Venla stood nervously outside the closed doors of Queen Aiko's private conference room. She and the queen were on fairly good terms, ever since the bookkeeper had been tasked with keeping track of Deargard's entire history. Still, it always made her heart race whenever she was back in the palace.
The thick oak doors suddenly opened, and a palace guard stepped out. He met Venla's eye and nodded.
"Come, her majesty is ready for you."
Venla stepped slowly into the room, and found Aiko sitting in a chair at the back of the room. The queen nodded at the guard, and he left without a word. Venla felt herself get more excited as the queen gave her her full attention, but she noticed Aiko's worried expression and realized they were not here to socialize.
"What I am about to tell you must not leave this room," Aiko's said, somewhat sternly.
Venla nodded. "Of course."
Aiko gave her a look of approval, then continued.
"Deargard may be going to war. A territory that we have political interest in - Clan Starsky, you may know of it - has been attacked by Tenebris and her armies. Without outside support, Starsky may fall and Tenebris may choose to invade other territories, ourselves included."
Venla frowned. She had heard of Starsky, but not this dragon Tenebris.
"What would you like me to do?" Venla asked.
"You have good penmanship, as you've proved to me countless times before," Aiko replied. "I'd like to write a letter of support to Starsky and its people. Would you be able to transcribe it if I tell you what to write?"
Venla nodded eagerly. "Yes, I can do that."
---
"An open letter to Ryder and the citizens of Clan Starsky:
The Kingdom of Deargard hears your cries for help in your time of need, and stands by you against the threat to your freedom. We have heard the reports of Tenebris' evil, and are outraged that such treatment is being inflicted upon you. Should you desire it, Deargard hereby offers to rally its armies and come to your aid. There is no catch, this is an offer of good faith from one territory to another. May the gods stand with you, and may you remain hopeful and strong despite it all.
Queen Aiko I of Deargard and her people."
The thick oak doors suddenly opened, and a palace guard stepped out. He met Venla's eye and nodded.
"Come, her majesty is ready for you."
Venla stepped slowly into the room, and found Aiko sitting in a chair at the back of the room. The queen nodded at the guard, and he left without a word. Venla felt herself get more excited as the queen gave her her full attention, but she noticed Aiko's worried expression and realized they were not here to socialize.
"What I am about to tell you must not leave this room," Aiko's said, somewhat sternly.
Venla nodded. "Of course."
Aiko gave her a look of approval, then continued.
"Deargard may be going to war. A territory that we have political interest in - Clan Starsky, you may know of it - has been attacked by Tenebris and her armies. Without outside support, Starsky may fall and Tenebris may choose to invade other territories, ourselves included."
Venla frowned. She had heard of Starsky, but not this dragon Tenebris.
"What would you like me to do?" Venla asked.
"You have good penmanship, as you've proved to me countless times before," Aiko replied. "I'd like to write a letter of support to Starsky and its people. Would you be able to transcribe it if I tell you what to write?"
Venla nodded eagerly. "Yes, I can do that."
---
"An open letter to Ryder and the citizens of Clan Starsky:
The Kingdom of Deargard hears your cries for help in your time of need, and stands by you against the threat to your freedom. We have heard the reports of Tenebris' evil, and are outraged that such treatment is being inflicted upon you. Should you desire it, Deargard hereby offers to rally its armies and come to your aid. There is no catch, this is an offer of good faith from one territory to another. May the gods stand with you, and may you remain hopeful and strong despite it all.
Queen Aiko I of Deargard and her people."