Azareth was standing in the center of Asleria, Jurah and Artibain on either side of her. They were unlocking the large that held her father’s men. As the door swung open, Azareth stepped into the cage and looked at the men apologetically.

“I’m sorry,” Azareth said. He took the hand of one of the men and helped him stand. “Let’s go home.” They all smiled gratefully, Jurah and Artibain came in to help them out. After the prisoners were freed, Azareth turned to see the princes were staring at her nervously.

“What should we do with them?” Artibain said, shifting the handle of his sword in its sheath. Azareth took a few steps forward and looked them over. All six of them were covered in dirt and blood, their clothes torn in multiple places. She walked over, staring Federyc down.

“What should I do with you?” Azareth asked. Federyc didn’t answer, he looked away and Azareth followed his gaze to Bledric’s body. “With your father gone, who was supposed to succeed him?” The princes all shared the same unsure expression.

“The king never talked about his successors,” Ulric spoke up. Azareth raised an eyebrow at him, not sure what to do.

“Az, they can’t be trusted,” Jurah said. Azareth scanned their faces.

“How do I free the dragons?” she asked. Ulric looked down at his brothers and saw none of them were going to answer her.

“With the king dead, his spells should be broken.” Ulric took a small step forward. Every spear on him shift and he froze. “Our father used blood magic.”

“Thank you,” Azareth said. She turned to leave, but then Jurah grabbed her arm and looked at her confused.

“What is your plan?” Jurah asked her. Azareth looked over her shoulder at the princes and sighed deeply.

“I don’t know,” she said. Artibain and Jurah moved closer to her, ready to discuss the situation. Azareth looked over at Cephie and bit her lip.

“We can’t leave them here, what if they try to retaliate?” Artibain asked.

“He’s right, there’s no way to know if they’ll keep their word if we leave on a treaty,” Jurah said. Cephie cocked her head tot he side and Azareth nodded her head.

“We need someone we trust to stay here, as an ambassador,” Azareth suggested. “Someone we know will keep the peace until we know if we can trust them.” The two men looked t each other and then at Azareth.

Azareth looked around at her men. The wounded soldiers were being taken care of and carted off towards the city border. The men who were fit, stayed and kept on guard in case the Aslerian army took arm against them. Azareth looked to see Captain Jerin was instructing the men and she began to walk towards him.

“Captain,” Azareth said. Jerin turned to see her and bowed as she stopped in front of him. Azareth smiled and gestured for him to stand.

“Your majesty,” Jerin said.

“I have a mission for you, if you’ll accept.”

“Of course, you majesty,” Jerin said. Azareth took a deep breath in and looked at him sadly.

“I’d like you to be Berlar’s ambassador for Asleria,” she began. “Keep the peace her, inform of us anything that could harm that peace. When you feel that Asleria is what we need it to be, then your mission is over.”

“I understand,” Jerin said. He looked at the ground, but nodded his head. “Anything for Berlar, Noedra and I will stay here.”

“Thank you, keep a few of your most trusted men to help,” Azareth said. Jerin nodded, before he left to go talk with his men. Azareth walked back to the princes, her body aching as her adrenaline began to fade.

“That’s your plan?” Federyc asked her. She cocked her head to him and he looked a bit nervous. Azareth stepped right in front of him and got in his face.

“If any of you would like to meet the same fate as your father, let me know now,” she warned him. “There will be peace between are two kingdoms, between all the kingdoms. My ambassador is here to make sure of that, his word is law. If he tells me that any of you break those laws, I will return with a force much greater than today.” The princes looked at her nervously, but all of them except Federyc agreed. “Understood?”

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“Yes…” Federyc narrowed his yes at her.

“Yes, what?”

“Yes, your majesty,” Federyc said. He bowed his head and Azareth took a step back from him.

“Let’s go home,” Azareth said.

The sky was full of pink puffy clouds as the sun set. The lowering sun creating a beautiful peach and rose hue to the sky around them. Azareth sat on Cephie’s back, feeling the comfort of being high in the air. Jurah sat right behind her, his arms wrapped around her waist. Artibain sat right behind Jurah, clinging on for dear life. Azareth gently stroked Cephie’s neck, giving her a sign to bank to the right towards the island.

The sight of Berlar sent a warm feeling through Azareth. Tears stung her eyes as she looked towards the training grounds and saw tiny figures moving across the grass. Seeing the castle, her home, was a relief. She was sure she’d never see this place again. Cephie began to descend towards the large field.

Azareth glanced over her shoulder, she could see the small army over dragons trailing behind them. Several few close to the weak dragons, prepared to catch them if they could no longer continue. When she looked ahead, they were soaring over the city coming into land.

Cephie landed on the ground with a loud rumble. Everyone around began to cheering and holler as the two men jumped down from Cephie. Jurah held out his arms to catch Azareth as she lowered herself off Cephie’s back. Azareth turned to look at her dragon and walked over to her head.

“Cephie, I can’t ever thank you enough,” Azareth told her, not sure if she heard her over the cheering crowd.

“There is no need, I will always be here for you,” Cephie told her. Azareth hugged Cephie’s head, feeling the dragon gently nudged her body. Azareth kissed the side of Cephie’s cheek, before turning to look at her people. “They’re here for you too.”

“Azareth!” Her parents cried. Azareth could no longer be brave. As Faylen crashed into her, Azareth broke down clinging to her mother. Hastos threw himself around the woman and held them tightly.

“I’m so sorry,” Azareth cried, her face buried in her mother’s hair.

“Hush, you’re safe now,” Faylen said.

“We are so proud of you,” Hastos told her. Azareth cried harder, feeling her body give up. She dropped to the ground, everyone gasping around her. Azareth felt her head begin to spin and her vision blurred worse. Everything went dark.

It was dark and the castle was silent. The only sound the filled the room was the sound of the flames roaring in the fireplace. Azareth opened her eyes slowly and realized she was in her bed, tucked safely into her huge bed. Her eyes scanned the room, there was no one else. She lifted her hand to rub her eyes, she was distracted when she saw her arm was covered in a white bandage.

Sitting up slowly, she noticed that both her arms were covered in bandages. Someone must have given her medical care while she was unconscious. She slowly climbed out of her bed and found her robe. After covering herself, she tiptoed towards her bedroom.

When she opened the door, there were two guards posted outside. Azareth stifled a laugh, but knew that her family felt it was necessary. She cleared her throat and guards turned to face her, bowing their heads.

“Did Sir Jurah put you up to this?”

“Yes your majesty,” the guard to her left said. She nodded and took a few stpes out of the room.

“Can you let someone know I’m awake?” she asked them. They nodded and the guard to her right ran off to find someone. She glanced at the other guard and nodded her head. “I’ll just go back inside then.”

“Of course, your majesty,” he said to her. She rolled her eyes, but shut the door behind her. As made her way into the room, she focused her little energy on her index finger. A warm sensation tingled in her finger as a small flame appeared. She smiled and touched the wick on a few candles around the room.

The door opened and she extinguished her finger. She spun around to see Jurah and Artibain staring at her. She gave them a weak smile, glancing down at her broken body. She wrapped her arms around herself and dropped her gaze.

“I’m sorry for leaving,” she said. “I didn’t know what else to do.” They didn’t say anything, but they walked further into the room. Azareth stared at the ground as they stopped a few feet away from her.

“You are lucky to be alive,” Jurah told her.

“I know.”

“Not to mention, the trouble to go and save you,” Artibain said. Azareth looked up and saw a playful smirk on his face. She gave him a small grin. “If you ever try to do that again, I swear, I’ll nail you to the ground.”

“Deal,” Azareth told him. Artibain walked over to her and wrapped her in a hug. She hugged him back and sighed happily. Artibain kissed the top of her head.

“Don’t leave me with him again,” Artibain whispered in her ear. “He’s a mess without you.” Azareth couldn’t help the giggle that escaped her. “Alright, I’ll be going to bed now. Now that I can sleep.”

“Good night,” Azareth told him. “Thank you, Arti.”

“Don’t call me that,” Artibain exclaimed as he left the room. Azareth laughed and turned to see Jurah was staring at her. His lips pursed and his eyes narrowed.

“Say something…” she trailed off.

“I love you.” Azareth’s eyes widened, she looked at him shocked. “I am so unbelievably furious with you for leaving like that. Thinking about it make my blood boil, but…” He walked towards her and cupped her face in his hands. “I can’t imagine life without and the fear of loosing you, it was crippling.”

“Jurah…I’m so sorry.”

“Marry me, Azareth.”