"We have enlisted Sirs Balian, Elys, Gabriel, and Gervaise to travel with you." Queen Ennis informed her son in the stables. "Do you wish to add any more knights to the party?"

"No, the five of us should be plenty. Gather the men, and we'll look over the map. We should be gone by this time tomorrow." Xavier ran his hand along his horse's mane.

"I really do wish you wouldn't go along."

"It's a simple search and rescue mission, Mother." Xavier undid the reigns. "I'll be fine."

"But this 'search and rescue' mission involves a dragon, Xavier. A dragon!"

"Yes, and as long as we have the Singer, it should be fine. This isn't up for debate, if you have a problem, talk to Father."

"Xavier, it's still too dangerous. This isn't just a dragon, it also involves a sorceress. We don't know her, she could kill you!"

"Then there would be no heir. I don't care, Mother. I'm going and you can't stop me."

Queen Ennis shook her head and adjusted Xavier's fur-lined cloak. She set her hand on her son's horse's head. "Make sure you take this horse then. She'll keep you safe."

"Of course. I'm going to fetch the food from Theresa."

Xavier walked through the castle grounds, waving at the knights as he passed the training grounds. He watched as Sir Gervaise demonstrated a parry and thrust to the new, aspiring knights. Callenda was right on their tail, ready to strike, for reasons unknown to Xavier, (his father wouldn't tell him.)

In about a month, the royal family of Yna, the Quillsnakes, would be meeting with the queen of Callenda, Vana Eeiress. The young queen had only been in power for four years, and had somehow become the most feared ruler in the four kingdoms of Therasia, Yna, Callenda, Physia, and Allenja. Vana was ruthless, unforgiving, which made it quite the surprise when she agreed to meet with the Quillsnakes in order to form an alliance between the two kingdoms.

Xavier shuddered at the thought of what the alliance would entail, most likely an arranged marriage between Vana and himself. He had met her only once, when her father was still in power, and she had him so shaken up, he vowed to protest against any sort of interaction with her.

"My Lord." A voice behind him made him jump. He wheeled around to see Rhys Geûld the court physician, with an older woman, whom Xavier could only place as the Geûld mother, and another young man who looked almost exactly like Rhys, except this man's eyes were not the caring, gentle blue of Rhys, but hard, steely, bright green that bored right through Xavier.

"Rhys, I didn't expect you so soon. Lian said you'd be gone for a month and a half. It's only been one."

"My Lord, this is my mother, and one of my younger brothers, Caius. Would you be so kind as to permit them to stay here in Viâna? They'll find work, and they'll stay in my chambers until they can find housing in the citadel." Rhys put his arms over the shoulders of his mother and brother.

"Of course they can stay. They will be offered jobs and chambers in the castle. I'll take you to my father and we'll get you situated here." Xavier blinked. "But why do you need to stay here? What about Ithia?"

"Because a wild fire started in the fields and it- it spread and burnt the whole town into dust. Ithia's gone."

A/N: Yes, I did take the name Pendragon and use synonyms to come up with Quillsnake. Yes, it's a play on Arthur/Uther Pendragon.