into the background. On his feet he wore what reminded Ethan of Indian moccasins, though without the beads and fringe he had seen in the past. His frame was muscular without being overly so, and his movements were fluid and graceful. Around his waist he wore a long sword with a hilt of ivory, inlaid with gold and onyx. A bow and quiver containing silver fletched arrows was strapped across his back.
Ethan’s mouth fell agape at the sight of him. Something completely…inhuman. Strange and terrifying, yet beautiful to behold. The elf stopped a few feet away.
“Does my appearance disturb you, mage?” he asked.
“Yes,” he blurted out before he could think. “I mean…no. It’s just I’ve never seen…”
“Why do you weep?” he asked again, cutting him short.
“I don’t know. I just…when I thought about the dragon I…I felt sad. I can’t explain it.”
The elf’s eyes narrowed and he folded his hands in front of him. “What is your name?”
“Ethan,” he replied. “Ethan Martin.”
“Martin?” The newcomer took a step forward and his hand slid to his sword. “I have never heard that name associated with dragons before. Who was your father?”
Ethan glanced over to where Jonas and Markus were sitting. He waited to see if Jonas would speak, but quickly realized he would not.
“Answer me,” the elf demanded.
“My father was Praxis Dragonvein.”
The elf stiffened, and murmurs could be heard within the forest around him. After several seconds he removed his hand from his sword and took a step back. “I can see that you speak the truth, and yet what you say is not possible. The Dragonvein line was broken long ago. Praxis was the last. Or so we have been told. My people know well the lore of dragons. And we know of the family with whom they were bonded. How is it that you are here?”
“I was sent to Earth by my mother when I was a baby,” explained Ethan. “I really don’t understand most of it. But when I came back, hundreds of years had passed.”
The elf’s face twisted into a snarl. “I should have guessed. Portal magic. Stupid humans meddling with what they don’t understand and can’t control.” He glared at Ethan. “And now you have come, and with you comes war and death. I should kill you now and be rid of you. But I will wait. Dragons do not reveal themselves without good cause. Even those which have been diminished by Shinzan.” He let out a series of high-pitched whistles. “Do not expect mercy should you encounter me or my kin again. If the Mother wishes your continued existence, she will guide you far away from us. But for now, go in peace and fear not enemy eyes. While you are in this forest, none shall harm you.”
Having delivered this bizarre combination of dire warning and positive reassurance, the elf burst into a run and quickly vanished into the night.
The moment he was out of sight, Markus and Jonas rose to their feet and approached the fire. Markus had a deep gash over his left eye, while Jonas carried several bruises across his face.
“Are you two all right?” Ethan asked.
Markus sat down by the fire. He nodded, but said nothing. Ethan could tell that he was shaken and felt it best to leave him to his thoughts for a time.
Jonas, on the other hand, looked very much relieved.
“Fortune indeed favors us,” he said, smiling broadly. “I was certain they would kill us all. But it seems that the elves hate Hronso enough to keep his captives alive. And from what Kat told me, your display of power helped us as well.”
“I really don’t remember what happened,” Ethan admitted.
“What do you remember,” asked Kat.
Ethan told them about the dragon, mentioning how he had seen it previously. This soured Jonas’ expression.
“You should have told me about this at the time,” he scolded.
“I didn’t trust you,” Ethan countered. “I felt you were holding things back.”
Jonas nodded. “I understand. I should have handled matters better in the beginning. Remember though, I was almost as confused as you were back then.”
Ethan gave him a forgiving smile. “What did you see,” he asked Kat.
She drew a deep breath. “I chased after you, but you were too fast for me and I lost you for a while. I found you again just as you let loose a great blast of white flame straight into Hronso’s chest. After that you kind of collapsed, like it had drained you of all your energy. I tried