An Orc paused during his patrol over the Plains of Menlinnia, eager to break his fast. But he immediately regretted revealing his food as three Icarian dragonets descended upon him, surrounding him in an instant.

“Why do you not bow?”

The speaker, a dragonet with metallic red-orange scales, fixed the unfortunate Orc with her most piercing gaze. Commanded not to provoke them, the Orc obeyed, though he could feel the weight of their stares pressing down on him, stifling even in their youth. The copperscale snatched his meal as if it were an offering, while the others laughed.

“Life is for the strong,” the dragonet declared.

Silence followed, broken only when one of them kicked the Orc’s side:

“...Dragons are strongest,” he grunted.

“Nilfheim is strongest of all!” snapped another dragonet, her scales bright as snow. She reached for the ration. “I am his spawn, and I will rule the north.”

“You won’t survive long enough to rule,” the copperscale sneered, shoving the snowscale aside and swallowing the ration whole.

“Share!” hissed the third, his skin slick with slime.

“Conflagrant Ones do not share.”

“The Borean Throne never forgives!”

“And? The affairs of the northern continent bore me.”

The sky darkened momentarily as a massive shadow swept over them. Mimring descended, vast wings blotting out the sun. At once, the dragonets scrabbled across the ground to greet their liege, still arguing.

“Then what do you want?”

“Lord Utgar’s promise!”

“More than the Twelve Thrones of the Anax Dracoikomene?”

The copperscale nodded, speaking loud enough for the Orc to hear. “I want Grut.”

The dragonet with the smooth, slimy skin cackled: “And which world do you think suits me?”

“Silence, and focus,” Mimring hissed as he landed, his claws and wings gleaming in the morning light. Dozens of dragonets poured from the camp to gather around him. “Remember your place, whelps. A caravan moves on the horizon. The time for us to strike is now. Take to the skies at my side—and do as I do.”

The trio’s argument ceased as they exchanged glances, licking their teeth. There was a far tastier breakfast waiting for them today.

Scions of Icaria is available in the Greatbow Archers and Scions of Icaria Army Expansion!