Kel paused in the capitol in front of anothers house. It had been three months sense the return of the true line of housemasters to the house she backs. She had waited so many years to come to this place. As the gates slowly opened she thought of all the changes that had occurred over the last five hundred years. How harmed her old dreams and ideals became when the council instilled a new line against her wishes. From the darkness behind the gates came an old pair of eyes. Far older than her own. By a dozen of her lifetimes at least. The old dragon looked at her glad. “ You have my full support." 

Kel raised up surprised. “ I have not even told you what I want!" The other dragon bows his head amused. “ Come now daughter. There is only one reason why you would come here." She sighs annoyed. “ Maybe I wanted to claim that old tattered title of yours instead." Kel instantly backed away threatened as the other dragon raised up. “ Good to still see at least one of my children know their place." Kel sighed again relieved this time. “ We have the resources and numbers but no real number of true fighters." 

The other dragon sighs hard. “ Alas to my efforts have not been as fair rebuilding as yours sustaining. My mighty house that use to boast near ten thousand has fewer than a hundred now. As you know we lost most when the demons attacked." Kel nods knowing this fact well. “ Koal, great master of the great house of the Ironwings. The time has come." Koal looked at Kel a moment and lowered himself surprising Kel. “ You should come to the capitol more often. No one cares much anymore. The demons have done nothing over hundreds of years. It is true we have rebuilt our losses but they belong to the younger houses like yours." Kel looked at him surprised as he laid his head on his foreclaws and closed his eyes. “ But father your word still carries weight." 

He chokes a laugh. “ My voice carries like a womans these days." Kel eyes her father. “ Shall I remind them how well a womans voice carries then." Koal eyes Kel a moment before closing his eyes. “ You have that fire of mine in your blood but they will not underestimate you like I did back then. I am just a broken old dragon now. None of my sons even want my house." Kel sees her father and lowers her head saddened. Times have been harder on the older dragons. “ As I said you have my full support. Not that I can give much." 

Kel looked at her father and it was obvious he was going to sleep. She sighs and moves up the steps to his side and lays down. “ So any males I should keep an eye on? Maybe it time I find me a clutch father." Koal opens his eye before growing a smirk. “ You have more balls than most of them combined. When I had children I had purpose behind it in mind. Bonding allegiances or trophies of rivals to have peace. You my dear child are a trophy many has dreamed of." Kel lays her head down. “ I see. I shall have to take extra measures." Koal closes his eye as Kel does the same.

Kel looked at the meager offering of a meal in front of her and took the bite without question. Close to one of the worst meals she has ever has but perhaps the one she enjoyed the most. She swallowed the meat and looked at her father who just finished his own bite. “ So what is your plan?" Kel nods and one of the ones she brought brought out a map for them to look at. “ We have done some scouting of the old roads and paths to the city. Only one is left of any use. The same that they used when they tried to attack us to the south but were stopped with the help of the ents. Directly north of the elven wood is all swamp. Impossible to traverse by foot with heavy gear. So our only options is to fly or by that road." Koal nods hearing that. “ So they only need a simple barrier somewhere along the road to stop the whole attack." 

Kel nods. “ A lightly equipped strike team that can move threw the swamp to strike from the rear is planned." Kel paused and looked away. “ My house holds heavy fighters that will be taking the brunt of the front." Koal nods knowing what she desires. Whoever strikes the barricade will be instantly in a disadvantage from the fatigue and extra weight of the muck. “ I see. So it is my house you wish to send for this." Kel nods. “ Before you agree or not I want you to hear something." Kel pauses a moment and takes a deep breath. “ He spoke to me the night before the challenge. Told me a few things about the time of the others." Kel paused again to release the breath. “ There are many legends threw the community of the slaves. The first and foremost is the legend of the savior. The hope of salvation we are using to pull them to our side when we go to liberate them." 

Kel looks at her understanding that. “ The next most common legends are varied and a bit random, but they have a common theme." Kel looked at the map again. “ They speak of the Ironwings." Koal raised up slightly before relaxing again. “ It makes sense. The house that lost most was mine. Next to your house none but me lost more. Half my house was gone and pinned inside our home and most of the others joined yours in the hastely made counterattack." Kel notices her father look to another for a moment. She hears him relay his orders with such confidence the other was surprised. “ I know you are here to offer positions like the old days but you are the one leading this expedition. There will be those that support you to wish for a share of the spoils." Kel sighs knowing this. “ My objective is to go back home." Koal chuckles a little bit. “ Don't sell your soul doing it." 

Kel nods. “ I can see why they are leaving the captured ones to their fates, but I must ask them what the demons plan to do after all the slaves are dead and they begin to march again. Where will they go next?" Koal hummed to the thought and looked at the map. The next logical place was the boarder to the Gent kingdom. They would never admit it but that would be a direct attack on the most valuable lifeline the dragons had to the rest of the world. The last stronghold of the house of the Timeless Lance and the houses it is allied to. Koal knew this fact did not escape his daughter either. However another option is they invade deeper into dragon lands near the capitol. If it is in surprise like last time the tole on the dragons could very well be extinction. This has probably been on the minds of several of the older houses as well Kel realized. Kel looked at the capitol on the map. Over half of the Drakan and more than four fifths of the dragons reside there. She closes her eyes and her father sighs. “ The older houses will listen to me without question knowing these facts already. Here I thought I have been ahead." 

Koal laughed gently as he raised to his claws. “ It will take about three months or so for me to organize my house for the attack. Your housemaster should be back soon after that." Kel moves to the gate where Koal moved to and saw those of her house bowing down out of respect. “ Unlike the others I follow tradition my father. Sense the Ironwings will be the first to battle the banner of the Timeless Lance follow yours." Koal laughed gently and then growled angry. “ Long have they thought my fangs have been over sharpened to being blunt. This is my battle I have planned for for the last five centuries." Kel looked happy at her father. “ I see. All I had to do was show up. The rest has already been determined for me. I have much to learn still being in the shadow of the tactical master of the dragons."

Koal watched as his daughter and her house tenements left and the gate closed. “ This will be my last and greatest battle my daughter. Still you would swallow your pride at a whim and do what you need to for your desires. You came knowing I would give my full support. Not because I knew your plan but because you knew mine." Koal then looked at his own houses master with a bundle in his arms. The one that stayed behind from his daughters group held one as well. “ Let it be known that the house of the Ironwings ready for war!" The thirty male drakan behind him raise from their tables and arm themselves as their housemaster hung the banner of their house, a white kite shield with a dragon's silver wing on it. Right beside it a green banner with a dragon sitting on a lance beside it.

Glow closed her eyes as they passed threw the forest. It is as if it was speaking to her but she did not know the language. Still she could hear the sound of joy and happiness around them. She did not know why they had to walk on this part of the journey. Especially as the prince rode his horse. Suddenly Lowgan stops and she does to his right side as Towr on the left. John looks over them surprised. “ An elf?" Glow blinks wondering how she missed the deep green of the shield and armor on the elf in the golden landscape. “ I am the guardian of the wood." John gets off his horse and moves to Glow's side. “ The elven knight Maple. I am Prince John Dragonsend of the kingdom of Gent." 

Glow looks at the elf surprised. She looked younger than John by a decade. “ There is no need for me to know who you are. I hear the older trees sing in happiness. For few of them have witnessed the coming of the dragons ritual before. The woman is here for her trial, the journey of souls. For this only you may come as is the way." Glow looked at Lowgan and he nods to her. “ Leave Outlander with the prince." Glow grabs her and sees her nod even in spear form and she hand the spear over. “ Do not try to lay with my spear either." The prince looked at her confused as Outlander giggles to the thought as being turned over. “ We shall await you at the trade town with the caravan." Glow nods as she moved forward and the three moves to go back the way they came as she went with the elf. After some time walking she sees a tree moving to a stream. “ Is that?" 

Maple pauses to look as well. “ The young one is thirsty. The younger trees do not know why the older ones are singing joyed. They have never heard the tale." Glow looked at the elf confused as she came to a rather large tree. It was still alive but signs of a great fire were on it still. “ One of the few survivors. You can hear them?" Glow nods not entirely sure. “ It is a tone I hear from all of my house. I did not expect to hear it from the trees as well." Maple closed her eyes. “ It was a long time ago. I was a young elf who was playful in youth and ignorance. I often left the wood to play with the half elves and the men to the north. One day I was told to meet a dragon's son. He seemed so strange but also kind. He and his mate came to our trees to help save them and those that live in them." 

Glow noticed the trees went silent as if listening. “ In my play I often mocked them but one day I went too far. In her rage she captured me and pinned me to one of the trees. Digging her hand deep in the bark and causing the tree much pain. I told her to not harm the tree. To not disrespect my duty as an elf." Glow laughs. “ And in the end you made penitence for disrespecting her way by also becoming a knight. You saw my ancestors stand alone and fight that god that night." Maple pauses a moment and grow a sweet smile on her face. “ From that forward they and their seeds have been our friends. The day the demons came the trees weep here. Even I shed a tear hearing the news of the great line of our heros was gone. I should have known better as the one thing a dragon is known for more than anything else is their stubbornness." 

Glow smiled amused. “ I remember the story well. He had the most pride in Dramix." Maple closed her eyes sad and turned to look at the scarred tree. “ Yes, he did. Perhaps because it was new to him that Peter showed your ancestor the most and deepest respect." Glow blinked hearing her spirit's name. “ Did you know the shamans of the dragons capture spirits and enslave them as tools?" Glow opened her mouth slightly surprised. “ What is the difference between a house and a prison?" Glow thought on the question a moment. “ I do not know." 

Maple sighs. “ Your home is where you live. A prison is where you are kept alive." Maple turns back to Glow. “ Peter had the ability to come and go from what we called his prison at will. He lived in what we thought was his cage. Only few believe he even was ever free to begin with among the elves but still. He always called his eye of souls his home. He always called those that wore him his family and friends." This was not a surprise to Glow. “ He was like the father I never had. Even threw the lies. It was for my benefit and protection." Maple nods. “ I often wondered why the journey of souls was preformed. I thought it was to honor us but that spirit is far to clever to leave it at that. Come, it grows late."

It was near dark when they arrived at the wall of vines and thorns. Behind them was a village of elves and trees. Glow saw a smile come on Maple's face of happiness. “ Many centuries went into the rebuilding of our home. Here is where you will begin to build your future for yourself and your house." Glow looked at the elven village not entirely impressed. They led a simple life without the glam of the humans or drakan. “ Everything you will need will be provided for you or has been already. Please enter and you will understand when you arrive." Glow looked at her concerned. “ You not going to show me around." 

Maple shook her head. “ I chose the life of a warrior. I train my body day and night forgoing the temptations of a peaceful life. My father was a great warrior but fell to that temptation and when he needed his mind sharp." Maple looked away sad. “ Your ancestor spared him a living hell of being a slave to a god that turned him against his people and home." Glow looked down sorry hearing that. “ Just as those demons have forced your people to live for their sake." Glow looked back at her confused. “ The day the trees started singing once again I left to see for myself. I saw at a great distance the power he wields once again." Glow became puzzled. “ How did you see such a distance? How did you get there?" 

Maple smiled humored. “ I ran. The forest north of Carassas I can reach at a half a day when the weather was favorable." Glow did not know what to say to that as Maple pushed her forward. She turns to look back at her and she was already turned around watching into the wood. Listening for any sign of trouble. Glow sighs as she starts to move forward. Glow decides to move forward and found the elves were aware of her. Yet ignored her as well. She saw them without advanced tools but made do with what nature provides for them. As she watched she looked for what she was told would be understood on sight. That came to her when she came to a large hollow tree. Much larger than any of the other trees that were being used as housing. On the outside was a green banner of her house and in the doorway was an old drakan. “ Housemaster, I have prepared for your arrival." 

She gestured inside and Glow did so. Inside was all manor of tools a tailor or seamstress would ever need. “ By the look of you you never expected this." Glow looked at the old woman puzzled and surprised. “ I thought my test was about learning to sacrifice all for another. As my ancestor had prepared to stay to the end." The woman nods understanding this. “ That will come with time as you lead. This trial is to test your latent abilities." The old woman offers her hands toward her. “ Let me see your hands." 

Glow extends them toward her puzzled as she grabs them one at a time to feel them. “ A very rough life you have had." She feels around the metal on her palm and then the scar that went threw her hand. “ But you are well trained for this task. You have the knowledge and you must know what you must do already." Glow shook her head not understanding. “ I am confused." The old woman sighs gently. “ That too is natural. Please be at ease housemaster." Glow looked at the woman more closely and notices something. “ You are blind?" 

She only nods. “ I am Kelana, the houses best tailor. For the last one hundred and fifty years I have been here waiting for this day." Glow became shocked and took a step back. “ But why?" Kelana smiled gently. “ It is hard to imagine I know. Your father and his never came here to fulfill the ritual." Glow shook her head. “ Jokom is not my father. Do you not know what has happened?" 

Kelana shook her head. “ I know very little outside this village. Recently I heard from the great master of a new housemaster but not the details." Glow takes a deep breath. “ I am not of his sons or daughters either. My mother is the line of Draama as I am." Kelana blinks unsure. “ Then she was captured as well. My grandmother spoke of the great female leader of our house. Tell me were you finally liberated? What of the house spirit?" Glow looked away sad. “ To one so devoted I must reward you for staying away from our kin for so long." 

Kelana lets Glow's hands go. “ You do not lie but you keep secrets. It is either something not my place to know or." Kelana puts a hand to her arm and turns away. “ I was born blind housemaster. It took me great pains and effort to master a trade. I would not even have been worthy of a clutch din if it was not for being born in your house. So everything I am I owe you and your house. I know I am not long for this world but your coming is the greatest reward you can give me. Even under the circumstances. I shall gather our meal." Before Glow can say anything else Kelana moved past the trees exit and Glow stayed knowing she should not follow her. Thinking on it she realized she said too much as she turns her attention to the task put before her.

While she was gone it grew dark and Glow put her back against a bare wall. Kelana came back and paused in the doorway before moving to her side. “ You move around well for someone without eyes." Kelana smirked happy hearing that. “ Being without sight does not make me without the ability to see." Kelana rips the bread in halves and hands Glow one of them. Glow takes it and bites into it surprised in how sweet it was. “ To know things are changing for our house pleases me." 

Glow looked at her figure in the dwindling light as she took to the opposite side of the tree to sit down. “ You have been gone from the others for a long time." Kelana nods. “ I lived in Carassas before here. It is where I was born and took my first breaths. There is where I learned to hear the voices of the spirits and was trained by great master Kel and given my name as her student. Before coming here she often spoke of how things were in the time before the demons. They were not perfect but she was happy then." 

Kelana grips the bread in her hands a little harder. “ She looks to return to happiness. She risked much to only be short lived rewards." Kelana then takes a bite of the bread. Glow looked at her sorry. “ Many look at me and see me returning to the ways of old." Glow takes another bite and leans back on the wall. “ The phrase, it is your life make your own decisions. I had few decisions in my life. I chose to come out here and wait. In the time I am out here I make the clothing for the shamans and banners for our house." Glow looks down at the bread not very satisfied with it. “ Have you dreamed of more?" Kelana shook her head. “ To dream is to desire more than what I have and I am satisfied with what I have." 

Glow took another bite as Kelana does as well. They continued in silence till the bread was gone and Kelana turns to her shoulder and lays on it. Glow did not realize she was so tired and did the same. Balling herself by putting her knees to her chest and wrapping her arms around her legs as she drifts to sleep. She quickly found herself on a white plane of fog as Lowgan came behind her and grabs her vigorously. She turns back to him finding them both without any coverings and they came together. In her dream she felt him like she felt him in the palace in Gent. A long time passes as a moment as her lust is satisfied and that moment later she finds an infant in her arms she was feeding. 

Her daughter aged before her eyes and then the world turned dark. Lowgan appeared in front of her with him pierced threw by the hand of a demon. Glow reaches her hand as her daughter tries to run away but was caught and her wings ripped off her body and consumed. In that instant she awoke shocked and blinded as the sun hit her face coming into the tree. “ Fear will control you if you do not control it." Glow took a moment to control her breathing as she saw Kelana sitting with a bit of cloth and a needle and string in her hand. She was sewing. “ You seemed to have soiled yourself as well. The smell is quite strong." Glow looks at her hand soaked but she was not concerned about that part of her dream. “ Did you see into my dream?" 

Kelana bent down and bit the thread to finish and raised up to show Glow a pair of drawers. “ I heard you scream in terror as you awoke." Glow looked at her hand again as she balled it. “ I had a dream about starting a family, but." Glow could not continue. “ Our house has always had our protectors. The iron guard makes the bulk of our fighting force. Then there is the great master who is far beyond wise. There is you who is meant to lead us to the way of the drakan." Glow became confused. A state she was growing annoyed of being accustomed to. “ The way of the drakan? I only know how to be a slave."

Kelana sets the drawers to the side and stands. She gestures Glow to follow her. “ There is so much more you know than you believe you do. Lets have you cleaned and fed before you start." Nearby there was a waterfall of water from a tree and at it's base was a small pond. Glow stripped down and began to wash herself and her clothing. They smelled heavily of her and of travel. It did not help much she was in heat either. As she cleaned she noticed Kelana move a small distance away. And seemed to talk to another that was not an elf. Glow wondered if the elves allowed other outsiders in their village as well. After cleaning and then eating the thought did not leave her as the two returned to the tree. “ From here I can be of no help to you." 

Glow entered and looked back unsure but saw Kelana nowhere to be seen. She left without making a sound. Glow had noticed the elves were a quiet people. She turns back deciding to focus on the task at hand and took a deep breath. She was unsure what she should make or for who but she only hesitated for a second as her hands began to work on their own. She closed her eyes and let the motions be preformed without thought. She felt her hands first grab a pair of sheers. Cutting the silk with careful precision. Next she threads a needle and it felt as familiar to her as her old rusty nail. First she bound one piece of cloth to another before bonding yet another to the two. Those three pieces became the front left half of a shirt and she repeated the process yet again. This time adding a plain pocket and a hidden one. Next was the back as she made the holes for wings and paused. Being on this part made her think of her own lack of wings a moment. She thought how could she fulfill the prophecy without them. With no will she could not continue till she heard a familiar voice behind her. “ When has not having your wings ever stopped you from doing anything?" Glow smiled hearing the voice of Peter and got back to work.

Glow worked the full day on the clothing. She did not stop or rest and she felt at ease about everything as she worked with no distraction or hindrance. She often found herself picturing mining in the mine once more. The silent tranquility of the search. The joy of finding a vein. The satisfaction of being rewarded with food. Thou the life was hard and dangerous it was simple. Yet with all the complexity she has to go threw now she is glad of it. After stitching the last knot and tying the last thread down she opened her eyes and examined her work. She did not know why she made the clothing but she understood now. This was what she was born to do. 

Just as her foremothers and those of theirs. As her daughter will one day do. As she thought about having a daughter and of Lowgan a tear left her eye and she took it with her hand. She had never shed a tear before like it and realized what it meant. She carefully puts away the tools and materials she did not use and sets the clothing to the side as she returned to where she was the night before and drifted back into sleep. Just as the night before she returned to the land of the white and fog but this time it was different. 

Her daughter was at her side as well as Lowgan and Towr and the dragon Kel and several armored figures with several others. She could see some holding banners of her house. Then she looked in her own hand and saw a silver made spear. “ When my wielder has wishes to be fulfilled they become the cause of her house and mine. You are now ready." 

Glow felt something burn within her and she breathed fire and that fire was drawn onto the spear. “ This is the move of the forebearers. The Torrent of Dragon Rage." Outlander then acted on her own and lunged toward the incoming demon hoard. A shot of fire came from the spear that engulfed all in it's path. A moment later Glow awoke once again to the sun hitting her face. She grabs her clothing and sees an opening among the branches of the trees and looks to the sky. She inhales deeply before releasing the pent up rage in her body in one scream. The jet of fire rocketed from her jaws to the sky and pierced the clouds before fading away. All around her she could hear the trees sing joyed.

Kel looked in the distance as she felt the awakening of the housemaster happened. Much sooner than she expected to take place. She did not let that distract her as she flew to her fathers flank to the meeting ground. She looked at the shamans of her house standing proud looking back at her as she landed. Often she forgets how much power and influence she can have and she followed her father as they followed her. She was surprised as she moved in seeing many of the older houses were behind many newer ones and that there was well over a hundred new banners she had never seen before. The moment she appeared the room went quiet as her father led her two a spot with two recently cleaned and stocked spots already for them marked by their banners. The moment the first cask of wine was opened for her talk rang threw the cavern. As thought it was about her. As she drank a sip she examined the chamber at a quick glance for the ones of note her father told her to look for. 

First were the Firebrands. One of the few old houses with a new great master. Raised and trained by his father to respect and honor the old ways and one of the oldest of the new generation of great masters. It will be expected he will send some support just for the offer alone. Next is the house of Tri Fang. A house led by egg triplets. Three brothers born from the same shell. They rule their new house by majority consensus. Which was rare for the three to disagree on anything anyways. The chance to reclaim lost land for their own house would be hard to pass up by the three. After that was another female ran house, Scarlet of the Scarlet Blood house. A female in a male world she has slept with more men than a well trained brood whore. She knows better than most the power of sex as she has more breeding dens than anything else. Keeping the women and selling the men born while charging for the fathering as well. She is to be watched more as an enemy that a friend. 

The last of note was the house of the Crimson Flames. An ambitious and power driven male called Crimson leads them. Starting his house over three hundred years ago he has built a large power base conquering a number of lower houses and using that to win the last great games. He would be a dangerous enemy or friend to have. Glow waited for the topics before them come up. Namely of small house matters of food rights or land taxes. Topics she knows well of as she holds a great deal of land rights to the west by her alliance and those produce a lot of food. She sets those topics to the back of her mind as one of the older dragons moves to the center. “ I, Lorash, of the house of Silent Embers bring upon the topic of the quality control of shamans of late." 

Glow notices many around not pay attention. Lorash continues. “ As of the last half century the shaman's trained here at the capitol has decreased in number in both entries and percentage of graduates." Glow turns her attention to Lorash. A decrease in quality shamans was an issue. “ Ever sense each house has taken to train their own." Lorash is then interrupted. “ Go back in your hole you old lizard. You say the same damn thing every meeting." Lorash sighs disappointed and starts to move away as Glow looks to her father. “ Is it true?" 

Koal nods. “ Sadly yes, while we have more shamans than ever most do not even have spirits. Little alone strong ones." Kel closed her eyes sad by this fact. She was caught to thinking on that as her father moves forward. This time the entire room goes quiet to his footsteps and he reaches the podium. “ I, Koal, of the house of the Ironwings bring upon of reclamation of lands. After the loss of our west city five hundred and some years ago. I and my allies." Koal gets interrupted by the same one that is interrupted Lorash. “ You old folk do not seem to listen very well. We do not care!" 

Kel raised up and moved to her father catching all attention. “ Are you saying you challenge the leader of the expedition I am devoted to." A few of the neighbors look to the protester. He backs away obviously not wanting to pick a fight with her or her house. Kel nods to her father as he continues. “ Me and my allies are in the last stages of preparation for the assault. We are here today to offer any willing of other houses the glory and prize of victory to those that support us." 

The chamber instantly goes into discussion. Communication between alliances and allies starts from the smaller houses and those they serve that are more powerful. The property rights alone would tempt any small house to join them. Bragging rights of glory for the larger ones. It was not long before a voice comes over the lesser discussions. “ What prize are you willing to grant?" The voice came from Crimson. The two of them look up toward him. “ First there is the bounty of land to be reclaimed. At this moment it is not worth much but with time it will be restored to what it was. Those that contribute to the cause will all receive a share based on the contribution. Next will be a bounty of action be paid to any who come to the cause. Finally will be the rights of war spoils." Crimson looked at them almost insulted being told the bare minimum they should be offering anyways. Kel still noted even with that little spoken many have been tempted. “ And the greatest contributors receive no special reward for putting in the effort for about the same gain?" 

Koal shook his head. “ What more would you expect?" Crimson stood to become a larger figure to be seen. “ I would be happy to contribute all the support you wish for a small additional reward." Kel instantly knew what that reward would be. “ I have doubts of that claim. I keep an eye on the number of warriors each house has and while you lead a large alliance you yourself hold few of any real power. I assume you planned to send your allies to the battlefield while you claimed the reward." 

Crimson remained unmoved by the comment yet also quiet. “ We are not here to bicker with alliances. We are here to ask every 'individual' house if they wish to support or not. For they themselves will be earning the glory and prizes." Kel could tell her father hid a rather happy smirk as another stood. This one the leader of the Firebrands. “ Well said, I Gracicice will issue a command of volunteers to join the cause." Kel only gave him a small nod expecting that to be the minimum he may give anyways, or anyone else for that matter. She knew she just entered a place of power is made, bent, destroyed and collected and reforged time and again with only a few words. Next to stand was one of the three triplets. “ We ask what you offer to a whole house who commits to this cause." 

Koal looks at him. “ Those houses that took hits all those years ago that join the cause will be rewarded with their old homes back, upon total victory. If available and they wish it the claim of another home based on the commitment and hit they endured all those years ago. To those that were not there the place of choice of homes based on commitment after the origional homes are gotten. If any home becomes of dispute it will come down to what was lost in value and what was given in value." 

The triplets three then stand together. “ We too will offer volunteering. As well as supply for one month to feed our volunteers." Kel took a look around the chamber and saw many were willing to commit the minimum as well when yet another voice cuts in. “ And what of the population of survivors?" The chamber goes quiet to Scarlet's question. “ Our information leads us to believe they are mostly the remains of my house. That is why I am leading this expedition." A pause goes threw the dragons. Koal just hinted to some important facts. One that there are survivors and two they have information about the city no others knew. “ 

Kel moves to be raised by putting a claw on the podium. “ My house will be organizing the volunteers. Those that will be warriors have to meet a minimum of physical ability and combat proficiency. Any to be healers will be given tests to meet a standard of usefulness. As for those that will be experts at labor or trade those of my house and our allies already committed have not use of additional persons of those positions." Koal knows why she said what she did. It was a gamble he himself would probably not try. Crimson raises up again. “ Are you saying you will prevent others contributing in this cause?" Kel shook her head. “ Any that follow us that do not meet our needs will not be accepted as contributions and furthermore any force that acts on their own will not be accepted as part of the assault and be left to fend for themselves. Any who act in support of these outside elements will have their whole house and those of their allies be put into a position of lesser contributions. They will also forfeit all war spoils if deemed necessary." 

This led to another discussion but Koal speaks up before any could get into any discussion past a word or two. “ Near the warehouses on the west outskirts that are owned by the house of the Broken Arrow will be where we will be marshaling any fully committed and volunteering. There will be a period of two weeks for entrances to the main combat and support units to be entered before another two week period of joint training before we head back to Carassas. Upon the return of the housemaster of Timeless lance from her trials of inheritance she will lead command the drakan forces." Kel then lowered herself and went toward the entrance and Koal followed her. Before another voice could be risen to ask for more information they were gone.

Glow arrived at the village entrance after washing and eating and found maple there standing like a vigilant sentinel. Maple turns toward her and pauses almost seeing a ghost. A number of her ancestors in fact. “ I see you found what you came for." Glow nods with a confidence about her she did not have when she first arrived. Glow starts to move and Maple kept to her side. They moved quietly till the village was far behind them. “ Thank Kelana for me. Without her I am not sure I would have made it this far." 

Maple stops a moment and Glow turns to look at her. “ Kelana?" Glow looked confused as she saw Maple puzzled. “ A drakan like I am. Very old. Been living in the village for the last hundred and fifty years." Maple shook her head. “ Kelana is not a drakan. She is a tree. The tree that you stayed in." Glow turned to start moving again and sighs. “ I am getting tired of those who play with my mind." Maple shook her head. “ Kelana is a very special tree. She was planted where the dragons bled for us. Where your ancestors bled for us. Every housemaster worthy of your houses name has stayed in her trunk." Glow smiled a little hearing that. “ I understand why now. This journey was meant to be me and my mother together. She would show me the secrets of the house while I was here as I will my daughter one day. And like those before us if the elves ever need our help." 

Maple smiles happy to hear that. “ What will you do now? Return to your people or continue your journey? Knowing what lays ahead for you." Glow looked threw the trees as they sang happy. “ For now I will return to the others." Maple stops her walking again and Glow stops a step ahead again. This time she did not turn back. “ The debts I owe the dragons can never be repaid. I will be there when you need me." Glow only nods as she starts moving again threw the trees.

Glow arrived from the wood and near the trade outpost just as the caravan was near ready to leave. It clearly showed they dropped everything to become ready once again. It was not hard to find Lowgan in the wagon with Towr and Quin in the back. Towr was not comfortable having her cling to him but he bore that like a badge of honor. They have become close. Glow climbs on the wagon and sits with a cold stare in her glance to Lowgan. “ The night of victory you will have me and I want you to make me scream in passion." Lowgan pauses hearing her before a small smile appears. “ Yes, my mate. I shall make you scream that will trump any other cry of victory that night." Glow nods to him and looks to the wagon ahead of them. “ Where is John?" Lowgan rubs his own arm. “ If I recall in a wagon sleeping of a drunk."