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I must admit that those words worried me considerably. I placed my drink down in front of me, looked the dragon squarely in the eyes for as long as I could, and asked, "And what is it that you want to warn me about, oh great dragon?"

Katadanyatarina scooted closer to me and leaned in, resting her chin upon her laced fingers. "It is quite difficult to avoid my inclination to see you as something as simple as a little kobold, even when I am at this level with you. Tell me, Tik Tik: Just how many years have you?"

The sudden shift left me a bit ill at ease, but I tapped the table and responded with the truthfulness she was owed. "I'm not entirely sure. Time is measured differently in different places, and I often lose track. If I had to make an estimation, it would probably say I should be five and twenty years at this point. Luckily, being nestmates with the Queen has its advantages. "

"Timekeeping being the chief among them?" the dragon laughed. "You've lived a well-storied life, indeed, Tik Tik, with tales that have caused trouble for many people. The more you probe the world's workings, the more enemies you make. That is what happens when you take forbidden knowledge."

With such a talking down to me, I stood up, letting my cloak cover myself and the movements of my hands. "I'll do what I desire when I desire it, great dragon. I grow tired of worrying about how small and weak I am and the repercussions of my actions. I shall deal with them when they come. Are you perhaps one such consequence, Katadanyatarina?"

"No," the dragon admitted, "But just because you do not wish to be told about them doesn't mean they don't exist. I don't fault you for what's happened. My fellow dragon council members can see chains of events that span generations. Many also see the fault of things lying in ones who stumble about and cause things to happen. I predict and respond to troublesome situations."

I slipped back to my seat, suddenly feeling silly for my grandiose display in front of the being before me, so calm and collected and oh-so-cool! Though my drink was empty, I played with the cup as I mulled over her words.

"You are familiar with Estrasa, the Dark Mistress of Transformation." She finally continued. I wondered if she was ready to speak her once so-pressing words. A warmth had built up within me, thinking about how much she spent talking about me instead of the message she claimed was so important.

It wasn't a question, and it didn't have to be. Of course, a dragon would know all about my campaign to rally my friends to perform a dungeon-delving expedition into that tower and remove her from power. It is not a story I had ever fully written, as many things were not worth repeating or other things that shouldn't ever be remembered.

"You served the world by taking that petulant child off the throne," she continued.

"I didn't do it for altruistic reasons," I responded. "I only wished to rescue my friends from her clutches and to get her off my back. She had been launching campaigns against me."

Katadanyatarina shrugged and leaned back, "And you know of Timothy?"

Of course, I had to tell her that I did. Timothy's lending of Maram allowed me control of the lust spirit. With Maram's power, I could get my teleportation system up and running.

"The vacuum created by their absences has led the other magi to act. There shall be many vying for the title of the dark master of transformation and the Great Enchanter."

"It almost seems like you're telling me I could be in the running to take the positions," I mused. "My transformation skills can be improved, certainly, and I find myself quite charming."

"I would certainly rather have a friendly face in a position of power than someone who would attempt global domination out of childish impotence. Besides, I've heard rumors of your attempt to make yourself more dragon-like in the past. I am curious how close you can get. The results are interesting whenever people attempt such a foolhardy endeavor."

The friendliness of the dragon just radiated off of her. I had to be careful because I could sense her subtle attitude, putting down others just out of a non-smug sense of superiority. That is just how they are, after all. But I wondered then if I could change things.

Sipping the last dregs of my drink, I placed it down and licked my lips. "I thank you, oh great dragon, for your warnings and pointing me, but I'm not a kobold you can direct to do your bidding through your subtle manipulations. I'll do what I wish when I wish, just as I always have. If you see my transformation magic or my enchantments at work, it will be because I wish to use them, not because you request."

I stood from the table. "Please excuse me; I have a business transaction to conclude." I bowed and walked past, only for a hand to grab hold of my cloak.

"If it's all the same to you," she said, standing up and looking down at me. Even in kobold form, she was taller. "I think I'd like to talk more with you and get to know you better."

I froze. Part of me screamed to obey her simply because of what she was, and another aspect of me pulled me away to restore my dignity. Still, a third part told me to listen just because of how confident and collected she was in front of me.

I stepped back from her, covering myself in my cloak. "I can see if I can fill it into my schedule. It would be nice to speak on a more... intimate level."

"That's what I was expecting from Tik Tik," she said, and with that, she spread her wings, transforming back into her dragon form, and flew off the balcony.