She then began a series of questions, the bluntness of which made the royal pair uncomfortable, but they nonetheless understood the importance of answering honestly, if they were to get honesty in return.

“Which lands that border the Great Sea do the king and queen seek to rule?”

Grimur cleared his throat and began to stammer. Elisar answered directly.

“All of them.”

“What kingdoms resist?”

“All of them. But those that are too weak to defend themselves, and who reckon it is better to side with the eventual winners, are easily persuaded.” Elisar listed the countries that were allied to Thulia.

“And what, in the judgment of the king and queen, has caused dragons to return? And why do they oppose you?”

The king tried to answer. “It all started when both Phalia and Thulia sought to colonize the north. That is when dragons emerged again to resist us, when both Phalia and Thulia sought to control the colonists, who began to seek independence, being hundreds of miles across the sea. But why the monsters should defend a few coastal settlements against the might of both kingdoms, we cannot fathom. We know that Norns rule Norheim. Most likely, they have some sort of strange alliance with the dragons.”

“And what thinks her Majesty?” Nuala asked.

Elisar thought for a moment about holding her peace, but again realized that blunt honesty would serve better.