"They are beautiful, your highness, and growing strong by the night." Solya complimented the twins as she held each one in her arms.

  "They take after their father, though Tavos have the color of my eyes. " Lotara replied as she took him into her arms, and as she held and caressed him, the boy small soft hands would fidget with her lips, face and chin and she would chuckle, he was spirited more than his other brother, Nuvon, whom would simply look and study others with his amythest eyes same as his father would, a quiet boy whom barely cried, yet she was not concerned by it, he got along with his brother, and that what counted most to her, they would grow together and their bound should be strong, as they will face many hardships in their lives.

  However as she looked into Tavos clueless feline eyes, her heart grew heavier, she had wished her husband was here and had no quest to take, the man had grown old and far too old for quests, his once braided coal hair was turning grey, and the black beard he once has was shaved as soon as he saw some of its strands loosing it color, at the time she felt as if he would not accept it, that he wished to be young once more, yet no man or woman can fight the passing of time, she only hoped that he would understand it before any harm would come to him, his daughters still needed him, his counsel, his words and his affection, the queen still needed him, they were in the midst of their forty cycles, they've been together for more than twenty cycles and ruled just as much as king and queen of Asaroth, a sigh had escaped her lips as she pondered on her thoughts.

  "Your highness? " Solya whispered as she moved closer on the bed towards the queen. "Is something the matter? "

  The queen glanced at her handmaiden but was unsure of what she would allow her to know, she trusted the women as she helped raise all of her eldest daughters since she could not have ones of her own, but Lotara was still queen, and she could not afford to look weak, yet if she were to have a moment of weakness, she would rather be at her chambers, away from the eyes of the people she ruled and her court, thus she smiled lightly and shrugged her shoulders. "Being this old, I was hoping that our ventures had came to an end, to rule in boredom, pass down the throne and die of old age, but life had another plan for us, I only pray that no harm comes to my family. "

  Solya hummed as she listened thoughtfully them responded. "Well, I am certain no harm will reach them, it is not their first battles, and they are not alone, and as for you, your highness judgment had always been wise and truthful to what we believe as both Tatarians and Asarothians... Do not worry, each will find their way home, and we shall welcome them again, your highness."

  "Yes, I suppose. " Lotara smiled lightly, her burden slightly lightened by Solya's words, and as she handed Tavos back into Solya's arms, she heard a knock on the door frame and turned.

  "Your highness, I apologize for disturbing you but an urgent matter came up." Said her brother in law as he stood behind the curtains, and while he did not enter out of respect and courtesy, the queen despised it, for his crimson feline eyes shined in the darkness of the corridor the same as a Zator spirit eyes would.

  "Come in. " She ordered him and he obliged as she added. "What matter do you speak of? "

  He slipped through the curtains and his eyes were less menacing under the crackling fires on the walls, with a swift breath he explained. "There's... Unrest at the council, and it would be wise and appropriate if you address it, also the prince, Valerius, requested to be guest of the court as well... Though I do not think it is wise for such sensitive matters. "

  For a moment she thought he was right, as imperials noses dug in far too deep into their matters could bring nothing but trouble, but her rejection could show weakness and insecurity and she would not have that, she would not have the imperials believe that they are feared, after all there was no matter of severe importance that was to be discussed in courts, for they were kept behind closed doors. "Bring him in, give him a chair on the council, he shall be our guest until his departure... "

  "As you wish, your highness. " Her brother in law bowed his head and left quickly, leaving the queen and her children alone with their handmaiden.

  Lotara stood from the bed and quickly made her way to where her mirror was and sat, awaiting her handmaiden to arrive, a moment later she sat besides her and began changing her cloth, earrings and jewelry until Lotara looked like the queen she was known to be, dangling jade earrings, bracelets from elbow to wrist, purple and golden silks, and Tatarian oil to shine her onyx skin and beautify herself with its texture and scent, once she was ready, she slipped her feet into her slippers, they were painted and crafted with raw hide, not only they showed her prestige, they were also comfortable, she looked at herself one last time at the mirror, and smiled to herself, satisfied and content, she might have been similar to Northliem noble women, or Rolivian queens, both hard and sharp as metal, and unlike Folken, Sorren and Ortigea lady nobles, humiliated, too wrapped up in their gossip, scheming, swaying men and what not, she had her own merits and strengths as a queen, her word carried more weight than swords and demanded respect, and her beauty inspired others, or she believed and hoped it to be.

  Once all was done, she made her way to the throne room, three empty chairs besides her, she had already told herself not to ponder, and she would stay true to her own words, they were away but she still had a city to rule and a nation to protect, she seated herself and her eyes carefully scanned the court, her council, the tribes chieftains were all present except for chieftain Talim, whom seat was empty, and next to Azar she saw Valerius, dressed in a velvet doublet of a crimson color, matching his eyes and hair, though his pale skin was soaked, and as he nodded in gratitude towards her, she could not help but smile, the boy prince was having trouble adjusting to their land, and yet for a reason he decided to remain with whomever mercenaries he brought alongside him, she was intrigued, but her intrigue did not end there, as the doors of the throne room creaked open and Talim stormed inside, fuming, she sighed expecting the man to throw a fit over another lord, as he was too old and impatient.

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  "Chieftain Talim, I had not expected that you would call on the council, " She mocked. "If you have any unrest or concerns, you may relieve yourself of them, though I do urge you to... Respect the throne room."

  The man studied his surroundings, glancing at the guards and towards his fellow council men, then back at the queen, he was dressed in red robes, his skin too wrinkled and his short hair contrasted his skin, he took a small breath then exclaimed. "Your highness I am not here to relieve myself of any burden nor am I here to offend your throne, I simply have words to share with you on regards of the king's orders. "

  "Then do speak." She permitted him.

  "I understand the severity of our situation and the decisions of the king regarding the celestial beasts and the Gahrak. " He said. "but I ask you your highness, was it truly wise to send the princess with a hundred of the royal guards? "

  Her younger brother, Qudor, was quick to the response. "Are you questioning the king's judgment? "

  Talim shook his head then clarified. "I am simply not in agreement with sending our greatest warriors to fight the Gahrak on foreign land, the king had already set out to kill the celestials, and the Gahrak would naturally retreat without their presence, according to the warden words. "

  "Lord Talim, the imperials are not known for their patience. " She reminded him. "You cannot expect them to wait while the king carry out his task, and to the very least with our joint forces they would kill many of the Gahrak, so when things are back to order and the monsters return to our lands, there will be less of them, besides... The empire is rather tense when it comes to their gold. " She turned her eyes to Valerius."No offense intended. "

  Valerius smirked. "No offense taken. "

  "Still your highness. " Talim spoke. "a thousand Tatarian of the lesser tribes would have been more appropriate, they live in peace and prosperity because of our rule and the trade we brought... Yet they are idle and do nothing in return. "

  His words struck her nerve, but she did not lash out, she remained collected, gripping her hands into the throne hands then leaned ahead and addressed his words."They do nothing? Lord, may I remind you that they pay a yearly sum of silver from what they have, and protect our borders and scout our deserts, they are our people and they are doing their part no matter how small or big, and I will not have them dragged to foreign land unless I have no other choice."

  Talim huffed and spilled his words sharply. "But a hundred of our Tatar guards is different? "

  Farot whom was silent throughout the council, raised an eyebrow and questioned the older council chieftain. "Is this about your youngest? You do him a great deal of shame, he is a silent Tatar, those who battle without a word or a sound, the highest of the Tatar tasked with protecting the throne, he became one on his own will."

  Talim did not respond, and all became clear to Lotara, she recalled that his son was truly part of the Tatar guards, a great warrior who abandoned his tribe rights and followed the way of the silent Tatars, yet it left her in shock and disappointment, there was no honor in attempting to change the past and less honor in a selfish chieftain.

  "This was your concern? " She mocked him. "Your son? You have three other sons whom are well fed, taught and taken care of, and you're concerned about your youngest who chose to be where he is and blessed by the god of war and iron, you may have forgotten but your king and the two heirs of Asaroth are also fighting — I thought you came to show your concern of dealing with the imperials, which I would understand... But this? "

  She huffed and added. "You are selfish, if I bring back your boy I might as well bring back the other ninety-nine, and leave the soon to be queen Yemna defenseless, I should exile you from this council for—"

  "Yes your highness! You should exile me from this council! " He shouted. "For I had enough, I fought your king's war, and his father before him and his grand father before him, two of which was against imperial scum, scum like him who you have as a guest on your hall! Guest! "

  Qudor jumped up from his seat and shouted. "Watch your tongue! This is my sister— the queen you speak to!" his charge was stopped by Azar.

  Talim laughed and mocked. "You too, boy, when I killed my first you were nothing but sperm in your father's balls. " He turned his head to the queen and spat. "I will not fight battles for the imperials simply because the king thinks he can unite the Tatarians and the queen is far too weak to speak up! "

  "Weak? " She repeated, smiled and mocked him. "the only weakness I see is within my eyesight, in the form of a brittle, spiteful old man. "

  Talim eyes widened, he took off his Meteriod council bracelet and smacked it into the ground as he declared. "I had enough of your words! Tar lohar taram ne — Tigor yohar ye taradar e naradar! "

  The throne room fell silent, and the queen hands clenched into a fist, Talim had done the greatest taboo, since the rest of the Tatarians joined the empire, Asarothians had forbid the speech of the old tongue unless in a battle or one intend a great harm to another, and in Talim words, he challenged the throne, in a most vile way.

  "You await the departure of my husband... And the absence of my commander... Then you dare." She whispered under her lips, there was no honor in his challenge, and if he thought to fool her with trickery, he was the true fool, for she would not let his offense pass merely. "Then so be it! I shall oblige, when the third moon hover over the sun, three of your champions will face one of mine, but I warn you, if you lose, your tribe... Man, woman and child, will perish. "

  "And so will yours," Talim announced before turning to the doors and storming out.