PARTNER ALSO LIVES, AS YOU EXHIBIT DRAGON POWERS. THIS IS A WONDERFUL THING THAT MEANS MORE TO ME AND TO OUR WORLDS THAN YOU CAN YET IMAGINE. BUT I DO NOT SENSE HARRY SIMPLE. HE IS DEAD?”

  “He is dead,” confirmed George.

  The crow nodded its head solemnly, human-like. “AGAIN HE HELPED SAVE YOUR WORLD AND MINE IN ONE LAST BATTLE. HUMANS ARE SHORT LIVED AND FRAGILE, BUT SOME SPECIAL ONES GIVE GREATLY OF THEMSELVES. ALWAYS IT HAS BEEN SO. HARRY WILL BE MISSED BOTH IN THIS WORLD AND IN OTHERS.”

  “What do you want of Mary?” George asked.

  “WHAT ANY DRAGON WANTS OF THEIR CHOSEN. THOUGH I AM FULL GROWN AND NEVER HAD A CHOSEN, THERE ARE STILL ADVANTAGES TO HAVING A CHOSEN HUMAN