The Kingdoms of Remgeldon: Book 7

By Florence Joanne Reid

The High King decided to call their world Remgeldon. North Remgeldon would be called the Kingdom of Thanos. South Remgeldon would henceforth be known as the Kingdom of Sarlon. Fourteen other kingdoms would be named over the next few years. Exploration became a big event.

A council was chosen to decide who would be the Dragon Lord Overkings of those fourteen kingdoms. Named as council members were five Dragon Lords led by Lord Kalan, Leander, Adric, Darton, Waldon, Jovian, and Bragan, who was expected to one day become a Dragon Lord.

No one wanted to think about Zandrax. He had departed Eberlee on the heels of his demon Karmac being caught and devoured by dragons. No one knew where he had gone or where to search. It was thought he might head to Newland. The search was on again, and Zandrax seemed always ahead of them and gone.

Dragon riders wonder what disastrous mischief the evil mage would dream up next. Zandrax still had two demons he had dredged up from the DeepGrogan, the shape-changer and the siren, Whoron.

They discovered the mischief when dragon riders were killed. Killing a rider killed a dragon. How could dragon riders stop Zandrax from hiring disgruntled southern soldiers to kill riders?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jun 19, 2017
• ISBN: 9781543430738

Florence Joanne Reid

Florence Reid attended BBI, Bible Baptist Institute, night school, for three years while still in high school, then attended Cedarville University, but didnt finish college. Instead Florence went home and married William Reid, whom she met in church. They had 24 good years together before he went to meet his Heavenly Father. They have 9 children, 21 grandchildren, and as of this writing, 14 great-grandchildren. In the course of her life, Florence taught Sunday School preteens, taught Bible Clubs in three different school after hours, played the piano at church, besides raising 9 children, and outings with preteens, with her children along. Florence loves to read scifi, mysteries, love stories, history, and intrigue, besides the Bible. She started writing when in her late 30s, then spent time rewriting and making them better. For hobbies she sews, embroiders, creates doilies and snowflakes, and knits, and occasionally paints outdoor scenes.

Book preview

Copyright © 2017 by Florence Joanne Reid.

ISBN:                        Softcover                              978-1-5434-3074-5

                                  eBook                                    978-1-5434-3073-8

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Rev. date: 06/15/2017

Xlibris

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

730495

Dedicated to the memory of my son Jim, who inspired this story, and worked on the outline with me. Have a nice time in Heaven talking with your father, Jim.

CONTENTS

PROLOGUE

Thanos Royal Castle

Thanos 1563.0701

ONE

Thanos 1563.0702

Freedom 1563.0704

Varan 1563.0711

Freedom Two 1563.0815

Freedom Three 1563.0821

Heartland 1563.0822

Thanos 1563.0822

Eberlee 1563.0901

Silverdane 1563.0903

TWO

Varan 1563.0905

Dakes 1563.0909

Heartland 1563.0911

Eberlee 1563.0921

Highport 1563.0922

Hogue 1563.1010

Corvair 1563.1015

Varan 1563.1028

Corvair 1563.1122

Thanos 1563.1124

Silverdane 1563.1212

THREE

Corvair Island 1564.0108

Pitzar 1564.0110

Varan 1564.0110

Hogue 1564.0120

Salator 1564.0120

Eberlee 1564.0120

Southland 1564.0124

Silver Two 1564.0126

Varan 1564.0202

Hogue 1564.0208

Varan 1564.0209

Varan 1564.0211

FOUR

Wylche Two 1564.0214

Eberlee 1564.0224

Varan 1564.0309

Newland 1564.0310

Varan 1564.0312

Corvair 1564.0315

Graystone Castle 1564.0326

Edom 1564.0404

Drude Two 1564.0404

Wylche 1564.0410

FIVE

Thanos 1564.0505

Pitzar 1564.0514

Pitzar Three 1564.0521

Drude 1564.0621

Wylche Three 1564.0628

Corvair 1564.0709

Marga Two 1564.0801

Newland 1564.0803

Drude 1564.0804

SIX

Marga Two 1564.0810

Marga Two 1564.0813

Marga Two 1564.0818

Marga Two 1564.0828

Varan 1564.0907

Freedom 1564.0908

Varan 1564.0908

Marga Two 1564.0909

SEVEN

Marga Two 1564.0909

Varan 1564.0910

Marga Two 1564.0911

Thanos 1564.0912

Marga Two 1564.0912

EIGHT

Thanos 1564.0917

Hogue 1564.0921

Thanos 1564.1017

Newland 1564.1030

Marga Two 1564.1105

Highport 1564.1106

Marga Two 1564.1122

NINE

Marga Two 1565.0103

Marga Two 1565.0110

Thanos 1565.0110

Thanos 1565.0126

TEN

Silverdane 1565.0209

Thanos 1565.0214

Varan 1565.0315

Thanos 1565.0316

Sarlon 1565.0317

Thanos 1565.0318

Thanos 1565.0326

ELEVEN

Thanos 1565.0401

South Veron 1565.0404

Thanos 1565.0421

TWELVE

Thanos 1565.0508

Thanos 1565.0514

Drude 1565.0604

Drude 1565.0615

THIRTEEN

Sarlon 1565.0617

Pitzar 1565.0719

Freedom 1565.0728

Dakes 1565.0728

FOURTEEN

Dakes 1565.0804

Dakes 1565.0811

Dakes1565.0825

Dakes 1565.0828

Hogue 1565.0828

Sarlon 1565.0828

Lichen 1565.0828

FIFTEEN

Thanos 1565.0908

Thanos 1565.0918

Waldons Island 1565.0928

SIXTEEN

Highport 1565.1005

Thanos 1565.1010

Lands End 1565.1017

Drude 1565.1022

Dakes 1565.1027

Janqel 1565.1212

SEVENTEEN

Thanos 1566.0103

Marga Two 1566.0103

Thanos 1566.0110

EIGHTEEN

Silverdane 1566.0214

Silver Three 1566.0304

Marga Two 1566.0309

Fajer Island 1566.0326

EPILOGUE

Thanos 1566.0412

MAJOR CHARACTERS

Favored Dragon Queens

First Dragon Lord Kings

OATHS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

BOOKS BY FLORENCE JOANNE REID

79003.png

PROLOGUE

Thanos Royal Castle

Thanos 1563.0701

14 Kingdoms!

T hat was all High King Halvard could think about. It’s what the Seven Gods had told him. Fourteen new Kingdoms would be opened up in the lands just being opened. Fourteen Kings had to be chosen from the dragonriders who had mated with one of the many dragonriders of the golden Queen dragons. It was important news he had to tell Kalan Silver, Overlord of all the dragonriders.

Fourteen more Kings and Queens. No, no! Fourteen Overkings. That would be like Bragan over all the Kings in North Remgeldon, or Jandal Dadrick over all the Kings in South Remgeldon.

And North Remgeldon was henceforth to be called Thanos. South Remgeldon was henceforth to be called Sarlon. Remgeldon was the name for this star sector; Remgeldon included all of the ten planets, many moons, and asteroids.

By all that was holy! It would be a great change in everyone’s thinking.

Planets! There was more than one planet in this sector of space. Halvard contemplated that piece of news. Like a lot of people, he had looked at the stars. Now the Seven told him there were ten planets, but only this was habitable for people. It was to be taught to the people.

Halvard thought he first needed a long talk with Darak before he voiced this news to a few people. Darak was the son of Rygl, sent to this world to help them.

Halvard knew his time on Earth was almost over. He’d turned sixty-nine a couple months ago. He’d been promised a full life and he had his wish. Whether it was next year, or the year after, or more, that would be a full life.

He was comfortably seated in the living room of their apartment, on the couch before the fire that wasn’t really needed, but he liked a fire, liked looking into the flames when he was doing his thinking. This one was burning low, not sending out much heat. Savanal was seated beside him, dozing off with what heat reached her, her feet in his lap as he gently massaged them. She liked that. Right now he just held her left foot in his large capable hands.

Almost all their children were married.

Charidan, his oldest son, had married Meloni twenty-five years ago, and he had six children by her. He wasn’t sure if Charidan was happy in his marriage, or if Meloni was happy married to his son. Basically, Charidan ignored Meloni on a daily basis. Far as he knew they were only compatible at nighttime.

Charidan would soon become the High King. In the last couple of years he had shoved many a job off into his oldest son’s shoulders in preparation of that day, as his father had done to him thirty-five years ago. He’d made Charidan interested in building by sending him out to help reconstruct the old town outside the walls of Thanos.

Zandrax had destroyed the city, but had not touched the Holy City, or the Royal Castle.

There had been thousands of workers, and hundreds of guards where he worked. Charidan thought he was out there so the people would recognize him after he became High King. But once he did become the High King, he wouldn’t be allowed to leave the Holy Enclosure, except by the dragons of the Gods. No, Charidan was out there for one purpose, the Seven Gods had demanded it. He had implemented it.

In his whole life, Halvard had been called on to help create seven castles. Or was that eight? Or nine? Not very many.

Charidan would be called on to create many, many more castles, maybe as many as a hundred, as his duty as High King. And he was forbidden by the Seven to tell his son that important bit of news.

But his other children, Darton, Elleena, Waldon, Jovian and Kasamera, he was sure were happy, and in love. They were all dragonriders. Jovian, too, but he wasn’t mated to a rider of a golden dragon yet. Darton was married Calynda, a Queen rider, and had taken on the name of Tarikana. He didn’t think he liked the name. He could just let his castle be named Tarikana and keep his name Pelingre. He might suggest that. Darton was helping Thon and Holin Silver by sending supplies to their newest exploration sites, one in Eberlee the other in Keloria.

Elleena had chosen an apricot dragon, and married green rider Harlan for love. She and Harlan lived at Wylche, home of Leander, rider of brown Sarl, King of Wylche Province, Dragon Lord of Rainbow Castle. Elleena and Harlan trained young dragonriders in fighter techniques. Halvard found that interesting that his delicate daughter trained women in hand to hand combat.

And Waldon. He continued to surprise Halvard. He’d taken on the name of Waldon Graystone, thanks to King Rantriel Silver of Salator. There was no contest about a love match when Waldon married Queen rider Elvina. Their first child Camon, came before the mating flight of their dragons. Waldon had been injured when Casterson and his brothers, using a catapult, flung stones at him and his dragon, knocking him out of the saddle to the ground. At the last moment Avrl, putting a floating spell on his rider, saved his life. After recuperating, but told to relax and let his bone heal, decided to see if there was land past his Province, across the Western Sea. He got a march on Thon and Holin’s first exploration site.

Halvard shook his head. Because then Waldon had gone on to see if there was land farther west, and naturally there was. At first that portion of land was named Varan after the man who had elected to explore that land. Another fifteen hundred miles of land was discovered past that land.

Since that time other lands had been discovered, Bragan, his grandson, Charidan’s son, was working on a world map. Bragan was down in Southland exploring.

But Halvard was getting ahead of his thoughts. Where was he? Oh yes, Jovian.

Jovian was the King of Lichen, Dragon Lord of Lichen Castle. He wasn’t married or mated yet, but that would come in time. Jovian had become Jovian Halvardson. He did like that. It brought a smile to his lips, and a thanks to Rantriel for mentioning it.

Jovian had taken an interest in boats, or rather ships. In Wylche Province, Leander had taken an interest in ships and had a ship built that was a hundred feet longer than any previous ship built at 350 feet long, 60 feet wide, and that was for his coast guard outfit that he’d started for a patrol the west coast. Now Jovian was building the same size ships as cargo vessels to take cargo to the new lands.

And an added thought, Kovath, over on the east side of North Remgeldon, had starting building ships the same as Leander’s ships, to patrol the east coast of North and South Remgeldon. That was all thanks to Rantriel, who had talked to Leander and since embarked on the same coast guard unit at Kovath. It takes four to six months to build one of those ships.

Kasamera, his youngest child, had surprised him by marring Prince Sladan Silver, Lord Kalan’s son, but it had not surprised her mother. His youngest daughter had loved Sladan long before she got her apricot dragon.

Sladan was head of an exploration group that founded Heartland. Him and Bragan had worked that land together, one on the east coast the other on the west coast. Then Bragan had been asked to move to an area where they all thought another landmass should be and he discovered Southland and a mess of islands, and finished out his world map.

He could have wished for his oldest daughter to have lived longer. Ariella had died twenty-eight years ago, killed by Zandrax. She’s fallen in love with Darak before any of them knew he was the son of the God Rygl, sent down from Heaven to aid them in their times of trouble, trouble they had not known existed at the time. Darak found out the hard way when Zandrax killed Ariella. At the time Darak put his own spell upon his dying wife allowing her to live long enough to give birth to their son, Darius.

Halvard heaved a deep sigh, but that didn’t disturb his wife. She was on the couch beside him, resting in her own way, in her own thoughts, her small feet in his lap, which he was carefully massaging. Something she liked. He liked touching her, but he wasn’t disturbing her by running his hand up her leg to her knee.

Remembering.

In his early days, dragons had been a myth. Tales were told, but even the dwarves, who had lived in the Kobiacyn Mountains for eons, there had never been dragons. They belonged to the Ancient Ones, the people who had owned this world before dwarves were brought in. Before elves had been brought in. And centuries before humans had made their appearance in Remgeldon.

Traditions, tales of old, and what he’d been told by the Seven Gods, said that the ONE GOD put the Seven of them in charge of this world, to clean it up after an entire past civilization had destroyed their world. The Seven had brought in dwarves from somewhere else to prepare this world for future inhabitation. And they had roamed the world setting things right, eventually settling in the northern mountains, there to carve out caves to make homes.

Halvard never understand where they originally came from.

Then the Seven had then brought in the elves from somewhere to tend the forests. From Silverwood Forest all types of tree seeds were spread around the whole world. Afterward the elves had migrated to the northern part of this kingdom. Halvard thought it must have taken centuries, for the trees in Silverwood Forest, he’d been told, for he’d never seen them, had branches wider than roads. Trees stood five hundred feet tall. The Oaken Stronghold had been carved out of those huge trees that even ten tall men couldn’t put them arms around touching fingertips.

When the time was right, the Seven Gods brought in humans. From where? He was never told.

And not just a few.

Three castles had been established right from the beginning. The first had been at Thanos, the Holy Royal Castle where the Seven Gods would commune with the Royal King in person atop the castle from a hidden sanctuary. The second had been at Wylche, and the third at Heun. Royal families were established, and there were enough people to staff the castles. From them all the other Royal families began. From the Holy Royal Castle of Thanos, through the Seven Gods, all the other castles had come into existence. Even the Lord’s castles. Where all the people came from that Halvard didn’t understand.

The Gods said from other worlds.

Were there really other worlds out among the stars? It boggled his mind, so much so, he had never told anyone this information given by the Seven Gods of this world.

Dragons!

Getting his mind back on track, Halvard thought about the dragons. They had started with Rydl, the mage. Far as Halvard knew, Rydl had lived in his human form for the past three hundred recorded years, give or take a few. Darius had helped him turn back into his normal self. A shiny brown dragon.

Now he knew; they all had a shine to their hide.

It was hard to think of his daughter Ariella as a Goddess, but when she died, she’d gone to Heaven, and working beside Rygl had created a female dragon, Rachah, to be Rydl’s mate. A shiny golden dragon.

Dragons were to control all the evil magic of this world.

Zandrax.

He looked over at his wife, hoping he did not disturb her sleep with his murderous thoughts about that evil mage. Zandrax was Prince Alexander, her brother. He’d wanted to rule the world, had thought to take Thanos away from him by killing him, and take his beautiful sister as his Queen. The man was sick in the head.

Dragons!

Magic dragons!

Dragons could protect them all from that evil magic, could eat it. And dragons would devour demons, as demonstrated when one such demon, which Zandrax had called up from the Deep, had been devoured.

Zandrax had called up three, Karmac, Grogan, and Whoron. Karmac was a shade, easily hidden in shadows. Grogan was a shapechanger; last shape had been a Pegasus, and Grogan hated it because it was of a Godly nature. And Whoron, the siren, who could entice men, or work on women so they could entire men. Price? were souls of any they killed.

First to die was Karmac, and for the life of him, Halvard could not recall the incident in which that first demon had been eaten by a dragon. The other two were still out there. Grogan had come so close Zandrax had sent him back into the Deep. Whoron? Zandrax, Halvard suspected, didn’t know where she was, but floating around somewhere.

That brought Halvard’s mind to Bragan, his grandson, the only son of Charidan. He had lived a crazy life. Right now he was an explorer, exploring the lands of Southland, and making fantastic world maps. Everyone wanted one of Bragan’s maps.

That also brought his mind back to Krysta and her life as a whore. Maybe in retaliation Bragan had turned to other women in the beginning. But these last few years…?

Well. Well. It went back before that time. Before he’d joined the war effort at Darcy, really. Bragan had taken in young girls, dragonriders, women who no one wanted on a squadron, and had trained them to be the best. Every time he returned to Marga Two, on the Isle of the Dragons, he had taken in more of those disheartened girls, giving them the best training, or finding people who could; In swordplay, spear, knife, and bow and arrow. His women were the best; also in cooking, sewing, hunting, tracking game. Bragan had stinted nothing to make sure they were the best.

When Bragan told them, after the war was over, that they were exploring this unknown world, that he would have to leave them to another squadron leader, they delightedly followed him to the ends of the world. Literally.

When they were told he would have to move back to Marga Two in the near future, they had asked to have a child by him. Before he became the High Prince of Thanos. Halvard hoped and prayed fervently and frantically that Bragan had not made seventy women pregnant.

Presently three of Krysta’s girls, Margie, Krista and Jenni, were living with her, wherever she was hold up.

Bragan had acquired three, Saraly and Tammi were Paulla’s two girls, then Anora, Astrid’s daughter, was dropped off after Paulla and Astrid mated with dragonriders and the men didn’t want to raise children not their own. Saraly and Anora were a couple months over one-year-old babies, and Tammi only seven months. But of course, Bragan had seventy single women, last Harvard heard. Some of them would take care of those girls for Bragan.

The fire had just about burned out.

He thought it was about time he and his wife went to bed. Grinning, he ran a fingernail down the sole of her foot, which made her jump, and woke her up.

We should retire, my Love. Tomorrow, or today, will be busy later.

Sleepily, she followed him into their bedroom. But he had something else in mind other than going straight to sleep, which effectively woke up Savanal with a wickedly sensual smile. She knew exactly how to please her amorous husband of forty-five years.

ONE

Thanos 1563.0702

H igh King Halvard sat at the table in the small dining room having a midmorning snack of cinnamon rolls he liked so much, with a pot of coffee sitting on the table. He was always expecting guests to show up about this time, especially his son-in-law, Darak. He wasn’t disappointed.

Lord Darak took a seat opposite Halvard. He noticed there was more white in the King’s hair these days. He didn’t know how much longer Halvard had, but he was going to miss him drastically when he was gone. This was one time Darak wished this man had more elven blood in his veins so he’d live a thousand years. But that wasn’t to be.

Anything change since our meeting three days ago at Hogue?

Darak shook his head, at the same time helping himself to a roll from the full plate centered between them. He reached out for the extra-large cup that two seconds ago had not been there that he had magically brought from the kitchen and filled with coffee.

Nothing’s changed. Zandrax vanished from Varan Province and no one knows where he went. We can guess, Darak stated. He’ll be searching for a cave to hide in for the next few months or years, however long it takes. I’m sure he’ll go back to Prince Varan’s new city for supplies eventually.

Couldn’t the man have named his province something besides using his own name? It gets confusing. Do you really think he’ll stay hidden?

That’s debatable. Frankly, I don’t know. And I talked to Rygl, my Heavenly Father. If he knows, he’s not saying.

Halvard laughed, mostly at Darak’s frustrated tone than anything else, and his fierce scowl.

I guess we’re not to know what Zandrax is up to now.

Darak’s scowl deepened. If anyone should know, I should know. I need to know how to prepare for what’s to come next.

What did Rygl tell you?

Darak lips twisted and twisted, remembering. Do what I’m doing and do best. I’m still arming the army, training fighters, and getting nowhere slowly.

Dragons will hatch and they will need riders who are trained, Halvard said. Most of the riders these days are coming from the army you trained. They need trained replacements. So it is logical that you keep training youngsters as they grow up and join the army.

But I want to be doing something more important.

Halvard looked at this man who had been sent them from the Seven Gods, and realized he was behaving like a frustrated man, not the Son of a God that was sent down to them. He had a moment to wonder why Darak’s Heavenly Father didn’t enlighten him to what to expect next from Zandrax. Maybe they didn’t know. Maybe the ONE GOD had not enlightened them.

What of the Dark Lord? Halvard asked.

The ONE GOD sent him several light years away. He was wroth with him for tampering with this world by letting three demons escape the Deep. One is back where he belongs. Two remain. The Grogan the shapechanger and Whoron, the Siren; The seductress. The ONE GOD said the shapechanger is back in the Deep, sent there by Zandrax, but he could still get out, should Zandrax call him.

Any chance this Whoron tampered with either Bragan or Krysta?

I don’t know. But she could have, Darak said. Bragan knows where Krysta is, or about where she is and that’s someplace at Varan’s land. She’s stolen supplies. We know that much. But then she vanishes and her dragon is not broadcasting for help, or anything else. But we also know Krysta had her three girls with her. In the months since she disappeared those girls have grown. They’ll need new clothes soon. We also think she kidnapped a woman and a man. They could all be living in a cave somewhere.

Varan Province gets cold enough to snow, Halvard reminded. My best guess is that she’ll start looking for someplace warmer for this next winter. She’s a Princess, not used to camping out in dreary, cold, rainy weather. Give her two more months and she’ll reappear somewhere within Varan’s land, most likely where she can get her hands on supplies.

Darak nodded. Bragan warned Varan to be on the lookout for her before winter sets in, and he gave Varan some gold coins to pay for whatever she needs.

Did you go see someone?

Darak scrunched up his face. No, Rygl told me. He’s been keeping an eye on Bragan’s trips. He abandoned Corvair Island when temperatures dropped into the teens and moved to Heartland, him and all his people, to get thawed out.

The Seven wanted them out of the way for what reason? Halvard asked.

Darak scratched his head. There isn’t enough wood gathered for all the buildings constructed down there to house all of Bragan’s people. The Seven plan on putting a warming spell on those buildings, since they were constructed mostly of stone. Then what wood they do have can be used for cooking.

Halvard grinned. So They froze them out so They could warm them up later.

Darak was about to reach for the last roll, but looked over at the High King. Something like that.

There’ll be a castle there one day. Could they be thinking of taking what Bragan’s people built and change it into a castle?

Now that’s idea I had not considered, and a possibility. He took three bites out of the cinnamon roll, swallowed it with a sip of coffee that emptied the cup. I should get back to Two Rivers castle. I’ve three thousand new cadets to train.

Wait! Halvard said abruptly, and Darak resumed his seat. I had a message from the Seven to impart.

What? Darak asked.

Tell me, are they ten planets orbiting our sun?

Of course there is. And moons, both large and small, and asteroids. Why?

I did not know that. It’s to be taught to children.

I can see that whoever comes to Two Rivers gets that education. He nodded.

There’s more. And I need to tell Kalan. But I’ll run it by your ears. There are to be fourteen new Provinces, and they are to be called Kingdoms. Each Kingdom is to have an Overking. As the years go by those Kingdoms can be divided into Provinces, each with a Dragon Lord in a castle. Kalan needs to name fourteen men who are already mated with a golden dragon as Overkings.

Darak nodded. It’s a big world out there. Kalan needs to know this and prepare for it. You should call him in so he can get started. Your three young sons would make a good committee in naming who should be named as such. Your sons, plus Adric and Leander, maybe Bragan, too. They’ll be the leaders of the future, answerable to Kalan.

The King nodded.

And if they meet here at Thanos, you’ll be privy to what is decided. It is a central location. Darak grinned.

That brightened Halvard’s day.

He really hated when the man vanished right in front of him. Darak didn’t even pretend to walk through a door any more. And where was the man’s dragon? He should be flying away, not just vanishing out of a room. And he could hear the echo of Darak’s laughter as he flew away.

Freedom 1563.0704

Rachah, the first golden dragon, created for Lady Dariella, had laid only nine eggs, and even though one of them a gold, the hatching was completely overlooked. Dariella didn’t mind. She held a feast for the nine new riders and let it go at that. The golden dragon chose RoAnne for her rider. Lord Darius was away at Hogue for a special meeting, but he sent Rydl, his dragon, back in time for the hatching. Dariella and the children had to remain at Freedom to cover for his absence, and to be there for the new riders.

Through Rachah, Dariella knew all about the meeting and what was discussed behind closed doors of Kings Room One at Adric Silver’s Sedlak Castle. Jandal Dadrick was there, better known as Silk the spy, Overking to all the southern kings, who had called the special meeting. Attending were Darton Pelingre from Pitzar, Waldon Graystone from Drude, Jovian Halvardson from Lichen and Brodi Grove from Waldon’s Island. From North Remgeldon were Leander Balkoas from Wylche, Danel Balkoas from Dakes. And someone had gone to Salator to fly in King Rantriel, and to Kobiacyn to fly in Prince Flagg, who would be king of the Dwarves eventually, but King Byram was getting too old to travel anywhere. And Bragan Pelingre was there as the future Dragon Lord Overking of Thanos.

The main topic of conversation was Zandrax. Second topic was a message the Seven Gods sent to High King Halvard, something about fourteen new Kingdoms, and the naming of Overkings. And it seemed the third topic was naming Thanos the new name for one of the Kingdoms, and Sarlon, Jandal’s Province, but naming the whole southern realm Sarlon Kingdom.

Dariella listened in to what was going on and they not only talked about the fact that Zandrax was missing somewhere west of Varan Province, but talked about all his past deeds, like weather tampering, lightning bolts that had destroyed the city of Thanos, destroyed Wylche castle, the war that was fought all through North Remgeldon Kingdom, but there was also a lot of speculation about what destruction he might cause next.

There were a lot of changes that would be going on the next few years.

Trouble was her children, Darlan and Darlaina, nine-year-old twins who Zandrax had kidnapped when they were only four, listened in too, and her children came to her with questions about what Zandrax, their uncle Alexandra, expected of them. She had no answers.

He said he was our uncle, Darlan said, but how is he related. I don’t understand. He and his sister had dark red hair and green eyes of an elf, taking after their mother who had green eyes. Their father’s eyes were hazel, which meant they had some green, but they looked brown.

He tried to tell us we weren’t really kidnapped since we were related, Darlaina said. But he kept us in the dungeon.

My father is King Rantriel, Dariella reminded them. His father was King Vernandrial. Well when Vernandrial’s first wife died, some years later the King remarried, but he took a human woman to wife instead of an elf. Alexander was one of three children born to the old King, so he is half-brother to my father. He’d be my uncle, and that’s what makes him your great-uncle.

Why did he do all those bad things? Darlaina asked.

Dariella thought for a moment, then said, I guess he wanted to be a King instead of just a Prince, but he thought he could steal away King Halvard’s throne and make himself King that way. Stealing is wrong.

I don’t understand why he wanted to be King of Thanos, Darlan said. Why not King of Salator? Or if he had married Adrianna he could have been King of Galleo.

He would have had to kill Rantriel to be King of Salator, their mother said. But the elves would have killed him before that happened. As for Adrianna, once she killed her Kingly husband Mikale, she was no longer Queen. Murderers can’t rule. Adrianna murdered all the Royal families in South Remgeldon. He could have named himself King of any land down there, but he wanted more than one small kingdom. He wanted it all and talked Adrianna into wanting to rule from Thanos. And to do that he needed an army.

But she had already told them the story of Thanos, the war of ‘53, and the destruction Zandrax, the Master Mage, caused in the Holy City. She told of the destruction Zandrax caused in South Remgeldon previous to that time, so they knew that history also. Although they had heard parts of the story before, about the destruction, they had never heard how Zandrax had a part in it.

Being captives of the Master Mage for four years, I didn’t want you to slip up and say something that would put you both in harm’s way, said their mother. "So I didn’t tell you what a destructive man he was, and that he loved to kill people. I didn’t want you to live in total fear. I tried hard to let you know, through your dragons, that I loved you both, that your father loved you, but it was hard doing it that way. Now it’s time you knew the real story about Zandrax.

He tried to take over the world, she went on. He wanted to kill Holy King Halvard, your great-grandfather, God’s man on the Royal Throne in Thanos. By a coincidence, Queen Savanal is Zandrax’s sister, and both your aunt and great-grandmother. Or as he used to be called, Prince Alexander before he became Zandrax, the Master Mage. This makes Zandrax your great-uncle. He knew that. Didn’t he tell you?

He said we were only staying with him for a little while, Darlaina admitted. He always intended that we should come home.

But he hid you both away so that we couldn’t find you. Your father and I searched the world for you. I think you need to hear the story of the last ten years from other people. Lord Kalan was the first to become involved in the war. Let’s fly on Rachah down to Silver Castle.

Lady Dariella and her two children spent the next two weeks visiting different people who told the twins their tale of the war. She even went so far as to visit inns along the Kings Highway in North Remgeldon which Zandrax had destroyed, and that their father and grandfather Darak rebuilt. They visited the Southland where Bragan was exploring and charting new lands to ask him what had happened ten