Trinity finally came to a door on the top of the stairway; thrusting it open and entered the room.  She stopped dead when she saw Siegev sitting on the throne beside the pedestal that the Golden Egg was placed.

“Welcome, Trinity.” Siegev said to her.  His lean face could barely be seen under his black hood.  “I’ve been waiting.” He said, his tone almost bored, though he was still seething at his failed attempt at taking the boy ‘Speaker’s life.

Trinity’s heart thudded against her chest.  He was much taller than she remembered, and much more intimidating.  “So, you’re the one who stole the Golden Egg and tried to keep me from it.  Looks like you’re going to fail.” She did recognize him from Stoneshot, but where his presence was much more veiled there, it was focused and prominent here.

Siegev chuckled.  “Not where I’m standing.  You still have to get past me.” He told her, looking her over.  “And to say the least, I’d do more than keep you from this dragon egg.”

Trinity shivered uncontrollably.  “You will not touch me.”

Siegev sighed and continued to look Trinity up and down.  He ignored her.  “So, you’re the Destined Child I’ve looked for all this time.  Right here in person.  I wouldn’t have thought it would be a girl such as you.”

“Why is that?” Trinity snapped.

Siegev chuckled.  “Most people expect men to be the soul protectors of all that is good.” He sneered.  “I would have preferred a man myself.  I’d just have to kill him and get it over with.” He noticed that Trinity tensed.  He shook his head.  “Your young beauty and power astounds me.  Realizing you were the most powerful thing on Starza, well… I have yet another reason of capturing you.  To use you.  And now, here you are, in my grasp.”

Trinity clenched her fists.  “This power cannot be yours, Siegev.”

With surprisingly sensual grace, Siegev got up.  “You really want to fight me? Come now.  As you are, alone, you are no match for me.  You’re not that powerful yet.  And may never be, for I still hold the Golden Egg.” Siegev grinned from his place across the room.  “You seriously didn’t think it would be that easy to get this back, did you?” he asked and laced a hand on the Egg’s shell. 

Trinity shivered.  He was not as old as she had thought he would be, now that she could see him clearly.  He wasn’t even in his middle years.  She looked dartingly around for something she could use to distract him or get him away from the egg. 

“You will strut and chat with Andre, Trinity, but not I?” Siegev sneered.

With effort, Trinity forced herself to look back at Siegev.  She was not ready to fight him.  Being in his presence and feeling his aura of confidence made that very clear.  “I have nothing more to say to you.” She heard herself say.

Even with the chaotic sounds of battle below and beyond the tower, his light laughter reached her ears; making her wince.  “Pity.” He straightened, unsheathing his sword; almost a bastard sword and lined with runic symbols.  “I was hoping to prolong this moment.” His eyes closed to slits in malicious pleasure.  “Such an easy victory you give me, Destined Child.”

Trinity drew herself up.  “I’m not dead yet.” She replied, while readying her own sword.  She side stepped to try to circle around, but Siegev quickly kept himself between her and the egg.  Pursing her lips and leaned into a defensive stance, she let him advance. 

His first blow was quick and deadly, but restrained; it rang hard against her sword, making Trinity gasp.  It was a jarring impact and she could feel her very bones sing with pain.  She had no time to recover before Siegev swung his sword again.  She forced the pain to numb as she dodged and parried his attacks.  She was very aware that Siegev was toying with her with each swing of his sword.  As they were both magic users, Trinity would speed her movements, but Siegev could easily match it.

Trinity twisted around a pillar, but he met her on the other side.  She had to duck to avoid his blade.  She had to block again as she straightened.

Siegev started pressing her towards the far wall.  Trinity needed to get around him before that.  She got her chance when he tried to disarm her with a flick of his sword.  Ranen taught her how to use it to reposition.  Sliding her sword down over the edge of his sword, she spun around as quickly as she could until she flanked him.  Without a second thought Trinity ran to the large golden egg on the pedestal.  With the adrenaline in the veins she picked it up, closed her eyes and prayed that what she was about to do worked.

Focusing on her intension, Trinity transported her and the egg to the trees, away from the castle.  It was dangerous, but she couldn’t think of any other way to get out of the tower without engaging Siegev again.  Ignoring the sudden lapse of energy, she hurriedly hitched up the large egg up in her arms and ran farther away from the castle.  Dark storm clouds appeared overhead, blocking the sun, and intensified as rain started to pour over the land.  It was of unnatural color, being magically summoned by the man she ran from.  It made the land seem covered in night.  She ran as fast as she could; only concentrating on getting away, but not on where she was placing her feet.  Before she could get out of bow shot from the castle, there was a bright flash and a deep rumble through the earth.  A ripple seemed to form from the earth with the castle in its center and Trinity tripped as a root was lifted too high and fell down hard, hitting her head enough to black her out.

The egg rolled away into a large thicket.  A small crack on the narrow end of the egg appeared and it slowly ran down the side of the egg.

Siegev found Trinity on the ground.  But the egg was nowhere in sight.  He knelt beside Trinity.  “Ah well.  I still have one.” he said and smirked.

The crack on the egg grew longer.

Siegev slowly rolled Trinity into his arms and picked her up.  “That egg is as good as gone out here anyway.” He said as he started to walk back to the castle.

“Hold it!” A stern voice bellowed right through the intensity of the storm.

Siegev turned around to see Ranen about fifteen feet away.  He had seen Trinity running with the egg in hands as well as fall.  Ranen came in time to find Siegev carrying her.  “Well, well.  If it isn’t Ranen! Yes… I know your name, just as you know mine.” he said.  “Ah, and the rest of the ‘Speaker group as well.  How convenient.” He added with a sneer as he carefully placed Trinity back on the ground, near a thick bush.

Ranen glared at him.  “Just what do you think you’re doing with Trinity?” he asked, his eyes glowing in fury.

Siegev smiled evilly.  “Making her mine.  This way, I can control the most powerful person and use her to control Starza and rule all!” He smirked.  “Or kill her; it’s all the same to me.”

The anger in Ranen’s eyes intensified.  “I don’t think so.”

A lightning bolt blazed across the sky and branched off in several different directions.  It seemed to be reacting to its master’s moods. 

Slowly, the crack branched off like the lightning.  It spread along the egg as it started to rock.

Siegev’s laughter rang over the sounds of the storm.  “Go ahead, Ranen.  Play the hero.  Challenge me and save your precious Destined Child.  The sooner I’m done with all of you, the sooner I become Ruler of Starza.” Siegev taunted.  His cape was flying behind him with the wind.  His hood fell to show his broad face and long black hair.  He had eerie black eyes that shone with malice.

“No, Siegev I will not allow you to take Trinity.  I would rather die than to see her as a captive of the likes of you.” Ranen said, quicker than the eye could watch, his sword was in his hand.

“Ranen.” Aspen called, running towards them.  “Be careful.  Don’t be a hero; just get him away from her.” She said, stepping back to catch her breath.  The dragons were chasing the stranglers while Ranen and Dion went to find Tom and his young dragon.

A piece of shell broke loose of the egg as a tiny horned beak started chipping it away.

Still angry, but controlled, Ranen took a step towards Siegev.  One hand holding his sword at the ready while the other drew on his magic. 

Siegev took off his cape and threw it aside as he too, took a step forward.  “Well, come at me, boy.  Give it your best shot!” To the side, almost obscured, his free hand started to glow from the light of small magic orbs forming together to form a larger one. 

They both threw blasts of elemental power at each other.  Ranen, a water blast and Siegev cast fire.  When they hit each other they canceled each other out with an explosive wave like a pulse.  The two men were sent backwards for a moment.  Both soon got up and assumed their stances.

Trinity’s Dra’Sorrian amulet glowed fiercely.  In the thicket, the egg also glowed softly, with a warm and earthly light.  A bigger piece of egg flew as the Hatchling chipped its way to freedom.  Another piece peeled away and the Hatchling crawled out and quietly made its way to Trinity.

Siegev chuckled.  “Very good.  Not strong enough, I’m afraid.” He mocked and stretched out one hand, lightning flying from his fingertips at Ranen; in his other hand he already started to create a fireball in his hands.

Ranen held out his hand, palm out; the lightning hit an air bubble inches from his hands, and using his innate conductivity within himself, absorbed the energy into himself and grounded into the earth.  With a heavy breath, Ranen got into another stance.  Aspen and the others watched them intently, not able to move or cast anything for fear of making the situation worse.  They could only watch as the storm clouds ahead got darker and darker.

Suddenly, Siegev threw another energy charge at Ranen.  With one swift movement, Ranen put it out before it hit him with a water shield, and returned the strike with a strong gust of wind towards Siegev.

Siegev only staggered back a step.  “Impressive,” he said; in retaliation, he threw his hands out like claws and many shoots of lightning bolt directly at Ranen from the Sorcerers finger tips.  Ranen couldn’t block all the threads of electricity; he was hit and fell to the ground unconscious.

Trinity’s eyes flickered open.

Destined Child! You came! A soft voice said to her.

Trinity moved her head to see, glittering gold and crimson before her, the Hatchling of the Golden Egg.

W-we must help your friends.  The dragon told her, gesturing her still wrinkled a glistening nose to Siegev and the fallen Ranen.

Trinity nodded.  She could feel her dragon’s emotions in the undercurrent of her own and was almost lost with the new sensations and the all-encompassing hunger that assaulted every dragon at birth.  But they both knew that must wait. 

Overwhelming rage erupted in Aspens eyes.  “Bastard.” She growled.  She stood up.  Somewhere in the pseudo night, Nemesis roared, equally infuriated.  The others were alerted to the situation and were making their way here.  Meanwhile, Aspen had glowing orbs in her hands which were growing larger.

Siegev smirked.  “After I’m done, I should start a Dragon Speaker harem, you and Trinity will be the firsts.   You will be Andre’s and my favorites.” He taunted, trying to get a rise out of the young ‘Speaker.

Aspen shook her head.  “No damn chance.” She spat.  Sparks of lightning started erupting from her own fingertips, some forming into orbs, which glowed fiercely.

Siegev’s fingers started to spark as well.  They stared at each other, daring the other to strike first.  Then, at the same time, they stretched their hands out, sending fire and electricity at each other.  Aspen deftly dodged Siegev’s attack with a well-timed roll that ended with her stance on one knee.  Siegev was hit, but not badly; her attack was dissipating from exposure to his own countermeasures as it hit him.  As quick as sound, they both had lightning cracking over outstretched hands towards each other.  But before the lightning bolts hit each other, they stopped and disappeared.

“What!” Siegev roared; seeing that Aspen was equally as surprised and confused, he and spun around to where he had left Trinity.

“Hello, Siegev.” Trinity said; her voice spoke in more than one voice.  It was many clear voices speaking together.  Her eyes had a vibrant gold glow.  Suddenly she faded and disappeared.

Siegev spun back towards the others.  In the middle of the space between the two sides, Trinity reappeared, along with a small, gold and red dragon; its eyes also seemed to glow like Trinity’s as it twined its body around Trinity’s legs.  Their golden eyes intensified in strength.  Siegev’s anger grew seeing the two together.  This was exactly what he was hoping to prevent.  The wind blew harder and stronger as a series of lightning and thunder erupted from the sky.  He was aware that he could now lose this battle.  Knowing that the other whelps were nearing, and without Andre, Blackveil or his army to even the odds, Siegev had to retreat, even with his rage urging him to strike now.  “You may have won this time, Trinity! But the war is just beginning.  You still have a long way to go to be able to get rid of me.” He told her.  “In the meantime, I’ll be watching and waiting for the perfect time to make you and your power mine! Or kill you in the attempt!” he shouted and disappeared in a blaze of smoke.

Trinity’s expression remained neutral.  “I’ll be waiting for you, Siegev.  And I’ll defeat you.” She said, still with the cadence of multiple voices added to her own.  Above them, the clouds seemed to slowly go from black, to gray to white and then dissipate.  The sun came back out and the danger seemed to be over. 

“Trinity!” Aspen’s voice called relieved to see her hale as well as having just saved her from a fight she wasn’t certain she could win.  Trinity turned and walked over to Aspen and the unconscious Ranen.  The intense anger in Aspens eyes faded into forest green and white.  “I’m glad you’re okay.” She said and held out her hand.

Trinity smiled.  Instead of taking her hand, she hugged Aspen.  “Same.” Her normal voice said and she pulled back.  It was then that they could see how worn out she was; but she wasn’t about to let exhaustion win yet.

Aspen looked down at Ranen.  “He’s hurt bad.” She told her.

Trinity sighed and nodded while slowly kneeling down beside Ranen and carefully put him on his back.  He was hit in the ribs, but still breathed, barely.  The area was charred and smoked slightly; blood and other fluids were also seeping from the wounds.  “He’s still alive.” She said in relief.

The others slowly walked up to them.  “Can you heal him?” Dion asked timidly.

Trinity nodded.  “Only enough to make him conscience again, right now.  We’ll need to find shelter before I can heal him thoroughly.” She said.

All four dragons landed beside the growing Hatchling as, slowly, Trinity put one of her hands on Ranen’s forehead and the other on his side where the bolt hit him.  She took a deep breath and closed her eyes.  Everyone was silent as they watched Trinity and the man who fought for her.  As the silence stretched, the last cloud disappeared and they could even hear a bird start singing in the distance.  Then, Ranen’s eyes started to move and flicker; and soon he started to move and groan.  Trinity opened her eyes exactly when his did.  Ranen started to sit up.  “Slowly, Ranen.  You took a heavy fall.  Not to mention a lightning bolt in the chest.” Trinity said, helping him up on his feet.

Ranen looked around.  “Where’s that bastard devil, Siegev?”

“He got away.  But don’t worry, he’ll be back.  And we’ll be ready.” Aspen told him.  She stood on his other side, wrapping his arm around his shoulders to help Trinity hold him up.

“You all right?” Trinity asked with concern.

Ranen took a deep breath.  “Yeah.  …Lost my horse though.  What about you?”

Trinity’s eyes saddened.  “Oh, I’m sorry.” She said and hugged him.

With less than half his usual strength, Ranen hugged her back.  “It’s okay.  He died saving me.” He told her, pulling back to look into her eyes.  He smiled and kissed her fiercely.

Trinity kissed him back with a smiled.  “And I am fine.  We need to get going. We have a lot of ground to cover to get back.”  She ordered, glancing at the golden-red adolescent dragon.  She was now as big as Nemesis, or even Skyflyer when he was in his true form.  But it would be time yet before she could handle a rider; much less two.  She would only get bigger; she had been waiting for her ‘Speaker a very long time.  Unfortunately, though, she would have to decimate a small herd of beasts if she wanted to be more than skin and bones soon. 

After appraising the hatchling, Ranen looked back at his beloved.  “Let’s get out of here.” He said as he was helped back to their camp to grab the gear they’d left.  Once there, they would need to move to a safer location.  “There are caverns in the low mountains a few miles east from here.  If we all hoof it, we should all be there before midnight.”  Ranen suggested.

“Let’s go!”  Trinity agreed, needing to get the hell away from this place.

“Yes sir!” Aspen shouted, saluting as they began to march towards the Velden Mountains.

Skyflyer, who was back in his draconete form and seemed to appear from nowhere, flew beside Ranen, Trinity, and the golden dragon.  He chirped endlessly and told them that he got word from Roseweed that she regained her normal dragon form.  The golden dragon was listening.  My… my mother is back to normal? The golden dragon asked, her voice was soft and sounded like light wind chimes.

“Yes! Isn’t that wonderful, my dragon?” Trinity asked.

The golden dragon nodded.  Yes...   My name is… Goldstone.  You are Trinity.  She said.

Trinity turned and looked at Ranen with a grin, then back ahead of her.  “Well, then, Goldstone, it’s an absolute pleasure to meet you! I hope we become an inseparable pair.”

Goldstone chuckled.  We already are my Destined Child! She said and they all trudged towards the peaks of the Velden Mountains.

Trinity was the only one left awake that night.  The others slept soundly in a wide circle around a dimming fire.  The dragons were outside the cave and up on the nearby peak where they could keep a watch out for danger.  There was nothing but the noises of the sleeping people, the sound of the dragons outside and a continuous drip of water somewhere farther in the cave.  There was also the occasional popping sound from the red coals of the fire.  But that was all.  All else was quiet and still.

Trinity looked around.  It was dark in the cave and outside, but she knew the cave was not much taller than ten feet.  Where they slept, could fit about two full-grown dragons from head to tail.  All they needed was a nice dry spot near the entrance.  The rest was wrapped in blackness.

Trinity turned back to her hand, which held her Dragon Pendent.  It shimmered every now and then, even though there was only the light of the dim fire for it to do so.  She assumed that the pendants themselves held a certain type of power.  Perhaps absorbed and enhanced by their wearer; like Roseweed taught.  Trinity didn’t know for sure if that was correct, but that was the only explanation she could think of that made sense.  Only the Crafters knew for sure.

The tiny shadow of a dragon inside her pendent faded and darkened with each drop of water.  Something was different.  Not just because she had her dragon now, but just the feeling alone.  She didn’t feel special, just needed.  Connected.  Her comrades needed her to keep their hope; Roseweed needed her to love her daughter.  Her parents need her to… to protect them.  She wouldn’t be able to return to them as soon as she hoped.  Siegev would be waiting for her to lead him to her family so he could use them against her.  No, she couldn’t return just yet.  Even if it meant staying away for months, even years.  Maybe she could think of more ways to protect them.  But those thoughts were for later. 

She also knew that there was a war coming.  And she would be in the middle of it, battling Siegev.

Trinity sighed and wiped away a tear that found its way to her cheek.  She would rather not fight, but knew she would do it to save everything she held dear; this world that she had come to love and cherish.

Her pendent glowed softly.  A light that left the others undisturbed.  It comforted Trinity.  Like the gentle touch of a lover’s hand against her back.  Like the hum of a parent at night.

Trinity sighed again and looked down at Ranen.  He slept facing her, with one stretched out hand towards her; as if wishing he could hold her.  He was still very sore and bruised from his fight with Siegev, but a good rest would do him good.  Trinity leaned over and kissed his forehead.  She lay back down on her side, facing the others and Ranen just as he faced her.

In the morning they’d be heading back to Roseweed’s lair.  After a few weeks travel, as they still couldn’t ride their young dragons, they’ll be celebrating their small, but significant victory over Siegev.

By the time they reached Roseweed’s lair, Trinity will hopefully be able to rest in relative peace; at least until their next move.