Chapter six

“ The first day of the training was, unique, I must say. Being torn from all he knew he sure did push his ways on them hard." 

Susan looks at Steve smirking. “ Not that he exempt me from his trials. His way of training was strange also. He first taught us how to kill. The ways and the methods. We did not understand the reason for this till much later." 

Steve shook his head. “ And that is for a later time I guess. While this was going on, the first day of training I returned to my queen chambers. I learned that day that my double had been executed. Which saddens me because she was the only one that I could really speak to before Steve. My overseers were strictly punished as well for my escape. Sense my defiance toward the high queen was well rumored at this point, and the fact that I ruled over the human." 

Steve coughs gently. “ In their eyes. I had free reign to do what I liked, within a certain amount of reason. Like many coming queens I started looking for a suitable stable. Most of the, suitors, if that is what you want to call them, were more horny than they had whit for. Some were strong and even fewer had a brain. In the sense they could speak more than six words together in the presence of a female."

Susan rolls her eyes. “ Steve says there are those types in his world too. Back to the point. I found the pins of 'those' males not to my liking. Besides I had time. I made better use of it."

Five days a week Steve had his students training for hours on end non stop. Sometimes he would have them continue training throughout a night and well into the next day, as if under battle conditions. Often he would have them do difficult exercises for hours while reciting lessons he had given before hand. The four and Susan were very intelligent and skilled. They were in good physical form as well. By the fifth day the toll on them all was shown. Susan was shown no favorites. If one would receive a punishment than she would receive an equal one if needed. Yet unlike the others he never did put the hook under her jaw. She was not sure if it was respect or fear of the reciprocation of that act. Today she was not training as the others are not. They were resting and reviewing their lessons. Steve was planning for the next week. Susan came to the inner sanctum for a different reason than to find a husband. She knew that entering the keepers domain may have consequences. She entered the chamber with another golden dragon sitting in between two lit torches. They were not ordinary as they were maintained by her will alone. “ Ah, the strange one. I been expecting you." 

Susan lifted her head surprised but moved to between the torches. “ If I was expected I could guess you know why I am here." 

The two flames started to fuse together over her and seemed to dance with one another. “ You could guess that. If your guess is right is to be seen." 

Susan became annoyed with the riddle. “ Then it is my choice to make my own guess about you right or not. Of course you can also always make my guess correct or not at your own whim as well." The fire stopped it's dance and returned to their torches as the other dragon faced her finally. “ This too is also correct in it's own ways." 

Susan bowed her head. “ There are not many queens with the power of the elements. At the very least I wish to understand a little of the power that the human I care for has." 

The torches go dark then the room brightens up when over a dozen torches lit up. “ His power is strong but it does not come from an elemental spirit." Susan nods confirming what she thought. “ His power is knowledge beyond this world, and therefore foreign. I know your element is the element of the volcano but you are the wisest of the spirit shamans in the clan. I believe his element is the streaks of light that form in the sky. The power of lightning." 

The other dragon shakes her head. “ It is true there are similarities but his power is not that rare element but an even rarer one. In fact it might be a mix of several including that one. But the base of his ways is built on the make up of that power you suspect. Young one if you are thinking on calling on a spirit to form a closer bond with him I suggest you do not. The spirits are unpredictable at best."

Susan sighed being so transparent. “ I am not sure what I wish to become. I disobeyed the high queens orders and left to the human world. I know I must bare young. This fact has not changed and I have not shunned it. The time before and after only are what I am thinking of."

The other dragon grunted amused. “ You seek to be more than a slave to your role. You seek to do more than you are meant to. Perhaps you seek to be a war queen."

Susan's interest became peeked. “ What is a war queen?"

The room goes dark again and the dragon in front of her seemed to have a hue of fire around her. “ The war queen. The strongest of queens. As the high queen is the wisest. None in my generation has become this title."

Susan looked amazed as the fire around the other transformed from a shape of a dragon to a mighty phoenix. “ And why is that?" 

The phoenix pauses it's movements to her question. “ When I was young one dared to try. She was young and strong and my sister. The high queen of the time was warned what she might become and so she sought her slew. Instead it was the high queen that was slain and she took the role of the new high queen, who still rules to this day." Susan pauses uncertain. “ Is this my fate as well?"

The fire phoenix settles back to being the dragon. “ This is unknown. As it is unknown as the puzzles we dueled over earlier, but know this. She does not need to be warned to know what path you may be choosing for yourself. A young high queen is needed every now and then and she knows this. She is not ready to pass the role on as most high queens are." Susan paused in thought. “

I assume she did not seek her role as I am not seeking hers. Yet if I continue this path I am considering I may follow." 

The other nods only. “ As history has shown to be. Yet there is something different with you than her." Susan sighs. “ The human."

The room then becomes very bright. Bright enough that Susan closed her eyes and that did not even shield her from it. “ If you sought the path before him than your fate is that of that of those before you. This is because you mind is made in the old ways and you will use the new to make it so, but you will seek new ways if you come to this decision after you have met him because you will learn of the old and find they did not work. Everyone has a fate young one and the elements let us see a thread or two of them."

Susan forced her eyes to open and she found the light was no longer there but a fire elemental whispering in the others ear. “ And what of my threads?" 

The elemental looks back at her then back to the ear. “ Your threads are thin and frail for the path you seek as they are strong to that which is sure. However the weaker threads hold greater promise as the stronger result in emptiness in ones self. It simply becomes a matter of wishing to know if your would rather die than live without life. Now it is time for you to go. We may meet again but next time you may not survive."

Susan left the chamber a little confused but glad she went. The cost of her vision for a few minutes was a small price for her. After it she returned to her queen chambers. She soon found that a mistake as several males decided to try to court her there. After the tenth rejection she announced her weariness and wished to rest. It was still early in the day but she wanted to think more than anything and she was left in peace. She found herself in the beast pelts thinking on the day. She was also thinking of the past and the future but soon found herself asleep. “ My queen?" 

Susan squirmed in the pelts a little hearing a voice awaken her. “ My queen!" Susan growled annoyed to herself before speaking up. “ Go away."

She curled back up still under the pelts and they were lifted off of her. She opened her eyes to find Galatem. “ What do you want general? Can you not see I am trying to sleep? I had a long day." Galatem set the pelts to the side. “ My apologies but your long day has yet to begin. Your human is waiting on you to begin his training for the day." 

Susan raised up surprised. “ It is already tomorrow? I did not think it would come this fast." 

Galatem backed away to allow her out of the jumbled mess. “ My queen you have been resting for a full day and more. He went threw normal training yesterday without you knowing your duties wore you thin but he sent the slave to me to fetch you. His lesson requires you." Susan sighs and stretches. “ Very well. I must not receive special treatment."