Kissed by fire

Many years ago...

"There I was, cut off, surrounded by four shades" Brightmoon began, gesturing wildly with his flagon of fire blood. "They came at me cutting, and slashing!" he jumped onto the table re-enacting the scene as his fellow wolf kin hurried to cleared the table of their drinks. The hall rang with laughter and cheers as Brightmoon fought off his imaginary foes. The candles fluttered in the strong wind as the doors swung open and a band of heavily armoured ponies piled in.interrupting Brightmoon as he was in the process of decapitating shade number three with his phantom long axe.

"Nice to see you could finally join us Verex in the victory celebrations!" he shouted over the din. Verex set down his red plumed helm on a free table "mopping up survivors Brightmoon, you wolves should really stop playing with your food" he replied grabbing a nearby mug of cider. "Some wolf has to make you look good in front of the empress Verex" Brightmoon shot back, Verex joined in with the laughter before moving further into the hall. He spied a lone cloaked figure bent over there table reading a book, he headed over and sat down in the spare seat.

"Verex" the mare muttered as a greeting not taking her eyes off the book, the white earth pony took it in his stride as he eyed the dark blue unicorn "Good to see you made it Aurora, another book from the empress?" she looked up and gave him a friendly smile "just brushing up on some old texts for when she comes back"

The doors slammed open and two more figures strolled into the makeshift hall. The first was distinctive by his unique physic walking in on two legs a hand clasped firmly on the pommel of his sword a shield slung over his back and his face hidden behind a full-face white plumed helmet. The second figure was a stunning fire drake her pristine white scales glistening like diamonds in the candle light yellow eyes in her majestic ivory horned head flickering around the room. Falling instep behind her two legged companion they made their way over to a free table claws and feet beating out a unique tempo on the dusty floor. Brightmoon quickly finished ripping out the neck of shade number four before jumping off the table and loping over to them; Verex and Aurora also pushed themselves to their hooves and made their way to the rapidly filling up table were Brightmoon and the drake were already deep in conversation, as serving ponies set down a platter of fresh bloody meat and a large flagon of fire blood.

"... go sniff somewhere else wolf you will get no answers from me" the white drake shot at Brightmoon irritably before ripping into a thick slab of meat, blood dripping from her razor sharp fangs. "What news of the empress Marshall?" Verex asked addressing her companion as he took his seat at the table. "The empress does not answer to me Verex, and certainly not to you" Sentinel replied pulling a dagger from his cloak and went to for his own slice.

"So... you don't know where she is" Aurora deadpanned coaxing a bark of laughter form Brightmoon. The pale drake intercepted Sentinel's food deftly snatching it from him and blasting it with a dose of flame from her maw, Aurora to duck under the table to avoid the blast, the drake then casually passed the now cooked meat back to Sentinel with a toothy grin. "Thanks Snyder... and actually Aurora  she crossed  her desolation two nights ago" he took off his helmet taking a deep swig of fire blood before fixing the now stunned table with his ice blue eyes his somewhat alien features in a relaxed as he tucked into his still smoking stake. "Two days ago... so where is she, the desolation is but 30 miles to the south" Verex asked perplexed a slight tinge of worry crept into his voice. "She is... in council" the Marshall said warily between his chewing, "Speak plain by the veil!"  Brightmoon snapped getting to his paws and bearing his teeth in frustration. "Even gods' answer a call wolf" Snyder answered calmly in her usual silken cryptic manner, "true enough... hers" Verex countered before raising his mug high and shouting "To the empress!","To the empress!"  The entire room chorused before erupting into cheers and bouts of heavy drinking.  Sentinel took a moment to look around at his merry band of misfits ruffling his short blond hair before taking a long drink from his own mug.