<div class="floatright">(https://img00.deviantart.net/9350/i/2013/067/7/5/prince_ivan_wolf_by_mad_sama-d5xbtav.jpg)</div>Far above, on a rampart overlooking the city, Auren looked impatiently at the trio before him--two old men and one young woman obscured in shadows and a heavy cloak..  One was the lord mayor of the capital, the other the chief of the city guard.  The third he had more recently met--she was a witch connected with the empire's intelligence service--an informant to the king whose agents included beast and portents as well as men.  "What is it?" he asked impatiently.  "You may have noticed I'm busy tonight."<br/><br/>"My lord," coughed the mayor, stepping forward.  "Our sincere congratulations to you and your wives.  However, the people had certain expectations that the assembly... well, that is to say..."<br/><br/>"The dragons," said the other man gruffly.  "They won't bloody leave."<br/><br/>Auren's eyebrows rose and he leaned back, gazing up into the now cloudy skies above.  Sure enough, after waiting for some time he was able to pick out the movement of some vast creature, or creatures, in the clouds.<br/><br/>The mayor tapped his fingers together, holding his palms toward each other as if in prayer.  "Paranoia already mounts.  If they don't leave by morning the people may begin to panic."<br/><br/>Auren looked sullenly in the air.  It wasn't like he could call them down and demand them to explain themselves at such a distance.  He'd been well briefed on dragons, of course--he knew that of all their senses, the least was hearing.  While they were still better in this way than a small platoon of men spread out over some distance, dragons could see practically over the horizon in perfect clarity, and all his intelligence seemed to indicate that they had some unfathomable way of knowing where things were without seeing them--dragons could track movement through walls without ears, waiting in ambush for prey they neither heard or saw.  Mysterious creatures, but quite hard to deal with.<br/><br/>Finally the witch stepped forward, her upper face obscured in shadow, pale skin underneath glowing in the moonlight.  "My lord, perhaps I could make a guess at what they may want."<br/><br/>"Go ahead," Auren said with keen interest.<br/><br/>"For generations, the dragons have sought to provide you with a suitable bride.  While even they of course could not demand an immediate demonstration, perhaps they wait to... ensure the marriage's consummation?"<br/><br/>Auren froze, and the two other men started.  "That's quite a theory," he said, wondering just what kind of mindset led to it.  "But... it does have quite some logic to it."  He gripped an iron flagpole and stared up at the distant silhouettes.<br/><br/>Oh well.  He'd been looking for an excuse to pick someone out as "first."<br/><br/>"Very well, I shall attend to my royal duties," he said, twirling around.  "Monitor the situation and send me a note if they leave.  A subtle one, if you please."<br/><br/>--------------------------------<br/><br/>Moments later, an attendant clad in a white dress stuck her pretty head in to check on Odell.  "Mistress Odell, is there anything you need?" she asked in a subservient tone.  She was pushing a cart with cleaning supplies, some light food, and even wine and sweets for those wives who may be... disappointed by being left alone during their first night in the castle.  "If you'd like, some of the others were going to meet in the great hall and..." her voice trailed away and she took on an amazed expression as the sound of heeled boots sharply echoed down the hall.  A man's voice echoed down the hallway, and the maid stammered in response "Y-yes!  She's right here, and quite--"<br/><br/>"Thank you, I'd like a word with her," Auren said, appearing at the open door.  He nodded gently, lowering his voice.  "Why don't you go attend to the others," he said in a kind, patient way, but he quickly shut the door behind him.<br/><br/>"I hope I'm not intruding," he said, locking the door and turning to Odell, keeping his back straight.  He looked almost imposing despite the height disadvantage and a casual smile--he'd cast aside his doubts on the way down and steeled himself for however awkward this may be, and at any rate the intense business of the last few days had left him no desire to waste time.