Two

If only I could sleep forever. Sometimes I wonder if this is what death feels like; a warmth unmatched, a soft feeling of comfort as if a mother caressed her child but for eternity. A love for the silence and peace and an unwillingness to let it end when the morning comes; when the pain returns, and so do the memories.

"Where am I?" I groaned. I thought I could be heard clearly, but it was nothing more than a squeek. I asked no one in particular; perhaps I was just thinking aloud, but I was genuinely unfamiliar with my surroundings, as moments before I was bleeding out in the fields of Swenherd, ready to accept my fate.

"We are in Gotregot," someone said next to me," are you okay, commander?"

Slowly, I opened my eyes. I saw now I was in a surgical tent with many dying or recovering drakes. Every face that I could read showed a look of defeat, and for every aura I sensed embarrassment. How could we have known?

"Gotregot is days away from Swenherd," I growled," how long was I asleep?"

"About a week," the voice said, and I finally looked over to see who was speaking. It was not a drake I had met before. I tried to lift myself up from the bed, but the pain proved to be a greater foe, and so the drake helped me back down to comfort.

"I didn't know females could be in the army," I chided the drake. She gave me a stern look, then shook her head

"No," she allowed," but it is a female for whom you owe your gratitude. What do you say to that?" I raised my eyebrows in defeated acceptance.

"So you were the one who pushed me out of the way," I said," very well. What do I call you?"

She hesitated for a moment, but then told me. She called herself Nuínat, and she had been in the second rank as a spear-drake. I looked into her emerald green eyes, knowing full well she had more potential than to use a spear, but I said nothing. Nuínat straightened herself, grabbed a ribbon she had laced into her trousers, then tied her golden brown hair back loosely. She stood then and leaned over me, removing my blanket to investigate my wounds. She ran a hand over my chest, which I could see bore a fresh scar from when I was cut a week before. It stung a little, but the stitch job looked masterful, and so I did not expect it to break any time soon.

"Did you do this?" I asked her, and she shook her head.

"A servant did. His name was Tegrit," she said, and I blinked at the name. She did not seem to notice or care. She continued to speak as she grabbed a fresh bandage and lifted me slightly to begin wrapping," The Lord Lumient sent him over. You must be quite the drake for a noble to take interest in you."

"And the interest of a female drake, who had no business being on a battlefield," I growled lightly. She shot me a look, then tightened the bandage which caused me to groan and call her a bitch due to the pain, and she smiled sweetly.

"I suppose I should thank you," I croaked as she let me down gently.

"My father taught me how to sew," she said, seemingly oblivious to the conversation. I looked at her, but she concentrated on my wounds. I stayed quiet for a heartbeat longer, then looked up to count the squares in the tent's pattern.

"Not your mother?" I said.

"Not my mother," she agreed," all typical things aside, my father's a very resourceful drake."

"Do you miss him?" She did not answer for a moment, but then she breathed in heavily as if in comfort.

"Not really, no," she said," but that's not to say I despise him. I've just always preferred being on my own."

"And so you joined the army," I chuckled," and now you are never alone." She chuckled at the irony in that statement, then looked at me seriously.

"I don't need your thanks," she said," but the nobles will make you a lord. And when that happens, I wish to join your guard as a warrior." At those words, I looked at her in surprise.

"A lord?" I repeated," how do you know this?"

"I want you to promise me you will accept my oath," she said instead, but offered no answer to my question. I stared at her for a moment in disbelief, but I could see the determination in her eyes, and so I relented.

"Fine," I conceded," if I am made a lord, you will be accepted into my house." She smiled triumphantly, then stood. She brushed off her trousers, which were clean, then bowed and made her leave from the tent. She stopped at the flap, then turned, and offered me more information before she slipped out of sight.

"The Lord Hestal is dead."

It was a few days before I could stand, and Drecc had visited me often. We grieved for the loss of our brother, Kragen, more than once, and drank ale in his memory. Drecc had told me they found Kragen's body and Drecc buried him nearby in the woods, a stone pile next to a river. When I was able to walk, Drecc guided me to Kragen's resting place, and I said my goodbyes, vowing revenge on the blood elves. That was what we came to call the treacherous wretches: blood elves, for the red shields that bore the insignia of Teles.

I was summoned to the commander's tent the day after visiting Kragen's grave, and the air smelled grave and ill, as if we would never recover from our defeat. All the remaining lords were here, save for Lord Caen, who had led a raiding party for supplies into known blood elf territories. We would liberate these towns soon, but for now it was a matter of survival.

The Lord Lumient greeted me sorrowfully, but after his condolences he, rightfully, chided me for joining the ranks instead of leading from behind. I lowered my head in shame, then offered my good arm— as my left arm was still recovering from the spearhead— to accept a formal punishment. Usually, when a drake fails to uphold his promises, the offended would use a claw to scratch a line of scales off of the arm, leaving a permanent scar that would never grow scales again; but the Lord Lumient wrapped his fingers around my arm gently instead, a sign that he had forgiven me my offenses. I did not deserve his leniency, but accepted it regardless.

"We have… reports… the Lord Hestal's flank had been broken," Lord Lumient told me," and he was defeated by the Lord Ursun. We could not recover his body, however, but it is safe to assume the noble is dead."

"If there is no body," I offered gently," then it is possible he is a captive."

"I sincerely doubt the blood elves would take prisoners," he retorted," what information would they gain that they do not already know?"

I accepted that argument, reluctantly, then stood silent. I did not have much to offer in my report, other than that we were defeated, and had to retreat. The nobles knew everything I had to give them, no doubt from reports of my warriors who were duty-bound to tell their stories.

"The warriors under your command praise you," the Lord Lumient said," indeed, they appreciate a commander who would risk his own life to be in the front lines and lead them. Though I cannot condone such actions, I can say that drakes are willing to follow your command. And that is something we desperately need."

I shuffled my stance, trying to alleviate the pain in my chest. He noticed this, then snapped his fingers for a servant to bring me a chair. A moment later the servant came back, then helped me gently down into the seat and I felt relieved. I nodded my thanks to the servant and he was dismissed.

"Though I would gladly offer you land and title," the Lord Lumient went on, after I was comfortable," it is Prince Tsu'caro who offers it instead. And so, you no longer serve me."

I blinked at him, then watched as the prince made his way to the center of the room. I tried to stand up, but the prince opened his palm to relieve me of my efforts. He drew his sword and, with both hands, stabbed it into the ground in front of me. I placed my hands over his, and he smiled softly.

"Do you swear to serve as a lord under a crowned prince?" He asked me, but I hesitated. Knowing I should not refuse, though I desperately wanted to, I nodded my head slowly.

"I do, lord prince."

"I offer you land and title," he continued," I offer you farms and tenants. Do you swear to defend these lands and those who reside upon it?"

"I do, lord prince."

"I offer you the honor of serving the royal house, that of the blood of Asmondalius, until death relieve you of your position, or dishonor banish you from your inheritance. Do you swear your fealty?"

"Always, lord prince," I said, and he nodded. I lifted my right arm off of the sword, but he shook his head. Traditionally, it was the left arm we swore to, and though I was still in tremendous pain, I had to swear these oaths with honor. So I mustered the strength and lifted my left arm, and he extended a claw from his index finger, then poked me hard enough to draw blood. He accepted my oath by licking the blood off his claw, then asked me to rise. I stood slowly, trying my best to ignore the pain as dutifully as I could, then he sheathed his sword and put an arm on my right shoulder, making sure he did not hurt my left any more than it already was.

"The Lord Hestal's lands are now yours," he said," he did not have an heir. There is no need to worry about L'acabras. His lands include Gotregot, Fisclund, and Fyrnethsfjol, under Mount Fyrofskyn. You may assign who you'd like to govern the towns."

I nodded. I asked if we were to retire, as the winter season was approaching quickly, and he told me we would be, but to also expect raids from the blood elves before the snow fell, and to be cautious of the unexpected during the winter season. He advised me to gather the crops now rather than wait any longer, and to ration the food to last through the next three months. It all sort of flowed too quickly for me, but I accepted his advice. He told me a messenger would come for me when we would next convene, and with that I was dismissed.

I had inherited Hestal's command, which used to be about forty drakes and twenty elves, but was now around twenty drakes and maybe ten elves. Whether those elves had died or changed sides, I had no clue, but the blood elves would have more than likely offered them life at the chance of betraying their comrades, and breaking the oaths they made to the queen Nanthaliene, who was the wife of King Asmond and a full-blooded elf. I knew my inheritance would not include those I was close to, and so I petitioned the Lord Lumient for two drakes, and he agreed without hesitation. Drecc and Nuinat were now under my service, and my protection. They both swore their oaths to me, though I did not need either oath, and I could not care at all who swore their oaths so long as they did not betray me; but the custom was mandatory, and so I acted as a lord.

"Lord Rodwir," Drecc said, stretching the titular word mockingly," what did I tell ya?"

"Say any more and I will cut off your balls," I growled, and he laughed, though said nothing. He rode his horse next to me as we departed the camp westward, and Nuinat, happy with herself, rode on my other side.

"So much for being alone," I mocked her, and she smiled.

"So long as you let me come and go, I won't be a bother."

"I don't know," I pretended to think," you are sworn to me now." She shot me a sideways glance, but my facade didn't hold, and she chuckled.

"Not as grumpy as I was told," she said, and I turned to look at her.

"Who told you that?" I asked her, and she shot a secretive look over my shoulder. I turned to Drecc, who pretended not to notice, and I grunted.

We continued on for what seemed like hours before we reached the next settlement, Fisclund, which was much smaller than Gotregot. I stopped my horse, then turned to the nearest sword-drake I hadn't introduced myself to.

"What is your name?" I asked him. He looked startled, probably not expecting me to speak to him.

"I am called Vlog," he said, his voice deep yet respectful.

"Vlog," I nodded my greeting," you served under the Lord Hestal correct?"

"I did."

"How was he, as a lord?" I asked. It was an awkward question, and could be passed off as disrespectful, but I had absolutely no idea how to rule in his stead. Vlog caught my meaning, thankfully, and calmed my nerves.

"Generally, he would leave the day-to-day business to the masters of each settlement," he explained," only checking up every couple of months to see if anything needed looking into. We've been able to get by rather peacefully in that regard, though I do not know how you wish to administer your rule."

"How are the relations between the elves and the drakes?" I asked, and he bobbed his head.

"Fairly diverse, mind you. Though, I'm sure tension is rather high with the rebellion. Most have been neighbors for as far back as I can remember, and I doubt anyone would second guess the loyalty of those elves who remain."

"Remain?" I asked, intrigued. Vlog scratched his chin.

"Some left. Either out of fear, or to join the cause, I cannot say. But that is really all I know on the subject, lord."

"Very well," I pulled back on my horse's reins when we reached the first marker that signified the edge of town," let it be known I wish not to change what has been established. I will personally vet those in positions of power, and replace them if need be, but if there were no problems in the past, I would like to keep it that way."

"A wise decision, I think," Vlog said, then blinked. He looked at me in panic, but I waved him off.

"Opinions are welcome, Vlog. Indeed, I would not know what the settlers needed if I did not hear them. Come, let us greet my new tenants."

I was tired and still in pain, but I mustered the energy to gather those who lived here and greeted them dutifully. I told them what had happened to Lord Hestal, then allowed Vlog to repeat what I had told him. While most of the settlers grieved for their loss, they were also put at ease at my declaration not to interfere with how their lives have been.

I accepted gifts, then paid for them with coins I did not have; even going so far as to borrow some copper off of Drecc, who grudgingly lent them to me. Nuinat offered her purse as well, but I did not want to disrespect myself by taking from someone I only just met. She offered coins to the tenants anyway, though I did not ask her to, and she did not seem to mind.

I was guided to the lord's hall in the middle of town where I was honored as the new lord. I dismounted, heavily, and it hurt, but Nuinat offered her shoulder to me and I accepted it gladly. Drecc fetched me a stick and I used it to walk, trying to lean all of my strength more on the stick than on Nuinat, for I felt ashamed she had to help me. She guided me to the dais where a large wooden chair sat in its ancient glory. The chair had been chipped on most of its edges and looked heavily waterlogged, but it would do until I could have another one made.

I turned when we reached the chair, then Nuinat lowered me, and I sat down with a thud to cheers from the bystanders, who had been grueling through my slow advance to the seat of ruling. I waved them off, nodding my head in jest, and there was uneven laughter in the crowd.

I wanted to know these people, and I wanted Drecc to know these people. He would be my most trusted, someone I could rely on to help me when I was needed elsewhere. I whispered this to him as the crowd began to settle, and he nodded his agreement.

"I would be honored," he said, smiling.

I announced that I would hear the concerns of those who lived here, in Fisclund, for the next hour at least, and let it be known that I was regretfully exhausted from war and that I could not tolerate much else. The crowd murmured amongst themselves, then I watched as a hand was raised and I nodded towards it. An elf pushed his way through, then bowed his respects.

"Lord," he said," I am called Hestre. There is an increasing divide between those of dragon descent and those of the moon, and I… I think we would all like to hear of your thoughts on the matter." There were a lot of nods of agreement from both races, and I could see the difference of those faces who were either pained with prejudice or concerned.

"I hear your worries, Hestre," I said, trying not to wince from the pain in my chest," and it is my belief that there is nothing to worry about concerning the politics of the war. I was led to believe those who sincerely believed in the rebel cause had left, and so be it. I do not hold any prejudice, and neither race will be treated any differently than the other. If there are some elves who would like to express their concerns, you may speak to myself or my trusted pack-member, Drecc." I waved my hand over to my friend, who nodded to the crowd in reassurance. Nuinat shuffled excitedly.

"Or to me," she blurted out, and it took all I could not to look irritated. She caught on to my dismay, and so continued." I am of both species, and all are my kin."

I allowed it, grudgingly, and then continued with the meeting. There were property disputes, petty thefts, and unresolved brawls or quarrels that needed attending to, and Nuinat, to my surprise, was able to answer all in my stead. I allowed her to, after a few questions, and she pretended to speak on my behalf, but I was astonished with how well she kept herself. She was fair, decisive, and pleasant with her words. I looked to Vlog, who stood in a corner nearby, and he shrugged; a sign that he did not see anything wrong, so I abided.

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Drecc called for the end of the meeting, and the hall was soon emptied. I asked Vlog to stay, as well Drecc and Nuinat felt they did not need to leave. I could only feel as if they were children who did not listen to their parents, though I commended Nuinat for her apparent expertise in the matters of law. I asked her if she was nobly born, and she hesitated.

"I was," she said after a pause," in a town near the palace. Fairly new in its construction, I think, perhaps a hundred years?"

"And how old are you anyway?" I asked her, but she narrowed her eyes in response.

"How old are you, lord?" She growled back at me, and I raised my eyebrows in tired defeat. From her response I had gathered that she was roughly my own age— roughly four hundred years— as her mention of the construction of towns near the palace more or less put her around that age. The newer towns were those out here in the ruins, and the pilgrimage of settlers began from the palace and spread outwards— due to the gate which connected the lower plane to Dractalemh being just south of the palace— and thus elves and those of the elder Red Sky were able to reform the land that once was abandoned.

I pressed Nuinat no further and the day went on, then turned into weeks, and the weeks then turned into months as the winter came. I expected the raids but none came, much to my dissatisfaction. I grew bored in my recovery, and still I could feel the stings and aches of torn muscles and nerves, though it wasn't as bad as before. The cold of winter, though, aggravated my pains, keeping me up most nights as I adjusted to the rule of Fisclund. I was, however, relieved I had the support of Drecc, Nuinat, and the newly-appointed captain Vlog, who advised me well.

The crops had indeed been gathered as ordered, and was just enough to supply each town for the next few months; though my appetite for bread and plum wine had diminished, and I yearned for meat. I decided to go myself on a winter hunt, leaving Drecc and Vlog behind to rule in my stead and bringing Nuinat, who would not let me refuse, and two elves who had the proficiency for archery.

We ventured into the nearby woods with a wagon in hopes of finding hares or fennecs, or even elks or bears if we were patient enough. The birds, by this time, had all moved on to the lower plane, and would not return until the spring. We kept this in mind so as not to peer too often into the trees, though I kept my ears tuned well in case owls, though a rarity in winter, flew between the branches.

We trekked on for about an hour, finding only two fennecs who were much too young to kill, and a couple hares who had been mating behind a bush. Nuinat threw daggers at each, and hit them precisely without a second attempt. I began to believe she had no flaws save for being a nuisance, though I'm sure the more she hung around the more I would understand about her. I suspected she lied to some extent about her origins, given the hesitation she could not hide any time I asked her of her past; though I kept it in the back of my mind as unimportant, but intriguing.

"Er… no no… master? Ah…"

I held up a hand as I heard the voice. We stopped in our tracks and the elves readied their bows. Nuinat crossed her arms and closed her eyes— I think she was attempting to read the situation. I pulled out a dagger myself, in case the archers missed their shots.

"Chieftain? Rather not… Your highness? Oh dear, I've no idea… ah!"

I thought whatever was speaking had noticed us but it continued to ramble and growl, as if arguing with itself over its own words. We creeped silently and slowly towards the noise. I halted the archers in their positions, then offered a signal with my hands to Nuinat, who nodded in understanding, and the two of us moved forward, beginning to split our paths. I paused, unable to hear anything, then whistled high a brief note. Nuinat heard this and stopped herself, appearing to also try to hear to no avail.

It was then I felt the cold of steel touch my throat, and only after did I hear the leaves from above me begin to fall, and the creaking of a branch moving up and down. Whatever this assailant was, it was quick and silent; a very dangerous pairing. I dropped my dagger and held up my hands as the two elves moved forward, pointing their bows at me, and Nuinat growled in both anger and loathing.

"Lord?" She hissed at me.

"I'm alright," I grunted, wincing a bit at an uncomfortable pain radiating from the scar in my shoulder as the assailant twitched his knife.

"Drop your weapons! Drop them!" The voice squeaked from behind me. It was a high pitch, both from fear and possibly from exhilaration. I nodded, and the elves slowly put their bows into the dirt, raising their hands in defeat. I heard the assailant's breath, which was fast, and noted how he swallowed his saliva in nervousness. Then, he made a whining noise, which sounded like a begging dog, and I felt his knife-hold begin to falter.

"D-did you say—" he started, but Nuinat had also caught on to his hesitation and threw her knife. I felt the momentum of the blade as it flew past my head and the assailant let go, so I rolled out of the way and the archers grabbed their bows quickly. They aimed at him, though I noted the increasing puzzlement on their faces, and I turned to see who had attacked me.

The assailant had his hands up, panting quickly as his brown ears folded backwards on his head. His sharp, dark eyes looked worried and his muzzle dropped agape. He looked panicked between the four of us, dropping to his knees.

"I'm sorry!" He whined," I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"

"What, in Dúleardi's name, is that?" one of the elves asked in astonishment. I growled to hide my own astonishment. The assailant whined again. He had the looks of a brown fox, but with four clawed fingers instead of paws.

"A fenny," I answered," though I believed they were a myth."

"M-myth?" The fenny cocked his head," r-rest assured, we have kept in contact with some of your kind, master, er, lord."

"Have you now?" I spat," no doubt to silence them of your existence?"

"N-no, in fair trade, mast-... lord," he whined," though with… a… a different lord, mind you. Rather… ah…" The fenny seemed to stir for a moment, but was too nervous to speak. I sighed, then swiped my arm for the elves to lower their bows. The fenny breathed in relief, coughing a quick laugh before lowering his arms. His ears were still pinned back, though he smiled in a friendly manner.

"My… my apologies," he said," but you seemed to have startled me. I only wished to defend myself. Matter of fact, I was actually on my way into your little… ah… hovel, should I say. No? Perhaps… ah…" he whined again. I growled at him, and he jumped.

"What are you called?" I asked him," or do you not have a name?"

"Ah yes," he chittered," my uh, my name. I am called…" he seemed to think for a second, then started mumbling to himself, and when I growled at him again he chittered nervously with a start.

"I believe in your tongue you would say… ah… Speaks-Quickly?" No… Speaks-Too-Fast? Ah, that's it," he answered with a nervous laugh.

"Speak-Too-Much, more like," one of the elves, I don't know which one, said behind me.

"Ah, uh… hmm… perhaps you can just call me.. Brund. Short for Brundhinlot. That is… ah, what I am called in our tongue. So, yes, you may call me that," his nerves seemed to loosen a bit as he talked, and now, with less of a threat since the elves dropped their bows, he seemed to speak more casually, albeit the quickness in which he spoke did seem more apparent." In any case, mind you, I was actually on my way to your… hovel?... as an emissary of sorts. Rather, a messenger, I should say. Hm.. to speak further of the terms of our arrangement. But now, I see, the old master… ah… lord, should I say, is… ah… indisposed. Or, are you his offspring, perhaps? No… the ah… smell of you is different. What did happen to the old lord… or… should I ask? No… that is improper… my apologies…"

I looked to Nuinat, who was smiling. She seemed to be enjoying the moment, but I was not. I took a rather intimidating step towards the fenny and he whined, recoiling in defense.

"Ah!" He exclaimed," what do I call you, young master... ah… lord?"

"I am called Lord Rodwir," I answered him, grudgingly," formerly, not a noble, but then bequested, much to my chagrin, and to the humor of my company. And to answer your question, Brund, the Lord Hestal died in battle." The fenny blinked in surprise.

"Oh, dear… ah," he chittered, then began to mutter to himself again before asking his next question," I have been informed… ah, your kind hibernates during the winter? Er, maybe the wrong word… perhaps… settle? No…" He whined again, and I grew impatient.

"We do not travel in the winter," I helped him," what of it? Should your kind not also be hibernating?" Brund chittered nervously.

"Well, yes, you see," he said," but it was the Lord Hestal whom… ah… disrupted that cycle. We took no offense, mind you, for we have had a rather hard time collecting food to survive, and were expecting a trade of goods last week. Some… bread, or such. Maybe some… wine?"

I did not answer him at first. In fact, I was incapable of speech for a while, and Brund whined nervously as I thought to myself. He asked after my health and I shook my head, then held up a hand for him to wait. I petted my short beard in contemplation, then turned to Nuinat; but having no questions for her I only appeared to stare off into space, which concerned her, but she said nothing.

"How long ago did you meet with Lord Hestal?" I asked, finally. I turned to look at him again and the fenny chittered excitedly.

"Well it must have been a month ago," he answered," so the news of his passing is rather, ah, surprising, you see. Oh, but I will not miss the stench. He was a kind master, but I could not stand to be around him for so long. I don't think my chieftain could either."

"What do you mean?" I asked him, and he shivered, then pawed his muzzle in remembrance.

"Oh, he used way too much sage and rosemary. As if he burned a whole crop's worth. I can't imagine why anyone would use so much."

I laughed, realizing I had been right in the last council. Lord Hestal was indeed alive, but I could not figure out why he hid his survival, and so I asked Brund what they were trading.

"Oh, I suppose it is only right you should know, now that you've inherited his status," Brund said excitedly," we burrow very deep, and quite often, mind you. And we come across many pretty things. The lord seemed, rather, ah… disinterested in most of it, but then we found some bones, and he was very much intrigued by—"

"What kind of bones?" I interrupted him, and he stared at me, mouth agape.

"I-I'm sorry?"

"What," I took a step towards him, and his ears pinned back again," kind of bones?"

"Oh, well, ah…" he started," well you see, we weren't entirely sure, and he did not offer any knowledge—"

"Can you show me?" I asked, almost forcefully. Brund looked at Nuinat, if only to avert his gaze from my intensity. He nodded quickly, and then reached into a sack that was laced to his trousers. He pulled out small fragmented bones and offered them to me, his ears folded back again. I took them, then nodded to him.

"You can relax, Brund," I told him," as a matter of fact… would you like to accompany us back to our… hovel?" He seemed to brighten at the offer, and his ears perked upright excitedly.

"It is rather cold, is it not?" He said, then nodded," I will accept."

We had cloaked the fenny before reaching Fisclund so as not to arouse any unwanted attention. I let him stay in my hall, where he sat with his tail curled around his legs at the hearth, his arms outstretched to the flames. Nuinat sat next to him, muttering questions I did not care enough to hear, and I sat with Drecc at a table in the corner of the hall, fidgeting with the bones in my hands. I had sent Vlog under many coats for warmth to Gotregot, where I was sure the prince had settled for the winter, and ordered him to return with the prince as quickly as he could.

Drecc eyed the bones in my hands after hearing my story, then asked to hold one, and I handed one piece over.

"Rather small," he said under his breath," yet somewhat familiar to the touch. How curious."

"Familiar how?" I asked him, and he shook his head.

"I couldn't tell ya. Just a feeling I guess."

"It is wholly unfamiliar to me," I said," I'd be able to tell from the hunts if this was specific to any animals, but it is unique. Something we've never seen before. I wonder what Lord Hestal wanted with it."

Nuinat approached the table just then, offering a jar of wine. I nodded and she poured me a cup, then asked Drecc if he would like some as well, and he agreed. So she poured him a cup, then poured herself one, and sat down with us.

"You were really quite mean to Brund," she pointed out, and I growled, looking over my shoulder at the fenny, whose tail was swaying back and forth as he watched the fire.

"I needed to get answers quickly. I had no time to be friendly," I looked back at her, unamused," he had a dagger to my throat. Or did you forget that bit?"

"He apologized," she retorted," a few times. Or did you forget that?" I ignored her, and instead changed the subject.

"Lord Hestal," I said," my best guess is he's aligned with the blood elves, but I have no proof."

"What reason would he have to join them?" Drecc asked as I took a drink from my cup.

"Familial ties?" I offered," he is half-elf, or so I was told. But I don't know if that's such a strong reason. Maybe an enticing offer from Lord Ursun as well."

I sighed, then rested my head in my folded arms on the table. This was all too much; all I wanted was to hunt and to fight, to eat and drink, and to just be content with what I had. Though if I had not opened my mouth to advise the Lord Lumient so many months ago, I was sure I'd be dead, just as Kragen had died.

"The gods love me, I suppose," I said, my voice muffled by my arms. The others did not hear me, but I heard shuffling and looked up to see Nuinat had left the table. A moment later she returned, throwing the two hares we had killed while hunting onto the table with a thud.

"I'll bet you're hungry," she said, amused, and out of the corner of my eye I noticed Brund's tail began to wag excitedly.

Three days had passed before Vlog returned, with the prince and his entourage of five drakes in tow. I greeted him at the entrance to my hall, then led him inside after he dismissed his company. Prince Tsu'caro, I noted, was not wearing a tunic, but did have a bear-fur cloak harnessed loosely around his neck with a bronze chain. I made an observational jest to his lack of clothing and he smiled shortly, acknowledging my humor, but he said nothing of it. It seemed rather hard to please him, after all.

I called for Drecc to summon our guest and he brought Brund out from the next room. Drecc nodded his head in greeting to the prince, then excused himself. The fenny, unsure of how to introduce himself to royalty, looked to me, so I made a gesture for him to bow, and he did so awkwardly.

"Ah… lord prince," he chittered nervously," it is a pleasure." Prince Tsu'caro stared intensely at the fenny, but showed absolutely no emotion. He raised his brow, then shuffled in place and began to unbuckle his cloak.

"I thought you were all extinct," he said finally, removing his cape with a grunt. Brund's ears twitched at the last of his words.

"No no," the fenny tittered," well, that is to say, we don't really co-inhabit well with other species, so… ah… we… dug holes, and ah… never came out, so to speak." I realized Brund was only joking, but Tsu'caro seemed to take it very seriously.

"The king would have welcomed your kind," the prince said," why stay in hiding?"

"Oh, I suppose it is a matter of…" Brund's feet became restless," … how should I say… ah… doing something for too long, and not wanting to change that. Though many in my skulk have questioned our reservation…"

"I see," the prince said. He was going to say more, but then a shattering sound came from the dais, where an entryway branched out into rooms. We all turned to see Nuinat frozen in either shock or embarrassment, but I did not know which. The prince drake furrowed his brow and his hazel eyes shifted sharply, but Nuinat brushed her golden brown hair back behind a pointed ear before curtseying dutifully.

"L-lord prince," she said, the embarrassment unhidden in her voice. The prince did not respond at first, perhaps in contemplation, but then he looked over at me. I took in a sharp breath; it looked like he was ready to attack me, and I could feel my scales had started their defensive reflexes, but he growled a question towards me instead.

"Who is she?" He asked coldly, and my mouth went dry in response. I opened my mouth to say something, but I felt, for some reason, I would offend him if I did. Nuinat spoke instead, quick to save me from my lack of a backbone.

"I am Nuinat, lord prince," she said hastily," I serve the Lord Rodwir in matters of law and politics." His head snapped back around, and for a moment I thought he would berate her for speaking out of line, but instead, and after a few more heartbeats, his tension seemed to alleviate. He brushed back his long white hair and straightened himself, the joints audibly cracking in his spine and shoulder blades as he adjusted.

"I will…" Nuinat spoke slowly,"... fetch another pot of wine." With that, she left the room hastily, and she would not return for the rest of the day. Tsu'caro was quiet for a moment longer. Brund was about to speak, as he had apparently thought the silence was made to be broken, but I gave him a sharp look and held up my palm, and he whined quietly, trotting in place uncomfortably. Then, Tsu'caro lifted his head with a deep breath.

"My apologies," he said," I had a reflective memory of an older day. A very… painful one. It doesn't happen all that often, and I am embarrassed it did."

I nodded my acceptance, but still felt too uncomfortable to utter any words. Only when he turned to look at me did I feel a rush of relief. His expression was soft and unreadable, as usual, and made me hope I would never be able to read it again.

"As I was saying," he continued, as if the outburst never happened," I believe the king would be overjoyed to hear of the reemergence of fennies. I will note it down later. Your servant, Vlog, said there were other important concerns as well?"

"There are," I said cautiously," but let us sit first. The hearth will keep us warm during conversation."

Tsu'caro agreed, and the three of us sat down on the benches around the fire. I asked if the prince was hungry, and he told me he was, though only for information. I assumed he was still in thought over his outburst and pressed him no further, so I began to explain the first bit of information.

"Brund here has told me the Lord Hestal lived just a month ago," I told the prince. He looked at me, then to Brund, then back to me.

"A month ago?" he repeated sharply, and I nodded. The fenny, unsure of our tone, asked about the concern.

"What, ah… is there something wrong?" he said, clearly looking for affirmation, as if he had possibly done something bad.

"We were told the Lord Hestal died on the field of battle in Swenherd," the prince growled," three months ago, before the snow fell." Brund shook his head.

"No, that can't be right," he said nervously," I saw him last month. He came by asking for the bones, but we… ah… had not unearthed any since his last trade. Until, well, a few days ago, mind you. And that was why I was on my way to your…." He broke off for a moment, then whined in realization.

"How often does he visit?" I asked Brund, and his ears perked excitedly.

"Oh well, ah… he said he would be back in two months from his last visit, though we wanted to ensure to him that we did harvest what he needed, and so—"

"You tried to come to Fisclund, I know," I finished for him, then waved him to silence. He chittered softly to himself, then was content to staring into the flames until his anxiety wore out.

"He mentioned bones?" Tsu'caro said after a moment's pause, taking great care not to agitate Brund by speaking to me instead. I nodded, then fingered my pouch for the shards and handed them over. Tsu'caro's eyes narrowed, and he fidgeted with the pieces silently until he had an answer.

"These are from dragon bones," he said with certainty.

"How do you know?" I asked.

"King Asmondius had a brother, Ieghos," the prince explained," and Ieghos was one of the last drakenfolk with the ability to shape into a full dragon. And when he died…" he trailed off, reliving another memory.

"My apologies, lord prince," I offered sincerely," I seem to have a habit of bringing your past into the present today." He shook his head.

"It's nothing," he said softly," in any case, this is, indeed, dragon bone. And what else…" he pulled one of the sharper fragments out of the pile, then cupped the rest into a fist. He turned his hand over and white scales eroded from the pores in the back of his hand. Then, to my surprise, he stabbed himself.

"What are you—" I exclaimed, but he lifted his hand to me instead. The bone fragment, I examined, had lodged into his scales. More precisely, it had shattered a scale in its entirety, and in that moment everything became so clear.

"Dragon bones," I breathed," the weapons are made out of dragon bones. That's how they're able to break through our scales?" Tsu'caro nodded gravely.

"And the Lord Hestal is supplying the blood elves with them," he looked into my eyes, and I watched as his pupils dilated sharply," we should intercept this meeting. When is Hestal returning?"

"By the next moon," Brund interrupted," in a month, rather. And… my kin? Are they… ah… are they going to be…"

"No harm will come to them," I reassured him," but Hestal is deceiving you all, as he has deceived us. Your kind has labored to his expense, and for what? Food? I would not put it past him to destroy your skulk when you could no longer supply him with what he needs. And for that, we must intervene." The fenny whined nervously.

"I am sure Hestal has spies in each of your settlements, Lord Rodwir. You should sniff them out."

"Ah… if I might, ah…" Brund started, and we looked at him. He muttered to himself quietly for a moment before I startled him by growling." There is… one, ah… who smelled quite similar to the old master. He was in your hunting party. Actually, that was how I was able to track you… though… I thought the smell would lead me here…"

"Drecc!" I shouted, standing as I did, and he appeared from the dais rather quickly," have you been listening?!"

"No, lord," he replied," but ya screamed loud enough to startle all of Fisclund. Is something wrong?"

"Find Nuinat," I ordered," tell her to find the two elves who hunted with us. Bring them both here. Now!" He left without a word. Tsu'caro left the hall, then returned a moment later.

"I've asked two of my own guards to be on the lookout for suspicion, and for the smell of sage and rosemary. We will find them."

"My skulk… oh dear…" Brund cried, his legs were growing restless. I moved around the hearth and sat next to him. Having no other idea how to comfort him, I put my hand on his head, then began to pet him softly.

"It will be alright," I said calmly," we will make sure they are safe."

"I must return to them. I must warn them!" he cried, softer now, but I noticed his legs were slowing down.

"We will be there. We shall leave very soon. It will all be alright," I comforted him again, but I could not offer him any more relief than that. I sat there, petting his head, until his legs stopped moving, and his worried whines turned to silence.