The Anvil (99 page)

Being
a
commander
he
would
enjoy
many
privileges
and
skip
years
of
training
,
but
he
thought
of
the
peace
of
flying
,
the
happiness
of
when
he
got
one
of
Alex
’
s
training
exercises
correct
,
the
thump
of
a
bolt
or
axe
hitting
a
target
or
learning
new
magic
.

Tom
looks
at
the
king
and
takes
a
breath
“
I
’
m
honored
,
but
I
would
like
to
continue
my
training
as
a
Dragon
Guardian
.
I
feel
I
am
better
suited
for
that
.
Although
I
think
Tyler
,
a
young
man
in
the
Anvil
,
would
be
a
good
leader
.”
Tom
saluts
and
walks
away
.

He
walked
through
camp
,
amazed
that
only
two
years
ago
he
was
planning
to
become
a
common
blacksmith
somewhere
.

Now
he
had
been
offered
a
position
to
help
guard
the
royal
castle
,
met
the
king
,
helped
to
kill
or
killed
the
three
Ilemite
Supreme
Generals
and
their
dragons
,
been
in
a
war
,
had
commanded
a
unit
of
75
men
,
was
friends
with
Dragon
Guardians
,
an
Immortal
,
wyverns
and
their
riders
,
his
brother
was
a
Master
Smith
apprentice
and
werewolf
.

He
knew
how
to
use
many
weapons
,
had
seen
golems
,
werewolves
,
vampires
,
dragons
and
countless
other
figures
of
legend
and
finally
found
out
he
was
a
natural
shapeshifter
.

Eventually
he
found
Alex
and
asked
about
shapeshifters
“
Well
,
natural
shapeshifters
are
either
very
rare
or
they
don
’
t
even
exist
,
we
are
not
sure
.
They
can
change
into
any
form
of
animal
,
although
the
wounds
they
receive
in
one
form
transfer
to
the
other
forms
.
Unlike
Dragon
Guardians
,
they
do
not
need
a
spell
to
change
.
We
know
very
little
about
them
.
Why
do
you
ask
?”
Alex
explained
,
then
Tom
thought
a
moment
how
to
tell
him
.

“
Well
,
when
I
was
fighting
Gontal
I
knew
I
wouldn
’
t
be
able
to
defeat
him
and
his
dragon
in
the
body
I
have
now
,
I
thought
I
could
beat
him
as
a
stone
lion
.
Then
I
became
one
.
I
am
a
shapeshifter
.”
Alex
was
obviously
shocked
.
He
then
looked
doubtful
,
until
Tom
changed
himself
into
a
dog
.

When
Tom
returned
to
normal
form
he
said
“
Please
don
’
t
tell
anyone
you
don
’
t
need
to
.
I
want
to
keep
this
as
quiet
as
possible
.
And
I
have
another
question
.
When
will
we
return
to
Blangto
?”
Alex
thought
a
moment

“
First
I
will
give
you
a
week
off
,
I
think
you
earned
it
.
Then
we
will
return
to
Blangto
.
And
as
for
your
little
secret
I
will
only
tell
the
Guardian
commander
and
the
king
.
They
both
have
the
right
to
know
they
have
a
shapeshifter
under
their
command
.
Now
go
get
packed
.”
and
with
that
Alex
turned
and
walked
away
,
leaving
Tom
to
pack
his
belongings
.

An
hour
later
Tom
,
Alex
,
Zack
,
Dejoni
,
John
,
Mastifi
,
Madison
and
Bryn
.
They
all
began
walking
towards
Pine
Grove
and
Hilltop
Lake
.
The
two
girl
’
s
masters
were
allowing
them
a
week
'
s
break
as
well
.
As
they
got
far
enough
away
from
camp
,
Tom
stopped
and
turned
into
a
full
dragon
.

Everyone
besides
Alex
gasped
in
amazement
.
Tom
changed
back
into
a
human
for
a
moment
“
Oh
yeah
,
I
forgot
to
tell
you
all
,
I
am
a
shapeshifter
.”
then
he
changed
to
a
wyvern
and
after
a
moment
decided
a
dragon
was
bigger
and
changed
into
a
dragon
.

He
had
Madison
and
Bryn
climb
onto
his
back
and
the
group
flew
off
.
The
setting
sun
shining
behind
them
as
they
flew
away
from
the
Ilemite
war
and
towards
home
.