The Dragon's Blood (Part 89.5)
In which Millenius bargains...
89.5
“Even the Loi fear to barter with us,” Karanthus' hissing whisper broke in. “The Dwarves stay in their mountains, they care nothing for the ways of the outside world during this latest rising of man, nothing has changed there, but the Elves, our greatest allies since time began will have naught to do with us because of this whelp's actions.”
“Which only reinforces our need to protect ourselves, to change,” Millenius acknowledged the Shadowdragon with a nod this time, his eyes grim. “We must go into hiding. We must do as many of us have already begun doing. We must become them. We must change our shape, hide amongst them. We can use our wealth to buy titles from them, to enter their nobility and perhaps influence this new society. In time we can change their view of us, change how they view all things that are different from them, but this will take centuries, my friends, perhaps even millenia.”
“In the meantime,” Zorrak interrupted, exchanging one further glance at Trakaan, his voice far calmer now, willing to hear, willing to listen. “What of the taint this creature and his brother have created? What of these infected humans the men call Vampyr? What will we do about them?”
“It is not just the Vampyr whose actions are being blamed on us, Zorrak, or have you forgotten the many incidents involving King Lycaon and his new race. We have suffered as much from his ilk and their actions as we have from Andvari's cursed gold. And what of the Sahajin, the Lepardis, the Ghouls, the Duende.... I can go on and on. Wherever and whenever human children are murdered in the night by the creatures of shadow, if one of us dares to be close by, we are blamed.”
“Yes, Millenius, and all of this, this entire murderous mystique we've acquired for ourselves over the last few centuries can be blamed entirely on this idiot...” and Zorrak pointed directly at Trakaan “...and his family, all of it, every last bit. I've only proposed that he be made to pay for what he's done. Someone has to pay, Millenius, why not the very Dragon that started it all?”
“He has paid, Zorrak. He has paid dearly and so have I,” Millenius shook his head sadly, wearily. “He is here right now entirely because of the grave mistake he and his family committed those centuries ago. Have you forgotten this? Have you forgotten what he and I have lost?”
Zorrak nodded his head in acquiescence before he spoke again, and now all of it, all the thunder, was at last gone.
“What do you propose, Millenius? You've given this great thought, that I can see. Tell us all what you propose.”
“I propose our going into hiding as I've already illustrated,” the Prolocutor began. “Our going into hiding and slowly but surely changing humanity's opinions, their prejudices. We will remain in disguise, not revealing ourselves for any one reason other than when we are in the gravest of mortal dangers. That is, when we are discovered and assaulted. Can we agree to this?” And his gaze went to each of them, including Trakaan who remained trapped in Tiamat's coils. “Can we?”
They, each of them, nodded their agreement, even Karanthus. After all they'd been doing this already, most of them, on their own, integrating themselves among the human populace, learning their ways, becoming them.
Millenius' gaze then returned to Trakaan Astranax, and as it did, he gave Tiamat a nod. She released him immediately, unwrapping her vise grip and smiling almost shyly as Trakaan rose again to his full height.
“It is good that you are calm now, Astranax, I don't believe I could've held you much longer,” she said, playfully flirting with him, the colors on her crest flashing bright and red. “That legendary power of yours is very much alive and well.”
He nodded solemnly at her before turning back to the others, finding this not the time or the place for such trite foolishness.
“There will be one of us though, who will walk among the humans with a differing set of rules,” Millenius gestured at Trakaan, one talon immediately flying up to silence any complaints from the others. “Allow me to speak, please, for on this we must all be united.”
End Part 89.3
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