Kalmer strolled down the hallway of the Castle Rysen. He headed to the castle post office to mail off the wedding invitations. Once he had dropped them off, he headed to the dining room. As he approached the door, he could hear laughter coming from inside. He stepped through the door, and found his entire family (including Gammon, Oskar, and Maraly) talking at the table while playing a board game. Apparently it was a world-domination game, and players could have treaties with other players. And, Kalmer could see that all of the women had alliances against the men.

"Why are women so good at war? I can kill hundreds of fangs in less than 5 minutes, yet I can't beat my own daughter at a board game." Gammon complained.

"At least she isn't targeting you." Janner said, glaring at Sara.

Sara glared back. "Give me Ban Soran, and I'll back off."

"Never have I surrendered, and never will I surrender."

"Fine then, but at least stop your complaining."

"I am merely stating a fact."

"A complaining fact."

"Still a fact."

"Ok how about we stick to the game?" Nia asked.

"Agreed." Janner said.

"Yeah, agreed." Sara sighed.

"Hey can I join?" Kalmer asked, seeing the game. It was called Aerwiar Dominion, and was one of his favorite games.

Artham looked at him. "Sure! Here are some pieces. The blue was taken already by Janner."

"I know why." Kalmer said wryly, grinning.

"Why?" Leeli asked.

Janner glared at him. "Kal, pay attention to the game will ya?"

Kalmer glared back. "Well, certain people here deserve to here the story!"

"No, they don't."

"Are you saying this person doesn't deserve anything?"

"No! I'm saying for you to be quiet and play the game."

"Suuureee."

"Kal." Janner gave him a look that would melt stone.

Kal squirmed in his seat. "Fine."

"Ok, I call, uhhh, Ban Rona from The Watercrawl." Artham said, looking at Arundelle.

"You wouldn't."

"I would and did. Now role the dice."

Arundelle rolled the dice, and Artham won. He moved his pieces to Ban Rona, making sure to "kick" Arundelle'a pieces back to her.

"Ok," Sara said. "I'm gonna attack Anniera from my ships at sea."

Janner looked up. "Wow. I rule over this place with my siblings, and you attack it?!"

"Yes. If you're forgetting, I'm Skreean by birth."

"Yeah, but technically, you are considered an Annieran with (1) how long you've lived here and (2) you're marrying one."

"Still Skreean by birth."

Sara was too busy to notice the look that passed between Nia and Artham when Sara said "Skreean by birth". But Janner noticed it, and gave Artham a questioning glance. Artham only nodded his head, confusing Janner even more.

"Ok, I'm gonna attack Torrborro from Dugtown." Kal announces.

Maraly looks at him. "Really? Torrborro? Why there? Nothing good ever came from there!"

Janner glared at Maraly, then glanced at Sara.

"Except Sara of course." Maraly added.

Sara smiled wryly at her. "Nice catch."

Maraly hid her face in shame. "Thanks." She muttered.

Maraly rolled the dice. "I win defending my city. Makes sense, since those rich people don't know how to defend themselves."

Kalmer snickered. "Sometimes neither do the Dugtowners."

Maraly turned and gave him a look. "I suppose some of them."

Nia looked at the board. "Ok, I call The Wooded Vales, from Ban Soran."

Gammon looked at her. "Ok then." He sighed. He rolled the dice, and lost.

Nia grinned as she moved her pieces.

Gammon sighed. "This is getting hard."

Leeli laughed. "If me and Thorn were playing against all of you, we'd win."

Janner looked at her. "Suuuree."

Thorn looked at Janner. "We would."

Sara laughed. "I would like to put that to the test."

Leeli and Thorn looked at each other, then formed an alliance, dropping all of their other alliances.

"Oh it's on then. I call Ma!" Kalmer said.

Nia smiled as she formed an alliance with her son.

Janner and Sara formed an alliance, causing everyone to stop what they were doing.

"If those two are forming an alliance, we stand no chance at survival." Gammon said somberly.

"Well, Leeli and Thorn might. I said might." Kalmer said.

Janner grinned. "We are unstoppable."

Sara laughed. "I agree."

Everyone else formed an alliance, waging war on the young couple.

"Oh, that's just wrong." Janner glared at them.

Kalmer glared back. "You still have a chance at surviving."

"Yes, that's true."

The game went on looooong into the night, with Janner and Sara winning, which didn't surprise anyone. Those two, when working together at any game, could beat anyone at anything. That was why any time those two would be in a game, Kalmer would try to keep them form working together.

"Well, that was fun." Janner laughed as he stood up from the table.

Kalmer frowned. "For you it was. Losing isn't fun, especially when you have 7 other people playing against two."

Sara grinned. "Really? Because I had a lot of fun."

Kalmer glared at her.

Sara glared right back.

Janner looked at the two, wondering if the two were gonna wage war on each other.

And then they did.