Tale of a Dragon and a Fox.

Lord Hanada called a council meeting after receiving the security report from Master Yoshida who is the grandmaster of the black hands. The report stated that a terrorist organization, loyal to the darkened lord had risen in some parts of Mundillum, and they are growing at an alarming state.

"The organization is called the sixth sun and they have several dark mages who survived the last great war in their ranks," Lord Hanada announced.

Lord Hanada Sanada is the immediate brother of the current Mashirotzu and the Lord Minister of the realm. In the Mashirotzu's absence, the responsibility of ruling falls on his shoulder.

The lords of the Hanara, the Yokozuna, the Hirotoki, and the Aokami clans and lords of some other lesser clans made up the council. It had been like this since the founding of the kingdom. Even the lords of the Kazakares and the giants of Humshu island attended.

Lord Yokohama Yokozuna came dressed in the red armor of his clan. The Yokozuna is a clan of big dark-haired people with an even bigger temper to go with their body weight, this earned them the nickname "raging canons" among enemies and companions alike. Their beasts, the Maitzu are huge-shelled creatures. This allowed them to be able to build structures on their backs and attack from them. A raging Maitzu is unstoppable and no building can stand in its way for long. The Yokozuna clan is the best infantry in all of the human kingdoms and arguably the best in the whole of Mundillum.

Lord Shioto of the Aokami clan attended the meeting, dressed in the blue armor of his clan and the clan's insignia boldly engraved on his overcoat. Unlike the fat people of the Yokozuna clan, the Aokami are slim, blue-haired, and tall in their appearance. They are the second most respected clan in the kingdom and their beasts the Sheenzu are only second to the dragons. The Sheenzu has the head and feathers of an eagle, the body of a lion, and the power of invisibility. This made all the enemies of Snowlandia fear the Aokami clan during the Wars waged by Mashirotzu Mikhato termed "the Fury of the dragon."

The Aokami riders would ride their beasts undetected into an enemy city attack the enemy from above and pave way for further attacks for the remaining Slowlandia forces. Since Mikhato wanted to conquer these territories without destroying them, he only used dragon riders for total annihilation. Their part in "The Fury of the dragon" earned them the nickname, "Shadows of Snowlandia" and this is why the office of the grandmaster of the black hands is reserved for people from the Aokami clan.

"The gods only send the Hanara against you when you've been damned." This is a common saying among the Tuareez for they were witnesses to the kind of violence the Hanara clan is capable of during the "Fury"."

Lord Tanoki Hanara is the leader of the Hanara clan. He attended dressed in the Yellow armor of his clan. The Hanara clan is secluded and the northernmost part of the kingdom is their residence. The Hanara clan members are still as wild as their forefathers and most of their practices are called archaic and mostly looked down upon by the other noble clans. For instance, they still worship the old gods.

Their beast is the Akeitzu, a breed of giant wolves they tamed and domesticated even before relocating to the isle of beasts with the other clans. Their hair like their clan color is also yellow.

The Akeitzu is so big and fierce that it could easily tear a horse into pieces with ease. The Hanaras are as fierce as the beasts they ride and this earned them the nickname "The beasts of Snowlandia" from the Tuareez during the Fury of the dragon.

The Hirotoki clan are the riders of the Kokomoitzu, a large four-legged reptile that doubles the size of a horse and they have more riders than all other clans. They are indeed the cavalry of snowlandia, their beasts are twice faster than horses and the members of the clan who are not riders are the best horse riders in the kingdom. This makes them the fastest land army in the kingdom.

Old lord Rurui Hirotoki is the clan lord, he attended with his son and heir to the Hirotoki lordship Rokoi, they were both dressed in their green colors of theirs. The Hirotoki clan is a clan of dark-haired people and they are mostly distinguished by their green face tattoos. Lord Rurui is the oldest of the lords for he had outlived the whole of his generation most refer to him as the oldest man in the kingdom. He was sixteen years old during the last great war and fought the forces of the dark lord.

Lord Neeru of the Kazaton represented himself and the other two lower lords of the uplifted island. The Kazakares are a race of humanoid bunnies, they were discovered on the island later named Kazaton by the First Mashirotzu Shitori Sanada. They are so skilled in fighting that some of the past Mashirotzus was secretly worried about how problematic it would be if they ever revolt against the realm, so they limited their involvement in the council and spied on their island with the black hands. They were only called upon when needed and that was mostly in times of war. It was the sixth Mashirotzu that gave them their current seat at the council.

The sixth also allowed them to join the black hands and serve in the common army too. He believed the only way to be sure they wouldn't revolt was to make them realize the kingdom was theirs too.

The Giants of Humshu were represented by their governor. The Giants of Humshu island were conquered by the First Mashirotzu after a five-year war that claimed a lot of lives on both sides.

The Giants were seeing humans for the first time and they started raiding the lands of Snowlandia but when Shitori and his brother descended on Humshu, riding their dragons and the Giants started sustaining heavy casualties, they saw that continuing the war would mean the end of their people.

The chief of the Giants accepted the authority of Snowlandia over Humshu and he was appointed as the first governor of the island. The First Madhirotzu decreed that all the firstborn of the Giants must be trained in Snowfalls and this would keep them in line and also integrate them into the Kingdom.

"The dark lord was destroyed and his fall ended the last great war. Radical groups have always strung up from time to time, claiming they want to bring about his second coming but they have always been put down like the dogs they are. This shouldn't be any different," Lord Yokohama said.

"I demand the Hanara clan be tasked with the destruction of this group of gulls and let us deliver the justice of Snowlandia to them," Lord Tonoki fumed as he hit his fist on the round table of the council after every word he said.

"This group strung from the east and most of their activities are based there, when last have the Hanara gone anywhere that is not the north?" Lord Shioto Aikami interrupted.

Lord Neeru of Kazaton stood up, unsheathed his long sword, placed it on the round table, and proceeded to speak. "Kazaton exists to serve the realm, my lords. We have proven ourselves over and over again, let us do so once again."

"The Kazatonians are good fighters but these are renegade mages from the old war we're talking about. Since you lots weren't old enough to fight in the war then let me remind you that there is no end to the evil these mages can perpetrate. And no offense, Lord Neeru we know your race is weak against magic.

"I think it's high time we seek the help of the Citadel," Lord Rurui said as loud as his strength allowed him to.

"The citadel turned its back on the whole of Mundillum a long time ago, Lord Rurui. We all sat idle and did nothing when the faith started branding and hunting the mages, calling them the source of all evil in the world. They had forgotten that we wouldn't have won the great war without the mages of the first order," Lord Hanada said.

"We do not need the mages and their dramas!" screamed a voice from the door.

Everybody in the room suddenly focused their attention on the person who spoke. He walked into the room majestically, clad in black armor with a red cross boldly engraved on the chest.

"Lord Ozunu, I don't remember inviting you here, Lord Hanada said."

"I go wherever the service of this great land needs me to go, cousin, he replied, smiling scornfully.

"You and the whole of your clan lost the right to call me cousin when your forefathers connived to steal the throne from Mikhato. My brother tolerates you for reasons best known to him but I am not my brother and I lack his patience.

"Say what you have to say or be out of here this instant."

Ozunu bowed slightly. " Greetings, great lords. I stand here representing the Nucleus. My operatives have information about the whereabouts of the main leaders of this terrorist group and we suggest that the council permit us to eliminate this threat before it gets out of hand."

"Where are these leaders you speak of?"Lord Rurui asked.

"They are currently holed up in a village called Khalfi," Ozunu replied.

"That is Tuaree territory, the Nucleus has no authority to operate in that territory." Lord Tanoki explained.

"The Nucleus can operate in any territory we choose to operate in, against councils' wishes if the need be and I think former followers of the dark lord sounds like a good reason," Ozunu argued.

"Watch yourself, Ozunu," Lord Rurui cautioned.

"The black hands already have operatives in Tuaree territory, and I assure you, my lords, the men we have there can deal with the situation without causing a war," Master Yoshida said.

"What do you suggest should be done, Ozunu? We should wipe out a whole village in the Tuarlands and risk another Tuaree war?" Lord Tanoki asked.

"There was a time when Snowlandia did not care what the rest of the world thought. A time when we ruled instead of just coexisting," Ozunu screamed.

"Those days are long gone, Ozunu, and no, the council will not allow you to start a war with another country. You are dismissed," Lord Hanada dismissed Ozunu with a wave of the hand.

"When the gates of Snowfalls are besieged by the enemy and blood flows on our streets, you...all of you will regret this day but it would be too late."

Ozunu bowed once again and as he was heading to the door an explosion was heard. The explosion shook the room and all the lords stood up and their guards rushed in clasping their swords.

"What in the name of the gods was that?" Lord Yokohama screamed.

A guard rushed in and announced that the city was under attack.

"There have been several explosions in the city and there is chaos everywhere."

The guard was interrupted by another explosion outside, Lord Hanada rushed to the door to check and saw black smoke.

"Fucking Ashasha? Protect your lords!" Lord Hanada screamed at the guards.

This was followed by a barrage of arrows, all the lords were shielded by their respective guards. By the time the arrows stopped flying, most of the guards were either dead or wounded.

"Who dare do this," Lord Yokohama screamed as he unsheathed his battle axe. All the other lords unsheathed their weapons too.

"Keep your eyes opened, lords we're being attacked by the Ashasha, Lord Hanada screamed."

Masked men in matching black attire rushed in into the building and attacked the lords. Sounds of weapons clanging rose into the air as the lords battled the assassins.

Lord Hanada was attacked by five of them and he swiftly dealt with his assailants, cutting them down with his greatsword. Lord Hanada must have been their main target for they really did their best to kill him but the one-eyed dragon of Snowfalls is not the kind of warrior you easily take down.

Lord Yokohama was also attacked but his attackers immediately regretted their decisions. He overwhelmed them with his strength, hacking them to pieces with such fury.

All the lords fought side by side and in less than an hour, the fighting was done.

All the lords stood there looking at the white room now scattered and painted with streaks of blood and the floor they stood on now a pool of blood.

Just when quiet was about to return, an Ashasha leaped out of nowhere and attacked lord Hanada. The Lord's quick reaction saved him as he blocked the assassin's blade with his arm guard. The other lords wanted to interfere but he told them to stand down.

"Let me teach this scoundrel a lesson," he said.

The assassin came at him with all his might but the lord was too skilled a fighter for him. In a single move, the lord dodged his strike and slashed his neck open. The assassin fell to the ground clutching his neck with two hands.

The Lord walked slowly to him, he stared at him for a moment and said:

"You don't send a fox after a dragon. I am a dragon!"

He swung his sword and the assassin's head fell to the ground.