Dragon Alliance: Rise Against Shadow by J. Michael Fluck Page B

Mkel and Annan. Gallanth knelt down, and Mkel positioned Annan and Janta, climbed up on the saddle, and held Michen after he secured the flying straps.
    “All ready,” he spoke to Gallanth. The dragon turned to the far side of the Weir and spread his wings; with three steps and a downward stroke of his wings, they were airborne. In no time, they landed on the platform that housed his sleeping chamber. Gallanth’s ledge was basically a huge carved cave that connected to Mkel’s living area to the left side and Jodem’s quarters and laboratory to the right side. “Thanks Gallanth,” Mkel said as his dragon turned around and lay down on his bed of coins and gems.
    Gallanth actually slept on the Weir’s treasury reserve. First to keep it safe, and second because a dragon’s hide is so tough the layers of gold and silver, being very soft metals, actually feel like laying on a comforter or a mattress to the immense dragon. Over the years, the dragon’s weight made a nearly perfect imprint of his forty-five-yard-long body on the pile of coins. “Rest well, Gallanth,” Mkel said. “Have a good night, my rider, and good night little hatchling,” he replied, giving a last wink to Michen and closing his huge eyes.
    Mkel carried Michen into their living quarters, with Annan closely following him. They told Janta to go and get some rest. Her room was down the hall from their main chambers. Michen ran to the room and jumped on the resting elf hound. The two-hundred-fifty-pound-dog gruffed slightly with the impact, raised its imposing head, and licked the infant’s face as he rolled around on the canine’s side. Elf hounds are bred by the elves to serve as fierce, dependable guards. This special breed, aside from having the normal canine alertness and excellent hearing and sense of smell, could see perfectly at night and could detect invisible entities. They could also change the color of their coat to blend in with their environment for a perfect camouflage. Slightly more intelligent than the average dog, they made perfect guardians. Unless an individual was fully armed and armored, one of these large dogs could tear limbs off of the average man, although they were gentle and very tolerant of children.
    “Come, little one, it’s time for your bath,” Annan said.
    “Baath,” he repeated, getting off of his guardian dog and running into their bathing room.
    “Do you have the towels and soap, dear?” Mkel asked.
    “Yes, it’s all laid out,” Annan replied. “What’s the news from Lupek?” she continued.
    “The fire giants are gathering for something just east of the Gray Mountains, between us and Eladran Weir, as well as many chromatic dragons and other Morgathian types,” Mkel explained.
    “This doesn’t sound good,” Annan said with a worried tone.
    “Don’t worry, we will handle it; Gallanth always looks out for me,” he assured her.
    “This might produce a lot of casualties; how will this affect your trips to Battle Point and Draconia?” she asked.
    “You know we always do everything we can to minimize friendly casualties, but if you don’t want to go, you don’t have to. You can accompany us to the capital if you want,” he said with a smile. “Although you will have to share the seats on Gallanth’s rig with Ordin, for he wants to see his cousin from Ferranor.” Mkel was teasing, for he knew that she did not like the gruff dwarf.
    “He can’t go with anyone else?” she said slightly irritated.
    “No, you know that he likes Gallanth and has known him longer than both of us have been alive. Besides, he will only fly on Gallanth, for as you know, the only thing dwarves fear is flying,” Mkel chided back.
    “All right, but he must sit in the rear seat in back of Janta,” Annan demanded.
    “I’m sure he will not mind,” Mkel said, smiling again and lifting his wriggling son out of the bath while he pulled the drain plug. He handed Michen to Annan, who waited with fresh towels to dry him