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         Vrael peered from behind Contalabutte
"General Alicide! In the flesh! By the stars, I'm a big fan. As i am with anything so skilled at killing. Killing is an art form. Us killers are masters at showing it off. May i say that.....you'd make a good darahurne"

He smiled and walked towards the General, rearing up, showing his height, and struck Alicide with his claw

"Come on then, sword boy. Let us sparr. That old fart Bujinnor will take age to get ready, and i want to see those sword skills I've heard so much about. It'll make a good spectacle for the emperor and that stunner next to him, and guess what? I'm not gonna kill you. Yep, I'm showing restraint."

He bared his fangs and snarled "Give me all you've got."

         Alcide was not brooding, he mentally assured himself. He was not a man prone to such lethargic moods, and never would be. Alcide was merely in deep thought as he mulled over the latest conversation he’d had with his friend. Alcide liked to know as much about his enemy as possibly before facing them, and he knew too little for his liking about these Durahurne creatures. Greylord had been of some help to him on this matter, but he still was not satisfied with those answers.

“Your Emperor is either foolish or desperate to be meddling with such dark creatures.” Greylord had warned. Alcide did not altogether disagree with that assessment, but he was not so quick to discredit the power that the durahurne presented. Dangerous or not, it was impossible to deny the effect they had on the war front, which was why Alcide was wary. He’d seen these creatures in action.

“Can they be killed?” He had asked, while Greylord gave a knowing smile.

“All things can be killed my friend” Greylord had replied. “Your sword can cut through anything, even the spawn of hell itself. I have made it so.” Alcide had been a little relieved by that, but he still wished he knew his enemy better.

“So where is my princess eh? If I’m going to die fighting these beasts, I’d like a taste of my reward first.” Alcide had jokingly gripped good naturedly towards his friend. In all honesty he wasn’t in a rush to be married just yet, and especially not to any of Contalabutte’s few daughters. None were particularly comely, and were such spoilt squawking things that they reminded him more of the loud colorful birds nobles in the south kept as pets than a woman who could stir his manhood. He was starting to believe he’d trapped himself into a bad deal on that particular wish, so his friend’s response was surprising.

“Soon my friend, you will have your princess. This war brings her closer and closer to you every day.” Greylord had replied with a smirk he only wore when self-satisfied. The response confused him though, as Contalabutte had no other daughters as far as he knew, so how was there a Kalgrist princess out of his reach that would satisfy his wish?

He did not dwell though, as he soon arrived at the castle via carpet, and announced himself to the men, who knew him instantly. He was quickly led then to the Emperor and the carriage, and Alcide made a quick bow to show his fealty to the smaller man. “You summoned me your eminence?”


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Branen felt dumbstruck by his luck in finding his exiled sovereigns so quickly, and rose to attention when his princess addressed him. “I was looking for a friend your highness.” Bran admitted freely. “One I had met long ago who told me she lived here. I was hoping she might keep my young sister Snow safe for me whilst I searched for Prince Dayerin and yourself. A battlefield is no safe place for children.” He explained.

“Your highness, I was gone and unable to aid your father when the Kalgrist hoards descended upon our home, but I will never abandon his children or my home. I am yours to command, whatever your orders.” Branen vowed solemnly.

“Excellent.” Puss remarked dryly.

         Despite the news brought by the pixie, Rapunzel was focused on Sereya. She remembered her own pregnancy, those years ago, and saw the waves of pain beginning to hit the young Queen. It was not wise to doubt when a pregnant woman announced that she was going into labor.

Rapunzel had a sense of disorganization as she looked about her. There was all this bustling and chaos in Effledus, what with the party and the Darahurne breach. She could not help but feel that the Queen was being overlooked. She decided to take charge. King Lufgaw may be at hand, but this was not his domain.

“Sereya, you don’t need your husband--you need a midwife,” Rapunzel told her. She wrapped her arm around the Queen to give her support. “Airna, dear, why don’t you come with us and support her other side?” She beckoned to her daughter. She also called out to some servant women who were carrying plates of food past.

“The Queen needs help! Show me to her birthing chamber!”

With this pronouncement, they were now flocked with attendants. Even if they had to half-carry Sereya, Rapunzel was determined to get her to a private and comfortable chamber. “Come along, Sereya. Walking will help. And try to slow your breathing...”

---

Liryamm, in the meantime, caught a familiar scent in his nose. It was briny, aquatic, pleasing like underwater flowers. It was also reminiscent of his mother’s sea cave... a place he would approach with caution.

Lir drew nearer to the scent, drifting away from the group. He could see beyond the hall into a walkway where Fey folk and enchanted animal folk ambled. These were the guests going to the dining hall, for the celebration.

The whiff of the ocean came from a figure that glinted in the magic fire-lit torches. Her skin was layered with fine iridescent scales. Her back was retreating, weaving among the others, and yet it appeared that she was walking... on two legs.

Liryamm was intrigued. Perhaps this Mer-smelling creature was like him, and had through some circumstances lost her fin. He passed a look back at his company. Nanji seemed to be unoccupied.

“You go to the party?” Lir asked him in halting Dafarzian.

         "Alright, here we go."
The young ten-year-old started to lift his bow. From a distance, him and his two siblings would have easily been mistaken for peasants, but in reality, they were the children of the influential Marquis of Carabas. They were to the right of the bridge that seemed to divide half of the town. Jude, the oldest, was leaning against the side a building that faced the west. Carlos, the second oldest, was aiming his bow towards the tree by the river, and Isabelle, the youngest, was standing just in front of the tree on her tiptoes, a shiny red apple on her head.

"You sure this is a good idea, Carlos?" Jude said to his brother, clearly annoyed. His arms were crossed, and his face was serious.
"Why of course, Jude," Carlos started, not seeming concerned like his brother. "It'll be a great way to practice my shooting. And besides, Issie and i already made a bet that she can't flinch or run away, or else i'll admit to the town that she's a coward."
"THAT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN!!!" the yong girl shouted, a determined and angry look on her face. She started to back towards the tree, and wrapped her arms around the bark, preventing herself from running away.

Meanwhile, Mornalee started to ride her horse towards the direction of the castle. The bridge where the children were located was a short distance away.

"Alright." Jude said to his brother. "But if that arrow goes through my sister's head, you'll be the most troublesome boy in Faecleir."
"Shut your mouth. Youre messing me up." the blonde haired boy said. He closed his one eye, and stuck out a bit of his tongue. He focused on the space between Isabelle and the tip of his arrow. The young girl started to feel the pressure, and sweat started to drip down her forehead.

"Alright Issie, when i count to three." Issie nervously nodded at Carlos.
"One," Isabelle's face turned pale.
"Two," She started to tremble.
"Thr...."
"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEK!" and before Carlos had a chance to shoot the arrow, Isabelle took off into the street, the red apple flying off of her head.
Carlos became furious and threw the bow on the ground, but Jude payed attention to where Isabelle was running. In the distance, he could see a white horse approaching his sister. To make matters worse, the girl tripped right in the middle of the road, the bridge right behind her.
"WATCH OUT!!!!!" Jude shouted. He shouted to both Isabelle, and the woman on the horse.
Issie tensed up and started to scream. However, the woman on the horse heard Jude's warning, and stopped her horse just in time.
All three children seemed to close their eyes. Not hearing any trampling sounds, the three started to open their eyes slowly.
Although Issie's eyes were wide as they looked up at Mornalee, Jude's eyes were even wider.
"It can't be....." he mumbled silently to himself.
"M-Miss..Sk-..." Jude started to approach the white horse.
"Youre...."
"Yes, I'm Skylar of the Sword." Mornalee said, looking down at the boy.
"Wha-what are you doing here?" Jude said, his words becoming louder. A smile crept on his face.
Skylar jumped off her horse, and stood in front of Sumas. She looked down at the boy with her sharp gaze.
"I'm here to look for someone. Someone of great importance."
"We know people of great importance!" Carlos said as he jumped into the conversation. Isabelle was still on the ground, staring up at the mysterious woman.
"Carlos you can't just....." Jude was about to say.
"Do you know our father? He's known around here as the Marquis of Carabas! We live in that big castle all the way over there!"
Carlos pointed to the castle in the distance. Jude simply facepalmed with a grave expression.
Mornalee's eyes widened. "Well this must be fate, because i'm looking for the legendary puss in boots. Has your father ever told you about him?"
"Oh yeah! his tabby cat stays at our castle! he's simply amazing!" Carlos exclaimed.
"KITTY!!!" the little girl shouted. She started to pick herself up off of her feet.
"If you want, we can take you there. I think it's about time we headed home anyway." Jude said as he looked at his two siblings, as well as the vigilante in front of him.
"That would be wonderful. Pleased to make your acquaintance..."
"Jude." he replied, shaking her hand. "That's Carlos, and that's Issie over there." he said, motioning over to his siblings.

The pair of four headed over to the castle, Skylar on her horse, and the three children quickly walking next to her. She had offered them a ride, but Jude refused, saying that she was of greater importance. Carlos was confused, as his brother had never spoken so much in his life.
Mornalee found a stable to keep her horse, and once they were all ready, they entered through the gates of the castle.

         Lir shook his head when Ainra asked him if he was injured. “No. But I would rather it was my hand that was hurt, and not your brother’s.” He looked at Nanji with a sympathetic eye. Meanwhile, Rapunzel gingerly held Nanji’s hand in hers and was inspecting it closely. Before she could administer any aid, though, a pixie messenger came buzzing towards them. But it was not only a message delivery. This pixie was followed by three more pixies, which looked to be armored and of the fighting sort. After the pixies flew an important-looking Fey carrying something. He was accompanied by two more fey on winged horses, all of them armored. The group was completed by three hippogriffs.

Lir leapt to his feet, regarding the Aerial force as a possible threat. He sorely wished he had his spear back, the one he had thrown at the griffin. Rapunzel rose too and held out a hand to keep him at bay. She recognized the party as hailing from Effledus, as they had armor unique to that kingdom.

“Queen Rapunzel, Highness,” the Fey Captain greeted with an elegant bow as he landed before them. “We were sent by King Lufgaw to lead you to Effledus.” His swift eyes darted to look upon the Towerlot Twins and the Mer. “My Queen, I do not believe your companions are on the guest list, however.” The pixie messenger took a tiny scroll out of his belt pouch and glanced down at it to check.

         The Mer stood shocked as he watched Nanji jump onto the griffin’s back. “I hope your brother knows what he’s doing,” he replied to Airna. Though there was dread in his voice. He really did not want to see this spirited Dafarzian man killed.

Lir was debating joining Nanji on the griffin’s back, or jumping into the water to distract it. While looking on the horizon, however, he saw a second mass approaching. A second griffin. It seemed impossible. When he learned about griffins in Mer school, they were always told that the winged beasts were solitary hunters. But clear as day, this was another griffin, and it was flying straight towards them.

Rapunzel had slowed the carpet, frozen with worry for Nanji. She clung to Airna and clasped her hand to her mouth, wide-eyed as she watched her son ride upon the creature’s back. Even with the second griffin approaching, she could not leave Nanji behind.

“We may have to abandon carpet!” Rapunzel suggested frantically.

Lir caught the gist of what she said and shook his head. The griffins would get them just easily in the water. “No, no! We stay on the carpet.”

He hoisted up his spear and just as the second griffin was within range, he threw it. The spear lodged itself in the griffin’s feathered shoulder, but it did not do near the damage Lir had hoped. The griffin dipped in the air, mildly annoyed by the wound. Lir turned to Airna, ready to say goodbye. It looked like he might be able to die that day after all. But he found that his one regret would be that he would never see this kind earth woman again.

“Airna, I must...”

But before he could finish his goodbye, there came a horrible commotion from below. He spun around and saw that the water was foaming and a vast serpentine head shot up, spraying water all about and distracting the griffin. The gulls screamed and fled the sky. Lir had never seen a sea serpent so vast-its shining head was larger than the griffin’s, and the part of its neck that protruded was as long as the keel of a great ship. He had only heard stories about one this large. It’s broad, spiked neck swiveled out of the water and lunged at the griffin with lightning speed. The griffin did not fly away quick enough, as the serpent’s wide jaws clamped down on its wing. The griffin shrieked and turned to defend itself. A second serpent head, just as large, popped out of the water and lashed out at the griffin’s neck. Feathers flew.

“The great twin serpent!” Lir gasped. He dropped to his knees on the carpet. This was the legendary form of the twin Mer dieties of destruction, the two-headed giant sea serpent.

         Since she insisted, Dayerin put his hands on Oriana’s waist and felt the dragon begin to rise. He didn’t want to get too snuggly with her--after all, they had just met and he didn’t want to get slapped in the face--but that was for naught when she strapped them in to the saddle seat. After that, they were as snug as two peas in a pod. And then he understood why...

Oriana flew her dragon like a maniac. Day thought it was exciting when Qing Jin began to lift in the air and breathe fire. But that was soon surpassed as Oriana goaded Qing Jin into showing off a repertoire of air stunts. Day found himself screaming and hooting in glee as Oriana’s braided hair flew in his face. His arms automatically latched tightly around her middle as he was sitting upside down during a loop. He looked down at the looming canyons and had the most amazing rush of blood to his head and feeling his stomach in his throat. The colors were more vibrant than he had ever seen, his vision sharper, and oxygen felt like a magic substance as his lungs took great, rapid breaths.

Day caught Oriana’s contagious laughter as they spiraled through the air. This was the most amazing ride he had ever had in his life. Driving a fairy’s chariot that one time... that was nothing! They rode at an incredible speed, yet he found himself joining in with Oriana when she shouted “Faster! Faster!” His appetite for speed, for the swiftest turns and most sudden drops, seemed insatiable. He saw Oriana take her hands off the reins and spread them out. As much as he was enjoying the ride, he didn’t feel like he had the experience to do that yet. And he couldn’t quite get his arms out of their iron lock around her waist.

He felt that her shouted words about true freedom was the perfect summation of flying on Qing Jin. “This is true freedom! I don’t want to stop!” he hollered, his eyes filling with water as the wind whipped past his smiling face.