Queen Victoria walked to the front of the stage in the silence and took a deep breath into the microphone that was tied to her ear so that everyone could hear. Their was a crystal bowl that was transparent, so that everyone could see her hand reach in and out as the names were called one by one. The setting reminded the young queen of cattle, trapped in a fenced in area and she was the Sheppard that led them back to there deaths. There were four guards positioned around her and guards lining across the walls, so nobody could run and nobody would think about running. They wanted them to feel trapped, that’s what this day was all about. The city was dirty and run down, but it was better than the other villages. Behind the stage there was the flag of the people, a purple flag with a beautiful flower growing up from the ground, but it wasn’t how it used to be. 

Now the dragons flag stood beside there flag, even higher than the peoples. It was snow white, with a dragons egg painted across it in mainly different colors to show there birth, but it was just a reminder for the people that they weren’t any closer to freedom. The queen thought about what stood behind her and how she was just as guilty, but how that guilt never affected her heart. It never made her think twice about her father’s goals or ambitions. 

“Welcome. I won’t waste your time. By now, you should know how this works. Your name, among others, is in here.” The queen touched the bowl and than took her hand away placing it down in front of her dress. Her voice was unemotional, like she was reading pages of a book. She seemed unfazed by it. “I will draw the names and read them out. I ask that the names called come up to the stage without a fight. You see, we do this each year for a reason. A treaty that grants us peace in exchange for a small price. In the words of my father, ‘our peace isn't free, we paid with our children, its better than paying with all of our existences.’ You sacrifices aren’t in vain; they are what keep us, as a nation, intact. We thank you.” 

Victoria shifted uncomfortably and reached her slender hand into the bowl pulling out the first name among the list and lifting it up to read. “The first of many. Alicia Mirror.” 

The crowd stirred and parted as a young girl, who looked about eleven, made her way forward. She looked confused and like she might cry, but she fought against the urge of tears. Her short brown hair sway as she climbed the stairs and her simple pink dress made her look innocent. When she was standing beside the queen, staring out at the many horrified faces, the queen continued on with names being called one by one until there were at least ten children on stage. “Mercy Dracona Vail, Daman, Vanya Gwanae, Ni-“ She coughed and looked across the crowd with clear pain in her eyes as she tried to continue her sentence, but had to take a minute to breath. “Nixon Farren.” She coughed out the words as if they were acid and continued to go draw names. “Scarlett Thornhammer, Fu, Fea.” She drew names one by one, but she seemed to sad now. 

She couldn’t look at the children on the stage with her, until the moment that they all stood in beside her. “We- We thank you for your Sacrifice. Ple- Please follow the guards as they escort you into dragon territory. On behalf of our people, we wish you far well.” She stammered and was quickly lead off of the stage, glancing back at her brother to say goodbye on last time, but the children were already lead away. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, trying not to let her mind run wild.