Murmurs and gossip clouded the council room. Each chair around the Long Whisper table seated an elven lord, but there were two extra chairs as well. In one sat the human king of Varis, Evritt Dallin. The seat next to him was used by a silver-furred rabbit-folk, Aemor Greyblade. He ruled over the harekin nation of Southtail. Between the two nations and Long Whisper, they formed the Cypress Alliance. However, with one of the three kings missing, talks of war edged over the lips of the remaining rulers.

The double doors crashed open and Koda’s advisor, Tull, briskly walked in and slid into his chair. He took a moment to address the room. His once calm demeanor now showcased anxiety and angst. His nephew was in another Dragon Realm, within the clutches of an enemy, and his throne without an heir. These were dire times and now he was expected to rescue him.

Tull threaded his fingers through his long auburn hair. His eyes looked around nervously, unable to speak to his guests.

King Dallin rose from his chair. He knew Koda through his time fighting in the Varis War and gave both funding and engineers to help rebuild Lost Dawns after their riots two years ago. Koda was the heart of Long Whisper, and a land without a heart could lead to the death of a nation.

Evritt chose to start the meeting. “Acting Regent Tull Dawnedge, you called us here with much urgency. My spies within Estinia have alerted me that Koda has been taken prisoner. I ask you what you plan to do about this?”

A loud commotion of whispers erupted around the room between the elven lords. A furred fist pounded the table, instantly causing the voices to silence. “Let him speak!” Greyblade shouted. For his small frame, his voice carried much weight. He winked his one good eye to Tull. “Continue, lad.”

Tull nodded to the harekin. “I thank you all for coming with much haste. I know some of you traveled across Long Whisper to be here, as well as some of you across the Serpent Sea.” Tull swooped his hand around the table. “Again, I thank you all.”

“Get to the po—” Halar buttoned his lips after Greyblade gave him a menacing stare.

Tull waved off the rabbit king. “You all are wondering what I wish to do about our king’s perilous situation. I have thought about it for quite some time after Koda’s escort reported to me the horrible news. What should we do? Do we set off to war, demons on our heels, and demand our king back?”

Half the table hooted, with Greyblade as one of them.

“Or do we try a more diplomatic approach? Send a council of messengers and ask for the Div’Rah’s demands?”

The other half nodded, Dallin remained quiet.

“Koda has gone to war before in support of this alliance. It was a harsh burden for our people. Most never recovered. Can I call upon the elven lords to support me?” asked Tull, but he continued without seeking an answer. “And Koda attempted to seek a peaceful approach with the

Estinians and they threw him in a cell in return.”

“So what have you decided, Tull?” calmly asked Cass, “You have the support of the Baneberry tribe no matter which decision you choose. I haven’t betrayed Koda in the past and I won’t now!”

A silence held in the air. Each lord and king gripped their armrests in anticipation.

Finally Tull answered. “I have chosen war.”

“Hazaah!” hollered Greyblade. “As excited as I am to bash in more Estinian heads, I must warn you, I can not give you many troops. Southtail borders Estinia and the moment I send my full force away, that snake in the grass, Aric, will capture my capital without a thought.”

“I understand,” said Tull, slightly disappointed.

“But I plan on sending you a regiment of soldiers as well as my best drake riders,” added Greyblade. “Southtail's Skyborne troops never falter, and our drakes are the most fearsome creatures in the sky. We use them for recon missions as well as air support. An army isn’t ready without them.”

“Thank you, King Greyblade.” Tull turned to Evritt. “Will Varis aid us once more?”

Evritt smiled. “Varis will always aid Long Whisper. I will send a brigade of my finest men to bring Koda home.”

Tull nodded and looked onwards to the elven lords. “And the rest of you, does Long Whisper have your support?”

To the surprise of Tull, several of the lords raised a hand to their necks and nodded. Others shifted in their chairs uncomfortably and then nodded as well. None truly wanted this war, but all knew it was necessary.

Tull stood and raised his fist in pride. “I will be sure to report to Koda for all your bravery, my friends, but for now there is much to do. Cypress shall go to war with New Estinia!”

***

Lost Dawns bustled with energy and cheers as both the Varisian army and Southtail harekins marched down the streets. The emerald Cypress banners of the visiting nations waved in sequence with the cadence of rapping snare drums, each man and woman in sync with the beat of the parade.

As awe inspiring as the decorative armor of the Varisian cavalry appeared to be, it was the smartly dressed harekins that stole the show. Each harekin wore vibrant colored coats and matching cavalier hats. The hats were accented by long, bristled plumes of rare birds only found in the mountains of Southtail. No harekin unit triggered a reaction from the crowds quite like the Skyborne Military Operation.

Clad in the black in blue colors of the night, the harekins flew above the parade on the backs of large, green-scaled drakes. One by one they spun their drakes in death-defying aerial maneuvers that left the civilians below stunned and breathless.

“I’m not impressed.”

Kyzo snapped his head to the kanis that perched on a balcony railing.

“Not impressed?! There are dragons flying through the streets, and you aren’t impressed?”

Timber picked a wedge of last night’s dinner from her teeth before responding, “Dragons are just slightly bigger lizards. One well placed arrow can bring them down.”

Kyzo nearly fell over in laughter, but steadied his balance on the railing. “Do you hear yourself? One arrow can’t take down a dragon!”

Timber nocked an arrow into her bow. “Want to find out?”

Kyzo stifled a giggle, but then raised his brow in concern. “Wait, you’re serious?”

“You two, anything to report?” Lear peeked his head above the balcony.

Timber lowered her bow and looked over her shoulder. “Nothing out of the ordinary here, sergeant.”

“Besides the dragons!” added Kyzo, still bewildered by Timber’s relaxed demeanor.

Lear flattened himself against the tiled roof as a careening wing nearly took his head off. “Besides the dragons,” grumbled the yikahti.

***

Mave Silvertail lightly knocked on Major Newsun’s office door. She removed her cavalier hat and adjusted her navy blue cape. Her long rabbit ears twitched about as she patted down her black hair tied in the back with a braid. She heard ‘enter’ from the other side of the door and took in a long breath before walking into the room.

Wiccer sat at his large cherryoak desk, his brother’s old sword displayed on the mantle behind him. Elucard leaned with arms folded in the corner. He glared at the harekin as she strolled into the office.

“Mave Silvertail, Commander of the 1st SMO division, reporting in, sah.” She raised the edge of her hand to the tip of her brow in a smart salute and clicked her large rabbit heels together.

Wiccer returned the greeting with a small nod and motioned her to take a seat.

“The Skyborne Military Operations, correct?” aked Wiccer. He flipped through a packet of files. His eyes trailed from side to side as he read out loud, “Captain Mave Silvertail. Veteran of the Varis war. Ten years of honorable service as a drake rider and previously as a flight instructor.”

“Yes, sah,” Mave answered. Her eyes wandered around the decorated room, inspecting the bear skin rug, the beaded dune elven blankets hanging on the walls, and one forest elf leering at her.

Any ordinary person would cower under the weight of Elucard’s cold eyes. However, she was no ordinary person. She glared back at him, squinting one eye and widening the other in a fearsome stink eye.

Elucard scowled and looked away.

“You have requested to join a combat arms unit?” asked Wiccer.

Mave turned her attention back to the officer addressing her. “Yes, Major. I felt I wasn’t living up to my full potential as a flight instructor. So I enlisted into the SMO program with my brother.”

“What are the primary responsibilities of a drake rider?”

“We are mainly used for aerial combat against other riders and to give air support in battles. Honestly I’m surprised you ‘Longers’ did so well without our assistance,” she ended her answer with a chuckle.

“Well what does a unit specializing in reconnaissance, deceit, and unconventional warfare have to do with riding the backs of cumbersome dragons?” said Elucard. His tone was flat, coming out more as an insult than an actual question.

“Cumbersome!?” the harekin scoffed. “You are asking for a walloping ya long-eared elf!”

Elucard smirked and patted his sheath. “I kill rabbits on a daily basis.”

Mave kicked away her chair and grinned wickedly. “Then we duel at noon!”

Wiccer slapped down on his desk. “No one’s dueling anyone. You two are to get along!” The major addressed Elucard without bothering to look at him. “Southtail has graciously given us their most experienced SMO unit to train a select team of our own men. I leave you to hand pick them, Elucard.”

“Select? Why not all of us? We are going to war, we’ll need our full force.”

Mave raised her chin. “I see they don’t keep miscreants like yourself in the loop.”

Elucard narrowed his eyes, but ignored the rabbit’s jab. “What exactly is ARO’s role in this war?”

Wiccer stood and walked to his fireplace. “We want you to drop behind enemy lines, secure key points ahead of the army, and then eventually rescue our king.”

Elucard nodded. All things he’s trained his men for. “We can do all that, but what do you mean by drop?”

“That is where we come in.” Mave patted her chest with pride. “You’ll be jumping from our cumbersome dragons onto the ground.”

Elucard raised an eyebrow.

“Not quite, Captain Silvertail,” said Wiccer.

“Excuse me, sah?” Mave said with confusion scrawled on her face.

“You’ll be dropping with them, I want this a joint effort,” explained Wiccer. “I read in your files the SMO are also trained in dropping behind enemy lines to cause mayhem for the opposing forces.”

“Aye, Major, and we are quite good at it too.”

“We can do this on our own, Wiccer,” pleaded Elucard.

“It’s Major, and you will not,” snapped Wiccer, “I am ordering you to work with Captain Silvertail.”

“We’re not part of the command structure,” spat Elucard. “We only take orders from our own. You can tell your regulars what to do when they fight on the battle lines, but the night attacks in the shadows are ARO’s realm, and we don’t take orders from you,” finished Elucard with a dark sneer.

Wiccer’s rage fueled eyes glared at the insubordinate Elucard. “You dare make me look like a fool?” Wiccer whispered low enough to not be caught by the harekin. “You should be so grateful I stayed in the army at all after the stunt you pulled two years ago. You’ll never run from that as long as I breathe, Elucard.”

Under his mask, Elucard opened his mouth, but said nothing.

“The high and mighty Kingslayer; without me you would have been dangling from the gallows years ago. Do not forget that,” Wiccer growled. He brought his face closer to Elucard’s and smiled. “Is that clear, Captain?”

Elucard flared his nostrils with the urge to maim his former friend, but he pushed his emotions to the back of his mind once again to lower himself to his superior. “Crystal, Major.”

Wiccer gathered his composure. “You will select a squad of your best men and introduce them to Silvertail’s unit.” Wiccer spoke in a normal volume now.

Elucard saluted and stormed out of the office.

“Cheery lad, isn’t he?” smiled Mave.

“The cheeriest,” replied Wiccer dryly.