"WHAT DID YOU wish to talk about, Daughter?” Bura’an asked as he took garments out of the wardrobe in the apartment the group had spent the night in. He smiled, feeling her narrow-eyed stare on his back. “Child, you are not the first warrior I have ever known, and you will not be the last. Veridian has his followers, too.”

“What does it matter that I am a warrior?” she demanded, then sighed heavily. “Am I so predictable?”

“Predictable? No, child. But there are traits shared across all those who depend on projecting an image of strength.” Taking down a very long sash, he began wrapping it around his waist, turning to face her. “Even the most private person sometimes has need to speak to another. Rarely are they willing to bare their soul even in front of those they trust the most.” He pulled over a giant chair and settled in it. “I am honored you trust me enough to confide your heart to me.”

She sighed, her gaze dropping. A wan smile touched her lips as Ky-Lar bumped his head against her hip. “Sorry, Ky-Lar. I have no words for how happy I am that we are together now, but I am…confused.” The woman’s expression reflected the inadequacy of the last word to describe the turmoil in her heart and mind. “I am happy Doom is regaining what he had lost, Father. I am happy that Ky-Lar is here.”

She raised her hands, looking at the bracers. “I owe Sulnar a debt for removing the glyphs I had borne. I had not agreed to it before she did it, but it does not matter. I would have asked if I had been able because being free of Alimar’s magic shackles is the only thing I wanted as much as Doom’s freedom.” Golden eyes met blue. “But I did not agree to be altered.”

“You fear that demands will be made on you?” Bura’an asked in a gentle voice. “Ones you did not agree to and threaten your freedom by taking your choices away.” He laughed quietly at her perplexed expression. “Look at me. Not more than an hour ago, I was an old drunkard in a broken temple. Now I am…” He shook his head, looking down at himself. “I am more than I ever allowed myself to dream of being. I am overwhelmed by it all. Not simply because it was unexpected.”

“Because…you were not asked if you wanted it first?”

He nodded. “That is part of it. I am also not what I was all my life. I am now twice the height I had been. A needed change, because all the high priests of the central temple must be large enough to be accepted by the larger followers, but small enough for those not so large. Most dragons have the ability to take a human form. But the more human-like races are usually not so gifted. So, I am now what Keth calls a titan.”

“It is rather nice to see Simpkins feeling small,” she admitted. “I could tell you surprised him when you came out of the water.” She glanced at Ky-Lar as the giant cat yawned hugely. “But what about me? I did not ask for this. Ky-Lar said the bond doesn’t physically change either Ky or human normally, but I know I am not now what I was. The change in my eyes and hair are not the only things that have altered, but they are the only ones others can see. I was just starting to figure out what I once was to begin with!”

Bura’an did not answer immediately, clasping the diamond-eyed medallion around his neck that had enlarged with him. “Ah, I understand now.” He opened his eyes, smiling in reassurance. “Keth did nothing but nudge time around in thanks for helping them. Even if you did not realize your quest was to come here.”

Tiwaz frowned, crossing her arms. “You mean Simpkins played us for fools? He knew about this place all along?”

“Actually, Simpkins has no clue about his part in the restoration of the Dragonway,” Gareth stated as he entered, letting the heavy tapestry fall back in place behind him. He offered a respectful bow to Bura’an. “Father, there is a rather large dragon by the name of Drathmor who insists on speaking with you. He is not harming anyone, but he is being quite obnoxious.”

“Ah, yes.” Bura’an stood, smoothing out his new robes. “Wonderful this temple’s caretaker still lives. My predecessor’s memories of him tell me he is not the most patient sort given his age. I should go before he becomes cranky.” He paused to look back. “Do join us when you are ready, Daughter. I think Drathmor would be amused to meet you.”

Gareth watched the titan leave, then looked at Tiwaz with a lopsided smile at her glare. “And no, I did not know, either. Not specifics, anyway. They used me to nudge you and Doom now and then. But mostly, Aunt Sulnar wanted me to watch over you.”

Tiwaz blinked, then frowned. “…’Aunt’ Sulnar? You do not speak the word like a nickname.”

The bard’s smile faded to a more serious expression. “No, I do not, because it is not a nickname. She is my aunt by blood. My father is, ah, Keth.” He held still as the woman stalked closer to him, circling him as she studied him. “I look human because my mother was human and he was—”

“You are the child of a god?” she demanded, her words slow as she chose her words. “You are half dragon?”

“I am. But the most it has done for me is made me a lightning rod for their attention.” He held up his hands helplessly. “I’m only a hundred years old. Dragons age much more slowly than humans.”

“You are mageborn?”

“What? Oh, no. Dragonborn. It is…similar to mageborn, but…” He sighed gustily. “It’s complicated to explain.”

“Did she know?” Tiwaz asked, her temper slowly cooling. “Your mother? Did she know who sired you when—?”

“I really don’t know. She had always been a private person. Never really talked much about herself. She was a priestess devoted to Keth.”

“So a dragon god decided to sire a child with one of his priestesses.” She crossed her arms. “Is this normal?”

Gareth chuckled. “Gods rarely say why they choose to do or not do anything. So, why Keth saw fit to answer her prayer for a child by siring it himself, neither has ever told me.” He wrinkled his nose. “In fact, I did not know who my sire was until I was fifty years old but still looked like this.” He waved a hand at himself.

“She finally told me who my father was before she passed on. Then Aunt Sulnar claimed me as ‘hers’ despite my having chosen Keth when I pledge my faith to the Dragonway.” He touched his blue diamond-eyed medallion. “She’s been tormenting me ever since.” He smiled faintly. “Though I am grateful for her bringing me to you and Doom.”

“So you are immortal?” she asked, glancing down at Ky-Lar as the giant panther bumped her hand, sliding underneath it so it rested atop his head. She relaxed fractionally at his thrumming purrs. “Alimar told me dragons are one of the immortal races.”

“Gods, I hope not,” he said with such heartfelt emotion, she blinked at him. “I’ve watched so many people I’ve loved come and go while I live on. Do you have any idea what that is like?”

Tiwaz clenched her fists, squeezing her eyes shut. “At least they did not die by your hand.”

Gareth’s expression fell, his mouth opening then shutting again, at a loss for words. He held his hand out to her in supplication for forgiveness. “Tiwaz, I’m sorry. I didn’t—”

She accepted his hand, though she did not look up at him, eyes remaining shut. “Do not be. The fault is not yours.”

Nor is it yours, Ky-Lar stated, growling deep in his chest with ears twitched back as he stared hard at her.

Gareth squeezed her hand. “Come on. Let’s go before Drathmor scandalizes the temple,” he encouraged. She nodded, letting him keep her hand in his and followed him out.