"I'm sorry Garalt..." Queen Allamir said softly, walking into the room, Xanath and Tundrock followed close behind.
    Garalt winced, trying in vain to hold back his tears.  Composing himself, Garalt sat himself up in the bed and tried to salute the queen.
    "I'm glad to see you've made it through Garalt, we were quite worried about you..." Allamir spoke softly.
    "Looks like that herbal medicine I picked up from Mala really did the trick," Xanath chuckled uncomfortably, trying to lighten the mood a bit.
    "Mala!" the name was like a lightning bolt in Garalt's mind, "She's Ok?"
    "Why yes, Garalt, why wouldn't she be?" Alyia questioned him.
    "I've got much to tell all of you."
    "Take your time, Garalt, don't strain yourself," Allamir said."
    "Your Majesty, this cannot wait."
    The other people in the room looked about at each other and then back at Garalt, who was rubbing his soar arms gently.

    "After Garn and Moraine left to tell His Majesty what had happened, Demonclaw, Greylen and myself went off to the Tower of Olyian.  When we got there, the master portal was active, and three evil men walked through.  They claimed to be after Ethelred and then something else here in Ikros.  The man who seemed to be in charge sent one of the others after Mala, saying she was once part of whatever they were up to."
    "My word..." Xanath gasped, "did you have to fight these men?"
    "No, they left shortly after they appeared, we stayed hidden till they left."
    "Then how did the tower fall?"
    Garalt sighed.  He had no clue as how to tell them that there were traitors in the kingdom, who knows, they could be in the same room with him.
    "The dragon showed up, shortly after Liphon and Wiegar joined us up on the tower.  The dragon killed Wiegar and Liphon both, and then knocked over the tower with Demonclaw, Greylen and myself still on top."
    "What were Liphon and Wiegar doing at the tower... " Allamir said to herself.
    "I.. I do not know, your majesty." Garalt said softly.
    "Well," Xanath said slowly, "we at least now know what the dragon is."
    "The wind of death..." Garalt spoke under his breath.
    "Why, yes, yes that is who she is, how do you know that Garalt?"
    "What do you know about her Xanath?"
    "Well..., all right, here is what we know.  Tel'Karak Zrahl is a beast born from the dragon gods themselves."
    "Weren't all the early dragons born from them?" Alyia asked.
    "No, all of the common dragons we know of today are descendants from dragons created, not born, from the dragon gods.  However, before they were created, the dragon gods bore four children into this world, against the other forces of heaven and hell's approval.  These powerful beasts are a thousand times more powerful than any other creature on earth.  Legend has it that they are immortal yes, but not invulnerable."
    "So, what, they can be hurt but cannot die?" Tundrock scratched his head.
    "Exactly.  I've read several tomes describing wizards putting Tel'Karak under a deep sleep, which I would now assume to be true after knowing what happened, Garalt."
    "The other three dragons, where are they?" Allamir looked at the elder wizard.
    "That I do not know.  What is for certain is that they are not in Kahlan.  I've read many accounts from witnesses who've seen the other three, they all conflict.  Some say the other three are aligned with the light, others say they are with the darkness.  We really don't know."
    "How do we stop the one dragon we have here?"  Garalt said quickly.
    "Tel'Karak was the first of the four siblings to be born.  She is the most powerful and the most cunning.  We either have to put her back to sleep or defeat her into submission.  I'm in the process of researching how to do the first option."
    "Good idea..." Garalt sighed.