DRAGONQUEEN: RISE OF THE SILVER PHOENIX

Chapter 21 - Politics and Battle Plans

The castle is in a confusion of activity as Rebecca comes through the gate. Triston tries to calm the royal families, while a soldier runs back and forth to secure the castle.

Rebecca takes a deep breath as she takes in the confusion around them. "Enough! Calm down! Soldier come here. Where is the captain of the guard the knight commander and Lisa Greenwood?"

"They are all at the training yard preparing to send reinforcements to Dawn harbor, your majesty," replies the soldier.

"Thank you, soldier," Rebecca replies.

She turns towards Triston and slowly walks toward the four men. She sees the three kings harassing poor Triston for answers.

"Good afternoon gentlemen. Allow me to lay your fears to rest. I have learned a great deal about necromancers and how their magic works. I can assure you if a necromancer is at work in Winterfall city I will know about it and take care of it," Rebecca assures them calmly.

"How can you be so certain that the situation can be defused? We are talking about a necromancer of all things,"  says a woman with black hair in a lilac-shaded dress. She has a confident smirk on her face but her eyes hold a gloating victory.

Snake

"I see. Have we been introduced? I doubt. Do you know that I am a magician? I guess not. As a sorcerer of light, it is part of my job to know about necromancers as they are my natural enemy. I know very well how to detect them. I was unaware of the current situation as I did not have the time to visit Dawn City. Have I visited it sooner, I would have identified the signs and dealt with the situation sooner. I have returned only a few months ago and there are still places in the kingdom I have not yet seen," Rebecca replies only just keeping her cool.

"Forgive me, your majesty. I am Archduchess Sabrina from Griffondale. I am also an advisor to the king's council. This transition would have been easier if you had a husband," Sabrina replies.

She may be beautiful but very dangerous. So is a Cobra. She speaks about her title as if it is the most precious thing. She makes all the right noises but I see through her mask. I need to crush this snake's head before she can even think she can outwit me.

"How interesting. Even if the necromancer finds the bones of a dead dragon he can not fly here. Tunneling his way here will be a waste of his precious time. A necromancer also does not move too far away from the object to which his soul is bound, unless he carries the object with him. If he wants to come here he will march his entire army of undead across the breadth of my kingdom at night. Sunlight burns the undead and returns them to the grave. He will keep his army in the shadows during the day. It also depends on how strong he is. The older the stronger. His death miasma needs to be strong enough to reflect sunlight. In that case, he will march day and night. To answer your question about how I know there is no necromancer. Simple. A necromancer poisons plants so that nothing can grow. The trees will become sickly and as far as I can tell every graveyard has grass planted on the graves. If the grass dies it is our first sign there is undead in the area. The second sign is the dead disappearing from their graves. The third sign is reports of a death miasma in graveyards. There is no undead in my city. If there were I would have postponed the coronation to deal with the situation." As Rebecca continues to talk the victorious grin disappears from her face and the gloat is replaced with embarrassment which she conceals behind a cold glare.

Rebecca isn't done. "As for defenses. The first line of defense is that Winterfall's graveyard is outside the outer city wall. All the gate walls are shut at night and there is a night watch that includes several magicians and they all have the experience and knowledge to deal with the situation. If a necromancer breaks through the defenses they still need to deal with me and this castle. Besides these defenses, I am not a cat without claws. I can fight in hand-to-hand combat, with a bow, and a sword. On top of that, I am a light sorcerer. I hope you get my point. You are safe in the walls of this castle. This place is more secure than Fort Knox!"