Haladoria awoke to darkness. It was still very early in the morning. To her surprise, she heard noise in the distance coming from the dock. Apparently she wasn’t the only one anxious to leave. She took her time getting dressed, reflecting back on the time since the dragon had told them their city was theirs again. She had seen distress and confusion in it’s actions. She could only think that it no longer hungered for death. It was… warming? Then coming back to Calalistos he had appeared over the harbor with a huge explosion that washed water up on the docks. He actually seemed embarrassed. Then he landed and somehow became an elf. A charming one at that. She caught herself blushing. He didn’t brag, he talked about what he wanted to do and it included the races. All of the races. That in itself was incredible. He seemed to care. But she didn’t think the histories were wrong. There was too much detail and to many incidents. She wondered what could have brought about such a change.

Shaking herself, she walked out of her house, the one that he had returned to her, and made her way to where the barge was loading. She expected to see a few people who, like her, couldn’t sleep. To her shock, everyone was there. The barge was mostly loaded and they seemed to be waiting on her. She was almost embarrassed. The cargo was nothing more than tents, food and tools. From their discussion in the tavern, there would be materials aplenty there. True, most of it was the forest and minerals in the mountains themselves, but they would need little more than that. Besides, it wasn’t that far to Calalistos for any needed supplies.

As she approached, The various leaders were grouped to the side. It was strange to see them together. Elves, Drow, Dwarves, Centaur and even a fay. There was no conflict or raised voices. They had each felt the touch of the greenskins. If it would have went on, they would have driven out all of the races… or killed them all. The promise of security and materials to make a new start was a bright light in the darkness. The drow didn’t even have a home to rebuild. The greenskins had collapsed their tunnels with them still in it. Very few had survived. The dwarves faired a little better, but not by much. They had found oil in the storehouses of Calalistos and hauled it to their caves. They dumped it down their caves and set it on fire. Those that didn’t burn, suffocated. Only the ones close to the outside vents had enough air. It went on and on. The dragon did more than he knew by removing that plague.

The talk was light and everyone was cheerful. The leaders, including her, especially her, were a little tense, but still there was a good feeling. They had made good progress up the river. Partly because it was a lot wider than it used to be. As the light rose in the sky, she noticed that it seemed like the edges of the channel was make of glass. She wasn’t the only one who noticed either. The question came up on how the channel was not only wider and more straight now, but how did it come to have a glass lining? She was familiar with the glass making process. Great heat and… she stared back at the bank. And sand… which was found in most soil. She told the steersman to take them closer to the bank. When they closed, she could see where the vegetation was scorched away and was only starting to grow back. The edge of the glass was bubbled and ragged and there were half melted rocks. Arienach. The bed traveled for miles and there didn’t seem to be a seam She felt another cold chill at the power that dragon must have.

The dwarves exchanged glances with her. They knew. Most just brushed it off and went back to the scenery. They turned their eyes back to the path to their destination. It was a few hours later when they rounded a bend and entered the harbor. It was huge. Haladoria looked at the edges carefully and saw the same glassed sides. As they made their was towards the dragon… the huge dragon. She noticed that the harbor was almost perfectly round. She followed it with her eye, gaging the distance. Calalistos would just about fit in the harbor. It didn’t take a genius to figure out what chance they would have if it ever attacked. The stories were true. He was quite capable of taking out armies or destroying cities. Then she glanced up past the dragon. There was a cut in the mountain range that framed a volcano in the distance. She had a feeling that this was the dragons home. And he opened it to them.

By the time they had docked, she actually felt happy. Dorvus and Cornal dropped in next to her as they left the barge. The people were somewhat nervous about their host. Maybe it had something to do with the fact they could walk under it’s claws without hitting their heads. To her, now that she had come to know him a little, he was awe inspiring. He had done this for them. He asked nothing in return. As they approached, he did that weird shift thing again and looked like a handsome noble elf. She was shocked at her own thoughts. But. He was cute. When she got to him, it bubbled out.

“Greetings Lord Dragon.”

His look sent a shiver down her spine. “Michael, milady.”

“Who else can say that they can tease a dragon and live?”

The look on his face was priceless and he laughed. He really laughed. I felt a strange stirring inside because there was no mask there. Dorvus and him talked for a bit about the dungeons as I just watched his face. It was strange that he had no clue about gaining wealth from battles, but then again, he must be well above what they were used to. She offhand wondered about that. Maybe a thousand? Two? No, that was just crazy. Nothing could be that high of a level. Still she wondered. She even chimed in about Calalistos and found herself mildly flirting. She covered it by asking about her people staying. Dorvus asked as well and his only concern what that he had no place for them to stay. Then he asked the question that set both Dorvus and I back a step. He wanted dragon lairs.

“How do you plan from keeping them from ignoring your rules?” I asked before I thought.

He sighed. “I am the eldest ancient. They will not cause trouble in my presence more than once.”

Dorvus looked a me and we both understood. He was Arienach. We were chatting with a walking talking Armageddon event. We were saved by Liliana running up asking about the tents. We were still a bit distracted by who we were dealing with, but he was nothing but polite. He was offering for us to build the city as we saw fit. She couldn’t believe his generosity. Then he dropped the next bomb.

“As you will. Later on, after all is settled, then we can see what else we might need. Oh, before I forget. You do use gold for trade?”

“Gold, silver and copper.” Dorvus smiled.

“Ah, then a down payment on the coming work. I assume your people will be working with them on this, Haladoria?”

“Yes, of course. We may be taking another clan in and they will probably have people that wish to move here as well.”

He did something with magic that made my hair almost stand on end. He reached through a hole in the air and pulled through… gods, was that gold? She had never saw so much gold.

“Will this do for a down payment on the town and the docks?”

Dorvus fell to his ass staring at them. “Uh... um... yes.”

I couldn’t stop staring at them. “Milord... there is wealth there for six cities.” I whispered.

“Then make one that will make all of us proud. I suppose these will have to be minted, but it should keep your workers paid and give cushion to any unexpected problems. Is there anything else you might require?”

Dorvus just looked at me with a snort. “You mean like mithril and silver?”

I think Dorvus was just trying to be sarcastic. But he did that thing with the air again.

“Just a moment.”

He pulled out enough mithril for a full suit of armor, probably with some left over and a large chunk of silver… my gods, how much did he have? The tales of the dragon hordes… But it was Arienach and it wasn’t only this world he had to draw on.

“Will these do?”

Dorvus just stared. “Good goblin gods. The mithril alone would pay for this town you wish built.”

“Ah, then after things are done, I know where a vein of it is. It is down quite a ways however.”

Then I remembered Micky and his mate, Jessie. “I had forgot... Michael, we have a couple of centaurs who wish to stay here as well.”

“They are welcome. I will not turn anyone away that wishes to abide in peace.”

They were both quite shy, as were most of their kind. “This is Micky and this Jessie. They are part of a small herd moonward of here. The whole herd is looking for a home and work.”

Micky softly spoke. “We don’t want to trouble you, we can go now.”

“Wait! Be welcome. If you wish to bring your people here and help, then feel free. So long as you help and do not cause trouble, you are welcome here. I am sure Dorvus or Haladoria knows your requirements, so let them know where you would like to be and they can work it into the building plan.”

Their eyes wide, Jessie spoke. “We have no gold for housing.”

“I am sure that if you help out, money will come. Consider the housing down payment for your work.”

Micky looked shocked. “You would do that?”

I looked at him and laughed. “Told you he was a strange dragon.”

“Let your herd know they are welcome. There is much to be done and the more hands the easier the work.”

Jessie gushed. “Thank you, thank you mister dragon. Thank you!”

Arienach laughed. “I am called Michael.” then held up his hand. “Not lord or any other title, just Michael.”

Micky hesitated slightly, then almost formally said. “Thank you Michael, I will go fetch them. Jessie can stay here.”

“Nothing will happen to her while you are away. These lands are mine and I will keep peace here.”

Micky nodded and Jessie looked relieved. “Thank you very much.” Micky said.

I watched Micky go. Arienach follow him with his eyes. We started to talk about the town when Arienach paused with a strange look.

“Excuse me, I think someone is about to try to cause a problem.”

He took off running and when he was away from everyone, he shifted. I was amazed at the speed of it. He was a full dragon almost in mid stride. He flew up then suddenly, another hole seemed to open in the air and he was gone. I stared at Dorvus and he at I…

It was almost an hour later he came back. He had a strange look on his face as he landed and shifted. It was deep thought and concern. What could cause something like him to be concerned? It wasn’t till Micky got back later that evening with the herd that we found out.