Over the next three days dragon roars of pain were heard for the dwarken shop. The smell of burnt flesh filled all's noses. It was over another month before any saw Robert again. It was the same day Angie was showing her two children to the others. Despite being threw the time of isolation she could not still tend to her duties in person until they were able to fly on their own. Tosh was taking care of it however. As all were turning away from the newest arrivals Robert's armor glistened from the sun outside the cave as he landed. All were amazed at what they saw. Which they never have before. None ever have before. Daniel was the first to speak. “ Onto your trial.”

Robert bowed respectfully and left the cave after looking at the two youngest whelp dragons look at him in wonder. In one swift motion he left the cave entrance and glided down to the great dwelling below. King was outside ready to hear from Tosh of how the welcoming of Angie's young was taken when he saw the shine that blinded him. When he could see again Robert was in the position of respect. “ King Robert take post now.” 

Robert posed to show the images of a battle of dragons in the sky and men of the ground. Depicting the last war among the dragon. The image long thought out before being chosen. Robert walked out of the gate and sat on one of it's sides. Where a wooden canvas was put and a pit for a fire and a wood shed for it. Tosh then landed and saw the look on King's face. “ It is not that surprising. However the detail is a bit much. I do not think he will mind being only a bargaining chip. I think he expects it in fact. He wants to make up for being in league with the rogue and he might just do that with this plan of his. Already he has helped more than ever expected and he has yet to do anything so far.” 

King rub's the dragons neck. “ I can not argue with you there Tosh. Only time will see what happens. One year he is to serve in that one spot unless called into action. I hope he has the patients for it.” 

Tosh gestured to enter the great dwelling. “ Patients all dragons have. He will not do as your guards do and rest when they get the chance. His pride will not allow that.” 

The two continued to talk over him for a little longer until Tosh grew tired of growling and decided to spend the night with his pairling. Sense he had not for nearly two months now. Upon exiting he saw the glow of a small fire and a shadow of a dragon being cast by it. Tosh moved by it and the one resting there as well. “ You know Robert your task is only during the time of patrols. You can sleep above.” 

Robert raised his head from it's resting position. “ I know and I will remain here. It is my right to sleep wherever I am permitted and I am permitted right here.” 

Tosh was a little surprised by his devotion to his goal. “ It is your choice. Good night to you then Robert.” 

Robert caught Tosh's tail before he left. “ Could you do something for me real fast.” 

Tosh looked at the armored dragon and noticed his right arm has been branded with a dragon breathing fire. “ If it is fast?” 

Tosh raised his head. “ Two straps. Simple enough but I can not do or undo them myself.” 

Tosh obliged Robert in taking off the helmet. He put it on a peg on the middle pole of the canvas. “ The rest of your armor?” 

Tosh asked and Robert shook his head slightly. “ Only to be repaired or a piece replaced. Honestly I do not even notice it anymore. I've had it on for near a month now.” 

Tosh was a little shocked. “ How come the wait then?” 

Robert lifted a few of the scales of the armor. Under them was metal framework. “ I had to heal. As I said I'll never be taking it off. It has been forged right onto my body.” 

Tosh did not know what to say. What he put himself threw willingly was worse than any test any could ever give him. The question answered Tosh thought. He then noticed the brand again and Robert noticed him noticing. “ It was Kirona's idea. The knights of dragon fire. I think the name catchy.” 

Tosh agreed with him there. “ We shall see. Again good night.” Robert nodded and went back to his rest before his sleep. Tosh entered the caves as the last bits of light from the sun began to fade and moonlight guided his way. He was the last stirring and all others were in their homes either asleep or being with their young under candlelight. Tosh went down two levels to an even darker level and took a candle and flint to light it. After it caught he put the flint back and walked up to a covered entrance. He heard his pairling's voice. “ I know Peter but the law is the law. I am Tosh's pairling and these two are your children. As mother I have final word and I have considered and decided on the matter.” 

Then Tosh's candlelight was noticed by her and he blew it out before coming in to not catch the curtain on fire. “ What are you two talking about?”

Angie dragon kissed Tosh without moving much to keep from disturbing her sleeping whelps. “ Peter thinks I should keep them down below. I was raised down there much of my life and I know you can not be a whelp down there. When they are old enough to fly I'll let them come down but not before.” 

Tosh settled in beside Angie but kept his distance from her child. “ Robert is settled into his role. Taking it more seriously than we even expected. In the morning all will see him and we can brag about him. He will do fine I think. Other than that nothing new has arisen you should know about.” 

Peter raised his head slightly to catch the others attention and they got it. “ There has been talk at the traveler rest dwelling from the travelers that many surrounding lands fear the power King now holds. All the legends and myths about all the fairy folk and us now open to all see and many are seeing things they can not accept. I can not say all they tell is true but it is repeated often around the drinks and stories they tell. Even my presence brings unease to the strangers now. I have been working there sense I was thirty and this is the first time that I am worried. I know I was not the most popular amongst us for seeing to another duty other than the patrols but I have always been a display for travelers to admire. Many times I am the first dragon many ever see. Or at least up close. The reactions usually the same but recently I've been noticing more fear than normal. As if we are planning something bad.” 

Angie considered Peter's words for a moment and made a decision. “ This is not working. I will have to discuss with Daniel of alternatives but being good dragons is not being accepted. Perhaps we were never meant to fly with hope again but we are now and we will do all we can to keep it. Something must be driving these humans to want to exterminate us. The past is only stories to even us. Stories we hope to not be replayed. It is not our gold. We gave most of it away to Good Lady's father and son. It is not because we are bad. None of us has killed a human sense my mother in my kidnapping in the human war. That was over fifty years now.” 

Angie laid her head down and the other two took it as a sign to leave. Sense neither could really stay with her because of the others actions in the past. Angie felt her daughter stir slightly to her new adjustments and was asleep soon after. She awoke with her young coming from her side and started stretching their limbs. It was obvious they preferred the human bedding to the cold hard rock. Angie stood and moved the curtain open for them to pass easily and she led them to the first floor where food was already gotten and being divided. The whelps always had first bites and the rest left to the parents. As Angie watched and waited as Samantha and Logan eat there first proper meal with others and was surprised when the two brung a prime piece of tenderloin back to her. She picked it up and rubbed each of their heads before saying anything. “ My babies as so good to think of me. But did you think of the others too?” 

The two whelps looked at each other and then around at the others watching them. “ Mama is glad you were generous but you have to put it back and I wait my turn. As you will when those younger are born.” 

The whelps took the meat back and returned to their mother. After the meal was left to bones and the floor cleaned the dragons returned to the open area for the large number of whelps to play with each other. Angie tensed up when a group of older whelps came to hers and they started playing. She relaxed and joined the other mothers of the group. Knowing she will be accepted by them because of their children. Her standing as next to would not hurt either. “ Absolutely adorable.” 

Angie said to the one next to her and she looked at Angie. “ Nervous, I understand. I was the first few days as well. Karin, Bethany, Linda, and Richard are my four.” 

Angie thought it polite to name hers as well. “ Samantha and Logan. Yes, I am nervous. But I see that is just starting jitters.” 

The other took a more conversational tone with Angie. “ Lovely names. Perhaps I should begin with a little of how child raising is done now. When a pair starts becoming too rough a mother of another breaks up the two. So no favorites are shown. This is their growth time and they need to learn to obey as well as be independent.” 

Angie knew the latter lesson all too well. It was not long before the two started conversational pleasantries and Angie was a little ashamed to have a lot of lacking of current events in the cave. Who was becoming attracted to who. Who is likely to be next chased. Who sprained their wing when they tried to show off after lifting a wagon so a wheel can be replaced. All Angie had were the events of the kingdom's relations with other kingdoms. Which surprisingly the other took in as much interest as Angie did hers. Of course Angie did not speak of it very much. Just some minor details of how it is being with those below all the time. Angie knows how things can get blown out of proportion very easily with dragons. She was in the middle of two when Tosh came up to the cave and Angie was trapped between them. Tosh dragon kissed her and said what he had to say. “ There has been an incident with Robert. I just came up here to tell you it has been handled and I'll give you details later.” 

When Angie saw Tosh again it was to help Angie carry her young below. She let them rest around her as she spoke to Robert. “ So what happened?” 

Robert nodded and answered. “ I did what I was suppose to. When I saw suspicious ones entering the great dwelling I was suppose to block their path and make sure they cause no trouble.” 

Then Tosh said, “ You stopped King's cousin. A king of his own lands.” 

Angie thought it funny a moment before thinking how serious it was. Then Robert continued. “ I asked some simple questions. Why so armed? Who they were? Why they were here? Those I was told to ask before making my decision to turn them away or let them pass.” 

He paused to allow the story to be visualized. “ I was only getting information. I was about to let him pass when he started yelling at me for the interrogation. Demanding my superior. So I sent for Tosh. Sense you are raising your young and Daniel has more important things to worry about than this. It was his fault for being delayed more than needed.” 

Robert looked a little full of prideful because of the act. Angie lowered her head a little disappointed however. Less than a day and an incident has occurred. Then Tosh spoke again. “ It was not as bad as you think. With the help of King his cousin understood what Robert was doing. In fact he looked like he wanted some of his own guards to do the same at his own great dwelling. In the end this incident will help our position.” 

Robert looked at Tosh and asked, “ What position?” 

Angie gave Tosh a look and decided it be best he knew. “ Robert ever sense the dragons came here a game of power has been played. For many years my father kept us together and here despite whatever offers were given. Which many were very generous. Including allowing us to return to lives without needs to do anything for ourselves. Like when the clans were. A stupid thing to go back to I think you can agree. I do not want to go fat and lazy. I like taking wing and going where ever I wish. With my whelps when I can. It was offered again after I took my place as next to. Even more than before. Even offers for the fairy folk to come as well. Sense your decision of becoming knight dragon and it's approval rumor has spread across the land of a champion dragon. A warrior dragon that is the greatest fighter of the dragons. We used that rumor to our advantage in the talks of others that do not wish the dragons or fairy folk to remain here. Even now other dragons are considering other professions other than patrolling guardian. Plant or animal grower, builder, merchants, and many more. By the time of my childrens' first chases we will finally be considered equal people of this land. We do not ask for much and do not own in the roles. As Peter does he works for free and will never own the rest dwelling. The growers will never own the land, the builders the board and stone, the merchant the wares, and so on. But you Robert will be different. Due to your devotion of molding your very armor to you you will keep it till you die. As will all other knight dragons worthy to be called knight dragon.” 

Robert bowed with respect and Angie returned it. Then she rubbed her slumbering children and picked up Logan and took wing. Tosh did the same with her other child because he carried Logan on the way down.