Deepforge (29 page)

Chapter 27

T
he dragons had all disappeared except Deccon and Vella, who stood in their humanoid forms. Everyone watched them, expecting them to say a heartfelt goodbye before joining Bahamlo.

“We won’t be going with them,” Vella said.

They all looked at each other a bit confused, considering the pact Lotanna and Bahamlo had made.

Bruno looked back at the Stone Children and nodded. They seemed to share something, something unknown to anyone else.             

“But, what will you do?” Teelena asked.

“We’ll stay here, on this world,” Deccon said.

“But, wouldn’t that be a violation of the pact?” Grognor asked as he wiped away his tears.

“Well, yes, in a way. But, we have a way around that,” Vella said.

Deccon explained, “We’ll assume our humanoid forms permanently, and completely. We’ll let our dragon forms go, and remain until we die mortal deaths.”

“But, that means you’ll not have equivalent lives, doesn’t it?” Teelena asked.

“Yes,” started Vella, “I’ll live as an elf, and will probably forget my dragon origins as the centuries pass. Deccon will die before I do, as a human. This gives us great sadness, but there’s no other way.”

Deccon continued, “You see, if we leave with the others, we’ll not be allowed to be together as mates. It’s part of an ancient agreement between the dragon families. We would rather live as mortals together than to be immortal, but forever apart.”

“That’s the saddest thing I’ve ever heard,” Teelena said.

Vella and Deccon hugged and gazed into each other’s eyes.

“Even as mortals we should live a very long time, longer than this era,” Deccon said.

“By my estimation, we’ll have around twelve thousand years together before he dies of old age,” Vella said. “Our dragon heritage will keep us alive for many ages to come. I’ll probably live for twenty thousand years or more once he’s gone.” She looked up at her beloved, tears welling up in her eyes.

“What about children? Can you have children in this form?” Grognor asked.

“Sadly, no. While in humanoid form we cannot. It’s a sacrifice we’ll have to endure,” Vella said.

“There
is
a very slim chance, but it’s unlikely,” Deccon said.

“We’ll live in The Glade, where long lives are expected,” Vella said.

“We’ll welcome you as our own,” Alva said.

“Well, you know where to find us if you need anything. We’ll be staying here, in the lake palace. We’ll keep a vigil on the southern portion of our continent, and explore those mountains. We’ll make a home here and ensure the rest of us remain safe,” Grognor said, putting out his hand.

Deccon slapped Grognor’s hand away and embraced the tall dwarf. “The same goes for you, Sire. You know where we’ll be.”

Deccon and Vella stepped back and concentrated. Using nearly their last bit of dragon power, they transformed again from their metallic adorned humanoid forms to mundane, average looking people wearing the common clothes of the day. Their dragon energy disbursed, they had become mortal.

“Good bye, old friends,” Deccon said, and turned to walk with Vella and the Glade elves. Grognor and the rest watched them as they all disappeared across the Valley of Heroes.

Eric stepped up with the Nords close behind. “Sire, we must retreat as well to our realm. You and anyone else from the Deepforge Empire are welcome at our table.”

“Thank you, Chieftain. I don’t know what we would have done without you.”

“You would have done fine, I have no doubt.”

They shook hands and the Nords turned to leave. Most of the humans also retreated back to Lake Valley. All the halflings went with them. Nearly all the dwarves and gnomes remained to help Grognor.

Grognor looked at his army. They were diverse, yet powerful. He turned to Bruno. “Bruno, it’s been said the things we did here will be forgotten. I suppose nobody will remember the name Grognor, huh? My name will be lost in time?”

“Lost in time?” Bruno smiled a large, teethy grin. “Not exactly, Grognor of Deepforge…not exactly!” He laughed hardily and slapped the dwarf’s back. He and the rest of the Stone Children then turned and quickly melded into the mountains, with Bruno’s laughter echoing across the peaks.

Grognor smiled, not quite sure of what he meant, but hopeful. He turned to Teelena and took her hand. “Let’s go to our new home, my love.”

Teelena punched him in the nose.

Epilogue

J
ennifer Margan had watched the whole thing from the highest level of the palace through the scrying device. She was horrified when she saw the Black Queen taken down into the portal, but she quickly calmed herself. As the Deepforge army approached and the Drakmids escaped southwest toward the land bridge, she descended the steps to the throne room. She dodged former slaves and warriors as they looted on their way out. She took the gold necklace off her neck and looked at the generic key and the strange coin. She then looked up at the chaos. “Oh, Grandfather ‘Shiny Human’.” She smiled. “I wonder what you would say to know your reality is about to be cancelled out? Where are you at this time in history? Floating around the cosmos waiting to fall onto some random world?” She laughed sinisterly and looked down at the key. “Don’t worry, My Queen Obsidian. This isn’t over yet. I’m coming for you. Together, we’ll find the Valkyrie Thrúd and incinerate her before her godly children are born…plan B.” She smiled warmly as she put the key into its receptacle; the door lock of The Craft. She opened the lock, and then put the necklace around her neck. She walked in, closing the door behind her. Moments later, a strange swooshing sound was heard as The Craft faded away…