The Endeavor arrived at the Belsnath Citadel and Malnar led her lovers to the throne room. Orbak and Elmpam met them there. “Here she is!” called Elmpam. She gave Malnar a hug from all her arms.
“My daughter, all grown up!” chuckled Orbak. Once Elmpam broke off the hug, Orbak pulled something out of a pouch. It was a gold collar choker with pearls laid onto it. “This was your mother’s choker,” explained Orbak. “She wanted you to at least wear it for your portrait.” Malnar then drew in a breath.
“That’s right, my Royal Portrait!” she groaned.
“Dull as all get out!” agreed Lardeth.
“That’s the Honest-to-Ones truth,” said Arsha. Malnar and Lardeth goggled at her.
“Whenever we have a portrait together,” remarked Lardeth, “the artist doesn’t say so much to you about trying to look happy!”
“That’s because I’m thinking about something else,” explained Arsha, “something much more enjoyable than the tedium of sitting for hours on end while a painter tries to capture my likeness.”
“I know that’s not one of your favorite things of royal life,” remarked Orbak, “but it IS necessary for us. Society wants us to start our reign looking good.” Malnar grumbled but conceded that he was right.
“Oh well, at least it lets me update my wardrobe,” she said. She then got an idea. “Do you think the Royal Painter could do a portrait of me on the south tower’s balcony looking out?”
“Why?” asked the Royal Painter, a Stone Dragon woman.
“Well, I want my kingdom to be in the shot,” explained Malnar. “It would be nice to have the backbone of my Realm be included.”
“I mean, I CAN do it, if you’re certain that’s what you want.”
“I DO want it.”
“In that case, all I need from you is your outfit and when you want to start.”
As Malnar spent the day looking at dresses, Arsha and the rest of her lovers looked over a history book in the library. This one was talking about a Ring of Power and a Magic Sword. Long ago, when such items were numerous, Intrag ordered their creation, using a Shadow Dragon’s fang to construct the sword and treasure from the Drows’ vaults to make the ring. “Look at this,” said Arsha as she pointed out the Ring. The illustration showed it as a golden ring carved to look like a Drow Priestess with rubies for her eyes, charging a great spell, centered around Beginnings and represented by a pearl. Arsha read the text describing it. “‘The Ring of Nal-Mahar was forged within the workshops of the old Drow fortress. Legend has it that the Ring can make the wearer pass into the Invisible After-realm. By rights, the Ring belonged to Nal-Mahar, the Drow High Priestess, but the Drows were lost to time before the Ring was returned to them. It is believed that the Ring would have brought prosperity to the Drows.’”
“Into the After-realm?” shuddered Lardeth. “I’d rather stay away from that until I’m dead.”
“You know, if the Ring is still in the Emboramiis’ possession,” mused Falnii, “maybe Malnar should give it to Tanta.”
“And give the sword back to the Shadow Dragons,” muttered Gorfanth. He pointed out the illustration of the sword he was talking about. The hilt looked like a Shadow Dragon in flight. Its jaws were open and made up the cross-guard while the blade looked like its tongue. “This one’s public knowledge; Thantauglamir, the Shadow Tongue That Slays Evil. Intrag had a Shadow Dragon in his service. He promised to make the Shadow Dragon the new leader of his people but needed a symbol of office for him. The Shadow Dragon tore his fang out and gave it to Intrag. Intrag had his mages and blacksmiths forge a sword out of it and imbue it with spells that targeted only evil beings. When the Shadow Dragon saw the completed sword, he asked for it and leadership of his people. Intrag refused, calling him too evil to wield the sword in his Realm. When Intrag tried to touch the sword, however, the handle burned his hand. The Shadow Dragon took that as his que to take the sword and wrest control of the Under-realm from Intrag. He successfully grabbed the sword without pain and dueled with Intrag. Before the Shadow Dragon could deliver the killing blow, Intrag’s Black Captains burst into the throne room and defended their King, slaying the Shadow Dragon and locking the sword away in the Emboramii Family’s vaults.” Arsha whistled.
“You know, the Mid-realm’s got artefacts of similar nature concerning the Sphinxes and Manticores,” she recalled.
“As does the Over-realm with the Gryphons and Gorgons,” said Lardeth. The doors to the library then opened, revealing one of the maids leading Tanta and Dotan into it.
“Her Highness will be with you shortly,” the maid said to the Drow and Shadow Dragon. “Please wait here.”
“Tank you,” bid Tanta. The maid bowed before leaving. Tanta and Dotan then noticed Arsha and her lovers. “You are Malnar’s lofers, yes?” asked Tanta.
“We are,” confirmed Arsha. “Princess Arsha Royana, at your service.”
“Ah, yes, Dalengor’s best friend,” recalled Dotan.
“She was fery goot in freeink us from Oyet’s service,” purred Tanta.
“As were you,” supplied Dotan.
“Thank you, my Lord and Lady,” replied Arsha.
“Forgive me for saying this,” called Falnii, “but Malnar’s coronation is ten days away. What brings you two here?”
“Malnar sait tat she has gifts for us,” explained Tanta. “We ton’t know why she would want to gif us sometink.”
“Perhaps to acknowledge your part in ending the Final War?” guessed Gorfanth.
“Exactly,” called Malnar’s voice. She entered the library in a new dress and hairpiece, wearing her mother’s choker and carrying a sword slung behind her back with something in her hand.
“Hello, Queen Malnar!” purred Foresna and Arsha together.
“Still a Princess right now,” replied Malnar. She then turned to Tanta and Dotan. “Thank you for coming so quickly.”
“I must atmit confusion,” remarked Tanta. “Why gif us sometink?”
“Because you two already own these things by all rights,” explained Malnar. She opened her hand to reveal a ring. Tanta and Malnar’s lovers gasped as they recognized it.
“Te Rink of Nal-Mahar!” yelped Tanta. “But why-?!”
“It was forged from treasure stolen from Nal-Mahar’s vaults, yes?” asked Malnar. “And Nal-Mahar was your first ancestor, right? Therefore, this ring is yours. And General Dotan, this sword is yours.” She took the sword and sheath off her back and handed it to Dotan.
“Thantauglamir!” he whispered as he recognized the design of the hilt.
“I have a feeling it won’t burn you,” mused Malnar. Tanta and Dotan stared at their respective artefacts, then cautiously took them. Tanta slipped the Ring on her finger and Dotan slung Thantauglamir and its sheath onto his back. He drew it and looked at the blade, marveling at how well maintained it was and registering a comforting warmth from the handle. He sheathed it and knelt at Malnar. Tanta looked at the Ring, moving her hand to see how it looked on her finger, smiled, then knelt as Dotan did.
“Malnar Emboramii,” she said, “I name you Trow frient and blest. My life is at your commant.”
“I name you Shadow Dragon friend and blessed,” supplied Dotan. “My life is at your command.”
“Thank you, both of you,” replied Malnar. The two Leaders then left the library to give their delegation the news. Malnar sighed. “That’s that out of the way, now I gotta spend tomorrow morning for the portrait!”
“It’s gonna look great!” Arsha said in reassurance. Malnar smiled.
“Given the Royal Painter’s talent, yeah, it will.”