Things We Lost In The Fire (OPEN)

[Deleted]

The landing was a rough one, as she landed on her feet, then was forced to her knees moments later due to the impact. She let her eyes wander around quickly, darting to find something that could be of some use, or resemblance. Slowly she got up to her feet and dusted off her pants, happy that she chose sensible clothes for this travel. She knew that she got out in time, but now wasn't the time to dwell of that. She had to focus, after all, she had a mission and she wasn't about to really let that go. Slowly, she made her way through the grounds of the mountain, as her skin got used to the heat once more. She was a fire dragon after all. Heat was no enemy of hers. She was just happy that she arrived on a ground that was somewhat familiar to her. As she looked around her, being vigilant to every sound and movement, she pulled out her dagger. She thought that if she would be attacked, a dagger would do the trick much easier than her swords or even her bow would. In fact, in close combat, a bow wasn't the best weapon to use.

She ran her whole training regime through her head as she played with her dagger a little absentmindedly. This dagger was one of her most prized possessions, as she had gotten it from her father and she would never be able to really forget that. Not that she wanted to forget it, by the way. No, she liked the fact that she had gotten this from her before he went insane. Slowly, she stopped, realizing that her flaunting her dagger like this, might not be the safest course of action. So, she put away her dagger, feeling like she was changing time there and then and it freaked her out a little. She could be creating a ripple effect, a butterfly effect, whatever you wanted to call it, right as she stood here. She could be changing more than what she came here for and that was a very dangerous thought.

And yet, she couldn't really afford thinking about things like this for too long. If she would spend her time here being afraid of the things around her, then in the end she was more doomed than anyone would ever like to admit. And she didn't even know if she would be believed or not. But, even if she wasn't believed, she had to go through with this plan. Besides, it wasn't like she could go home anymore. Her home was destroyed right in her stead as she left through the portals. It was destroyed by her father who finally lost it. She had seen it coming for a little while now, but to see it actually happening was still something utterly devestating. There were simply no words for it that could describe it and do it justice. And now, she just felt hollow. Her world was gone, hell, the entire world was gone for all she knew. There was nothing left. Her eyes darkened at this thought and she stopped walking, looking at the flames, before looking up. Suddenly, she wondered if she was being watched by anyone and how she didn't notice this before. She wasn't trained to not notice things likr this!

[Isolde]

Today was simply one of those days.

No matter what was happening or where it was happening Isolde could not catch a break. Her request for the aid of a witch failed and the rumors of her people seemed to be too wild to follow. Each one seemed to tell a different story yet they all seemed to contain some measure of truth; Samael was out there. That was precisely why she doubled the guard and stepped things up in their territory. It was very clear to her that he would be displeased with how far things had fallen but on her own she could not push back the hordes of demons. They fought tooth and nail to defend what they had and she was the only surviving elder who had any sense left.

Just as she was to lay a rather nasty blow on her captive all of her senses erupted at once. The barrier spell she cast had been triggered by something. This was her means of countering the demons as they could be anywhere, anyone. She set up a "Barrier Spell" that worked as a silent alarm that told her when beings with any significant power crossed or demons. Pausing mid strike, Isolde tilted her head and closed her eyes. There was a rather significant vibration that she could feel through her spell resonating with the power of whoever tripped it. "Count yourself lucky this time." she said dryly as she turned leaving the dirty, bleeding man bound in chains.

As she exited the dungeon of hers, two beings practically materialized out of thin air beside her. "Follow me to the barrier. We have a guest." she commanded as they nodded and vanished as quickly and quietly as they came. Her two agents would proceed her and assess the enemy before she arrived as they usually did. Normally she would watch them from a distance to gauge her enemies power before engaging herself. This time it was quite different, whatever triggered this spell of hers held a power that she had never felt before. It was almost as if it was her brothers but it was quite different.

In only mere moments two cloaked figures would step out of nowhere circling Minerva. They made no hostile move towards her beyond resting their hands on the hilt of their blades. They remained quite however as they waited several minutes for their overlord to arrive. Unlike her brother her entrance was no nearly so flashy or extravagant. Isolde stepped out from behind a large grouping of stones and eyed the woman before her with a withering gaze. So far she had no idea if she was here to fight or greet this stranger who roamed their lands in such dangerous times.

"Identify yourself or forfeit your life. You choose a poor time to be a tourist in these lands, stranger." she stated simply. Isolde was always rather blunt about what she wanted and the consequences should she not get it.

[Adam]

The initiate hit the rough sands of the training ground with a massive, impacting sound. As the wind in him was knocked out of him by the impact, blood from internal bleeding rocketed from his mouth in small specks with the air adding the needed momentum. “Expose your back to your enemy, and you are dead!” Samael barked, circling the fallen initiate, striking and cutting the recruit’s body in non-lethal places for every second he took to rise. Five slashes later and the recruit rolled back onto their feet, sword raised. His eyes looked at Samael’s with determination and anger, looking at their King with some hesitance. At last, the initiate charged, and went to stab at Samael’s side, only to narrowly miss the king, only slicing a small layer of flesh, barely even a cut. Having moved slightly to miss the attack, Samael gripped the initiate’s dueling arm by the shoulder, jamming his thumb in between a tender spot not protected by bone and digging in until flesh broke. The initiate cried out in pain before a fist knocked him out cold. Falling to the ground, Samael motioned for initiates to take their fallen from the sands. There would be no medics arriving to help the recruit. It was up to either him to help himself, unless the recruits saw fit to grant him mercy. Given the Initiate volunteered to act as the King’s example of what he expected in combat, his chances of help were good.

Samael looked at the rest of the recruits, many of them between the ages of six to twenty years of age. They looked at the man their ancestors told stories of, and looked in awe at what he was like. Samael on the other hand had no interest in their excitements over him, only that they were loyal, ready to learn and ready to become the dragons that nature intended them to be. As recruits began to heal their fallen, Samael looked at them and all for a silent moment before speaking again. “Make no mistake when I say to you all that Sylthanis will not be merciful. Their armies will march on our lands, and when the time comes, it could be you that decides the fate of the rest of your comrades, your land, or your families. You must strike with the will that could break down the barriers between this world and the next! When devils and gods raise their sword to you, respond in kind by striking their’s down. When your king challenges you,” Samael then pointed at the recovering recruit, “accept it and what fate comes from the other end of a challenge and embrace it like you would embrace the warmth of a lover’s body. Only then will you know the honor and glory that is combat. Only when you have felt freedom from fear, fear of death, fear of life, fear of the fucking gods, and the vampires and demons, then you truly become a path of destruction set for Sylthanis!” The recruits roared in agreement as they all began to continue their training. As Samael walked away, he looked back to find the recruit that he fought back on his feet, fighting as ferociously as he did against his king. A fine warrior he would make, come a day.

As Samael left the training compound, and handed teaching back over to the Kein’Bormahs (War Fathers), he suddenly felt a surge of power from out of nowhere. Could it have been the stones? Or was it something else...or someone else? The last time Samael had felt such a power, it was when the hybrid, Lidija, attacked Samael’s guards and fought him to a standstill. Taking flight, he began to fly towards the location, his sword ready if it was indeed Lidija again. Their fight was still in need of finishing, and he had a sword to drive through her skull. He realized that eventually she would strike again, but the fun part about her was Samael knew that she would be unpredictable about it. As Samael drew closer and closer, he felt another presence along with the other. It was familiar, and powerful. Except he could hardly believe it to be who he thought it was. However, Isolde was a powerful warrior, and survival was not an issue with her. If she had survived all of this time though, then she was probably looking for him as well. There were others nearby as well, but Samael could not tell as to who they were other than possible agents of Isolde. She always tended to travel with few servants of her own. Not for protection, but rather distraction. If anything, Isolde protected her own hired pay, and even then to say that she protected them stretched a bit.

When Samael heard her voice, he knew it had to be her. Samael descended from high above, landing about a yard behind Isolde. “I would listen to her,” he said to the stranger, looking at her and now realizing that she was not Lidija, but something about her seemed familiar, “my sister is not known for mercy.” Looking at both the girl and then at Isolde, Samael looked long into Isolde’s eyes, searching for any potential deceit, but finding only the familiar fire in his sister’s eyes that burned in his own. What a family reunion… he thought to himself.

[Deleted]

Minerva was cursing her luck right now. She hadn't expected to meet someone familiar anytime soon and to have her defenses falling like this... She had no words for it that could fully describe it. She needed to heighten her guard in the future if she wanted to survive in one way or the other. And she did want to survive, her future depended on it, hell, the world depended on it. She sensed the barrier spell only when it was too late and then she knew that there was nothing she could do about it. She would do well to go along with the motions of it and pretend like she knew all along, she had a plan formed in her mind already. After all, she had her father's strategic mindset she was told and that would come in handy in the future.

When she was surrounded by two figures that seemed to come out of nowhere, but she knew had to have been cloaked before. She knew about Isolde's ways, the woman had trained her after all in the Rites of Passage. When they didn't make a move towards her other than resting their hands on the hilt of their blades, she almost smiled. Almost, as she was still able of holding this back and keep her face neutral. The figures remained quiet, which she was grateful for, as she knew at the same time they were waiting for someone... Her aunt, Isolde. She had been expecting to see her just now. When she saw Isolde's withering gaze, she looked back at her as calmly as she could. She refused to be afraid of her, even as she knew that her aunt could be unpredictable and quite dangerous.

She held her dagger close, as her swords hung at her sides, waiting to be used if she would wish it. She listened to what the woman in front of her said and looked at the two figures briefly. She was wondering if she had a chance to get out of this without having to say much. She doubted it though and knew that she would have to lay out her plan sooner than she had thought. "I am not a tourist." She eventually spoke as she looked back at Isolde. She knew that she was blunt and that she shouldn't be on the receiving end of her blade.

Her eyes shot up to the sky, feeling her father's presence when he came closer, but didn't see him yet. She looked back at Isolde in front of her, wondering what this was about, before she eventually saw her father descending from high above. He landed about a yard behind Isolde and her eyes went to him, wondering if she needed to bow or not. Her ryes shot back to Isolde when Samael told her she should better listen to Isolde as she knew no mercy. "I know." She spoke, as she let her eyes go from one sibling to the other. She knew that she should better speak now, but she wasn't sure how to start. This was a lie that better had to be believable if she wanted to get away with it. "My name is Minerva. I am a Fire Dragon, that was blessed with the gift of Sight. I know about the future, your future." She said, trying her best to sound like this was normal for her. To talk in such mysteries. If she wasn't careful, it might become normal to her after all.

Her eyes went to the figures again, wondering whether or not they had been given an invisible command to attack. She was ready though, if this was the case. "The future is not a pretty place if you are not careful." She eventually warned. She knew that she could be on thin ice right here and now, but she couldn't be quiet forever about it. It wasn't in her nature after all, to go out of the way of a challenge that would come her way one way or the other. She wasn't raised that way after all. She wasn't raised that way after all. It wasn't what her aunt or uncle would have wanted for her and it most certainly wasn't what her parents would want.

[Isolde]

The woman before her seemed to be quite calm despite facing down Isolde and two sentries. Either she had no idea who she was speaking to or she was quite confident in her own abilities. Both of those thoughts intrigued her as she assumed that most knew of her by now since she returned. She was going to address the woman but another presence triggered her spell as well. This one did not feel familiar to her however as the power seemed.. lesser. Feeling a hand upon her she glanced at her brother and for a moment could scarce believe it was actually him. The rumors all added up to what she knew him to be but she felt that it could have very well been another demonic ruse.

After Samael spoke the woman explained who she was and why she was here specifically. Narrowing her eyes, Isolde seemed skeptical for a moment. She could not entirely believe that any being could tell the destiny of such a great man. As far as Isolde knew she was a nobody who had no standing in the clan and therefore lacked the amount of respect required for Isolde to take her at face value. Making a motion with her hand the other two figures removed their hands from their weapons and simply vanished from where they stood. "You'll have to forgive me if I am not excited or trusting of your claim. There are enemies everywhere, what proof can you offer that this not a distraction?" she asked.

At the same time she sent her agents to check the surrounding area for any sign that this was a diversion. Those who would see them wiped out had deployed similar methods in the past, diverting the dragons gaze while the true enemy attacked. Taking several slow, deliberate steps forward Isolde wore her normal blank expression that lacked any true personality. When she was close enough that she did not have to yell to Minerva she came to a halt. "Perhaps you are unaware of what is happening in the now then. It is equally as bad here in the present." she stated with a scoff.

"Speak plainly and say what you need to say. We do not have time for games." she demanded impatiently.

[Adam]

Still sharp and ever the warrior. If any was a living testament to the old ways, it was Isolde. She was raised by the Battle Mothers of the Rites, and like Samael was taught to survive in the harshness of the Draconic wastelands. Taught to bear the scorched earth, the winter tundras, and the harsh, whip-like winds of their world. If anyone would survive the eons, it would have been her. Ancient, powerful and extremely pissed off, Isolde was a missing component in his Kingdom’s return. With her as the general to lead his legions against Sylthanis, they would once again lead legions. Samael watched as his sister turned, and as he looked her in the eye, he felt a familiar “connection” that he held with his twin again. A demon could defile their draconic forms, even copy their human forms, but a demon could never mimic the link that he held with his sister. He would have to challenge his sister to spar with him later to inform him of all that has since passed, but in the meantime, Samael’s attention quickly turned to the young girl.

Walking towards her until he was in between Isolde and Minerva, he looked her from head to toe and took notice of her firm stance, and the semi-visible scars that were riddled throughout her hands and some near her eyes, it told Samael that she was indeed a capable fighter at least, and that she had been through the Rites. The look in her eyes alone told Samael much more. She was ready to kill if necessary, even if her own King struck her. “Such a power you boast...” Samael spoke as he drew his blade and raised it at her chest. Momentarily, Samael felt a sense of deja vu, and suddenly, his instincts were telling him that she posed no threat. It was as if something within felt as if hurting her now would be a very big mistake. Yet, despite this gut instinct, he kept his sword raised. Although emotion was a powerful weapon in combat, it held no place in terms of interrogating another. If one wanted the truth, they had to make the opponent feel as if they were in control.

“Isolde is quite right,” Samael warned gravely, “although I’m sure you knew that. We are in a time of war, and to boast of such a power would make you a valuable asset, but also dangerous to the enemy. There are many spies about, and many enemies walking these lands. Dragon Slayers to say the least. You certainly look and smell like one of us...mostly, but can you fight? How powerful is your sight? Is it strong enough to detect my every strike and move? Such an ability would make you unmatched in combat.” Samael looked between her and Isolde before finally backing up slowly to face them both. “Indeed, tell us more.” Samael said, agreeing to Isolde’s statement for her to speak quickly.

[Deleted]

Minerva was still trying to figure out the best course of action. She realized full well that she may look calm on the outside, but she really wasn't on the inside. She knew exactly who these people before her were and that was kind of the problem. She knew them and thus, she knew what they were capable of. She looked at Isolde as she narrowed her eyes, thinking how she was probably skeptical and had every right to feel like this. She knew she was a stranger to them in this time and this both hurt her and made things easier. While she was constantly afraid that she was stepping on any butterflies, it was easier to step on them unnoticed if she had to do so at all. She watched the sentries disappear wordlessly, before looking back at the dark-haired, powerful woman before her. "I understand that I have to earn your trust and I am willing to do so in the future." She told her, not quite talking further about the proof. Not just yet anyway.

Her breathing hitched in her throat ever so softly when she saw Isolde's slow, deliberate steps forward. She listened to what she said, glad that Isolde didn't yell, as she didn't know if she could have handled that. In all honesty, she wasn't true how much she could handle emotionally right now with the knowledge that her world had been destroyed. She nodded, with a dark look in her eyes for a moment. "A war in which you would much rather destroy each other than stand on the side of one another." She spoke. She smiled when Isolde told her to speak plainly and looked away. Like it was so easy to speak plainly while thinknig a hundred steps ahead when she hadn't worked out all of the kinks in her plan yet. It was like playing Russian Roulette with a gun that was loaded at all times. Onw wrong move could be the end of all of this. The end of her. "Then that is something we can agree on, I do not have time for games either."

Minerva had survived this long, having been trained by none other than her aunt before her, along with her uncle. She would survive as well, as the future depended on it. If she couldn't stop her father from losing his mind, everything would be lost either way. She looked up when Samael walked towards her until he was in-between Isolder and her. Her eyes shone with curiosity as she wondered what he would do and say next. She wasn't afraid, as she was taught not to be, but that didn't mean that she wasn't at least a little bit worried. Her father seemed to take her in and she instinctively held on to her dagger a little closer, not wanting him to see this. She wasn't quite sure when he had obtained this dagger and thus didn't know if he had it already or not. She looked at him, a determination taking over her curiosity when she heard what he said, watching as he drew his blade and raised it at her chest. Briefly, she thought how she was willing to fight if that was necessary. Even if she already knew that she would lose against him.

"The world always seems to be at time of war." She said, as her eyes hardened for a moment. "I am not a spy and as much as I know that any spy would say that, I can back it up. Also, I can fight, but my power doesn't work like that, that I can see your every move. That would be personal gain as well. I assumed you would know about something like that. I suppose I was mistaken in that sense, I am sorry. My strength lies in my training, not just my powers. As you have probably seen, I carry my scars along my body, certainly not with shame, but with pride." She told him, as she looked at him. Her gaze went to Isolde for a moment, as if trying to find some strength in that, even a little bit. Isolde didn't know that this was why she was looking at her like that. It didn't matter anyway. She then looked back at her father and sighed, wondering how best to start this. "I have been through the Rites of Passage and am older than I look, though probably still a child in your eyes." She said as she fell quiet for a moment. This moment was just enough to let a silence sit between them and make them think about this. She was one of them, she knew about the Rites and she was still alive. Those were things, that she hoped would be enough for one of them to at least believe that she was a dragon as well. "I know that you are looking for something. Something that goes beyond power. I know that you are looking for power in its truest form, I know about the stones."

[Isolde]

The stranger was at least off to a decent start, which usually never lasted. The dragon before them seemed humble, respectful yet she was sure of herself. It was almost as if she had trained this one herself which made her raise a brow. There was no way that could be possible she reasoned as she knew every face under her command. Despite her hostile attitude she took the time to know who she was fighting along side; even if it was only by facial recognition. Even though she had a duty to detain and question this stranger she was more concerned with how Samael had even gotten here. The last thing she knew he was sealed away by the Celestials and no one knew where to find his tomb.

That thought swam in her mind for thousands of years, that singular desire to find him. Shaking that thought from her mind she re-focused herself on the task at hand. "We would rather not fight at all if that were an option. Yet the enemy presses in on us at every turn and are too well defended to be dug out." she said. There was a fiery rage behind her gaze as she let those words fly as she felt like their choices were being judged by some lone wanderer.

Searching Minerva with her eyes she came to the conclusion that she did indeed bear the scars of those who had undergone the rites. Yet once more it came full circle to the point in which her mind made earlier. If she knew of their ways then why did Isolde not recognize her? It was maddening as most of the newer recruits were trained by her own hand. She prided herself on being able to recall them all individual and it was infuriating that she could not. It was most likely clear to Samael by now by the look on her face that she was beginning to grow impatient with such cryptic answers.

Then it came, the bit of information that set her on edge. No one but the clan elders were to know of the stones. "No one else should know of this, unless you are someone important or spy after all." she said taking a step forward. She had no time for this and wished her brother would simply be done with this so she could ask him the questions circling her mind. "Do you really wish to take the chance with her? We should be rid of her, there are more pressing concerns." she stated dryly. Isolde was the same in any time, surely Minerva would have expected such a cold reception from her.

[Adam]

Samael noted how Minerva spoke to the two as if she was not aware that the elder dragons before her killed on instinct alone. There was a sort of dominance in her voice that Samael knew only Isolde to have. As Minerva continued to speak, Samael listened and up until she mentioned the stones, Samael became intrigued. Isolde beat Samael to the punch by declaring that nobody else should know about the stones. It was true that the Elders of each Clan knew about the stones, as did the Celestials and Brigade. The stones were already being transported to Brigade HQ, to be locked up for safe keeping until the Kingdom was reunified. [color=red”This supposed Sight showed you these things?”[/color] he asked after Isolde spoke, “Are you aware of what happens to those that lie to their King? We make liars chew out their own tongue and swallow it whole. Understand that if you’re lying to us, you will be at,” Samael turned and pointed towards Isolde, “her mercy.” The thing was, Isolde was never merciful to anyone. Once, long ago, a drunken soldier fondled Isolde, mistaking her for someone else. Isolde made sure that not a single piece of his body went to waste when she had finally grown tired of his screams.

When Isolde stated that they should be done with her, asking if they should risk her being a spy, Samael grinned slightly. “Thousands of years and still wary of everyone,” Samael spoke with a dark chuckle, “if she is a spy, then it provides us with the perfect opportunity to learn about our enemy and their tactics. Remember, there is never a perfect spy. She will slip up if she is one and we will be ready for her. Otherwise, if she is a Seer, then however her vision works, we can still use it to our own advantage since she’s willing to share what she knows. We will keep her at our encampment in the meantime.” Technically, the Kingdom would be at a seat of power between the nations, but Samael vowed that Firegorge Mountain would be his home until his Kingdom was restored. The encampment was still small, but most of the smaller nomadic tribes of the Fire Clan had at long last began to join and the encampment grew larger and larger. With Isolde at his side now, Samael knew that it was only a matter of time before the remainder of the Fire Clan had finally joined his side. The Earth Dragons would only surely follow, especially now that the Air Clan was now reunified with the Fire Clan under Samael’s flag.

“I would prefer if we took this conversation back to the encampment,” Samael continued, “the Elders that have relocated there would probably wish to look upon her and inspect her for themselves. They will want to know her origins, and what she knows.”

[Deleted]

Minerva hoped that her words had at least some impact on these very powerful beings in front of her. Mostly because she had no idea what they would to her, were they to learn of her true identity. She knew better than to be humble, respectful and still make sure she knew who she was and what she wanted to come across. She knew that Isolde would figure out sooner or later that she had been the one to train her herself. Isolde had been the one to show her the ropes, along with her uncle. And she hadn't forgotten one thing about this training, nor did she think she ever would. She didn't have the time or the luxury to slip now, because if she did, all could be lost.

She listened to Isolde telling her that they'd rather not fight and nodded, as that certainly wasn't a bad thing. She didn't want to fight either. "The enemy will show itself eventually, it's only a matter of time before they will slip up." She spoke. She recognized the fiery rage behind Isolde's gaze and looked at her, before looking around for a moment. For just a moment, she felt unsure of where to point her own gaze at or what to do even. She had always been fairly confident in her actions and her behavior, but right now, she felt at a loss. Here she was, talking to her father and her aunt and it hadn't even fully settled in her mind that her own world was lost yet. She didn't know when it would settle like that, except for the fact that when it did, it would hit her like a brick wall and she could better be alone when that happened.

She was surprised in a way that Isolde hadn't confronted her yet about her origins and why she didn't recognize her. She knew that the woman before her prided herself in knowing anyone and everyone that went through the rites. And yet, Isolde didn't know her quite yet, which she knew would make her pretty, well, impatient and mad. This woman, just like pretty much everyone in the family wasn't one to wait patiently for answers and their anger would often flow without thinking. That was to say, when they allowed themselves to do so, as they would still think it all over. That was a tactical aspect that Minerva herself prided herself in.

She nodded at Samael when he asked her if her Sight had showed her this. When she heard this question, she nodded again, looking at him with a determination once more present in her eyes. "I am aware that neither one of you knows mercy, which makes it better for me that I am not lying." She told both. Her eyes flicked back to Isolde when she heard what the woman asked and said to Samael. She could see that one coming from a mile away. "It suits you well that you are wary of those around you, you should be. No one ever knows where the enemy comes from or what shape they will take, as well as I know that I am not your enemy." She said. She listened to what her father said about her being a spy and there not being a perfect spy, which he was right in, those didn't exist. She listened to how according to him, she would slip up and knew that she had to be very careful that she didn't, that she wouldn't.

Minerva listened to his next words about her being a Seer and them being able to use her sight, her visions to their advantage. She knew that it didn't work like that, just as well as she knew that she was no real Seer. She was a fake and that in its own was a very dangerous path she was walking on. She heard him tell Isolde that they would keep her at their encampment and racked her brain to figure out how big this was at this stage. It had to be quite big already with how confident he sounded about it. Before it was even said, she knew they would go to Firegorge Mountain and she was fine with that. She looked at her father and nodded when he told them he preferred it if they took this conversation back to the encampment.

However, when he spoke of the Elders and how they would want to inspect her for themselves. How they would want to know her origins and what she knew, she felt a tinge of alarm well up in her heart. She knew she could maybe, just maybe fool her family, but complete strangers... Not as much. And yet she knew that she would do best to cooperate. It was her only chance of living another day. "I would be most happy to cooperate and show you that my intentions are pure." She said, forcing her tone to be light, calm and casual. She really was a good actress, she at least hoped that it still worked enough for them to not see her inner turmoil.

[Isolde]

Isolde did not find it as humorous as Samael seemed to that she was weary of this woman. Thousands of years taught her that she had every right to be suspicious of everyone; including him. Even she could potentially take the wrong action one day and end up on the other side of his fury. While she did not fear him like the others did, she also knew that she could not hold off his power forever. If she were to stand in his way even she too would die in time, however, she held the ability to make it infinitely harder than anyone else could. Realizing that her thoughts were being over turned by his curiosity she backed down from trying to do away with the woman. Still the thought remained fresh in her head that there was something important she was not being told.

Slowly she removed her hand from her own hilt as she crossed them over her chest. Perhaps she was not as imposing in this form as she was the other but she knew her point had been made. "If you wish to cooperate then perhaps you too should relax your grip." she said with a glare. She could read the body well enough to tell that the woman who stood before her was not dumb enough to show up without a hidden weapon at the very least. Though she also figured this stranger was smart enough to know that Isolde would probably notice eventually.

"I'm willing to look past my suspicions if he will vouch for you but something about the way you carry yourself seems familiar. You will have to share your secrets eventually, I always find what people are hiding in the end." she said. There was much they could learn from this one, she could tell already. Even if it was only something that gave them an advantage in battle that would be more than enough for her. They were not going to be fighting an easy war here and anything could tip the scales in their favor at this point. Samael was strong but she knew all too well what sort of monster the king of Sylthanus was thanks to her captive angel.

"I have important information to share with you once we are done here. I have info on one of the men behind the assaults on our people." she voiced. She knew that he would want to hear this as it would determine what he would do next. It was imperative that they restored their king back to his full strength before he took on the might of the undead. Even now she was receiving reports that the dead had grown restless on the borders of the petrified wood.

"The dead have become increasingly more active. We should hurry this along." she added.

[Adam]

“Upon our return to the encampment, we will discuss this as we set up your quarters,” Samael spoke, “I’ll have Azrael, and the other generals meet us there. They will need to meet and know their new Thur, so that we can begin battle preparations. I want us to begin movement to Badrul soon. Once we have secured the Ice dragon’s signature, unifying the remaining clans is but a simple ceremony.” Of course, Samael had spoken to the Elders of the Earth and Fire Clans, he had yet to have them sign. Samael wanted the final steps of Reunification to begin in the heart of the Fire Clan’s home. Until then, he focused on the Clans that may have held some resistance to unifying. The Ice Clan, Samael feared, would be the most difficult.

With Isolde’s talk of the dead rising, and to hurry onward, Samael could not agree more. He had preparations of his own to make for Isolde, to then pass down to the generals. They would need to pull the entire Encampment from the soil to move forward towards Badrul. Isolde could not be more correct about the dead rising. Soon, Vlad himself would march towards Sylthanis. The undead would try to hone in on their captives like a hot beacon. When they find them, they’ll also find an Army of angry dragons ready to fight. Samael could only hope that once he reached Badrul, the Ice Dragons would be willing to help. He was counting on the vampiric attack to work. If they could stave off the hordes long enough for the Ice Clan to see that their isolation in this war was hazardous, then Reunification would be as good as instantaneous.

“Any and all men under you are to report to my Encampment. Give them anything they need to know on how to reach it, and have them report to wherever you wish for them. If I am not mistaken, Vlad, himself may make a move soon.” With that, Samael took to the skies, waiting on his sister and Minerva as well. He would have spoken more to the girl, but he had said all he needed to for the time being. He would ask more of her later.

[Deleted]

Minerva noticed that Isolde didn't think this was as humorous as Samael seemed to think this was, which was something she had to look out for. She was glad though, when she noticed that the woman before her decided not to get rid of her and backed off as a result. She watched how she slowly removed her hand from her own hilt, though she didn't do the same just had. She wasn't entirely sure if she had that luxury as well, to be able to relax in a situation like this. She was no fool and knew exactly who she was dealing with right here and now. She had chosen this and yet, she had to be so very, very careful in the midst of these two powerful beings. She smiled a little when she heard what Isolde said to her and held up her hands. Her dagger was still hidden in her sleeve along with her other weapons that were close-by and a little more visible. "You are very right about that." She spoke, though she didn't really mean much of it. Well, she meant it in the sense that she did loosen her grip, but not her reflexes. She knew better than that.

She swallowed when Isolde told Samael to vouch for her and she was willing to look past her suspicions then. However, when she said that she would know her secret sooner or later, she raised an eyebrow and crossed her own arms over her chest. Isolde better shouldn't know this anytime soon, she imagined. She listened to what she said about the dead becoming increasingly more restless and looked at Samael. She listened to what he said about the encampment and the setup of her quarters and nodded, before listening to his further words. She wasn't entirely sure what she was supposed to know of this, though she did know more than she could let on.

She knew what would and wouldn't work, but decided to stay quiet for now. She didn't need to speak up right away about the circumstances at play, that wasn't her place at all and she would do well to act accordingly. Even if this meant she looked like a fool, or a child that didn't know left from right. She just couldn't step on too many butterflies. It was too dangerous. When Samael took to the sky, she made sure to follow him quickly, flying up into the sky, careful to stay out of anyone's path. She knew for a fact that both would ask her questions soon about her identity and what she knew and she knew that she would be prepared when they did. She had to be prepared, her own life depended on this and this constant threat kept her more than alert. It kept her on high alert, in fact and she had to be careful not to let this show too much and too obviously to these people that were present here now.