The day was bright, and the wind was blowing a crispy breeze.<br/><br/>These were the days that Prince Hydrus of Cordelia treasured most. As he stood by the helm of<span style="font-style: italic">Prince Hydrus' Grace</span>, his flagship, he felt truly content. It was not warm by any means, but the nip in the air served only to refresh him. The sun was visible through a blanket of cotton clouds,  and the screech of a handful of gulls signalled the imminent end of the long voyage from Wassforde, regional capital of Chemarenth. Argus was once famous for having the cleanest, stillest harbour in the world, or so Hydrus had always been told. He never once disclosed to his father the reason he wanted to bring so many ships, urging him instead to trust his judgement. And he had.<br/><br/><span style="color: #00FFBF"><span style="font-style: italic">If I can blockade the harbour, I can prevent enemy agents from escaping by sea,</span></span>he thought, smiling to himself. Besides, a show of force from Cordelia might be in its place, to help assert Hydrus' authority in the meeting that was scheduled. he was only a prince, after all, and not even a crown price. However, as Champion of Cordelia, it fell to Hydrus to go abroad when the King was needed to calm the domestic waters. Storms were rampant this time of year, and the King could calm the waters and save the vital trade routes.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FFFF40">"Your Grace, the lookout has spotted land. Two degrees starboard."</span>His quartermaster and personal bodyguard, a half-merman by the name of Zaron, was the only man in the fleet who ever used his royal title. The rest called him Commodore, as was Hydrus' preference, but Zaron was stubborn.<span style="color: #00FFBF"><span style="font-style: italic">That's fair,</span></span>Hydrus always thought about that.<span style="font-style: italic"><span style="color: #00FFBF">He</span></span><span style="color: #00FFBF"> is </span><span style="font-style: italic"><span style="color: #00FFBF">my bodyguard as well.</span></span><br/><br/>He looked to his bodyguard with a nod, adjusting the ship's course. The other ships in the fleet, the two brigs on either side, the galleon directly behind and the smaller support ships swarming them, all followed suit instantly, like a carefully coreographied ensemble of dancers. This was the pride of the Cordelian Armed Forces, their fleets that worked, sailed, and breathed as one. Over six hundred sailors, in unison, as if Hydrus' mind was connected to them all. Perhaps, in some mysterious way, they were.<br/><br/><span style="color: #00FFBF">"As we discussed, have two sloops accompany me to the harbour and have the rest of the ship form a crossfire funnel by the harbour. Navy ships to pass without challenge, private vessels to be inspected. Ciardah flags and flagless vessels to be boarded on sight."</span>Argus was neutral ground. While that meant that no hostilities should be engaged, it also meant all rulers had a duty to maintain the peace and security. This was Hydrus' contribution.<br/><br/><div><hr style="height:2px; width:100%; border:0; color: white;background:white;"/></div><br/><br/>Argus. Axel Pyralis, king of Pyralis, was headed for that old, fabled city where he lost his father, brother, and uncle to Dardeios. He had heard all the tales as a child, after his aunt took her place as Queen Regent of Pyralis. She was now in the capital, overseeing things in the absence of the King, who had been summoned to Argus to face the threat of darkness once more. Axel dreaded the meeting. Not because he was afraid, but because he hated the tedious formalities it included. Axel was a dragon, proud and fierce. False compliments, fancy suits, and an air of nervousness was not what he considered a good time.<span style="color: #FF0000"><span style="font-style: italic">Get me my armour, and put my foe squarely in front of me. That's all I ask,</span></span>he thought, dismal. In the distance, his destination came into view.<br/><br/>Sitting atop his large stallion, Axel frowned at the castle in front of him. He hated riding and would rather just fly over, but somehow his entourage had convinced him to stay with them. After all, it was more dignified to ride in with his full escort, and he was a sovreign ruler. Nevertheless, Axel wore a scowl as he saw the crystalline castle in the distance. One of his bodyguards, a fellow dragon and lesser noble, rode up to him.<br/><br/><span style="color: #BF8000">"Your Majesty, I just came back from an aerial survey of the area. The keep is pretty crowded, and there's a large Cordelian fleet in the waters nearby."</span>Axel looked at the dragon - now in human form - and grinned broadly.<span style="color: #FF0000">"Cordelian, eh? What fleet flag did they fly?"</span>His bodyguard looked somewhat surprised at the question.<span style="color: #BF8000">"I couldn't tell, Your Majesty. It looked like a boat with a trident for a mast, but -"</span><span style="color: #FF0000">"Off I go!"</span>The bodyguard was left stunned as Axel transformed and took to the air, headed towards the Cordelian fleet.<br/><br/>Flapping his wings, Axel felt the wind under the membranes as he glided effortlessly throught the air. There was no sensation quite like flying, and yet, knowing what awaited when he landed was even more satisfying. Being the world's foremost producers of gunpowder, Pyralis had long since had trading agreements with Cordelia. Gunpowder for healthy food and quality timber, a deal that he and the prince, Hydrus, had streamlined and improved a decade before, in an effort to ease the strain on the ports and tax collectors. Hydrus was good company, and Axel was in dire need of it. So letting forth a draconic roar to shatter rocks in his glee, he dived from the skies toward Hydrus' flagship, where he would no doubt be standing at the castle. Circling around the ship's masts, he landed on deck by the aft of the ship, instantly transforming to his human self. Spotting Prince Hyrdus at the helm, he grinned and stepped forward.<br/><br/><div><hr style="height:2px; width:100%; border:0; color: White;background:White;"/></div><br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000">"Greetings, Prince Hydrus. Lovely weather today, isn't it?"</span>Axel strode over to Hydrus with a big grin and a confident straddle. Hydrus himself didn't take his eyes off his destination for a moment.<span style="color: #00FFBF">"Heavy armour at sea will see you killed, Your Majesty. It impedes your agility, making it more likely for you to go over board, and makes you sink like a stone if you do."</span>Axel scoffed at the idea.<span style="color: #FF0000">"What do you suggest, that I strip naked?"</span>Hydrus shrugged, and grinned that confident, cheeky grin of his.<span style="color: #00FFBF">"Would certainly give my crew a show."</span>The two royals, Cordelian and Pyrali, let out a roar of laughter that traveled all the way to Argus on the hefty winds.<br/><br/>An hour or so later, they walked together into the meeting chamber, both their bodyguard waiting somewhat embarassed by their superiors being left outside. Apparently in good moods, they walk up to the rest of the party and found their seats.<span style="color: #00FFBF">"Greetings, my fellow members of royalty. We apologise for keeping you waiting. My father regrets that he cannot join you today, but the storms keep him ever so busy. I am here as Champion and voice of Cordelia."</span>Hydrus gives the rest of the gathering a bow before sitting down, but Axel just slumps into a nearby seat.<span style="color: #FF0000">"I trust you've summoned the royalty of the world on more than a mere hunch, Queen Eira. What's this I hear about dark forces gathering?"</span>Both look to Eria for some form of a response, anticipation hanging heavily in the air.