Tomas found his own name there last: Tomas Elara-son, entered as "unclaimed infant" and assigned to the coal tunnels. He traced the letters without shame. Being treated as nameless had never made him nobody.
Lyri grew quickly. She learned to glide through the high windows and stole bread whenever diplomats became boring. Her friendship with Tomas became a living contradiction to every tale that described dragons as beasts without loyalty. Children from nearby towns visited the former dungeon to learn her language. Dragon hatchlings learned human songs in return, though Avaron politely claimed the singing remained terrible.
Some nobles attempted to restore the monarchy using Tomas as a symbol. They announced that Elara's son possessed royal blood through an old branch. Tomas appeared at their banquet, ate two pastries, and publicly refused. The nobles were later exposed for hiding royal weapons and lost their estates to the reconstruction fund.
When Tomas reached adulthood, he became the first elected Keeper of Bridges. The title carried no castle. His office was a wagon filled with maps, treaty copies, and tools for repairing roads. He preferred it.
Blackstone's deepest cell became a nursery for injured hatchlings. Its iron door remained mounted open, rusting in the mountain air. Above it, someone carved the words Tomas spoke before Avaron bowed: