Tashna Stine stared up at the raven and the gauntlet emblazoned upon the giant banner that hung above her throne. It symbolized her connection to the Raven-God and her father, who ruled all the way in the mother country. Estinia—it had been far too long since she returned to Cypress and even longer since she had seen her parents. However, she preferred the reclusiveness of ruling the colony of New Estinia. She was entrusted to rule as a Div’Rah and she had always done her best for the Raven-God to smile upon her reign. She smirked, as if everything was just as the raven intended.

The double doors to the throne room burst open, and an officer clad in dark iron and silver armor strode down the crimson-red carpet, ignoring the attendees that tried to stop him. It was only when the palace guard barred his way that he stopped in his tracks.

“My Div’Rah,” he said with a half-hearted salute. “I bring news from-”

Tashna sneered at him with a glance so cold it froze him in mid speech.

“You insult me vith such a lackluster salute, Captain Segvox,” she said, raising her lip. “Has your time in my military made you so jaded?”

Captain Segvox used up all his might from his legs buckling in fear. He took a large gulp and made a smart salute with as much gusto as he could muster. It nearly came off as comical.

Tashna chuckled. “Proceed, Captain.”

“Yes, your grace. Ve have made several attempts to employ the Blood Bog orcs to our ranks, as requested, m’lady, but still they refuse. How do you vish to proceed?”

“I vant those orcs to recognize that I am the only crown in this country. Threaten to raze their svamp and then burn it to cinders if they do not comply!”

Segvox bowed his head.

“If I may, my Div’Rah?” a deep voice rumbled next to Tashna.

She turned and looked up to her tall draconian bodyguard, Ro’Tan. Like the dragonfolk that walked the lands of ancient Draak’Terra before him, Ro’Tan had dark, violet scales that coated his tall frame and rippling muscles. Spikes ran down his back between two large wings and along his maw. His eyes were a vibrant yellow, as fiery as the sun. He had no need for armor, as most strikes would just glance off his skin; nor had he a need for a weapon, for his razor sharp claws already served that purpose. He was a behemoth among other men; no one would dare threaten Tashna with a dragon by her side.

Once the draconian had his confirmation to speak, he continued, “The Blood Bog is an excellent strategic point to have on our side, my queen. It serves as a natural defense against any invading force. If we let the orcs have their autonomy, they would keep everyone out of their swamps—friend or foe. By provoking them, we merely create another front for our already thinly-stretched border militias, and if we are invaded, the greenskins would side with the enemy of their enemy. I would recommend allowing the orcs to be used as a deterrent. They may prove useful if the time of war were to touch your shores.”

“Ah, Ro’Tan, I see you are more than a bodyguard and friend, but also a clever advisor,” she applauded the draconian with a bright smile strewn across her face.

Captain Segvox nodded his head. “Vith your permission I vill alert the general of your decision to leave the orcs be?”

“Yes, captain, ve shall try Ro'Tan’s vay.” she waved the soldier away. “You are dismissed.”

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“As you say, my Div’Rah.”

No sooner had the words left his mouth than a whirling portal, dark as the void and as loud as the wailing of a thousand souls erupted in the middle of the throne room. The palace guards drew their weapons, and Segvox reached for his sword. Tashna stood, startled but defiant.

Appearing from the portal walked a woman hidden in large, black robes, an elf garbed in red and black assassin clothing by her side. The woman opened her arms in a gesture of peace. She pressed her hand on the elf’s chest and pushed him behind her. The gaping vortex shut with a piercing roar before vanishing completely from sight.

Ro’Tan step towards the two, baring a set of bone-yellow teeth. “Who in Urd’Draak’s name are you?” he growled.

The woman lowered her hood revealing her deep orange hair and runes scryed over her face. Each glyph hummed with a faint light. The ring of her eyes burned with a white light. “Urd’Draak? An interesting choice. I have not heard that name invoked by anyone in quite some time.”

The draconian snarled at the stranger’s curious take in his words. “Answer me!”

The elf slowly reached for his ninjato that hung on from his belt.

“Calsoon, that won’t be necessary,” she said to her companion. She looked past the dragon guard and addressed the queen before her. “You may call me Sable.” She made a deep flourishing curtsy. “I represent His Grace Duke Alifinster Fen, and I hope our presence has not distressed her royal majesty.”

Tashna sat back down and signaled for her men to lower their weapons. “It is unusual for one to force their presence upon the god-queen, but I must admit you made quite the entrance.”

Sable bowed once more. “My master always has that effect on people.”

Tashna glanced at Calsoon carving a slow smile on her face. “And your elf. Who is he?”

Calsoon raised an eyebrow.

Sable gestured for Calsoon to take a knee. “He serves as my bodyguard, your grace. Calsoon is but a lowly elf, faithful to a fault.”

“Yes, I have little patience for elves,” said Tashna. She rested her head on her hand, already bored with Calsoon.

“My Div’Rah, we have traveled farther than any Estinian reach to offer our servitude and an exuberant amount of gold dren for the freedom to traverse your countryside.”

Tashna tilted her head in confusion, “You vill give me your services and large sum of gold to valk around my land? Vhat is your game, Sable?”

“I suppose that was a tad bit vague,” Sable chuckled. “You see, my master is interested in the archeological aspects of New Estinia, but he knows he can not explore it without your permission.”

Tashna rubbed her chin. “The Dawnedge king of Long Vhisper wrote to me about the same request. I see this as more than a coincidence.”

Sable smile. “Ah yes, the famous Koda Dawnedge. He helped thwart your father’s expansion, did he not?”

“He did, master. I would say it was about five years ago!” said Calsoon, his eyes slid to the side, coy as a fox.

Tashna’s face grew flush, her finger dug into the wooden armrest.

“Tisk, tisk, such a humiliating defeat for the Estinians…” Sable continued.

“Enough!” Tashna roared, “I am not my father! Do not try to coax me into a foolish confrontation vith the Mage King.”

Sable walked side to side with her hands behind her back. “No, I wouldn’t dare tell you how to rule your kingdom, but if I were the queen of the defeated Estinian people, I wouldn’t let a chance like this so easily slip through my fingers.”

Tashna rose from her throne. “A chance to do vhat?”

“I assume the king offered to meet with you in person? To discuss his request to dig up your nation’s secrets?”

“I don’t trust these people, your grace,” hissed Ro’Tan in Tashna’s ear.

She sneered but chose to ignore her trusted bodyguard. “And vhat if he did?”

It was Calsoon’s turn to speak up. “Capturing Koda would showcase a power in your rule that your father could never achieve.”

“This is a mistake, my queen.” Ro’Tan’s words once again nudged their way into Tashna’s thoughts.

“Ro’Tan, a dragon should know that trust and peace are not as coveted in a leader as vengeance is to a people who experienced embarrassment and loss.” Tashna turned to Sable. “You offer your services? Can you help me deal vith Koda’s Magi? If he vas merely a mage, my soldiers vould have vays to deal vith such a threat, but his power vith the Magi is a magnitude not seen in any vizard.”

“Leave me to deal with the Mage King, my Div’Rah. He shall give you no grief.”

Tashna let out a fierce laugh, “Dragon Realm Cypress vill finally kneel to the might of a Stine!”