Page 49 of The White Dragon's Dilemma

“You don’t look like Billynow.I mean Billy doesn’t look like younow, because he’s old, you see.Still my little brother, but much older than you,” she prattled on, telling him some story about how Billy was actually apaper boyand here he was delivering her paper just to bekind.

Not to be kind! I need you to stop looking at me so I can shift!

But Caden didn’t say that.He just nodded and smiled though that smile was becoming more and more desperate as the story or stories went on.She was now telling him how Billy actually became a reporter and actually wrote for the paper he had delivered for.But then Billy got laid off and wasn’t that sad?In any event…

Caden took a step back and said, “Miss--miss--”

“You aren’t going, are you?”The elderly woman asked and looked so sad as she murmured to herself, “Of course, you are.Why would you want to listen to an old woman talk about her little brother who passed away well before his time?”

Tears welled in her eyes, but she squared her birdlike shoulders and prepared to hobble in on her own.Caden internally groaned.

“Actually, I do have to go, but I promise that I will be back and I really do want to hear about Billy,” he told her.

“Oh, that’s all right.You don’t have to say that.I’ll be fine--”

“No, I’m not making an excuse.I reallydohave to go, because you see…” His mouth went dry.He was going to reveal to the world he was the White Dragon Shifter.Why not to this woman first?This time he squared his shoulders and said in a voice that sounded almost authoritative, “There’s danger in Reach and I have to stop it.”

She looked at him skeptically.“Really?Well, then you must be off.”

“Yes, I must, but Iwillbe back,” Caden promised her as he memorized the address.“I promise.”

Then he turned and raced down away a few feet andshifted.There was no hesitation.No problem.He became the White Dragon.He heard Tilly clap and cheer.So did Wally and Rose.

Iolaire immediately flapped their wings and they were twenty feet in the air.Caden had them crane their neck around to look down at the old woman.She had dropped her paper and her hands were up to her face like the kid inHome Alone.

I really hope that we didn’t give her a heart attack,Caden told Iolaire.

His Spirit observed the old woman carefully and showed him an image of her giving them tea and cookies in the future.Iolaire thought that she would be just fine.

Okay!Now let’s find that bomb.

Iolaire took them higher into the sky and turned them towards Reach’s main entrance far below.The parade route for King Anwar would follow the main curving road that went from the entrance to the gates of High Reach.Already the route was lined with people at least a dozen deep.Despite all of the bomb threats and the deaths, people were still out in force to greet the Silver Dragon.

The popular Dragon Shifter whose territory encompassed the Middle East and more was known for his style, beauty and sparkling wit. He had turned an area known for its conflicts into one that was mostly peaceful.Viewed as a god by many in the region, he was a beneficent one, at least.He ruled justly and, while not as forward thinking as Queen Jahara in some respects, he had instituted human rights for all in his territory.

Many of the practices and laws that had made women second-class citizens in many of the countries he ruled were now gone.The social stagnation that had kept power in the hands of the few was relaxed.Oil revenue was still important, but he was shifting his territory’s economy towards renewable energy and bio-technology.He was intent on making some of the deserts into gardens once more. King Anwar’s name meant “brighter” or “more luminous” in Arabic and that was how he spoke of the future.He gave peoplehope.

And now, he might be walking into death,Caden thought grimly as he and Iolaire began to fly the parade route.I don’t see Spirits, Iolaire?Do you?

Caden wasn’t sure exactly how this “seeing Spirits” thing was supposed to work.He hadn’t seen any before and--

Holy smokes! How did you do that?

Caden gasped as suddenly he saw balls of light dancing on the breeze and bouncing along the rooftops and darting in and out of homes.

Are those all Spirits?There are so many of them!

Truthfully, there looked to be enough Spirits to join with each and every citizen of Reach.And that was just in the city.A brief glance outside of Reach’s walls showed that the density of Spirits was less, but there were still a ton.It was a sobering sight.

Iolaire, the Spirits understand that if they join with every human that there won’t be any more humans ever again, right?No babies… that’s the tradeoff for immortality.

Iolaire hooted sadly that yes, the Spirits did know.But some of them wanted to be in this world so much that they might not hold back.If there were enough deaths… Iolaire did not have to end that sentence.Caden understood.The Faith’s plan would tempt the Spirits just as much as they hoped it would.

Except now the Faith doesn’t have to do the dirty work.Humans First is doing it for them.Caden gritted their teeth.C’mon, Iolaire, we’ve got to find that bomb!

Iolaire narrowed their eyes so that they could judge how many of the Spirits were in any one place.They flew over the entirety of the parade route to check out the density of the Spirits.There were so many of them.They clearly were reacting to the people’s excitement and maybe the near presence of King Anwar.

With everything happening, maybe Valerius should have stopped people from congregating.

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