Planet Zar: Nexus

It was only fitting that The Lady Death remain in Death's temple. The decor changed drastically from Foxfire's first foray inside the building. Fewer bodies on the floor, less blood splattered on the walls, and the scent was rich and deep with the cloying thickness of incense smoke. Now, curtains of gold hung glimmering from the walls while gold-flushed marble rose in spiraled columns from floor to gilded ceiling. The throne - once skulls and skittering creatures - was now resplendent velveteen, whereupon Foxfire's mistress draped herself in languid glory.

"Wars are tedious," Rhakunara drawled.

Foxfire nodded serenely and lifted a thread of magic from her tail, offering the glimmering sliver to her mistress. Rhakunara ate it with the same grace and poise with which she did everything. Lharoth caught Foxfire's eye, her expression stern, scrutinizing. But she said nothing. Rhakunara enjoyed her drifts into delirium and no one's disapproval would stop her from indulging. Foxfire merely returned Lharoth's glower with an oozing smile.

"I wish I knew when it would end," Rhakunara continued. She reached over the back of her throne to caress Lharoth's jaw. Lharoth leaned into the touch, letting her eyes flutter shut.

"Lord Cassimir would be pleased if you joined the fighting," crooned Foxfire. Rhakunara frowned. "Absolutely not."

"It may hasten the battles." Foxfire nuzzled into Rhakunara's knee. "You're ever so powerful, mistress."

"And I have no desire to use those powers for the sort of prolonged mess Cassimir desires." Rhakunara sniffed and reached for another thread of Foxfire's magic.

Foxfire slid it to her wordlessly. "Perhaps there are other ways to quicken the pace."

"More soldiers," said Lharoth, frowning.

Foxfire's eyes closed to lazy slits. "Other ways."

"You sound very much like you have something in mind," said Rhakunara.

"I've heard tell of a dragon clutch, off world of course, that may possess some interesting powers." Foxfire flashed a thread of green glow from her tail and formed it into the shape of a dragon. Quadrupedal with glimmering glider's wings and curved horns. Between its foreclaws it held a swirling orb of silvery magic, similar - but not identical - to the magic gleaming at Foxfire's tail. "They're meant to be clairvoyant."

Rhakunara watched the image through dazed eyes, her lips parted in a moue of contentment. "They could tell me when the war ends."

"Or how to win it," said Lharoth.

Foxfire inclined her head.

"Where are these beautiful dragons?"

"Lantessama," said Foxfire, flashing teeth in an eager grin.

Rhakunara reclined against her throne, gold-painted lips curled. "I'd enjoy a change of scenery."