New (Sequel #4)

"Six dragons?"

"Or seven, yes. Six and one Knocker in Dragon form."

"A grown Knocker in Dragon form would be both wise and strong. The eggs should be destroyed. Now, before they grow any larger."

"The king will have my head if I do not bring him a dragon for his armies. Surely with proper precautions, the Knocker could be held safely? If not here, then somewhere, deep and dark, with many walls. Perhaps a cavern with an entrance too small for a fully grown dragon to escape from?"

"But you must take such precautions for all seven,. since you do not know which is the one to dread. nor, even do you know when the Knocker will speak the tongue of the Knockers and reveal himself. It might be many years, no one knows how they develop in dragon form."

"All the more reason to keep it, to study it, to converse with it! What power, what knowledge, what secrets would be hidden from such a one? The inherited lore of the ancient dragons combined with the speech and genius of a spirit... It would be..."

"Unspeakably dangerous to the kingdom and perhaps much more. Destroy them all, from a litter of six or no, do it."

"The king would have my head, when he comes to fetch his charge."

"I will have your head now, if you do not take precautions."

"Precautions I will take, but orders from you, never."

A hush settled over the darkened room as the voices ceased. A sword was drawn, a cloak flung off, a hand flexed and stretched into readiness. But one does not fight a magician in his own place. Too many spells have been said there, too many powers have come through those walls, never leaving those walls quite the same.

The was no flash, merely a hiss, and the sword clattered to the ground. The dragons would live, whether for good or for ill is impossible to tell. With dragons, however, can there be any doubt?