Page 56 of Stolen By Dragons

Voices overlapped as the council members argued, their faces flushed with a mix of anger, fear, and confusion. I stoodsilently, watching as the pillars of Dracarian society bickered like children.

"Enough!" my father's voice boomed, silencing the room instantly. He stood, his presence commanding everyone's attention. "This bickering solves nothing. We face an unprecedented situation, yes, but losing our heads will not help matters."

He paused, his gaze sweeping across the room. "We must consult the Seer. Elara's wisdom has guided us through dark times before. Perhaps she can shed light on this... unexpected development."

As the council's arguments reached a fever pitch, I seized a moment of relative quiet to speak up.

"There's another matter we need to address immediately," I said, my voice cutting through the moment of silence. All eyes turned to me. "The baby dragons have already demonstrated elemental breath abilities. One of them injured a vampire with its fire breath. If we don't take precautions, they could seriously damage the Keep or harm others."

My father's brow furrowed. "What do you propose, Eirian?"

"I believe we should alter the magical wards on the Keep," I replied. "We need to implement safeguards to neutralize the dragons' elemental abilities within the living areas, at least until they can be properly trained."

Lady Aurelia nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, that could work. We could create a dampening field that specifically targets draconic magic. It wouldn't affect the bonded humans or other supernatural beings, just the dragons' elemental powers."

My father considered this for a moment, then nodded decisively. "Make it so, Lady Aurelia. Begin work on these new wards immediately."

"Yes, Your Majesty," she replied, already looking excited at the prospect of the magical challenge.

My father then turned to address the rest of the council. "As for the rest of you, I expect you to maintain calm among our people while we get to the bottom of this situation. Panic and rumors will only make things worse."

The council members nodded, some more reluctantly than others.

"I will reconvene this council after we have consulted with Seer Elara," my father continued. "Until then, focus on your duties and prepare for any eventualities. We must be ready to adapt to whatever this new development may bring."

With that, he gestured for my mother and me to follow him. As we left the council chamber, I could hear the hushed whispers of the council members, a mix of concern and curiosity in their voices.

The seer, an ancient Dracarian named Elara, greeted us with knowing eyes as we entered her chamber, tucked into a corner of the Dragon Keep. Her room was lined with bookshelves stacked full with ancient texts, and the unique ancient magic vibrated in her room. I’d always found visiting her to feel like I was speaking with ancestors from long ago. She was one of the oldest of us, having gained the ability of sight, something few Dracarians had the ability to do. Her scales, visible even in her human form, shimmered with an otherworldly light as she smiled at us.

"I've been expecting you," she said, her voice carrying the weight of ages. "The threads of fate have shifted, weaving a new pattern."

"Can you make sense of this, Elara?" my father asked. "Why have the dragons been reborn instead of awakened?"

Elara closed her swirling gray eyes, her form shimmering as she reached out with her mystical senses. "The old magic stirs," she murmured. "It responds to the blood of the earth-dwellers in ways we could not have foreseen. This is... most intriguing."

"Intriguing?" my mother scoffed. "It's a disaster! How are infant dragons supposed to help us fight the Void?"

"Peace, Isolde," my father said, placing a calming hand on her arm. "We must trust in the old ways. If this is the path the magic has chosen, there must be a reason."

“Yes, these baby dragons still hold powerful magic, magic we can’t begin to comprehend,” Elara said with a slow nod, the edges of her eyes crinkling. Her eyes always glittered, like a gray galaxy of mysteries, of ancient wisdom.

"Elara, what would you advise regarding the living arrangements for these new dragons?" my father asked. "Should we create a separate nursery for them, or...?"

The ancient seer closed her eyes for a moment, as if consulting with unseen forces. When she opened them again, her gaze was clear and certain.

"The dragons must remain with their bonded people,” she said firmly. "The connection between them is crucial and must be nurtured. Separating them now could weaken the bond and potentially limit their growth and abilities."

My mother frowned. "But the risks-"

"Can be mitigated," I interjected, seeing an opportunity. "We've already discussed implementing new magical wards to dampen the dragons' elemental abilities within the living areas."

My father nodded, his expression grave. "Yes, and in light of Elara's advice, those wards have become even more critical." He turned to me. "Eirian, as soon as we're done here, inform Lady Aurelia that this is now her top priority. The new wards must be in place as soon as possible."

"Of course, Father," I replied, already thinking about the logistics of housing the dragons with their human companions.

Elara spoke up again, her voice carrying a weight of prophecy. "The bond between dragon and their chosen is key to facing the challenges ahead. It must be allowed to flourish,to grow strong. Only then will they have a chance against the encroaching darkness."

The gravity of her words settled over us like a heavy cloak. My father straightened, his face set with determination.

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