Ashur called in the cavalry to bring in Sven. Fuera, Hathai, and Enzi showed up with Sven, with Enzi carrying Sven in a net caught up in his claws. Because of the time crunch, Cinira had given permission for them to fly in their dragon forms, though Sven had not gotten any such dispensation. Not that Ashur would have been okay with it anyway. We were still treating Sven with cautious suspicion, just in case he was a plant.

Cinira's people surrounded Ashur's people as they flew in, security beyond tight after the attack. Though I didn't know how you could have really prepared for something like that.

They landed in the square, surrounded by Cinira's people just as we were when we arrived. Maybe this was just the normal, intimidating welcome party here. They changed and pulled on clothes from the packs they'd been carrying.

I'd been expecting Enzi and Hathai, as they were Ashur's most trusted people, but Fuera was still a bit of a question mark for me. However, she was basically Sven's shadow as his prison guard, so I shouldn't have been surprised by her appearance. She was also hard to miss with that lavender hair she usually kept in a ponytail. Maybe they'd be more likely to give her a pass with that color.

Hathai's petite frame partially blocked Enzi's wiry one as he wrapped up the net. She smiled seeing me then pulled something out of a pocket, walking over while holding a piece of paper in her hand. 

"This is for you," she said, offering it to me.

Taking it from her, I unfolded the wrinkled paper. An explosion of colors decorated the inside, blocky figures drawn standing in front of a green house with an azure sky. A crude dragon form hung in the air over the two figures. The larger one had hair the same color as mine and was holding the hand of the smaller one. Looking from it to Hathai, I arched an eyebrow. 

"Omari says it's the two of you and you’re protected by the dragon," she explained. 

I quickly blinked away threatening tears. "Thank you," I said. 

Hathai nodded and went back to Enzi.

Ashur walked over to greet the small group as I hung back. He said something to them quietly and they all listened intently before he led them back over to where Cinira and I were standing.

"You trust this man?" Cinira asked, her eyes on Sven.

I shrugged. That was a complicated question.

"He hasn't given us any reason not to. Yet."

Cinira smiled slightly. "All right."

The group reached us. Fuera, Hathai, and Enzi bowed to Cinira, with Sven following their lead, his eyes watchful, his nerves apparent in the tenseness of his shoulders. Not that any of Ashur's people were particularly relaxed to be here in their former adversary's territory.

"I hope for your sake that you're telling the truth," Cinira greeted Sven.

"I would be a fool not to be at this point," he replied steadily. "I thank you for hearing me out."

She nodded, her face reserved.

"You and your guards will be staying in adjoining rooms in my tower," she said. "I hope that meets with your needs."

"That is very generous," Enzi murmured. "Thank you for your hospitality."

Cinira gestured to one of her people, a petite blond woman.

"I'll go with them to help them get settled," Ashur murmured, stepping away from me with a warm look.

Everyone knew he was going to brief them about the situation.

"I'll see you soon," I said, and he nodded at me.

Cinira's appointee led the newly arrived group away.

As soon as they left our side, Cinira turned to me.

"Come. We don't have much time to ready ourselves before the other Lords will be flying in."

Cinira and Ashur had both decided it would be best for Cinira to be the host for the meeting. She was older and well respected, meaning it would be more likely for the others to accept her. So far, it seemed like everyone had.

As we turned to follow the same path back to Cinira's tower, a tall, well-built man in slacks and a button-down walked up to Cinira.

"Cinira, should we get started with the cleanup?" He glanced back at the destruction that was apparent even from the square. "If we don't start soon, I don't know if we'll be able to make significant headway before everyone arrives. Truthfully, we might not finish even if we start now."

The intervening time so far had been spent taking care of the wounded and the dead.

Cinira shook her head.

"I want you to leave everything just as it is," she ordered. "I want everyone to see the damage done to our city."

The man nodded gravely. "I will inform everyone."

We had discussed this too after the attack. The bodies had all been carted away, both the dragons and the phoenixes. But Cinira had deliberately not initiated a plan to deal with the physical aftermath of the city's destruction, explaining that the sight of it, being confronted with the gut punch of the actual destruction would help make our case better than words alone would.

I could see her reasoning. It was a calculated move.

I followed Cinira back to the tower and into the elevator leading up. But we didn't get off on her floor. I frowned as we got off on a lower floor and she led the way down the hall, white molding surrounding pretty paintings and small nooks with settees placed inside. Her feet were silent on the marble floor as she led the way down the hall to a pair of double doors inlaid with gold filigree.

She opened the doors after a brief hesitation and entered. I stepped onto plush, cream colored carpet. The room itself was done in creams, silvers, and a delicate pink. The large bed had an honest to goodness gossamer thin canopy and more pillows than could ever be necessary. The dresser and furniture were painted a creamy white, made to look delicate and airy. The overall effect was girlish, though still sophisticated.

Confused, I looked over at Cinira. She was looking at the room with a soft look on her face. She cleared her throat when she saw I was watching her.

"When Grace didn't come back, I couldn't bring myself to pack up her room," she murmured. "But I haven't come in here in ages."

Grace? This was my mother's room? I looked around with renewed interest. But I couldn't see the mother I knew in this pretty, girlish room. The Grace I knew had been tough as nails even thought she was also loving. But maybe...this was who she used to be. Before Emberich.

Cinira seemed to shake herself.

"In any case," she said briskly moving farther into the room towards a large wardrobe. "I brought you in here to find clothing for you."

"Clothing?" I repeated, startled. "What's wrong with what I have?" I asked.

She glanced over at me as she opened the doors.

"Nothing at all, my dear. But when you're dealing with Dragon Lords, a certain amount of... showmanship is called for."

Showmanship?

"Great," I muttered.

She chuckled as she rifled just through the hangers.

"Sometimes the game must be played," she admonished. "Ah. Here we are."

She pulled out a long and flowing creamy fabric. But I also saw a glint of silver.

"It looks about the right size," she said, casting a critical eye at the dress and then me. "And I think it will send the right message. Try it on," she urged.

I took the dress, the fabric soft and smooth under my touch. It was somewhat reminiscent of the ones that Cinira favored herself. But it wasn't exactly the same. Where the bodice of the dress would be, it was actually a silver-plated armor, molded to fit over a woman's body. At the back of the dress, I could see there were some breakaway clasps. The skirt was made of a silky creamy material that fell all the way to the floor, but had a high slit on one side for ease of movement.

It was beautiful, there was no doubt about that. And Cinira knew more about a meeting like this than I did. She was probably right about what to wear.

Decided, I quickly chucked my own clothes and pulled the dress on.

"Here, let me help you," she offered.

Stepping behind me, she did up the clasps and adjusted the skirt.

The sleeves were small drapes of fabric leaving the tops of my shoulders bare. Not very practical, but that wasn't the intention.

"And the shoes," Cinira muttered to herself, returning to the wardrobe and coming back with a pair of delicate-looking sandals that had multiple clasps rising up to mid-calf.

I pulled them on and found that the clasps were actually only decorative. All I had to do was slide my feet into them.

I straightened, and Cinira stepped back to take a look at me. She sighed.

"It fits you like a glove," she said, a wistful expression on her face. "I wish..." She shook her head, not finishing as she wiped at her eyes. Squaring her shoulders, she let out a breath. "This is perfect." She cleared her throat. "If you will just excuse me..."

I took a step towards her but she hurried out of the room, her head bowed.

I swallowed, a knot in my throat as I forced back my own tears. I missed her too. I wanted to tell Cinira that, but maybe now wasn't the time. I couldn't break down right now, though I understood why Cinira had. The news of my mother's death was much more recent for her. She hadn't known when it happened. Taking a deep breath, I looked around, trying to distract myself.

There was a floor-length mirror in one corner of the room. Smoothing the skirt down, I walked over to it. I didn't recognize the person looking back at me. The dress did fit like a glove, molding to my torso and flowing out from my waist to the ground. I looked like a princess in a children's story. One that wouldn't be averse to carrying around a sword. As formal clothing went, I could hang with this.

I fingered the fabric. I liked it much more because it was my mother's.

I looked around the room again, but then I grabbed my clothes and headed out. I'd come back some other time to explore more thoroughly, but I was worried that I would break down just like Cinira if I hung around there much longer. And I didn't have time to break down right now. So I headed back to the suite Cinira had given us in her tower, taking the elevator straight to it.

When I stepped in, Ashur was on the couch, tapping something on the screen of his pad. He looked up, a greeting on his lips, but then his eyes widened as he took me in. He stood up, setting down his device.

"Wow," he said. "You look..." he trailed off.

"Likes Cinira's granddaughter?" I asked with a small smile.

"I was going to say sexy as hell," he corrected, closing the distance between us. "And if we didn't have this meeting to get to, I would show you just how much I meant it," he murmured sliding his arms around me.

"Ditto," I said, stepping closer. "You look amazing."

He was dressed in a suit that was obviously tailor-made for him, fitting his broad shoulders and carved body perfectly. He looked like he was about to crack some heads in a boardroom. And that he wouldn't even break a sweat while doing so.

"Hmm," he murmured, kissing the sensitive spot just below my ear and sending a wave of heat through me. "Let's hold on to this thought until after the meeting," he murmured.

"Deal," I agreed, winding my arms around his neck, feeling better.

I really wished this meeting was already over. I could feel the butterflies in my stomach. Or maybe they were more like anvils with wings.

We stood there in each other's arms until the very last second before we had to leave.

Showtime.