Rimes vision was spinning when they appeared next to the capitals massive gold fountain, he leaned on his knees and took deep breaths as he tried to keep himself from throwing up, he ha never teleported before and now he wished he never had, he wondered what was so wrong with taking a carriage. He hadn’t even notice Cyra who was stumbling around nearly falling face first to the ground, the Mage having to hold her shoulders until she got her bearings.

When they looked like they would live the Mage chuckled “I honestly thought you two would handle my transportation spell better but I guess you can’t be good at everything, unlike me, oh well, now that the two of you seem okay we must be on our way.” He patted his student’s backs and smiled at them before walking ahead.

Rime sighed and took his sisters hand so they could follow along, he wondered where they were, he was pretty sure he had never been around here before, in fact he had never been far from the Academy since he had started his studies and that was a little over two years ago. So he didn’t really know much about the place he had been living in for such a long time.

They had been walking for a few minutes when he stopped in his tracks Cyra letting out a small gasp, they were both staring up at a massive gold palace, the highest point stretching into the sky. The palace was made of several tall towers that stretched into the sky, lined off as if you could jump from the center tower down to the other but that were far apart connect by golden buildings that shined in the light.

They could hear the mage chuckle as he walked back to stand next to them “you looked awe struck and I want to do something wipe that stupid look off your face so I’ll tell you a secret. Everything you see there is made of thick marble but they had a lot of gold melt down and put a very thin coat of it over the structure, but then again even if you took that layer off I could buy you a trillion times over and you’re a rare being all together.”

Rime scowled at the Mage and he smirked at him “now that that’s done with we must be on our way, there’s lot to be seen today and please when we enter the council hall don’t gawk it’s embarrassing, act as if you’ve lived in the place your whole lives and that goes for the both of you, got it?” Rime and Cyra nodded and the Grand Mage looked them over before continuing on their way.

When they reached the gate they were stopped by a guard that stood tall in a gold armor a black cape hanging from his back and black feather hanging from his helmet, the only thing you could see were his piercing grey eyes. He bowed his head slight at the Mage but looked at Rime and Cyra with suspicion “my apprentices Our Great Emperor has given permission for them to enter.” They watched as the guard cocked his head and then stepped aside.

The Grand Mage nodded and they followed him in Rime glancing back to the guard that now had his back turned to him, the back of his cape had the form of a dragon painted in gold ink. They were the royal guard, Rime would recognize the symbol everywhere because it was ingrained in him that the first king that was said to be the son of a dragon was the one to create the royal guard, he had read it in every book that had to do with the capitals origins.

He looked forward stopping when a woman in a black cloak appeared in front of them the only thing that proved she was a woman was her red painted lips “Our Great Emperor has requested that you not walk them through the main palace hall, we have unwanted guest, the secret must remain as such.” She bowed low and then vanished as if she had not been there.

The Grand Mage turned to them “it seems the tour will have to wait, so as you don’t puke in the Council Hall, close your eyes and hold your breath this will last but a second.” Rime and Cyra did as they were told and the Mage grabbed them and then he let go “open your eyes hatchlings and fix your cloaks so as only your lips show.” They opened their eyes and took a breath before doing as they were told, Rime moved to hold Cyra’s hand “don’t do that, they will be suspicious, just walk close to her.”

They nodded and he stepped close to Cyra and he felt her tug his cloak making him release a sigh, he’d know if she ever let go so he felt a bit relieved. They followed the sound of the Mages footsteps and all they could see was the metallic epoxy floors that held a golden hue. He wanted to know why they weren’t allowed to look around but decided to save the question for later.

As they walked the halls got narrower and narrower until they were walking through a black obsidian door that blended with the walls “raise your hoods, take a seat and get your writing equipment out your lesson begins now.” They quickly did as they were told and he looked around and saw that they were sitting in a small boot that hovered above a room that had rows upon rows of sets, in front of that row was what looked like a raised platform with two large thrones and a small one.

“No one can see you only I the Emperor and Empress know where you are, keep silent and write down anything you see as important and remember not a sound, I must go sit with the Emperor and I will be keeping a watch on you, do you understand?” Rime nodded and the Mage vanished.

Cyra looked at him and quirked her head “what do you thinks about to happen?” her voice was silent but he picked up on it because she moved closer.

“Apparently something important.” He spoke shrugging and she smiled.

He quickly pulled out their writing pens, jars of ink and two note pads each, they would be writing everything down, because anything that required them to be hidden away while the council spoke would be important. The had been sitting down for some time before a door was opened and men and women filed into the room all of them wearing black, it was as if they had mask on because Rime couldn’t make out their features, he wondered who exactly were these people.

Soon another door was heard opening and he could see the people in black cloaks enter first, some of them dashed around the room seeming to look for something, when they were done they moved to the corners of the room. Rime looked over to where the thrones sat as he watched a couple walk in he immediately guessed that they were the Emperor and Empress because they were decked out in gold.

The man stood taller than any human he had seen before and he wondered if he was really hum but was confirmed when he saw the man’s ears, his blond hair was cut close to his scalp his gold eyes roaming the room and for a quick second they landed on him before moving out. The man had gold piercings clothes and even a cloak, he could see swirls running on the back of his hands and figured that maybe they covered his entire body.

The woman on the other hand was completely covered in a gold cloak just like before the only thing visible was her gold painted lips. He was wondering why they hid her face because he had already seen the empress when they had been summoned to a meeting to decide their fate. The woman at the time ad long flowing blond hair aqua marine eyes her face was small and her lips were a small heart shape and she was quite tall almost as tall as her husband.

But this woman was short and she was quiet unlike the Empress he knew, the woman had spoken her mind and given the elves a dirty look, she looked really insulted that strangers were trying to make a decision for Rime and Cyra as if they had been dealing with her life. But this woman was quiet and she looked so dainty next to the Emperor.

They took a seat and Rime felt Cyra shift closer to him when the Emperor spoke with a booming voice that promised pain to those who didn’t listen to him “we will now commence the councils gathering, normally I would allow the council members to speak first but as you know we could be on the brink of war so our Gold Leafs and Generals will speak first anything else after, you may begin.”

Rime looked at a woman in black armor that had a silver dragon painted on the chest plate stepped forward “Unfortunately General Shifra is not able to be present because she is still carrying out orders and I Field Officer Calidar will speak in her place as she requested.” She looked at the Emperor and he nodded, she bowed before raising her head and looking around the room before he eyes landed back on the Emperor.

“Reports of the Beast Men moving in from the West have been confirmed. Our Whispers who have managed to infiltrate their ranks have confirmed the increase of weapons made the shipping of these and armor along with grains, greens and bread. They have confirmed the transport of resting equipment and supply carriers. Messengers have been spotted moving between the Beast Men Twelve Tribes that says that they are all working together. It was also confirmed that they had a head start on their winter preparations and it will be completed by the end of the month so what they are producing now is being sent to the lines with them.” She bowed and then took her seat.

Rime had managed to write all of it down so he turned his attention back to the emperor who spoke again “what of the Fae’s, Elves and the other continents.”

A woman in a red dress stood “The Fae’s and the Elves have signed a peace treaty and the other races are keeping to themselves, the sky dwellers state that they will not involve themselves again.”

He watched as the man stroked his beard and then sighed “tis good that they are not in with the Beast people but for them not to want to assist us makes something seem a bit off. What of our preparations.”

Officer Calidar stood again “well as soon as we suspected them we had upped the speed for the winter preparations and half of everything being made has been shipped out to the lines. The barricades have been set and at the command of our Grand Mage the Warrior Mages have been sent to the front and have been able to put up a magical field that is being strengthened with every second that passes. Our weapons and armors are more than enough but some of our black Smits have begun to reinforce them, the horses have been well prepared and even if we were suddenly attacked we have enough provision to last us through a three year war, of course with some magic to make them last that long. So all in all if we wanted we could start the war ourselves.”

“What of the new batch of soldiers, hunter and the like?” the Emperor asked in a low tone after he nodded at the officer.

“They have been trained to the max and are ready to move at any second. Our Fire Casters and Water Guardians are a bit behind but they would still be able to cause some damage if we had to send them out. But I do have word of two students that have excelled past there grade so in case of anything, we can use them and bring the war to an end in days.”

Rime looked at Cyra and pulled her close as she looked on the verge of tears, he really hoped they were wrong.