‘There is more to you than other men,’ Malvin said. ‘There’s a village nearby, but their minds are filled with simple needs and wants for themselves, their families. Even among your group you care for more than yourself and your mate. Your thoughts are more words than images.’
‘Is that why you spoke to me?’ Fanchon asked silently.
‘I knew I would be able to communicate with you and you would care about helping us.’
“Oh, Fanchon!” Aloysia exclaimed softly as she collapsed against him.
“What?” he asked as he put his arms around her.
“Fae is still mourning for the eggs that died. We have to stay and help them.”
‘Fae will not bear the touch of any except Aloysia,’ Malvin said. ‘She is my mate, my queen.’
‘I will make certain the others understand that.’
It took some time to reassure the others that no harm would come to them from the dragons as long as they didn’t touch Fae. They explored the cavern and found that the sand in the center was very warm, but on the ledges surrounding the sand it was cooler. Each of the ledges had multiple tunnels opening into the center. Soon stairs had been formed and tunnels chosen to house them until the castle could be completed. Fallon killed a deer and wood was gathered for a fire. Malvin hiccupped and flame shot past his dagger like teeth lighting the wood on fire. There were gasps as most of the group backed away.
“Thank you, Malvin,” Fanchon said and motioned everyone back around the fire.
While the deer cooked Fanchon took sticks of wood and began trying to shape them into paper. Eventually he found a method that created a thick stiff paper. After creating a pile of large sheets he shaped a stick to form a straight edge on one side. It would be long enough to make straight lines across a page. He retrieved a twig that had fallen from the burning wood. The end was blackened enough to make a clear line.
“So do you want to let the rest of us in on your wild plan?” Tor asked quietly as he sat down next to Fanchon.
“The mountain and cliff are sheared off straight on the north side of the cavern,” Fanchon said as he began to draw. “Then the south side curves inward before coming back out nearly even with the north. If we build the castle here it can be simply attached to the cliff and mountain on the north, then continue straight out on the south putting the cavern in the center of the back wall.”
“This is huge,” Tor said. “We don’t need anything that big.”
“We are all young and our wives are with child. We may have more than one child. Our children will have children who will have children,” Fanchon said.
“Who will all need a place to live.”
Fanchon nodded and continued to draw. He realized that there needed to be at least three floors in the castle just to reach the top of the cavern opening, but a fourth would allow him to leave a way for the dragons to get through that opening if necessary. There would be a great hall with the front and back walls both being large doors. The south wing could contain a large dining hall and kitchen on the main floor and a library on the third and fourth floor.
“What about a place to play music?” Mari asked as she looked over his shoulder. “I loved going to plays in Glynis.”
“We’ll need somewhere to teach the children too,” Tor added.
“Okay that fills the second floor on the south side then. On the north an office and sitting room for meetings will be on the ground floor, then individual apartments on the upper floors.”
“It’s still huge, but eventually we will need it,” Tor said with a sigh.
“It will take time to build all of that,” Raynor said as he looked at the drawing. “We need somewhere to stay until it is built.”
“We need to build enough to protect the dragon eggs immediately,” Fanchon said.
“Maybe we should build the shell of the castle, then build homes to live in until the castle can be completed,” Gareth suggested.
“We can start by figuring out exactly how big this needs to be then mark the corners. We can build houses to live in until this is completed, but we need to cover that opening right away,” Fanchon said.
Chapter Seventeen: Beginning a New Life
After a week of debate and careful measurements everyone was satisfied with the plans for the castle. Trees were cut down for Fanchon to begin to build into doors to cover the entrance to the cavern. Malvin dug out all of the soil where the castle would be built and helped to set the stones that created the foundation. Aloysia directed the planting of crops so they would have food for the cold season. Fanchon designed a system of gears that would both balance the large doors and allow them to be opened and closed by a single person turning a wheel on the wall. Malvin told Fanchon that he and Fae were pleased to have the doors protecting their eggs. Building the castle was hard work, but Malvin’s strength allowed them to move large stones and set them far more quickly than they would have been able to on their own.
Fanchon decided that if the great hall in the center of the castle should be completed first along with the outer walls, the floor support structure for the upper floors and the roof. Gareth and Thia were the first to build a house near the fields. By the end of each day the men were exhausted. Thia gave birth to a boy just after the small house was finished. They spent an entire day celebrating the birth.
“We’ve decided to name him Freydolf,” Gareth said.
Fanchon noticed that Aloysia was a little quiet.
“Is anything wrong?” he asked her quietly as he took her hand in his.
“Just thinking,” she replied, shaking her head.
“About?”
“We are establishing a new village,” she replied and he nodded. “It needs a name just as a new baby needs a name.”
“Here we met the dragons who will share our home. Maybe the name should reflect that,” he said as Tor turned towards them.
“What about Dracona?”Tor asked.
“For what?” Marcus asked.
“Our new home needs a name,” Aloysia said loudly and everyone quieted down. “How does everyone feel about the name Dracona?”
“Perfect,” Malika said.
“The castle is nearly ready for the roof,” Fanchon said. “Once the roof is on then we can work on finishing the inside.”
“I’m glad we built homes to live in,” Tor said. “At least the tunnels don’t glow like the walls in the main cavern. I don’t think I would have been able to sleep in there.”
Everyone laughed as they nodded in agreement.
Fanchon said. “There is much to do still, but to see the walls in place is more than I expected so soon.”
Later that evening as they walked home, he sensed that Malvin seemed worried. They found the dragon waiting for them near their house.
‘What’s the matter? Are the eggs alright?’ he asked the dragon.
‘The eggs are fine and will hatch shortly after the moon is at its fullest,’ Malvin replied. ‘I know that I will die soon. Fae may not live to see the eggs hatch. I worry about the hatchlings and about you.’
‘We will care for the hatchlings,’ Fanchon said firmly. ‘Why would you worry over me?’
‘The men from the nearby village have noticed the activity here. They are both curious and defensive.’
‘Perhaps Tor and I should go meet them to assure them we wish to live in peace with them.’
‘There is something more,’ Malvin admitted. ‘It is like someone is calling to me in my sleep. I see an island surrounded by ocean beyond the volcano. I feel drawn to it.’
‘Perhaps you should see if this island exists. Would you be able to see it without the moon to guide you?’
‘The stars are bright enough,’ Malvin said as he put his head down.
Fanchon came over and stroked Malvin’s face. He could still feel the dragon’s uncertainty. He also felt the itch Malvin felt on his neck where he had recently shed some scales. Fanchon rubbed at the itch as he leaned his head against Malvin’s nec
k until Malvin relaxed. As he lifted his head some of his hairs stuck in the scales.
He was about to pluck them out of the scales when Malvin said, ‘Leave them. That way I carry you with me.’
Fanchon laughed softly and rubbed the dragon’s face.
‘Go and find the island. I’ll see you in the morning.’
Fanchon watched Malvin as he launched into the sky. He heard soft footsteps behind him.
“Fae says it is important that Malvin do this,” Aloysia said as she took his hand in hers. ‘She sees that Malvin visiting the island starts a chain of events that insures Dracona’s future.”
Chapter Eighteen: Preparing for the Future
When Fanchon woke in the morning Malvin had returned and was lying near the eggs in the main cavern.
‘I found the island and spoke to a woman who lives there,’ the dragon said. ‘She spoke some words that I don’t understand and told me that it was a key for you to pass down to your male heirs.’
‘I’ll get some paper and write it down then,’ Fanchon said.
Aloysia was straightening the bedding and folding it out of the way.
“Malvin’s back and has something to tell me that I must write down,” Fanchon said as he found the pen and ink. “He found the island and there was a woman living on it.”
“Fae told me,” Aloysia said. “She said you must forge a sword that will be stored waiting for the day it is needed.”
Fanchon nodded as he pulled out his journal and sat down.
‘Here is the key,’ Malvin said then began speaking in the language spoken in Glynis. ‘Through the gathering darkness hope lies in the hands of two hearts joined as one.’
‘You’re certain that’s what she said was the key?’ Fanchon asked after writing it down.
‘I don’t know if what she said are actual words or just meaningless musical tones,’ the dragon replied. ‘She said you must pass it down to your male heirs and only a man will be able to use it as a key.’
‘It makes words and a complete sentence, but why that was chosen as a key is both puzzling and troubling,’ Fanchon said as he thought about the key.
‘Yes, that is a troubling message to be used as a key,’ Malvin agreed as Fanchon remembered what Ki-Mal had told him. ‘That does fit. I can provide the fire to forge the sword.’
“Fae says you need to visit the village,” Aloysia said. “We’ll be fine for a few days.”
‘I can guide you to the village,’ the dragon said. ‘I would feel much better if you make peace before I commit myself to the volcano on the night of the full moon like the woman told me to.’
‘Why would she tell you to do that?’
‘I don’t know. She said it was important and would insure Dracona’s safety.’
Fanchon and Aloysia gathered everyone together. As they ate breakfast Fanchon thought about what to tell them.
“Last night Malvin found an island on the ocean beyond the volcano. A woman living there spoke to him about keeping Dracona safe,” Fanchon said and silence fell.
“What she told him agrees with what Fae told me,” Aloysia said. “There are things we must do before the full moon. One thing is that Fanchon must forge a sword that will be stored away until it is needed for the defense of Dracona.”
“Any of us who can shape metal can make a sword easily,” Tor said.
“It must be Fanchon and it must be forged in dragon fire,” Aloysia said in a commanding tone that surprised Fanchon.
“I’ll need an anvil created and a hammer head along with tongs to grip the steel with. I’ll also need enough steel to create the sword,” Fanchon said. “I’ll make a box for it and once it is in the box no one must touch it. It will serve only one man and harm all others that touch it.”
There was murmuring among the group that ceased when Aloysia spoke.
“There are things only a seer can tell us and we must have faith in the truth of their words. Fae is a seer and she has foreseen this sword kill men who attempt to take it up. When the man who is worthy to claim it is ready the sword will choose him. Until then it will remain in the box.”
“There is a village nearby that Tor and I must visit and make peace with,” Fanchon said. “I don’t know why it is important to do it right now, but I want us to live in peace with our neighbors.”
There were many questions that Fanchon tried to answer, but some he didn’t have any clear answers to. Soon after breakfast Fanchon and Tor set out to find the village. They found the village south of Dracona early the next day. The people were wary of them and soon some of the men gathered around as they dismounted.
“We come in peace,” Fanchon said.
“You come wearing swords,” one of the men challenged.
“They are only for defense,” Fanchon replied.
“You allow your son to speak for you?” an elderly man asked as he looked at Tor.
“Fanchon is not my son, but my friend and my leader,” Tor responded.
The men looked puzzled and glanced at each other as the elderly man stepped forward and looked Fanchon over closely.
“What is your business here?” the man asked at last as he met Fanchon’s eyes.
“We recently settled at the foot of the volcano and are building a castle there. We came simply to introduce ourselves to you and let you know that we want to live in peace with our neighbors.”
“What of the dragons? Do they still live?” the man asked. “With them as allies you are invincible in battle, especially against simple farmers like us.”
“They live, but we wish only friendship, not battle with you,” Fanchon said. “We are planting our own crops and have our own cattle. We just wanted you to be aware of our presence because we do not wish to be attacked either. There are twelve of us plus one baby. Over the next several months there should be five more babies born.”
The old man stared intently into Fanchon’s eyes for several uncomfortable minutes before speaking again.
“You do not look like a farmer to me. He does, but you do not. What is it that you do besides lead?”
“I have tried many trades,” Fanchon said. “I know how to cut gems and make jewelry. I know how to make things from metal on a forge and how to shoe a horse. I even know how to plant and tend a field along with milking cattle. Every master I learned from told me the same thing; that I made a poor apprentice because I wanted to be in charge. I mastered the skills readily enough, but soon I was giving directions to my master.”
Chapter Nineteen: Challenged by the Village Elder
The old man looked at Tor.
“My uncle was one who tried Fanchon as an apprentice,” Tor said. “I heard him talking to my father about Fanchon. He said that Fanchon was a quick learner, but would never be content as a farmer. Fanchon pointed out things that could be done more efficiently and told him how to do them differently. It really annoyed my uncle that someone so young could be right about things he hadn’t figured out in all the years he had been farming.”
“So where did you come from?” the man asked as he turned back to Fanchon.
“Far north of here. We come from a narrow valley and there are almost too many people living there. We decided that we should establish a new village or town somewhere. We have been traveling for over a year now and finally found somewhere that suits us.”
“I still worry that you will expect to rule over us. Why build a castle if unless you want to be king?”
“It seals the entrance to the dragon’s cavern and protects their eggs from cold and predators. They have tunnels that exit the mountain they can use instead of the main entrance,” Fanchon said. “I don’t expect to be a king any more than you do. We both serve as leaders because it is what others expect from us. It does not exempt us from working beside those who follow us, but places an additional responsibility upon our shoulders. If one we are responsible for breaks a law, we must deal with the consequences.”
“You can make any law you like and punish or s
pare at a whim,” the man challenged.
“The laws of the lands we travelled through had to be obeyed,” Fanchon replied. “I saw my best friend killed because he broke that law. I stepped in to calm the wronged party and prevent others from dying. I made the casket with my own hands knowing that I would have killed him if I had gotten to him before the other man did.”
“He dug most of the grave too,” Tor said.
“You have your own laws to keep peace within the village. We will respect your laws and your property,” Fanchon said. “All we ask in return is the same.”
“What of the dragons?” the man asked. “Something that large can take what it wants. So far they have left our cattle alone.”
“We are establishing a large herd in a mountain field to feed them from. They have long been aware of your presence and reliance on your cattle for food. They will not bother your cattle.”
“How old are you, Fanchon?” the man asked sternly and Fanchon wondered what to say. “I expect the truth.”
He realized that the truth would be far better than attempting to lie.
“You may find the truth hard to believe but I am one hundred and seventy two.”
The man’s eyes widened and the other men stepped back to murmur amongst themselves.
“We are of a very long lived people. If I were of your people I would be seventeen, hardly more than a boy.”
“So that’s what I see in your eyes,” the man said. “Your eyes are far older than your body. You could have simply said you were seventeen.”
“Yes, but I will age far slower than your people. I will see generations of your people born, live and die before I appear as old as you are. It is better that you and the others here understand that since we are neighbors. Any agreements we make this day will be long remembered by myself and my descendants.”
“Come with me, Fanchon,” the man said. “I want to speak to you alone. The rest of you go back to your fields. These are now our friends.”
“Watch the horses, Tor,” Fanchon said and Tor nodded.
He followed the man to a small house in the center of the village. They went inside and sat at the small table.
“Certainly if you live so long you must have new ways of doing things that make life easier,” the man said as Fanchon noticed that besides the table and chairs there was a bed, a fireplace, a ladder and a tub of water with a bucket nearby.