It was a bright and shining summer morning on the great fortress that was Castle Marl. The air was crisp and clear, the wind sending a slight rustle through the trees, the bees buzzed and a bird could be heard starting its early song. A quick arrow shot later, and there was considerable less singing in the air.

The good Queen Silth awoke groggily underneath 50 different layers of golden sheets made from melted crowns and the finest silks combined, as well as some slave tears. Her head had been resting on pillows made from the most exquisite fabrics, and stuffed with feathers from birds that no longer existed (some would call them plain pigeon feathers, but Mokkan would most likely never lie about such a thing).

Even with all these extravagant luxuries, something still troubled her. Something she knew deep down. It had been many seasons since her beloved and died. Torn from life to soon, Silth still remembered the day it happened. They had started their morning with an argument over who would win in a fight, Vilu Daskar or Badrang the Tyrant. She didn't clearly recall who made the uncalled for remarks (Silth), or who began the violence that soon followed (Silth), but she DID know who ended up sleeping with the fishes (not-Silth).

So, the Queen acted how she always did whenever feelings of remorse, loneliness, bitterness, and internal crisis consumed her.

She yelled at her annoying children to go get her more stuff.

They all came rather quickly, with the exception being the smallest one, Lantur. But that was alright. Lantur wouldn't be going anywhere anyway. Out of all the kids, she got the worst loot, and never really seemed that eager to please her mother. Regardless, Lantur was already following in her footsteps, taking to expensive wines, silks, and other miscellaneous things the rat raiding parties brought in.

Second to the end of the line was Silth's second favorite child, Ascrod. She had always doted on the youngest son, for the pure reason of wanting to spoil at least one of her kids. Despite that, he still came back with decent loot and his adorable little smile.

Next to him in the line was Ziral. Silth usually only sent her out for one of two reasons. A) To defeat an enemy.
Or B) To keep her away from home so she could stop killing the guards.

After her was the other one.

After that one was her biggest failure, Gelltor. He was always a huge waste of time. She hated even looking at him. It didn't help that he was the only one who wasn't handsome among the three males. Plus, he wasn't exactly the brightest. His only redeeming feature was he was tough, and unlike Ziral, didn't have to wear restraints and muzzles around the castle.

Next to that train wreck was her favorite daughter, Vannan. She was the stealthiest and the best thief overall. She conveyed confidence in her every word, led the rats well, and got along with all of her siblings... unfortunately that list also included Gelltor, but nobody is perfect.

Except for her favorite child, that is, the eldest child, Mokkan. Mokkan had all of the others' good traits, and less of their bad traits. He was incredibly stealthy, confident, he took to the grand things in life and he too was rather dashing.

So, she began giving the daily instructions.

"Pretty one, smart one." Silth didn't have time to fully remember their names. It was early in the morning, and they already knew who was who. "You two go to the West. Pick up some more emerald encrusted crowns. This time, get a darker shade of green."

Ascrod and Vannan nodded, and left without a word.

"Best one, crazy one, go find that rat that's calling himself king of the marshes. Do as you please, but make sure to bring back something rare and magnificent."

Mokkan and Ziral left through the same exit as the first two.

"Alright, bottom of the barrel time. Lantur-"

As soon as her name was mentioned, the youngster begin hacking, wheezing, and coughing. When looking like she was about to collapse, Silth groaned and rubbed her temples.

"might as well stay here... again."

Words must have some magical effect, because Lantur immediately straightened herself out, flashed a pearly white smile, and vacated the room.

"Worthless one, other one, go on ahead and fetch me something from... I don't know..." Silth never really could get anything out of these two, no matter where she sent them. Even when they DID bring her something, it still seemed like trash.

"The southern deserts?" Gelltor added helpfully.

Silth grabbed for something in her vicinity and chucked it at Gelltor's head. Unfortunately for him, diamond encrusted golden plates don't hit softly.

"You had no permission to talk, you ugly little beast!"

"Salamandastron?" the voice came out somewhat quietly. The Queen turned her attention to her middle child. Salamandastron. Yes, there were sure to be many valuables there. Plus, the satisfaction that a member of her brood could get something from under the noses of those uppity hares and braggart badger would surely brighten her mood.

It was a shame that she had already sent out all the children she had confidence in. 'If anything' she thought. 'I can still send these two and have them either get me something or die trying. No risk, possible reward situation.'

"Good idea... Prozac?"

"Predak." Gelltor interjected.

This time it was a ruby covered fork that flew at Gelltor, though thankfully he was able to avoid major damage by dodging.

"Predak?" Silth asked her daughter, who in turn merely nodded.

"Well, get going you two. Find me anything, so long as it came from inside Salamandastron.

The two departed like the rest. Silth lay back in her sheets.

'Lantur, Vannan, Ascrod, Gelltor, PREDAK. No wonder I hardly ever call them by their names. What was I thinking when I named them. No, must've been his ideas.'


Was originally just going to be a joke chapter, but... I dunno.