L'kor lay back on the grass a short distance from his
frolicking dragon.  They had been swimming for an hour
and his tired muscles needed a litle rest.  Sentinel
showed no signs of slowing.  Once he ceased to be a
stomach with scales, he became a tireless terror.  The
young dragon's joking ways had gotten them scolded on
more than one occasion.  But he wouldn't give him up for
anything, he remembered the day they were joined...

<..>

Camp Cassidy

"What do you mean you think you should be able to attend
the hatching?!" Commander Speare bellowed, "What have you
done to make you worthy?!"  The young blond man standing
before the graying officer knew this to be a rhetorical
question and didn't answer.

"Let's see." the commander continued, "In your latest
mishap, you managed to captured and beat a man we ordered
not to be harmed..."

"He killed my brother!" the young man interruped.

Blood rushed to the commander's head, and his brows
lowered.  When he spoke the young man's blood froze,
"Illium was nothing more than a wild beastial waste of
flesh.  He is doing more for the worms that feed on him
than he ever did for humanity."  The commander said
calmly rising from his chair.  It was known around the
camp that he is better company when loud and boisterous. 
The calmer he was, the deadlier he became.

Instead of striking out he gestured toward the door,
"Walk with me Ardomok and tell me why you worship a dead
man so."

Ardomok told the commander of growing up watching his
father work, only to die at a young age and with nothing
to pass on to his children.  He told him how Illiium
provided for the family by stealing from the men who had
shorted their father, and how he beat a man twice his
size once when he was caught.

"He was strong and wise and all the things..."  Ardomok
heard the commander chuckling, "What's so funny?"

"You truely are the man's younger brother." Commander
Speare answered, "Yes Illium was strong.  As for wise,
well when compared to someone ten years his junior
perhaps.  But that's only until the younger one reaches
adulthood."

"Are you saying he wasn't smart?"

"Illium's lack of wisdom is what sparked the strife
between he and Darrkon, and what eventually tore our band apart."

"Because Darrkon tricked him and stole a position of
leadership from him."  Ardomok interjected.

The commander looked a him with half a smile, "Is that
what he told you?  No wonder you're so loyal.  Now is the
time to hear the truth of things.  Illium was a wild man,
ever ready for the fight.  That was a good thing for the
band, but it limited his poential.  Darrkon was a
planner, always thinking and reading, and finding
alternative escape routes.  Anything to keep his mind
busy.  Of course he was also a sorry excuse for a
fighter.

"Over time Darrkon fighting abilities increased. 
Illium's reasoning abilities however did not.  As a
result Illium reached his plateau in our band very early
on.  But Darrkon raced through the ranks.  He even
surpassed me, and I had been with Cassidy since the
beginning.  Yes, the same Cassidy, I named our group in
his honor.  Anyway, most of us were fine with the
decision.  We knew the band would prosper under Darrkon
once Cassidy retired.  What we didn't know was his
retirement would come early, and involuntarily.

"To shorten what is already too long a story, Illium was
jealous of Darrkon, challenged him to a fight and lost. 
Now twice defeated, once in battle and once in ambition,
he turned his anger elsewhere.  He murdered Cassidy in
his sleep.  We decided to break apart and look for the
murdering Illium, vowing to kill him and avenge Cassidy. 
In truth I welcomed you here knowing you were his brother
and hoping it would draw him here.  Now that I know you
I'm glad it didn't.  Listen up Ardomok for I'll only say
this once.  Stop trying to be your brother.  You've
surpassed anything he could have dreamed of being.  You
are the wise one.  Your intellegence shines brightly in
your eyes.  But you must get past your anger.  That is
perhaps the only thing you share with your brother.  Now
good luck."  The commander finished patting the younger
man on the shoulder and smiling.

Ardomok looked away from the imposing figure on his
commanding officer, and saw they were standing in front
of the hatching grounds.  He could see the eggs rocking
from where he stood.  He dashed out on the sand, then
stopped and looked back at the commander.  But all
kindness and recognition had left the officer's face. 
Out here he was Commander Speare.  Ardomok understood,
any sign of favoritism could destroy the group.  Distrusth             and
rumor would spread like wild fire.

Ardomok's thought's were soon interrupted as a tan and
brown spotted hatchling stumbled toward him.  I didn't
look like the beast was going to stop, and the blond
bandit was too nervous to move.  The young dragon crashed
into him and knocked him to the ground.  Their eyes met
and the beast "spoke" to him, <My name is Sentinel.  I am
yours.>  it said.

Ardomok helped to right the dragon, who stumbled again,
and again. <My name is...>  He stopped short, "What can
I tell him?" he thought.  He kept the thought from his
dragon, though he wasn't sure how, "Ardomok has been evil
and petty.  Do I wan him growing up being associated with
that name?  No I don't." he decided <My name is...L'kor,
and I am yours.> he answered.  From the smile on his
dragon face and the purring sound coming from his throat,
the dragonrider knew he had chosen right.  Soon after
came the feeding, and the beginning on a new chapter in
L'kor's life.