Vhalak was the first and only son of King Vishryke. At the age of fourty, Vhalak murdered his father, and had founded the Empire, naming himself as Emperor. 

     He spoke of the One True God, the God who blessed him with five dragons. Dragons had been gone from the world for thousands of years, since the Age of the Apocalypse, when the old gods reigned fire from the skies and abandoned the world they made. He waged this war for this God, to unite the lands under his banner to bring everyone under this God's rule. 

     Vhalak had definitely been blessed; before, he had been no more than a jester prince in his father's court. And now he was a giant warlord, a fearless and terrifying man.

     The Emperor had dark, tan skin with the darkest eyes one had ever seen. His beard was braided and neatly kept, his dark hair always greased back. He wielded a great, two-handed greatsword with only one hand. 

     The man had a strong hatred for all the races on Darin that weren't human. The fact that he had made Mirandir one of his Dragonlords always made the elf smile to himself. Vhalak needed him, and he knew it. That's the real reason why Vhalak hadn't killed him. 

     "I know why you took the First Keep," said the Emperor as Mirandir poured him a glass of wine and set a plate of food in front of him. "You know that the eye is somewhere in the Westfold." 

     Mirandir poured himself a glass. He cast Vhalak a glance before he walked over to the window. "I had planned on departing for Esyn in the morning, to pay a visit to Asteris, in the library there. He's an old friend," he added with a gesture. "He would know where the Eye of Vanala is."

     "You find it, and bring it back to Nilaheim." Vhalak leaned back in his chair, twirling the stem of the glass in his fingers. "Vanala will be free, and all of the enemies to the Empire will be its slaves, worshiping their queen." He stared at Mirandir a moment, cocking his head. "But, of course, I'm not an idiot, Mirandir. You have your own plans. You seek the eye not for me, not for Vanala, but for yourself. I know there's something up with that girl always hanging around you. The witch." 

     At this, Mirandir returned his gaze. The corner of his mouth tilted upward. "If you know all of that, your grace, then why allow me to live?" he said softly. "Doesn't exactly seem like a smart idea."

     "Because if you do betray me, Thalasyn, you wouldn't get anything from it. Doesn't matter if you can grow wings at will, how much metal you put in your body, how many witches you fuck." Vhalak leaned forward, his eyes flashing. "You'll lose with or without your little tricks. I don't see you as a threat. I keep you around for your strategic and intelligent mind. But do another thing like what you did here and you'll be my next personal slave."

     "I'll find the eye and bring it to Nilaheim," Mirandir replied after a moment's pause. He finished his wine and promptly poured him another. 

     "I want you to hold the First Keep. Hold the First Keep and find the eye, those are your orders for right now." Vhalak took a bite of bread from the plate in front of him. "Vanala have mercy on you if you fuck it up." 

     "I understand, your grace." Mirandir ever so slightly bowed. He could feel Vhalak's black eyes scrutinizing him. 

     "Good. For your sake, I hope you do as well. Now go. I can only listen to your voice for so long." 

     Mirandir gave the man one last bow before exiting the room. He ignored the two soldiers posted outside, and headed towards his own chambers.

     He opened the door and found Malearyia inside, brushing her hair on the bed. Ignoring her, he shut the door and walked over to the desk. A plate of food sat upon it. 

     "For you, my lord," said Malearyia. "I figured you would be hungry." 

     "Thank you." Mirandir sat down in the chair. He picked up an apple and absent-mindedly took a small bite from it. 

     "Do you have to leave tomorrow?" Malearyia suddenly asked from her spot on the bed. She tugged a knot out of her hair. 

     "What?" Mirandir cast her a confused glance, his black eyebrow wrinkling.

     "Tomorrow you leave me here alone," Malearyia replied. She put down the brush. "I believe I will miss you when you do. I do not want to be lonely once more." 

     At this, Mirandir turned around in the chair and stared at Malearyia, an incredulous look on his face. "Oh no, not poor little, emotionless Malearyia growing attached to me." 

     Malearyia did not look at him. Her gaze was glued to the floor, as if it had suddenly become very interesting. "The cabin you found me in. I had been there for a thousand years, and had never once seen another person. You were the first one. I had a duty to make a contract. I fulfilled that. But what made me happiest of you accepting it was that no longer would I have to sit an eternity in loneliness."

     "I thought you couldn't tell me anything about your past. The Dragons Power doesn't work on you, you know." Mirandir turned the chair around to face her fully. "Come here, you poor, sad wench." 

     Malearyia slowly stood up and walked over to him, the edges of her black dress sweeping the floor. She stopped in front of Mirandir, her eyes looking into his. "I do not feel sadness," she said. 

     "So you claim." Mirandir smirked. "Ask yourself that again tomorrow when I'm gone, and you're here, all alone, once more."

     "Will you return?" she asked, her purple eyes big. 

     "Maybe. Maybe not." Mirandir leaned back in the chair. "Tell me, would you like to me make tonight a bit more…fun for you?" he asked her, his voice soft. 

     Malearyia cocked her head. "I like fun." 

     Mirandir chuckled. "Turn around then for me." He rose to his feet. Malearyia could feel him unlacing her dress. 

     "What are you doing?" She held the dress up to her breasts to keep it from falling off her small figure. She turned around, wide eyed. 

     "Let it fall," the elf whispered. His voice was soft, and seductive. 

     Malearyia's cheeks turned a bright red. The dress fell to her ankles and her arms instinctively went to her chest and between her legs. 

     "No no, don't hide it, girl." Mirandir shook his head. "You like fun, right? Besides," he suddenly grabbed her wrists with one hand and held them above her head, pressing her against the nearby wall, "I can tell you're already enjoying this." 

     "Mirandir!" Malearyia blushed bright red. She could feel the heat rushing to her cheeks. She also felt something that she had not experienced before; a heat between her legs. 

     Mirandir let out a chuckle. His free hand made its way to her breast. It fit perfectly in the palm of his hand. "You have the body of an elf, you know. Small, tight…bald. I'm beginning to think you're not actually a human." 

     "I never claimed to be a human," she breathed. She closed her eyes. She could feel Mirandir's lips at her neck. "You made that assumption yourself." 

     "Not elven, not human…." Mirandir's lips glided over her neck. He let go of her hands as he lowered himself to his knees, his lips laying light, tantalizing kisses on her hips. "What are you then?" he whispered. 

     Malearyia felt his tongue suddenly flick over her clit. She gasped. "Mirandir! W-what are you doing?" 

     "Answer the question." He looked up at her, his eyes gleaming. He slowly glided his tongue across her pink lips. 

     "You know I cannot tell you that," Malearyia moaned softly. The wave of pleasure in her body was intense as Mirandir worked his tongue on her. 

     "Such a shame," he said. He stood back up, wiping the saliva from his mouth. "You have made me remember how much I enjoy the company of a woman." 

     He pressed up against her once more, his supple hand caressing her soft skin as he seductively kissed her neck. Malearyia felt something large and hard in-between his legs. 

     She blushed a bright red. "I'm scared," she whispered. 

     "I'll be gentle, sweet girl," Mirandir breathed. He looked into her eyes, his hand on her waist. "I swear it." 

     "I thought you weren't into girls." Malearyia suddenly gripped Mirandir's hard cock from behind his pants. "I thought men were your thing." 

     Mirandir smiled, slightly cocking his head in surprise. "Both, my lady, both."