too. "Fine. I'll take my nap."
The kids were leaving the room, but before Leon could follow, he was stopped by his master.
"Leon. A word, if you don't mind."
"Yes, sir." Leon asked turning to Rukas.
"There's one more thing I need to talk to you about. It might be grave."
"How grave?"
"It's about the people who gave you this job in the first place. The ones who hired you to take the egg for them. Do you have any idea who they are?"
"They never gave their name. Why?"
"Because if they hired you to take the egg and find out you don't intend to give it to them, they may take other measures. Be on your guard. For all you know, they have hired multiple mercenaries for the same prize."
The eerie warning shook Leon within his suit.
