Amanda, twenty-four years old and Beya of Xenodar, is helping train her brother's soldiers when a page informs her that a Rellugai messenger from Genbak Khan has arrived. As Genbak is her liege lord, Amanda immediately departs the training field for her audience hall.
Once Amanda is seated upon her ornate chair, the messenger is admitted to the audience hall. The young man bows.
"Excellency, I bring the words of your lord, Genbak Khan." Amanda gives the formulaic reply.
"I will hear the words of my lord." Strangely, the messenger takes a deep breath before reciting his message. The reason becomes immediately clear, though.
"'A dragon has come upon the steppes. It is killing goats, horses, and men. I have immediate need of your sorcery to deal with the monster.'" Amanda works to conceal her surprise--and fear. "Excellency, I am required to take your answer back, immediately." Amanda takes a deep breath of her own.
"Inform my lord that Xenodar is coming." The messenger bows and departs. The door closes, leaving her alone in the hall.
Still seating, Amanda begins a meditation to calm her spirit. She opens her eyes as the sound of the door opening again, and sees Xenograg enter. He sees her pale complexion, and walks all the way up to his daughter's chair.
"That bad?" Her nod is almost a quiver.
"A dragon, father." The sides of Xenograg's eyes twitch, and he grunts. He pauses before continuing.
"What are you going to do first?" Amanda knows her father is not being cruel, but is instead pushing her to focus on the problem at hand; it still hurts, though. She takes another deep breath, and another.
"I need to know what I am dealing with. I will use the Hall of Dreaming." Xenograg smiles in approval.
"Good thinking. May I join you?"
"Please! I was about to ask."
"I will go prepare the hall. Come when you are ready."
Once Amanda is seated upon her ornate chair, the messenger is admitted to the audience hall. The young man bows.
"Excellency, I bring the words of your lord, Genbak Khan." Amanda gives the formulaic reply.
"I will hear the words of my lord." Strangely, the messenger takes a deep breath before reciting his message. The reason becomes immediately clear, though.
"'A dragon has come upon the steppes. It is killing goats, horses, and men. I have immediate need of your sorcery to deal with the monster.'" Amanda works to conceal her surprise--and fear. "Excellency, I am required to take your answer back, immediately." Amanda takes a deep breath of her own.
"Inform my lord that Xenodar is coming." The messenger bows and departs. The door closes, leaving her alone in the hall.
Still seating, Amanda begins a meditation to calm her spirit. She opens her eyes as the sound of the door opening again, and sees Xenograg enter. He sees her pale complexion, and walks all the way up to his daughter's chair.
"That bad?" Her nod is almost a quiver.
"A dragon, father." The sides of Xenograg's eyes twitch, and he grunts. He pauses before continuing.
"What are you going to do first?" Amanda knows her father is not being cruel, but is instead pushing her to focus on the problem at hand; it still hurts, though. She takes another deep breath, and another.
"I need to know what I am dealing with. I will use the Hall of Dreaming." Xenograg smiles in approval.
"Good thinking. May I join you?"
"Please! I was about to ask."
"I will go prepare the hall. Come when you are ready."