The lost Dragons of Barakhai

Epilogue

IN Vernon's cottage in the middle of the Barakhai woodlands, Benton Collins slouched in a hard log chair watching Korfius wrestle with the puppy he now knew as Farrihn. The two rolled and yipped across the floor under the watchful eye of the puppy's father, Ralthoroh, now in a human form that little resembled the huge, pointy-eared furball Collins had encountered in the carnivore caverns. Falima explained the intricacies of furniture to the too-skinny girl while Mataia, the tortoise, cruised around the confines, exploring every object. Vernon ran a hand through his tight black curls, studying a Wendy's fried potato pinched between his fingers. "What do you call these things again?"

"French fries." Though Collins addressed Vernon, he kept his gaze on Falima, thrilled by every confident movement, every casual toss of her ebony hair. "Though I'm not sure why. They aren't any more French than Canadian bacon is Canadian." He added with sudden realization, "Or even bacon."

Vernon's long silence finally drew Collins' attention. He turned to find the enormous black man staring at him, thick brows arched. "You do know you're speaking gibberish, don't you?"

Collins could understand why none of his tangential jabbering would translate. "Yeah, I know. I've got to do something every once in a while to remind you I'm a foreigner."

"You mean in case your weird clothes and your weird food and the weird little devices you bring back with you aren't enough?"

"Exactly."

Vernon popped the fry into his mouth, chewing thoughtfully. Having exhausted his conversation with Collins for the moment, he addressed Falima. "I heard you got offered a guard position at the castle."

Falima raised her head, hands on the rope pulls of Vernon's dresser. Crouched beside her, Skinny Girl continued to examine the cupboard. "I'm not taking it."

The last Collins knew, his fiancee was still considering the offer. "Why not?"

Falima ruffled the other woman's tawny hair. "The cavern people need someone to help them adjust to civilization. I'd rather do that, at least for now." She turned back to the dresser. "Besides, if I'm going to preach that people no longer have to pursue careers prearranged by their animal form, I should set an example."

Though it bothered Collins that Falima had not consulted him before making her final decision, he found some solace in the realization that she had helped him make an equally difficult choice. "If we're not living on the castle grounds, I guess I can't take that job as adviser to the king." He shrugged. "The thought of following in Carrie Quinton's footsteps creeped me out anyway."

Falima rose and approached Collins, Skinny Girl following her every movement with worried eyes. "Sweetie, I can do my work anywhere. Just because I'm not a guard doesn't mean we can't live in Opernes Castle." She put her hands on the back of his chair and kissed the top of his head. "You don't have to walk the same path as Carriequinton just because you hold the same title."

Vernon added his piece, "Barakhai could really use someone like you to help keep the king on the moral path." He winked at Falima. "Besides, you could socialize with the new captain of security. I hear he's well qualified for the job, despite being… vermin." Vermin? No way. Not-

Falima gasped, completing his thought aloud. "Zylas? Zylas is King Terrin's new captain of security?"

"Can you think of anyone better suited to fill the post?" Collins doubted the king of Barakhai could find anyone as capable as the man who had dedicated his life to bringing together the most diverse people in the world, to gaining, winning, and keeping their loyalty and respect. That Zylas could speak every language, including those of animals, and mutated into a rat at will, would only sweeten the deal. Collins believed Terrin wise enough to understand the enormous asset he had obtained and that he could count on the rebels to support him so long as he followed the advice of his new captain. A monarchy kept strong by alliances instead of magical physical advantage. "Better suited than Zylas?" He shook his head with such vigor, it tousled his hair into knots. "Not on any world."