Chapter 6

Huge shadows darkened the skies of the island of New Damara as over heard the huge magnificent bodies of three dragons appeared, one gold and two silver, circled over head and then headed to Foothills park, where they folded their great wings in dive to the ground forcing those on the ground to scatter and run for shelter and to hide.

The center golden dragon landed and then reared up and shimmered into that of the huge form of Droconis, the two silvers followed and they too reformed to the huge warrior forms of one male and one female that stood with glowing red eyes to peer over the area.

Marstoq having been alerted to the arrival of the dragons in the park rode hard with a contingent of his guard to the entrance and he watched as Droc reformed to that of human form along with his two under priests. He stood and bellowed in the center of the park, "NEW DAMARA! RELEASE MLAR NOW!"

The good citizens that had scattered and taken sheltered now step with some timidity out into the open to look with awe upon the three giants in human form they knew had arrived in dragon form and now shouted for the release of the councilwoman M'lar. It was a show of support on behalf of a friend of dragon kind they stood ready to do battle for their friend.

Marstoq dismounted his stead turned his reins over to his sergeant and moved to wards Droconis. "Hold Droconis, do not do this."

Droconis glared at the man that appeared to him as miniscule and insignificant. "Halt what Captain Marstoq? Halt the injustice of the incarceration and now near death of one you claim as mother? What gives you the right to tell me her friend to halt my pursuit of her release?"

Mars stepped forward and could not help but notice the shine of his golden armor in the sunlight as it reflected those of his dragon scales. "Your mother does not deserve this treatment whom do I speak with to order her release?"

Mars took a deep sigh and let it out slowly, "You do not want to do this Droc, it is her decision to stand trial and prove her innocence you will do nothing but inflame an already horrible situation and cause more problems."

Droc crossed his massive arms over his chest and his eyes glowed a dangerously brilliant shade of red then shifted to yellow as he peered at Marstoq. "I want to see her."

Mars shook his head. "King Eric has denied her release or visitors even I do not have the right to seek her company and I am Captain of the damn guard!"

Droconis frowned, "Take me to the tree hugger now. I want to let him know my terms for her release. If I must I will parley for her release and offer ransom." Mars looked anxiously at his two companions.

"Follow me he is at the Silver Feind Inn." Droc nodded and the four of them began their trek to the large four storied structure that boasted frozen silver fiends as decorations on all four corners.

Moving with a clank of armor and weaponry up the front steps through the front entrance, Marstoq led them into the common room from the main foyer. Droc nodded politely to those in the room as his sentries took up their flank to each side of him and the turned and waited.

King Eric was not the most typical of kings so to speak. He wore the clothing of a ranger and never seemed to comb his hair. He refused to wear a crown and his boyishly handsome face had not aged since he attained the age of twenty-five.

He walked tiredly into the room followed by the Lord Mage Glithcalis and Marstoq. Eric glanced warily to Droconis. "So Droconis to what do I owe the pleasure of your company?"

Droc folded his arms over his massive chest and looked at Eric, "Release her to my custody Eric and you will save this island a lot of grief."

Eric sighed and shook his head. "No."

Droc was not used to being told no for any reason and his ire was radiating off him and telepathically being directed to his two sentries. They shifted their bodies as if preparing to transform into dragon form and battle. "Do you want me to level this island with a army of dragons to come and take her?"

Glithcalis was a quiet arch mage of noble breeding and for a gold elf he was a lot more tolerant to be around than most. But this was a leveled threat and was enough for him to raise his hand and the charge of magic electricity discharged from his fingertips.

"Have a care Droconis, you do not wish to start a battle you may regret."

Eric muttered "Who has this woman not shared her charms with in this realm?"

Moving to the fireside chair he collapsed into it and sighed deeply. "A day does not go by that I am not beleaguered by the release of a traitor that I have no desire to see running around to have the town revolt and try to kill the head of our Council. Do you not think I have a right to make sure this Island remains safe from this kind of anarchy?

Droconis looked down at the man he had come to respect and even admire as a King but at this moment was very irritated with him. "You really think she is capable of killing Morgan? Come on Eric she is one small half breed that has done nothing but grieve for the death of her son and do good on this island."

Eric's angry gaze landed on Droconis, "She lay as mistress and priestess to the Temple of Myrkul and Cyric? You think any words coming from her mouth would be the truth? I believed in her told her to leave Tarin Gillman and his temple and I would support her and help her raise her child. Her child would have been raised as a Princess."

Eric's true feelings were surfacing as he spoke with some degree of anger and disgust about how his offer had been thrown back in his face. "But she went back to him and now look she incited the innocents of this island to rise up against Morgan? No Droconis she will stand trial and the evidence will be heard and if she is found guilty will go to the hangman's nose or the guillotine."

Droconis moved to Eric's chair and leaned over and planted his nose to Eric's face. "She is innocent. She will not die nor will she loose her head for if she does you may mark my words you will have the nation of Gold and Silvers of Droco-dramire's Island here to seek vengeance on her behalf so make sure you have your facts in order before you condemn her."

Eric glared back into his gaze and spoke softly but subtly, "I will let the facts speak for them selves. Now is there anything else?"

Droconis nodded, "I want to see her."

Eric thought a moment. "I will have her brought her in shackles and you may see her for yourself and hear what she has asked."

Eric glanced to Marstoq and sighed, "I suppose you will want to bring her here?"

Marstoq nodded, "If it would be your wish."

Eric put an irritated set of fingertips to his brow and shook his head. "My desire would have been for your mother to have taken my offer and broken her alliance with Tarin when I had asked her and not go on this self destructive course of vengeance."

Marstoq looked at the boyish kind faced man impassively and said with little or no emotion, "My liege, she is half scro it is her nature to seek vengeance for one she loved and believed in. It is not her nature to seek their death but her justice."

Eric was growing weary of all these arguments, he just wanted to retreat to the woods so that he could enjoy a little peace and quiet. Sighing deeply he glanced up at the handsome half-breed that was the only other of the kind that M'lar represented and shook his head. "And if that justice meant the death of the head of the council."

Marstoq considered his words. He had gained so much and had built a new life here on this island since their arrival so long ago. He had not wished his little mother to find a need to rescue the evil dark lord Tarin Gillman. He knew she was stubborn and felt she could lend some of her light to his life. And since that time he took her to his temple as his postulate she had been in a spiraling down hill course. That was until the day she stood up to Tarin and told him she could no more be his handmaid or that of the evil god Myrkul.

It had been Glithcalis that had rescued her from the depths of the destructive path she had been on and he had been certain that she had started building her life again. She was making a mark in the community and a reputation for the good she had done.

She was popular and caring to those that needed a friendly ear. She had gained the attention of some very powerful allies obviously with the arrival of Lord Droconis to rescue her from prison.

"She was moving away from the darkness that had beckoned her my lord, the problem was that others had contrived to draw her back to the darkness again and she resisted and I can assure you she just wanted Morgan to stand trial for his part in Joe's death." Eric waved his hand and sighed deeply.

"Go fetch your mother and bring her. Once she had finished her visit with Droconis, you will make sure she is returned to prison."

Marstoq bowed to his King and turned moving out of the room with a flame of anger tinting his cheekbones. He had half a mind to take her and escape from this island and never return but knew she was determined to make her point known.

He was just worried about how much longer she would be able to hold out before her body gave in to the lack of nourishment. Moving out the doors of the inn he noted his guardsmen had followed and patiently awaited his return. Marstoq headed his men back to the guardhouse and the cell that now held his mother's frail body.

Droconis watched from the bay window as they rode off and turned back to Eric. "Thank you Eric."

Eric waved his hand. "Just don't make me regret my decision for allowing you to see her Droc."

Glithcalis stepped forward, "Perhaps gentlemen we should adjourn to the ballroom for this momentous meeting."

Eric stood and moved to the open doorway. "I think it best I not be here when she arrives. So, I will bid you all good day."

Glithcalis bowed his head to Eric as he disappeared out the door and turned his attention back to Droconis. "This way My Lord Droconis."

Prin Salarus Doe sat patiently in the bar that had held a lot of happy and now ambivalent feelings. This was where she had cultivated her friendship with M'lar and though she did not agree with M'lar over her feelings about Morgan, she certainly understood the depth of her passion to seek vengeance for her son's death.

If she had ventured her true feelings what she knew of Morgan was nothing more than a good doctor and a friend to her when she was in need. But then again she was engaged to and then married a master assassin and she had to weigh what her feelings were about this whole sordid affairs.

Together M'lar and Prin had forged the laws that would govern the island of New Damara and now she would stand trial on the very laws they had forged together. Reaching into her pocket of her cape she withdrew the missive she had received earlier at her office. Rereading it she frowned slightly, this certainly put a new slant on things where M'lar and this whole sordid affair had emerge.

"Council Woman Doe, your failure to meet with me on the matter of M'lar will result in a very un desirous set of events that could cost this island and all that reside here. I assure you I have every intention to see that she will be released and you will hear the full facts of exactly what transpired. I await you at the Hoch by mid-day. Respectfully yours Rahvin Bloodthorne."

Prin folded the letter shut and sighed, if John knew she was having this meeting without him, she knew he was going to be more than just slightly mad, he was going to be furious. But that was something she would have to deal with later.

She had to see what this necromancer wanted and what he intended. "Oh M'lar what have you gotten yourself into now?" Glancing at the large timepiece that set over the bar and its long pendulum arms that now swung into place to mark the noon daytime she sighed heavily.

Then as the door opened she looked up and saw the very thin gaunt figure of a handsome man that was wasting away due to his over use of dark magic. His long black robes' hem drug the floor as he entered the room. Gone were the golden runes she had noticed on them when he first arrived and the look on his narrow face was now set and determined as he moved to sit across from her.

"You have something you wish to say about this situation with M'lar?"

He nodded and looked at her pinning her with his gaze. "She is innocent of any charges of treason. I am the one that was determined to see Morgan Manshak dead. She did not want to kill him she wanted to have him brought to trial which I thought was just plain silly as the man should be put to death."

Prin listened and felt her stomach knot; her own thoughts were that this man was delusional. "I even tried to plant the notion in her mind with my magic that she should follow my lead and allow me to handle this problem. She was in so much pain and grief over the loss of her son that she could not focus nor hear what I had to say."

Again in her mind was a possible defense for M'lar to use to avoid the gallows or guillotine. "I see so you feel that Morgan Manshak should be put to death because, and let me make myself plainly understood, you felt that he needed to die? Why would you take her word on such a thing? She has admitted she had no proof of his guilt and that she sought only to bring him to justice and was using some of her friends for the purpose of doing so?"

Rahvin sat bat and shrewdly assessed Prin and her reasoning. "She has a lot of friends that know she is in pain, she feeds the very existence of the lost souls on the prime material plane of negativity it is consuming her and distracting her from what is more important, finding love and someone that cares about her and wanting to share a life with her."

Prin sat back and she did her own assessment and found the man a neurotic fool. He was so caught up in his own greatness that he was not about to allow anyone or anything to stand in his way to get what he wanted and apparently he wanted M'lar. "You know she has insisted on standing trial and will die for her beliefs in what she believes."

Rahvin smiled, "She believes that now, once she is back in my custody she will not haunt nor worry with this world again. We shall leave this island and live in the peace of my castle. If you fail to release her to my custody then I fear that you may regret what I plan to bring down on this island."

Prin held her emotions I check as she studied this man. "And what will that be?"

He waved his hand. "Every dark magic artifice at my disposal, beginning with a meteoric firestone to rain down on this island and burn it to the depths of the ocean it now sits on."

Prin stood. "Sir, I believe you go to far, surely you do not believe that for one moment we will allow this to happen?"

She tucked the note into her pocket and looked again at the man with a hint of anger edging her eyes.

"I do not care what you think Councilwoman Doe, I care that M'lar is returned to me and we may leave and you will never need to worry about me again."

Prin knew one thing was for sure she had to report this threat to the warlocks and to King Eric as soon as possible and she needed to put distance between her and this demented soul that now threatened the very existence of this island and those she loved.

"If you do that you may destroy M'lar in the battle you propose."

He laughed, "You think I am worry about that? I shall simply resurrect her back from the dead and leave you all in the smoldering ruins of this island."

Prin shook her head. "You know she loves this island and she is determined to fight for her innocence by the very laws she helped to write?"

He waved his hand as if that was inconsequential. "Once she is back in my control she will forget this island and those of you that once shared your lives with her."

Prin nodded, "I see and those are your terms?" He nodded "Oh yes and there will be no negotiation of those terms. Turn her over to me or face the wrath I am prepared to bring down on you all." With those words said he stood and touched the amulet around his throat and disappeared in a blinding flash of yellow light.

Droconis sat on the large settee in the ballroom that edged the wall Marstoq moved into the room supporting a gaunt and frail M'lar on his arm. Standing he was immediately alarmed at her condition. Following behind Marstoq was the very stoic form dressed in a black jacket and black pants wearing his dark hair behind his ears in a ponytail and sporting a blue sapphire earring in his right ear.

Looking upon the dour faced man that would have been handsome except for the large rather pronounced scar down his face was Raven Stormwalker a warlock that had been sent by the citadel to observe the warlocks of New Damara. He stood watching the three dragons in human form that now seemed to dominate the room.

He cast his glance on the frail form of the woman that leaned heavily to the large half elf half-scro male that was one of the subjects of his observations. He would be tested soon and this appeared to be a step towards one of the tests. Would he allow his mother to be hanged for treason?

Droc moved forward and went to bended knee to the tiny figure that leaned heavily for support on her son's arm. "Droconis, how kind of you to come. How are you?"

Droc gently lifted his massive hand and moved forward to take her hand and put it on his arm and lead her back to the settee he had been on. The two silver dragons moved next to him and Raven frowned. "Only one." He commanded not happy with this unsecure situation.

Mars turned on the warlock," What do you think they will do snatch her up and disappear with her?"

Raven without offering any emotions stated simply, "Yes, that is exactly what I think."

Mars growled and then swallowed his anger as he glanced to his mother and she gave him that determined look that communicated more than any of them in the room could know. She was telling him to calm down and let her have her visit.

"Why won't you eat? M'lar you are hurting yourself. You will die if you do not eat."

M'lar sighed and moved with him and felt her legs buckle. Droc without missing a beat swept her into his arms and carried her to the settee.

"I will stand by my beliefs Droc. I only ask my friends to support my beliefs and allow me the death I seek should it be granted. I have shamed my family and I have shamed myself but I swear by all that is true and right that I never sought Morgan's death and who so ever says this is wrong. I only sought justice for Joe and his death."

Droc leaned over and kissed her forehead and saw the look of concern that now edged the gaze of his two guards. They had come to know her and love her as much as he loved her and seeing her like this was breaking their hearts as much as it was breaking his heart.

"I vow this much my dearest friends should they harm you in any way for this, I shall bring forth Armageddon with an army of dragons and we will sink this island.."

M'lar frowned and patted her friends hand." No, my dearest friend, you shall not do any such thing. YOU will respect my wishes and you will allow me to die if that is the decision for what I believe in. Do not let this degenerate into something that would make my death senseless. Allow me to show Morgan that I believe in what I know and allow my death to mean something."

Droc went to bended knee and looked up into her eyes catching the look of determination in them and knew that she had resolved to allow her self to be sacrificed as a martyr for her cause.

"You cannot ask me to just watch you die my dearest. You mean too much to my people and me."

She leaned over and kissed his knuckles that held her hands in his. "I only ask you to respect my wishes my dearest friend and you let me seek my justice in my way. If Morgan thinks he is going to win by my death then he will learn that he is the one that will loose."

Droc leaned forward and gently kissed her forehead. Then lowered his mouth to graze her lips with his and blow his breath into her mouth. With the release of his breath M'lar felt a sudden surge of strength fill her. Her eyes brightened and the color moved into her face. For a little while she felt her old strength returned. "For you my precious one, for a few moments you will feel the kiss of the dragon's breath and find your health restored. Know I love you with all my heart my beloved one."

Then leaning back he stood and towered over the frail form of a woman he had come to greatly admire and love. "You are this island's heart M'lar never doubt that. It was missing something until you came and brought your gentle touch to those that reside here and to loose you will loose the charm of this island and it will shrivel and die."

M'lar smiled and then closed her eyes. The room was spinning and she was feeling beginning to feel terrible as the breath was beginning to wane. Once more she was as she had been frail and a shadow of her self. The effort of riding here and meeting with Droc had diminished what strength she had left.

Leaning back against the back of the settee she allowed the room to spin and waited for unconsciousness to claim her. As it did she slumped over and this immediately caused a reaction to everyone in the room. Droc frowned and leaned forward and laid his hand on her chanting softly, casting a restore health spell to give her back a little bit of life so she could fight to live.

As Droc began to chant, Raven stepped forward and began to concentrate on Droc and Marstoq recognizing the healing spell moved to step in front of Raven. "He seeks to restore her health nothing else Captain Stormwalker. "

Raven frowned, "Then teleport her back to her cell now before I find it necessary to mind blast the lead dragon."

Hearing this the two guards moved forward to hear Droconis growl. "Leave the fool be Sharia and Arias. Come we have plans to make of our own. Marstoq take care of her and send word when she comes to trial I will be here."

Turning he moved to Raven and glared down at the small man that did not flinch as the huge male dragon in human form towered over him. "You will be sorry if you harm one hair of her head."