Snippet #1951015

Sighing out of slight disbelief in what she was about to say, Skyler continued from Seraphina's statement.

"I have to agree that being here is unsettling for all of us, but we can't instigate a furious debate between any of us; it'll get us nowhere. First, to at least get everyone on the same page, I propose a general toast to Vladimir as the Fire Clan's king." She wasn't going to thank Vlad for replacing the lecherous cretin that was the late King Reikokuna, but she could at least give him a congratulations on the newfound status.

"Second, I'll return to my previous notion of a general from everyone's army temporarily training alongside another clan's warriors, teach them how to fight like a different clan does." And now she had a good reason for saying it, even if it did go against her reasons for wanting to leave the meeting. "Think about it. Kenshi was scorched to death. He, king of the Fire clan and (regrettably) a master of everything heat, was burnt. It's obvious the only things capable of that would have been the Fire's Elder and himself. I doubt even a volcano would keep him from coming back just to screw another girl." Herself not included, since she'd have smothered him in dirt and buried him alive.

"What would happen if Dominick had to fight the Elder of the Water clan?" Maybe he'd be drowned, or dehydrated; worse, exsanguinated if his Elder could control more liquids than just water. "What about ANY of us with our own respective Elders? How long before another of us is destroyed by what we know best? As much as I hate saying it, and I've said it at least once already, we should prepare our warriors for more than just our own Elder, because we may as well decapitate ourselves trying to take them on as we are." Then came the conclusion; what Skyler could see as the best logical choice. "An exchange of generals and trainers to allow a clan to fight another's Elder -- one they could have an advantage against -- may be the only way we will have a fighting chance."

It was then that she noticed another soldier coming in. Just another common messenger approaching Vladimir. Since Skyler was right next to the guy now, she could hear every word. Well, the messenger wasn't very quiet anyways.

"Sorry, sire," he said, "but the queen has expired. Suicide. It's recommended to choose a new consort amongst your subjects." With his head down, the messenger disappeared in a mass of flames.