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“Oh, my poor pet.”

The Lord ran his hands over the body of the serpent as it hissed pathetically, ivory skin not revealing a single vein. Behind Him, the four hobgoblins scratched the ground, looking embarassed. One started to open his mouth, looked back to the others, and closed it. Unnoticing, the Lord pressed on, kneeling to examine the wound, His hair flowing upwards as though lifted by a draft to encircle Him like a golden crown.

“Oh, morsels should learn not to interefere with their betters. You foolish, precious, beast, Shidraka.” Standing, the Lord smiled thinly, turning to look around his advance base. Once, long ago, it had been a temple to the Dragons, before he had made it over into his Freehold. Now, hobgoblins lined the floors, drilling with their weapons as they fought one another. Often, they fell dead to the ground, only to rise again. The walls were lined with purple silk, proudly displaying the majesty of His reign, and the statues of the Dragons knelt at His feet. By the entrance, a pair of Fair Folk nobles lounged, watching the proceedings. He noted that Lyasara was looking disdainful again, and reminded Himself to have a word with His loremaster.

“Now, Shidraka, you must learn a lesson as well.” As He spoke, He stood, scooping a handful of stone like sand from the ground, and rubbing it over the wound. “If a morsel has the effrontery to oppose us, you must not be caught off-guard. Such dedication and foolishness does occur, from time to time. You must simply strike back. Bite his head off, tear out his gullet. Whatever suits your fancy, my lovely pet.” He smiled, stepping back to look at his handiwork, as the stone shifted colours to match the black of the serpent, and its hiss changed from a sad one to one of contentment. “Yes, you simply must destroy a morsel who dares to challenge you.”

“But, Lord Juriakar, it was –” One of the hobgoblins began to speak, and the Lord frowned. Without turning, he raised a hand, and the earth poured up the body of the startled hobgoblin, filling his mouth.

“You will speak only when spoken to.” The Lord frowned again, and snapped His fingers. The stone spread out, lining the mouth of the hobgoblin, and faded. Bowing its head, it knelt on the ground. Juriakar turned, letting his cloak of raven feathers cascade downwards. “Your previous lord may have tolerated such insolence. I will not do so twice. Is that understood?”

“Yes, my lord.” The hobgoblin continued to kneel, and Juriakar smiled.

“Good.” Without paying the hobgoblin another thought, He continued down the hallway, His serpent trailing behind him, hissing contentedly. As they passed, hobgoblins paused in their fighting to watch in awe. Approaching the doorway, He smiled at His lieutenants.

“Lyasara, report. Is the Law prepared?”

“Yes, my lord Juriakar.” The Courtier bowed with a slim smile, her gossamer dress russling with the sound of a thousand tiny breezes. When she looked up, her gaze was fixed firmly on Juriakar’s chest, and He smiled with acknowledgement of her subservience. “The Law may be used whenever you wish it, but we must set it in the proper place. Might I make a recommendation?”

“Of course, Lyasara.” He waved an arm magnanimously.

“At the height of the battle, a small group can place the Law from the centre of the valley. The populace will learn to worship you, their god.” She smiled faintly as Juriakar nodded thoughtfully.

“I admire the symmetry. Very well. It will be done. And you, Goras?”

The other Fair Folk shrugged uncomfortably, muscles rippling with the smell of forgotten hopes and vanquished dreams. He looked across towards the training hobgoblins. “We have not made the progress I hoped for. Reverga still opposes us, and saps our strength. If we place the Law, he may yet try to conquer it. I suggest that we finish that upstart before we move on the humans.”

“Hmm.” Juriakar shook His head, and sighed. “I thought better of you, Goras. Reverga should be no threat to us, and the mission has begun. The morsels know of our presence. But very well. I will have Terrik continue his mission while we continue to crush our enemy. Then, this valley will be ours.” He smiled, stepping through the door out past the two, and looking towards the fertile valley below. Behind him, Lysara smirked at Goras, who glowered at her in return.

“When they see the power arrayed against them, they will know Me and despair.”

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