On a day warmed by the sunlight after a cold night's chill, four horsemen galloped down a stone road. Three men wore cloaks of black with hoods worn, while their leader sat up proudly in noble robe.

A large compound was up the road. From afar it seemed innocent, but as the horsemen drew near a more intimidating demeanor emanated from the series of buildings. One building was larger than the others, more inward and surrounded by the smaller buildings and stables. Soldiers were everywhere, surrounding and performing their duties within the compound.

As the horsemen approached the front gate, two soldiers moved into their path and slowed their galloping pace to a halt.

"State your name and purpose." One of the soldiers demanded while the other stood sternly infront of the gate. Both held bladed spears while wearing specific uniforms issued by The Eye of Michael.

"General Draco Valcian of the Royal Faholgan armies. My pressence has been requested by your mistress."

The guard arched a brow as he peered to the other three more suspicious men behind him. If it was someone of such high regard, it was necessary for escorts to be with him. A grunt erupted before he stepped aside and motioned them inside.

"Very well, then. I'll inform the the Mistress of your arrival." The guard stated as the four horsemen passed through the gate. After a quick nod to the other soldier, the guard ran into the courtyard and toward the entrance doors of the large building.

Draco and his men were greeted by stablemen part way through the courtyard. Once Draco dismounted along with the other three, the stablemen gave a respectful bow and took their horses to the stables.

Draco arched a brow and straightened his back as he looked up toward the building; squinting his eyes.

"Carvahall.."

One of the hooded men stepped up behind Draco. "Yes, Sir?"

"I want you to stay in the courtyard with Porchatis. Just in case our situation turns for the worst. Smith will come with me to meet with Mistress O'luca. ...Be on your guard at all times."

"Yes, Sir." The canine responded and stepped back.

By this time the guard had returned from the building and approached Draco directly. "The mistress has been expecting you, General Valcian." the guard announced as he motioned toward the door respectfully. "She hopes your travels were without trouble."

Draco took a deep breath and stepped forward toward the building with Smith walking just behind him.

The grand hall where Draco was led through was extravagant and lush in elegance. They walked along a narrow red carpet, covering dark-marbled floors from any impurities. The Eye of Michael's colors were draped on tapestries along each side of the hall just before tall colored windows. Rich furnishings were untouched in their display, treasures acquired from many lands and many more decades.

The guard walked ahead of the two men, coming before two large doors leading to where his mistress kept. Using both hands, the guard swung the doors out, leading Draco and Smith inside parting the doors as he did before stepping aside, pulling his arm to his chest as he bowed deeply.

Inside the large chamber, equally furnished as the hall, against the furthest wall sat O'luca Viglione, seated cross-legged on her throne comfortably. A slender arm was risen to her cheek, tapping it gently with a finger as moss green eyes gazed at her visitors with interest. She was nearly the spitting image of Debalora, black fur with white markings and silver hair running to her back. She wore a light white dress, curled hair pooling over her shoulders as a little smile played on her lips. But even in her beauty, one could sense the danger held in those almond-shaped eyes.

"General Draco Valcian." She cooed, repeating the general's official name in some humor. "I have, no doubt, heard about you and your deeds to your land."

To this, she stood, stepping over two short steps that led to her chair, bringing herself nearer to her visitors. Once a good distance, she gazed up to Draco with a smile, tipping her brows up gently. "I am saddened how your Lord did not wish to visit me himself."

"These are harsh times, My Lady.." Draco replied after a respectful bow of his head.

Smith stood just behind Draco, but to his right enough to have a clear enough view of O'luca. He had removed his hood when he had entered the hall and by the look on his face, anyone could tell that Smith was admiring the femme infront of him. But after quickly noticing Draco's bow and reply, Smith bowed deeply.

"And my king felt it best if he remained in Faholgal to resolve issues at hand." Draco stood firm, but respectfully as any soldier should. O'luca was, indeed, attractive with familiar beauty traits from that of Debalora. But Draco learned long ago, that it is better to respect beauty than to admire it. Plus, Draco has no need to dwell in it. He held love before, he needs no other. "He respects my judgement. And it is an honor to take his place."

The guard had already left, walking to stand in the hall just enough to hear his mistress if she were to call him. O'luca preferred to speak to her visitors alone, in complete control with no interruption.

"I must thank you for your honesty. Though to have the high rank of a general, you are most certainly treated nearly equally to a king, no?" She said, motioning a hand towards a long table to her right of the chamber. "Why don't we discuss the matter I've called you for comfortably?"

Almost certain they would accept her proposal, she began to walk towards it, aiming for the chair at the head of the table. Once seated, she waited until they sat as well, crossing her legs and placing her hands delicately in her lap.

Draco arched a brow as he watched O'luca. "I am no better than any other soldier I command." Draco stated as he followed and took his seat. A quick, serious glance was made to Smith before looking back to O'luca with a calmer gaze. "True, I'm held in higher regard. But I do not consider myself 'better' than anyone else."

Smith took that notion to remain standing, but nearby. Once Draco was seated, Smith stood only a few feet away and stood up straight. Both hands were clamped behind his back as if standing in formation.

"But, I apologize... I should not be talking about myself when there are obvious matters at hand." An arm casually placed itself upon the table.

"You choose your words wisely, General Valcian. But I do hope you can help me." Gracefully, her eyes peered straight at Draco through her long lashes, lifting her fingertips to gently touch the bottom of her chin. "I have just returned from a rather long journey to the lands of the west. Unlike the East where they conduct scientific research, the west is defiled by means of witchcraft and impure means of magic. You may have heard about these unfortunate people as their land lies just beyond the boundaries of Faholgal. So consumed in evil, the Ministry finds that it is best to bring order to them."

She took a small breath, lifting a brow as her eyes never left Draco, a calm look on her face after speaking of such serious matters.

"However, the land and her people are numerous and out of our boundary to receive control over. And that is why I've called you here after my own assessments. I wish Faholgal and her armies will provide aide in our mission."

Draco's brow lowered as his gaze became more serious. "The far west?" Draco sat up more in his chair and gave O'luca a hard gaze. "Those are the Sel'kanites. From what I have heard, they are a peaceful people. How can their land be so devastated so quickly?" Draco questioned. From what he heard in stories, the Sel'kanites were peaceful. They did use magics, but would they abuse it and devastate their own lands? Regardless, he wanted to use as much as he could to get O'luca's true intention. He suspected she wanted control over that land... not to put order to it.

But for now, he would only explore it. Not jump to assumptions.

O'luca was quick to see his hesitation, knowing that was the predicted emotion one would have. "It is not the land that is so deprived as the people who inhabit it. True there are those who live peacefully, but the Eye of Michael cannot turn our head to those with the potential to use magic against those who do not have such prowess. As an alliance, I am sure you understand the Ministries mission. But in hopes to clarify that, it is to protect those against the dark powers of magic and sorcery. I am sure you have read your history, General. Allow me to remind that those with magical abilities could easily devastate the land. Even peaceful people will turn into savages to a single idea of power. We only wish to provide balance." she ended with a simple smile, as though all this were common knowledge.

Her gaze drifted away from Draco smoothly, looking towards Smith who stood just behind his general. To him she smiled sweetly, tilting her head gently as though she sympathized with him for having to stand.

"You poor thing, having to stand for so long while listening to such boring talk. Why don't you sit down? I don't suppose General Valcian would mind, considering you don't see yourself any better. Isn't that right, sir?" she said, glancing back to Draco with a certain look. She wanted to test him, not knowing first hand what sort of man she was dealing with. Best to see how he responds to such mockery of his rank.

Draco kept a stern gaze on O'luca, not even hesitating to look back to Smith to see his reaction. He knew his men. They had their moments, but each and every man under Draco's command know their place. Smith was motioned to keep standing, so Smith will do as he says.

Smith did just as predicted. He continued to stand and only adjusted his footing. He wanted to answer, talking to someone as beautiful as her couldn't give him any more pleasure that he had hoped for. But Draco gave him a command to stand and he will do as told.

"Thank you for concern, Mistress. But he will be fine. You need not to worry about him. He's been in worse conditions than listening to the boring talks of others." Draco then leaned forward positioning his arms onto the table and clasping his hands together. "But we should continue on the topic at hand." he paused to take a deep breath. "The Sel'kanites have kept to themselves for thousands of years. They haven't troubled us nor you for any length of time. They've used magic throughout their history, what would change their minds now?"

O'luca slowly lowered her eyes towards Draco for a moment before they gazed towards the table. An elbow was placed on the polished wood of the table, gingerly placing her jaw against risen fingers as her other hands lightly drew designs on the table. She did this for a few moments before she spoke again.

"Tell me, General Valcian, have you ever seen someone use magic or sorcery before?" She asked innocently, upturning her brow gently as she asked.

Draco lowered his eyebrows further while leaning back into his chair. "Yes. On more than one occasion."

O'luca lifted her eyes to the older dog before her as her fingernail kept tracing along the table, "What did you feel when you saw that? Were you confused? Apathetic perhaps? Or were you accepting? If you believe you were accepting, there is always that slight doubt within you, wondering if such power is contained properly. I can tell you are a man of justice, General Valcian, but what kind of justice could you provide among those who have power greater than yours and abuse it?"

The petite femme stood from her seat, moving her arms to settle over her chest casually as he took small steps around the table, "However, this is not your decision, sir. The decision to help me is through your King. But I pray you will be a good messenger and repeat my words without prejudice. If I receive no aid, then I will set my sights on another land I've been interested in for a while."

To this, O'luca stopped, turning her head to look at Draco carefully...almost threateningly.

From across the chamber, a door near the throne opened to reveal a male feline walk in casually. Once he saw an audience at the table, an easy smile appeared as he closed the door after him and began walking towards them.

O'luca spotted him from where she stood and answered his cheery face with her own smile, "Ah! I didn't expect to see you."

"I must apologize for my tardiness, Mistress. You understand the business." the male answered, purple hues shifting to closely examine those seated. An interested brow lifted as he recognized Draco.

O'luca turned her attention back to her visitors, "Allow me to introduce you to Fyren Valente. He's been a comrade of the Ministry for many years."

Fyren came to stand in attention just before the chair O'luca had been sitting on, holding his hands behind his back properly, "Pleasure. I suspect you have been discussing the Western lands? The Sel'kanites to be more precise."

With O'luca's 'threat', Smith adjusted his footing as he cleared his throat. A more angered look was on his face as he heard O'luca. He knew she didn't say Faholgal directly, but the way she said it was obvious she meant it to be.

Draco heard this and looked back to Smith sternly; motioning a calm hand to Smith to calm down. Draco knew what she meant as well. He took offense to it, but he remained calm and would only show a more serious gaze back toward O'luca.

After Fyren's introduction, Draco's features didn't calm nor anger. But under the table, the old dog's fist tightened. He had heard of this Fyren's reputation. His ability and personality especially, mainly from Antonis and Murdoc. He had even heard rumors that Voltrick had some negative past with this.. purple eyed feline.

"And what 'business' does Mister Valente have with the ministry, if I may ask?" Draco's clenched hand from under the table quickly unclenched and motioned toward Fyren calmly. "You stated he had been a comrad of the ministry for quite some time. Cant help an old dog's curiosity."

O'luca smiled, nodding her head to Fyren after Draco's question, allowing the feline to answer for himself.

"I help the Ministry in foreign affairs." Fyren answered, lowering his eyelids while his brow lifted slightly, "In that, I see to it that there is no problems in lands the Ministry has settled within. It mainly involves whether the people begin rebellions against us...and I see to it that they diminish quickly so everyone is without harm."

Fyren smirked lightly, glancing at his claws mindlessly, "But enough about what I do. What are your thoughts, General?"

Draco's brow raised a bit a raised his tone a little as he responded. "Rebellions, you say? I could imagine it is a difficult responsiblity for an ordinary man. Rebellions can be ugly affairs." Draco's chin raised as he waited for Fyren's response.