“Pet, were they in the courtroom during the hearing?” asked Hunter.
“Nope, only my father’s brother showed up.”
“Your mother was an only child,” said Oracle. “The sister and brother who claimed to be related to your mother are actually your grandfather’s step-children from a previous marriage.”
“You mean they’re not related to me by blood?” asked Fionn.
“Not even a drop,” Oracle said, smiling. “Way before your mother was born, your grandfather married a widow with two children but never adopted them because he expected his new wife to bear a male child who would carry on his line. Unfortunately, it was not to be, because she died. Vexed at his bad luck, he sought another woman, hoping she would give him a male heir. While visiting relatives, he met your grandmother, and married her. Unfortunately, they only had one child together…a girl.”
“My mother,” Fionn said.
“Yes,” Oracle said. “She was still a young girl when, your father, on a trip abroad, met your grandfather and as part of a business deal, agreed to purchase the young girl who would become your mother.”
“Why did he pick her?” asked Fionn.
“Your father found out she came from the oldest, most respected dragon clan so he made a generous offer which was accepted. When your mother came of age, your father returned to claim her and took control of her hoard. Once back in Scotland, Artur MacDùghlas set upon getting the heir he always wanted,” Oracle said.
“But all the babies died,” Fionn murmured.
“Yes, except you,” Oracle said.
“Why was Fionn’s mother sold when she was so young?” asked Hunter.
“She was the last child her mother could have,” Oracle explained, “and her husband was angered that she had not produced a male heir. So he sold the child to punish her.”
Jackson then asked. “You mentioned Fionn’s mother came from the oldest dragon clan. Other than bragging rights, is there any other significance to that?”
“Yes, there is. A white dragon must be a descendant of that clan.”
Hearing that, Fionn’s eyes widened so much he was sure they were going to fall out of their sockets. “No way! It can’t be…my mother never said anything.”
“Your mother was protecting you; most dragons don’t know about this because it has been so long since the last white dragon was born. But it is true, Fionn, the only white dragons that were born throughout time all came from your mother’s clan.”
“Why only from that clan?” asked Hunter.
“In the beginning, when gods were creating beings for earth, the Goddess of the Moon wanted a creature to represent her there, one who would remind all who saw it of the moon and its power, so she created a white dragon. When other gods saw it, they also decided to create dragons…seven in total…but none could make a white one. That color was reserved for the goddess of the moon.
“From those seven, the white dragon picked its mate, forming the first dragon clan on earth. When this happened, the goddess of the moon gave great powers to her dragon…powers that the white dragon shared with the other dragons but not equally…keeping more for himself. So any dragon born to the white dragon’s clan is more formidable than dragons of other clans.”
“Why are white dragons so rare?” asked Hunter.
“After the first white dragon died, several thousands of years passed before the goddess sent another one,” Oracle replied.
“Why? What happened?” asked Fionn, enthralled with Oracle’s story.
“No one knows…maybe because something else held her attention, or maybe because the seven dragon clans were enjoying peace and prosperity…gods never explain their actions,” Oracle said.
“But then, after years of peaceful co-existence, trouble began brewing among the clans over how much territory each had. Because the white dragon clan had the most, others became jealous. When an acceptable solution could not be reached, the clans became divided, sides were taken and war broke out. When death and destruction finally reached proportions the gods could nolonger ignore, the goddess of the moon created another white dragon to end the conflict.”
“Was the second white dragon different from the first one?” asked Jackson.
“Yes…the goddess of the moon gave the second one a dangerous supernatural power, allowing him to end the war,” Oracle explained. “From that point on, a white dragon, also known as a lunar dragon, represented danger, death and rebirth.”
“If that’s true,” asked Hunter, “what’s the danger Fionn’s facing?”
“None. The danger is within the dragon world,” Oracle said.
“Are you saying Fionn was sent by the goddess of the moon to save all dragons?” asked Hunter. “And from what?”
