The crowd cheered as she stepped forward and bowed. The royal announcer spoke with a voice imbued with mana to carry loudly across the disgusting masses of peasants. "The royal heroes have saved our lands from yet another threat to you, the people! The dreaded gryphons of Whitestone have been vanquished and it is safe to travel once more! Your husbands no longer need to fear the skies as they carry their goods upon the roads that the nobles have worked so hard to ensure are reliable and safe!" The peasants cheered with uproarious approval as she finally unbowed and stood strong with her staff before the people.

  She only had one thought in her mind at this moment. "Disgusting. Truly, utterly, disgusting." The man in armor to her right gave her a subtle nudge, "Sol, give the people a smile. They eat that shit up." Sol despised Thane nearly as much as she despised these peasants, but knew he was right. She gave the crowd a practiced smile and waved to them all. "What is the point of any of this? Lilly died to that stupid fucking dragon and I need to keep pretending I'm the happiest little servant of the crown." Sol thought to herself. The royal announcer began to usher them away from the crowd into a carriage arranged just for them. Sol sat down and immediately poured herself a glass of sparkling wine, "Well, this is the point isn't it? Wealth, power, prestige. What more could a girl want?" She downed the entire glass and poured herself another. "Other than my darling Lilly back. She was the best of us. I'd never met a more ruthless and beautiful woman."

  Sol continued to ignore Thane's attempts at small talk as she drank most of the bottle of wine on their way to where they were staying. A fully staffed residency specifically for visiting dignitaries and nobles. She gestured for the so far entirely silent archer, Wolf, to follow her to the meeting room as Thane continued to babble incessantly and uselessly at Sol. When they entered the meeting room the servants opened the doors for the trio before closing and locking them behind her. She felt a wash of mana coat the room as the privacy sigils became active.

  "Thane? Kindly shut the fuck up. I haven't listened to a word you said so far, and there is not enough gold in the world to make me start now. We need to talk business, not whatever inane bullshit you've been spouting." Thane held a hand over his chest dramatically and looked shocked but didn't say another word. She sat down in a rich velvet armchair and broke into another bottle of wine, a delicate red aged in a casket for 40 years, she took a swig straight from the bottle and then spoke to silent archer. "Wolf, the handlers always forget to clue you in. What scraps have they fed you about this upcoming job? She took another swig as the man spoke. "Hn. Little." Sol sighed and said "Details, you mute bastard, I want to know what I can skip over first so I can go back to my room faster." The archer huffed in annoyance and elaborated. "We're going to destabilize a series of cities and towns in the southern territories, sow some chaos, and help the local noble powers march in and take as much of it over as they can."

  Thane couldn't hold in his words anymore and broke in saying, "I've been telling them this job is fucking stupid. The whole point of the hero shtick is to make us look good, I don't have a clue how the hell they're planning to spin this one into something heroic. If they ruin my reputation with this job I'm going to be fucking pissed." Sol waved the bottle at him, "God damn it thane, shut the fuck up. Nobody here cares if the women want to suck your dick because your famous or because your paying them." Thane grew louder as he ranted, "It's not just about the fucking women! They bow to me in the void damned streets, woman! They grovel! Every last idiot in these lands practically worships me, and if they fucking ruin that for me I'm going to slaughter our idiotic handlers like the old braying donkeys they are." Sol rolled her eyes and took another swig of the old vintage wine. "I swear to the old gods, Thane. Shut the hell up before I shut it for you. I agree this is a stupid job. It's going to cost a lot of innocents their lives." She polished off the bottle of wine and dropped it on the floor, "I frankly don't care. It pays absurdly well. If it ruins our reputation? Retire in a staffed mansion and live the rest of your life in luxury. Wealth gets just as much adoration as hero worship."

  "That said, here's the rest of the details. Our primary target is a city by the name of Rheingau. It's the seat of the local government and without it nearby towns like Rannoch fall. Those stupid animals worship their so called patrons, so if we can kill a few their entire culture crumbles around them. Easy pickings for the local lordship to take over. As it is our sponsors have already started arming local bandits with equipment and their only orders are to break and steal as much shit as they can and then leave when 'our' armies come marching in. Any questions?"

  Wolf shook his head silently and Thane shrugged while saying, "I might know something you don't, for once. Remember that dragon we fought? Heard a rumor one matching that description kidnapped your brother and then ran off south. If we get lucky you might be able to kill it and save the sorry bastard." Sol grew tense and locked eyes with Thane intensely, "The dragon will be there? How reputable is this rumor, exactly?" Thane grinned, "Aww, is our precious leader worried about her sibling?" Sol slammed a fist on the table next to her and spoke with iron in her voice, "Thane. That useless idiot got kicked out for a reason, I don't give a shit about him. And stop bringing up my past, the whole point of these stupid code names is to be anonymous."

  "No, I don't give a shit about that boy. I want to know where the dragon that killed my precious Lilly is so I can mount its head on my fireplace as a trophy. So for once, Thane, I demand you tell me everything."

  Asher and Conall were sitting on the lakeside grass laughing and telling each other stories. Their hands were softly clasped together as they faced the lake waiting for Zephyria to come back up. The sun was low in the sky as the evening chill began to set in.

  Conall finished a laugh and then after a comfortable pause changed the topic, saying, "Say, can you still feel her down there?" Asher nodded, "It's odd, but yes I can. She must have fallen asleep down there somehow." Conall sighed in slight frustration and said, "Do we need to start throwing rocks into the lake to try to get her up? It's getting cold and I want to sleep in a bed tonight, but I'm not sure my throwing arm is good enough to get a rock all that far." Asher just laughed, "I don't need a bed, but I do want my damn dragon back. If she takes too much longer I'll try swimming out there instead of just chucking rocks. It'll be cold, but still better than staying out here without shelter overnight. But, I don't think we'll need to, I've got a good feeling about all this."

  Zephyria stirred deep beneath the lake's waters. She lifted her head wearily and was incredibly confused at first. "It's so dark, where am I? The last thing I remember is trying to sign the pact with Conall." She looked around and finally figured out where she was. "Am I at the bottom of the lake? Did I... Sleep down here? I vaguely recall breathing underwater when the snake got to me, but, this is just absurd." Zephyria slowly stood up in the lake-grass she had been coiled within, she gave a clumsy underwater stretch and tried to figure out where her mortals were. Feeling a pull in a direction that felt random to her within the evening water's darkness she began to walk the seabed once more. "I'm covered in webbing and my tail is like that of a sea creature, what was it Asher called it... An eel? I should be able to swim." Zephyria tried to bound off the lake bed and flapped her wings out before tumbling back into the mud in a graceless heap. "Lesson learned, no wings underwater." Zephyria reconsidered her approach and tried to just feel it out instead of overthinking it. She slowly leapt off the lake bed once more and began to paddle her webbed paws, she drifted forward slowly but didn't sink or topple. "I can't possibly be this slow underwater, the tail has to be involved somehow." She awkwardly whipped her tail about a few times before something clicked in her brain and she began a slow undulating motion that she slowly picked up in speed. She instinctively pulled her legs close to her torso and picked up speed as she swam. It wasn't nearly as fast as flying, but she had never felt more at home in her environment, not even her namesake open air did things ever feel so instinctive. She swam in earnest towards where felt that pulling sensation and nearly crashed into the bottom of the lake as it sloped up towards shore. She swam slowly upward along the lake bed until it was growing too shallow for her to keep going, her legs had been locked in by her sides for so long it felt almost strange to her to let them drop down and walk to the surface.

  Zephyria broke out of the water and paid more attention this time as the water drained from her throat through those same tiny slits until she could breath normally again. It was a profoundly unique sensation to go from breathing water to breathing air and she decided she did not like it one bit. She looked to the skies for a moment and admired the stars and the way the moon gentle reflected upon the lakes waters. Turning to the shore she saw her mortals huddled together for warmth both fast asleep. With a series of quiet splashes and the click of claws on wet stones she walked over and tried to wake them gently. She slowly touched Asher with the tip of her nose and spoke softly saying, "Little one, I have returned." Asher blinked awake and rubbed his eyes as he sat up. He yawned out the first few words as he said, "I'm glad to see you Zephyria, we were worried you were too hurt to return and feared you would be down there for some time." Conall sat up and spoke groggily, "Oh is Zephyria done hiding under the lake? I owe you a drink, Asher." He looked at Zephyria directly. "Can we go home? As lovely as tonight has been a bed is more comfortable than the soil and stones."

  As soon as Asher had stood up all the way he immediately bent over and laid on top of Zephyria's head giving it a big hug. "Don't go sleeping under any lakes again, alright? I missed you." Zephyria purred slightly and let him lay there for a minute. She felt Conall struggle to climb her back and when he fell with a thump she gently dropped Asher and said. "Let us return to your town, now. Our wolf needs your help getting up." Conall huffed and bit back sleepily, "It's not my fault! If you had fur like any normal person I would be able to climb up just fine. Instead you have scales that are slippery on the best of days, and coming straight from a swim is not the 'best of days'." Asher let out a laugh as Zephyria growled softly in amusement. He walked around and swung up onto Zephyria's back effortlessly and then held a hand down for Conall to grab. As soon as the pair was up Conall said, "I'm still amazed the way you cling to her, you practically stick to her like honey where I slip off like it's a wet mossy rock. Knowing your her chosen makes a lot of sense in retrospect, you did seem to have an uncanny grace when with her." Asher smiled and just shook his head in amusement.

  The were soaring through the air moments later as Zephyria flew by moonlight back towards Rannoch. The moon was high in the air, just before midnight. Asher spoke up quietly and asked Zephyria, "Are you feeling alright, Zephyria? I know it's late at night, but you've hardly said a word and you were quite injured earlier." Conall gripped Asher's back for balance as Zephyria responded, "I am, little one. I feel drained but am otherwise healthy. I do not believe I told you but I, and likely you as well now, recover more quickly at the cost of some of the power within our heart-flame. A good rest was all I needed after the events of today." Zephyria was quiet for a moment before speaking more softly. "I am struggling to find the word for a feeling, little dragon. Perhaps you can help?" Asher patted the back of her head and said "Go ahead, Zeph. What's on your mind?" Zephyria sighed as she flew. "Since leaving the lake I have felt a sense of longing to return. I am saddened I cannot remain to a place that felt more like home than anywhere since my mother's nest. And yet, at the same time, It is not the lake I wish to return to. The lake as wonderful as it was, it was too small, I need something bigger. I yearn to go home, and yet I do not know where that home is. It is a frustrating feeling."

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  Asher stroked the scales along the somber dragon's neck for some time as the trio flew in silence. "Sounds like you got a taste of what it meant to be your kind of dragon. You want more, but don't know how to get it. Homesick, but for a place you haven't been yet." Asher was quiet for for a while as he considered something. "You know, the entire point of us coming here was to learn about our bond. I think it's safe to say we've done that, or at least we know enough it doesn't feel so urgent. We don't have to stay in Rannoch, we could explore some. Head to the ocean maybe and see if that feels right. Those heroes can keep waiting, we've got time and you're more important Zeph."

  Conall broke in saying "But- Wait. We can't leave yet, Rannoch is under threat. I know you guys got into a disagreement with Petra but she needs us, Rannoch needs us. She hasn't said it directly but I think she's desperate. I know you two are from far away, but didn't you notice it was weird that only a single high warlock showed up after discovering what we think is a war party of some kind? If the Fists wanted to help they would have sent a small army. Maybe even a patron to help protect Rannoch. Instead she's got a single high warlock and us to rely on."

  Asher frowned. "I didn't think of that. I don't know the politics here well. What does it all mean?" Conall responded, "I don't know. I'm just a disgraced pact-breaker. Petra only relied on me because she felt sorry for me and wanted to give me something to keep doing. But, in my uneducated opinion, I think either the Fists are overwhelmed and can't spare the support or they don't believe Petra and are intentionally sending the bare minimum. I don't know, but what I do know is that we can't leave yet. They need us. Rannoch has very few warlocks, and by forming a pact with me I went from a nobody to one of the most dangerous people living in Rannoch, despite not having a clue how my powers work. Rannoch doesn't have any resident warlocks, we just get some coming in from the big cities from time to time. If they aren't sending in warlocks to support us Rannoch is nearly defenseless to a major threat. We have to stay." Asher grabbed the wolf mans hands and gripped them tight. "It's okay Conall, breathe. Zephyria, what do you think?"

  Zephyria responded hesitantly. "I still do not care much for mortals. They are short lived, weak, and unimportant in the grander scale of things. But, I cannot deny you two have grown on me greatly. If it is what you wish, I am willing to remain until Rannoch can defend itself without us. But we must make it clear to Petra that we are not permanent and will leave eventually. I will not be tied down by mortal politics and if they try then I will simply fly away and never return." Asher nodded and said, "I'm largely of the same mind regarding the future. I want to wander and explore, not get tied down to one spot again. However, I like this town and I'm willing to defend it for now. It's the right thing to do and from what Conall says they need us until they can stand on their own. Is that plan alright with you, Conall?"

  Conall squeezed the other man's hand back and said "Getting to wander the world with a dragon and her chosen... That sounds like dream come true. But, I became a warlock to help protect people, Zephyria. My only request is that as we travel we help where we can before moving on, and that starts with Rannoch." Zephyria growled gently in understanding, "I believe we can agree to that, little wolf. I have come to learn helping people is a good way to get them to do what I want them to do, and give me what I want them to give me."

  Conall let out a small slightly disbelieving laugh, "That's not really why we do it, but I suppose the motives don't matter all that much if we've got the same goal. And who knows, maybe you'll understand why mortals want to help each other so badly if that bond keeps changing you." Zephyria huffed. "That is an uncomfortable thought. I cannot deny the benefits of a more cooperative way of thinking, but to have my mind changed so far from my own kind? It is deeply perverse." She was silent for a moment before continuing, "It's strange, really. I would have never agreed to something like this, and yet I cannot imagine a world where it has not happened. Where would I be had I not found Asher? Dead, most likely. I would have kept hunting those heroes and they would have killed me. I would have died how my mother died, scared and alone." Asher kept stroking her neck and said, "That's a sobering thought. I can't imagine a world without our bond either. I suppose I'd still be a nobody mercenary trying to get back in the Sunsvegards' good graces. Desperately trying to conjure flames that will probably never come. Despite the inherent horror of the whole thing, Its been nothing but beneficial so far. I spent my life searching for belonging, now that I have it with you I'm just going to keep embracing it with everything I've got. If that means getting a little dragon-like in mind and body then I'm all for it."

  As Rannoch faded into view the trio was immediately alarmed by the sight of smoke and smoldering fires on the edge of town. Conall nearly shouted, "Zephyria, we need to get down there!" Zephyria bit back, "Calm yourself, little wolf. Listen. They are not ringing that damnable bell they rang when they thought I was a threat. Whatever happened here is long over. We have no need to rush." Conall stammered in protest but just sighed and relaxed only a little. "We still need to find out what happened. My home was attacked and for all we know the bell isn't ringing because everyone is dead, however unlikely that is." Zephyria nodded and began her descent, she aimed to land within the city but still near the fires.

  On her way down she noticed that there were no signs of violence near the fires, no bodies or guards. Asher spoke up, "Zephyria wait, don't land here. This was a diversion of some kind, we should be seeing signs of battle. Circle around the towns edge until we find where the true battle took place. It's a common bandit tactic." Zephyria wordlessly aborted her descent and glided silently along the town until she spotted what appeared to be a dead body. She flew down and gently landed next to it. A beast-kin with unusual leather armor had an arrow through the back. Asher spoke up once more, "We're close now. He was shot while fleeing. Lets enter the town from here and find a guard to ask."

  Asher and Conall dropped from Zephyria's back and put their hands on their weapons, not quite drawing them yet but ready in case the situation was worse than they believed. As they strode past the first few houses they saw more signs of battle, blood on the polished dirt road here, a deep groove cut into a wooden wall there, an arrow stuck fast just out of reach. It wasn't long before there was a rattle of armor and blades as two guards shouted "Halt! Name yourselves!" Zephyria stepped into view of the guards and they both backpedaled. "Great Patron, Zephyria! We're sorry we didn't see you or recognize your companions at first." Zephyria tried to speak as calmly but authoritatively, "What happened here?" The guards saluted and one said "A short while ago maybe a dozen bandits started the fires that I'm sure you saw, and then approached from where you just came from. They were caught by a patrol of guards who sounded the alarm before anyone could get seriously hurt. A few townspeople are injured but there were no deaths that I'm aware of. The Cardinal Guard is in the town hall once more if you want to get the full story." Conall nodded and then after a moment asked, "You didn't mention what happened to the bandits, we saw one dead as we approached. Were others killed?" The guard shook his head causing his armor to click, "Only one other, they ran quickly when they were discovered and tried to start fires in their wake. I haven't a clue what their goal was past random destruction but we put those ones out without issue."

  Conall returned the guards salute and then waved for Asher and Zephyria to follow as he started off towards the town hall. He spoke softly to the pair, "Whatever the deal was with that fortress we saw is starting then. Chaos for the sake of chaos isn't random, they're trying to do something. But what?" Asher spoke just as softly, "I haven't a clue." Zephyria thought about it as they made their way silently through town. She had an idea and asked the boys a question, "If the bandits start fires as a distraction when attacking, could this entire attack have been a fire? As in, they distract the guard and get everyone busy while they do something else." Conall frowned and said, "Bandits don't normally have that level of coordination and if their goal was pillaging or murder someone would have noticed by now."

  Before their hushed conversation could continue the trio wound up on the edge of the town square where a few injured townspeople were being treated by a few people in some kind of uniform involving a large leather coat that Zephyria didn't recognize. A guard waved them towards the town hall and ushered Conall and Asher inside. Zephyria huffed in annoyance, she couldn't fit inside the building without breaking everything. Asher turned and said, "Just hold on a minute Zephyria, I'll try to see if they have a window you can shove your head through. If you don't hear me shout in a minute or two, you might need to just wait. I'm sorry." Zephyria huffed in annoyance once more but sat down directly outside the building and entirely in the way. Asher gave her a grimace and went inside. The guard that ushered the boys inside gave her a small bow and said, "I'm sorry you can't go in with them. The larger cities have buildings designed to accommodate patrons of your size, I hope that one day the town hall will be rebuilt with the larger patrons in mind." Zephyria gave the man man an appreciative nod, but to her surprise the man continued to her, "I'm grateful you're here, Great Patron. We all are. You couldn't have seen it but people were getting scared. Everyone knows about the potential threat, but it's one thing to hear about it and another to see buildings burn and the doctors mending people in the town square. But, the moment you showed up it was like a calming spell washed over them."

  Zephyria was puzzled by this, "I knew the people here appreciated me because of our warning, but I hadn't considered what my presence here truly meant to so many of them. I just don't understand what it is they want from me, or what they are even offering in return? If they see me as one of the Patrons connected to the Fists perhaps they just assume that I am being paid to be here? If that's the case then it's in my best interest to play along and help, perhaps I'll be able to get the Fists to offer me a reward later." Zephyria spoke to the guard once more, "Mortal, If I am to be stuck here waiting is there anything I can do to help? I cannot go far from here as my mortals may call upon me at any moment." The guard contemplated it for a moment. "The attack didn't really do all that much damage and unless you've got some kind of water magic those fires will be smoldering for some time. What people really need is moral support. Your presence alone is helping a great deal with that, Great Patron."

  Zephyria thought about the guard's words. Coming to a decision she got out of the way, turned around, and sat down on the other side of the town hall's doors outside. She attempted to copy the position of the guard and instead of pouting like she was before, she postured herself as tall and regal as she could. She even made an effort to make sure her tail wasn't in the way of anyone trying to enter. She spoke to the guard, "I shall stand guard as well and ensure I am visible, then. Will this be appropriate for the time being?" The guard gave her an appreciate nod and a little salute. "Aye. I'm glad to have you by my side, dragon. It's up to us to protect these people and they know it, does good to know they are being watched over during trying times." Zephyria kept posing stoically as she thought, "I'm still not sure I understand why these mortals trust me to protect them. But I am here to protect them either way, aren't I? It's what my mortals want and even if I don't understand I will ensure they get anything they wish. To do what you must to get everything you desire. That is the Dragon Way, after all."