Lyla watched the White Dragon obscure Lord Chamsford. There wasn't a scream, only a horrific crunching. The White Dragon twisted away, leaving no trace of the Arch Mage. She looked down. Jaered was doing nothing. He laid there, moving the fabric of his new cloak between his fingers absentmindedly.

"Hey! Do something!" she called.

Jaered looked up at her, realizing she had followed him to see his performance. "I don't think I will, you know?"

"Look, that thing's going to kill you too!" She pointed up at the White Dragon. "You're the hero of the prophecy! Go!"

Jaered had already told Lyla of how he didn't believe he was part of the prophecy, but it was plain to see now that he was indeed a major part of it. "I told ya, the prophecy is bull, just a bedtime story." Jaered stood up. "I don't care about this place. It ain't mine." He looked down at his hands. "Though it may seem like it."

Lyla ran over to him. "You may not care about this place, but I do. Remember, you owe me."

"And that dragon owes everyone centuries of pain."

"Will it really spare you? Will it really come out of its rage in a foreign land for one man? Don't you see you've been used?"

The White Dragon had already set most of the town on fire, and arrows fired into the sky slowed down too much. There was only one way to stop it.

"I don't mind." His conviction horrified Lyla.

"Please, you need to do it." Lyla begged.

"Sorry, still no." Jaered shrugged.

He looked around, sighed, then leaned in to whisper in her ear. "The only way you can save everyone is to kill me. It's my magic bringing it to life. I am the conduit. To be honest, there are a lot of good things in this world, good enough to save. And anyway, a lot of pompous pricks needed a good scare." He drew back, and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek before stepping back and throwing out his arms, pushing the iridescent cape back from his bare torso.

"Do it."

"What!?" Lyla cried, still blushing. Her mind was a storm of emotions and thoughts.

"Kill me. Tell the tale of Jaered, the thief who brought a dragon to life so it could have revenge against people whose ancestors were responsible. Tell your children to beware of those you hurt, as they will come for them. Tell them to make friends, not bloodline enemies." Jaered sighed and gave a playful wink. "It'll make a great bedtime story."