Almost all of the candidates did survive the surprise attack. Those that were injured had been given potions of healing and are now in full fighting shape once more.

"Jessa, how are you going to choose?" Dhiren comes up behind her.

Jessa smirks at him before giving him a wink. "I know that they aren't up to where I want them to be, but let's see just how close they are." 

Dhiren smirks right back at her. He knows that Kristoff and Sorsha have been helping those that have shown interest in being on their crown princesses guard.

"All those that are wanting to be my guard, did you see what happened after the attack?" Jessa says once they are lined up in front of her.

"An impossibility." An elf mutters.

Jessa smiles at the elf that actually dared to answer her. "Ahh, Ricardo, you have something to share with the others?"

Ricardo finds himself standing alone as the others step away from him. They are all afraid of Jessa's temper. The fact that she never actually shows her temper doesn't change that fact. Jessa actually has no idea how people became afraid of her. Especially this group. 

Jessa had helped to teach some of them when her father was occupied with her age group. 

They hadn't liked being taught by a human any more than the kids in her group had liked being beaten by one.

"Ricardo, please, say what you have to say or leave." Jessa demands and the humor has left her completely. The anger that comes from her dragon side is definitely coming into play. She's never been so easily angered before.

"You turned into a gold dragon. But everyone knows that the gold dragons are no more." Ricardo finally manages to say.

"Well, not everyone knows that. Right?" Jessa directs that to the group that is watching avidly. That group now includes Kaiston, much to Jessa's intense dislike.

There is a general chuckle from each of the deities and her grandfather.

Jessa turns back around to face the elves.  "Is that all you witnessed, Ricardo."

"No." Ricardo says even softer now than before. He looks down at the ground and has to fight to keep his foot from scuffing the ground like a child being castigated.

"What else did you see, Ricardo? It's important for all the recruits to know. You need to know what you will be going up against." Jessa says still in a firm voice, but makes sure to let Ricardo know that he isn't being punished.

Ricardo looks up, he is unable to hide completely the fear in his eyes, "Prince Dhiren also turned into a gold dragon. I'm not making this up." Ricardo says almost pleading as he faces not just Jessa but turns to the other recruits that are snickering at his words.

"Thank you, Ricardo, for being honest. That's enough!" Jessa says that last at those that are snickering at Ricardo's words.

"Ricardo is in fact telling the truth." Jessa says and you could hear a pin drop it becomes so quiet, even the elves stop their work now.

Dhiren chooses to step up to Jessa at this time and places his arm around her. Jessa gives him a half irritated and half amused look. Dhiren doesn't give many PDA's and never like this.

"I am the crown princess for the gold dragons. That last attack had three full blooded dragons. The blue I took down with an arrow. The black and red dragon's I fought against with the sword. One of them, not sure which managed to cut my arm and some of their blood got in the cut. The only way to save my life was for me to change to my gold dragon. But since I was only a half dragon there was a good chance I wouldn't make it. 

"Because of the wounds Dhiren received helping me through the transition he, too, had to be turned. That chances of him making the transformation was even less than for me. Fortunately for us both, we both made it." Jessa turns to Dhiren and kisses him quickly. Dhiren wants to follow up on it but refrains since they have unfinished business that was rather important.

"Sorsha," Jessa calls and the girl quickly comes up to her side. "She is almost to the level I expect all my guards to be. I will be watching you as you spar against her and if Kristoff comes back in time, him as well. Those that I think are acceptable will be in my guard and we need two new guards for Dhiren as well. I'll be talking over his choices with him before he chooses.

"Before any of you say anything else, just know that the human Jasper has already been accepted as my guard. He damn near died today from his wounds, but still managed to kill more dragon kin than any of you." Jessa is a bit smug at their reactions. They are all wide eyed.

"Oh, did I forget to mention that the ones you fought against were dragonkin? Oops, sorry. Just to let you know, you will likely be coming up against more of them if you are chosen to be our guard."

Jessa looks over the group and is pleased that none of them have chosen to leave.

"Very well," Jessa smiles at them, genuinely pleased that they stayed. "Ricardo, why don't you show me just how good you can be as a guard?"

Sorsha smiles in delight. She has heard how he speaks down about females in general and wants to take down this asshole. She just hopes that Jessa doesn't take him on for the guard.

Jessa watches as the candidates go against Sorsha one by one. By now she has Kallen at her side watching just as closely as Jessa and Dhiren.

"Well, father, I have to say that I am pleasantly surprised. Not only did they respond quickly to a surprise attack, but they are doing far better than I thought they could be. Not after the ones I trained with." Jessa doesn't want to name names, those that hurt her the most and gave her hell are now people she can trust. One of them she loves quite a bit.

"These are the ones that requested help to improve from Sorsha and Kristoff. They've all been working hard and have helped me to improve the rest of the guard as well. Those that have been guards for decades are seeing kids that are surpassing them in fighting ability. You've made it so that the guards are far better fighters than they used to be, Short stuff." There is no doubt that there is more than a little love in his voice, and no little smugness as well.

Jessa sniffs, "If they would have listened to you to begin with they wouldn't have been needing to improve like they've been doing. But it's a good thing that they are." Jessa's voice turns serious. There is no denying that many of the elves will be fighting and dying in the war to come.

"They will more likely survive because of you, Jessa. Thank you." Dhiren tells her as he senses her sadness and could guess what was making her sad. None of them like the thought of losing friends or family and they are all afraid that they will in the upcoming fight.

"What have I missed?" A voice asks coming to stand beside them with a trussed up ex general at his side. He looks rather the worse for wear with a bleeding cut on the side of his head and scrapes on his face, not to mention the black eye he's sporting.

"Take this, Kristoff, I think you need it more than Jessa at this time." Kallen says handing Kristoff the restorative healing potion he usually gives to Jessa.

Jessa just sighs and rolls her eyes. Then she turns to the man that made her life pure hell and became a traitor to them all.

"Well, if it isn't the traitor. Nice to see you came to see us off. I can't wait until I can participate in your punishment." Jessa's eyes start glowing and all there step back from her. Snodgrass starts hyperventilating. He's always hated Jessa, but has never feared her before. Not even after she cleaned up the pass and survived impossible odds.

He passes out when Jessa smiles at him in anticipation.

"I think I'll just take him and the other traitors to the cell for his safety," Alaric says looking at his granddaughter  more than a little warily.

"Frosnak, did Alaric give you the instructions I needed him to?" Jessa says not taking her eyes off the traitors that had all been brought to the camp.

"Yes, princess, I'll be waiting with the things you requested. Also, I'll have some of the gold dragons waiting."

The smile that Jessa was sporting falls at that.  Sighing once more she nods before turning back to the candidates. "Kristoff. You take the next one, I think Sorsha might want to relax for a bit."

"Of course, Jessa."

Kristoff changes places with Sorsha, a smile taking over his face. This is going to be fun.

"Jessa, I need to speak to you. Please, Dhiren can listen in, but the others can't." Jethro says trying to get Jessa's attention.

"You haven't spoken to her yet?" Zira demands of the human deity.

"I found them while they were eating and felt that it would be better to wait until they finished. By the time I came back they'd already left." Jethro says more than a bit embarrassed.

Jessa looks at her mother's deity curiously and gives him a nod.

Jethro moves them off to the side before performing a spell so that no one else will be able to listen in.

"Jessa, from your mother you have a huge reservoir of clerical abilities. To access them you will need to send a prayer to me. I'm not very formal just say my name and what you wish and it will happen. It will use energy like normal magic, but less than that. Most of the power will come from me so even if you are low on energy you will be able to do some of the spells. War spells, fighting and then healing. You will need little in the way of fighting spells, I would suggest you use your prayers for healing those about you after a fight or if needed during the fight. It could save some of your people." Jethro tells her rapidly.

"I've always had this ability?" Jessa asks shocked.

"It's been locked away. It became unlocked at the same time you became a gold dragon. I would have told you about it earlier, but since you were already loaded down with so much learning to do with being a dragon, I thought I would wait. There was no hurry since you couldn't access it yet."

"Thank you, Jethro, you've been watching over me for my whole life and I do appreciate it." Jessa finally says once she gets over her shock.

Jethro gives her one last small smile before leaving. He has very little to connect with her at this time and it hurts him to remain this close to her.

"I'll talk to him. Good luck, Jessa, Dhiren. Don't tarry any longer than you must at any one location. If the king won't see you or listen to you, you must let them take their chances."

"You mean die, Lady Fate?" Jessa says.

"Better one city then us all. Remember, no longer than a week in any location or we all are lost."

"You are giving me information?" Jessa blinks at her.

Fay shakes her head. "I do not see the future on this. I just know that war is imminent and the trip will be long. You do not have time to wait for the arrogant humans. The sun elves are where the first attack will take place and where the first defense must come into play. That is what I do know and if they aren't prepared all others have a far less likelihood of surviving." Then Fate leaves as well.

The Ancient One and Alaric remain to watch as Jessa selects the rest of her guard.