Silvian hadn't felt fear for years. Fear was for little children and cowards, he was neither. But when he heard his guards call that he had all too familiar visitors, he let a shiver lose, only a small one though. Silvian knew he had to gather himself up before the dreaded encounter.
From beside him, his little daughter looked up at him questioningly.
"Off now little one," He said, patting her head. She pouted as children do, fiddling with the fabric of her court dress.
"But father…" She whined.
"Now," Silvian commanded, adding more softly, "Go play with your sister."
She stood up and walked away looking kinda slumped, her footsteps echoed up the hall.
"Lord should I let them in," The guard nearest to him whispered.
Silvian nodded, putting a poker face on, he moved his feet on his great chair. He was prepared to meet them.
The door slipped open letting on a sliver of bright light, They snaked through the door, great black cloaks hid them from his eyes. Their feet tread so softly there were no clicks of heels or bellowing of boots. He watched grimly as fate approached, with the bad news they might bring.
They stopped five meters in front of him. They slipped their hoods off, they looked how they had before, cropped silky whitish hair crowning their sweet faces. They were identical except for their shining eyes, one set was glowing red and the other piercing blue.
"Welcome Ruby and Saphie," Silvian said lightly.
They bowed their heads.
"Greetings lord Silvian," Saphie said, her voice still juvenile, even though it had been many years since she last visited. It rang through the silent hall.
"No news of ill bearings, I hope."
"That depends, Lord," Ruby paused, "What is considered ill." His voice was nearly identical to his sisters.
"Indeed it does tell me what I must know."
"In a short time a new creature will emerge," Saphie mused.
"This creature is called Human," added Ruby.
Silvian considered this information. "Does a Human have long fangs and scuffle around? Will humans cause great harm?"
"Humans are intellectual, brutal but resilient."
Silvian nodded slowly, another intelligent creature. This was going to be a problem.
"Is that all?" Silvian asked.
"There will be twenty of them, warriors among them, as well as craftspeople and their offspring," Ruby said with an amount of sadness.
"I would hope Silvian, that you accept this," Saphie said and both turned in unison. They began to walk away, just as silently as they had entered.
"You mustn't tell Herence" Silvian called after them, neither looked back. Silvian sighed deeply.
Silvian sat silently, deep in thought. When the door peeled open once more, Silvian's head snapped up.
Though it fluttered a small black-winged creature. It flitted lazily around the pillars before diving downward. It landed in front of him, observing him carefully.
A black aura enveloped it, swirling larger, as it cleared a girl stood in the place of the creature.
"Hello Silvian," She said coolly.
She looked the same after all the time that had passed since Silvian had seen her last. Pretty and lithe. Brown hair spiralling down around her. She had combed it so it surrounded her face but even still it did not hide her eyes, which glowed blue in the hall.
"Heratta," Silvian inclined his head slightly, she copied this motion.
He relaxed, had old Herrence sent a son, he might be proclaiming war. But Heratta, his youngest and only daughter, most likely brought nothing more than a message.
"What information do you bring?" Silvian inquired.
"My father, Herance, wishes to continue peace talks and negotiations," She replied, Silvian smiled, so he didn't yet know about the coming creatures.
"Of course."
Heratta narrowed her eyes. She began to disintegrate back into her creature form.
"SILVIAN."
The doors slammed open, and through them clambered a massive dragon. His eyes glowed brilliant white. He crawled his way through the all to narrow hallway until he was in front of Silvian. His tail flicked back and forth dangerously.
"Father?" Heratta gasped.
"Leave us," He said, then added more gently, "Fly home."
A bit of fear for the second time today trickled up Silvian's back.
"Herence, what brings you here at such an hour?" He quipped calmly.
Herence watched his daughter depart before answering.
"Let us cut such courtesies," Herence growled "You know why I'm here."
"Indeed," Silvian replied, "Let me see your face."
Herence sighed and began to melt, once the scales had all but disappeared all that was left was a young figure. He smirked a little bit in a self-satisfied way. After all not everyone could shift into a dragon.
"Age has graced you," Herence remarked.
"We hardly age at all here."
"It will be very interesting to see those humans age won't it," Herence mused dangerously. "Unless of course, you desire destruction before they flourish."
The atmosphere was tense, Silvian already knew it was Herence's will to toy with the human creatures.
"We both know that you are not interested in preserving life," Silvian said carefully.
"I'm flattered that you think me such a villain when you yourself are ready to destroy," Herence said, angry, "If that is your will then prepare your armies."
"War then, over this matter, very well the Endom nation has no fears, we will crush you."
"Expect us soon then, and mark my words you will not win this time."
"We will see to that!"
Herence turned to leave with a hefty sigh.
"I can see we will get nowhere," He said softly, "but Silvian, we are honourable, we leave our children out of this, your daughter is nearly as old as my own and although I care little for your life it would be a shame to waste hers."
"Is that all you have to say?!" Silvian demanded.
"For now," He said. He shifted back into a dragon.
"Goodbye Silvian" He growled. Spreading his wings, he crashed through the hall.
Waiting until the sounds of wing beats faded, Silvian sighed deeply. How did he always come to war? He would have to call his daughters down now and tell them what he had done.
"Madisontia! Emilena!"