Kara’s mask of indifference slightly slipped and she wrinkled her nose in disgust at the crude comment the boy had made as she continued to walk into the training room as if nothing had been said.

“Apologies Jeff, I needed to attend to some urgent matters and have only just been able to return.” said Kara with forced politeness.

A young boy around the same age as her, wearing dark blue training leathers was swinging a heavy wooden sword wildly at a straw training dummy. His red fox ears and bushy tail stood in stark contrast from his attire and his long blond hair fluttered in the wind caused by his cumbersome movements.

“That's young master to you, wolf bitch!” scowled the boy casting a threatening glance over his shoulder and smirking.

“... Young master of the Sun Clan please can you refrain from using such vile language where others can hear, they may misinterpret it as you lacking in etiquette especially when in another's home,” replied Kara in a strained voice as she silently ground her teeth.

“They are only guards and servants. If they speak malicious rumours then they will simply forfeit their lives. Anyway who would listen to the words of a commoner over a noble like myself.” chuckled the boy while prolonging his words in a slow and dumb manner as if he was teaching a young child to speak. “This is why no one respects you stupid wolves or your clan… not even your servants know their place.”

“Says the ones who lost the last two wars even though they used every dirty trick known.” snapped Kara before biting her tongue and mentally berating herself. They would soon be allies and the past needed to be put behind them if it was to have any chance of lasting.

The boy’s face turned scarlet at the insult. “This is an age where brains will always win over brawn. You may be the strongest fraction on the continent but the day is close when you will fall and we, the Moon Clan will be there waiting.”

**COUGH**

“Young Master, I believe your father has already warned you about talking like that.” interjected an old white-haired servant that had been hidden towards the side of the room in one of the many shadows.

The Moon Clan was indeed considered the strongest and most wealthy fraction in existence. So much so that kingdoms and empires not only acknowledged them as equals but often sort their counsel and support in any international matters or more commonly, conflicts.

Like all things people covet, their influence and riches had made them a lot of enemies with the Sun Clan being one of the biggest and problematic.

Their battle prowess birthed a saying amongst the common people that ‘when the Moon clan marched, even the dawn would retreat’ which was also an indirect joke at the expense of the Sun Clan. They had never won a physical confrontation against the moon Clan and nearly always opted to retreat instead of face them in open battle.

In the past when they were on the main continent they had been exceptional allies and were known as being the only ones that had been able to stand up to the power of the dragon kingdoms and demon hordes.

The Sun Clan had handled information and espionage while the Moon Clan was the sword and shield. However once their mutual enemies fell from prominence and scattered to the wind, as well as the relocation to the Nevesh content with its scarce resources, the alliance rapidly fell apart.

The Sun Clan were extremely secretive and adept at picking their battles enabling them to avoid the devastating superior forces of the Moon Clan while the Moon Clan was too powerful to use covert or underhand means effectively against resulting in a very long war of attrition that had substantially weakened both sides to the point of collapse.

Finally, after so much time, both sides had enough and decided to try for peace and the chance to rekindle their former glory.

The first major step on this road was the political marriage of the Moon Clan's first princes to the next successor of the Sun Clan once again uniting the families and hopefully starting the long process of reconciliation.

A year after the initial armistice, the time of the wedding had come and the Sun Clan's main family, as well as an honour guard of a few hundred, were now residing in the heart of the Moon Clan’s territory as if it was their own.

Strangely enough, breaking from a tradition where the bride and family would travel to the groom’s household, the Sun Clan had requested that the marriage be held at the Moon Clan's fortress.

They said that this was a sign of respect as the princess would be living with them from now and she would not be able to see her family often. This was hastily accepted as it was seen as the safer option, however, Alz felt it was because they didn't want them to know where the Sun fortress was.

The Moon Clan’s fortress was located on the southern coast along the Darklands mountain range south of the Tellvinai basin and apart from the human city of Alzor was considered the strongest on the continent.

The Sun Clan’s fortress location was still unknown but rumoured to have been relocated to a small island off the western coast that was constantly shrouded in fog.

“Shall we spar for a bit?” asked Kara as innocently as she could while picking up a light wooden sword. She had enough of the insults and wanted a little payback.

Without an acknowledgement or anytime to prepare the boy suddenly launched a barrage of rapid attacks with the obvious aim to seriously injure, if not kill the young girl.

Without the slightest hesitation at the brutal attack, Kara stepped to the side and elegantly rotated her waist, avoiding the simple attack before lightly tapping the back of Jeff’s head as he passed and retaking her battle stance. “1 - 0.”

The Moon Clan lived and breathed for battle. From the age of 3, they were thrown into a seemingly brutal training regime that would even put a spartan to shame. When they were not training they were bonding with each other and combine with their natural pack instinct, made them almost unstoppable as a large battle force however it was in one on one combat that they truly excelled.

Jeff growled in frustration as he stood and once again launched himself at Kara attempting to use his strength and agility to overpower her before being once again being hit on the back of the head. This time the force used was greatly increased and his face heavily smashed into the floor.

“2 - 0. Want to give up?” Smiled Kara in a mocking tone. -”What goes around comes around you stupid brat.”

Roaring in anger the boy raised himself off the floor and flung a handful of sawdust that was sprinkled across the floor to enhance the grip on the stone floor at Kara's face.

Kara had not anticipated the sneak attack and had not closed her eyes in time. Staggering backwards she felt a sharp pain hammer into her arm causing her to let out a little whimper before a small, magically reinforced foot made contact with her stomach sending her flying backwards and crashing into the floor.

“Hahahah not so tough are you! You wolfs are pathetic always going on about honor and your ‘natural’ strength.” roared Jeff completely ignoring the score and his underhand methods.

Staggering to her feet, Kara wiped a dribble of blood that had leaked from her mouth and blinked her eyes trying to clear them.

Wanting to push his advantage Jeff lunged forward aiming his wooden sword and the girl's jade like, tender neck.

The sword whistled through the air with killing intent but just as it was about to make contact Kara suddenly stamped off the floor with her opposite foot causing her to spin and the sword missed by a hair's width. Using the momentum of the spin and an arm to keep her red dress from revealing too much of her legs, her foot made contact with the stunned boys cheek and sent him spiraling into the floor with a sickening thud before bouncing a couple of feet away.

Upon regaining her footing, without looking she immediately threw her sword, tip first at the dazed boy cradling his face. Before it could make contact with his head, the old servant from earlier appeared seemingly out of nowhere and caught it in an elegant manner before giving a slight bow.

“Miss, I believe this spar is over and continuing it further would be considered… provocative.” said the servant in a mockingly over respectful manner.

“Seb kill that fucking bitch!” screamed Jeff while holding onto his broken nose and swelling cheek.

“Young master, please forgive me but this is not the time or place. Please be patient.”

The servants response caused Karas brows to furrow. -”What a weird response. He must be humouring him so he doesn't suffer his wrath.”

Helped to his feet, Jeff glared at Kara with animosity in his eyes.

“Uncle said that once he is done, I will be allowed to play. Look forward to it wolf bitch!” spat the bloodied boy as he marched out of the room followed by his servant.

The uneasy feeling that had been troubling Kara throughout the day now reached its peak and she quickly made her way out of the training room and down the corridor. -”I need to see father, something doesn't feel right.”