Grasti had nearly convinced her mother, but her father was still reluctant. She pressed on. "There's a saying in Free City: a bird in the hand is worth a thousand in the forest."
"Illymoyas, Grasti, come with me to see the clan chief."
Their mother spread her enormous wings and flew toward the Resting Place.
Grasti leaped onto Illymoyas's back and followed their mother with her.
"What did Annan do to bring you back?" Grasti asked, burning with curiosity.
"Children don't need to know."
Grasti looked thoughtful. "So you've already done it? Can a dragon bear a human's child? Would you give birth in dragon form or human form?"
Illymoyas refused to answer her sister's ridiculous questions. "You don't have enough homework."
"I think so too. I'm getting through the professors' textbooks faster than they can write them. At this rate, I'll have to go study abroad," Grasti said ruefully.
Illymoyas thought Grasti might be better suited to life as a Free City dragon than she was.
On the ground, the blue dragons had gathered in family groups across one hill after another, while their followers lit fires and cooked nearby.
In several days, the Blue Dragon Group had migrated less than five hundred li.
Their followers—Gnolls, Kobolds, and a few Beastmen—had slowed them down.
At the center of the Hills, Illymoyas followed her mother down onto the largest hill. An Ancient Dragon lay there, as massive as a small mountain.
Its scales were a deep blue that reflected no light, rugged as rock. Its aged head bore the marks of time, yet they suggested not frailty but greater majesty and immortality.
Standing before it, Illymoyas looked as small and insignificant as a human standing before her.
As soon as she landed, she heard her mother tell the clan chief,