The ride to the palace was comfortable as the two Shangs chatted about their lives, the palace, and any other topic that came to mind. Joesh told Laylari that he had come from a fief close to the desert, far to the south of Corus. His dark skin was a result of some ancestor who had been a member of a Bahzir tribe. Laylari told the new Shang of her past. He too listened in silence.

At last the trio breasted a hill and the palace and the capital lay before them. Laylari stopped dead and stared with her mouth agape. "It has that affect on people," the Wildcat told her with a twinkle in her eye. "Don't forget to breath," Joesh reminded her. Laylari had actually stopped breathing for a moment so the reminder was rather helpful.

Once at the palace they stabled their mounts and the Wildcat led Laylari on a brief tour of the palace. "You'll get used to it eventually but we don't have time to see the whole palace right now. We're late," said the Wildcat. "Late for what?" inquired the girl.

The wildcat said nothing as they went down a corridor that branched off into various training rooms. Laylari took a peek in one and saw a lone person practicing. At first she had thought it was a boy, from the short hair and the large stature but she quickly realized it was a girl of around 14 practicing punching and kicking patterns. Against the wall behind her was a staff topped with what looked short sword. The girl caught Laylari's eye and gave her a quick wink and a smile before returning to her exercises. "Who was that?" Laylari asked of the Wildcat. "Her? Oh, that's just Kel; she's a nice girl and a good fighter even if she is a noble." "I didn't know there were girl squires" said Laylari, feeling rather ignorant. "Squire. She's currently the only one to have taken up the King's proclamation that girls may train to be knights, anyway, no more questions. We're here."

Laylari was led into a smaller room filled with the largest variety of people she had ever seen all sitting in chairs around the walls. The wildcat began introductions: a smiling Yamani man was the Shang Horse. A shorter Yamani man with the obviously litheness of a gymnast was the Shang Monkey. A woman who was at least half K'miri was the Shang Tiger. She had her fingernails filed into points like claws. An enormous man with rippling muscles took up two chairs with his 6' 7" height and massive frame: the Shang Bear. At the back of the room was a table with 3 people seated. They were the Shang Griffin, the Shang Phoenix and Kylaia al Jmaa, the Shang Unicorn, acting head of the Shang Council in the absence of a Dragon.

"We are here to discuss the election of a Shang Dragon," the Unicorn stated simply, even her voice was deadly. There were murmurs around the room at this announcement. "I know we all miss Liam," there was a moment of silence for the fallen hero, "but we must move on. The council has never been without leadership for so long. As the Griffin, the Phoenix and myself are the council, we will be watching all of you to see who would make a good candidate for the Dragon. We will the vote on the matter and choose one Shang to take the Ordeal of the Dragon. That is all." It was a firm dismissal and they all knew it. The room emptied until only Laylari, the Wildcat and Joesh remained. "Now we get to discuss you," said the Wildcat, "here goes…"

Thanks for all the reviews. To the latest one: I'm sorry you find my format annoying, this is my first story after all. I will try to better in the future but if it truly bothers you enough not to read my other chapters then I have no problems with you not reading my story. It is just for fun after all.