Taketo opened his eyes, and found himself laying on a couch, his helmet being removed. He jumped up, and over the back of the couch, his hand going for his blaster. But he found it was gone. Then he saw that the one taking his helmet off was his oldest sister, Mala. With her was the Dragon Queen and a Human male, his hair cut in the manner of the Elven warrior class. Taketo smiled. "I see I made it home, my Queen." He said as he pulled the helmet off. He then bowed his head to her, before turning to Mala. "And it fills my heart with joy to see you once again, Mala." He then took her in his arms and kissed her on top of the head. "You are smaller than I remember." He said. "And you are more emotional than I remember." She returned. "Well, I am Human now." He said. "But still, it took me a while to learn to control these emotions." "As you will learn, Mala." The dragon said as she looked down at the half dragon woman. "This afternoon you will become Human as well." "No!" Taketo said quickly. "You do not want to do that! It is very painful." "But I must. It is the only way I can have my husband's children." Mala said as she stepped next to Markus. Taketo glared at the other man. "Who are you to make such a demand of my sister?" The armored man asked as he took a step to Markus. "She doesn't know how painful the Ritual Of Separation is." "Yes I do." Mala said in her dead voice, her eyes showing her anger. "Our sister Zala has been through the ritual to prepare her for her marriage to Marius. I was there." "And when was I going to be told that your sister is marrying my brother?" Markus asked with a grin. "Just now." The Queen said, also grinning. "Wait!" Taketo demanded. "Who are either of you to ask my sisters to do this thing?" "He is my son, Markus." The Queen said, tapping Markus on the shoulder with a claw. "And Marius is his brother." Taketo's eyes widened with awe. "This man is the One Who Waits?" When the dragon nodded he bowed his head. "By the gods, I wish people would stop bowing to me!" Markus spat. "I'm not a god, nor am I a king. Nor do I desire to be either." "But your father was of divine birth my son." The Dragon Queen said gently. "And you will be a King. You have no choice in this." "No!" The man said vehemently. "Marius is of the royal line, not me. He will be King." "Yes, he will." The Dragon said with a smile. "As you will rule the Kingdom Of Dragon's Reach." "Oh, great." "Why would you shirk your duty?" Taketo asked. "If you are fated to be King, then King you shall be." "Easy for you to say." Markus complained. "You will be able to do as you wish. I will not." "It is unavoidable." Taketo said in a low voice as he put his hand on Markus' shoulder. "It is your destiny." "I'm happy to have you back, brother." Mala said with a slight nod. "I will not be here long. I will eventually return. I have a wife and three children on the other side."