"Tuck in your bed my son, for it begins a long time ago..." Was how Zianro's father always opened with his stories, back when he was young. He wished this was how the next chapter of his life began with. But now he was chained to a wall, with various chains. He didn't even know what dungeon, if any, was he in. Zianro was only here because they suspected him of something he wasn't capable of doing. Espionage, it was a stupid thing. They could've charged the actual Orina spies, but he assumed as an exotic hero from a country in the distant North, he'd be a perfect scapegoat and be forgotten about.
Valsir, his mind drifted to his homeland and the inn he grew up in, and the stables he once tended to. Happy thoughts on his family, Father, Six elder sisters. His sisters, last he heard his eldest had her first child and her husband died six months before in a freak accident. Fate was cruel that way. He then saw two guards outside his cell. "They said he killed a dragon in a day!" Said one soldier.
"I heard it was two." The second one replied. "Actually, it took me three days. It was a rogue dragon that would've caused damage." the guards turned to Zianro almost in shock. "I almost had no sleep that entire time."
The guards went back to whispering about how they couldn't believe he was their prisoner. They thought almost anything could happen with him here in the Zankor empire. All it depended on was their ruler. Then all of a sudden, a third guard rushed to his comrades and whispered something in their ears that made their hairs stand on end.
"She's coming?! Here, right now?! To inspect the prisoner?! Quick! Look at least presentable and hope she's not in a bad mood!" The two hurried and got in a good stance and awaited the approach of their ruler.
"Well, shit, I have a bad feeling my life's about to go further downhill." came the thought in his head. He had to do his best to contain his frustration however, they confiscated Draconil for the time being. So he could do nothing if a fight came his way. Either way, if death came his way, he'd have to welcome it, or at least something that could be worse.
"All Hail Madam Lilith Hekabe! Glory to Zankor!" The guards shouted as the doors to his cell opened, potentially letting in the person mentioned. Zianro only stared at the ground, not because he didn't want to look up at her, but because his chains felt more heavy for some reason.