Queen Cithri had been busy the last week since the festival. Her husband had to leave on a short trip to the fortress city near razorwind pass leaving her with the tedious job of making sure the extended family doesn’t murder each other.

If it was up to her she would scatter them around the empire to actually be useful for once. The only family drama she actually cared about was when her children fought, but thankfully they were mostly well behaved.

Two maids organized files in the corner while she closed her eyes, having her temples massaged by another. It was easy to complain about having to rule, but it came with perks. Massages being one of them. Though she did try and remember to treat her subordinates well. Being personable was the easiest way to get what you wanted and keep people loyal.

As she tried to focus on letting her stress melt away one of the maids came close and whispered to her.

“My Queen, your daughter Silandra has arrived.”

Sitting up she excused the rest of the maid immediately with a simple wave of her hand. “Tell her to come in immediately.”

A few moments passed and her daughter came marching in “Mother. I heard you will be leaving Flamespire after your father returns. Is that true?”

Cithri’s eyebrow raised apparently one of her maids had loose lips. “I was considering going to Aeriat Peak to visit Matriarch Windfeather after that we may take a delegation to the Kathari tribe south.”

“If that is the case I am going with.” Silandra said not bothering with formality.

Cithri laughed. “You are too much of a hot head for diplomatic missions. Why would you want to come on a trip that is going to simply bore you to death?” Cithri knew her daughter’s personality and it was much more like her father than herself.

“Mother, I want to get out of Flamespire and what better or safer way to do this than going with you?”

Cithri did admit that her daughter couldn’t be sheltered and this might be a good learning experience for her. “The Harpies of Aeriat Peak are Matriarchal by nature I will be bringing my two female Queen’s guard into the city itself and leaving the male’s behind. All of the detachment of soldiers and envoys who will be joining are also female the few males who join are required to wait in our camp outside the Peak. You will be put in charge of security during our time in the city and will observe my negotiations. This will benefit you the most take it or stay here in Flamespire.”

Silandra’s face blossomed with a large smile. “Of course mother! You won’t regret this!”

“Go get the new initiate and Eun’he. You must train with them for the next three weeks so you can work together smoothly. I will inform Captain K’Lir once you leave.

Watching her daughter walk out confidently. Queen Cithri motioned for the next person waiting for an audience to come in. ‘It was going to be a long day.’

…

Aerin had been acclimating well to the daily routine of the Queen’s guard. The two guards who she had not met before were both wyvern tier 8 and 9. The first named Glas and the other Taelith. Ha’Dran had mentioned that everyone in the Queen’s guard were weird in their own way, but those two seemed the most normal out of all of them.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

The training was pretty standard for combat, but the fact she was beginning to understand more about her dark attribute excited her. Captain K’Lir had explained that attribute was how our magical abilities manifested themselves. Unlike humans who were the most flexible of all the sapient races in terms of their use of magic. Draakin were the most rigid. They specialized in almost all the same fire, water, ice. This was based on the three major types of dragon species. Rare subvarients were classified universally as dark. This meant that the form or attribute would not express itself fully until she grew stronger.

After a week of effort she finally discovered her ability to manifest lightning. Captain K’Lir said he had read that Wyrms were said to be primarily sea dragons essentially though some variants were found in other regions as well. As a result her attribute was storm. The lightning was merely a byproduct of it.

The others thought her preference for first and kicks was funny. Most winged Draakin were dispositioned to fighting with longer length weapons so they could better utilize their wings in combat, but also protect them.

Aerin had no such concern since she was one of the two wingless bloodlines.

“Everyone form up!”

The shout was heard across the yard everyone immediately dropped what they were doing and rushed over to line up in the center.

As they finished lining up two familiar faces showed up. Captain K'Lir was accompanied by someone she had not forgotten. Princess Silandra.

“Good. Listen up. We are all preparing for the Queen's trip to Aeriat, but a special condition has been placed by the Queen to improve the conditions of the meeting. Only females will actually be ascending the Peak once we arrive.”

Glas let out a groan of what Aerin assumed was disappointment.

“Do you have a problem Glas?” Captain asked sternly clearly not liking the disruption.

“I just wanted to meet some of those beautiful bird gals sir!” Glas yelled his crude thought as formally as one could manage.

Captain K'Lir's face twitched from the words.

Aerin finally realized what Hardman meant that all the Queen's guard had their weirdness he really meant it.

“Anyway. Princess Silandra will be in charge of our female guards once we enter the peak and thus you three will be training together for the next few weeks while we await the Emperor's return. Is that clear?”

“Yes! Captain!” They all shouted in unison.

“Dismissed! Aerin and Eun'he get over here. While she is in command her royal title is to be dropped by you both and from now you will refer to her as Lieutenant Silandra. Understood?”

Aerin nodded glancing at Eun'he who still had a scowl as always.

Nodding Captain glanced to the Princess “I will take my leave.”

“Thank you Captain.” Silandra said as he walked away in his usual power stride.

Looking at the two of us she smiled. “I remember you well enough. I hope you've been acclimating well under my mother's ever present gaze.”

“I have Princess Silandra.” Aerin bowed.

“Please call me Lt. Sila for now on.” Sila said absentmindedly as her eyes drifted to Eun'he.

“I've seen you from a distance for a long time guard Eun'he, but I don't believe we have had the pleasure of talking.”

“Work and talking don't typically go together Lt. Sila.”

Sila nodded “I suppose you are correct. Regardless we will be representing the strength and pride of all Draakin to the Areiat Harpy clan. Let's not bring shame to them.

Aerin couldn't be more pleased to so soon travel to a part of the world she had never seen before. Vasphaine had truly blessed her.