My cats take me to the next world book 2 by D.A. Sanford - HTML preview

“What’s up with my girl?”

She giggles,

“Mommy, Daddy said that I was his girl” with a smile ear to ear.

Justin is now also smiling. The children here lighten his load in many different ways

“I say that because you are my girl. I love all of you.”

Seeing Abigail’s kittens peeping around the corner, he says

“That includes those kittens peeping at me.”

They come running over and join Mazet in his lap.

It’s a large comfort

.

I now asks,

“Mazet, what is that you have?”

She shows me the paper she is holding and all the adults lean in to see.

There on the paper were scribbled words on it but they were in line and there was her drawing of all the wives and me. At least I think it was us.

Mazet proudly tells me,

“You are trying to explain about those poop heads who said they were you and our mommies. I made this so you could show them that it wasn’t you.”

Then she read what she wrote.

“These are what Daddy and our Mommies look like. Not like those poop heads.”

I hugged her then said that she was brilliant. She squealed, gave me the paper then ran with the pack trailing behind her.

I hold up her paper.

“For those who don’t know it, that little genius solved my problem.”

Most of the them were giving me the look. Except one of my wives. The one who knows me, both the old and the new.

“Let me explain. There was a thing called a newspaper. It was widely distributed to many households. It covered happenings in the community. Also births marriages and deaths. Events that were going to happen. I’m going to start one. “

“Isn’t that going to take a long time. To make a book, you need a scribe writing a copy of that book. That’s why there are few public books.”

“I know but our old world newspapers would put out ten to twenty thousand copies, multi-page papers daily.”

They are now looking at him like he was crazy but he asks for a paper and pencil. Once he had them, Justin started to draw. At first they could not understand. He drew a 3d rectangle. As he is drawing he starts to explain what he is drawing.

“The actual piece will be smaller than I am drawing. Made of metal.” He finishes the basic drawing. Now he is drawing a raised letter on it. As he is doing it, Beez touches his shoulder.

“My dear, that is backwards. Are you okay?”

He puts his hand on hers

“This is how it has to be. You are looking at it opposite of how it is used. Bear with me”

Now that he is finished, he explains.

“This, inked up and pressed onto a piece of paper will transfer that letter correctly. Now picture a large set of these letters and tray. A person is reading a written page and put those letters into a tray. Then that gets locked down, put into a press. That press rolls ink over that tray. A paper is placed on the press table and the inked tray is then pressed on the paper.”

Beez is hopping in delight. She exclaims

“Replace the paper and you can make as many copies as you want. We could make books for everyone.”

Hilda added

“You could make it so that we could teach reading to everyone.”

Justin adds “With a skilled engraver, you could add pictures. Think of this. A is for apple and a picture of an apple. They would learn to associate that combination of letters with the picture. With that people learn how to read.”

Abigail very seriously asks

“Wouldn’t it take a long time to make those letters, let alone the cost of paper is out of the range of the average person?”

“That would be true but, as far as the letters, we have someone make molds to cast metal. We could have thousands cheap. Now as far as the paper, we have to use a different method to make it. Let’s go to Beall. I need to talk with the crafts people. For this trip, I need my inspiration with me. The children can come but I want Mazet to see what she inspired.”

Naturally, all the children wanted a day out to explore Beall. Mostly to see the people and other children. I have told Mazet how proud I was of her and wanted her to accompany me so that she could see her idea being set in motion.

If she got any more excited, she would be bouncing off the ceiling. She told the others that they could go and play but she had important things to do with daddy. That did set off a torrent of why can’t we come with you?

I explained to them that I would make special days for each of them but today is Mazet’s day. They seemed to accept it.

In Beall, we went directly to the crafters and had the other metal crafters join us there. I showed them the drawing. Talked about the molds and the need for vast quantities of letters. They started to talk amongst themselves. I can tell that they see that this is one of those moments in history that will be told for generations.

“I will be funding the research but, hearing you bounce ideas off each other, it sounds like you already know what you need to do. So, I will leave you to it. If you need me, send a runner. I have to talk about paper.”

I look at Mazet, take her hand and ask

“How do you feel knowing that your idea is going to change the world?”

She did not say anything for a bit. Then she answered.

“I’m okay but now I would like to go play with the others.”

I understand. Attentions are short.

“You can go.”

Hilda takes her to the children. She was glad that we were doing something important but the warrior was board also. Her partner and sister Beez were fully engaged in the

meetings. This was her field. Sorra, Abigail, Christine and the watcher were with the children.

Next was a local papermaker. He made only small quantities of quality paper. Mostly for the manor’s use. We wanted to give him the opportunity to get in on the ground floor.

We watch him go through the process of making his paper. The process will not change but the quality for the newspaper does not need to be that fine.

He explains that the wood pulp is the quality and the reason for the length of the process. We need to come up with something else for pulp.

Missy has been representing the harem but I can tell that she is bored. She is playfully swatting at the floating seeds that are coming through the open windows.

Watching her, a light goes on. I hold up my hand to stop his presentation and look out the window to see that the children have discovered the milk weed pods full of fluff.

They are blowing at them, sending the contents floating into the air. The adults are there to fish out those who fall into the inch deep water.

I, in the old world, liked to see how things were made. It was the sight of those floaters that triggered a memory.

“You use wood pulp to make the paper. Is that because it makes a stronger, brighter paper. I ask you if you ever tried to use plant fiber like those milkweeds that the children are playing with?”

“I have,’ he answered, “It was too fragile for good paper and it always was too dark.”

“Can we try to use them again but this time add some starch to the mix.”

“That would make the strength better but not as good as wood pulp. Then the killer is the deep color. You would need to use white ink.” He told me.

“The strength is only needed for let’s say a month’s duration of handling. Would that be long enough?”

“Up till now, people wanted to have paper that would last for the ages. Plant fiber with a little starch should last a few years of handling, but the color?”

“How about bleaching it?”

“Bleach?” he asks.

Now one of the people that were following us, a woman who I recognized. She is very familiar She is the dress maker.

“We use bleach to brighten the fabric so we can get better colors when we dye it.”

I ask her “Would you be willing to show him the process?”

“Of course.”

“I will pay for both of your times. When can you have a sample of this new process?”

He says “I can have something in a few days.”

“I’ll come back in four days. Enjoy the exploration of a new process”

We spend another few hours in Beall. Missy, being relieved of her harem duties, she and Abigail are both chasing and delightfully capture the floating seeds. The children are having a ball blowing seeds and watching those two catch or try to catch them.

I think that it was more for the delight of the children that they put on that show. I have good wives and good relatives.

Back at the manor, I got to work. I drew the metal working of the press and my wonderfully talented mage was able to conger it up. Soon we had the basic lever press.

Mostly made of wood, the gears push out and retract the table. Right now we have an ink bag for spreading the ink on the stamp. All we need now is the type and paper.

Time to go to Beall to see what progress has been made. The people there are amazing. Not only does the paper maker have his samples but the metal craft have exceeded expectations.

We met at the same hall that we were married in. There before me was the samples of paper and some molds that have produced samples of type.

Looking at the type. They look almost perfect. I touch on sample on the ink bag then to paper samples. To the amazement of all that looked on, I pressed them on the different papers, then took another letter and added it. Both letters spelled out “HI”

Now I had people pick each up and look at each. As each picked up the first, I told them that those two letters spelled HI. The samples were numbered so after the crowd looked at each. The craft people along with the papermaker looked at the results of printing and handling. The ink held up but some of the paper samples didn’t.

“Those were the ones with very little starch. The stiffer ones held up”

“The ink bled on those but still, the letters were readable.”

Now comes my big selling point.

“Can I have your attention please.”

I hold up a paper and ask,

“With a show of hands, how many of you know what this says?”

Almost three quarters hold up their hands. Some even say

“It says HI.”

I say, “Welcome to the beginnings of literacy. For those who did not get it, you will.”

I now turn to the workers.

“What do you think of your work now?”

Between tears of joy and stunned awe, they are realizing that they are a true part of history.

I announce that I have the press ready.

The first papers will be actually for teaching you how to read. Those will be given free to each family on good quality paper. Your children will pick up on it quicker. Learn from them. I will offer to hold classes here to teach you. There are enough of you that can read, help those who can’t.”

“As my five men that were trouble but now are important members of this town said to me.”

“Being able to read and write is needed to be complete. To refuse to learn is up to you but know that, deep down, you will know that you sell yourself short.”

With that ask the crafts people to please work in earnest and that I will pay double the going labor costs as well as the price they put on their works.

On the way back to the manor, I really could not contain myself.

“Did you see that. With two letters, two little letters, almost the whole village learned..

Yes one word but the fire is lit.”

Paper and type have shown up. The first thing we made was that alphabet book with sentences and carved pictures for each. My mage was able to use her talents to make stamps from what I drew. Much to the watcher’s chagrin, had made a “Dick and Jane”

book.

One thing to be noted, our children had the first copies of both. Mazet received the first copy. No surprise, all the children, with the exception of babes in arms have learned to read but are asking for more books.

The two books were also hits with Beall and they talked. People from other areas were starting to ask for copies. These we sold at cost. It is spreading. We now asked for people to inform us of events

It has been three months from Mazet’s drawing to now but there has been a marked increase for our paper. The literacy of Beall is above average. All can read but not at the same level and or speed. That doesn’t concern any of them. They read.

The surrounding communities are sending us news and events. We have hired locals in each town to send us the news and current events on a per word basis but only after a character check with their town members. No gossiper is accepted.

We publish once a week and charge a copper a paper. Some stores are now carrying the paper. There has been inquiries from stores asking if they could put new things they are trying to sell. We do it for a per word rate. John Bagley was the first and some people came from other villages to purchase those items they saw but found other items that absolutely had to have. His increase in business has led to other’s in this and other towns to do the same.

From reports, reliable sources, the kingdom is taking notice. Others have tried but still cannot figure out how.

Maybe it is time to franchise.

By the way, to this day the paper is called Mazet’s information.

The children find a dog

It’s fall and the leaves are starting to change colors. Soon it will look like the dead gray sticks of winter. This time of year. seems like the world is winding down. We don’t get much snow here but it does get cold so harvest of the gardens is first and foremost due to the approaching first frost.

There are only a few things like apples that will survive. We need food and firewood to survive the long winters. When winter hits we must be inside where it is warm. It takes a special kind to be able to survive the bitter cold winds of winter.

The children are patrolling the boundary, like they usually do. Mostly small animals that catch their attention. It was mid day when Welden, the son of Beez, spotted movement in the brush. He looked carefully and saw that it was a small canid.

He talked to her but she would not come out but she also did not run away. Mazet, his older twin sister came over to see what he was looking at. He showed her and said that

she would not come out for him. She knelt down and talked softly to the canid. Slowly the child approached until she was in the open.

She appears to be the same age as Mazet. That may have been the reason she could coax her out in the open. She is dirty with clothes that are torn. They hear her stomach rumble so they take her to the manor and see Sorra there.

“Mama Sorra she is lost and hungry. She needs our help.”

They feed her and get her cleaned up with new clothes. Fed, clean and comfortable she falls asleep.

“We’re not going to get anything out of her right now. Why don’t we put her in the room near all the children?” We’ll talk to her when she awakes. She looks too thin. She has not had a good meal in a long time.” Justin commented.

After the adults leave, a few of the children including Mazet climb into bed with her.

Even though there is still daylight out. They all sleep until dawn.

When they get up, the children bring their new friend down for breakfast. A large breakfast is placed in front of her but she does not eat even though she looks like she wants to.

Justin tells her to eat up but she says that she already had too much with yesterday’s meal.

She says that she should not eat today or there won’t be any food left for the others.

I tell her, “Don’t worry about that, there is plenty to go around and then some. Please eat until you cannot eat any more.”

She does and is almost desperately protecting the plate as if someone else is going to take it, so I put another plate in front of the first plate and tell her that it is all her’s with that, she relaxes somewhat. Then she finishes the second plate and we can tell she is done as she forces the last mouthful into her.

I say, “My name is Justin. What’s yours?”

“Sophia.”

“Well Sophia how did you get lost? Who can we contact for you?”

Sophia hangs her head,

“I’m not lost. There were too many mouths to feed with the new litter. I am the only female of the old litter and of no use. Father took me out in the deep woods and left me there with a small bag of bread crusts. He told me to never return.”

With that she started to cry and the army of comforters descend upon her and hug.

Mazet looks at Papa Justin, “We need to take her into the family. Can we go to Beall and adopt her?”

Martha, now that she has stepped down from the position of matriarch, says that she wants to adopt Sophia.

“I want her to be my first child. I have already fallen in love with her.”

Everyone agrees.

Martha tells him that it is a very disrespectful practice that should be outlawed. Taking a child out and casting them out to die.

The wives confirm that this is a practice of some of the species that an unproductive or runt is cast out so the strong and useful can survive. They value the male over the female.

Justin feels its barbaric but must accept that barbaric fact that life can mean nothing to some.

“Don’t ever worry about being thrown out again. Mazet has an extra bed and I don’t think she would mind a roommate.”

Mazet grabs Sophia’s hand and shows her to her new room.

“You’re going to love it here. We even have a vacation house at our own lake.”.

The next day, they all go to Beall. When they go into the chief’s office to register the adoption.

He is told of the details of finding her. The chief does not question it. Justin asks why.

The chief tells Justin that it is a very common occurrence. Some find their way to orphanages but most young ones perish from starvation, exposure or by predators.

“As a matter of fact, we have an orphanage here on the very outskirts of the village. I think that the last time they were actually in town was at your wedding. Otherwise, they are kept around the orphanage.

The harem insists that they see it. They cry at what they find.

The building is in need of major repair. Windows that the glass is broken are boarded up to keep the wind out. Obvious holes in the roof. The list goes on and on and we haven’t gone in yet.

Beall is by no means a wealthy town. John Bagley, the owner of the general store, brings canned goods and surplus to them. Our five men go hunting for them to have meat but it still is not enough.

The women insist that we become the patrons. I have no objections.

This time it is Martha, “Sophia my darling, I need to go somewhere for a few hours. I’m going to take mama Sorra and we have to visit someone special. Justin please look after our first daughter. There is clan business that needs immediate attention.”

With that she turns into the most attractive dragon I’ve seen. She senses the look and feeling and giggles like a school girl, winks and they fly off.

I turn to the chief,

“I’m buying this entire area. What’s the price the town wants for it?”

“If you are going to do what I think you are going to do, the town cedes this land to you for the use of an orphanage.”

The orphans have come out to see what is happening. They are not ready for winter.

Their clothes are thread bare at best.

The watcher takes charge. She nods to Missy and starts towards town. Missy asks the children to follow them and all the women take them into town. There is clothes to buy.

The general store is going to get a very large order of supplies needed for them. And a lot more.

As they disappear, I ask the chief and the matron of the orphanage,”

“In all practicality, can this be saved?”

Their expression says it all.

“I want it torn down and rebuilt larger and fit for me or better yet King Draco to stay in.”

The matron asks “Where do we stay until then. That will be almost a year.”

“How does a lakeside resort sound? It even has a hot spring. Plenty of room to play without any distractions other than having a good time. It will be well stocked. Rent free.

I’ll even pay for the children to mow and clean. Keep the place up as caretakers. There will also be as many copies of the books that will teach them to read. We are now

running a book of basic arithmetic. Those will make it there. I want them to be proud of themselves and education is the way for that. This is not charity, I’m investing in the future.”

She is over joyed,

“Warm, no starvation diet, space to roam and learn to read, write and arithmetic. That will be heaven. When do we go?”

“As soon as they get back and my clan brothers come.”

The children arrive back. They all look warm and happy.

I speak to them as I hear the sound of wings, a lot of wings.

“Did they bring the whole clan?”

It turns out, they did. Seeing that most of the villagers came running.

“I want all of you to hear this. You are to be congratulated for your support of these children. This is not a rich town but you gave what you could. What you did was all you could do. Now I have taken possession of all this land and have ordered this building torn down. Wives, would you help them pack up what they have.”

“Draco I am getting to have a habit of needing you but my wife and Martha took off before they could get the bigger picture.”

Draco tells me that he got enough information to require all the dragons to come and see what disregard some have for life and then he looks at the villagers and continues.

“I have also been informed that these people did what they could to help these little ones. I now declare that these little ones are now part of the dragon clan. I have a palace with all the amenities. Justin, I’m going to best you this time. I figure that you have offered the lodge for a temporary home until the new orphanage is built.”

“Chief I am here to say that since these children are Clan of the Dragon, I wish to take them to their permanent home in my kingdom as my children.”

The children come out and have been told by Sorra and Martha about their being made members. They ask

“Are we really going to become members of your dragon family?”

“Do you want to?”

They all said yes

All the dragons now have enclosed saddles for the children to ride in. Martha and Sorra strap them one to a dragon. And they take off with Sorra and Martha. Only Draco stays.

“People of Beall, for your generosity, those ones now have a happy future. Because of that, I now declare that you and your town are forever under the protection of the Clan of the Dragon and the protection of the Clan of Martin our brothers. We ask you to post signs in all directions stating the protection of both Clans. You can settle your own disputes as you see fit but outsiders fall under my kingdom. People reading those signs will know that and steer clear.

Send a runner to Justin’s manor and we come to your aid Then he addresses me

“Build your new structure. Make it so I could live here. I want to vacation amongst these villagers so make it well.”

With that he flies away.

Everybody cannot believe what just happened they are now under the ultimate protection.

I tell them

“This does come with a price. Live like you have. Be kind, help the next ones to be found. I do ask that you keep looking, winter is coming. Those little ones won’t last long.

If you can’t take them in, bring them to the manor. The matron will be living with us until the building is finished.”

Sorra and Martha return.

“You should have seen the looks. Some were scared on the flight. We told them to close their eyes and it would be alright. When they got to the palace, the staff had a large food spread for them to eat. Then they were shown around. They are alright now, some have already gone with the dragon family that carried them but the others went with Draco.

They were warm and happy.”

Martha took Sophia’’s hand and we started walking back to the carriages. As we reach them,

Sophia ducks behind Martha and grabs hold of her tightly. Martha asks her what is wrong.

“That’s my father. He said that he did not want to see me again.”

As she says that, I see a fat overweight dog man, I won’t insult canids by calling him one.

He turns and sees Sophia and yells at her

“I thought I told you I did not want to see you again!” and he looks like he wants to kill her.

I step in front of him and stop him. That’s not muscle,

“What do you think you are doing. That’s my daughter”

I stop him before he can say another word.

“You threw her out because you did not have enough food to feed the children. I can see the reason, you ate it all.”

The villagers are gathering. “What business is it of yours, she is my daughter.”

“FUCK YOU FAT BASTARD. YOU GAVE UP THAT TITLE WHEN YOU THREW HER

TO THE WOLVES!

She is my daughter now. You get out of this village and never return.”

The chief steps up and says

“This village is now under the protection of the Clan of the Dragons. See that pretty young lady, that is the retired matriarch of the clan, she is going to be Justin’s seventh wife. See the other pretty young lady, that dragon newt is Justin’s fifth wife she is King Draco’s daughter. One other thing, sorry Justin, most everybody has figured this out.

See that pretty, Justin, how did you get all those pretty woman?” As I was saying that pretty young human is his sixth wife, she is the ethereal known now as the Watcher.”

The watcher speaks,

“He has just come from dumping the entire new litter in the woods. There are four very young babies out there but I have a protective warm barrier around them. I will show you where they are. Sorra, no never mind,”:

The watcher fades out then reappears.

“Chief if you would kindly lock this thing up Draco is sending someone to collect him. He cautions this thing not to wiggle. The dragon is old and his claws have a tendency to lose their grip if his prey wiggles. The king would not want to see you dropped. I’ll now take you to those pups.”

The dog is now lying on the street. They go to check on him but the watcher tells them that he died of a heart attack.

” I’ll take you to the pups. The mother has already fled to her parents with the boys of Sophia’s litter”

As we get ready, Sophia asks me

“Am I your daughter now?”

“You bet you are”

Then she smiles as she takes my hand in her free hand and she walks hand in hand between her new caring mother and father.

We go and retrieve those pups. We have the watcher who gave us the proper formula to make mothers milk and a few of the village woman that still have breast feeding children come to the manor to supplement their needs. They are now part of my family.

The now sick religion

People come to the manor sometimes to see Christine to have her treat them. They can come but it is her wish that they first go to the healers that she has approved as valid healers. There is the occasional that comes because there is no legitimate healer in their area that can help.

There are some so called healers that are just made-up potions distributers. At best, their potions are no better than what were called, in the old world, sports drinks. The worst were one step below poison. The biggest problem is that some people still don’t know that there is something better out there.

Christine will always help those and then tell them of a true healer closer to their home.

For those that are not near one of her endorsed healers, she will agree to see them but will also go out to the area to find the good healers.

On some of those trips, she finds good healers but those charge exorbitant fees for their service. There is nothing that can be done to make them charge less without putting someone in for competition. She has however found that some of those would issue the charge only after the service was performed. Those who could not pay would become money bound slaves to the healer. But they would be then sold off.

Those ones were visited by the team and delivered to the royal court.

When she was starting out, she became bound to the town that paid for her education and, only because of Justin Martin, did she become free of that town and it’s citizens.

She ran into them later. They saw her and started to try to take her.

She, in a not so polite way, told them just what she thought of them.

That experience has caused her to have an extremely low tolerance for the hypochondriac who may show up at our door.

Once she determines that someone is a hypochondriac, she tries her best to convince them that there is nothing wrong. That they need to talk to others who can get to the root of mental problems like this. Most of the times, she fails and she lets them go on their way to another healer.

Occasionally she will hear that combination of words that trigger her like a fuse on a bomb. A really, really short fuse at the words,

“But I’m sick you know.”

Then they cough. Once.

With that, she loses control and the rancor, the maliciousness, the utter distain comes out of her mouth. So much so that we always have one or two of her sisters standing by for those that are not referred to her. The wives can tell right away because they will get a nod from you know who.

Why she doesn’t tell Christine is a mystery but, after she calms down, Christine is always more relaxed. Besides that, she is always gang hugged by the protectors of the realm. They are defenders against anger and healers of sadness.

I cannot figure out why she doesn’t want one of her own.

The thing that is happening is that there are more showing up saying those words. It is almost like some one or some group is now sending them to her. It has become such a

regular occurrence that we now can spot them. I mean we because we will be joined by Mazet and Rachael.

Those two will look at them and then will go running yelling

“Alert, Alert” and the protectors will be coming out of the manor in their full dress.

We tell those to go away but most of them now say,

“We need Christine, we are sick you know”

Then they cough.

They all do that. What are we missing?

Even though we should have known, the inevitable happens.

“You have someone that demands to talk with you.” Chip tells me. “He is in your office waiting room.”

I get set in the office and Missy is behind me in her usual spot. Chip opens the door and ushers in the person.

The man is dressed in a blood red hooded robe. The sleeve has fabric dangling from it.

On the robe itself there is what seems like a crest of a mask emblazoned over a large flame.

He sits, even before I ask him to. He lowers his hood. It is the man that hired us to find their healer, Christine. One look at him and I looked at Chip.

Without me asking

“I had your harem distract her and take her to the other side of the estate.”

She will know because he told me that the protectors were on high alert.

I still have not even said anything, when the robed man dabs his nose with the cloth then says in a demanding but sickly tone. Believe me, if you heard it you would know it.

“I’m here to demand you release our saint who you are holding prisoner!”

Then he coughed.

I am literally thrown for a loop.

“I’m holding your saint prisoner? Who is that?”

“Don’t play dumb, heathen. You’re holding Saint Christine hostage and we demand you release her. We need her. We are sick you know.”

Then he coughs.

I am feeling that the flame on his crest is burning within me. I get up, grab the bastard by the robe and drag him out the door, to the gate and threw him over the gate.

“Don’t you ever show your face here again. Demand that I give you my wife. Fuck you.

You have but seconds before I sick my army at you.”

I look at the army at the fence, then say to them

“Don’t worry kids, if he shows up again, I’ll let you use him for practice. He wants me to give mommy Christine to him.”

As a group, they are looking at him with a ‘we’re going kill him’ in their eyes. They growl and double grip their sticks. A frightening sight indeed.

I look up and see he is still here.

He says that we have not seen the last of both him and his followers. He coughs and then leaves but not before raising his right hand like he is holding something high.

He walks away and is out of sight when Christine comes running up to the fence. Poor Beez is hanging on to Christine’s waist but her feet could not touch the ground to stop Christine.

“WHERE IS THAT MOTHERFUCKER!”

“As she rants and is climbing over the gate, Hilda grabs her, hauls her off the ground and then tells everyone

“We need to take this into the war room.”

Then she looks at the dangling Beez and tells her that she can let go.

In the war room, Christine has calmed down enough for Hilda to let go of her.

“What did that bastard want?” she asks.

As calmly as I could say,

“He wanted me to release their saint that I was holding as a prisoner.”

“Prisoner, saint, we have no one held…”

I just look at her

“Noooo” she said shaking her head

“Yessss, Saint Christine, Hilda grab her again.”

This time she tells Christine that if she gets up again that she will just have to tie her up and lash her to that chair. Missy is very distracted.

“That sounds fun. You can do that to me.”

“Let’s try to focus, maybe fun later. Christine, remember those people who showed up and they would routinely cough once. The man who hired us to find you, came back but this time instead of the disheveled look he was in a rich looking robe. Still dabbed the nose, still used the phrase and coughed after saying a point.”

“I will use a word from the old world. It may or may not be used here but it is the best word to describe what I think. I believe that there is now a cult of the sick. The cough is their way of poking you in the chest. Drive home the point. On that robe there was a symbol of a mask on top of a flame. As he left he told us that this was not the last we would see of him”

I purposely hesitated

“or his followers. He is their cult leader. He held up his arm as if he was holding something high.”

Christine is showing horror and anger.

“He’s holding a torch high” she says “He is threatening that we would be purified if you don’t hand me over. We need to find them and eradicate that infestation. You should have let us burn them out when we passed that village years ago.”

I let her vent until she petered out.

“I came to the same thought about the gesture but he won’t try burning until he has you out of here. Until this is settled, when you leave for a visit to a patient, Hilda and Beez go with you, the remainder of us stay here with a constant watch. We may want to brief the children. They are good at patrolling. We tell them that they are to run to an adult when they spot something.”

The mothers trust those children. They agree. We hear laughter and cheering coming from the other side of the door. That broke the tension. I have Chip and Abigail go to Beall to alert them on what is happening and to watch for the sick cult.

When we come out of the war room, there are the troops in full dress. I have them come into the room that they were never invited into. The war room, those are words that, to them, invoke a mystical tone. Now they are here.

It’s a good thing that I had those nude paintings taken down from in here. They are now hung in another room down in the cellar.

If you see anything or anyone, you don’t engage. You are to do a tactical withdrawal and meet up with the first adult you see. You are our eyes. I want the oldest ones to walk the boarder but no closer than fifteen feet. The younger ones are on each porch and balconies.”

I used those words because I did not want to discourage them by telling them to run away. Tactical withdrawal sounds better.

I hand them whistles and tell them to try blowing into them. Some get it right the first time but all get it after a few tries. Soon the air is full of sound.

“Blow these only when you see something. The person that sees is the only one to blow the whistle. If you here that you are to go to the manor. The one blowing also goes to the manor.

Now that Beall is on alert, our manor under the watchful eyes of the army we are ready.

Funny to watch those who are on patrol. Those whistles are on cords but they walk with them in their mouths. Maybe it is for the best. Most of the cords have been chewed thin.

Some of them are now losing baby teeth.

One of the first signs were more people in robes showing up at the gate and asking to see the saint. Some would even yell.

“Saint Christine we’re here to rescue you. Use your divine powers to escape. We need you, we are sick you know.”

Most times they don’t get the chance to cough. Beez is there and she chases them off with low level fire balls that scare them but at best would burn the fuzz of the robes. A few times Christine would ask Beez to use full power.

“If you don’t eliminate them, like roaches, they scurry away but keep on coming back.”

One close call was when someone came running up to the gate and was yelling that there was an injured person up the road.

“They are hurt bad. We did not want to move them.”

Christine started with them but Hilda and Beez went after her. It was then we heard three whistles being sounded. Christine, Beez and Hilda came running back as we all

went to the children that blew the alert. We came in the back finding the children formed up away from the boarders and up close to the manor. The three were pointing and the lookouts were saying that there are people with what looks like their sticks held high..

By the time we got to the areas, they had run off but dropped their “sticks” aka unlit torches. They were going to burn us out.

We needed to act. Time for our resident arial reconnaissance expert.

“We need you to find out where they are.”

Sorra takes to the sky. She now understands that she is just looking to find them and come back. She welcomes it because she is very close to delivering our son or daughter.

“There is a large camp a few miles away. That guy is in front and leading the chant Free the Saint, only the saint can heal us, only the saint can forever cure us.”

She says that they all are chanting that over and over again. Some are even fainting or dancing wildly.

This is when I remember the fanatical leaders in the past, Hitler, Jim Jones and many others. They all have one thing in common. They are very good at building up the emotions of their followers by the tone of their voice and the body gesturing.

Going to a place where we could overlook the scene. It was as described. Yes it is an intense cult feeling.

The sight is mostly women and some men. No children are spotted. Christine looks confused at the sight of so many. She is having mixed emotions.

Even though she wants to, Christine can’t bring herself to kill all of them but she really wants to hurt the cult leader.

I see it and inspiration hits me.

“Let’s fall back a safe distance.”

Now a good distance from them, I say to Christine.

“Accept the roll of saint.”

“You can’t be serious” She answers me.

“I’m dead serious.” I say, “All are convinced that they are sick. All say that you are their saint. They are convinced that you are the only one that can heal them so do just that.”

Looking confused, she says, “I tried for those years.”

Remembering some of those old world preachers whipping the parishioners into such a frenzy that when the preacher touched them and said heal, they would collapse at the touch. So I start to do my own version.

“What did you try, potions. You did not have the light back then. Call them together and tell them to hold hands. It gives them a feeling that they are doing something. Start with a semi elated voice and speed. Then elevate their hopes and dreams with your voice.

You are selling them that you can fully cure them forever. Keep raising your voice and their spirits. Hand gestures all the time. Ranging from open hands to the heavens and bringing into fists as if you are grasping their cure.

Once you have whipped them into that frenzy, ask them are you ready to be finally healed. When they say they are, ask them in a more desperate strong voice if they were ready to be free of their pain. Ask one more time. Then say hold on to someone and be healed. Shout as loud as you can, as loud to cause you to have a sore throat tomorrow, Yell for your freedom then yell and cast area high heal.”

I have been showing her the gestures and the tones of voice. She got so caught up in my presentation that she even almost passed out.

‘We will be close but you need to glide into the camp like you are floating. You are majestic, and you are saying the you are their saint. You’re here to heal the sick. Then get up on the platform. Do a slight bow to the leader.”

She sees the light. I can see the determination in her eyes.

Christine does what I said and you would swear that she really was floating. Once on the platform, she tells the congregation that she indeed is the saint. The leader smiles, he has finally won.

Then she started her speech. She was so full of inspiration and hope that by the time she was asking if they were ready, they were in a permanent state of bliss. Then the grand finale she shouts AREA HIGH HEAL and she casts it. The white light envelopes all of them. All, with the exception of the cult leader, passed out.

When they woke and you could see that they were all changed. They were cheering and saying that they have never felt as healthy. Then the true miracle happened. They took off their robes, threw down their masks and left in various directions after saying good bye to their friends.

Within a matter of a few short minutes. The area was down to one man in a fine robe with an angry look on his face. He drew a dagger and charged Christine shouting profanities at her. She defended herself and the man was no longer sick. He was dead.

“I guess he is finally cured.” She said, as Beez cremated the body to ash and washed him away.

Then said let’s go home.

To this day, not a one has been sighted or heard from. The power of the word was the cure for Christine. She now will do the same when one of the many hypochondriac’s still out there come to see her. They all walk away smiling. She has gladly accepted the sore throats. That’s her badge of honor.

The army no longer worries about those type of people. They now take that person’s hand an leads them to Momma Christine as if they were related. I tell you that they watch over us.

An Amazon with worries

There is a strange thing that has governed the harem since the Watcher was revealed.

Only a few of the harem have been pregnant at a time. Right now, only Sorra is and she is getting close to delivering. She is at the irritable time. One too many hovering. That one is her father, Draco.

I have been through this a few times now so I learned that a woman in the pains of birth and the last weeks before are a force that you don’t want to tangle with. Even something as simple as asking how their doing can trigger a feral response that would scare away even the most battle harden warrior.

Some males are thick skinned. None more than a dragon father when his only child is close to delivering. He has taken up a residence at the manor and is in the room that is reserved for royalty. Not happy with that, Draco wanted the room next door to Sorra.

Even though each of my wives have their own room, they very rarely use them. When a wife is close to delivering, they usually retreat to their room or the others do. This is “me”

time for them. I will, if invited, join them for some private pampering.

Draco is constantly barging in to see if she is all right. Sorra has repeatedly told him that she is well taken care of. She has a midwife familiar with dragon newt birthing but as an extra bonus she has an ethereal Watching her.

This interaction has not escaped the attention of the protectors. They have tried to divert his attention, tried to occupy his time elsewhere but finally have posted a barricade, a barrier of impenetrable proportion. They are lined up in front of Sorra’s door, two rows deep. This only slows him down.

He resorts to underhanded tactics.

He shouts up the hallway,

“Who wants some cake?”

The ranks one weakness, the majority breaks rank and gets cake. One thing that he did not consider, or should I say two. Rachael and Mazet. He came back to the door and was confronted with crossed armed angry looks.

“Grandpa Draco, we are so disappointed in your tactics. You may have weakened our defense but you forgot something.”

She points behind him.

There is the army coming back to their positions carrying their cake, with one exception.

There were two of them carrying two plates of cake. They took up their positions and gave the extra plates to Mazet and Rachael. With a smug look they ate cake.

From inside her room you could hear Sorra laugh but then they heard her say

“Let him in but get the midwife in here. I think it is time.”

A well-rehearsed reaction starts. Half start down the hall and the other half go up the hall.

With one voice, the manor hears,

“Alert, Alert, It’s time, it’s time”

This is repeated until everyone is contacted. Funny thing is, they never dropped so much as a crumb of the cake. After alerting, they went to the table. Their job was done.

The wives now have formed the core of the blockade. I have taken Draco to another area. We sat in the lounge area of the war room. I should say that I sat, Draco paced and paced and paced.

I had flash backs to the old world and could see him constantly looking at a watch. So I ask him,

“Is this how you were when your wife gave birth?”

He said that she gave birth while he was on a mission. That gave me an idea.

“Why don’t you burn off that energy. Go outside and take flight. I would think that it would be nice to go to Beall and get a birthing gift. for your grandchild.”

Without thinking, his mind is not here anyways, he goes out and flies to Beall.

I tell Sorra that he has gone to Beall on a mission to get a birthing present.

“Good, now you need to go. I don’t care if you have seen this before. This part is women’s territory. Dragon tradition.”

They usher me out and close the door. It turns out that they gave the girls of the army the new, after cake, assignment to keep men out and those little girls take it seriously.

Mazet looks at me and says,

“I love you daddy but we have our orders.”

I make a playful move towards the door.

“Mommy!” Mazet yells and Beez comes out of the room.

“

Justin! I expect better from you.” She is trying not to even smile.

“I’ve been caught.” And I collapse to the floor.

Now I am being attacked by a giggling Mazet. I grab her into a hug then escape their clutches. Now I feel relaxed.

I remember in the old world, men were not allowed to be in the delivery room. By the time I hit my fifties, men in the delivery room were common place.

I don’t mind. The harem takes on all aspects of the birth, right down to holding the mother-to-be’s hand. Hilda has chosen to help the midwife. As the midwife calls for

items, Hilda will get that. Strange thing is that this seasoned warrior. as Sorra is in the final stages of the birth, the sight of the mess of blood and fluids are starting to make her sick. So much so that she must leave and throw up.

Draco is finally back. He is loaded with things. Did he buy out Beall? With his superior hearing, he hears the cry of the newborn baby. He almost forgets to transform. He is left wondering why he cannot get in. It was a servant that told him that he needed to change his form. He did and ran to the room.

There greeting him was Sorra holding the baby. Justin was sitting on the corner. He had given the baby back to Sorra when he heard the commotion. He wanted Sorra to present her father with the news.

Draco is just standing frozen in place. Sorra says to him,

“Granddaddy come hold you first grandchild.”

He stumbles over and takes the child from her. The mighty dragon king is in tears as he looks at the baby. Sorra lovingly remarks,

“I wish mom could see you.”

“She does.” He whispers.

Then she knocks him into nirvana.

“Daddy, what do you think of Draco?”

I could hear his brain grinding gears as it tries to process what he just heard.

“Draco? It’s a boy? You named him after me?” I just made it in time with the chair as he started to sit.

“You have a grandson and yes we named him after you. We had decided that before he was born. If it was a girl we would have named her Zoe, after mommy.” Sorra was absolutely beaming.

The Watcher then told us that he was destined to do great heroic things, things that will change the world for the better. The name is fitting. She then tells us that Justin’s name will also be carried on to the same greatness but it will be alongside his older brother.

They will exceed their namesakes in advancing the peace for all races.

The three of us realize just what was revealed to us. Sons, brothers will go on to greatness together.

While we are digesting that, the watcher goes on to tell us that our protector duo, Rachael and Mazet will go on the be famed righters of injustice. All the children will achieve greatness in their own right. We are told to keep this to ourselves. She will reveal it when it is time. That old line reappeared once again.

Now that she is done, Rae lets everyone filter in. Only one problem, Draco does not want to give the baby up. He does find out that the harem rules but the protectors know just how to handle a dragon. They stand there, all looking angry, hands on their hips and then Rachael scolds him.

“Grandpa Draco. You need to be an example to us. You are not sharing. Baby Draco needs his mommies.”

Then she starts tapping her foot.

We are amazed. The great dragon king defeated by the kitten Rachael. Draco gives up his prize possession. Sorra does remind him that they will need to wait for the big event.

The emergence of his wings, after all he is a dragon newt. The wings usually come out in two months.

That is the time of a big celebration. The species anatomy, the wings emerging is the same as an adult. They already have the cover flap. It is just the wings need a few more weeks to wiggle in the pouch and start to strengthen. The mother can tell when the wings are starting to emerge. The baby wants to be on its stomach and the process seems to tickle them so they start to laugh. Sometimes even in their sleep.

Much to our surprise, Draco starts to giggle at three weeks. It is almost psychic, his name sake shows and is witness to the wings emerging. He is on a large high and insists on throwing the party since it is the king’s grandson and heir to the throne.

Hilda has been elated to see the addition to the family and takes turns holding him. We notice that she is a little off. Not the usual Hilda. I ask Christine to have a look at her.

Christine has already been observing her. She sees the same but with a different view.

There have been more than a few times that Hilda has been sick lately. She knows but needs to confirm her suspicions. After examining her, she comes out and Hilda announces that she is pregnant.

Missy is actually angry at herself. She cannot understand why she is not pregnant. She knows that Christine is, with Justin’s acceptance of her wishes, is taking a potion to prevent her from conceiving. Martha has not had her mating ceremony so they have not mated. Even the watcher has had children. Hell the servants have had them, not with Justin.

Christine has had her eye on Missy and thinks that in a few more weeks.

After the school girls calm down. Draco, the king, looks at me

“Don’t you ever give it a rest?”

“I try but They even know how to pick the lock on my door. Sometimes, Christine needs to cast a heal on me.”

Overhearing that, Christine tells him,

“You bet I heal him. Especially if it is my turn on the pony.”

She pats me on the back.

The situation that she thought would never happen to her is a great delight but her thoughts turn to her partner. She feels that she needs to talk with her. So, she goes to find Beez. This time of the day, she is not hard to find. She will be on the field.

‘Can we talk?” she asks.

Beez stops her exercise.

“Sure. What do you need to talk about?”

“In the next few months, I’ll start to show. This is my first child. I have seen you and others go into combat almost full term. I’m scared. I could have, before meeting Justin, never dreamed of having a child. I have never considered myself a coward but”

“You don’t want to lose the baby. Am I right?”

Hilda has a very submissive side. She answers Beez meekly. “Yes”

“All you have to do is explain to Justin your feelings and he will respect them.”

“But what about the high low twin terrors?”

“You need to think about yourself. There are others that can step up.”

That is really what she is worried about. They will find someone to replace her. She’ll become redundant, unnecessary, unneeded, unwanted. The watcher comes over, grabs Hilda’s hand and leads her to Justin.

“We need to talk. Hilda is having a crisis of not being of any use because she is expecting.

She feels that she will be replaced on the team permanently and will be a drain on everyone.

The biggest fear is that she will be letting you down.” I look at her. I’m taken aback.

“I love you. You are a vital part of this family. You will never be replaced. I wanted each of the women to retire from the field when they first were found to be pregnant but they did not listen to me. I worry the entire time with each. I worried about Sorra. Even if you chose to not go on quests and retire to motherhood you will still be needed.”

In that instant, Hilda was being group hugged. The army is here. The biggest difference is that the harem is also here

The children always know. I now realize that they must have that power. They always know.

As I’m thinking that, the Watcher just looks at me and smiles. I’ve found, or always knew that she had something to do with it.

“Mommy Hilda is a little confused. What can we do to make her feel better? She is afraid that if she goes with the team, she may hurt the baby that is inside her.”

“Well then,” Rachael states, “Mommy Hilda, would you please start to train us formally?

All we do now is watch and copy. You could teach us proper. We want to get better.”

At that Hilda breaks down. The tall Amazon kneels down to that kitten’s level and tells her that she will be their teacher.

They are all bouncing. Now Rachael turns to me

“Papa Justin, we need to get Sophia her armor and could you ask grandpa Drago if she could have a sash?”

” As far as the armor, it is already made. The sash though, you and Mazet are their leaders. I think that you need to go to your grandpa and ask. You know where he is.”

With that they all go running.

The Watcher now calls for a harem meeting. Being a future wife, Martha is included.

They all go but as Martha starts to go, she gives me a kiss. The school girls are back.

“Thank you for Sophia.”

It was just a little later in the day when the army came to me, while I was talking to Draco. Rachael and Mazet brought Sophia forward. She was standing proud in her new armor. The had already talked to their grandpa. We looked at her and complimented her on how good she looked in that armor. Then Draco talked to her.

“Granddaughter Sophia have you decided what you want to be? A defender or a healer?”

Proudly she says that she wants to be a healer. He then produced a sash and put it on her. It had the dragon with the halo.

“You are now a dragon protector.”

Now the army ran off and we heard as they left. Now they have to show mommy Martha.

`

The progenitor and Martha’s wedding

It has been a month since his grandson was born. Draco is bursting at the seams. His grandson’s wings have emerged a month early but they are fully developed and he is handsome. Draco is already flapping them like crazy. The amazing thing is, is that for the first time in the modern dragon history, the wings have the beginnings of horn like protrusions on the wing’s mid joint and tip. The only instance of this was the first and supreme dragon Kron. The first progenitor.

He was just as baffled when the Watcher just smiled and said that all the children were destined to make their mark in world history.

Now he is inspired. Justin is walking by and Draco calls him over.

“I need to go back to my home and arrange the celebration.”

Martha is now here and is listening. Draco continues,

“I need to send a letter to the Matriarch Gabor. She needs to be here also.”

Martha can’t wait for Justin any longer. Men are slow.

“Tell Matriarch Gabor that she will also be needed to certify our mating. I am tired of waiting. Justin is this okay with you?”

“I was just waiting on you being ready.”

She says with a little exasperation

“Yup, men. Justin, I was waiting on you. I want to be of the harem and claimed by you.”

Little ears.

We suddenly hear.

“Alert, Alert momma Martha and papa Justin are going to be married.”

We need to teach them about the difference between intelligence gathering and eaves dropping. Wait, it hit me, what’s the difference. We still need to talk but the room is filling with family.

It was a collective, it’s about time. Martha said that it was her that ordered it.

Missy in a not so happy mood tells Martha,

“Why is it always on us.”

Christine takes hold of her and drags her off saying

“You have not been yourself lately. I’m looking you over.”

The group is watching as frantic claws try to purchase a hold on the tile floors.

Getting back to the matter as we still hear her protests.

“I really would like to hold the ceremony here at the manor” Martha informs Draco.

With the age of baby Draco, Sorra agrees. “I want it here also. With the rate he is developing, Draco may reach the involuntary flight stage sooner than expected. It will be

easier to control that here. Her father reluctantly agrees. Martha also wants a discreet mating so she would like it here.

That is a disappointment for the king. He could order both celebrations to be at his palace but these are no strangers.

“We can have them both here but I insist that my decorators do the formal settings.

Those settings, I will not compromise on.”

With that settled, Draco goes to start the preparations.

After he left, I was tackled by a bouncing felid that was followed by Christine.

Missy screams as loud as she can

“WE’RE PREGNANT!!!!!!”

She smothers me with kisses. To say that we all are in the mood for a large celebration is an understatement. A birth, two pregnancies and a wedding. For Missy though, she can now breathe. She thought that the spay job I had done to her in the old world carried over. As ridiculous as that sounds

Almost the next day, there is a rather large contingent of the dragon clan swarming over the manor. Very respectful of our space, they also have chosen the great hall for the celebrations. First and foremost, the room is enclosed. If the baby erupts into uncontrolled flight, he will not get out.

It would be a great honor for everyone if he did. The way he is going, the uncontrolled flapping, retracting and unfurling. He may just take flight before that.

The other reason that the great hall is perfect, it has the rooms off of it for the certification ceremony. They don’t have the changing closets but there is a connecting door to the rooms and each have a large bathroom for changing. It will work. Draco’s crew will make it work.

Out of curiosity, after they have finished the rooms, I look. The bathrooms are near the entrance door and room connecting door. They have a floor to ceiling room divider. They set up the baskets and robes. Once we change, they will put our after clothes and the scabbard for the sword.

I am amazed. I almost would think that I was at Draco’s palace Matriarch Gabor, anxious to see Martha, arrived at the same time that Draco returned.

She was excited see baby Draco and was in awe that he is so far ahead of the normal dragon newt. When he started flapping his wings, she looked at them and the immediately took a knee in front of the child.

“He is the one!”

She exclaims. Gabor then looks at Martha.

“You had to have known.”

To which Martha replies

“I knew once I saw him but it was not for me to confirm. That is the matriarch’s duty if it ever happened.”

On that matriarch Gabor stood before all of us and the dragon staff that came to the room.

“The Watcher is asked to come forward and confirm what I am about to declare.”

She comes forward and they talk. Gabor points out aspects of the baby and the Watcher nods in affirmation.

The two turn and face the multitude. Gabor takes on a formal form and tone.

“King Draco, king of the Clan of the Dragon, Justin Martin, chief of the Clan of Martin and Sorra Martin wife of Justin and daughter of the king and Missy Martin. You are all required to step forward.”

Startled, we do.

“To you King Draco, Justin Martin and Sorra, on specific conformation by the entity known as the Watcher, it is my solemn duty to announce that this baby is the progenitor of the new era of this world. He will ultimately lead this world to a peace that we have never known. A peace that will last until the end of time. He along with his felid brother will co rule the world. In justice and most of all in fairness to all.”

Then the watcher shouts,

ALL HAIL SORRA MARTIN’S BABY DRACO MARTIN AND HIS FUTURE BROTHER.

JUSTIN MARTIN TO BE BORN TO MISSY MARTIN.”

A round of hail is sounded and a loud thud of a pushy, head strong, funny Missy Martin fainting on the floor.

When she is revived, she is escorted, along with Sorra to a side room by the Watcher and matriarch Gabor. Hilda, Beez, Christine and Martha are told that they are also needed.

“The two of you are no longer just women. You’re responsible for the whole wellbeing of the world.” The Watcher states.

Matriarch Gabor tells them

“Neither of you are allowed to go on missions that will jeopardize your lives. Your loss would throw off the outcome of the world.”

The Watcher speaks to Beez

“Beez Martin, your daughter Mazet will grow up to be a righter of justice along with her sister Rachael. They will take up the banner of justice leading their sibling army. The harem, from this day forward will train those children that are now the army. I will tell you that none of the clan children will be harmed in any way during their life time.”

“Hilda Martin” Gabor continues. “The child, Ellenore Martin, that you carry will be a vital aid to the two. They will have the wisdom as will your child but your child will be the grounding rod for the two. She will end up as their Chamberlin. You also will not be allowed to go on missions like Sorra and Missy.”

The Watcher now speaks.

“Christine Martin, after these two give birth, it will be your turn to become pregnant. You will deliver twins. They both will follow in your foot steps as great doctors and advance this world to beyond the level of the world that Justin came from.”

Gabor speaks to Martha

“My beloved predecessor, Sophia will go on to nurture orphans, foundlings like herself.

She along with your twins will also change the world. They will put themselves out of business. They will finally convince those who cast out their offspring to die, that it is a crime against the world. They will establish a network to match those who do not want or cannot care for all the children they have with those who cannot have them but desperately want them.”

For one last time in this meeting the Watcher addresses all

“After Martha is added, the harem will be at capacity. There will be no one else added.

The team will continue but with out you. The five men that you first helped will be the new leaders of teams. Justin will now be the chief leader of all the teams and assign the missions to the proper team. Those teams will be in various places to be closer to the areas. Your husband, like yourselves will no longer go out.”

The watcher continues

“Along with Justin and the harem, Chip and Abigail are now retired from missions. All of you will be the teachers of the future generations of peace keepers. Both Justin and Chip have an extremely important task that they must perform for the comfort of all. I’m tired of these clothes. They need to invent denim. I need my blue jeans and white t shirts and so do you. We may need a few designs to print on the T shirts to promote our teams. You will drive him to exhaustion when he sees all of you in them.”

With that the meeting was over. The two informed Justin, Chip and Abigail about the mandate that will protect the future. Justin likes the part of the clothes. He is looking at his women and fantasizing. They see him looking and each strike poses then laugh. All he can do in defense is think about the things that he needs to do for the jeans, no, I mean the celebrations. That’s right celebrations.

It’s the emergence celebration first. The entire Clan of the Dragon is here. The word has spread throughout the various dragon clans. Representatives from all of them have been granted attendance. All seem to be carrying requests for a marriage contract.

The celebration starts and Matriarch Gabor addresses them

“We are gathered here, in the tradition of dragons to celebrate the emergence of the wings. The word has spread through out the dragon world about this child. His wings came out a month early. He shows all the outward signs of the expected one.”

There was a cry from Sorra as Draco escapes from her arms and starts to fly around the room. This is not the erratic flight that normally happens after the wings emerge.

This seems to be controlled flight. All are amazed as he swoops and turns. It is almost like an aerobatic display.

There is one thing that throws everyone in shock. They witness something that has not been known or seen ever. Midflight, Draco is changing. He goes from his baby dragon newt form to full baby dragon and as he flies back to his mother, he changes once again. He lands in his mother’s arms as a normal human baby that shows no dragon or dragon newt sign. After a few seconds like that, he reverts to his true dragon newt form and is giggling.

Looking around the room, all the dragons are kneeling. They have seen something that has never been seen. Draco is a triple changer. That has never happened. Even king Draco, when he changes, still has wings and other aspects of his true form. The baby, in his human form showed absolutely no sign.

Gabor is a loss for words at the spectacle she had just seen. It’s the Watcher that speaks.

“You now have seen proof. You have to bear witness to every corner of your world that the first has arrived. His second has been conceived and is to be born to Missy Martin.

Now that it is known, there will be forces in this world that will do anything to prevent it.

It is now the duty of the dragon world to prevent that from happening but that must not be through aggression.

Act only on direct threats. These two mothers’ and their children are under the dragon’s protection as with any of the residents in this manor. Remember the lessons learned from the Battle of Everett’s demise.”

They all know what is required. The chief of Beal speaks to the gathering even though he is not scheduled.

“Speaking for the people of Beall, who are under the clan’s protection, our land is your land. You may, if you want, build whatever structure you feel that you may need to assure the protection of this family.”

The celebration has a joyful but at the same time a somber tone. Everyone came up to see Draco up close. A line was set up. There was no talk of marriage contracts. Those would come later because Justin told the gathering that it would be at his son’s first birthday that they would entertain joining contract.

The king, Justin Sorra with Draco and Missy. As the dragons went by, the males would kiss Missy’s and Sorra’s hands. The females however would place their hand on Missy’s stomach and whisper something. Each time she would feel something physical.

Something that felt comforting. Then the females would touch Draco and whisper. Even though he was sleeping, he still would giggle at their touch.

She finally asked Sorra,

“I cannot understand true dragon. What are they saying? I feel something each time.”

“They are blessing the child within you and you feel that it is affecting the whole litter for the good. All of your litter will be strong and healthy. That is the blessing they are giving you.”

Missy is having trouble keeping from bouncing. She wants to climb something, anything, but she has to stay in line. Now she almost weeps as another female dragon blesses her.

It was a long party. No one wanted to leave. They were hoping for Draco to fly again but it looks like that show took a lot out of him and he slept through the line of people that is also tradition. Soon after the line was done, Sorra took him out to feed him and put him to bed.

After that most leave.

The dignitaries from the various dragon clans were put up here in the manor but king Draco offered accommodation to the remainder in his home domain.

The next day was for grandpa Draco’s staff to change over to the mating ceremony. We could unwind somewhat from yesterday but we were tripping over the extra people. Out on the training ground were our usuals but now we had spectators. There were now additions. The onlookers are amazed to see the children broken in small groups and each group are being trained in that instructor’s skills. To the onlookers, they look so young but they don’t know.

All the on lookers knew was that they were there. Those children are the protectors, they needed the training that only comes from years of rigorous practice. They can say that they saw the beginning of the ones to save all races. They saw the triple change.

They heard the news about his brother being conceived. They were a part of that history. Like the heroes of the battle of Everetts demise, they would pass down the recounts of what they saw.

There were a few times the whole group ran to their four aunts. They did that when some unsuspecting guest went near them. The army would politely but sternly inform the people that their aunts only trusted family. All of the guests understood and complied. But with all the people, the aunts went to their rooms. Each had balcony a garden that they attended to.

During that day, Sorra was having problems with baby Draco. He would nurse, then he would fly to Missy whenever he saw her. Each landing was not an impact but controlled.

He then would hug her stomach. After this happened quite a few times more, Sorra was getting dejected and Missy was in a quandary. They did not know why this was happening.

Martha with years of wisdom was with Gabor. They came over and smiled. Gabor said casually to Draco.

“Already guarding your brother?”

Draco cooed as he hugged Missy’s belly.

Sorra and Missy are just going to have to cope with developments like this but Missy looks at Sorra and then talks to Draco.

“Honey, you need to be with your mother now. You are just going to have to wait for Justin to be born.”

You’d swear that he understood. He returned to Sorra.

Sorra then asks Missy if she would mind giving her a few breaks and watch Draco every now and then. Missy agreed and Draco giggled then went to sleep in Sorra’s arms.

King Draco is getting a little weary of, can you spare a minute. he is getting from the other dragon clans. He has escaped to the lounge in the war room. I needed to check on something and spotted him.

“You look frustrated. What’s the problem?” I ask him

“I needed to get away from the others. Since this morning, I have had request after request from the other clans to erect dragon towers around this manor. If I gave permission to them. You would need to go through a tower just to go through your own gate. They have been told that there will be a map drawn up with locations that are numbered. They will have to draw numbers.”

I tell him, “The only tower around the manor is yours. If you don’t mind, I would like to see it on that high point in the back. Being mindful of the flowers near that area.”

“Can you show me?”

We go out past the aunts to the rise and I show him.

He looks and seems pleased.

“Since it will be in view, I do not have any doubt that it will be anything but tasteful. What do you see in your mind?”

Draco ponders, looks around, then says

“It will need to be tall with a large top landing spot but I see stone construction but stuccoed over with fake beams. Painted the same as the manor.”

“But what about flowers?” A concerned young voice asked.

Shelia, daughter of Abigail, the next oldest in the litter, Rachael was the first out. She was showing great concern. Evidently, she thinks that the regular garden will be destroyed.

I let her know that we weren’t going to harm the current gardens. Why do I get that look from all the women? Young and old, the eyes roll up, the face gets an exasperated look and then an exhale of air.

“Not these flowers.” She calls over the army.

“Every one get a short stick” They disperse then come back .

“Grandpa Draco, would you please walk the circle to show us how big.”

We are still wondering but he starts to walk in a very large circle and Shelia tells each when to push in their stick. Soon we have a hundred foot wide circle. Now she tells the army,

“Please get our aunts to come over here.”

They do just that and she asks them a question.

“They are going to build in this circle. I think that they need flowers to pretty it up.”

She hands the aunts each a stick.

“Would you please show papa Justin and Grandpa Draco where you would like your garden to be.”

Much to our amazement, the four aunts look over the area and each put their stick in the spot they wanted. Aunts Iris, Daisy and Violet put their stick around the front but Aunt Rose looked at the ground and put her stick away from the building in a very sunny spot.

Shelia looked at us. “Please make sure that you mark on your drawing these spots.”

Then the army leads the aunts back.

We stand in amazement. Draco tells me

“I need you to stand there and make sure that the markers won’t get knocked over.”

And he flew off.

In a short while, he returned with another dragon. That one was carrying a large pad.

He gave that person the task of sketching what it would look like with the specific instructions that the flower beds had to be located in those spots but had to be of the most royal design.

Later in the day, we were presented with the most fantastic drawing. Almost like a photograph. The harem was amazed. I called Shelia over and asked her to get the aunts.

All of the family members watched as those women, for the first time had large smiles and touched the area that they picked out. Then they went back inside the manor and each sat on their balcony and looked happy as they dreamed.

It was a wonderous day but reality sunk in. Tomorrow is the day.

Just like the day I married Sorra, I had the same people dressing me. The suit was the same but instead of blue, this is red. They corrected me that it was more of a cranberry.

I’m a guy, red is red.

Missy announces, “Now entering the hall, Justin Martin, Chief of the Clan of Martin, Hero of the battle of Everetts demise, Harem husband and the groom.”

I enter and everyone claps.

Draco announces, “Now entering the hall, Martha of the Clan of the Dragon, formerly known as Matriarch Martha, and the mate to Justin.”

She enters to the same applause

Again in the dragon voice, Draco says, “All rise, Announcing the arrival of Matriarch Gabor. Accompanied by the Watcher”

Everyone bows.

She now stands in front of me.

“Justin ask your question of your mate”

“Martha, I have waited for the harem to be complete. I have found that I love you. You will be the one to complete it. Will you become my mate?”

Matriarch Gabor turns to Martha.

“What is your answer?”

“I will”

“Martha ask your question of your mate”

“Justin, ever since I met you, I knew that you were real, you were special and I needed you in my life. Justin, will you be my mate?”

Matriarch Gabor turns to Justin.

“What is your answer?”

“I will”

“I declare that these two are compatible and can undergo the certification. In accordance to his harem rules, once the mating is consummated, Justin will place the harem mark and claim her. Missy will you be the Clan of Martin’s witness?”

She answers that she will.

Matriarch Gabor tells the gathering that the feast can begin and that in two hours, the ceremony will start.”

Again the portions for us are small but this time I know that I need to just push it around and take only a cursory bite or two. The toasts came and we again had juice. The two hours took a long time.

Matriarch Gabor stood up at the appropriate time and asked Missy to come forward.

She explained what was going to happen. Missy explained what will happen with the harem showing their mark and then Martha will show hers.

I enter my changing area and Martha does the same. We both come out with robes on.

At the sight of me, Martha blushes and tells me that this is her first time and asks me to be gentle.

Gabor and Missy take their seats and we start. It was long and very gentle. It was explosive for Martha. We were now one and I claimed her.

The two exited the room as we were changing into our after clothes. The thing that I liked was that, unlike the bowl of water we had at the last wedding, We had showers.

Martha and I came out and Matriarch Gabor announces that she has now certified the mating.

Martha offers me her sword.

Missy has the harem come up and show their marks. She has Martha show hers.

Then Beez says one thing that no one expected. She looks at Missy and says that, since the Watcher is now known, there will be no recounting her rodeo ride. The harem laughs.

Missy get pouty.

The capper of the event was that baby Draco woke and flew to Martha and snuggled.

After the ceremony was over we went back into the room and had a very romantic time.

In the morning, the harem school girls stole Martha away and had a meeting. The Watcher tells Martha that she will be taking her for her blessing like she did for all the others. Then

Martha and the Watcher disappears in the white light.

When they reappear, Martha is told that she was only gone for a minute or so. Like all of them, she had a hard time believing that it wasn’t days. The Watcher explains to the harem that the blessing that Martha received is nurturing.

She explains that nurturing will allow Martha to help those who have experience hardship, to take care of, feed, and protect someone, especially young children,

and help them to develop. She now has the ability to feel abandoned children and rescue them.

Martha tells everyone that it is a great honor to have that. She says that it means more than the matriarch position ever did.

“I won’t be doing ceremonies, I will be really helping”

Things must change

The edict has come down, all of the original team have been told that they will no longer be going out on missions. To go out is to jeopardize the children’s future. The dire consequences were hinted but they said that, basically, we are to grow old.

We have called a meeting with our five, their wives and the subs we have right now. The only room big enough is the same hall that the celebrations took place. The nine of my team are sitting at one table, King Draco is also present. The group is seated facing us.

Matriarch Gabor and the Watcher step in front of us and address the group.

Matriarch Gabor speaks first.

“In case that any of you have not heard, Sorra’s baby Draco has been declared the progenitor of a new age. He has shown that by his ability to triple change.”

At that some of the group gasp.

She continues,

“Yes, triple change. In this very hall, the baby had a controlled flight at only a few months. During that flight, Baby Draco took flight as a dragon newt then mid flight he changed into a full dragon and landed in his mother’s arms changing into a full human, then back into a dragon newt. Sorra is to no longer go out on missions.”

Now the Watcher addresses them.

“Missy Martin is pregnant with Draco’s brother Justin. The pair will usher in a new world of peace. Hilda Martin is pregnant with their Chamberlin. I can go down the line with the important events each child will bring. To the point,”

She sweeps her hand across us.

“The original team is now retired. They will take on the roll of instructors. The mission will carry on.”

Now I stand.

“I am the Chief of the Clan of Martin. I ask, who among you would like to become members of the clan?”

All hands go up.

I look to my people seated and ask,

“What say you?”

Chip looks down the line. Each nod affirmative.

“As assistant chief of the Clan of Martin, these present are accepted.”

“Welcome to the Clan of Martin” I tell them

King Draco stands

“The Clan of the Dragon also recognizes you as members of the Clan of Martin. You all are now clan brothers to the Clan of the Dragon. You have large shoes to fill but I have known most of you. You are true. Welcome to the clan, brothers.”

I again speak,

“You five that were the first. You five who went from little boys to men in a week’s time.

You men will each form a team. We are now building five manors across the occupied countryside. Will you five please come up.”

They do.

Now I have been watching those proud children parade and patrol in their full armor and sash.

I have talked to Draco about this.

The five are now in line. I present them with leather armor in the style that the children ware.

Then Draco presents teach with the sash that has the dragon with the two cross swords.

“Go now into the side rooms and put on your symbol of authority.”

The five go and after each has gotten dressed. They were checked out by Draco and myself.

Draco and I came out, took our positions and called for them.

Five proud men came out and stood before the applauding group.

The Watcher speaks,

“Each of these men will have the blessing of both Matriarch Gabor and myself.”

The two stand in front of each man and bless them individually. Then I have everyone sit back down.

“I mentioned the building of manors. Those will be your headquarters. You will pick members of your teams from the ones that you feel comfortable with. Wives, this is not a command but a related feeling. Those who you will feel that you are family will be the ones that you should approach.”

Missy adds,

“The Watcher was the one to say if one was compatible for our team. I feel that you need to keep this in mind. When in doubt, ask the Watcher before asking someone that you don’t have that feeling with. A team behaving like a family is the reason we did so well.”

The Watcher says,

“I won’t tell you now but I already know that you will make the right decision on team members but each will have doubts on a few. I will help.”

I take over again,

“The wives of the five, please come forward.”

They do.

“I have in this box, five numbers. Missy has five envelopes. Please reach in and take a number.”

They do.

“Missy, give them the corresponding envelope but don’t open it yet. When you get your envelope, you can sit.”

They do

“The five and their wives will join us in the war room later. Now all the others here have subbed for our team when a wife was out of action or we needed more people. You are the core. You would not be here unless you were trusted by my team. You will be divided amongst the five. Once each knows of the area they now have, It will be posted.

Each of the five will decide what talents they want. You will see the location and can accept or decline based on that. The makeup is what the five want.”

Draco again takes the floor.

“The five groups will need to train and coalesce in a short time. Each team will come to my home for special training in tactics. The success with Justin’s team was the planning He did not rush into anything. Even when my daughter Beez received that dire warning about Everett, he still planned.”

Beez then said,

“Remember when you asked us why we did not raise our hands when we asked if we thought we were strong. We each said that Justin was the keystone for our arch. With out him we were just a pile of stone. Each of you five are now the key stones of your team’s arch.”

I stand

“This has gone on too long. We will go over more during your training. Let’s adjourn. I see that some soft drinks and snacks have been laid out. After you celebrate and talk amongst yourselves, the five couples, meet us in the war room”

Little ears

As the five come out, the army is in full dress, including sash, lining both sides of the hallway. Sticks in their hands. As the five approach, the first on each side falls into place as leading a procession. When those two approached the next they took the lead. This happened up to Rachael and Mazet who now lead.

They marched up to the war room stopped and knocked. We opened the door and the parade marched in.

Rachael announced

“The five leaders and their wives are here.”

Then she lined up with the others and started to marched out. I stopped them.

“I want all of the troops here”

and closed the door.

“If you have the same dedication that these troops have, you will be unstoppable.”

Now looking at the troops,

“I think grandpa Draco brought some of that cake you like. Dismissed”

A stampede of children in armor and sash go running in full assault on a cake. Everyone gets a laugh after they leave.

“Like what was said in the meeting, those children have a great destiny awaiting them.

They already seem to know things, especially when the aunts need them. Okay on this map is the territory that we will cover, for now. This manor is the hub. Your five manors are being built in a circle around the hub. They each are approximately fifty miles apart.

Draco has kindly furnished us with three dragon newts as messengers to fly from the hub with assignments or to any manor near you for aid. Christine has lined up healers that want to be part of this. They will be trained like Christine. I have talked with the Watcher about bringing them up to area high heal skill level. She said that she will need to talk to them first.”

“Now ladies, please open your envelope.”

Luckly each are chanting different locations, no duplicates, with their eyes closed. I notice the Watcher fade out for a second then come back with a smile. They open their envelope and by some strange occurrence, they all are screaming with joy. They all got the area they wanted. Imagin that. What are the odds.

“You each have a finishing account of a thousand gold and an operating expense of three thousand gold. Strict accounting is required. Quest fees charged, well you know how to do that. One piece of advice, throw someone out if they end the conversation with, we’re sick you know.”

They know exactly what I mean. We laugh.

“Now pack your things and go see your manors. Now is the time to make some adjustments.”

Martha steps forward

“On a serious note. When you visit your area, look at the orphanage. More than likely they will be disreputable. Let us know right away. Draco, would you dispatch some people to the area. Give these time to get there. Those orphans are mine. Justin and the harem, now that we are retired will take on those tasks.”

I add, “Especially the very young foundlings, they will be brought here. I have it on good authority that there will be an army of rescuers in the near future. Martha, Sophia and others will make up that army.”

With smiles, each couple start their journey. One is outside Sexten so they can also keep in touch with the gnomes. One is outside the town that was taken in by the fake team. One is on my plot of land that used to be sick town. That land was cleared out a long while ago, purified.

One where we intercepted those feral goblins. The last one is my favorite, just outside Cannerten.

All of the couples have gone to their respective areas. Soon there are messages coming back to Martha’s attention. Orphans that need our help. The Watcher, with her ethereal abilities. goes to check them out. She comes back and gives us the locations that we need to visit in their need order. Worst to best.

On visiting the first one, even I felt like I wanted to wretch. I tell the Watcher.

“I need you to go to two places. First to this kingdom’s king. Using your authority, demand that he issue a royal decree that we have the ability to arrest people that have abused these children. After you get that by whatever means at your disposal, go to

Draco. We need those dragon transports to take these to the manor for healing. While you are convincing the king of this country, convince him that these children are now of the Clan of Martin. If he is having trouble, bring his wife here then take her back to the king.”

She disappears but just as quickly came back with both the king and queen of this realm. They look at a sight of dead children lying unburied in the yard. Inside there were more dead but thankfully there are more on the brink but food and Christine can heal.

The Watcher leaves the royals there and transports Christine here. After she looks in horror and then looks at the royals with anger. She helps the Watcher pick up each of the most sickly heals them and the Watcher takes them to the manor. This is repeated until the last living orphan is brought to the manor. Last is Christine. She stops in front of the royals.

“You own this! There are three more that we need to get to. I leave the bodies to you.”

Then she disappears with the Watcher.

By now, the noble couple that are in charge of this, were caught, by the harem, trying to flee with their riches haphazardly thrown into their carriage.

Martha looks inside, changes into full dragon form and rips the side of the carriage off.

Grasps both nobles and in her dragon voice,

“MURDER, YOU’RE BOTH GUILTY OF MURDER!!”

She looks like she is going to cremate them, but doesn’t. She turns to the king and queen. Holding out the two nobles she snarls at the royals.

“Get over here and look at how they supported these poor ones with the money you budgeted for their care.”

The king and queen both could not but follow her orders. They see gold and silver in various shapes and sizes. Enough that would have taken good care of the orphans for years.

About this time, Draco and a few of the leaders of other dragon clans fly in to this horror.

He instructs those with him to, in their dragon forms, to dig and bury the dead. Once that was done, they all burnt that place to the ground.

Draco is looking at those royals and the nobles. Martha tells him that the nobles are the one that were in charge. He and another dragon leader each grab one of the nobles and disappear into the clouds. Then there were screams and sickening thuds as those two hit the ground after being released from above the clouds.

Draco now looks at the royals and speaks.

“It is obvious that we have left you humans alone for too long. This world was once ruled by the dragons. We gave you humans autonomy to rule yourselves. This may be the worst but it still is typical.”

He then turns to the dragon leaders.

“They can no longer be allowed to wreak havoc upon this world. The progenitor has returned. As of now, because they cannot even take care of themselves, each of you go and survey your areas. If you find what we found here, you need to do as I am going to do now.”

He again goes into his full dragon.

“As of right now, this country is now claimed and will be under control of the Clan of the Dragon. If the Watcher would please do, return these peasants to that city they came from.”

He turns to the couple

“As of now, you are just caretakers that will report to me. I will be at the palace in that city tomorrow. You need to gather up the information on all the orphanages in this country. Remember this, I will be coming with the Dragon archers. If we are met with any resistance by your armies, we will show you just what happened to Everett’s men.

Tell your people that dragons have awakened.”

With that, the Watcher takes the couple back to their palace. Then she reappears.

“Those fools tried to shoot me with arrows. It messed them up when the arrows passed through me.”

Ethereal or not, they tried to kill my wife.

“Draco, I insist that I go with you tomorrow. Can I hitch a ride?”

The Watcher stops me.

“You may not go. There is going to be a fight. Draco will win but we cannot risk your being injured.”

That’s final.

“King Draco, I ask you to do a task that I should be doing. They tried to kill Rae, my wife. I must bow to the Watcher’s command.”

“She may be your wife but, like all your wives, they are all my daughters. I will avenge their foolish attempt.”

The Watcher now does what she needs to do. She and that carriage disappear. A short time later she returns.

“That carriage and the turn of events have been relayed to the area’s team. I have instructed them to make use of it for the betterment of the little ones.”

She turns to the now field where the building stood. She concentrated and flowers started to grow. Iris, daisies, violets and roses bloom.

“I will return here with Martha and the Matriarch Gabor to consecrate this ground as a holy ground. None but orphans may be buried here. It hurts but I now know each and every one that died. Not just the ones that we buried. The earth told me. Once you take over, King Draco, take it to heart and commit it to the dragon history. There will be tens of thousands of names on the stone wall that I will erect here.”

With that, I’m sure that she is back at the manor. Later, I found out that she did not show there for a few days. She spent time in the other plane. I never asked her why.

Dragon rule

The next day, as we expected, Draco was not greeted as a friend when he showed up the next day. He was greeted with arrows bouncing off his thick hide.

“If that is your answer, Archers commence.”

A rain of arrows comes down on the large group of their archers in the courtyard. Draco has had enough. He lets loose a dragon fire and the dead, injured and still whole ground archers vanish. Now mages come out. They seem to have been pushed out.

“If you want to live, I give you a chance. Those that pushed you out to die are covering for a regime that allow thousands of children to die of disease and starvation. We found one such killing field yesterday. If you want to live, leave.”

With that, he blew a hole in the palace wall to let them escape, which they did.

Now in an almost heavy metal concert speaker volume, Draco speaks to the citizens

“We have discovered many instances of murder and corruption among those who rule here. The dragons once ruled all in fairness. We can no longer watch and be silent. This country is now under the rule of the Clan of the Dragon. These people even tried to assassinate the Watcher yesterday. Those who have clean hands have nothing to worry about. I came here to check on the records and the king and queen fired upon us. We captured them trying to leave by the back door. They had a wagon loaded with this countries treasury. I king Draco condemn them to death for the murder of the orphans.”

The crowd gather, see two specks coming through the clouds. They see those specks grow larger and hear screaming. Then, in the very courtyard that they forced those archers to die, there were two smashed and mangled bodies in royal attire lying in pools of their own blood.

“Be advised, those now dead people, allowed slave traders to operate causing misery on a grand scale. That will never be tolerated again. As I speak, the other dragon clans are doing the same thing in their countries. You are now faced with two choices Live in peace under dragon rule or die. We have awakened to the sound of the new progenitor.

The awaited one. The triple changer.”

With that, Draco set down in the court yard and incinerated the two bodies.

The Watcher appeared and told him that it was almost the same in the other countries but the world is back under dragon rule.

“Be very aware, very cautious. Just because you are in charge, doesn’t mean that trouble has gone. As we speak, people are gathering, plots are being formulated.

Revenge is in the air that will continue until the co rulers and their Chamberlin finish.

The army is being trained. We need to await the births and the rulers and their Chamberlin take over. Until then, be on your guard. Protect that manor. Build those towers. Now that they know that the progenitor is born, there will be plots and attempts to kill the entire manor right down to the staff.”

Her final words for him hits home.

“King Draco, just know that one of your own kind will betray the Clan of Martin. Be on guard. I will be watching.”

And she vanishes.

Still to come My two cats book 3

The Army is now grown up. So has the trio. A triple changing dragon named Draco. His younger felid brother Justin and their sister the amazon Ellenore. The three alongside their siblings, the Army of Clan Justice pave the rocky way towards an everlasting peace.