Laucian remained silent through much of the journey to the Druid Circle that the book spoke of. They chartered a ship from the public harbor on the Island of the Gods and sailed to the small island where they believed the Staff was located. Talking to his mother had been good, but it also left Laucian with a sense of loneliness that seemingly couldn’t be filled. Laucian had hoped to find Ulceaon at the harbor but was disappointed to find he wasn’t there. Despite everything, Laucian still loved Ulceaon and wanted desperately to have him back. As for Galdore, well, Laucian didn’t quite know what to think about him. A half-brother? Laucian hated his father more now. How could he hurt Laucian’s mother like that?

The boat docked on the island and Laucian and Aya disembarked. The island was small, essentially just one big hill. Nautical charts on the ship said it was the intersection of the Ley Lines of water and earth. As they climbed up the hill, they looked back at the sea and saw ships fast approaching them. They were too far to make out the flag that was flying atop the mast, but Laucian suspected that they were not friendly. If it was the Confederacy, they would have sent dragons and if it was the Supreme Republic, they would have sent Dragon Riders. Laucian didn’t know who else was on their side and so decided to be wary of everybody.

When they reached the top of the hill, they were standing at the perimeter of a ring of stones. In the center of the ring was a stone altar. Stuck in the middle of the altar was a wooden rod, which was covered in ivy.

The sun was just starting to set, and the moon was rising. As it rose, its light fell on the ring of stones and the shape of a woman appeared. When the woman fully materialized, she smiled at the two elves. She radiated light like, well not sunlight, but moonlight. From Laucian’s studies on the Draconian Deities he knew that this woman was Hathor, goddess of the moon, love, fate, and motherhood. Hathor said, “Come forward, young prince.” Laucian stepped forward and bowed to the goddess. Hathor continued, “I have been waiting for you to come here. Your fate has been set out since before you were born. You have always been destined to wield the Staff of Divine-Arcana. Before you can take it, however, I must be sure you are worthy of it. If you touch the Staff and there is anger or hatred in your heart, the power of the Staff shall consume you so that you burst into flames. I have blessed you with extraordinary powers of love, but your life has not been an easy one. There are many in your life for whom it might be hard to feel love. Clear your heart of all ill will.”

Laucian prepared himself. He thought first of Ulceaon and the anger that had consumed him that night at the Inn. He could get past that; he loved Ulceaon, that much was clear. He next thought of Galdore; what he had done was inexcusable, but Laucian then thought of all the happy times they had as children. Galdore was his best friend and Laucian didn’t want to lose him either. The last one he thought of was his father. His father, for whom he carried the most anger and hatred. How could he love the father that hated him? He looked into the face of Hathor and said, “I don’t think I can take the Staff. There is no room for my father in my heart.”

To Laucian’s surprise, Hathor began to cry. Her tears fell fast and shone with moonlike radiance also. She said, “Oh, young prince, I am sorry. Your life has not been easy. The abuse you have suffered at the hands of your father is appalling. Loving your father has nothing to do with his feelings toward you. It is the love we show for our enemies that make us truly strong. It is easy to love a friend; there is no great victory in that. What is harder is loving those that despise you. I can’t make you love an enemy, but I can give you something that may help.” With that, Hathor embraced Laucian. It was a weird sensation. Being hugged by Hathor was literally being embraced in the arms of Love. Laucian felt an overwhelming sense of love; he felt love from everybody who ever loved him: his sister, his uncle, Galdore, Ulceaon, and, best of all, his mother. When he felt his mother’s love radiating from Hathor, Laucian broke down; he began to cry afresh and sank to his knees. Hathor lowered him to the ground and pulled away from him. Laucian didn’t exactly love his father, but he found that the hatred he felt was gone. His father may hate him, but Laucian found that he could forgive his father of that.

Laucian stood and placed his hand on the wooden rod. Using magic, Hathor caused the ivy to fall away from the Staff. Laucian pulled the Staff out of the altar and muttered a quick spell of binding. The night sky was suddenly lit up with fluorescent greens and purples and blues. If you’ve ever seen the Aurora Borealis in our world, it looked something like that except that here, the light looked as if it had been woven like a blanket made of reeds. Laucian knew that he was looking at the manifestation of the Weave, the Powers Arcane that Thoth organized near the beginning of the world. The light eventually died, and Hathor disappeared, her work completed. Unbeknownst to Laucian, Aya had come forward to join him. They turned around to go back the way they came but stopped suddenly. Facing them, standing at the perimeter of the ring, was an army, or more accurately, two armies. The light of the full moon illuminated the banners that the armies were carrying: Gionegrast and Elysium. Those must have been the ships that Laucian saw on the horizon.

“Very good, Laucian,” said a voice Laucian instantly recognized as his father’s. “Now, hand me the Staff and your quest shall be complete.”

Laucian looked to where his father was standing; it was hard not to feel anger at his father right now, but Laucian knew that Hathor’s warning was still in effect. Laucian said, “I can’t do that father. That was not my quest. Horus did not give me permission to give the Staff to anyone.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Lucian said. “It is tradition that the son presents a token from the completed quest to the father. Give it to me. I’ll give you your inheritance.”

“How did you even find us?” Laucian asked.

“I had a little help,” Lucian said, wickedly. He gestured and two guards holding a hooded figure stepped forward. They removed the hood and threw the person to the ground. Laucian recognized Galdore. He looked bad; he had two black eyes, a bleeding nose and lip, and several marks from a whip on his bare back. Lucian continued, “I take it you have been informed about your half-brother?”

“What have you done to him?!” Laucian cried.

“He’s got it easy,” Lucian threatened. “Compared to what I’m going to do to you if you don’t give me the Staff.” Meanwhile, Aya had helped Galdore to his feet and was leading him away from the standoff. Laucian held the staff firmly in both hands and said, “No. The Staff was entrusted to me. I cannot give it to anyone else.”

“Very well,” Lucian said. “Then I shall take it from you.” With that, Lucian gave the order to charge. Laucian readied for a fight. He had the Staff; that had to be some advantage.

Ulceaon had commandeered a small ship from the Grand Temple of Horus and was sailing to the Island of the Moon. He knew that is where he would find Laucian. When he reached the Island, he saw an entire Armada was already docked. He decided to sail round the island to find a safer place to make harbor.

When he docked his boat, he began climbing the hill. The Army he’d seen unloading the boats had, unfortunately, sent scouts around the other side of the island. Ulceaon was confronted by two knights from Gionegrast. He pulled out the crook and flail and swung the flail as hard as he could. The chains magically grew and wrapped themselves around one of the knight’s throat until the spiked balls on the end stuck solidly in the man’s throat. He was simultaneously suffocated while having his throat cut. When Ulceaon yanked on the flail, the man’s head came clean off and the chain returned to its normal size. Ulceaon decided to test out the powers of the crook on the next knight. He raised the crook and pointed it at the man. At this point, he heard Horus’s voice in his head guiding him on what to do next. Ulceaon spoke and said, “You saw nothing. You will go back to the beach and sit there for twelve hours.” The knight turned and walked away. Ulceaon resumed his climb.

When he was near the top of the hill, he saw a brilliant light in the sky. Ulceaon knew it must be the manifestation of the Weave. Ulceaon was momentarily stunned, amazed by the beauty of the light. When it disappeared, he continued up the hill. Upon reaching the top, he first saw Aya and Galdore, who were closest to him. Aya looked like she was supporting Galdore. Ulceaon could only see the back of Galdore but that was enough; he saw the wounds from a whip. Ulceaon figured Galdore’s face must be similar.

The next thing Ulceaon saw was Laucian facing off against the armies of Gionegrast and Elysium. Ulceaon could just barely make out what was being said. Laucian said “No. The Staff was entrusted to me. I cannot give it to anyone else.”

“Very well,” Lucian said. “Then I shall take it from you.” And he gave the order to attack. Ulceaon knew Laucian was outnumbered. Internally he pleaded for Horus to help. Instantly, Ulceaon felt power flowing through him. He knew exactly what to do. It wasn’t that Horus was guiding him as a voice inside Ulceaon’s head. Every thought that Ulceaon had was shared with Horus and every thought that Horus had came as one of Ulceaon’s own. At that moment, their wills had become perfectly aligned. Ulceaon had truly become the Eye of Horus. Ulceaon pulled his sword from its sheath to find that the sword has become a khopesh. The crook and flail were on his back – the flail was enchanted so that it never hurt its master – and he pulled the crook out and pointed it at the advancing armies. Instantly, a wall of force exploded between Laucian and the armies. Those that hit it were blasted back, falling onto their comrades who were behind them.

When Ulceaon next spoke, it was with a power that he had never had before. He shouted, “Stop, In the name of Almighty Horus, cease this squabbling.”

Laucian turned to look at who had spoken. When he saw Ulceaon, he was overcome with a feeling of joy. His heart wouldn’t stop leaping. He noticed a couple of things different about Ulceaon. First, the sword he held was a khopesh; second, he had a shepherd’s crook in his other hand and a war flail on his back; third, and strangest of all, Ulceaon’s eyes were not their normal chestnut brown; one was silver, and one was gold and they glowed with brilliant energy. Laucian knew at once what was going on; Ulceaon had merged with Horus; he had become the Eye of Horus. Those others that recognized the signs of the Avatar of Horus became afraid. Many ran away but there were several that stayed. Among these were the magicians that Halinor had recruited for his special purpose. They each held one of the Draconic Artifacts. Halinor himself had the Sword of Light. There was only one who didn’t have an Artifact, who was obviously the Sorcerer.

Halinor laughed at Ulceaon. “Fool! Do you think that Horus scares me? He is nothing when compared to the powers of the Draconic Artifacts. You cannot defeat me.” Halinor raised the Sword of Light and brought it crashing down on Ulceaon’s wall of force. The wall was ripped apart and dissolved into nothing. Laucian conjured a fireball on the end of the Staff and flung it at Halinor, but Halinor raised the Sword again. The flame was absorbed by the Sword without hurting Halinor. “Idiot boy! Don’t you know anything? The Artifacts cannot hurt each other.”

Laucian backed away from Halinor, Staff still raised. The wielder of the Trident of Nature called lightning into his Artifact and aimed it at Laucian. Ulceaon reacted with reflexes that were a lot faster than they used to be. He jumped in front of Laucian just as the lightning was about to hit Laucian. Ulceaon absorbed the impact of the lightning and collapsed to the ground. The Holy Symbol around Ulceaon’s neck was glowing brighter and burning hotter as the god tried to sustain his Avatar. Horus knew that he couldn’t abandon Ulceaon, for that would be dishonorable, but he also knew that if he stayed, the magic from the Trident would kill them both.

Laucian ran to Ulceaon’s side, dropping the Staff as he went. He had forgotten what was going on. The only thing that mattered was Ulceaon. Aya dropped Galdore, who didn’t object, and ran to try to beat Halinor’s sorcerer to the Staff. She was barely too late, and the sorcerer raised the Staff toward her, but at the last minute had to duck away as something from behind Aya hurled a blast of poison at the sorcerer. Aya turned and saw dragons flying overhead. She recognized the members of the Council of Dragons and especially Supreme Dragon Griffot. The nondragon members of the Council were there as well, dropping from the sky as their draconic colleagues dropped them off on the hill. Several of the other dragons had riders on their backs. Most of these riders seemed pretty short; they were the Dragon Riders of Talle. The Airship Armada of the Guardians of Light also appeared in the sky and ladders began dropping from the ships. Men began descending the ladders in droves, dropping to the ground, and readying for the fight. From the beach, the sounds of another battle were already being heard. Though nobody on the top of the hill knew it yet, but the forces of Halinor that fled from Ulceaon/Horus were now being confronted by the Army and Navy of the Supreme Republic.

Halinor called his magicians to his side and Halinor used the Sword to cast a protective enchantment around them. Lucian led the rest of the men in the charge against the forces of the Confederacy, which included his own brother, Chancellor Celore Xiloscient. A huge battle had broken out all over the island and, as they would all find out later, another battle was raging on the mainland of Draconia as the allies of Halinor invaded neighboring kingdoms. Through it all, Laucian was desperately trying to pull Ulceaon out of danger while Ulceaon thrashed all over. A little way off, Halinor and his band of magicians had begun a spell. The Lute of Elemental Magic was already beginning to do its work. A portal was opening in the air above the island. The airships and the dragons maneuvered to avoid it.

Laucian was finally able to get Ulceaon to a safe place, sheltered behind one on the stones. Ulceaon looked into the face of the man he loved. He said, “I’m sorry Laucian. For what I did to you. I never wanted to cause you pain. I love you and only you. I would do anything to make you happy.”

Laucian began crying all over again. He said, “Ulceaon, don’t talk now. Save your strength. It’s okay. I forgive you. I love you, too.”

“I wish,” Ulceaon said. “I wish we had more time. There is still so much I wanted to know about you.”

“We’ll have time,” Laucian replied. “We’ll have all the time in the world.” Laucian pulled out the ring that Aya had retrieved and said, “Ulceaon, will you marry me?”

Ulceaon smiled and said, “Yes, of course I will. Nothing would make me happier.” Laucian put the ring on Ulceaon’s finger, which was hard because Ulceaon was still spasming violently. Ulceaon continued, “Don’t worry about me, Laucian. Go help stop this war. Horus commands it.” Laucian nodded and, with one last kiss, picked up his sword and joined the fight. Anytime an enemy assailant got near Ulceaon, he would raise his hand and a jet of light would shoot toward the attacker.

Laucian fought his way to the circle where Halinor and the magicians stood casting their wicked spell. The sorcerer had already fallen. There was no sign of him anywhere and the Staff lay on the ground just outside the circle. Laucian picked it up and pointed it at Halinor. He launched spell after spell at Halinor, but nothing could penetrate the circle. Halinor was right; the magic of the Artifacts could not work against each other. Their wielders on the other hand… Laucian made his way around the circle of protection to face Halinor and shouted over the noise, “Halinor! Stop this madness before you kill us all!”

Halinor didn’t stop chanting the spell. Laucian would have tried the Staff again but was attacked from the side by none other than his father. He managed to block the attack with his sword. Laucian said, “I don’t want to fight you father. It would not be right.”

“How is it?” Lucian asked. “That Galdore is the illegitimate son, but it is you who are the bastard?”

“Stop it father,” Laucian said. “Don’t do this.”

Lucian attacked and Laucian blocked it again. Lucian spat and said, “You’re a son of a bitch.”

Laucian grew angry. He didn’t mind his father’s insults toward him, but now Lucian was involving Laucian’s mother. “What did you say?” Laucian asked.

“I said you’re a son of a bitch,” Lucian repeated, smiling malevolently.

Laucian finally snapped and attacked back. Fighting one-handed was not as easy as it may have seemed, especially when the other hand held a large staff. He decided to use the Staff and cast a binding spell on his father. Lucian was bound with ropes and fell to the ground. Laucian leaned over him and said, “Never insult my mother again. She was too good for you.” Laucian spat in his father’s face and left him on the ground. He turned back to Halinor just in time to see the four remaining magicians complete their spell. Jets of light shot into the sky from each of the four artifacts. The portal in the sky exploded, becoming much larger as it began to pull dragons toward it. Nothing else seemed to be affected by it but every dragon in the area was now struggling to stay out of the portal. It was not going well for the dragons. The first dragons began to get dragged into the portal. Laucian noticed in horror than many of the riders were still mounted on the backs of their dragon. It was not only the dragons around the island. The pull from the portal was so strong that dragons all over Draconia were being pulled toward that island and sucked into the portal. Many mountainsides and walls had holes blown in them from the force of a dragon smashing through them. Tearing his eyes away from the terrible sight of dragons being pulled against their will through a portal, Laucian saw that Halinor, and the other magicians had all fallen to the ground, apparently dead. There was another explosion as the last dragon went through the portal and it exploded again. Laucian could feel the force of the explosion rip a hole in the Weave, strands of Arcane Magic floating about, unorganized.

Suddenly, there was a brightness that defied the nighttime. Laucian turned to see the Solar Barge descending from its place in the eastern sky. Pelor stood prominently on the deck clearly visible to all who could see the Barge. With him, seemed to be most the Draconian Deities: Bast, Bes, Hathor, Isis, Anubis, Imhotep, Ptah, and Thoth. Thoth seemed to be doubled over in pain at the moment, probably feeling the damage to the Weave. Behind the gods, rising high above the mast was a dragon beyond any that Draconia had seen. This was a dragon of legend: a Radiant Dragon. The only Radiant Dragon in existence. The Solar Barge touched down and the gods made quick work of their enemies. Nobody could stand against the powers of the gods. The Radiant Dragon easily destroyed all that tried to fight it.

When the battle was over, the largest of the Supreme Republic’s airships landed and the President of the Supreme Republic disembarked. Pelor walked right up to the President and said, “Send your men to the mainland of Draconia and put a stop to the battles you will find there.” The President nodded and reboarded his ship. It took off and Pelor turned to Laucian. “We received a distress call from King Horus. Where is he?”

From behind Pelor, Ulceaon called, “Right here.” He was standing, barely, with the support of Aya. Aya brought Ulceaon before Pelor and said, “The Holy Symbol is burning him. I think the injury that Ulceaon suffered is also affecting Horus.” Pelor stretched out his hand and grasped the Holy Symbol. He didn’t seem bothered by the extreme heat of it, but he was the Sun God. Instantly, the symbol’s light died down and it cooled down slightly. Pelor said, “the curse is strong. I cannot seem to break it. Imhotep, help.”

Imhotep stepped forward and placed his hands on Ulceaon’s head. The rest of the heat faded from the Holy Symbol and Ulceaon stopped convulsing. He lay still, seemingly unconscious. A man appeared, laying beside Ulceaon. The man arose. He was dressed as Ulceaon was, in full battle armor, with a khopesh by his side and a crook and flail strapped to his back. This was Horus, King of the Gods and God of War. Horus smiled at Laucian and said, “Don’t worry, young prince. He’ll be alright.” As Horus said this, Ulceaon opened his eyes. The first thing Laucian noticed was that they were still silver and gold, though there wasn’t the same brightness in them. Laucian looked at Horus who explained, “He is my chosen Eye. He will always have a little of me in him, but it is not as active now. The eyes are the mark of my chosen.”

Laucian looked back at Ulceaon, who smiled and said, “Morning, how’d you sleep?” Laucian laughed and replied, “I didn’t.”

“Shame, I feel like I got the best sleep in ages.”

When Ulceaon was ready to stand, Laucian decided to ask him again to marry him. Laucian wanted to do it proper, where everyone could see. There was applause from all around and the voice the carried through all the noise was Galdore’s, who said, “Congratulations.” He had managed to get to his feet and now, with the light shining from the Solar Barge, they could see his cuts and bruises more clearly. Pelor, upon seeing Galdore, said, “My dear young man, I am sorry. Come here.” Galdore approached Pelor and the Shining One laid his hands upon Galdore’s shoulders. In a moment, Galdore’s wounds began to heal, until there was nothing left but a few scars on his back. Pelor released him and Laucian stepped forward from where he’d been holding Ulceaon. When Galdore turned to face Laucian, he’d never looked so timid. He bowed his head so as not to meet Laucian’s gaze.

Laucian said, simply, “I’m sorry for the way I behaved when last we saw each other.”

Galdore looked up, surprised at this. “No, Laucian,” he said. “It is I who should be apologizing to you. What I did was inexcusable. If you still don’t want to see me again, I will go.”

“Nonsense,” Laucian replied. “I do want to see you. I forgive you; I’ve moved past that. Besides, I will need a Best Man if I am getting married.”

“Really?” Galdore asked, astounded by Laucian’s kind words. “You want me to be your Best Man?”

“Of course,” Laucian said. “You are my best and oldest friend.” With that Laucian embraced Galdore in a hug that was simultaneously a hug of friendship and a hug of forgiveness. Galdore, who still couldn’t believe this was happening, returned the embrace. When they broke apart, Laucian smiled and returned to stand next to Ulceaon. They heard a laugh coming from behind the stone altar, which had chunks missing now. The group moved over to see Lucian, still tied up, laying with his back against the altar. He had apparently been listening to the whole conversation. He said, smugly, “Enjoy your lives of poverty. I’ll never give you the throne now, Laucian.”

Horus moved forward and looked down at the prone king. He said, “Do you think that your will matters? Laucian will be king if I say he will be king. There is nothing you can do to stop that. You are nothing. You are a creature who is unworthy to hold such a high office. Soon enough, you will be remanded to the custody of the Draconic Confederacy, who will decide your fate. But you will no longer be king, of that I can assure you.”

To everyone’s surprise, Lucian laughed. “The Confederacy is dead. The dragons are gone. You have failed.”

A voice from the back of the crowd spoke up and Celore Xiloscient stepped forward. “No, my dear brother. The Confederacy is not dead. The dragons may be gone, but they placed numerous safeguards to ensure the continuation of the Confederacy. Half of the Council of Dragons still remains, and I am still the Chancellor. I will make it my new mission to see to it that the Confederacy survives this treachery.”

Celore spoke with such power and authority that it silenced Lucian at once. Horus said, “It is well spoken, Chancellor. Where is the remainder of the Council?” The Dragons Honorarium stepped forward. Horus said, “Let the Chancellor lead for the time being. It is his wisdom that will see the Confederacy to a new age.” The four bowed and turned to Celore, who picked up Lucian and led him away.

Pelor spoke up, “He was wrong, you know. Lucian. The dragons have not all disappeared. There is one remaining besides the Radiant Dragon. You may come out now!” This last part he yelled as he turned to the Solar Barge. Descending the gangplank was a young man, who carried himself with such confidence that did not match the expression on his face, which was one of sadness. When he stood next to the group, he transformed into a large Silver Dragon. Pelor continued, “When I was emerging out of the Twelve Hours of Night yesterday, I deposited Bast back at her palace at Mount Bakhou, and there was this dragon waiting there. Apparently, the dragons were dreading some kind of catastrophic event and he wanted to seek shelter on the Solar Barge. I granted this request. He is now the last remaining dragon in Draconia.”

            Horus said, “Good, I have a job for him. But I still wish the Confederacy to move forward without the dragons. The Time of the Dragons is over; the mortals must learn to get along without them. What is your name dragon?”

“Anthear Vorastrix,” the dragon replied.

“Anthear,” said Horus. “Collect for me the four Draconic Artifacts: The Amulet of Healing, the Sword of Light, the Trident of Nature, and the Lute of Elemental Magic. Take them away from this place and hide them. Hide them so that nobody can use them.”

“What of the Staff?” Anthear asked.

“The Staff,” Horus replied. “Shall remain in the possession of Laucian Xiloscient. He has proven himself to be a worthy steward of the Staff. After you have hidden the artifacts, hide yourself so that none can coerce the secret out of you.”

Anthear nodded and went to where the four artifacts lay next to the bodies of those who abused their power. He collected the artifacts, transformed into a dragon, and flew off into the distance.

Horus turned to the group of gods and said, “I believe we have done all that we can. Pelor, you must take the Solar Barge and return to the Astral Sea. If you are not at the gates of the Twelve Hours of Night by sunset, you won’t be able to pass through.”

Pelor bowed to Horus and reboarded the Solar Barge. The Radiant Dragon clambered over the side and curled up on the deck to sleep. Several of the other gods joined Pelor on the Barge and it took off into the sky. At a certain point, merged onto the Astral Sea and was no longer distinguishable as a boat. The remaining gods disappeared in an anticlimactic pop. Ulceaon still felt the presence of Horus within him; that, he knew, would never go away. Only Thoth remained; he turned away from the remaining mortals and began muttering a series of spells. They all knew that he was restoring the Weave.