[Carnelia] I wake to the sound of gentle snoring. The air is dry and crisp, but I am warm. Wrapped around me, Primus is in dragon form, his body protecting me from all sides, secure within a nest of pillows that he must have created while I was asleep. I don’t know how long I rested, but my body feels heavy with the ache of my struggle and the exhaustion of deep sleep. If I close my eyes, I can almost imagine that we are home in Ridgewood Keep, but then I remember the day before, and I know that we are far from home and far from true safety. There is a faint smell of dust and disuse that crinkles the edges of my nose as I inhale deeply. Sneezing, I feel a small shuffle to my right as my dragon protector opens a single eye. Smiling, I place a reassuring hand on his side, smooth

[Eleanora] Primus has disappeared. The rumor is that he has gone insane with the news of the death of his human pet. The one he dared make a princess. When his sister not only shared the news of his beloved's demise, she poisoned his mind, if not his body, with insanity. In a fit of rage, he created his own tomb, one where he now lies trapped somewhere between the surface and eternity. Without a body, I find myself weeping over an empty grave, surrounded by the lovely courtiers who would have made up my queen's court when I officially took my place by his side as his wife. I had declared him mine before the high council, so even though our wedding had not been consummated, the bans have been read, and my body bears the marks of what should have been our wedding tattoos, a mixture of

[Segundus] “My Liege,” two knights bow before me. The one speaking is quivering with fear while the second knight remains prostrated before the throne, his head arms and chest flat against the cold, hard, slate floor. The first knight hesitates. He knows he has to deliver bad news, I can tell by the stink of fear emanating off of him and how his body collapses when he kneels before me, his head tapping the floor.  “Report,” my voice is neutral, my face is blank, but I’m already seething. I am glad my queen is not here to see what will happen next, because I cannot promise I can contain my anger once whatever this worm has to say has come spilling from his lips like rancid food. 

[Primus] No matter what I try, I cannot keep her warm. Carnelia is shivering, her whole body shaking, and I’m not sure what I can do, other than hold her, to help calm her body. She needs food, water, and rest, things she cannot get while we are trapped inside of this secret cavern waiting for the Imperium forces to forget us. Which of course they never will. I send out a thread of thought to my mother through our bands. Through her I get a sense that our babies are safe, which is a relief, but that she is also worried about us, unable to get to us as she is. If Carnelia were just able to transform into her

[Carnelia] “AHHHH!” I scream in joy as Queen Cressida stomps into the room. “PRIMUS THELONIUS MAJERE!” his mother sounds stern. “Of all the ridiculous places to land, you bring your mate HERE! Are you insane?” “Ah, Mother,” he replies calmly, unphased by the anger of his mother who glows like a vengeful goddess. “I’m glad you found us. I was worried when you didn’t respond. I’ve been trying to contact you for days.” “I was where you should have been, at home in the Celestial Kingdom, making sure your babies were secure. I’ve