Ryns.
The soldier caste of dragonlings, a particularly vicious species of shapeshifters.
Dragonlings are dangerous.
Ryns are deadly.
Born and raised to be a bloodthirsty soldier, Anita's life has never been her own. She always knew her fa...
Wisdom and experience are at the core of war. They ensure victory. As such, dragonlings must respect those who have both wisdom and experience. This is why the oldest and wisest of us shall live away from us, guiding us through the darkest nights and leading us into the glorious morning. She will be our Great Mother, the leader of us all.
This is Our Law.
~ From the Dragonling Grimoire
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"Just relax." Alek murmured softly as he twisted my hair into ringlets.
"Easy for you to say," I grunted. "You're not the one who's about to upend an entire nation."
"I'm going to be right behind you the entire time," Alek said in amusement. "So, I will also be the one to upend an entire nation."
"I'll remember that when Queen Dominika wants my head on a stake," I replied dryly.
Alek just laughed and finished pinning my hair into place with golden pins. Mishal chirped nearby, evidently admiring his handiwork, and flew over to perch on my shoulder.
"Look, we match," I told Mishal absent-mindedly, stroking the phoenix's back.
True to my words, I was dressed in a red dress laced with golden accents, a gift from Queen Galina. Wyks rarely wore dresses, and Ryns even less often. I'd worn one only the day after my Trial when the lot of us had been anointed by our king and queen.
The day seemed so long ago now. I grimly smiled at myself in the mirror. Went from a nobody Ryn to... this. Alek peered over my shoulder and met my gaze. "You look beautiful."
"Only because you managed to heal those bruises in time." I sighed. "Dmitri really is too cruel."
"He wants what's best for you." Alek reprimanded me gently. "And if that means smacking you over and over with a big stick, then so be it."
"Of course you two decide to be friends now," I said sourly. Of course, I was happy about it, but it always seemed a bit too convenient that they only agreed when it wasn't fair to me.
We fell into a comfortable silence as Alek finished my hair. Once he finished, he pulled a small box from his sleeve. "Here. Your friend wanted me to give this to you."
I fumbled with the velvet box until it opened with a click. Inside was a gorgeous hairpin designed to resemble a feather. It was made from hundreds of delicate golden strands tipped with diamond and ruby, creating a glittering masterpiece.
"Whoa," I breathed, "it's... wow." I didn't have words to describe it. Underneath the hairpin was a small note.
Mishal left her feathers behind and I couldn't help but have Valka recreate it for you. Enjoy! - Ilya
