Chapter 16

True to form, Grum had been arguing with the Draco in the cavern for hours. Caeldon, despite Mamao'lani's earlier concerns, had not seemed offended by the aggressive Tellarite approach at all, even giving as good as she got.

Although Mamao'lani himself could never resort to such tactics - his upbringing and experience had given him a deeply ingrained polite respect for others, even if he disagreed with them - he could not deny they had worked in this instance. The Draco were more engaged in debate that they had been in the past two weeks. That said, Caeldon and Grum had yet to reach an agreement over mining rights.

The highest concentrations of the much-sought rodinium were in and around the Redscales' mountain, so any operation would have to be close by, and this concerned Caeldon. The Humans had promised to leave the Draco in peace unless requested, and both parties had concurred that this was beneficial. A non-stop mining rig would disrupt that peace and may cause some of the Draco to become more wary of outsiders.

There was also the fact that Caeldon did not fully understand the mining process, and thought it may harm the mountain, despite Grum's strong assurances that this was a foolish notion.

Grum was looking up at the large Draco, his stout chest puffed out in annoyance. "It would take hundreds of millennia before the mountain started to disappear! There probably isn't even enough rodinium in the whole planet to keep going that long!"

"So you say, Supervisor Lar bim Grum," said Caeldon, holding her head over the small Tellarite. "But we live far longer than you. You will be long gone before the mountain is."

"I will be long gone before this conversation is over, at this rate!" Grum said with a snort.

"At least the Human clan offered us knowledge and healing, what does the Tellarite clan offer for this disruption?"

"You already said you had no interest in money or a share of the rodinium," said Grum. "What do you want?"

Mamao'lani jumped in. "I might be able to help there." He had been reviewing his notes from earlier, and consulted a padd. "Clan Mother, you said that other clans sometimes hold back from hibernation to attack your clan while you sleep, correct?"

Caeldon bowed her head. "Yes."

"What if Mister Grum's people offer you protection while you are in hibernation? You know we have the means to ward off your kind, we could share it with the Tellarites, then they could have someone guard your cave, keep you safe." Mamao'lani looked to Grum, who slowly nodded at this idea.

Caeldon also seemed to be considering this. "We could rest easy… No disruption to hibernation… Not lose any of our food or more of our clan…"

"Furthermore," said Mamao'lani, "if the Tellarites agree to restrict their mining operations to when you are in your hibernation cycle, then they would not bother you. And, I promise you, damage to the mountain would be minimal, as Supervisor Grum said."

"Hold on," Grum interjected. "When is the next hibernation cycle?"

"A few hundred days from now," said Caeldon, non-specifically.

Mamao'lani looked up, thinking. He had researched this beforehand. "Let's see… If I remember right, based on the planet's orbit, the next winter should begin in about… one year. Uh, one Earth year, that is."

Grum did his own quick calculation in his head, no doubt converting to the Tellarite calendar. "Hm. That is still some time away…"

"Well the rodinium isn't going anywhere, Supervisor," Mamao'lani said with a grin. "Besides, their hibernation lasts about twenty Earth years, so you'll have plenty of time to make up for it." He leaned in closer to Grum, speaking softer. "And there may be other deposits elsewhere."

Grum stroked his thick brown beard. "I will bring this proposal to the Mining Consortium and my government… but I think it should be acceptable."

Caeldon cocked her head. "I will also have to discuss this with the rest of the clan. I think they will find the protection worth such an agreement though."

"Excellent!" said Mamao'lani, with a big smile. "See, isn't it better when everyone gets along?"

Grum grunted and Caeldon made her growling, laughter-like sound.

"Is he always so… happy?" Caeldon asked.

"Yes," said Grum. "It's insufferable."

Mamao'lani put his fists on his hips and made a mildly offended face.

"I suppose I should be grateful to have such cheer in these caverns again," said Caeldon. "I have seen too many miserable cycles. You have brought new life to us."

"Thank you again, Clan Mother," said Mamao'lani. "But, may I ask, if it's not too impolite… how many hibernation cycles have you seen?"

Caeldon thought for a moment. "Seventy-seven."

Mamao'lani conducted some swift mental arithmetic in his head, then widened his eyes. "That… That would make you over six thousand Earth years old." He shared a shocked look with Grum.

"I have lived longer than any other clan mother in memory," Caeldon said, matter-of-factly.

"You must have some stories," Mamao'lani said with a smile.

"That is what I mean when I say that you bring us new life," said Caeldon. "We have heard the same stories so many times, but yours is a new one, unlike any heard before. Except for the legends."

"Legends?" Mamao'lani asked, curious.

Caeldon swayed her long neck, shaking her head dismissively. "Merely tales told to frighten hatchlings. Of visitors to the world long, long ago."

Mamao'lani and Grum now shared inquisitive looks.

"Other visitors to Berengaria?" said Grum.

Caeldon made her laughing sound again. "Even when my first clan mother's first clan mother was a hatchling, these were old stories."

"We'd like to hear them," said Mamao'lani.

Caeldon exhaled, blasting a gust of hot air through the cavern. "Hmm. It has been some time since I told them… They tell of visitors from the sky. This is why so many of us were fearful of you. These visitors were said to remake land, sea and sky, and they killed many creatures of the world."

Mamao'lani stared up at Caeldon intently. "What were these visitors like?"

Caeldon looked down upon him. "Demons, it is said… Demons of air and darkness…"