I have an appetite for seafood, Raffa’s voice boomed in their minds.  

We’ll be fishing if you need anything from us, Zahara said. The two dragons flapped their wings and took to the skies, sending a gust of wind through the courtyard.  

Anders turned to Inama and greeted her in the Southland native’s tradition, this time not blushing. “How are you and the Lumbapi?” Anders asked. 

“We are thriving, thank you for asking,” Inama said. “What did I hear you say about the Kewian Islands?” 

“Oh, just that I hadn’t been before and they were beautiful,” Anders said.  

“We should really go there soon, Na,” Hannah said.  

Anders glanced at Maija as she raised a questioning eyebrow. “Na?” he asked.  

“That’s what she calls me for short,” Inama said, taking Hannah by the hand.  

“I like it,” Anders said with a smile.  

“I see you have been enjoying your time here,” Maija said to Hannah, bowing her head in greeting. 

Hannah smiled, “Once you had our people in order in Grandwood and Anders sent me here to get acquainted with both the throne and those on the council who I’ll be ruling with, well, things between us kind of escalated.” Hannah said more quietly, “I thought when we first were introduced and she kissed my cheeks that she had a thing for me.” 

“Well I did,” Inama said, looking at Anders and Maija, then back at Hannah.  

Maija put her arm around Anders, “So, where will this summit take place?”  

Anders was grateful to Maija for changing the subject. While Hannah and Inama escorted them into the castle, Anders whispered, “Thank you,” to Maija, who smiled.  

Stepping into the castle for the first time since he’d faced Merglan in one of its chambers, Anders admired the space. Portraits of old kings hung on the walls. He could see the throne through the room on their right. Hannah led them to a room on their left. In the center of the wide-open hall was a round table large enough to seat all of Kartania’s leaders. Around this table they would hopefully decide how to fairly and effectively govern a peaceful and equitable world from this day forward.  

“Here we are,” Hannah said.  

Shortly after entering the room, a man dressed in a red and gold silk shirt matching the banners on the walls announced King Remli and Queen Joslina’s arrival.  

“Dragonriders!” Remli bellowed with a hearty laugh almost the second the man in silk had finished speaking.  

Anders and Maija hugged the royal dwarfs as old friends while Hannah more formally shook their hands in a warm greeting. When Remli faced Inama he grinned, “And I remember how the Southland beauty says hello.” He laughed and said to his queen, “Now don’t get jealous until she’s done greeting you, too.” Then he exchanged pecks on the cheek with Inama before his wife followed suit.  

Jumping right into small talk, Anders asked, “How is Hardstone faring since your return?” 

“No more dragon problems, I can gladly say. The city has required some rebuilding, but since most of it has been carved from granite, the city was in better shape than I had expected. Maylox is looking after things in our absence.” 

“She’s learning the finer points of what it takes to become queen,” Joslina Rubyshield said.  

“That’s wonderful,” Anders replied. 

“She’ll get more than a few weeks’ practice, now,” Remli chuckled. “After this, we’re going to sail through the Kewians, up to the Rollo Islands, down the Westland coast and back home.” 

Anders was about to tell him that they could stop to see the new dragonrider training grounds in Grandwood when Nadir and Natalia appeared in the room. Nadir said, “That is, if the elves on board your ship don’t mind the detour.”  

Remli jumped at the Elf King’s voice and turned around startled.  

The man in the red and gold shirt ran into the room and said, “I’m sorry, Madam! They came by so quickly I almost didn’t see them.”  

“It’s fine, Reginald,” Hannah said to the man.  

“Nadir,” Anders said, hugging his elven friend. In the corner of his vison, he saw the two elf sisters embracing.  

“Your alterations to the magic in Cedarbridge have the city growing like it hasn’t for centuries,” Nadir said. 

“Good. I was wondering if I would need to make changes,” Anders said. 

“Not from what I can see. You can hardly tell that Merglan was ever there.”  

“Anders,” Natalia said in the tone a teacher uses to call on a student.  

“Nat,” Anders said hugging her. “How are the recruits?”  

“We’ve got a few elves being paired with dragons. Nadir is one actually,” she said.  

“Congratulations,” Anders and Maija said together.  

Nadir nodded politely and Natalia continued, “And Remli has sent us a few of his dwarfs to try their luck.” 

“Good. We were making progress with the Norfolk pairs and seeing if the few from Westland were good fits before we left.” 

“And we stopped in Argon,” Maija added. 

“Yeah, we spent a few days with Britt and Max on the Rollo Islands picking out some warriors who might try their luck at pairing with some dragons. But we aren’t being pushy,” Anders said. 

“These things take time,” Natalia said.  

Reginald stepped into the doorway once more and announced Kirsten and Thomas of Highborn Bay. Anders’ cousins greeted the leaders and while the others mingled, Anders and Maija approached Kirsten and Thomas.  

“How did you get here?” Anders asked eager to hear their response.  

“What do you mean? You invited us, you doof,” Kirsten said, giving her cousin a hug.  

“I know that. We were wondering if you sailed or flew?” Anders said. 

He bent down, giving Thomas a hug from his wheelchair.  

“We flew,” Thomas said simply.  

Maija was quick to ask, “With who and which dragons?”   

Thomas replied, “I rode with Sam and Char, and Kirsten had the pleasure of riding with Roy and Boldari.” 

I knew it, Maija said through her telepathic link with Anders.