The Whirlock ascended below the rocky path where Isadora stood. Smoke was coming from its nostrils after setting the wall ablaze. She stretched her hand to touch his muzzle, and contrary to other beasts, his was freaking hot she had to withdraw.

"You’ve grown," she whispered and the dragon quivered as if acknowledging her compliment. His scales had grown sharper and his eyes dangerously red. She was not here to admire him but rescue her husband. With two swift steps, she boarded the Whirlock and urged it up.

The dragon let out a cry and flapped its enormous wings leaving a cloud of dust where it had landed. Even the waters marvelled at its presence as the boat Isadora had pushed into the river flipped over. Three flaps of Whirlock and Isadora was high in the sky. She could have a bird’s eye view of the Arcadian city, the commotion as Arcadian knights lined themselves to rain arrows on her dragon. But these were not her concern.

The keep was located at the northern most part of the city, and there, flames were dancing. A sign that Alexander was still alive, a sigh she drew. But for how long?

The dragon stayed airborne as Isadora surveyed the city, patiently waiting for her command. And when she urged him forward, he descended on the Arcadian army, somersaulting in the sky to avoid the arrows. Isadora nearly lost grip of his back.

"Burn them All!" The Whirlock breathed a line of fire turning walking men into nothing but screaming corpses. His fire, so deadly, it turned flesh to dust, and bone alike. Whatever would be left of the honor of the Arcadians to Felista would be a pulp of ashes, and Isadora had vowed to do just that.

With the wall completely destroyed, Isadora headed for the palace. The locals marvelled at the huge size of the dragon and scattered away in fear. So large was the beast that it’s shadow covered a whole half of the city. Even archers ready to loose their arrows trembled at his presence only to be reduced into ashes in their dazed state.

There were spots of fire everywhere in the city. Felista stood on the tower’s keep staring at the damage Isadora had caused. She was coming, yet she didn’t flinch. On the other side, Alexander had burnt a better part of the castle. Was it a bad idea to assassinate the couple? The One, she sighed.

"Your Majesty," a general reported,"we’ve lost a great deal of our knights and the hired knives are all dead. The Valorian king is burning anyone at plain sight, even women!"

Felista swallowed a lump at that. She’d not be spared either.

"And my daughter?"

"She’s still unconscious, and in her room."

She made her calculations but all she could see was death. A city, a damn whole city, subdued by two people.

"How... how long till the poison works?" She asked even though she already knew the answer. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

"The poison we gave him was the deadliest. It usually takes minutes to bring a man down, but alas, it’s been hours Your Majesty. I... I think the poison strengthened him more."

Sad, but true, she thought. Who would have thought a simple task such as driving a dagger through Alexander would cost this much?

"General Frank. You’ve served my husband and the king before him." He nodded in acknowledgement. "If you were in my place, what would you have done?"

"Tough question..." He said scratching the back of his neck.

"For a tough man," she pointed.

"I’d surrender Your Majesty, and offer to join this empire."

"Do you think Alexander would be kind enough to let see another day?"

"I don’t know about the king, but the Arcadian queen might. Living in the stinky dungeon would be her greatest kindness I presume." He saw her turn, irritated by the idea.

"The last option is to escape," he added.

"What’s a queen who flees her city and leaves the citizens to perish? Where is the honor in that?"

"This is not about the citizens and honor, it’s about you, My Lady. For the honor I have for you and your house, I ask of your unconditional surrender." She heard him draw his sword.

A smirk escaped Felista’s lips. So the men swore to her would betray her just to spare their lives?

"Roselyn would like it if you’d surrender. Do you think she’ll be all smiles when she wakes up?"

That cut deeper than a double edged sword. Roselyn wanted Arcadia to join the empire but Felista wanted to rebel. And she did everything behind her daughter’s back.

"Do you think she’ll be happy when she knows you caused Sir Brandon’s and Lord Newton’s death?"

Veins popped on her forehead when the dragon flew above the keep. All these crimes she had committed in the name of protecting the kingdom and her daughter but instead, she had destroyed the kingdom and hurt her daughter in the most inhumane way. Roselyn already loathed her, what would she make of her now?

"Tell Isadora... ," she wiped a tear that rolled down her face, "tell Isadora the city is hers, and so am I."

"You do not tell a person seated on a dragon’s back, you show." And so Felista was chained by her own sworn knights and paraded in front of the keep for Isadora to see.

The Whirlock landed on the tower of the keep, its muzzle sniffing a kneeling Felista. She closed her eyes tightly and only when Isadora climbed off did he whirl in the skies circling around the castle.

"The Arcadian and Crescian armies will be here soon," Isadora announced. "Don’t you dare do something stupid." Who knew it could be another of Felista’s trap.

"The queen is yours to do with as you like, my lady." The commander assured.

"Please the whole household here. I want them charged of their crimes," she said. "Where can I find my husband?"

The generals looked at each other, and it frustrated Isadora.

"In the dungeons my lady," she left. "I’d advise you to be careful...