A clawed hand set down a cup still steaming with freshly poured tea as that hand moved to intertwine with the claws of the other, and Infurya smirked, "Before, you had my interest. Now, you have my attention..."

Sitting across from the Dragon Lord of Dradea was Catrina, quite comfortable in the lounge seat her esteemed host had generously provided.
"With my considerable resources and my capable followers, combined with your forces and influence, overthrowing the Dragon King would be all but certain, paving the way... for a Dragon Queen! Free to rule her kind as she sees fit."

"As delicious as I find that proposal, I remind you that I am under a magnifying glass," Infurya narrowed her eyes. "That miserable little dragon witch, Singescale, has the evidence that could destroy me! Losing my labor force itself has cost me considerable wealth, not to mention the wealth I had to expend to buy their silence!

"The fact that I had to bargain with such insignificant creatures...!!"

"What if I were to tell you, Infurya," responded Catrina, "that you could have your gem cake... and eat it too?"

Infurya gave Catrina a skeptical glare, "Until Singescale is dealt with, there's hardly anything I can do. At least, anything outside the boundaries of my legal power."

"True. But if someone, myself for example, were to... make certain undesirables disappear-" Catrina began, only for Infurya to raise a clawed hand in a halting gesture.

"Ah-ah! Resist telling me too much," Infurya then gestured her claws over her ear frills, "Plausible deniability..."

"Heheh, you are experienced in matters behind closed doors," Catrina purred deviously.

"I have my share of talents," Infurya nodded before giving Catrina a shrewd look, "but you've yet to explain what you get out of our little... alliance."

"I require only one thing," Catrina said with a velvety tone that had an underlying firmness. "In exchange for my services to install you into the highest seat of draconic power, I want the Dragon King's sword."

Infurya gasped slightly, "You're not talking about-"

"I want Fyrenaid," Catrina nodded.

"Fyrenaid is the irrefutable proof of legitimate claim to the crown!" Infurya snarled, smoke seething out the corners of her mouth. "Without it-"

"Then the only other way to make your claim to the throne legitimate... is to prove yourself the most powerful dragon in the world," Catrina interjected with a raised claw. "And to do that, you must show dragonkind... that King Korangar is weak! Think about it, Infurya... a leader that cannot provide order, safety, and sufficient nourishment is no leader at all.

"What's more, the Dragon Lands are completely self-sufficient. They would never ask foreign nations for aid, because to ask outsiders for help..."

"...is admittance of weakness," Infurya nodded was still reluctant, "Even so, the dragons-"

"Would rather destroy each other for what resources there are in the Dragon Lands then ask outsiders for help," Catrina interjected again. "Even better, a dragon that becomes desperate enough... will seek resources beyond the borders of the Dragon Lands!"

"That's against Dragon Law!"

"Exactly. A king that cannot control his subjects will be discredited by other nations and that will draw unwanted attention, create issues and harm what relations Korangar has established with outsides forces. What's more... what if the king were to lose his symbol of power?"

Infurya considered the question before answering, "If you're suggesting we steal it-"

"And replace it with a counterfeit," noted Catrina.

"It wouldn't matter! The sword's power gives off a unique and unmistakable energy signature," Infurya argued. "The king, his court, his personal guard are all intimately familiar with it! They would see through any forgery no matter how well made or accurate in detail."

"Oh believe you me, Infurya," Catrina smirked, "I am well aware of the power coursing through Fyrenaid. I have studied and practiced magicks for my entire life, including how to recognize, differentiate and even mimic the individual signatures of different magical energies. I know I could create a replica so convincing the king would never know... until it was too late.

"Can you imagine it? Korangar giving off a rousing speech, raising his sword... and with but a snap of my fingers that sword crumbles into dust in his claws..."

Infurya could imagine it, and she was starting to see merit in the idea, "Korangar's image would be broken beyond repair. All his subjects would lose their faith and respect for him!"

"And all you'd have to do is set the stage in your favor... to remove him," Catrina nodded.

Infurya mulled it over, noting this and that, the details she was certain she could arrange and set up. It would be a vast undertaking, where one misstep would surely end with her head on the chopping block.
...but if I play my cards right...

Finally, Infurya gave Catrina a piercing look, "You have a deal, Catrina."

She offered her hand to the Cat, who narrowed her eyes before reaching out to grasp it... only for Infurya to raise it up, along with her foreclaw.

"On one condition..." Infurya growled with an undertone inarguable.

Raising a brow, Catrina asked, "And that is...?"

"That freak, that fraud that dares to call himself a dragon, Firestorm...!" Infurya seethed with sheer hatred so intense Catrina could almost swear it was starting to swelter in the parlor they were in.
"He humiliated me, in word and deed. I. Want. Him. Dead...!"

Catrina smirked, "Is that all? Why, friend... I'll personally deliver you his head to hang on your wall."

Infurya grinned like a shark and finally took Catrina's hand in her own as they glared into each other's eyes with glints of devious conspiracy.

Next Chapter: 380. Hitting Rock Bottoms - Part 1 Estimated time remaining: 16 Hours, 38 Minutes