“I haven’t!” Tez blinked.
Caden chuckled, remembering how drunk Valerius had gotten on the stuff.
Tez allowed Marban to lead him out of the room as well. Anwar went over to Valerius. “While you look for the human counterpart, I am going to comb through my territory’s histories to find out something about the original wall. Maybe that is the key to finding out the makers of these new walls.”
Valerius nodded. “Thank you, Anwar. If not for you we would not have known any of this.”
Anwar gave a graceful bow and came over to Caden. He put both hands on Caden’s shoulders. Caden tried to brighten for him, but he couldn’t help but feel he had failed in keeping Illarion here.
“I can see that you feel badly about Illarion choosing to leave,” Anwar said with a knowing look. He had been here the shortest amount of time, but seemed to know Caden so well already.
Caden nodded. “I realize that Illarion has issues. There are things about him that I object to. He can be a bully and a cretin and cruel but…”
“But you feel he can be redeemed?” Anwar gave him a crooked smile and nodded. “Yes, few have thought as you do, but I think you are right. To be honest, Illarion has been more honest and thoughtful with you than I have seen him before. But Esme is quite correct that he has made a terrible mess and he will reap the whirlwind in time.”
“I just want…” Caden pressed his lips together. They were trembling and he felt the absurd urge to cry. He couldn’t believe he was considering crying about Illarion!
Anwar embraced him and soothed him. “It is all right, White Dragon. Let it out. So much has happened. It has been very hard.”
Caden tried to hold the tears in, but he found himself ugly crying on Anwar’s shoulder. Surprising, for one so beautifully dressed--and he remembered what Esme had said about Anwar being particular--Anwar seemed not to be concerned in the least for snot on his clothes.
“I don’t know what’s wrong with me.” Caden pulled back as he tried to get a hold of himself. “It’s just… as long as we’re all together there’s hope that this can be stopped. If we break apart…”
Anwar nodded as if his left off sentences made sense. He appeared calm and collected. Caden suddenly felt the gulf of their ages. He caught sight of Valerius out of the corner of his eyes. The Black Dragon King was preparing two glasses of wine for them. Caden was surprised that he wasn’t acting jealous. And then Caden felt over their bond and realized that caring outweighed jealousy by a mile. Valerius knew that Anwar was being his friend.
“When I arrived here, Caden, I was expecting to find my fellow Dragon Shifters at each other’s throats,” Anwar said with a broad smile.
Caden lifted an eyebrow. “And you think they’re not?”
Anwar’s laughter was rich and musical. It reminded Caden of vast open deserts and brilliant clear skies. “Oh, yes, but not in the way we have been. There was sniping, of course. Our personalities contrast and sometimes cause issues between us, but the moment I arrived, I felt something was different.”
Rose handed him a Kleenix, which Caden gratefully used. “What was that?”
“There was a camaraderie I had never felt before. We were a clan. We were connected. It was not Dragon against Dragon, but the Dragons together against a common foe to protect our people.”
“That’s what I want,” Caden got out. He grimaced. “I know that’s not my call. I’m coming in here and acting like what I think should have some weight--”
“Of course it should!” Anwar grinned. “We’ve been too long on our own. We came together during the war because of the sheer force of Valerius’ personality and the need to do so. But wanting to be near one another? Seeking each others’ counsel? I think not. But that’s there now.”
“It’s falling apart though. Illarion is just the first,” Caden got out. “All of you will have to go back to your territories and the threat of the Behemoth will still be out there.”
“Even when we do go back, we are still connected. Not only does this shared threat connect us, but so does you and Iolaire bring us together.” Another bright, beaming smile lit Anwar’s face. “We have a baby Dragon to take care of. A new member of our clan that both needs our help and will help us see ourselves.”
Caden found himself smiling through his tears. “I’ve felt since all of you are here that the world is safer.”
“It is. And physical separation won’t change that,” Anwar assured him, squeezing his shoulders. “Illarion is a troubled soul. But you have reached him. Valerius can tell you that most of all. I did not think it was possible. But… Illarion is Illarion.”
Caden’s head bobbed as he understood the heart of that message. Illarion was who he was. Caden could not change him. Illarion could only change himself if he so chose, and maybe there wasn’t a lot of room to make that change.
“Now, rest. Take comfort in Valerius and we shall meet again in the morning,” Anwar told him.
Again, Caden nodded. Emotions clogged his throat to the point where he could not speak. Anwar hugged him again, waved at Valerius and Rose before taking his leave.
Rose had gotten awkwardly to her feet. Her expression was shadowed. Caden feared it was because she still was blaming herself for not reporting the wall to Marban, but there was something more to her look. She was troubled.
“Hey, Rose, what’s up?” he asked as he tried to rub away the emotion of the day from his face.
“I’m… I’m not sure. I need to ah… I need to go,” she said.
