The Dragon Scales, #2
Emberclaw
by L. R. Lam
Contents
47. Everen: As What Was
Overview
Everen and Arcady share a fate-driven vision of the dragonstone tree, witnessing the Great Betrayal and, twelve years ago, Ammil and Barrow feeding dragon relics to the tree, opening the Veil, and triggering the plague. Shattered by her grandsire’s complicity, Arcady flees the vision.
Ammil confronts Everen within the dream, recounts his survival after burning the Archives, and urges a dragon-only alliance to open the tree without waking the Dreamer. Despite deep mistrust, Everen finds himself clasping Ammil’s outstretched hand.
Summary
Before dawn, Everen comforts Arcady as they hide, both reeling from revelations about Ammil and Hayden’s Elixir. Sleep draws Everen into a fate-tinged vision at the dragonstone tree where scales balance and the Dreamer coils wounded. Arcady, pulled by their bond, appears beside him.
They first witness the ancient Great Betrayal as mages channel starlit magic through the tree, coiling the serpent upon itself and rending the world. The scene shifts to the cavern beneath Loc twelve years ago: Ammil disguised as Magnes directs monks to feed dragon relics to the tree. Barrow Eremia, Professor Hayden, and Chancellors Yrsa, Ketrel, and Carym remain. Ammil reveals his dragon form; Barrow shows the glowing seal. Together they open the Veil and depart on Ammil’s back.
The vision cuts to a mountain town where illness blooms on a child as dawn breaks, and fate names this second healing attempt a failure that nearly closed the future. Arcady recognizes her grandsire’s complicity and flees the vision, devastated.
Everen remains and confronts Ammil, who admits to burning the Archives expecting to die, only to escape through a rip into the Veil and then the Lumet. Ammil claims long study and necessity, insisting only dragons can now open the tree and warning: do not wake the Dreamer.
Offering partnership “as the new Seer and the old,” Ammil argues time is short and that together they can succeed where he failed with humans. Everen distrusts him yet feels the Dreamer stirring and, unable to stop himself, clasps Ammil’s extended hand, committing to a perilous, provisional alliance.
Who Appears
- EverenSeer dragon protagonist; receives fate’s vision, witnesses past betrayals, confronts Ammil, and reluctantly clasps his hand.
- Arcady EremiaEveren’s bonded human; joins the vision, identifies Barrow and others, realizes her grandsire’s role, and recoils in grief.
- Ammil (as Magnes)Ancient dragon posing as Head Priest; orchestrates relic-feeding, opens Veil with Barrow, proposes a dragon-only alliance.
- Barrow EremiaArcady’s grandsire; aids Ammil, drinks Elixir, opens the Veil, implicated in causing the plague.
- Professor HaydenYoung assistant; hesitates at the cavern door, tied to the Elixir later found in her lab.
- Yrsa of SwiftseaChancellor of Loc; present at the ritual feeding relics to the tree.
- Ketrel of StormfellChancellor; attends the cavern ritual with the Consul.
- Carym of RedwingChancellor; part of the group enabling Ammil and Barrow.
- The Dreamer (serpent)Cosmic serpent wounded on the tree; central to the Veil, must not be awakened.
- FateDisembodied voice guiding the vision, framing causes, failures, and warnings.