VII:I

Herald the Dragonguard, Herald the King

"Ring the bells!"

Another voice called out.

"Ring the bells!"

"Call the knights!"

"Call the knights!"

Within minutes, the air was filled with the sound of pleasant bells, chiming in time. Once they rang, then silent they fell; after moments of stillness, again they would toll.

Celia was quite overwhelmed. From her seat in the Tellman carriage, she could see many Dragonfell citizens opening their shutters and yelling "Call the knights! Call the guard!"

The general clamor was rather exciting and a great feeling of unity could be felt in the hearts of the people. Masonmen swung their hammers in the air, maidens flocked about the streets and continued the call, children rang whatever passable bell they could claim, and the air was filled with the music of calling.

"What is going on, Maid Tellman?" Beatrice looked upon the scene with an impassive look. Celia felt as if some emotion lay beyond the shield of her face, but she could not place it.

"They call for the Dragonguard, dear."

Calling the Dragonguard? Celia became intensely curious.

"Why do they do that?"

"The King has died. By tradition, the Dragonguard from all over the realm gather together to escort their liege to his final rest."

"Why do they ring the bells once?"

At this, Beatrice smiled.

"The Dragonguard serve the realm and her people. The bells are the manner in which the people serve the Dragonguard. Ring once for the death of the King; you have already heard this a month ago to honor your father shortly after his death. They ring again to signify that his body has returned to Dragonfell. Soon, all of the Dragonguard shall return here, and so then shall they honor their King. Twice do our bells toll when invaders breach our borders, and all of the arms of Westra, as well as that of the Dragonguard, are summoned to defeat them." Beatrice's voice then fell to a whisper and her voice became strained; Celia did not hear her last words.

"What about three times?" Celia persisted.

"Three rings... for dragons. The bells of Westra have not tolled thus since the time of Benarius. Nor will it ever again--for the last of the dragons was killed in the very site of Castle Dragonfell. No longer do we live under the shadow of their evil wings."

Celia was silent then. She shivered and looked away.

"What is wrong, my dear?" Beatrice asked.

"I know the dragons were evil. But when I hear that they aren't here anymore--I don't know why, but I feel sad."

A hint of a smile passed over Beatrice's lips. "You are, perhaps, wiser than many scholars of history, my dear. You will be a great ruler."

Beatrice and Celia spoke no more for the rest of the ride.