Free World's End by Will Elliott

tales to children to impart lessons. That is no worse than what we have done. The future you just saw is what awaits. Did you enjoy it? That is your home, all dead and gone, if you choose. Choose now, Pilgrim! The dragons are useful allies. Help them while your help still matters to them.’
    He picked up the gun he’d tossed away. She flinched back from him. ‘I’m just putting it back in the holster. I’m sorry I shot you.’ Why am I the one in this position? he thought for the thousandth time. Predictably there was no answer. Shilen crouched down, shivering. ‘Is there anything I can do to help you?’ he said.
    â€˜Be grateful. I choose not to return the pain you just gave to me. Will you help the dragons or not?’
    â€˜Wait, I want to understand things properly. You are speaking for the dragons, and I’m speaking for the human race. Is that right? I’m first among the Favoured, you say.’
    â€˜The lord of your kind, if that term better suits.’
    â€˜No one else seems to know that.’
    â€˜The dragons shall make sure they do.’
    â€˜And in exchange for that, they want me to help them get free. And they will save my world, Otherworld, Earth? They willprevent what I just saw, at the cost of killing most people here in Levaal. Is that right?’
    â€˜Killing your kind is not the reason the dragons desire to be free.’ She made it to her feet again. ‘Are we to bargain now, Favoured one? If so, name your price for this arrangement, if being lord of your kind is not already enough.’
    He had no idea what to say to her. Again he seemed to hear Loup’s voice:
Tell em whatever they want to hear, lad. Tell em you’re a dragon yourself, if it please em.
‘All right, here are my terms. People in Levaal are to remain free.’
    She scoffed. ‘Are they free now?’
    â€˜They’re free from dragons, even if they imprison each other. If I’m lord, I’ll put a stop to that. But when the dragons are freed, our cities will be left alone.
We
are to be left alone.’
    Again she swayed on her feet, then crouched down in apparent pain, and he got the impression she wasn’t badly hurt at all, that she was just exaggerating. He could not be sure.
    She said, ‘That is not a price, Favoured one. You have simply described what will already be. Dragons do not wish to dwell in the cities of men; their homes are mostly found in what you call unclaimed lands. Why not name a price? Do you wish for protection from other men? You shall have it. You wish for magic power? A life many centuries long? You shall have them. Treasures the envy of your kind, and even the envy of some dragons? You shall have them. If you wish.’
    â€˜That beast I saw before, the one named Shâ …’he began.
    â€˜
He
will remain here,’ she said in a quieter voice, as if that dragon were lurking in the dark nearby.
    Eric crouched down too, as if pushed by the weight of all humanity. That was how it felt. ‘What is it the dragons wantof me, Shilen? Not of my species, but of me. Why am I here speaking with you now, out of all the people they could have picked?’
    â€˜I cannot answer, for I did not make the choice, Favoured one.’ Light faintly gleamed in her eyes, as if the human mask she wore had slightly cracked, as if something else peered through her face. A hard edge came to her voice. ‘Speak your wishes now, clearly. The dragons will accept them as law, provided you keep me as an advisor in your affairs. It does not mean you must do as I ask, but you must speak with me whenever I wish it. That is all they ask. The dragons do not break agreements. Nor should you. You and your mate shall have the throne between you.’
    She stepped in his direction and seemed to grow in stature till she towered above him, her eyes blazing. ‘And this too is now law. You shall not ever again, under any circumstance, play