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A/N: Happy New Year!

“Well it’s not good, certainly,” Alaryia said. “But he’s not dead yet so we can still prevent the worst disaster coming to pass. I hate to say it but we’re going to have to save the evil bastard’s life for now.”

“Would it really cause his entire court to frenzy?” Matthias asked.

“Most of it, at least,” Estara said. “It’s the psychic shock. Most of us set up a second just in case. But there’s another reason we can’t kill him out of hand.”

“Ah, yes; his heart friend has nothing to do with his behaviour, does she?” Sonia said. “I’ve been meaning to ask how we deal with that when I challenge him.”

“She’s lovely,” Estara said.

“Fetch her,” Takilyan said. “The rest of us will deal with seeing off Xantaria.”

“And pouring the antidote down his throat,” Alsia said coldly. “I’m pretty sure I know which of her venoms this is. I vote we feed him enough to keeep him conscious but don’t remove the venom until we’ve decided what to do with him. We can’t just let him go and that will keep him docile.”

“If we want to do that, we’d best get moving,” Alaryia said. “If he passes out it”ll be too late.”

The dragons and Alsia disappeared, then all of them except Estara reappeared in the image of outside. Xantaria took one look at them, gave a mocking bow and fled. Alsia strode over to Mitakrian, forced his jaw open and poured antidote down his throat. He struggled weakly against her but had to swallow in the end.

“Why is he fighting her?” Sonia asked. “Does he want to die?”

“No, but he would rather die than be a prisoner, Sonia-ida.” The dryad who had appeared with Estara was leaning on the purple dragon heavily. He who was Indirian manifested a chair behind her and she sank into it gratefully. “I feel so sick.”

Sonia knelt down beside her. “So you’re his heart friend, dear?”

“Yes.” She nodded. “I am Chaya and I’m sorry for his behaviour – I tried to talk him out of going down this path but he wouldn’t listen. He was better when he was younger but he’s beyond saving now, I fear.”

“So putting him into transition isn’t an option,” Sonia asked.

“Not really,” Chaya said. “You’d get to see what he used to be like but wihout a miracle, he’d revert as soon as he hit maturity. Whatever put him on this path also destroyed his conscience even when he’s not strictly in descent.”

“Being completely unsalvagable is rare,” Estara said. “And really limits our options.”

“Honestly, killing him as soon as Sonia-ida is ready to challenge him would be safest,” Chaya said. “But I don’t want to die. I’m selfish, I know.”

“Wanting to live is not selfish,” Sonia said. “And we’ll find a way for you to live as well. I’m not sure how yet, but we will.”

“That’s why I’m here, isn’t it? To help decide on his fate.” Chaya looked up at the image as Alsia and Takilyan dragged Mitakrian to his feet. “Where are they taking him?”

Estara seemed to listen for a moment. “Alaryia’s palace,” she said. “She can potentially hold an idri level dragon prisoner. She’s asking that we all come there to decide what to do with him.”

A/N: Happy New Year!

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