Zukar reads the page once, twice, thrice. His face growing paler and paler by the second. He covers his mouth with his hand as he stares at the words on the page. After reading it a third time, he folds it back up, stands up, and places it on the desk once more. He pins the note to the desk under one finger.

“I see now why Jedash was here.” Zukar sighs and hangs his head. “Neither of you seem to grasp the gravity of the situation we are in so let me enlighten you to the way of dragons. Something I know very well after spending my entire life around that family and dragon history and culture. I have dragon lore, so listen to me very carefully.”

He sucks in a breath. “I guarantee you both that Kalil has not laid eyes on this letter. If he had, we wouldn’t be having this conversation. Not because he would level the kingdom, no. Kalil is more personal than that. Vesta would be dead, I would be dead, everyone Vesta has ever cared for would be dead. Because you involved his family.”

Zukar steps away from the desk, his hand falling to his side. “You sent this letter to Kalil’s mother and even mentioned his son. Nymera is not stupid. Nymera is a kind hearted woman. And she knows full well what her son is capable of. She would not deliver this letter to him knowing the consequences of doing so. So instead, the mother of the house, brought this matter to the head of the family. The brood-father.”

“That explains why Jedash was here. The words on that page are the reason he was so angry. And he is angry. Jedash does not make threats lightly. Those words were promises of things to come.”

He begins pacing. “So what has happened is the brood-mother received what equates to a threat to the family and she took it to the brood-father.” He waves a hand before Vesta can protest. “You may not have actually said the words “I am going to hurt your family” but you wished ill on Kalil and his kingdom, on the ‘family he wishes to have’. Those are threats, Vesta.”

“But that is besides the point. The one responsible for the safety of the family is the brood-father. This is not a kingdom threatening war on another kingdom. This is Jedash expressing himself to the people who would threaten his family.”

He pauses and looks from Vesta to Jade. “Let me say that again so the distinction is absolutely clear to you both. This is not a kingdom threatening a kingdom. This is an ancient dragon threatening mortals who would dare threaten his family.”

He gestures to Jade while he looks at Vesta. “And you threaten the family when they apparently have their own world ending matters to attend to? Did we not consider finding out why they suddenly locked down? Why they suddenly pulled their troops from town? Instead, you just assumed he was what? I’d truly like to know exactly what you thought he was doing behind those walls because the dragons have a reason for everything they do.”

“I may not know what is going on in that manor but I know dragons and you sending a nasty worded letter to the Queen Mother about the King of Dragons while they are facing- Well, whatever they are facing. It is all a matter of appearances, Vesta. Jade. If they let a mortal bad mouth their king to his own mother, that makes Kalil look weak. And the other dragon families will take advantage of that weakness. Do you see how this is all playing together? Do you see where your folly is?”

“He is talking about the kingdom, Vesta. Not you! Jedash, the brood-father and potentially oldest living dragon in the planes, is not threatening you, Vesta. But the kingdom. Dragons don’t differentiate between political borders the way we do. To them we are all mortals. So saying you are or are not part of the kingdom is irrelevant. You. Are. Mortal. And-” 

He turns to Jade now. “Are you absolutely certain Jedash said he wanted an apology? Because that does not sound like dragons. What were his exact words to you about repayment for this insult?”

He shakes his head. “I suspect my words mean nothing to either of you. However, I want to emphasize the point that Jedash is the one who said he would level the town and we’re in this room talking instead of buried in the dirt.”

“Dragons are dangerous, Vesta. And you are playing a dangerous game with them.”

He looks from Vesta to Jade and back again. “Am I being clear? Do you two understand yet what is happening here? Because so far it seems to me like neither of you quite comprehends the danger we are in and all because of some- some words on a parchment!”

He meets Vesta’s gaze. “I failed you,  darling. I should have read this before I let you send it. I would have stopped you. And stopped all of this unnecessary bullshit from happening in the first place. Your words have now endangered an entire kingdom. This is not a game, Vesta. Despite what you may think. Dragons are immortal. You should be terrified. They will not forget this slight for generations to come. They don’t follow the same rules mortals do. They don’t even perceive time the way we do. A perceived slight generations ago is as though it happened to them yesterday. And the punishments they dole out for insolence are ever lasting and may impact the entire planescape.” 
 

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