"Hear me, Goshar!" Her wings beat back the cloaks of the guards upon the city walls. As she soared higher, she saw the city beyond, a land of many tan buildings, towers, and coiling ziggurats. "I am Issari, the Dragon Queen of Eteer, the Daughter of Taal, the Light of Requiem." She blew a pillar of fire skyward. "I can burn your city to the ground and lay waste to your people. My claws can cut through metal, and my fire can melt stone. Resist me and not even your bones will lie here in memory; all of Goshar will become naught but dust. If you do not open your gates and let me enter as a queen, I will enter your city as a dragon raining death. Open your gates to my people, Goshar! Or you will not feel my wrath, for you will die too quickly to feel anything."

She landed back outside the gates, panting, and shifted back into human form.

Tanin raised an eyebrow and spoke from the corner of his mouth. "So much for diplomacy."

Issari raised her chin. "That is the diplomacy of the desert."

For a long time, nothing happened. Then, with a creak and shower of dust, the gates of Goshar began to slide open. Issari gave Tanin the slightest of smiles, then turned to walk into the city. Before she could enter the gates, a dozen guards stepped forward, blocking her way. They wore copper scale armor, and their swords were broad and straight. Horned helms topped their heads, and the sigil of Goshar—a woman with a snake head—was engraved onto their round shields. Their captain approached her, a tall man with a golden snake's head upon his helm. A cloak of many beads hung over his shoulders, and his curly black beard hung down to his belt. He raised his palm.

"Only Issari Seran, Daughter of the Demon Raem, shall enter. Your people will not set foot in the holy ground of Goshar."

She glared at the man. "My people will die out here!"

"That is no concern of Goshar," said the captain. "Many have died outside our walls. Let their bones join the others."

She sneered. "Your bones will be those to litter the desert! Share your supplies with my people or I will burn your city with dragonfire."

The captain stared back steadily, but she saw his fist tighten around the hilt of his sword, saw the fear in him. "You may speak of these matters to the Light of Goshar, our mighty abina, the Lord of the Desert, Sin-Naharosh, blessed be his name. You may follow, you alone, while your people wait outside our walls. If our blessed abina chooses to grant them his mercy, they will be given sustenance."