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“This plan seems wise, my lady,” he said solemnly.
    Riana praised Donigan, saying, “My lord, your judgment is always good. I knew in my heart that you would see the wisdom of this course.”
    Donigan was still wrestling with his spirit, which nagged at him contrary to what he had agreed, but he smiled broadly and said, “Riana, beautiful Riana. You have solved the problem at hand and one to which we had not yet attended. Although I am no happier for having to send the miserable souls choking our dungeons to such pitiable deaths, or for feeding a vile creature such as Faethlenkandur, it is the best option we have.”
    Riana pointed out, “Were you to take the shield back to the beast, my lord, it would no doubt devour you. Worse yet, it might offer you a more treacherous deal. Let us place you upon your throne, and then let us avenge those we have sent to the dragon’s board. Perhaps by so doing, we can wash their blood from our hands, walk comfortably in the Light of Solari and rest easily under the Light of Luminus.”
    Lord Donigan began to have his builders erect large temples with holding cells for prisoners deemed to be of no redemptive worth. Men who were dangerous to others about them and
    unwilling to repent of their evil ways would go to those cells to await doom. The Priests of Dragons began offering those spiteful killers to Faethlenkandur and his kindred from their unique centers of worship. The dragons, of course, graciously accepted every victim.
    Having done all that the Dragon-Father required of him, Lord Donigan set off once more for the mountain cave Faethlenkandur called home. He presented himself before the enormous winged wyrm and said, “I have done all that you have asked in accordance with The Great Tome of Dragon’s Law , even as I said I would. I have shown you my good faith by keeping my word in deed.”
    “So you have,” rumbled the dragon. “Here is the Sword of the Dragon’s Eye, even as I
    promised it to you. Now win your kingdom, serve your new Gods and ask no more favors of me.”
    The shield that hung from Donigan’s back was a fine piece of work. It was wrought of silver inlaid with gold traceries that formed the pattern of a great dragonhead. At its very center, set into the eye socket of the reptilian face there depicted, was a red stone called the Dragon’s Eye.
    It was said that when Donigan’s enemies gazed upon that dazzling gem, it flickered in a magical swirl of red, yellow and blue fire, which held them fast in a helpless trance.
    Thus entranced, rumor held, it was but a small matter for the great warlord to cleave them asunder with his mighty sword. The workmanship of the blade far surpassed the accompanying shield. The weapon was forged from the finest steel, with a gold overlay on its hilt. The pommel was molded in the likeness of a dragonhead, which also bore a large red gemstone in its eye socket. That mystical stone was said to be the source of power by which the sword could hurl fire. The dragonhead pommel was large and spiked with deadly horns.
    With his new weapons of power in hand, Lord Donigan arrayed his host for battle and
    stormed the strongholds of his enemies. Within five short years, he ruled over the United Kingdom of Beledon. His domain stretched from the Highlands in the north to the Sorling Sea in the south. Then he prepared to turn his full attention to Faethlenkandur and his kindred.
    There was peace in Beledon. King Donigan ruled wisely, and the people adored him. With the fall of his last enemy, his lovely queen bore him a son. His subjects rejoiced with him, for he now had an heir to succeed him to his throne. However, Dragon’s Law had done much to deter crime in Beledon, and jails were nearly empty.
    The reigning monarch took up arms again, declaring the dragons unholy and full of deceit.
    He ordered all copies of The Great Tome of Dragon’s Law burned. Then he led his bravest knights up to Faethlenkandur’s lair to strike down the