“ He’s been up there since morning.”

Azanii turned to her side to see her sister with one of the human devices in her hand. She was typing on it as she chewed on the end of one of the bones from the pork chops their hosts had set out for breakfast. Even being part of the royal court, she rarely had meat so regularly. So that made her wonder if they were casually displaying their wealth, or were just openly trying to impress them with the fine dining. In either case, it was winning the hearts of her people.

“ I know, sister. I have been out here watching him all morning. The pests are no more than an hour out now and...”

“ And done!”

Lounoni’s interruption of her sister had annoyed said sister, but such annoyance was forgotten when Lounoni turned the monitor to show the throne room of their mother. Who had a look of surprise on her face as well.

“ Amazing Lounoni, my brilliant daughter. Never in my dreams did I imagine communications at such a distance to return to us. Before I have you talk to me about how, I shall address your elder sister. I have received your message about the situation at your location. Do they stand a chance?”

Azanii shook her head sadly.

“ No, as I said, their factions split. The larger one left to save themselves, leaving most of their population behind. Their leadership is like the wasteland warlords, {oathbreakers} and {cowards}. Seeing the immediate future. However, the Dreadnaught, I see him as a young elder. With a mind sharp enough to see far into the unknown and bright enough to scheme. He just lacks experience with such games.”

The Matriarch dips her head in understanding.

“ From your report, you say he snatched one of the prime locations we were planning to scout for himself. The western continent of Urren. Why did you decide we shall take the southern continent without consulting me?”

Azanii closed her eyes and lifted her head toward the sky.

“ Lounoni did. I have never seen her so happy. I mean she has already left me the device so she can go back to her man.”

Which was true, because as soon as she had their mother on the screen, she had gone back inside the building. Mumbling about how much mana it costs to link wireless communications together and how to make it better.

“ That is quite surprising for her. But I know you did not think only of her. Not for something of this scale.”

“ You are correct. In a way we are neighbors. And they are good ones. They have the knowledge and means to cultivate animals on a scale we can not imagine. Not to mention he already has plans to open gateways to his allies. This puts him in a position to be allies and trade partner. Add to this my sister and her new mate creating a brand new magic language.”

“ Do you believe it will be beneficial for us to join this small, but growing ally and then set off on our own in an even more advantageous location? So far I have not seen anything to show me otherwise.”

Azanii looked around and pointed to one of the Warden guards and then gestured for him to come over.

“ Can you have this device show your leader to my Matriarch?”

The human nods as he reaches his hands to take the device. Mumbling something about being a soldier, not tech support. After taking the device the soldier moves to a nearby table and adjusts it so the Dreadnaught is on the screen. Azanii stands to be in the image as well.

“ That is him, on the wall in the green armor. He has already stood at that post watching the pests approaching for hours. Unmoving and unflinching in all that time.”

Azanii suddenly noticed her mother had heard her speaking in admiration.

“ Well now, this is a surprise. I never knew you to be one for second thoughts.”

Azanii turned her head away and looked skyward.

“ That is a scandalous mother. I will never break my word, not without just cause to.”

“ Then I have good news for you. Garack was caught last night deserting.”

Azanii’s jaw dropped as only one question came to her mind.

“ Why?”

“ Greed, why else. He had thousands of our scavenged resource cards on him. It turns out he had attacked the humans you are with as they left a dungeon and plundered the entire spoils. As the group was down over half their numbers when the last boss appeared as their teams were leaving with the loot.”

Azanii looked around nervously as several humans heard her mother.

“ Mother, you do realize this is an open communication.”

The matriarch laughed as the camera zoomed out to show the rest of the room. Including four dragonkin who were, naked, chained, and muzzled. The only male among the three females Azanii knew as Garack, but did not know the females.

“ Normally, I would have beheaded them. But as the threat draws closer, I thought I would be merciful. I, Breznda Fifth Matriarch of the Silver Winds Clan, exile you on the grounds of desertion and theft of the clan treasury. You each will be cast out of this stronghold and forever banished from the Silver Winds Clan in home and in name.”

She then nods as four guards take one of them each out of the room. Azanii would later learn that the four were only given a waterskin and a short spear each. The three women were eaten alive by the swarm as they cowered and begged to be saved. Garack was never seen again as he took off south immediately upon his release.