The Dragon Prince storyline altered

Chapter 38. Linopha

Linopha, Callum, and Rayla sat at the edge of a pond. There was a floating mechanical flower in the middle, and a bunch more at the bottom.

Rayla: I understand now. They didn't make it. None of them. Only me.

Callum: How do you know that?

Rayla: This.

Rayla pointed at the flower.

Rayla: When assassins are sent on a dangerous mission, Ethari enchants one of these flowers for each of them. As long as the assassin lives and breathes, their flower floats.

Callum: So when all the others sank, and yours didn't...

Rayla: They thought I ran away. Just like my parents.

Callum: But they have it all wrong.

Rayla: Does it matter?

Ethari walked outside to where Linopha, Callum, and Rayla were.

Ethari: There you are. You know, I was never as strong as the others.

Ethari pulled out a moon opal and did a spell. Suddenly, his face reappeared.

Ethari: This will only break the spell for a moment, but I couldn't bear to let you leave without seeing you one last time. But I don't understand, Rayla. How could you abandon them?

Rayla: I failed them. It was my fault we were discovered, but I didn't run away. Ethari, we found something. Linopha, Callum, show him.

Callum: Oh, uh...

Callum adjusted his headband.

Callum: I'm Rayla's Earthblood elf friend.

Linopha: Trees to meet you.

Ethari: Trees to meet you, too.

Callum held up Zym.

Rayla: We found the Dragon Prince. The egg wasn't destroyed. And I knew that if we could get him home to his mother, there could be peace.

Ethari: It's a miracle. I can't believe it. But, Rayla, you need to know, the Dragon Queen is dying. Since the death of her mate, she's fallen very ill.

Rayla: We have to get to her. It's the only way.

Ethari whistled, and three mounts burst into the clearing.

Ethari: You can ride faster than you can walk.

Linopha, Callum, and Rayla each got on one.

Ethari: I'll send a message to the Dragon Queen. If she knows her little one still lives, perhaps she'll hold on.

Rayla: Ethari, can I ever come home again?

Ethari: I don't know.

Ethari took a necklace off and put it on Rayla.

Ethari: It's a real moon opal. When I gave its match to Runaan, I told him, "My love will be with you even when the moon is not." Goodbye, Rayla.

Linopha, Callum, and Rayla left on their mounts.