Itzal

Itzal flipped a dice around his claws. He was supposed to be training to become a foot soldier for the queen, who was training dragonets like him to fight in the War of the Forgotten. The Forgotten were the dragonfolk who were cast out, homeless, from Ravenholme. They had gone on strike, attacking innocent dragonets who were sons and daughters of the mighty ones, including the queen's son, Harvard. After they killed prince Harvard, the queen banished them.

"Itzal!" a gruff voice yelled. Heartbeats later, a large pale orange Skydancer came stomping in, looking furious. Itzal closed his eyes and waited for the lecture. "The queen is very disappointed in you, son!"

Itzal glared at the dragon. "I'm not your son. And why would the queen be mad at me? She never even checks on our training!"

The orange dragon bristled defensively, but Itzal knew he had no defense. It was true. The queen only checked on the royal soldiers, not lowly foot soldiers. This soldier had no idea how hard it was to be the Forgotten ringleader's only son, and work against his mother.

The soldier, whose name was Interdael, coughed. Itzal looked up quickly. Interdael crumpled to the ground, coughing and splattering the floor with blood.

"Commander Interdael!" Itzal cried. The commander was writhing in agony on the ground, moaning and coughing.

"Help-me..." The general gasped weakly between coughs. That was when Itzal noticed the cruel blade of a knife sticking out Inderdael's back, lodged between his right wing and his spine. And with that the commander fell, twitching.

---

It was a week after the commander's accident, and everyone was avoiding Itzal. They whispered rumors grimly, saying "He stabbed the commander, I know he did!" and "I've never trusted him, look at his smug face!"

One day when Itzal heard another remark claiming that he was responsible for Harvard's murder, Itzal overflowed with rage.

"I DID NOT KILL HARVARD! I DID NOT STAB COMMANDER INTERDAEL!" He shouted. The dragonets he had yelled at jumped and scooted away. Like he had murdered Harvard. Or Interdael. It was ridiculous.

Itzal was busy yelling at the dragons that he didn't notice a talon on his shoulder.

"Eh-ehm!" The dragon cleared her throat. Itzal whipped around. "Your presence has been requested by her majesty, the queen of Ravenholme."