*Puabi* The portal started to hum with activity, allowing us to know someone was coming towards us. The hunters positioned themselves ready to attack if need be. With Ashur doing his father's bidding, Zefer was all too glad to stand in his place. The hunter, Dath, was the first to come through the portal followed by my son, carrying Merna’s body. Blood was dripping onto the ground from Merna’s wounds. It was Zefer who acted promptly. Dath and Kudiya were injured but nothing but a bit of magic could not heal quickly. Dath was led to the mage that would tend to him while Kudiya went to search for his father. Following the mage who was carrying Merna, I planned on aiding in the healing process. Merna’s wounds were not minor. As much as I and the mage worked on Merna nothing was working. “Mistress, I need to go and get our head healer! Her lacerations are created by a curse, something I am not equipped to deal with.” Rushing out of the room, I continued to work, if anything I could try to slow down the bleeding while I waited for the head healer to get here. It felt like I had been waiting forever when I heard heavy stomping rapidly heading towards me. Busting threw the door Chaos rushed over to Merna. His eyes were wide open as he took in the scene for the first time. I explained everything, still working to the best of my abilities. “GET ME THE HEALERS!” Chaos roared. Chaos gently stroked his fingers threw Merna’s hair, “Kudiya get yourself cleaned up and report back to me.” “Yes sir!’ Kudiya appeared angered by his father's behaviour towards Merna. I shook my head slightly bringing my attention back to Merna. Waiting until I could no longer hear his footsteps, “He still has not accepted …” ‘He needs to grow up! Things are the way they are and you and I will never change.” Chaos was standing at full height, “You should have told me about Camile the second you found out she was your mate!” I was speechless for a long time, “I was convinced you would kill her!” “You provided many daughters and two strong sons!” He glared at me, “I would have allowed you to have her. It was not like you were in the woods to see her before my judgement. All you had to do was be honest with me!” He paused. This was the first time we had spoken to each other since the auction. “It would have saved us from a lot of drama! I am …” Huffing, “I do not want your apology, just learn from this drama and make sure it doesn’t happen again.” I nodded in agreement. I let out a sigh of relief when six healers rushed into Merna’s chamber ordering me to get out of the way, “Master, it would benefit us a great deal if you left the room so that we could get to work.” The Mage bowed in respect when Chaos agreed to their request. Directing his words to the mages, “Report back to me once you have finished working.” Chaos led me out of the area. ‘I owe Merna everything! She did what I could not do because I was a coward.’ I linked Chaos Not looking at me, “Have you completed your tasks?” “Until there is something that needs to be done, I am!” I replied. “Go back to your wife, I will let you know if there is anything that I need!” He told me. I bowed, “Yes Master!” *Master* I had paced the throne room until I spotted Kudiya entering and heading towards me. “Report?” I ordered Kudiya. “We were ambushed once we got to the void portal. They were waiting for us … in your domain father!” Kudiya spoke bitterly. “Dath and I were able to handle the majority of the war party, your pet was able to handle two of the attackers, but one of their mages had attacked. I can only assume that with everything that she has been doing, she was not able to handle the last attackers. She was pushed into a boulder and acquired her injuries.” I know that what Kudiya said was the short version of what happened. He was not a fool. When I am in a mood, the last thing I want is unnecessary chatter. After I find out the whole extent of Merna’s injuries, I will want a full report. “Dath?” I asked my son about his partner's injuries. “He is patching up his cuts as we speak now!” Kudiya sighed, “the issue is not the wounds, but how exhausted we are, your pet was relentless and would not break. Only long enough to find the next target and we were off again.” The corners of my mouth started to raise, “I noticed.” I told my son, “Get some rest, you have earned it!” I watched Kudiya turn and ready himself to leave, “Son … I am proud of the work you have done!” Kudiya bowed “I am here only to serve father!” Of all of my children, he was the one that needed the praise. It pained me that he was the one that was the weakest of my offspring. Yet he is by nature his mother’s soul. I frowned as I took my hand off of the notes that Dath had sent with the recruits. ‘He will be given one more chance to change his behaviour before I recorrect him myself!’ I thought bitterly to myself. Kudiya had done as he was told, keeping Merna out of trouble. Past that, he has shown ill will towards Merna and disrespected her as a consort. Even after she had shown herself capable of the tasks set in front of her. Kudiya still chooses a childish manner. ‘I will wait until Merna is awake to find out what punishment she would like to see him endure … if any at all!’ *Ashur* My group struggled a bit to move further down the Western continents. Even with the struggle we still were making progress. My father’s siblings were putting up a fight. They might have had more mages, but they were not as skilled as our mages. And the hunters were poorly matched against us. What also ended up being a surprise was that the elementals of other tribes joined in the fight. Yes, when it comes to brains my other family members usually succeed, this time they underestimated the power of unity. Studying the map of the landscape we had to make a decision. We had taken British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan. All the way down to the border of Mexico. We had a choice to make, head towards the East and see if our brethren need aid or take over Mexico. “Have we heard anything from the other groups?” I asked my advisors. One of the news ranking advisors spoke up, “Sadragon took over the Eastern coast with no troubles. I heard he was a monster along with the rest of the group. From what I also hear he has taken full control and marked the territory in the name of your father.” I started to laugh darkly, “That does not shock me at all, you should see his mate!” I announced to the group.Every head was bobbing, “We have seen what Pierre is capable of doing!” One advisor added to the conversation. Another joined in, “Sadragon’s mate would have to be as ruthless as him.” I rapped on the table three times, “We still have to make a decision, do we plant our feet here and make a base or move towards Mexico and kill more of the bastards?” “I say we hunt!” One of the advisors raised his hand. I did a once around, “Put your hands up if you want to go hunting!” I said to the group. I started to count the hands “Seven!” I looked at the two remaining individuals. “We are going to move further South and conquer the land.” The group pounded the table in agreement with what I had said. I placed my hand up in the air to silence the group, “Until we are told otherwise we will keep on going South until the trail runs dry!” Again everyone pounded the table in agreement. Everyone had left the location and started to pack up to leave. I glared at the advisor that remained, “General I see that you have an issue with the final verdict!” Keeping his stance neutral, “I am not questioning your skills, you are a great warrior among warriors. I am just wondering if your decisions are based on honour or the desire to please your father.” “Who would not want to please their father, the king, their ruler! I make my decisions based on what the others are capable of doing. If they are not tired and are willing to move forward, I will lead them.” I was confident in my skills and those that followed me. The general added, “Being a good leader also means telling those that follow you no and going on what is necessary judgement. You are being to rash with your commands and are not seeing the bigger picture. I have seen this many times with young aspiring leaders. Being rash with their movement will be the downfall of the army.” I slapped the General on the back. “I will remember what you said old dragon, I value your wisdom.” I started to clean up the mess. “If you should see danger before I do, be wise and point it out to me. Unlike my father, I do not mind listening to others. That is why you are here, to advise me on things I may not see!” I could tell that the general was not completely pleased with my decision. “I understand what you are warning me about. The journey is long, we will take our time … If it pleases you, we will take more breaks and search the land in great detail!” Saying this brought more relief to the old general. Patting my shoulder, “You are going to make an excellent lordship once your father allows you to command your own region.” “Maybe that is something the fates will grant me, right now I am basking in the blood of my enemies!” I started to bellow out with laughter, “There is more glory on the battlefield than sitting on a throne.”