Two days later, Markus stood at the top of a large temple of some sort, large statues of men in strange garb adorning it's walls. "What is this place? Father has always forbidden anyone to enter this end of the Valley of Bones." "This was once a great holy place. It was built by the followers of the God Who Was Three." "I've never heard of that one." Markus said, confused. "What is he the god of?" "We know nothing about him. Only that the Queen says he will return one day." "Return? Where did he go?" "He was a relatively new god. But one that was very powerful. The ancient gods gathered their remaining power and cast him out. Where he went no one knows." Markus nodded, not really caring. The gods were beyond him, he would let the priests worry about them. Turning to the statues that ringed the building, he saw that they were glassy and smooth. "These statues, they look as if they've begun to melt, then stopped. Do you know what happened?" Mala nodded. "It was the great dragon lord, Anathraxa. In the last days of the Dragon War, he found this place. It was said that he had a deep hatred of the One Who Was Three, and tried to destroy this place. But even his mighty claws dulled on the temple's surface." "When he failed at that, he tried his fiery breath. But all it did was glaze over the statues and make them stronger. They say his roars of frustration could be heard many leagues away. Finally, he flew off in a rage for Demon's Peak. There he would attempt to summon the demons from hell to fight for him." "And almost destroying the world in the process." Markus knew of this legend, every child learned it. Mala touched his arm. "Come. We should rest. The two who will take us to Dragon's Reach will not be here for several hours." Markus turned and faced Mala. He knew what needed to be done. After all, his mother had told him what would happen already. Looking into her eyes, he felt his soul being pulled from his body. But this was not a violent act. And she did not take it greedily. She took it and wrapped her own soul around it, just as one would cup a beautiful flower between their hands. not to crush it, but to cherish it. Then, gently, she put it back. But now it was different. There was something else there. A part of her soul was now merged with his, just as a part of his was melded with hers. Mala gently touched him on the face. "Sleep O Prince, we have traveled far." A wave of fatigue swept over him and he sat on the warm black stone, his back propped against the holy structure. Mala stretched out on the stone as well, her head resting in his lap. placing his hand protectively on her shoulder, Markus fell asleep. And for the first time in the lives of the two, their hearts knew contentment. Mala's friends watched the two drift off to sleep, happy inside that their sister Mala had met her destiny. Withdrawing to the forest, they awaited the two who would come to take them home.