“And that’s when I called for help,” I say. I look up into Astralux’s face, her brilliant white scales appearing to glow by the torches around us as we sit in the Wards’ platform, called the Sunroom, at this late hour. “I’m glad you got me out of there.”
Astralux nuzzles my head. “I was so worried about you.” She smiles. “But I’m also proud of you. You just crawled into that mine to help, without question!”
“I can’t not help people,” I say.
“You are more of a Ward than you realize,” Ward Veremund says. I look up at him in surprise, because that had been my exact ponderings while in the cave.
Most of the other Wards, after congratulating me on rescuing Henry, retire for the evening given the late hour. Ward Veremund, Ward Neil, and Ward Mortimer remain, their dragons nearby and talking to each other “quietly,” which still results in rumbling growls that I can feel in my chest at times.
“I think now would be a good time to retire for the evening,” Ward Veremund says. “You’ve had a late night, and you’re still recovering. Let me show you to your room.”
I glance at Astralux. “I don’t want to leave Astralux yet.”
Astralux smiles and nuzzles my head again. “Don’t worry. I can get to the room.”
“Oh.” I stand up slowly, stretching my aching muscles.
“We’ll see you tomorrow!” Ward Mortimer says. “Get some good rest Estelle!”
“And again, great work today!” Ward Neil says.
“Thank you. Goodnight,” I say. I watch as Ward Neil and Ward Mortimer mount their dragons and they fly out of the Sunroom before arching around the Wards’ Tower out of sight.
Ward Veremund glances at Astralux. “We need to get you a saddle. I forgot about that.” He beckons to me. “I’ll take you through the Wards’ Tower for now. Astralux can meet us there.”
“I’ll be there before you,” Astralux says. She nuzzles her father once, both of them growling in a kindly manner at each other, and then pads across the stone floor, her claws clicking lightly. Spreading her wings, she leaps out of the Sunroom and disappears.
“You’ve brought a light to my daughter that she had lost when Tristin died,” Kalteratem says. “I know you have little control over this; still, I thank you for being Ariadna’s light to her.”
Embarrassed, I can’t help beaming up at Kalteratem. “‘Ariadna’s light shines in all of us that follow her.’ Mom always told me that.”
“Your mother sounds like a wise and faithful woman.” Kalteratem bows his head to me. “Rest well, Estelle.”
“You too.” I follow Ward Veremund out of the Sunroom and down the spiral stairs that lead to the top floor of the palace. The candle sconces along the walls are lit, but the large windows also provide ample light, and I see everything. Including the rather dizzying height we’re at, overlooking the marble floor many meters below us.
Instead of taking the stairs, however, Ward Veremund walks me along the hallway, passing many doors. He stops at a door at the end of the northern hall. “This was Tristin’s room,” Ward Veremund said. “However, it has been redone for you.”
“Oh, thank you,” I say. “You didn’t have to do that. Especially since I’m not even sure I want to be a Ward.”
“You have persisted in aiding us at every turn.” Ward Veremund hands me a key. “Keep your door locked when you leave. Though crime is extremely low, and as Wards we only accept the good-hearted, anyone can be tempted by evil. Don’t live in fear, but don’t give opportunity where there need not be any.”
I peer at the key—the handle of which is shaped vaguely like a dragon—and nod. “Yes, sir.”
Ward Veremund chuckles. “You don’t need to call me ‘sir.’ And Estelle.” He puts a hand on my shoulder, his ice blue eyes alight with joy. “I have a feeling that you do, in fact, want to be a Ward, but you’re still wrestling with the reality that being a Ward means helping people in all facets—including fighting.” When I flinch, he nods. “Please don’t think being a Ward means we relish battle. Not all of us look forward to facing a Vladykar in battle. I have slain many enemies, not because I wanted to kill, but because I wanted to protect good against evil. I’m not saying you must be a Ward. My offer for you to decide on your own stands. But being a Ward doesn’t mean you will be a blood-thirsty warrior as you seem to fear. It means using your bond and your gifts to be Ariadna’s light to others—and as Kalteratem pointed out, you’re already doing that.”
I look up at Ward Veremund. In such a short amount of time, I feel a great respect for this man, many years older than myself. He reminds me of my mom. I can’t help but trust him. “I’m still thinking about it.”
“Good. Now get some rest.” Ward Veremund, patting me on the shoulder, chuckles as he turns. “Goodness knows, you’ve done so much for the Wards and Adytol in such a short amount of time, you’ve got to be exhausted. Goodnight, Estelle.”
“Goodnight, Ward Veremund.” I wave once at him, and then turn back to the door. Inserting the key, I hear the door lock click and I’m able to turn the copper handle. The door swings open and I stare as I step inside.
I’ve come into what has to be the strangest and most beautiful room I could have imagined. By the door I’ve entered is a cherry wood desk and a matching wardrobe and dresser set with a vanity mirror atop it set to one side. On both sides of the room are wooden doors. But I don’t know where those doors go, it’s not the bedroom, because across a beautiful blue, white, and gold circular rug with star-designs and behind a three-panel white taupe divider is a large bed—it would have easily fit my bed and my mom’s bed from back home—topped with more pillows than I’ve seen in my life, sharing the same blue, white, and gold colors that the rug has. And beyond that lies Astralux atop a large circular deep blue cushion, her tail tapping on the stone floor as she watches me.
“Hello!” Astralux says excitedly. “What do you think?”
“This is my room? Er, our room?” I look up to see that the ceiling arches above us many meters, giving Astralux ample room to stretch her wings out. I can tell that the room widens out farther ahead. Beyond her are white taupe curtains that wave in the gentle summer breeze coming through what must be an opening to a balcony, allowing Astralux to get in and out. “This is so big! And so beautiful!” I go over to the desk, staring over freshly pressed parchment papers, still ivory in color, stacked in a neat pile. There are a couple of white feather quills waiting in a clean jar. I find a bottle of black ink in the drawer desk, along with a letter opener. I then head to the wardrobe and open it. I’m surprised to find a couple of dresses hanging inside. “They gave me clothes? And shoes?”
“I think you have more clothes in the dresser as well,” Astralux says.
She’s right—I find a number of intimates, short-sleeved and long-sleeved flowy cloth shirts, and several pairs of pants. I track down several nightgowns and shirt and pant sleepwear as well. My eyes tear up as I find more socks than I’d ever owned in my life. “This is amazing.”
Astralux gives a snort. “I overheard them talking—you’re so small they were having a tough time trying to find you enough clothes that weren’t childish. I think they wanted to get you more.”
“More?!” Deciding I want to be comfortable but not quite so dressy, I take out one of the shirt and pant sleepwear items, and a fresh change of underwear. I glance at the doors to the sides. “What’s that?”
“The one by your dresser goes to a hallway with extra rooms if you ever have family. The other goes to a privy and bathing room.” Astralux’s grin returns when I gape at her. “Not used of your own privy and tub?”
“I’ve never heard of a privy being inside. And our tub was outside because we didn’t have room.” I walk over and am surprised by the large, tile-plastered room I see. Like the main bedroom, it’s lit with several candle sconces on the walls, but there’s a large white taupe-curtained window that I’m sure provides ample light during the daytime. Of course, with my improved eyesight, the light that it has now is sufficient. There’s even a washbasin in here with a bar of soup that smells of lavender, and a white hand towel. I step out, still staring around, until Astralux laughs. Then I walk her way. “So, the stories I heard about dragons always said that they slept on beds of gold.”
Astralux gives a snort. “I certainly don’t like stones poking in my back. I might have a tougher hide, but that doesn’t mean I don’t like a soft bed.” She runs her head along her bed, and I chuckle at the way her eyes close and she makes a happy-growling sound, almost like a giant cat purring as she nuzzles the cushion with her cheeks. Lifting her head, Astralux gives me a sheepish grin and then nods to the side. “Dragons do like precious metals and gems, but we like to look at them, not lay on them.”
I follow her gaze to see that hanging from the wall are all sorts of beautiful mosaics utilizing gold, silver, bronze, brass, copper, and gems of every sort of color. Amazed, I walk over to the pictures, gazing over the brilliant designs. The candlelight glints off the precious metals and gems. The pictures of mostly of landscapes, many featuring starry nights.
“And of course, I have a few prized gems.” Astralux nods to her bed, where I spot a handful of large, fist-sized gems on her cushion.
I want to ask Astralux so many questions. But I’m also a bit overwhelmed, and turn, staring about the room several times, before Astralux reaches out with her nose and bumps my shoulder. “I’m in shock,” I say at last.
“I’m sure,” Astralux says. “Go get comfortable. Then we can talk.”
Cheered by this proposition, I head over to my clothes. I glance at Astralux but she’s looking away. I change into my sleepwear and pad to the privy. Still unnerved by relieving myself inside a building, especially since I can smell so much better, I finish up and then notice a cord hanging beside the strange, built-in porcelain seat. I reach up, expecting to hear a bell, and pull. I jump back as the hollow center of the porcelain seat opens up, dumping the waste contents, and water rushes through it, cleaning it, before the center closes again. Amazed, I try it out again before remembering that Astralux is waiting for me. I hurriedly wash my hands and head out.
“Astralux, it, it just empties!” I exclaim. “The privy just washes itself out!”
Astralux laughs. “Apparently I’m spoiled—I didn’t know that this wasn’t more common.”
“I’ve never seen or heard of anything like that!” I head to the bed and climb in, amazed at how comfy it seems. It’s so massive that I have to crawl to the center. But I’m not sure how much I like this, so I shift until I’m closer to Astralux. My bed isn’t that far from her, and we share a smile as I lay down. “I feel like a queen.”
Chuckling, Astralux lowers her head. She looks from me around at the room. “No one’s stayed in here since Tristin died.”
I watch her face. I’m starting to learn how to read her expressions, and I can see the way her brow above her eyes is bent down toward the back of her head, indicating sorrow. “Does it bother you that I’m here?” I ask.
“No. No, it’s nice to have you here,” Astralux says. “I’ve been sleeping here since we’ve arrived in Adytol, but it felt so lonely. I honestly haven’t been sleeping well. Especially since I lied to you.”
“You didn’t lie to me,” I say.
“But I didn’t tell you the full truth, and you deserved that much,” Astralux says.
I watch her face, thinking through everything that had happened to us. I remember seeing Astralux for the first time, a brilliant white dragon swooping down at me from the dark night sky, rescuing me from my death and from Vladykar Lochan and Pesokvglazu. I rise, picking up one of my pillows and the top blanket. I slide down off the side of the bed and walk over to Astralux, who is watching me curiously. She scoots to one side and I step onto her bed, curling up with my blanket and laying down beside her. Astralux puts her front left paw around my legs, and nestles her neck and head around me. Clearly, she’s not bothered my presence.
“I’ve already forgiven you,” I say gently. “Besides. You did save me. Without you, I’d be lost.”
Astralux nuzzles my head. “I’d be lost without you too.”
I close my eyes. “Astralux?”
“Hm?”
“I think I want to become a Ward.”
I feel Astralux stiffen in surprise. “Really?! That’s awesome! But, what changed your mind?” she asks.
“I thought being a Ward meant fighting. I thought it meant I would become a warrior, going into battle constantly, and focus on nothing but killing. And I don’t want to do that. But now I realize that being a Ward is more than that. It’s about helping people. And I already want to do that. I’ve lived my whole life wanting to do that, and now I’m empowered to spend my life aiding others.” I turn onto my back, looking up into Astralux’s deep blue eyes. “I want to work with you to help people.”
Astralux beams down at me. I hear her tail tapping on the floor. “I’d be honored to work with you to help people.”
Smiling, I close my eyes again, too tired to stay awake. But I feel warm with hope and purpose beside my dear new friend and bonded dragon.
Tamara Rivers 
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