#dreaming

We were pretty awesome, weren't we? The horse whinies

"How much for the horse?" Arthek grins

Stormwake's looking healthy, though his mane still needs to grow.

"Hmph. If I do not return Stormwake to Rivervale, I will have a very angry young Gwydion to answer to, and she is strong enough to give me a good fight."

Brekke looks to the dead bulk of the dragon. "Speaker...." She's trying to see if she can spot the axe.

"Here.. I am here." SPeaker's voice says

and she can find him...where the heart was

She reaches in to retrieve him, carefully pulling him free of the chest cavity. "I thought you might have been lost."

"Look at your hand, little one. It is not I that was lost"

She looks to see what he means.

The silver hand has fused into a lump

She stares at it. She hadn't even noticed while she was healing Emmit, hadn't realized....

Then a deep breath. "Well. It is what it is." A nod.

"Spring magics... " Arthek says "Slow aplications.. might restore the shape of it, renew"

She nods slowly. "As you say. And if not, I still count this price cheap for the victory." She looks at the hulk of dragon carcass. "We must go home."

"We must return the weapons that remain to the Dreaming.. that was part of the bargain, wasn't it? Gram..the lance.. that arrow..though the lance I think is already returned."

"Damn," Arthek says "This is the best blade I've ever wielded."

"You used it well, Arthek. Very well. We will tell the story of how it sang in your hands. But it must be returned."

He nods, closes his eyes and raises the blade up with both hands, "To where you are needed most to protect a hearth and home, Gram" Gram turns into fire, and then into starfire, and then it flies into the air

And where it will go? Da'an will decide. Arthek says "Howw did that damn dragon weaken at the last part? it said something about it's hoard..?"

"Someone raided it's treasures," Emmit says

"I have a suspicion of what our wilders were doing." Brekke frowns. "I hope they are safe."

"You think they're... son of a gun, " Arthek smiles "If you ever want to exile one, send her or him my way. I can use that sort of successful cunning."

"Farm's already got dibs on pinching, Hearth" Mountain Emmit says

"Hrmph. They are far too bold for their ages." A brief grump-grumble.

"Put em to work, it's how we forced Clem to settle" Emmit appears to agree

"WIlders gotta wild" Arthek says

"I think there may be further fostering soon, Emmit. And what of Bristlepine, Arthek? Would you wish to further the connections among all our holds through fosterings?"

"Mm we don't much like Seelie... but if some lean winter too hard for yhohur liking, of course we'll follow the Escheat..and gladly when it means new blood" He won't lie

A nod. "Let us consider it further."

"Yes..as we walk"

Brekke nods. She is healed (mostly) and healthy, but it has been a mighty battle, and she wishes to go home.

And the three move on.. the Dreaming itself is changed again..but where there were wastes, there is green... where there were broken roads.. there are now new paths. Skallstryke took and took and took.. only in death has he been forced to give anything

"It heals," Brekke observes quietly. "It becomes whole again."

Emmit nods, "The dragon took more than any dragon should... the Dreaming reclaims it's due from it in death"

She nods. After a minute, she says, "You saw them. Freed and strong. They fought back. I wonder if they will be seen in Concordia."

"I predict a bumper crop of Chrysilas in trolls over the next years..." Emmit says

"I am glad of it."

"And yet you've stopped at just two" Emmit winks

"Hm?"

Arthek shakes his head, "I can see why you're not a Hearth, Emmit. I've midwifed before and even I walk carefully around THAT"

Then she catches his meaning and gives Emmit a LOOK. "Thank you, no. Two are sufficient. "

Emmit grins

"Leave it, Emmit. You've already faced one threat tonight..." Arthek advises....

both men chuckle, but show wisdom and do not tease

(End scene)