"Can you control it?"
"I'm not even sure I understand it, Drake."
"Look, we could be in a lot of trouble here. I mean, having the mark of the Dragonmaster seems to make me safe, but you don't have any kind of protection. If you go all historical up there, you could be dragon chow."
"I'll be fine."
"Maybe, but we also need the dragons' help. The situation on this world is way too big for the team alone."
"I understand, Drake. And you're probably right, but I won't let you go alone. There will soon be a child who will need a father, and I mean to deliver him safely."
"Yeah, thanks. And I'm sorry if I've been bossy."
"It's all right, Drake. It's funny though."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, if you weren't leaving, Danny may have had to worry about his job."
"Yeah, well he can worry about filling mine instead. You know, I can't help noticing something."
"What's that?"
"There's no way out of this room."
The raven, almost forgotten, spoke up. "Look here! Another symbol!"
Drake investigated. "Yeah, same as outside. OK, I'm gonna touch it with mine. Get ready, this could be it..."
Drake touched his symbol to the one on the wall and they vanished in a flash of blue light.
------------------------------
They reappeared in a large room made up of four interlocked circles. One blue, one red, one black and one silver. The floor of each circle seemed to be made up of small tiles, the tiles of various colors were scattered where the circles met. Frankly, the floor was a sort of minor detail, when you consider the fact that there was an enormous blue dragon in the blue area of the room. It was probably a little bigger than Drax, but not by much. Unlike Drax, its form was much more like a dragon from European tradition; covered in scales that sparkled like blue gems and with huge, leathery wings.
"Welcome, Dragonmaster of Earth. I am Psidon; patriarch of the blue dragons of water." Its voice rumbled like distant thunder.
"Uh, hi," was Drake's lame reply.
"You've come a long way and have faced grave peril to come here. Your mission must be urgent."
Euro spoke up. "We've come to get your help against Godbolt."
"Yes, I know of this. You were once a dragon slayer, in a past life. I will not condemn you for such acts, for you are a new man now. Not all shall be so forgiving."
"I thank you. The other dragons were very different. From both you and Drax, the dragon Drake is bonded to. I consider Drax a friend."
"So you say." Came a voice from the red area behind them. "Why should we trust you?" They turned and saw that a red dragon had appeared behind them. It couldn't be told by it appearance, but its voice seemed to indicate it was female."
"I agree with Pyra." Said another female dragon, a back one this time. "We cannot trust a dragon slayer, no matter how may brief human lives he's lived since then."
"You think all humans are out to kill you, Umbrial." Said the last dragon to appear, this one silver. "Perhaps the dragons of earth should choose a leader who is less paranoid."
Psidon broke in. "Personal bickering will help nothing, Argent. We need to listen to these humans."
"Why should we listen to humans? Especially a dragon slayer." Pyra spoke with disdain.
"He is with a Dragonmaster. That alone shows that he has changed much." Argent, although obviously ancient by human standards, seemed younger than the others.
"Regardless of what you think of his companion, this one is a Dragonmaster." Psidon indicated Drake. "They passed our trials to arrive here. Our own customs require us to hear what they have to say."
"Of course." Argent replied. "But you didn't have to convince me."
"Very well." Umbrial clearly didn't share Argent's enthusiasm.
"We will hear this Dragonmaster and his strange companions." Pyra didn't bother to hide the threat in her voice. "It will have to be a very convincing tale, however."
"It is decided, then." Psidon seemed more hopeful than Umbrial and Pyra's grudging acceptances should have caused. "You may begin."
"Ok, it's like this;" Drake began and the three shared all they knew about Godbolt.
