"There must be some mistake! I only took the position of General within the Leafmen brigades because my late mother ordered me to! It wasn't something I wanted foisted onto me then, and I still don't want it!"

Long, muscular legs worked hard to keep up with the seemingly frail and tiny Shyuma as they made their way deeper into the bowels of Windbreak Conclave, surrounded by ancient walls of stone from the earth itself. Core growled to himself as he considered the situation. She may be small, and a newly-crowned Queen, but by all of Nature she's fast! "My Queen, there are others far better suited to this position than myself, and you know it! Please let someone who is better qualified take my place!"

Quiet green eyes in an almost elfin face gazed up at the taller Shyuma as she stopped suddenly, forcing Core to backpedal or run her down. "In time. Maybe. But you must remain where you are for the time being. We will have guests soon to take the infant that my mother had given birth to a few days ago. We can not show them how weak we are after the battles with the Blight. Even I know the toll that was paid for the peace we will enjoy for some years. We can not risk that now, or the Tenders will come in to evaluate Windbreak."

Core shuddered at the thought. Every Shyuma was well-versed in the lore of their cousins, the Tenders, and the records of what one was capable of doing rattled even the strongest heart. Those born with jet black hair and unnaturally shaded blue eyes and the ability to call forth the primal elements to their will with the same accuracy of a Queen within her forest. More than once they had come and taken over a Conclave until a more suitable Queen was designated. More than once, they had leveled a Conclave to bare earth. To think that a Tender could be born of the same parent as the Queen or even himself made Core more than a little nervous, grey eyes betraying that behind neatly trimmed bangs.

"Do not worry, they never stay any longer than is necessary. They will be able to care for the child better than his own mother is willing to. It is such a shame that we can not get along." The Queen's eyes took on a more distant look at her thought, and Core had to clear his throat to regain her attention. "We are from the same stock, we are the same people. Yet they have abilities to rival a Queen's own, and that has never sat well with many."

"I wonder why." Core flipped his long sandy-brown ponytail back over his shoulder as he spoke. "They have killed Queens before, as well as taken over Conclaves! They've promoted the Blight in numerous areas! How can they be trusted?"

"Because we must. A Tender never does a thing for the more obvious reasons. They see a greater picture than we ever could." At the blank stare from her General, the Queen sighed. "Tenders have no territory other than their Holds, as you know, and yet they seem to almost know where they are needed. They see the whole of nature, not one small corner of it."

The sound of running boots on smooth floor caught their attention before Core could respond, and both turned their focus to the far arched hallway that they had left only a moment earlier."Your Majesty, General, three ravens have landed, and their riders are requesting an audience! They are black-haired!"

"They are a bit earlier than I expected." The Queen smiled and began to head back the way they had come. "The Tenders must not have been that far away to have reached here so soon. Please, allow them entry, we will be in my chambers shortly."

"A-are you sure?" The younger Leafman blurted out before he could stop himself.

Core growled slightly. "Yes, the Queen gave an order, so show them hospitality. The sooner we get this over with in a civil manner, the sooner they will take themselves and their shadow-birds away from Windbreak."

"Yes, Sir, right away!" With no more questions, the soldier turned and ran back the way he had come to fulfill the order.

"I hope you are right about this, my Queen. I have a very bad feeling about this."

With a serenity Core would remember for decades, the new Queen followed the soldier's path at a sedate pace. "In time, all will be made clear. For better or for worse, we must now tend to our guests."