Of the Laws, the most important govern the kings and queens of the colonies. When our leaders turn their backs on our Law, we become nothing more than savages under the rule of tyrants.

~ From the Dragonling Grimoire

"Come on." Liza was tugging me through the marketplace crowds, eyes scanning the multitude of market stalls. "She's having tea with some friends or something. I think the teahouse is... over there." She pulled on my hand down a fork in the path. After a minute of squeezing through dragonlings, crowd thinned considerably and the booths became less flamboyant; fewer food vendors or flashy clothes sellers and more artistic wares. There were also several dozen tents, probably dining areas.

"What's a teahouse?" I asked, pausing to watch a young Mora paint a vase filled with delicate flowers. His brushstrokes were steady and precise, and the painting came to life under his careful hands.

Liza stopped beside me. "It's a... you know. It's a tea... house?"

"You have no idea what it is either, do you?"

"Not a clue."

I suppressed my laughter as I walked over to the painting Mora. "Excuse me, sir, do you know where the teahouse is?"

The Mora glanced up at me in mild surprise. He was an elfish-looking fyn, no older than me, with paint smudging his freckled cheeks. "I- I do. It's over there." He pointed to a large black tent a few rows down. As I turned away, he suddenly grabbed my sleeve. "Wait- I'm sorry, I didn't mean to grab you, I was just wondering... ah, you're the Ryn with the phoenix, right?"

I stared at the Mora for a few heartbeats before his question registered. "Yes. Her name is Mishal."

Putting down his paintbrush, the Mora nervously began to fidget with his fingers. "Would it be, ah, too much to ask if I could paint her? I mean, we don't really have, you know, a lot of animals here. It's all snow and ice and I- I'm rambling, sorry." He coughed, glancing to the side anxiously." What I mean is- well, I would like to paint your phoenix."

I was at a loss of words, still trying to process what the Mora was saying. Thankfully, Liza stepped in. "Of course Ani will let you! You helped us, didn't you?" She elbowed me in the side and I hastily nodded.

"Yeah, of course. Mishal would love the attention. I can have someone bring her here to you later."

I thought the Mora might burst into tears as he clapped his hands together. "Thank you so much, ma'am!"

Liza pulled me towards the towering black silk of the teahouse, waving goodbye to the young painter. Once we were out of earshot, she cracked up laughing. "Ani, you're so funny."

"I- what?" I frowned, still trying to process what the hell just happened. "How was that funny?"

"You don't hesitate when trying to attack someone, but you freeze up when someone asks you a question."

Crossing my arms, I stuck my tongue out at Liza. "He just- it was just sudden, okay? I didn't realize people recognized me because of Mishal."

"Yes, Anita. Because people walking around with phoenixes is completely ordinary."

"Hush, you." I poked Liza in the side. "Mishal was a gift from Dmitri. I want to keep her with me."

Liza slung an arm around my shoulders and led me towards the teahouse. "You two are so weird. What fyn decides a flaming bird is the best present for his mate?"

I decided it was best not to mention Dmitri had only brought me Mishal because she was caught in the middle of a warzone that we had technically caused. "I just like phoenixes."

"Sure." Liza pulled me into the silk-covered tent. "Mother? I need to talk to-" Her jaw snapped shut with an audible click.

Sitting on a cushion at a low wooden table was Queen Gertrude, who was sipping tea. Across from her was Gvrilla, who nodded in silent greeting, but what caught my attention was the tall fyn sitting between the two wyks. He looked as if he was cut from ice - sharp features, snowy-white beard and hair, and crystal blue eyes.

Yet, despite his frosted exterior, the fyn still had an aura of jovial warmth to him. He smiled at Liza and me before waving us over. "Ah, Elizabeth. Come on. Sit, sit. And your friend... is that Anita?" I nodded mutely as I took a seat beside Liza. "Ah, Gvrilla has told me a lot about you." The fyn poured us cups of steaming tea and pushed a plate of black bread towards us before turning back to Gertrude and continuing their conversation about... ice fishing?

I met Gvrilla's gaze in bewilderment and she cleared her throat, nudging the fyn. He looked at her in confusion and she sighed. "Dear... you forgot to introduce yourself."

"I- oh!" The fyn turned to me with a bright smile. "Ah, my name is Aaron Romanov. It's nice to meet you."

"I'm Anita," I responded immediately, "... but you already knew that, I guess."

Aaron laughed. The sound was raspy and sharp, like cracking ice. "Yes, yes. Gvrilla talks about you often. Quite smitten, she is."

Gvrilla rolled her eyes, her face half annoyed and half affectionate. "Aaron, aren't you forgetting to tell her something?"

I glanced between the two, racking my brain for whatever the hell I seemed to be missing here. Aaron... the name sounded familiar... almost like- oh.

"You're... you're the king?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

"I am." Aaron - King Aaron - nodded enthusiastically. "For... oh, a few dozen years now, I guess."

"But you're a Ryn." I said, and then immediately felt stupid for it. Of course he was a Ryn. That was one of the traditions of the Iciclecrash colony - instead of a Lira, the king or queen was a Ryn. How could I have forgotten?

"Yes. I am." The fyn agreed before turning back to Gertrude. "As I was saying, the best way to catch seals is actually laying down at the edge of the air hole and waiting for them to come up. The water is too cold to swim through, especially if you're not used to it."

Queen Gertrude looked patiently interested despite the... unorthodox topic. Occasionally she would even interject with her own questions. I turned to Gvrilla, who gave me an affectionate smile. "You'll have to excuse him. He never stops talking."

"I see." I mumbled, shifting in my seat uncomfortably. This fyn was really the king of the colony? He seemed... normal. Not overtly pompous like Queen Dominique or the lazy pleasantness of Queen Gertrude.

Liza leaned over to whisper in my ear. "Are you going to tell her now or should we wait until King Aaron leaves?" Unfortunately, Liza lacked any technique in whispering. I cringed inwardly as her words silenced the tent.

"Tell me what?" Queen Gertrude asked immediately, turning her calm gaze on the two of us.

"And why can't I be involved?" Added King Aaron, sounding somewhat like a petulant child.

Liza looked horrified, but I steeled myself and sat straighter. "Gvrilla...?" I looked to her and she nodded once. "Alright." Taking a deep breath, I turned to the two rulers. Their eyes burned with interest and I suddenly felt tongue-tied. "I- well, it's... it's difficult to explain."

"Go on." Queen Gertrude said kindly.

Inhaling sharply, I met the queen's gaze. "Alright. We want to start a Coup in my colony."

The room stilled. Both the king and queen looked surprised, though Gertrude's shock was more startling. I had never seen such a raw, untempered emotion on her face. I swallowed nervously and looked to Gvrilla, who just watched me back with a calm gaze.

After a moment, King Aaron spoke. "I see." He said. "And I suppose Mako and Gvrilla have something to do with it?"

Gvrilla nodded silently and the fyn sighed heavily. "I knew she'd try this sooner or later."

Queen Gertrude cleared her throat. "I see that I'm the only one who doesn't know what's going on. Anyone care to enlighten me?" She had regained her composure and was looking around the table questioningly.

"My queen has been breaking the Laws." I began. "And so has the rest of the Court. My uncle Cedric has been documenting them ever since my mother was captured unlawfully. And now my friend and his allies have been spreading rumors back home to create unease. We need to start this Coup soon, but..."

"You don't have anyone who can lead you, do you?" Queen Gertrude asked, tilting her head thoughtfully to the side. I blinked in surprise. How had she guessed?

"Most Liras don't want to go against Queen Dominique." Gvrilla supplied. "They've been treated the best under her reign. The other castes are a different story - especially the Moras and Inas."

Queen Gertrude nodded solemnly. "I know. Several Moras came to my lands because she wanted them to forge weapons instead of staying true to their talents." She glanced at me and I felt my blood run cold.

"Is... is that the real reason she had us attack you?" I asked, fiddling with my hands underneath the table. The queen's face told me everything I needed to know. Biting my lip, I stared up at the silken roof of the teahouse. How stupid could we have been not to notice? Images of death dragonlings - several killed by my own teeth - flashed before my eyes. "Was it just a lie?"

"Yes." Queen Gertrude said softly, putting a hand on my shoulder. "But it's not your fault. You were bound by contract." Her face suddenly became angry, her lips pulled into a scowl. "My dragonlings died because of her pride and irrationality. I will stand beside your cause, Anita."

I clenched my hands into fists, barely hearing her. A deep, churning anger was burning at my bones. How many dragonlings had died over a lie? Morgana, for one. True, it was lightning that killed her, but it wouldn't have happened if she hadn't been there. I wasn't close to her. Had we even been friends? No. But she was a good Ryn and didn't deserve to die, not like that. What about all the dragonlings I had killed myself? I could practically taste their blood. My stomach churned with nausea and rage.

"Anita." Gvrilla's voice made my glance up. She frowned at me. "You look like you're ready to kill someone."

I was ready to kill someone, but it probably wasn't the best idea to say that."No one here," I finally managed, "but thank you, Queen Gertrude."

"While I do agree that Dominique shouldn't remain in power," King Aaron broke his silence suddenly, "there's just one more problem. You have no replacement." I looked over at him. His brows were knitted in contemplation. "While dragonlings would be willing to desert her side, they wouldn't follow a foreigner, so we cannot provide a Lira for you to follow."

"I know." I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath to calm the fury bubbling in my blood. "And all of the higher education is reserved for Liras. It's considered..." I paused and thought about my time studying with Jordan, "it's considered unusual if another caste wants to start learning again."

King Aaron nodded. "I see. She's securing a way for her Court to stay in power. If the others aren't fit to rule, no one can replace them."

The room fell silent again and I stared into my cup, watching my distorted reflection in the tea as I thought about who I knew.

Clara was sweet and generous, but lacked tact, and Jordan firmly believed in Queen Dominique. There... weren't too many other people I knew. My old squadron? May and Harvey were the most reliable, but they were Ryns through and through. Soliders. Not a king or queen. Ruth, Sylvester, or Saul? I could barely remember their faces. Cody and Ariana were both short-tempered and volatile, while Derek was too unbothered by life.

Maybe one of them know someone instead? I mused, sipping from my tea. My eyes landed on Gvrilla and King Aaron, who were talking quietly with each other. They have mates and children. But... would they want them to be endangered for another colony?

"Well." Queen Gertrude's voice ended the quiet spell. "I think there's only one thing we can do." She turned to me. "Anita?"

My heart skipped a beat. "Do you know someone who would be willing to take Queen Dominique on?"

"Anita, you should be the next queen."

I stared at Queen Gertrude, sure I'd misheard her. "Who?"

"You." The queen repeated, her eyes glowing softly with thought. "Why not?"

"A lot of reasons!" Uneasiness rose up in my chest. "You're mistaken. I'm not the type to lead. I've always followed."

"Anita is right, Gertrude." King Aaron said. "She's young and inexperienced, not to mention she's had no formal training in diplomacy. Aren't there Laws against it?"

Queen Gertrude waved her hand dismissively and turned to me. "Haven't you read the Grimoire?"

"It's over a thousand scrolls, ma'am."

"And?"

I turned helplessly to Gvrilla, but she looked thoughtful. "It... might work, Anita. You're young and strong, aren't you? You could reasonably challenge the Court."

"No." I stood up from the table, knocking over my cup of tea. It suddenly felt like I was being trapped in a corner. "I- no. Absolutely not. I don't want to be a queen! I signed up for this so I could have my freedom back, not to take the throne for my own!"

"Anita, calm down." King Aaron warned me. "You're yelling."

Caught halfway between mortification and that's the damn point, I just sat down again, clenching my teeth. Everyone was now watching me, though Queen Gertrude had a knowing look on her matronly face.

"It would be a bad idea." I said, trying to stuff back the feeling of panic. "King Aaron already said I'm inexperienced. Not to mention I'm a Ryn, not a Lira."

"The Laws state that anyone could be the monarch as long as they have the support of the people behind them." Queen Gertrude replied calmly. "And there's plenty of dragonlings who are against Dominique."

"That doesn't mean they'd be with me." I argued back. "Again, I'm a Ryn. Liras have always been in charge of my colony."

"Maybe it's time for a new change." Liza suddenly said beside me. I stared at her in surprise and her cheeks flushed before she hurried on. "Anita, you've seen firsthand what it's like on the battlefield. You wouldn't start a war over vanity or pride. You'd think ahead, wouldn't you?"

"Liza, you should know most of all that I am the least likely dragonling to think ahead."

Gvrilla drummed her fingers on the table. "Anita. Do you really want your people to suffer any more? Dominique is obviously not suited to be queen any longer. If we wait for someone else to come along, how many dragonlings would die? How many of them would suffer? Besides, you could step down after a while and let someone more qualified take the lead."

"At that rate, you could instate anyone else!" I argued. "Who would follow me? I'm not experienced or well-trained. I don't even have that many friends! Back home, most dragonlings avoided me. Why would they suddenly think I'm their leader?"

"Because they don't need to see you." Queen Gertrude said, her voice suddenly eerily excited. "They need to see your story. They'll see someone who was forced into servitude wrongfully, one who has seen war and death. Even if they don't know you, they'd be sympathetic to your cause. Some dragonlings believe in honor and nobility over loyalty to a corrupt queen."

I shifted uncomfortably. The way the queen said it was so convincing. Maybe it could work out...

"Wait." I sat up. "No. I have no idea how to run a colony. Even if I win the war and become queen, who's to say I'll be a better leader than Queen Dominique? She might be corrupt, but she was at least trained in... I- I don't even know what I don't know!"

"Anita." Eliza put a hand on my shoulder. "We'll be here to help you. Besides, you'll be able to choose eight advisers. There's bound to be Liras who'd follow you."

My head was swimming. I didn't know whether or not I believed in Queen Gertrude's plan - in myself - and there was already a headache forming behind my eyes.

Taking a deep breath, I stood up. "Okay. I will think about it. This has to be my choice, right?"

Queen Gertrude looked like she was about to argue, but Gvrilla spoke up. "Of course it's your choice, Anita. We can't force you to do something you don't want to do. But... just keep it in your mind."

"I... I will." I wasn't sure if that was the truth, but it felt right to say. "But..."

All four of my companions looked at me expectantly. I mentally grasped for any excuse I could think of, and eventually landed on the most basic one. "My mates might not agree."

Queen Gertrude pursed her lips. "I thought you just said you wanted it to be your choice."

"It will be." I said defensively. "But it's a big decision and I'd like input from my mates first. What would you do if your mate went off and did... well, whatever you want me to do here? Wouldn't you be upset?"

"No." Queen Gertrude said, but King Aaron nodded silently.

"Go ahead and talk to them." Gvrilla said. "And Mako, while you're at it. He'll want to hear about this too."

"Alright. Thank you." I stiffly walked out of the teahouse, my mind still whirling with everything that had been said. There was no way I was cut out for being a queen. Not now, not in a hundred years. Dmitri and Aleksandr would definitely agree with me. And Ray. Hopefully. There was no telling what he would do or say.

Shifting into my dragon form, I took into the air and looked around. Where was everyone again? Everyone had taken off this morning...

Screams erupted from a nearby section of the marketplace and my head snapped over to see. Several dragonlings took flight to get away, and fire was already spreading through the wooden stalls. In the midst of the chaos was a suspiciously familiar black fyn in a deadlock with a Lira whose scales were rapidly shifting colors in fear.

I hissed, smoke curling out of my nose in irritation. "Oh, you've got to be kidding me, Dmitri."