ZsaZsa smiled. "Aunt Raven. I brought you bloodwyne. Papa sent it over this morning," she said and pulled a bottle out of her storage. 

Raven brightened slightly. Since coming to Emphyralis, Earthborne didn't need to feed on blood at all. The Draconite rich earth could sustain them for days or even weeks after resting for just a few hours.

But, they didn't want to lose their natural instincts to hunt, so many of the men often hunted in the Eternal Mountains around New Bienskurr and other places, using the blood to make bloodwyne. They would sell the meat and bones and either keep or sell the furs and hides. They discovered many dangerous but nutrient rich species.

"What kind?" Raven asked. "Why didn't he send any to me? Just a dry letter letting know who would be going back to Cruinog with us," she complained lightly.

ZsaZsa shrugged. She didn't need blood or the earth. She ate and slept like any other Dragon, but she could, which was part of what set differentiated Earthborne hybrids from other non-Dragon hybrids. She even had retractable fangs. "Who made me his favorite daughter?" she asked. She sniffed the wine in the bottle. "Seems like a vraekharn," she said with some surprise. Vraekharn were huge, horned, hyena-like beasts found in the forest near the Eternal Mountains. They were a menace to towns and villages nearby and like to steal children.

Raven harrumphed lightly but poured the wine into two glasses. "It must have taken some energy to take down a vraekharn. Let's not let it go to waste," she said and handed her niece a glass.

ZsaZsa smiled and took it. She sat in a chair opposite her aunt's desk. She took a sip and the flavor instantly danced on her tongue. She squinted in delight.

Raven also sighed in delight at the taste. "I'll have a wrangle a few bottles from your father when we go to New Bienskurr later," she declared in satisfaction.

ZsaZsa fiddled with her glass. "Are you sure it's all right for me to go? Papa doesn't seem very happy with the prospect. He and Mama have been arguing about it," she said unsurely.

Raven sighed. "Lady Britiana invited you to go. You not only have experience going off world, but you're a gifted Mage, even at a young age," she said. "Your mother is right to chew him out," she declared.

Because of the changes in their natural habitat and women dying off, the men of the Earthborne became overprotective of the women to an unnatural degree. Women were rarely given a voice in decision making. They were no longer allowed to hunt. If it weren't for the fact that incompatible mates were almost as disastrous as no mates at all, they would likely have adapted arranged marriages as soon as a female was of childbearing age.

Raven was one of the few single women her age among her kind. It's not that her male elders didn't stick every single man they could find in front of her, but because she knew none of them were right. Among the Earthborne, no matter how protective and controlling, marriage decisions always rested with the women. She was also among the most powerful mages of her people. Because of the environment, Earthborne barely reached mid-third tier even as Elders, but from a young age, Raven was already upper third tier. She was instrumental in the spell that led her people to Emphyralis.

Since coming to Emphyralis, it took less than a decade to break through to the fourth tier. She was the most powerful mage among her kind. She was still young and she was sure she'd see fifth tier in her lifetime. ZsaZsa also had such potential. But that wasn't unusual. Women were always the most powerful mages among the Earthborne. It was another reason they couldn't fully be forcibly controlled. Mages had a voice that had to be listened to.

She suspected what some among her group objected to with Dragon marriages was not "eventual extinction" but loss of control over women and their lives. Although the Dragons and the government wouldn't interfere with Earthborne culture, it was impossible not to be influenced. Many women saw the freedom allotted not only to Dragon women, but most other races as well and they wanted it.

She frowned thoughtfully. Even going back to Cruinog to establish two-way travel caused a divide among their people. Some wanted to wait until their leader woke up to decide. Others didn't want to go at all. Others wanted to go back and never return. In the end, their elders agreed that no matter what, they needed to establish travel. They needed to know what was happening on Cruinog and they needed those left behind to have the opportunity to come to Emphyralis.

"Aunt Raven?" ZsaZsa called out, noticing her aunt's frown.

Raven sighed through her nose. "I'm fine. I was just thinking about Hendrik," she said. Hendrik Corven was the son of their leader. Though the leader called himself king, and his sons were called princes, they didn't have any other noble distinctions. They were mostly governed by Elders advising the leader. Hendrik was the youngest son of the King, and was chosen to lead their group. He was badly injured in the final skirmish between Emphyralis and the Dragon Hunters.

He'd been sleeping underground for a hundred years in order to heal. Hendrik was the person her elders always hoped she'd marry, but whenever she looked at Hendrik, she always knew that they would be unhappy together. She had nothing against him, she even liked him. When she was young she even fancied him a bit. When she grew up, she was disappointed with the feeling that they were incompatible.

How does one know? It's an elusive ominous feeling that Earthborne women have. She didn't know what it felt like to find the person she'd be with, but she knew what it felt like not to.

ZsaZsa heard people speak of their nominal leader, but he was injured long before she was born. "Would he not agree?" she asked unsurely.

"On the contrary. He'd be the first one to lead us back. He was always frustrated that the king stayed behind and sent him instead," Raven answered with a slight smile.

ZsaZsa understood, so she didn't ask more, still thinking about the upcoming trip apprehensively. She wanted to go, but she didn't like that her parents were arguing over it. 

Raven looked at her niece for a bit. She wondered if her niece had the same kind of feelings as other Earthborne women. "ZsaZsa, what do you think of marrying Lord Darius," she suddenly asked.

"Wouldn't work," ZsaZsa said automatically without even having to think about it. Surprised, she looked at her aunt in confusion.

"Really? He's handsome, capable at a young age, kind, courteous, and he has a bright future. Anyone would think him a catch," Raven said.

ZsaZsa frowned. "All that's true, but aside from him being my best friend's brother, I still feel like it wouldn't work," she said. Even if they've only known each other a couple months, she and Britiana already decided they were best friends.

Raven was slightly surprised. "What about Brannoc? In Earthborne terms, he's not that much older than you. He's steady and mature and also a Mage," she said, naming one of their young men born to Earthborne parents after they moved to Emphyralis.

ZsaZsa scrunched her nose and shook her head. "Just don't feel it," she said. "Unless I meet someone on Cruinog I feel like my future partner will be a Dragon," she stated. "But not Lord Darius," she added quickly.

Raven chuckled. She felt that way as well, but she didn't know why she hadn't met that person yet. Perhaps it's simply not time. She suddenly grinned mischievously. "What about Lazarus Darkfrost?" she said.

ZsaZsa suddenly stood up. "Why are you playing matchmaker? I'm still young. I have plenty of time. I'm going to double check my belongings. I don't want to leave anything behind when we go to Cruinog and regret later," she said and fled her aunt's office with a flurry of silver fabric.

Raven laughed slightly at her niece's over reaction. She poured herself another glass of the bloodwyne. "Maybe the children of Earthborne and Dragons are more like the Earthborne than given credit for," she murmured to herself as she savored the wine she successfully stole from her family.