9 Chapter 9

As Kratos brought them over to the dragons, as one dragon was led out of its stall. Lovell looked at it as it came out. Its bright complexion shimmered in the dancing light. Gale seemed to like the colour of the dragon's accent colour, the golden tips of each scale while Lance ran around its feet in glee, as it was his first time looking at a dragon up close.

The dragon leaned over to Lovell. "So, you're the one?" Its voice echoed.

"Well, yes?" Puzzled by the dragon's question.

"You are the one to take us to Marewood's outskirts, right?" Gale asked.

Turning its amber eyes over at him. "Yes, I am a young lord, but it seems that—"

Kratos pulled the reins, clearing his throat. "Well, you shouldn't be doddle too long, this is my dragon, Shimmer."

Lance ran up to Kratos's face. "So, you're a dragon rider?" spinning around Kratos. "Is it true that you and your dragon drink each other's blood to do the bond between rider and dragon to be even formed—"

"Lance!"

Lance winced as he looked over to Lovell. "Sorry."

"It's ok, but we've been together since she was still an egg," Kratos answered Lance's question. "So, we didn't have to do the blood bond. Lovell, I want you to take the reins when you fly." Handing the reins to him.

Lovell nodded. Gale and Lance jumped into the saddle, Strapping themselves in. Kratos grabbed Lovell and hugged him, whispering something in his ear, hugged back, Lovell then hopped into the rider's seat. He was looking back at Kratos before taking off. Shimmer taking off from the spot at high speeds rose into the clouds. Lance more excited as they whooshed off to Marewood. Shimmer's speed was incredible as Lovell held the reins.

"So, Lovell?" Lance now calmed down a bit. "How long would it usually take to reach Marewood by horse or foot?"

"On foot? About six to six and a half months." Lovell looked back. "As for on horse about four to five months? Why?"

Lance shocked. He opened his mouth. "I was curious? Now I'm glad we are flying."

Gale lifted his head. "Where exactly is Marewood located?"

Lovell was turning his attention to Shimmers' eyes. She nodded, letting him know that she's alright with what he was asking of her. "Let me show you." Carefully making his way to them as he pulled a holo-map out. "It's located here in the neutral territory—" Lovell looking at the map. "I thought my grandmother said it was a part of the Faremin kingdom now?" Confused at what he saw on the map.

"Maybe it's not updated?" Lance commented.

"No, look," pointing at the Faremin border. "this just happened about three days ago and was in the paper."

They looked at the spot. "Yeah, you're right. What's going on here?" Gale puzzled now as they looked over the map.

"It's going to happen on the eighth of Lark." Shimmer roared.

"But that's a day or two after we get there?" Lovell looked at her.

"Kora was told by Flora, the Goddess of Destiny and Foresight." Shimmers' words were reaching Lovell.

Lovell knew Flora too well. She kept trying to tell him his destiny, but he was able to block all her attempts. For he did not want to follow a predetermined path for him or see his future. His face scowled at the thought of her. Lance and Gale could see he didn't like her too much. They both decided to ignore talking of her.

"So, we can prevent it from happening and keep Marewood free from their grasp." Gale was beginning to suggest the idea.

Lovell closed his eyes before making his way back to the riders' seat. Lance was looking at Gale, "I think it would be best if we don't Gale." Lance whispered. "Changing the fate of the town would or could destroy it."

Gale, surprised by his words, looked over to Lovell. He could see he was going to do something to save it, and there was nothing they could do. Gale prayed that Flora could show him the error of his thinking when the event happened.

Landing just beyond Marewood, Lovell thanked Shimmer for the ride as she flew off back to Kratos. Gathering their things, they set off to the main road into the town. Gale still worried that Lovell would not do the right thing and let destiny take its course on Marewood. As they entered, the people were lively. Shops offering their best goods, smitheries hammering away, tailors checking sizes of their customers. As the folk trotting along the stone paths, horses attached to buggies and coaches. Lovell vaguely remembering that he was once almost squashed as a child when he first came to the town.

"So, where does the Humbly family live, Lovell?" Lance was popping the obvious question.

Lovell's face turned red. "To be frankly honest, I don't know. I was six the last time I was here before being taken by the Goanna Mercenaries."

Lance in disbelief in the matter. "so, then let's ask around!" His playful manner was lightening the mood. "we all go off and ask everyone where they live and then meet… meet up at…" as he looked around. Spotting a fountain towards the center. "There at the fountain?" They Looked over, nodding at the suggestion. "So, see you in two hours?"

"Make it five." Gale gestured. "that way, we can cover more people before we find something to eat at six."

Lovell walked off without a word. As the others could tell, he was still thinking about how to prevent the dark armies from taking over. Five hours passed Lovell and Lance having no luck in finding out where they lived. It felt strange that no one knew them? Gale came rushing over as they stood standing at the fountain's edge.

"I found them." Huffing at his words. Lovell eager to see them. "They live just outside the town. Most folks don't know them because they seemed to keep to themselves after an event twenty years ago." Lovell looked at Lance.

"I think I know why?" Lovell's words finding their way out.

Gale was showing the way as Lovell and Lance trailed close by, as they reached the house, Lovell stopped. He was looking at the place he had last seen Luna at, joy welling up; he looked around to see an older woman tending a small garden. Looking closer, Lovell noticed it was Margret Humbly. Enthralled at the sight of her, he notices that she was sad. Lovell could only think of that they must have had some troubles, with losing him after they had just lost their son, only a week before his arrival. Gale looking at Lovell as Lance seemed to stand back as well, knew that he was nervous in seeing her after all these years.

Lovell gathered his courage as he walked over to Margret. "Margret?"

Margret surprised to hear her name called out. Looked up, turning over to Lovell's voice. "Yes? Who's asking?" She stood up as Lovell moved closer.

"I don't know if you remember, but it's me, Lovell. From twenty years ago, the little boy, your husband, Harry, brought home with the infant?" Hoping she still remembered him.

She looked up and down, Lovell. As she stared long and hard into his eyes. A spark lit up in her eyes. "Oh, my word!" She covered her mouth as tears flowed from her eyes. "you—your all grown up," grabbing his shoulder, "and—and alive!" Joy was filling her face.

Lovell's eyes soften, "I'm home, Margret." Tears were slipping away. Lance was becoming teary-eyed at their reunion.

"But where did you go? Who took you? Did you leave of your own accord? What have—"

Lovell was grabbing her shoulder. "We can catch up inside. My friends and I are getting a little hungry from our journey here." She nodded as she led the boys inside.

Sitting down at the table, he notices that there were some photos of Luna growing up with them. He got up and looked at the images more closely. He could see her smiling in each one. Joy filled him with that she had a happy life with them. Though Lovell was saddened, he couldn't have been a part of her life like he wanted to be when he brought her to this home. Margret was setting down some tea as she went to start dinner. He looked over at Lovell. His eyes fixed on Luna's pictures.

"She left some time ago with a young man, Lovell." Her voice was cold.

"Did she say who she was leaving with or why she was leaving?" Placing a photo in his pocket.

"Not, really just that she had to find someone she kept calling her 'champion of light'. I don't know where that came from, but it started two years ago before leaving with this Fang character." She turned to them as she finishes fixing up the food. "At first, I thought it was you when I met him, but his hair was the wrong colour, and his facial structure was off. Though not by much. You and Fang do share the same cheek structure and eyes." Lovell went cold. "What's the matter, you look pale?"

Looking at Lance and Gale, Lovell knew that this Fang had to be his other brother. "Um, well, I think that Fang might be a half-brother of mine that I never knew of, until recently." Lovell's words were slowly coming out.

Margret's eyes saddened. "So, you have family out there that's alive." Regret seeming to show on her face.

"Look, Margret." Gently grabbing her hand across the table, "I would have stayed with you all those years ago, but I was taken by a man who ended being the very person I needed in my life. Though I never stopped thinking of Luna or how you were doing. Through those years." Joy was filling her as Lovell spoke. Lovell pulled his hand away. Turning his gaze away from her. "But I've done many things that would make you hate me."

She leaned over. "Lovell dear, we all do things we regret, but they are what make us who we are. My mother had a saying, all good can be evil, and all evil can be good. How you interpret it is for you to understand yourself." Her words seemed to hit Lovell like he had heard them somewhere before though he couldn't figure out where he knew that Margret never said them to him till now. "Now relax, as I make dinner. My husband will be home soon. So, until he returns, have a seat in the living room."

Gale and Lance nodded, heading to the living room, turning on the tv whereas Lovell offered to help with the meal. Margret was thanking him for the offer as she handed him a knife for the meat. Lovell was enjoying the time with her in the kitchen.

Gale turned to Lance. "they seem to be enjoying each other's company?"

Lance looked back at them. "Yeah, Lovell probably would have never met us. If he had never left them, but I think he would not be alive either. I heard that the Faremins' best hunter is looking for him." Turning back to Gale. "I'm worried that he'll get himself killed if he doesn't play his cards right."

"I know what you mean. My father told me that Lovell ever lost his ways if he lets his anger control him." Looking overseeing the smile run across Lovell's face. "He may seem calm now but anger him, and lots can happen very quickly. He may have been told to watch over me and help with people but," turning to the tv. "I'm here because my father doesn't want him to fall into the Faremin armies."

Lance puzzled. "What do you mean?"

"I mean that he's—"

"I'm home, honey!" Henry walked through the door. Noticed they had company.

"Welcome home, dear." Margret happy to see him. "Guess what?"

"What?" Looking at the three.

"Lovell came back!"