The streets were filled with all kinds of entertainment. Dancers, acrobats, snake charmers, magicians were all to be seen. People drank freely, and colorful banners were everywhere. As they walked through out the festival, Safara introduced people by name. It soon became apparent that Safara knew everyone.

And everyone knew her. Hardened mercenaries gave her their full attention. They spoke with courtesy when she was around. Something about her seemed to infect people. Kiyora wondered if Aris was likewise infected.

The Prince of Estal spoke little as they walked. Yet he regarded the people around him with a hidden distaste. Kiyora wanted to call him on it. But she decided not to. It wasn't like she'd change his opinion with a speech.

"Kiyora, have you met Eredian yet?" asked Safara.

"No," said Kiyora. "Who is he?"

"Oh, he's a wonderful man," said Safara. "A baker by trade, you really should try some of his loaves."

"I guess," said Kiyora.

"Aris, come with us, please," said Safara.

Aris followed without a word. They came to a stall where all kinds of bread and other baked goods were on display. A round-faced Calishan looked up and beamed as they approached. Safara waved as she slithered up to him.

"Lady Safara, it's been some time since you were last in Ruscow," said the man. "I'm glad to see you here for the festival."

"I'm glad to be here, Eredian," said Safara. "Tell me, how is your wife? Did she like the gift I sent?"

"Of course," said Eredian. "They were a Queenly gift. How are affairs in your own home?"

Safara's expression darkened. "Baelgost's manor is pleasant enough. He is almost never there, however. I fear I get lonely sometimes."

"Ah," said Eredian, "who are these with you?"

"I'm Kiyora Yagos," said Kiyora. "I'm visiting the city from my homeland."

"Are the high elves seeking friendship with Calisha?" asked Eredian.

"I don't really know," said Kiyora. "I just wanted to see the festival."

Eredian eyed her for a moment, then looked back to Safara. "Well, I hope there will be peace. My son took a spear to the gut in the attack on Artarq. It nearly cost him his life, but one of the Harlenorians healed him. What was his name? Ah, William Gabriel, isn't it? It usually is a Gabriel for these sorts of things."

"What do you mean by that?" asked Kiyora.

"House Gabriel is known well for its Calishan sympathies," said Aris, speaking for the first time in a while.

"Yes, I'm told Father holds Duke Vanion in a lot of respect," said Safara, missing the resentment in Aris' tone.

Kiyora wasn't going to let it drop like that. "Yeah, but what did you mean by 'It usually is a Gabriel?' Duke Vanion hasn't been the ruler of Artarq all that long."

"Well, it was in the foundations of their house, so to speak," said Eredian.

"Sixty years ago, Erik the Voyager came to the shores of Eastern Calisha," said Safara. "In those days, the Empire was involved in a civil war. One of Baltoth's children, Rammas, had raised the banner of rebellion. There was a great deal of bloodshed in putting it down.

"So the far eastern provinces weren't as secure. The realm of Dinis was pressing at the borders, and the Kalthakians were launching raids. Erik did a great many great deeds, including saving a nest of gold dragon eggs from being stolen." She looked up, and her eyes narrowed. "One of them grew up to be Paleth."

"Whose Paleth?" asked Kiyora.

"My husband's protege," said Safara. "A golden dragon of huge size and power. He spends more time with him than with me. See that ridge up there."

Kiyora looked up at the way she was motioning. On one of the hills surrounding the city, there was a shrine of standing stones. There was a strange glinting light that seemed to duck and weave. There was another humanoid figure darting back and forth. It was as though they were fighting.

"Yes," said Kiyora.

"That shimmering light is the sun glinting off of Paleth's scales. He and Baelgost are training together. They don't stop, even for the Festival of the Hearth," said Safara.

Kiyora noticed that she seemed closer to angry than she'd ever seen. "Something has been bugging me, Safara. I have never heard of this festival, or Herus, being worshipped in Harlenor."

"Well, that is because the God Triumvirate keeps out religions they don't like. Only they, their allies, and their vassals are allowed to erect statues within. Herus could be of great service in places like Haldren. There, the winter is even colder, but our missionaries are turned away at the borders.

"Although Antion has proven more open-minded toward other gods. At least since King Andoa II took the throne."

"What about Viokinar? It's pretty cold there," said Kiyora.

"The minotaurs worship only Kreshlak and his wives and suffer no other gods," said Safara. "And the worshippers of Fortenex are likewise. The Iron Kingdom has always sought to root out our worshippers as well. However, since the fall, we have sent them anew.

"The sea birds tell me that those who worshipped Baltoth were spared the massacre."

"Thank Alchara," said Kiyora. "I was afraid that only the worshippers of Elranor would survive. If other gods could protect the people, then maybe more survived."

"We'll soon know for certain," said Aris. "Calisha is using the truce to launch ships. They mean to make a great expedition to establish colonies in the lands which are now empty."

"Don't judge my brother too harshly, Aris," said Safara. "Harlenor has done the same. Duke Vanion has already launched a similar expedition, long prepared in advance. I do not know how he got news of the fall before it happened, but sometimes rumors are true."

"What rumors?" asked Kiyora.

"Some say that Duke Vanion has partnered with Melchious," said Aris. "That wherever Melchious sews destruction, Vanion establishes his hold on that land."

"Duke Vanion would never work with Melchious!" shouted Kiyora despite herself.

"He has admitted to doing so in the past," said Aris. "And he seems very quick to make alliances with other demons. With no disrespect, Safara."

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

"No, I understand," said Safara. "Emperor Baltoth and his children are not like others of his kind. It is perfectly reasonable that you hold them in distrust, Aris."

"Duke Vanion made a few mistakes," said Kiyora. "But if he were really in an alliance with Melchious, he never would have admitted to what he did in the first place. And anyway, he saved Antion from Duke Borinius."

"Did he?" asked Aris. "Duke Borinius claimed that he was under a spell from Melchious during his trial? Why should we trust Vanion and not Borinius?"

"Well, for one thing, Vanion was admitting to guilt," said Kiyora. "Borinius was just trying to foist the blame off on someone else."

"Every time Melchious strikes, Vanion becomes more powerful. You cannot deny that," said Aris.

"You're overthinking it, Aris," said Safara. "Vanion is using the crisis as an opportunity to increase his power. I used to do it all the time. Anyone could do it in his place. He doesn't have to have made a pact with the demon to do it."

"Or he's trying to make things the best for all involved," said Kiyora. "Duke Vanion is a good man."

"There are no good men regarding state affairs," said Safara sadly. "Friendship is a passing thing; love does not exist, save in me. However, this subject is dull. Let us scale up there. The view is very nice."

"I don't think I'll see anything I haven't already," admitted Kiyora. "But, I'm game."

They made their way through the streets of the city and came out from between the high gates of Ruscow. They were gigantic. When Kiyora was standing beneath it, she tried to look up to the top. Her neck was barely able to bend back far enough to see the top.

Once out of the gates, Kiyora saw the surrounding countryside of Ruscow. Several villages could be seen in the distance, surrounded by stone walls.

Safara led them along a path up the side of the hill Safara had seen before. Coming to the summit, Kiyora looked east and saw vast plains of snow. It began at the edge of the mountain and stretched out before her. They gleamed in the sunlight. Yet whenever the snow neared a town or village, it stopped abruptly. It was as though a great fire had been lit at the center of each village.

"Whoa," said Kiyora.

"That was my reaction when I first saw it as well," said Safara. "It never snowed in what is now called Dinis. This marks the beginning of the plains of Rusun, the lands of the Medi. They stretch for thousands of miles and reach all the way to the land of Kalthak."

"But you grew up here, didn't you?" asked Kiyora.

"No," said Safara. "I was raised in the jungles of the Far East, among my kind. When Father sent for me, I was drawn here."

"Why did he send for you?" asked Kiyora.

"So that I might marry my husband, Baelgost," said Safara. "He is the greatest warrior of Calisha and also my brother."

Kiyora blinked. "You married your brother?

"I was married to him, yes," said Safara before pointing up to the shrine. It was still above them, and Kiyora realized that the gleaming had halted. "He's up there at the peak of the ledge."

"With Paleth," said Kiyora.

"Yes," said Safara. "Do you wish to meet them?"

"I guess," said Kiyora.

They journeyed the rest of the way up the hill and came before the shrine. The shrine was far more extensive than it had looked from the city. Everything in Calisha was larger than life, it seemed. Sitting against one of the stones was a creature that looked very similar to Suloth. Yet his hair was all orange and white, and his eyes red. He was taller and had thicker arms and legs. He wore white scaled armor.

Near him was a massive creature with the body of a huge golden serpent. It had six clawed, scaly legs. Its scales gleamed brightly in the sun so that looking at him was hard. It was coiled around one of the stone pillars, and smoke was coming from its nostrils. Two dull eyes were looking at the catman.

They seemed to be speaking to one another in low tones.

"Isn't it a bit um..." said Kiyora, "weird marrying your brother?" She'd heard of some screwed-up matches. But they mostly were in the royal court.

"More than you know," said Safara, "The children of Baltoth all have unique powers and abilities. All based on who their mother was. So, intermarriage between their lines is common. Suloth is ambitious to create a child with all their combined powers and then make them a concubine.

"Whatever children resulted from such a union would be immensely powerful."

"That is really sick, you know that," said Kiyora.

"Baelgost shares the sentiment. It is why our union has been entirely childless," said Safara.

"Suloth was able to pressure him into accepting the marriage, but he refuses to consummate it."

"Geeze and I thought I had it bad," muttered Kiyora. "I guess it could be worse. You could be married off to one of Baelgost's children."

"He does not have any children. I am his first wife," said Safara.

"And how old is he?" asked Kiyora.

"I don't know exactly," admitted Safara. "The records are a bit, and he hasn't kept track. Somewhere between two and two hundred younger than Suloth."

"Who remembers Anoa the Bright, the founder of Harlenor," said Kiyora. "How is it possible? You'd think someone in his position of power well..."

"Baelgost does not enjoy the company of women," said Safara. "At all. He prefers men."

Kiyora felt a sense of revulsion. "That's disgusting."

Safara looked at her in surprise. "What do you mean?"

"Well... look, men are supposed to be attracted to women," said Kiyora. "Only women are allowed to swing the other way."

"Swing the other way?" asked Safara.

"Like their own gender in... that way," said Kiyora, feeling uncomfortable with the subject.

"May I ask why?" asked Safara.

"Five out of six Dreamer Elves are female. If a man is into men, then that means five women may never have children," said Kiyora. "Which is the entire point of relationships in the first place."

"That is a practical objection," mused Safara. "But it does not prove that what you speak of is wrong. Love, in my mind, does not limit itself to any gender or species."

"That's a wonderful idea. You are wrong," said Kiyora.

"Well?" said Baelgost, looking up. "Are you three merely going to whisper, or are you going to speak to us?"

"Well, it isn't every day you see someone fighting a dragon in the ruins of a fallen civilization," said Kiyora. "I figured I'd enjoy the view."

"Cute," said Baelgost. "Paleth, you owe me a heads weight in silver, I believe?"

"You'll get your silver Baelgost," said Paleth. "You don't need to rub it in."

"You had a bet?" asked Kiyora.

"Yes," said Baelgost. "Paleth didn't think you'd show up. I bet that you would."

"Sorry to disappoint you," said Kiyora.

"Disappoint?" hissed Paleth. "Hardly. I'm merely out a head weight in silver." And he moved off in a huff. The golden dragon uncoiled himself. He clambered to the edge of the hill and went beyond sight.

"Don't take it personally," said Baelgost. "Paleth hates losing money." He looked to Aris. "Aris, I see you are still drawing breath."

"As are you," noted Aris.

"Well, what do you expect? Your raids didn't penetrate nearly deep enough into Calisha," said Baelgost. "And you were always quick to flee when faced with true power."

"Fine words from one whose armies are like an ocean," said Aris. "Yet Estal has broken many oceans. And had you come there, it would have been your grave."

"I would relish the opportunity to prove you wrong," said Baelgost with a smile. "Believe me. Alas, peace is the order of the day. And it may last until you are an old man worth no sport."

"One can only hope that it does not," said Aris.

Paleth returned, grumbling with a sack of silver coins in his mouth. He tossed it to Baelgost, who caught the bag in hand. "I've got your head of silver Baelgost."

"Why are you so bitter?" asked Baelgost. "You never spend a copper piece of your wealth?"

"It is mine," said Paleth. "And I cherish it nonetheless."

"So what are these ruins anyway?" asked Kiyora.

"Oh, they're the remnants of an old temple of Valranor," said Baelgost. "I've been hoping we'll eventually knock it down by accident. Unfortunately, his power still seeps into them, and we haven't been able to uproot them yet."

"Why not study them?" asked Kiyora.

"Valranor doesn't have anything about him worth studying," said Baelgost. "Unfortunately, there are still cults out there that claim he's the true Lord of Order. They're hoping for some destined return when Father dies."

"What do you think will happen?" asked Kiyora.

"I'll get to fight a lot of people," said Baelgost. "If Calisha wins, we'll burn a lot of towns in Halrenor and kill the Heir of Kings. Then Suloth will take over. If Harlenor wins, they'll burn down a lot of towns in Calisha and put up a puppet king or something. Then we'll kill them.

"Either way, things will go right back to the way they were before, sooner or later. The game of kings and gods always ends in a stalemate."

Suddenly, Kiyora found herself feeling an urgent call in her mind. It was drawing her away up home. She clutched her head. Something very serious was happening. "Nice. I- Hang on, I've got to take this."

This had better not be another spider demon.