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Chapter 23

The trip from Qu'ittax was nightmare made manifest, held mostly suspended by the paws of a vampiric dragon. Legs dangling below her, Vishta couldn't bear to look at the distant, rolling ground, fearful that her ride would simply let her go. Instead she focused on the clouds, the death of the Queen's minions, and that should she survive this, a promotion, nay, three would be in order.

From dusk to dawn, the pounding of feathery wings passed the time, breaking apart long stretches where only the cruel whine of the wind battered her snout. Though she'd never share it with her captor, she could not help but be impressed by her marvelous strength. Sleep seemed not to find her, slow her down. Nor did the sun seem to have any affect on her whatso ever, her wings didn't sizzle, flesh not burn, whatever magic she wielded to prevent such a thing was powerful indeed.

But it seemed the dragoness was unsatisfied with the silence that wrapped them, subjecting poor Vishta to numerous questions on the hour. They delved into such personal matters as her family and home, about how her father had died in a cave in from giants, to how her mother had once owned a store making shoes. How she scowled at the dragon's cruel laugh over the name of the establishment, dressed from snouts to feets was not a terrible name. She was forced to join in with the mockery of her family business on threat of being dropped. The Queen of Eternal Flame gave her no stories in return.

On the third day of their travel, it was not the swamp of darkness that they found themselves bearing down. No, they were subjected to far greater things. The uniter, resting adrift the sky, shimmering with gold and metal as if a treasured jewel. The winds around such a construction grew calm, clouds seeming to wave in the distance towards it's lazy journey. Vishta found herself pressed tight against her captor's claws, her eyes dazzling at such a sight. Sure she'd read about it in the reports, but to witness such a device first hand? How it lacked any form of magical engine to keep it aloft? It truly was a work of art, no equal. She had to fight the excitement brewing, demanding that she spend hours slithering through it's halls, jotting down whatever information she could find.

She shook her snout, biting her lip. This was not to be something to lose herself to. She did not come here to gaze in wonderment like a fresh cave kobold to a dragon, she was a captive. The moment she could manage it, escape would have to be the order of the day. She hoped whatever Lyndis and Cordenth had gotten up to within contained some sort of protections, they'd need all the help they could muster against someone like the Queen of Eternal Flame.

"There it is, just as you said." Queen of Eternal Flame mused, tilting a feathered wing and drifting along the morning breeze. "How very fortunate for you. I thought I'd have to drop you."

"But this isn't where it was supposed to be, was it not pulled into the swamp of shadow?" She grit her teeth and prayed that whatever Lyndis and Radiant Star had gotten up to, it was enough to repel the likes of their vampiric guest. "How in the stars did it end up here? More importantly, how did you find this?"

"It would seem my nephew is more resourceful than I imagined." She replied with a growl, "Though that's no surprise considering the connection that we share, ancient, but powerful. I took him for a naïve fool, yet here he is with what should be mine. I bet he thinks this prize will garner him a place at my father's side."

"Perhaps both of you could share it? Considering your family and all, why would you go ruining something over a simple matter of who gets the flying castle?"

"So simple and yet not, things are never that way with what will be your Emperor. You should feel gracious that you will even set foot on his miraculous construction." She flicked her wings and guided them with the currents, sweeping around the castle. "Not many have and lived to tell the tale."

Vigilant eyes swept through the pristine courtyards, not a speck of swamp still left on them. Sunlight had whisked away the grime and dampness, returning this place to it's former glory. Warmth seemed to radiate all around it, instilling the air with a sense of security. Even Vishta, though her heart wanted to leap from her chest, and worry hounded at her guts, found herself relaxing in the claws of her captor. More rational thoughts screamed inside her, warning her of what was to come.

"It doesn't appear to be a trap." The Queen grumbled, drawing ever closer to the walls.

"You sound almost disappointed!" Vishta remarked, "I thought you'd be glad we're not being blasted apart by Lumarian mana cannons!"

"It would just feel more that we were related if it were so."

With a fluttering of her powerful wings, the grand vampiric dragon landed in the center of the courtyard with a bumpy trot. She released Vishta with a harsh snort, staying very still as she completed her scanning of the dormant surroundings.

She dusted herself off, getting to all fours. If the dragon wanted to be suspicious, let her, no scales off her back. Now how was she going to get out of here, warn Radiant Star and Lyndis about the guest she brought? The opportunity to do rose as the Queen swept right over her like a cloud, seeking out the grand doorway at the courtyard's edge. As the dragon's head cocked the kobold slid her way into what shadows she could find, pulling off her pack and riffling through it. If she could find the owl device that Hurta had used to get them into this adventure, she _just_might be able to warn her friends in time!

"Trying to get some shade over there?" The Queen's voice was like poison on the air.

"Admiring the stonework!" Vishta stammered, slinging back on her pack, just moments before those piercing blue eyes fell upon her. "Have you felt this place?" She grinned so large she was afraid it might get stuck, "No vibrations, no sounds of it's motion. I can't wait to open it up and see how it ticks."

There was an uneasy silence as the dragoness tilted her head, weighing over the answer and considering if it was worth doing away with this little distraction. The want of vengeance won out as she wheeled around, nearly swiping the little kobold with her tail. "Come now, don't fall behind. We would not want you warning your prior friends of our arrival. Their shock and surprise should be genuine after all."

Course it would not be that easy. She grit her teeth, having to practically sprint to keep up the larger dragon's_casual_ stride. "I would never do that your grand ness, I honor you for your mercy in keeping me alive."

"You only say that to prolong your life." The dragon mused, rearing up to tap away at the uniter's door. "Smart, but you have not earned my trust yet."

"Then why keep me around?"

"For the terror and despair on my nephew's snout is worth whatever hardships that weight me down."

"He must be honored to have a relative such as you."

"We will have all the time to get to know each other in the years ahead. Who knows, perhaps he will end up being my favorite little spawn my sister produced. Perhaps one day you will be _another_of my children." A predatory flash of her eyes and teeth did little to hide what she entailed. Being turned into a vampire.

"So what is with the door? Is this not made from Lumarians?"

"We would weep if such a marvelous construction was their doing." The queen retreated with a growl, digging her claws into the stone, "This was my fathers, and will be how we reshape this world for the better."

"Now I can see how you and Radiant Star are related."

"And what does that mean oh delicate one." Her jaws snapped inches from Vishta's face, making the kobold leap back with a yelp. It was the perfect distraction for the door to come swinging open.

Down the steps came a dragon of great size, one resembling that of Radiant Star. Sun painted and kissed his emerald scales, adding life to the swaths of gold that dominated his cheeks, horns and underbelly. Glowing eyes beheld who dared intrude upon his domain, narrowed and devoid of any mercy. His paws were like thunder, shaking the stone, even the air drew uneasy and still. It was like this place obeyed his every demand, even aiding in his entrance.

"Why, if isn't my lovely daughter, returned to me after all these years." Rumbled the dragon with a sinister grin. He assumed a regal stance befitting of his stature, standing taller than even the great size of the Queen of Eternal Flame.

Daughter? Vishta dropped to her belly as the Queen gestured for her to bow. Was this not Radiant Star simply using a spell to grow, wearing this title of her father to trick her? Her head pounded at this absurd idea, how stupid did he think the Queen was? But as she gazed up, a thought whispered for her not to. Her gaze was not befitting a creature as perfect as he, her place was with a bowed head. Before she couldn't resist it's demand she caught sight of a ring around his horn, forged from thorns and winking in the sunlight.

"Is that truly you father?" The Queen bowed her head and prostrated herself as Radiant Star approached with a confident stroll, "I had not expected your freedom so soon."

"Neither did I little one. One of the small boons I've had with these inconsistencies."

"Inconsistencies father? I thought nothing would surprise you any longer."

"It would appear as though I haven't escaped the cruel game of the story tellers." The green dragon growled, starting to circle her like a hunting lion. "But here you are, loyal and as dependable as always. The others, squabbling like children, oblivious to the changes that are around us."

Changes to his sight? Vishta silently crept as the dragons ignored her, too focused on one another. With every step her heart sank, this evidently was not Radiant Star, or if it were, something was possessing him. Already she could predict what Lyndis' reaction would be, the sorrow that would follow with this revelation. Or was she still here? She stopped dead, blood turned to ice. This might all have been for nothing, nothing but reuniting what was clearly two allies to one another.

If she were truly on her own, what could she do? The kobold's head throbbed as the dragons hissed at one another, though she doubted they were truly angry. This seemed to be an argument over frustration at having to guess and pull on many threads to ensure his plan came to fruition. Vishta eyed the door, drawing ever closer. Perhaps if she got lost within the walls of this place, she could use her schematics of this place to find a weak spot, a place to bring it down...If these two were truly allies, this weapon could not be allowed to rest comfortably in their paws.

"And my nephew?" The queen's voice thundered through the courtyard as she rose, lashing her tail to the stone. "I take it he's not returning? That I might not see the face of him as I best him?"

The green dragon before her chuckled in his cruelty, "How very caring of you. I had not known you were so attached to him."

"I just wanted to see his face as I bested him. Know that it was I that was superior...But now you wear his face...Don't think I don't see."

"Would you rather have him back than I?" He snapped his jaws, "That I remain in my shard?"

"Of course not." She replied with a hiss, "But I must know if I shall mourn his passing."

"Passing...Such an amusing concept." He swept his grand neck towards the clouds, taking a deep breath as his frills ruffled. "There never was a Cordenth, he was a sliver of a fragment of my being. You mourn a memory, an idea. Ossai thought he would be my doom you know." He gestured to a ring around his horn, a mocking smile about his snout, "This I believe was her final attempt to save him from me."

"And you decided to keep wearing it?"

"Why wouldn't I?" He sat proud, gesturing to it with a wing, "This here is a symbol, the final effort of my enemies to stop my coming. They failed, as will everyone else who tries. This world my child is for us, it is our divine right, gifted by Bahamut herself."

"And his brother? What will become of him?"

"You care awfully for these two." Growled the green dragon, "I question where your heart lays."

"With you of course, how could you be in doubt." She slid up against him with a rumble, "I was merely concerned that another would have to be a sacrifice for the greatest good."

"A good answer. Lyyreth rests down within these dungeons. He has fire within him, corruption by Ossai to be undone. I have faith that in these years ahead he will be an asset to our kind. He will head out and bring our will to this wretched world, righting the wrongs that have so unjustly been hurled at our paws."

He was down in the dungeons? Vishta had started to climb the stone steps, only moving when the dragons had not a clear view of her. That was going to be her ticket then, an ally against whatever was going on here. Possibly even her escape, perhaps death was not as certain as she might believe.

"And I imagine that, I, the greatest of your children will be granted her own continent or two? Flocks of mortals to tame and keep? Not in the numbers they possess now of course, but enough."

"All of that and more my dear." The green dragon snorted, predatory eyes taking in her entire form, "No one will forget how we returned to bring balance back to the chaos that has gripped this land, restore the natural order. Where dragons rest at the top, as is our birthright, and mortals serve whatever purpose we desire of them."

"And now you're speaking my language." She purred, oblivious to how he'd already started casting a spell, dreaming of this new world she'd rule at its head. "May I request our first trip, the city of Struport. I did ever promise my host that we'd laugh in it's rubbles, a gift to a blue dragon that hurt her."

His answer came to her in the draconic tongue, old and ancient but laced with divine power. The air thrummed and shook as the Queen suddenly went rigid, storms of fear raging in her blue pools. He advanced with a terrible swagger, tail swishing back and forth as he continued his spell, letting the winds stat to whip and batter the stone around him, even the clouds swelling to prominence above, enshrouding them in a thick shadow. He never looked away, eyes blazing gold, pressing his snout tightly to the frozen form of his daughter.

Vishta found herself bound to the stone, a perfect mirror of the Queen of Eternal Flame herself. With blood like ice she knew that escape should be her highest priority, but no matter how hard she strained and grunted, her feet were like the heaviest of metals. She wouldn't be able to escape or tear herself away from what was coming.

Blood bubbled and slithered from the Queen's eyes, rivers of crimson down her grey scales. Her powerful limbs began to shiver and quake, cracks of brilliant light spreading up from her paws. With every sentence of her father's spell, what color remained of her was swiftly drained away. Until all that remained was black and white, her eyes rolling into the back of her head, in a silent scream.

"Return to me my treasured thing. Become whole once more like you were always meant to. Cast off your earthly shackles, worry not." With a raised paw, he worked and wrenched a ghostly strand of golden light from her throat, swallowing it with terrifying speed. He hurled the great dragoness aside as though she were little better than trash.

With a terrible hiss, Radiant Star coiled in on himself, the scales at the base of his neck beginning to boil and twist, an unrecognizable shape pounding to escape from within. Flesh began to tear as he roared in agony, muscles snapping as twin shapes began to emerge and grow. They raced up in a shower of blood, twin heads coming to rest beside his original. One was gold, the other pale white, each slathered in a crimson placenta. The air around them thrummed with an ancient power, something had been reforged. An uneasy silence fell upon the courtyard as the dragon swept over his new domain, any warrior would have been weak in the knees to fall under his gaze, but instead it fell onto the form of a diminutive kobold, desperate to keep herself from weeping.

The gravity of what she'd inadvertently done weighed heavily upon her, felt like stones against her tongue. Whatever this creature now that inhabited Cordenth was far worse than whatever the Queen of Eternal Flame had been. This was a divine force, a raging storm that even the gods might have wished remained hidden. Her knees began to shake, threatening to buckle, as the three headed dragon loomed menacingly over her.

"And where do you think you're going little mortal?" The three heads growled, flaring their nostrils in perfect unison, "I don't believe I gave you permission to depart."

Words came slow, dragged with pained effort from her throat. "Of course you hadn't master, I thought you might need a moment to settle in your new form." Out of instinct she gave a convincing laugh, bowing before his paws and letting her snout touch the ground, "I didn't mean to offend."

There was a terrifying silence as the new dragon creature considered her words, flexing his sharpened claws against the stone. The seconds felt like years as his tail swished back and forth, would he let her live or kill her right there and then? The golden head tilted to the side, eyes glimmering with amusement, "You were called Vishta weren't you? The companion that traveled with my nephew Radiant Star. The one who tried to thwart my daughter." He lowered his snouts, staring straight through her, as though he could see her very soul. "I don't believe you're my servant, and no mortal walks among these halls."

Would this be the end? She shot up with a laugh, trying to not show how swiftly her heart pounded at the intimidating visage of this fearsome beast. "Technically you are my master, if you forced the Queen of Eternal Flame to bond with you." With herculean effort she gave the dragon a tooth filled grin, praying to Bahamut that he'd buy it. "So, since I was her pet, now I am yours."

"And you'd have no problem with this?"

"Compared to her, you're the greater dragon." She shrugged, "Better to be the pet of the bestest one I've said."

The dragon pulled back with a deep chuckle, one she'd bet that others had died to, "How astute for one of your kind, now I can see why my daughter kept you around."

"And may I ask what I shall call you? I doubt the Radiant Star is now befitting of someone of your...grand stature."

"Emperor." He hissed, blasting her with his breath. "From now on, that will by my moniker to you and every other mortal on this plane."

"Wise, and certainly fitting master." She searched around the empty courtyard, "But if not mortals to walk the halls of this place, then who? It seems awfully empty for just you and me."

"In time it will be filled with the leathery wings of my people and their pets. For now, it will be a beacon for all to look upon, knowing the world is changing." He gestured her to follow him as he padded his way to the gate, "Take heart that you are the first to be swayed to this new order, perhaps your voice will convince your people and keep there from being senseless bloodshed in these transitionary years." With a swish of his paw and a burst of light, his three heads reformed back into one. Soft mist radiated off his green scales, revealing it was Cordenth's visage that he remained to keep.

While degrading to be his pet, Vishta could only count her blessings. She was alive and all that mattered, perhaps she could find this Lyyreth within the uniter's halls, plan an escape or a way to undermine this Emperor. He couldn't have his eye everywhere after all, and everyone overlooked her people when it mattered. So, she played up to his pride some more, hoping to cast away any doubts that might linger between his horns. "Of course, my great Emperor, I will do whatever it is that you require. I shall sing songs of your deeds and speak highly of your nobility and generosity. Snap your digits and I will satisfy any need that you desire, food, story, or even scrub your scales until they are clean enough to eat off of."

"Is that so?" Mused the dragon, swishing his tail, mischief clearly whisking it's way around his mind. He stopped with his next breath, curling his neck around to stare deeply into her diminutive eyes once more. His eyes narrowed, the air stilled, there was no amusement when he spoke next, "How can I be certain of that? That there are no thoughts of betrayal in your skull? My nephew knew you to be a manipulative spy, you could be doing the same right now."

"I would never do something like that, you have my word." She replied calmly, practically to the reflection of herself in his grand eye, "You can trust me and my people to serve once you begin whatever this new world order is. You know how often the humans and elves looked down our kind? Bout time someone put them in their place if you tell me." She gave him another laugh and grin, but he did not share in the expression.

Instead, he rose with a harsh snort, skepticism dripping from his gaze. Terrible gears had already begun to twist within him, a plan to ensure that no doubt would be left. His eyes began to pulse with a golden light, strands of magical might twisting through the air. They curled and wrapped around her like little snakes, hardly enough time to squeal in terror before they had her bound tight. There was no escape as he descended upon her, the power of a demigod being used upon her.

"You will be mine little Vishta." He spoke with a deep voice, that seemed to sink through her scales. "You will serve me every day, your loyalty unquestioning. You will find comfort in my shadow, long for my presence. Betrayal of me, you'd rather die. Do you understand?"

She nodded, as though her own body had been given life. Part of her resisted, trying to tell her to look away, that he was not the pleasing being that he pretended to be, but a devil that should be avoided. Yet though she tried to struggle, there was nothing she could do. Her eyes watered as she could feel parts of her being burned away, replaced with the sinister comfort that he offered. She went slack against his bindings, a smile upon her snout. Why had she tried to resist? Master would always be there for her."

The Emperor rumbled as he retracted his spell, a happy swish about his tail as Vishta stumbled to find her footing. "Now does that not feel better my little pet?"

"Of course it does." She fell against his paws, lavishing them with her affection, "Thank you for your kindness."

"You can thank me in other ways." The dragon gestured for her to follow, a lewd smirk upon his snout, a sway in his haunches. "And I have just the perfect task for you my little pet, service I expect will become the norm for the years ahead."