The loss wasn't too devastating ther their force but it certainly wasn't good, dozens of Wyvern and goblins were unaccounted for, and presumably dead from a fall from the sky.

He had managed to catch up to Hank.

"Tom seems to have a wounded wyvern, they are going to have to take a cart. Joe was faster so is just out of mana and various supplies. They will be coming, Joe wanted to check for survivors."

"You were incredible," said Mistress Lilly, "I couldn't see all of it but that attack on that demon."

"We're not doing this again," said Hank.

Lilly gave a 'hrumpf' to the statement.

"We unfortunately lost this battle," said Kurt, "our objective wasn't taken."

"They have lost someone strong, no?" said Lilly.

"They said they weren't the strongest ones," said Kurt. "We will have to reevaluate what we do."

"What do you mean?" said Lilly.

"Talia would have helped here," said Kurt. "But it means they have a way to advance in us. We didn't know about it."

"What then?"

"I would sue for peace. Establish borders but I don't even know how we'd arrange that."

"Give up?"

"Manage the risk, what do I need all that for? In the last month I have gained enough territory to get in line. I don't actually go out seeking fights. They are dug in and we are more spread out. We can maintain a balance I would think."

"You'd have to convince Layla," said Hank.

"I'd have to find a way to talk with any of them."

A few hours later they arrived where Kurt had left his gate. The troops were coming back defeated.

Kurt had found some time to tell Lilly to not be too hard on Hank, he was only trying to protect her. She understood, but no child like a chaperone, especially a royal child which for all intents and purposes Mistress Lilly was to a goblin.

There was a lot to do.

Kurt had to face another dilemma. After careful discussion Valentine had decided to tell the truth to Darien, fearing hiding it would make the situation worse.

Kurt and Talia were the one to be telling him though. They were still trying to maintain the relationship. For most of their time they had no idea Darien was watching the gate for the True Sorcerer to appear. To them, it would be different. The problem would be Darien's decisions.

They had a back up plan of filling the territory with wyvern dens to mitigate the loss of the dragon. As they couldn't do that with the Dragon's den so close. The wyverns wouldn't, even while tamed, create nests and mate.

But that would take time. A sudden departure would put them at risk.

Kurt held Talia in his arms flying up to the floating island that was Darien's home.

"A girl could get used to this."

Kurt made a pinch of her ass, "so could a guy," They smiled at each other.

"What do you think he's going to say?"

"I don't know. Don't you know him better?"

"Yes he attends my weekly tea parties, of course."

Kurt looked at Talia, she held no weekly tea parties, certainly not one with a dragon in attendance.

"Hey you think he's let us fly down that hole?" said Kurt. The flying island had a portal, or hole on the top. Kurt thought it was the inside at first but it was too big for the floating island to permit.

"Is that really what you're thinking about?"

"Why, what are you?"

"If he's going to eat you or me first, or both at the same time."

"I hope it's both at the same time?"

"Why?"

"I don't want to see that, and I assume you don't either."

"That's fair, I guess."

"My real plan is that Darien doesn't eat anyone."

"But if he tries to eat me, you should try to kill him before that happens."

"Not after? I was planning on after."

They had made their way up Darien den. They had never actually come like this unannounced or planned. They felt it would be better for him not to hear the news at a castle.

Darien laid in a nest.

"You've evolved," said Darien. "And…" his eyes widened and he stood up. "Your weapon, it is a crime."

What the hell, Kurt grabbed the hilt of his sword normally dormant. The only other being that saw it while it wasn't in use was Jacob, after a very thorough inspection from someone trained by a spellblade. And he barely saw it.

He would know

Know what?

Darien studied Kurt and spoke, "What happened to Horus?"

Could he just see that? Kurt looked at Talia, she had her aura eyes on in horror. Had she just missed it? That he was spewing out Horus's own power?

"He's dead," said Kurt.

"And you've come to finish off his followers?" The dragon showed his fangs.

"No," said Kurt, "is that what you think?"

"Did you kill him?"

"The True Sorcerer did." That was the lie everyone was going with.

"Valentine Clan had nothing to do with it," said Talia, "and Kurt didn't know either."

"Then why come here?" said Darien.

"To ask what you plan to do now that you have no master. The Valentine clan is fully prepared to continue our arrangement as is." said Talia.

"You would let me go, free?"

"Why wouldn't we?" said Kurt. "We do want you to stay of course, you don't seem unhappy here."

"And the True Sorcerer?"

"Don't worry about him. If he can kill Horus, who are you going to tell anyway?"

The dragon snorted through his large nostrils. "I don't know what I would do. I never imagined he would die before me."

"Is there anything you desire?" said Talia, "That would help convince you to stay with us?"

"I have been alone for a very long time," said Darien.

Talia looked at Kurt, that wasn't the best answer, not like they knew any other dragons.

"I will have to think about this," said Darien.

"If I may approach a sensitive subject, Lord Darien," said Kurt. The dragon nodded. "I have many species under me and all of them mating customs are somewhat different. If I may be so bold to ask, are you far from your kind?"

"I am."

"And if you were to find a mate you would have to travel far?"

"Yes."

"Would a place near Neptune's Temple be closer?"

Darien thought for a moment, "it would not be close but much closer than here. You are offering me travel to and from, with these gates as before."

"Yes."

"And Castle Bright Flame? This would be closer."

"We could arrange that as well," said Kurt.

"I will consider this offer," said Darien. "There will be other terms if I decide to stay. And it. It like I can just take one.."

"We would facilitate the trip, if we could have assurances," said Talia, "that we would be given more time to prepare for a departure. No matter your decision. I think our clan deserves more than a moment's notice."

"I understand," said Darien. "You have my assurance that I will not leave without informing the Valentine Clan, with a grace period. You have always been true to our deal, I would not dishonor that."

"Thank you, my Lord," said Talia, "and we will continue to be."

Darien stretched his muscles. "I need a good flight to think about this." Lifting off into the air with a gust of wind, and quickly flying off.

"I get that," Kurt said, probably unheard by the dragon.

"That could have been worse," said Talia.

"Look, nothing has bit me."

"Are you asking someone to?" Talia smirked at him with a bit of desire in her eyes. "Because it's not like anyone is going to just casually walk by here you know."

Kurt grabbed his wife…they had spent the next few hours on the floating island.

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