All hail the omnipotent Queen Lesna, thrice blessed with victory over the foes of man. All must remember her sacrifice and the lives that victory was built upon. All hail the Victorious Dead...

song of praise to Queen Lesna

Queen Reyna bit her lip as she walked from the throne room; it had been three days since they had gotten any word from the southern border, she knew it was just cause for concern. Even the comedic Vex was subdued, sensing the brooding mood of his Queen, he fell in behind her quietly as they made their way to the dining room. Reyna quickened her pace, she was late, tonight she was to host a meal with the members of the Third Braid. Things had gotten really tense between its members and General Gililion. So much so that Niko had come to her requesting that he handle all the Braid's training, trying to limit their contact with Gililion. She realized that Gili could be hard on new recruits, but this was the first time that her General's behavior bordered on that of abuse, and abuse was something she would not tolerate. Gililion's hard approach was threatening to ostracize not only Indys and Ezra, but was also straining the Crown's relationship with one of its best Dracgon warriors, Niko. Thus, things were stressful for the young Queen, and now word had been received from Wreakers Academy, the new recruits sent to them from House Skean had never arrived. They were now over ten days late. This marked the third time that a class of new recruits had gone missing, sixty nobles from the birthing farms now missing in total

Ten years had passed since she had inherited the throne from Queen Clarna. In those ten years, she had faced more adversity than Clarna had throughout her entire one-hundred seventy-five-year reign. Throw in the new threat that Scalders were presenting in the south, and ruling Nazra was becoming more difficult with each passing day. She hoped that dinner with her troops would lighten her mood, for she so enjoyed talking with her Dracgons and getting their perspective on things. Keeping the Dracgons as happy as possible was one of her most important duties, for the eleven Dracgons and their offspring were all that kept the world of man safe. So even though they were called Royal Families, they were nothing more than indentured nobles. Possessing a fair amount of Draca didn't ensure their social standing, it just ensured them a place on the front line fighting the Vampires, Werewolves, and Dragons. It was the members of the family with the lowest amounts of Draca that lived the true lives of luxury. They were the ones with titles, lands, houses, and wealth; they were the ones in the Queen's court shaping laws and policies. Those members of the families with little Draca were some of the most powerful figures on all Nazra. They were fortunate enough to be born a Royal with minimal magic power. It was for these low level Draca family members that the Braids truly fought. It was these Royals that reaped the benefits of what their great ancestors had done for them some eight hundred years ago on the day of Rebirth. The sacrifices made by all the Dracgons both past and present were what the Houses were founded on, along with an undying loyalty to the Queen and the world of man. Reyna knew the sacrifices made by both the men and women with the Draca, who were constantly fighting for the men and women living everyday normal lives. She knew she had to fix what was happening between Gililion and the Third Braid. Providing for and appeasing members of the Dracgon families was the duty of the Queen. It was imperative to ensure that they would stay loyal to the crown, and thus she had gotten to know each Dracgon's likes and dislikes, which family members they loved and cared for most, and those they weren't so fond of. It was her job to know what drove each of her Dracgons, and how best to keep them as happy as possible between the battles they were fighting for the benefit all mankind.

    Since the day of rebirth life was anything but royal, for those richly endowed with the Draca. Sure, there were lands, titles, and wealth, and technically the Dracgons were the Lords of their Houses, but they were really at the mercy of the Queens. No Dracgons lived in their House's wealthy estates, or enjoyed the lavish life style one would consider a House Lord to have, Dracgons fought, killed, and died for the Queen. Each Dracgon was required to impregnate three women a year from other royal families to ensure that there would be replacements for those lost along the borders. Some years they were required to spread their seed even more, depending on the loses the previous year. Children born from a Dracgons seed were usually very strong in the Draca. Dracgons were forbidden by the Queens to marry. The Dracgons were the realms greatest protectors, they were married to the crown, and only the crown. The women of the royal families were required to lay with the Dracgons of other Houses and give birth to one child before being freed of this duty. These women whom the Dracgons had labeled as 'breeders' served in only that capacity, once the children were born they were taken from their mothers and raised as weapons for the Queen. The children would be taken down the coast to the port city of Elenay, and then travel a few days inland to House Wrent's refuge city of Link, it was here that the Queen's Cradle was built, the foster home to all Dracgon's children. A place no Dracgon was allowed to visit, children were to be nothing more than another duty. That duty was to make them, not raise them. Some of the woman took child bearing as an honor and continued getting pregnant, carrying children for the Queen, these women lived in the most extravagant villa's within the Lance. While others had left to become 'spinners' fighting vampires and werewolves along the borders.

    Reyna quickened her pace as she walked through the Alabastar arches, and hallways of the keep, her troubled expression reflecting off the walls as she passed. Vex continued to follow her, skipping around in circles behind her. She knew the jester made many people uncomfortable, his black eyes were eerie, to meet his gaze made others uncomfortable. The soulless gaze that stared back seemed both unnerving and unnatural, and the black face paint with the white eyeliner and ivory lipstick did no favors for one's comfort level. She knew the real Vex, one of only a few who truly did, and she loved him with all her heart. So, the black and white motley he wore along with the floppy hat, and curl toed shoes were a genuine entertainment to the twenty-eight-year-old Queen. The bells sewn to the ends of his tip toes, and hat chimed merrily behind her, causing her to smirk happily. Whenever the outside world was causing her distress, Vex could always lighten her mood. Just then he jumped ahead of her and did two cart wheels, and three flips before agilely landing upright with his arms spread in grand fashion, like ta-daa!

    "Oh, Vex! You can always bring a Queen to smile, can't you?" She said as he once again fell in behind her, skipping merrily.

    She continued her walk to the Queen's dining room, this was the place where she hosted her smaller dinners, the ones reserved for only the highest of nobility, and of course none were higher than her Dracgons. She walked through the halls of the keep with no guards, here at the Lance she had no need of them, the magics bestowed upon her lineage at the day of rebirth were all the protection she needed, and the soul trapped within the Alabastar city answered only to her.

    "Lott, have my dinner guest arrived yet?" Her thoughts reached out to the mountain, and the dragon's whose very bones were the foundation of the Alabastar created by Queen Lesna more than eight hundred years ago. She waited for his reply, he always made her wait before answering, still brooding over his defeat so many years ago.

    His sullen reply finally came, "Yes, my Queen, they've been here for some time waiting for you."

    "Good. Let me know of anything that needs to be brought to my attention during the meal." She ordered him, she waited a moment for his reply, he of course made her wait a few moments longer.

    "Yes....my Queen." Came his forced reply.

    For a brief instance she saw the ashy form of a dragon within the Alabastar walls of the keep, but like smoke from a smoldering fire it dissipated and was gone. The dragon of the keep was something only the Queens knew of, the links binding the dragon passed from Queen-to-Queen. The dragon, although sullen and full of melancholy was bound to the lineage of Queen Lesna, forged to forever serve the Queens of men. She knew the once majestic dragon named Lott hated her, that he thought the fate handed him by Lesna was worse than being damned to the Forever Fires. Reyna didn't care about the beast feelings, as far as she was concerned, an eternity enslaved in the Alabastar walls of the keep was more than any dragon deserved. She made it a point to order Lott about daily, letting the dragon know she was in charge and that he must obey her every order. With a mere thought she could inflict pain to not only Lott, but also to all of his dragon brethren. She was linked to all the dragons of Nazrra through Lott, the day of rebirth/Reckoning giving man dominion over the vile beast of the night, and the flying nightmares of the day that were the dragons. Yes, she knew why the remaining dragons had flown as far away from Queen's Lance as they could, Lott knew this too, and his continued obedience ensured that the human's Queen would let them live. Lott's bones ground in amongst the Alabastar city was his Forever home now. A small smile crossed the Queen's face, she enjoyed ruling the dragons.

    "Lott?"

    A rather long pause, then, "Yes...my Queen?"

    "Lower the lights, now!" She ordered him.

    Another long pause, then, "Yes...my Queen."

    Almost immediately the halls of the keep dimmed, the Alabastar light being reflected now seemed to be polluted, changing with a copper tint to it now. The lights that had been dancing about the walls now slowed to a peaceful rhythm, yet still dazzling to the eye. Queens Lance was everything her heart desired and then some, it was a place she was in complete control of, a fortress of her heart, as long as she stayed within the Lance nothing could harm her, nothing. Within the capital was the ultimate power on the planet, the Alabastar Throne was judge, jury, and executioner, power given to that throne by the Known, his will be done. Within the mountain the only enemy she need fear was time, even the mountain could not keep her from aging. Slow it? Yes. Stop it? No, at least not yet.

    "All right Vex, I want you on your best behavior during dinner." She said playfully.

    Vex pointed his index finger in the air, making a circle with it, then making a fart noise, "Thhhhwwwwwwwbbbbbb!" with his tongue and lips.

    She smiled and shook her head, as the two of them entered the dining hall, as Lott had said, all her guest were already here; Gililion, Niko, Ezra, and Indys. The four of them stood up as she entered, she sat down at the head of the long table, Gililion, and Niko seated to her right, Ezra, and Indys to her left. Vex sat on the floor to her right, between her and Gililion, he immediately started fidgeting with Gililion's dagger sheath and coin purse, Gililion slapped his hands away three or four times before the ebony jester yelped and began sucking on his fingers. As she sat servants immediately entered the hall, pouring wines, fixing plates, and seasoning the food. Today's dinner consisted of a potato and ham pie, with a thick pork gravy, to go with fresh baked bread, and the red beans grown right here in the capital city. There was also a brown broth vegetable soup that was seasoned with salts and spices from the south, that left the mouth a little hot after eating.

    Reyna looked at her guests, admiring them all.

    Gililion wore his golden blond hair down tonight, it's length midway down his back and shoulders. It was a look Reyna liked, she tired of the war braids worn by most men, she met the golden stare of Gililion and gave him a small smile. He was a handsome man, all the Dracgons were, as if before possessing the draca one had to be attractive. Even when it chose a woman, it was as if beauty was a prerequisite before the draca would inhabit her. Indys was jaw dropping beautiful, her flaming red hair pulled back in a long braid that reached to her waist. Her flaming red eyes were a light with a fire she had not seen in previous Dracgons of House Anlace, a consuming fired burned within her. Reyna understood why the draca had chosen her, there was more to Indys Anlace than met the eye, she intrigued Reyna. Niko was dashing as ever, he wore the sides of his long hair pulled back into a pony tail leaving the back loose, it too was almost to his waist. Staring into Niko's black eyes was like looking into the deepest of valleys hoping to find even a needles tip of light and seeing none. To look into his eyes almost took her breath away, she could only imagine the hearts he had melted with those eyes, it made him one of her favorites. She met Ezra's violet gaze and paused a moment, the violent purple she seen stirring behind his eyes startling, and troubling. His violet hair was still wet, as if he had just come from the springs, it was slicked back and wore down, the back of his shirt a shade darker than the rest, soaked from his waist length hair.

    They all wore the traditional blacks worn by Dracgons when stationed at the Lance: black boots, trousers, pants and belts, with round Alabastar pins on their collars to denote rank, and an Alabastar Dracgon image sewn into shirt just above the heart, each with a braid of the House color sewn in as well. The braids colors glistened in the Lance's Alabastar light, even Niko's which was sewn black on black. They each carried the family's Alabastar weapon in the form of a sword tonight, sheathed in black as well with only Alabastar hilts showing. Each Dracgon possessed the families Alabastar weapon, they morphed the Alabastar to their will, giving them the family weapon that had been used to defend the realm for over eight hundred years.

Indys of House Anlace possessed Fires of the Sun, in her hands the sword would turn into small beadlike spheres, they would then spread out all over the place like a tornado of bees, and then suddenly ignite lighting up the world with Alabastar fire, consuming all it touched. The beads would then reform and swirl about, ready to be used again and again, burning vampire and werewolves alike with a fire even hotter than the sun. The red of her hair matched the fires that burned within, Reyna could see this, and she had no doubt that Indys would make a formidable Dracgon. Sure, she lacked the physical strength of her male counterparts, but the spirit inside her was like nothing she had ever seen before.

Niko of House Adze family weapon, Cuts of the Damned, in his hands the sword turned into two H shaped spinning blades. He would use the middle of the H shaped blades as a handle, with hungry, whirring blades on each side of his fist, he could throw them, and they would return to him after hitting his intended target, or he could just hold them and fight hand-to-hand, slashing and sharding. He could make the blades grow bigger in size as he attacked with them, making them a lethal hazard for lusters and wolves.

Ezra of House Cleave had the family sword, that's just what it was, a mighty Alabastar sword that slayed the vampires and werewolves, leaving nothing in its wake. But compared to the rest of the Dracgons, it seemed like House Cleave was not blessed by the Draca with a mighty weapon to slay vampires and werewolves. Although they still possessed the Alabastar Dracgon fire, and the Dracgon itself, House Cleave was mentioned little in any of the accounts pertaining to the Vampire War, and werewolves battles. Had it not been for the shame of Jase and House Throes, House Cleave would be the one being heaped with insults for its weak Dracgon performances. House Cleave didn't trouble Reyna, the Known gave her a Dracgon of Ezra's ability for a reason, she just had to figure out what that reason was. She could tell Gili was at his wits end with him, she knew what he wanted done, but that would be as a last resort. House Cleave had been trouble in the past, and it looked like history was doomed to repeat itself, unless somethings changed in a hurry. But what to change?

The servants were busily working around the large dining table, the hall was a long narrow room with a table that ran down the middle of it. The table itself could seat up to thirty people around, they sat at the one end closest to the kitchens, the long room looked bare except for their small dining party. In each corner burned a low-lit torch, providing enough light to feed the Alabastar's reflective stares. They all waited while the servers filled their plates and goblets, Reyna watched as the last brown clad servant left the dining hall before addressing her guests.

"Shall we pray." She began, "We thank the Known for the blessing of this food, and the gift of the Draca, let the Known be praised, may we all be known. Amen." They all watched as the Queen picked up her silverware and took her first bite.

In unison Gililion and the braid members spoke, "Let us give thanks to the Known for the gift of the Queen, let the Known be praised." Then they too picked up their silverware and began eating.

Reyna looked at her ivory warriors, that was another affect the Draca and Alabastar's magics had on the Dracgons, in their human form the Dracgon's skin went from the normal flesh color to an almost pearl white, breath taking and beautiful. So, the full colored eyes staring out of these pale skinned warriors were both comforting, and unnerving when they looked upon you. It was something Reyna had gotten used to a long time ago.

"Thank you all for joining me this evening," she began, looking around at her dinner guest once more, "Things have been getting more and more chaotic as of late, so I apologize, I like meeting with the Braids on a more frequent basis, so I can know how things here in court are going for you. I trust that all is well?" She looked around the table, all three members of the Braid nodded a yes to her. "Great, our mightiest protectors should feel nothing but our love and gratitude when they are here, your time away from the borders should be peaceful, and restful one."

"I assure you it has been your Highness," interjected General Gililion, "this raff," he nodded towards Indys and Ezra, "has just started training in earnest a few days ago, they've had plenty of rest. If I had my way they'd be out hiking over this mountain instead of inside of it, stuffing their faces."

She could see Ezra's head slouch, and look down. Indys jaw clenched in anger, the flaming red eyes seemed to have even more fire behind them now.

"Now General," began Niko, in a controlled voice.

"Now General is right!" She interceded, "I know things have not gone as swift or as smooth as you'd like, but I'll not have you insulting guest of mine, especially at my table." She threw an angry stare at Gililion, his head dropped in shame.

    "Forgive me, my..Queen." Said a dejected Gililion

    She now understood why Captain Niko had asked to handle all the training for his Braid, Gili was fed up with them. "General, I'm going to turn over the rest of the Third Braids training to Captain Niko," Gili shot her a purely pissed off stare, his eyes tiny gold slits, she went on, "you're right when you say they are a bit behind in their training, so I think the best thing would be for them be around each other as much as possible, so Captain feel free to use every resource at your disposal as you see fit."

    Niko nodded, "Thank you your Highness, I will, and I promise we'll be ready to go when our time here is up."

    She was relieved to see not just Indys, but Ezra nodding his affirmative as well, maybe House Cleave was no longer going to be a problem? Gili had his fork and knifes clenched hard in his hammer like fist, she wasn't sure, but she thought the ivory General's face was getting a little red with anger. She would have to mend fences with her General later, right now it was about the Braid.

    Gililion stiffly put down his fork and knife, pushing his chair away from the table, he excused himself, "I beg your pardon my Queen, I am suddenly not feeling well." He didn't wait for a response, he stood up, drained his goblet of wine, turned to leave, then bent down and whispered something in Niko's ear. Niko's black eyes became tiny slits, before he turned an angry gaze to Gililion, the two men stared at each other for a long moment, before Gililion finally stormed out of the hall.