The wind was howling around the dragon stone. It bore the fresh, exciting scent of rain and lighting, the smell of coming chaos. The wind whistled through the thousands of holes and tunnels that the dragons had bored through the rock. Many who had dug their lairs in windy places would regret it this night. But despite the drafts, most of the plains dragons who lived there were inside, sheltering from the wind and the rain that would soon follow it.

Serali however was not inside. She was perched at the highest point of the dragon stone, watching the storm approach. Cherval was sitting next to her, folding and unfolding his wings nervously. He had followed her everywhere these past months, explaining things, teaching, helping her begin to understand what dragon society was like. Though he had also warned her, "Plains Dragons are the most social of all dragons, you know. I've never heard of mountain dragons or even water dragons living in groups bigger than a dozen or so. Dragon stone is probably the largest dragon community ever, and there's fewer than two hundred of us here. Nothing at all to compare with human cities with their thousands."

But now it seemed that one hundred and ninety-eight of the two hundred dragons were inside, and only Serali and Cherval stayed out to watch the storm. Serali was going storm flying tonight. She had invited Cherval, but he had agreed only to watch the storm. He absolutely refused to fly out into it.

Serali was not going to be held back by her guide's reluctance. As the distant storm drew closer and the display of lighting ceased to be a show to watch from a distance and started to be a play that you yourself were acting in, Serali spread her wings and launched herself off into the night. The winds buffeted her, blowing her this way and that, her flight made erratic and uncertain. She put all of her effort into gaining height, not caring to fight the winds for a specific direction. As she mounted toward the seething clouds, lighting flashed all around her, huge drops of rain splattered against her scales. Drawn by the metallic nature of her scales, a bolt hit her directly. She could feel the energy coursing over her skin, crackling all around her, and then passing over her, flowing across her scales as it continued on it s journey down. Something about a lighting strike made time seem to stand still. Even though she knew that the stroke had been so swift that the eye could hardly catch it at all, she had felt and noticed each of the individual discharges that made up what looked like a single bolt. It was a strange and exhilarating sensation.

Serali rode the winds for a bit longer, but as a passing gust brought her back over the dragon stone, she decided that she had enjoyed her self enough for this night and dropped toward the rock below. Cherval was waiting there, looking worried.

"Serali! You're all right!"

"Of course I'm all right. What would be wrong with me?"

"I saw you get hit by lighting!" He seemed startled by her lack of concern. "I was afraid that you'd be killed."

"That's utter nonsense, lighting couldn't possible hurt me. I've been hit so many times I've lost count."

Cherval blinked in surprise. "I've seen a dragon who was hit by lighting before, it had actually melted his scales! He died of it eventually." He paused to think for a moment. "Maybe it's because you're a gold, and you have metallic scales."

"Perhaps. I see now why you didn't want to come with me. You've been courageous enough waiting out here. Let's go inside."

Cherval looked relieved as the two descended into the tunnels of Dragon Stone. Serali extricated herself from him with a few muttered words about her adventure having left her tired and in need of sleep. She wanted some time to herself, and it seemed that Cherval was everywhere she went these days. She enjoyed his company well enough, but she didn't want him hanging over her shoulder every moment. And the truth was that she didn't really need the sky-blue dragon anymore. Oh she still had a ways to come, her accent, she had been told, was terrible and she still had a hard time reading and an even worse time writing, but as for understanding and making herself understood in everyday situations, she was just fine.

When she reached her chamber she found Sleeah sitting in front of the door. The little amber dragon held out a rectangular package

"Grandpa said this is for you. He says you can read well enough now to understand it. He also said to tell you that this is very important, you can't really understand dragons without it."

"Tell Drevass thank you for me, Sleeah. I'll start reading it tonight."

"I will. G' bye!" And with that she scurried off down the tunnel, presumable heading toward Drevass' chambers.

Serali went inside her room, shutting the hinged stone portal that kept out the howling wind which even now was swirling down the tunnel. In her human form she wouldn't have even been able to shift it an inch, but with her dragonish strength, it was easy enough. Inside she plopped down in the cushion-lined stone basin that served as a bed and opened the book. It had pages of some silvery metal, the words inscribed deep on its surface. The first page held only a short note.

Written by the hand of Lrrisha the scribe, in this the tenth year of the fifth century of the age of Magic. A copy of the book written in the first days of the world by the hand of Claron.

Serali turned a page and started reading.

The Book of Truth, chapter one, Beginnings.

Before the start of things there was the Creator. When all things began, the Creator made the Bright Ones, and they made the worlds. Now before they began in the making of worlds, the Creator�

Serali stopped. There was a word she'd never seen before. It looked a bit like the character for "speak" but not quite. It definitely had something to do with talking or communication, but what? She'd have to ask Drevass or Cherval about it. I suppose that's all I'll read today, she thought. I've plenty of time to read more tomorrow.

Cherval wasn't in evidence the next morning as Serali made her way down the twisting corridors that led to Drevass' chambers. Wonder where he is? It seems like he's been underfoot everywhere I go. Not that he hasn't been handy at times, but it makes me feel like I don't have any privacy. I don't really need a translator anymore, and I certainly don't need a baby-sitter! Especially not one that's half my size. Though from what I can tell he's twice my age. Well, he's not here now, so I'll just have to ask Drevass about this.

She'd grown used to navigating in the confused tangle of tunnels and rooms that honeycombed the dragon stone, so it didn't take her long to find Drevass' rooms.

The big amber was sitting on the dais, reading a book. Serali had the Book of Truth tucked under her arm. She took it out and opened it to the page in question. She clapped her wings in the traditional gesture of respect before speaking.

"Drevass, I've been reading the book you gave me, but I had hardly read a single phrase before I reached a word I don't know. What does this mean?" She pointed to the character that had baffled her.

"Ah, that means 'spake.' It's an archaic word. You won't find it used much in modern language. But that book is very old and the language is quite formal. You'll find many such words in it. "

"Thank you, Drevass."

"It's my pleasure to aid in the education of another."

Serali clapped her wings again and left the room. Back in her chambers she continued her reading.

Now before they began in the making of worlds, the Creator spake unto the Bright Ones. He showed unto them the purpose of many things, even the purpose of stars and of planets, and of the many wonders which he wished to come to pass, but he did not speak of all things. And when his speaking, or his song, was done, he sent the Bright Ones out into the unformed void and commanded them that they should make stars and planets, and all things even as he has sung unto them.

Serali read all that day and for many days to come. At first there were many pauses as she puzzled out unfamiliar words or stopped to ask Drevass to clarify things, but eventually the going became easier and she read page after page eagerly.

And they went and made stars and planets and many other wonders, both large and small. And when they had finished making these things, the Creator divided the Bright Ones, and gave each dominion over certain things, so that every star and every world might be watched over.

But when he came to a certain star he found that which was not as he had sung in the beginning. And he spoke to the Bright Ones, saying: "Which of you has done this thing?" And one of them, who was called Aldon, answered and said "I made this star, and the worlds that circle it." And the Creator said "It is not good, for lo, I sang of a world whereon life might live, and there is none." And Aldon said "I did not count myself worthy to reign over such life, so I made no worlds for life."

But the Creator was displeased and said unto Aldon, "I see that you have feared failure, but by your fear you have failed with a much greater failure. But let it be as you wish. I give you dominion over this star, and over this star only. You shall have no true power upon Earth, nor on any other world. Nevertheless, you shall be worshipped and honored, but it will not bring you joy."

And the Creator went, with others of the Bright Ones, and made a world in the place where a world had been sung. But Aldon only watched, his power to create having been taken from him.

Often after reading a passage she would discuss it with Drevass. The story of Aldon she found especially interesting.

"Drevass, when I lived in Barona City, there were five hills. One of them had the palace, one had the college, and two just had parks. The fifth had a temple. It was the largest temple in the whole city, and it was a temple of Aldon. If Aldon doesn't have any power, why is he the head of the gods?"

"The humans don't understand, Serali. Didn't you hear the story of the Age of Creation when you were a child? And wasn't it a different story?"

"Yes, I do remember hearing it. My parents followed the Creator, as much as they followed any god. Religion wasn't talked of much in our house, Papa always said that we should leave the gods alone and they would do the same for us. The story I heard didn't have Bright Ones in it at all."

"That is quite unusual. Most humans don't acknowledge the Creator in any way. They worship the Bright Ones as gods, with Aldon at their head. Though I've heard it said that the Easterners worship the Creator. I'm not an expert on human theology. One thing I do know it this, the worship of Aldon only fulfills the prophecy that the Creator gave at the beginning. Aldon is worshipped and honored, but I doubt it bring him any joy."

"Galen would agree with you that honor doesn't always bring joy," said Serali with a sigh.

"Who is Galen?" Drevass inquired, curiously.

"He's a human prince. Everyone bows and scrapes in front of him, but they all want to get power from him, they don't really care about him at all. He said that he'd rather the friendship of a single peasant girl who didn't know who he was then the honor of a thousand royal toadies."

"A wise man, this Galen."

"Yes, he was that."

Now after the world had been made, and set in its place circling the sun, to be lit with sunlight by day, and yea a moon was also made that there might be light by night, and oceans and land placed in their proper places upon the world as had been sung in the beginning. Yea, after all this had been done, the Bright Ones told the Creator that all was prepared. So the Creator looked upon the world, which was yet without life, and said "Now is the time to make life upon the world." And when one of the bright ones, whose name was Pelor, began to make an intelligent being, to place life upon the Earth, the Creator halted him saying "All thing in their proper order." And Pelor was much ashamed, that he had not seen this in the song at the beginning of things.

Now the Creator placed a seed upon the Earth, and commanded it to grow, and it grew. So after the Bright ones also made seeds, and all manner of plants grew. And the making of the plants was long. But lo, after this making was done, and green things covered all the earth, the seed which the Creator had planted had grown into a great tree whose branches were white and whose leaves were green to surpass all other greens. It bore no fruit, neither nut nor seed of any kind, but stood alone.

And after the creation of the plants was done, the Creator began the creation of animals. And this he did by making an egg. He set the egg among the branches of the tree, where it waited while the Bright Ones made the animals. And they made all manner of creatures, both those that swam in the oceans and those that flew in the air as well as those that walked upon the ground. And the making of the animals was long. But when all had been made, the egg which the creator had made hatched. And therein was a bird like no other seen upon the earth, whose plumage was white to exceed all whiteness. And after the bird had hatched, the tree wherein it sat bore fruit. And the fruit likewise was white, but it yet had no seeds within, for the tree stood alone.

Now after the making of the animals was complete, the Creator began the making of the creatures of magic. And he began again by making an egg. Now Aldon had watched the creation of all things with jealousy in his heart, for he could not create. And when he saw that the Creator had made and egg, he taunted him saying: "Thou shouldst think of something new, for behold, I have already seen that trick." But the creator answered him mildly saying, "Perhaps thou hast, but it is a good thing nonetheless, and I will not remake it." And he placed the second egg upon the ground, beneath the branches of the tree.

And it came to pass that even as impatient Pelor reached forth his hand to place upon the Earth that which he had thought from the first, that the egg cracked and out of it came a dragon, whose scales were white even as the whiteness of the bird and the tree. And the Creator spoke to the dragon, and named him. But his name is not known among dragons, neither spoken among the Bright Ones. For he is called First Father of Dragons. But at the time of his birth he stood alone, and there was no mate for him.

"Drevass, if First Father was alone, how were the rest of the dragons created? You need to have two parents in order to have children, after all."

"Things change, and if you keep reading you'll see the story of how. That's one thing you ought to learn now if you haven't already. The only thing that you can count on is change. Nothing has to stay the same. The Creator sung a single dragon, and now we have a whole race of dragons. Many other things that used to be are no longer so. There are even races that were made in the beginning that no longer exist." He paused for a moment. "Have you ever heard of a thing called a greyling?"

"No, I haven't. What is it?"

"Greylings were tiny creatures. No one is sure if they were made in the creation of the animals or in the final creation. They might have been intelligent, they might not. But there were never very many of them and they built no lasting civilization. They lived in a single river valley and when the river dried up a very long time ago they didn't have the sense to go elsewhere. They all died there, every last one of them.

"Now perhaps that is what they were destined to do, perhaps not, but the fact remains that something which the creator sung in the beginning is no longer upon the earth."

Now as the Bright Ones each began to make all of the many creatures that should inhabit the Earth, First Father looked upon the things that they made and was sad. For behold, each new being was made with a mate, yea they all were made two by two, that their races might multiply upon the Earth. And the Creator beheld First Father's sadness and he asked "Wherefore is this sorrow? And why art thou sad? Seest thou not the many wonders around you?" And First Father answered him saying, "I do indeed see many wonders, but behold, I would have a companion, that I might speak and say 'look, there is a great wonder.' For it is not good to be alone."

But the Creator spake to him and admonished him, saying, "From the beginning I sang that thy life should be thus, for thou art given a task and a calling, that thou shouldst be a guardian over this, my tree, which also has a purpose since the beginning of all things."

And First Father answered him thus: "Sing then to me this song that has defined my destiny." And the Creator sang with a voice like no other voice that has ever been. But First Father lifted up his voice, and lo, it was not like the voice of the Creator, nevertheless, it was a voice most sweet and pure. And he sang a harmony and a counterpoint, to the song of the Creator. And it was a most beautiful thing, for there had never before in all of creation been a duet.

And the Creator marveled saying, "I have not thought of this thing, that a song which is not the song from the beginning could have such merit." And First Father said unto the Creator, "Thou hast seen that a song which is not thy song can yet be a good song. Change therefore thy song that I might not be alone." And the Creator had compassion on him, and sang again. And the song he sang was as the counterpoint that First Father had sung. And as he sang, lo, a second egg was created. And it hatched, and out of it came another dragon. And behold, her scales were black as night.

And the Creator looked upon them and said, "Thou hast changed my song, it is not fit that thou shouldst remain thyself unchanged. And he sang again. And when his song was done, First Father was no more white as the great tree, but of all colors. And his scales were as opal, being bright with shards of every color that has ever been seen. And his mate also was changed, and her scales likewise were of all colors, yet she remained dark, while First Father was light. And First Father was no more a guardian of the tree, but he and his mate went forth into the world, which had begun to be filled with all manner of beings.

"You see what I mean about change?"

"Yes, I see. But I don't understand how the Creator could change his mind just because of something he created in the first place."

"Serali, I don't think the humans, even the ones that worship the Creator, teach this much, but the prime attribute of the Creator is love. He loves every one of his creations. If we want something that will make up happy and won't do us any harm that we can't bear, he'll give it to us."

"Don't you mean 'won't do us any harm at all?' "

"I meant just what I said. The Creator didn't make life so that it would be easy, he wants us to have joy. But don't you often enjoy something better when you know what it's like not to have it? You probably appreciate flying more than I ever can because you know what it's like to dream of flying and be land bound. Would you really rather have been born a dragon, or don't you think the life you lived then makes you that much happier now?"

"I think I understand. I've never really thought about this kind of thing before."

Now of all the beings made in the final creation it cannot be written, but the tale of a few may be told.

Behold, the first creature placed upon the Earth after the Creator began the last creation was the gnome. And even as Pelor is hasty, so are his people. And thus it is, each creature having some portion of the nature of the Bright One who created it. Thus do the Dragons say that we hold some small part of the gift of the Creator.

Now among all the races created in the last creation by the hands of the Bright Ones, the races of the Elves and Dwarves have gained the most renown on the Earth. For though each creature has a purpose and a destiny, to each is given according to his ability and according to his needs.

And to one is given a great loud song, and another a soft song, but every song has its place in the great chorus of the Creation.

The race of Dwarves was made by Brethain the smith. Now when the world was first made, Brethain of all the Bright Ones took the most joy in this making, for while all others looked forward to the making of life, Brethain took much joy in the making of stone and the shaping of mountains. And he was pleased to place precious metals among the stones. It was his delight to stud the mountains with gems, yea he rejoiced to make beauty beneath the stones where it would lie hidden until searched out.

So it was that when Brethain set out to make a race to dwell upon the Earth that he created his race in the caverns beneath the ground. Thus it is not known when the Dwarves first set foot upon the Earth, for they had already been long in their caverns when they first came to the surface and met the other races.

Of the love that Brethain had for stone the dwarves have a generous measure, delighting above all in delving in stone. They work the treasures of Brethain, gold and silver, diamond, ruby, sapphire and all the many other bounties of the stones, with love and skill. Other beings live in the deep caverns, but none love them as the Dwarves do.

Now Rilliya made the race of Elves, and long she was in the planning. She spoke with the Creator before she lifted her hand to make them, and thus they too have some of the Creator's touch in them.

Rilliya loved the starlight, and she also loved the moon. She danced in quiet groves under the night sky. She has been called the lady of twilight. Indeed the evening was her delight and dusk her joy. She it was that created the oak tree and the aspen, and her people love these as none other. She danced to the song of the Creator and with her dancing were the Elves born. They arose from the earth and from the mists and out of the trees and danced with her. Thus were the Elves born, in music and under the stars, and thus live they yet.

And as they were born out of the earth and the mist and the trees, so are some of the Elves kindred with the air, and some with the mists and waters, and others with the earth, and with the trees. But rare indeed is the Elf who has kinship with fire.

For though they know well the art of its making, they seldom use fire, for the love of trees is in them and they will not fell living trees for fires' sake, nor for any other reason. They are warmed by the light of magic, for magic is in their souls. And even as the tree is rooted in the earth, so the Elves root themselves in magic.

"Do all races have kindred elements?" Serali asked Drevass the next time she spoke with him.

"All that I know well, yes."

"What are the elements of the dragons?"

"The dragon is kindred first to air and second to fire, though each dragon is a bit different. I myself am kindred first to earth and second to fire, a very unusual combination."

"As far as I know from my training in magic, I'm kindred to fire, then to air, and thirdly to earth."

"Truly? I have yet to hear of any who are kindred to two opposing elements. You are an unusual dragon in more ways than one would think."

"You're implying that one would think I was an unusual dragon in other ways."

"Why so I am! How astonishing!" Drevass grinned, and Serali couldn't help but laugh.

Now it came to pass that during the time of the final creation First Father and First Mother of dragons wandered the Earth together, and they saw many wonders, for things were new in those days and all the many races began to walk upon the Earth.

But after a time First Mother spoke saying, "Let us find a place that we may stay for a time, for behold, I am with child, and my time draws near." And so they found a place, and the name of the place was Kolar, but where it lies is not known.

And First Mother laid a clutch of eggs. And the number of them was great, nevertheless, their number is not known. But after they had hardened for a time, they hatched, and from the eggs came many dragons of many kinds, yea even two, male and female, of each kind. And the first hatched was Arvass the gold and his mate Alora.

Now First Father and First Mother raised their children with care, but they were many, thus as soon as they were able they went out into they world. And they scattered far, some to the east, some to the west, some to the south. Some went to the sea, some to the land, but all went two by two out into the world.

And they also laid eggs and raised children. But seldom indeed did such children come, for in his wisdom the Creator saw that were they to bear their children as other creatures they would soon fill the world, for dragons are closer to immortality than any other creature upon the face of the Earth. Thus it was that every child was precious unto them, and they reared them with much care and kept them long.

Yet they did have children, and though they were few, they were enough that soon dragons were in all parts of the Earth.

Now behold when Arvass and Alora bore their first child, they were much amazed, for their son, whom they named Claron, came forth from his mother alive, without an egg. And so it has been since that day, that alone of the dragons the golds have born their children live, but all other dragons hatch from an egg.

"That answers a question that I have long wondered about. I thought it would be truly unnatural for a dragon to bear a live baby, the way my mother did, but I see that it's not so unusual after all."

"Yes, but I would think she made a great sacrifice for your sake. A dragon newborn is only a bit larger than a human infant, but the pain and troubles that a human mother goes through are a hundred times worse than the pain of a dragon mother, for the human baby is actually rather large in comparison to its mother, while a dragon baby is quite tiny."

"I never though if that. If a dragon baby is so small, don't the parents have to worry about hurting it by accident?"

"I've never heard of that happening. You see Serali, as the Book says, dragon hatchlings are few and far between. A mated couple might have two or three clutches in their entire lives, and though each clutch holds a dozen or more eggs, none will hatch more than three or four hatchlings, most not even that. We cherish our young, guarding them long after they are capable of going out on their own. My own granddaughter will most likely stay with her parents until well into her second century. You will find that you are almost alone in being out on your own as soon as you were able."

"That is why dragon parents never crush their own offspring, they take too much care of them for that to be possible. And that is why the murder of a hatchling is the most awful crime that I can think of. There are only a bare handful of offenses punishable by our worst punishment, and that is one of them."

Note: Chapter 13 is unusually long, and these html pages have a length limit, so I've had to space it across two pages.

Part Two

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