Armies of the Dragon (Book 2 after Warriors of the Dragon)

King's Council

A/N: I'm not sure I like the flow of this chapter. I moved some things around and I don't know if I edited well enough that it sounds okay, or if I need to move the odd parts to a different chapter.

Craven's thoughts were on Sephira as he and his injured dragon flew West around Gundam. He had spoken to Rauka about meeting him with the other Valkyri in a spot North of the city if they were to need to regroup. He knew she'd be waiting there obediently for him. He was relieved to tell her that she'd get to see her two offspring and her mate soon because they had to head to Tartarus, but he was conflicted about leaving Sephira and hoped her keeping his dragon and having the same number as Azaesel would be enough to keep her relatively safe. He knew she felt bad about killing so many Valkyri and he stopped himself from wondering if he had told them to avoid her, if that would've changed the outcome of the battle. She seemed to be in favor with most of the Grey Council and he was glad she was able to kill several of them already and still maintain her cover. He was amazed with everything she did and tried to picture her being worshiped by the Nimbi rather than them turning on her like he feared.

"Craven!" Morgan, Craven's good friend, called as Crow landed awkwardly to avoid using his injured leg amongst the gathered Valkyri.

"Morgan, it's been too long, my friend." Craven smiled at the sight of Morgan's familiar scarred face as he pulled him into an embrace.

"You look well. Rauka told me you both were posed as turned orcs in Thule. I'm surprised you're not thin and sickly." Morgan said with a hearty voice.

"Did Erek make it to Gundam?" Craven asked as he searched the large group of Valkyri for a sign of Seeg and Erek.

"He was too unwell to fight. We heard Seeg was wandering near Veiyl, so he fled with a group of civilians to find his dragon." Deskira told him with her strong voice lowered. "We should move out before the Nimbi regroup and attack again." She said as her orange eyes looked back and forth as if scanning for danger.

"I agree. I'm going to Tartarus to speak to the King about sending aid to Gundam and calling on the Alliance. Some of you should inform the neighboring towns about the Nimbi in Gundam and gather forces in the closest cities that they may attack." Craven informed them with his voice lowered.

"I'd like to come to Tartarus with you, to help convince the King." Rauka spoke up, but he could see the pleading look in her brown eyes that said she missed her family.

"Of course." He nodded, with a smile.

"I'd like to go to Tartarus, too." Morgan insisted.

"If he goes, then his unit should go." Deskira insisted crossing her arms over her weathered iron armour and looking demandingly at Craven. Craven had almost forgotten his position in the Red Army. Since he and Rauka were chosen to go on the Alliance's mission, their rank had been changed to some of the highest in the Red Army.

"His unit can go, but we need to make sure our towns aren't taken by Nimbi in the coming days. The information we have is that Azaesel and three Grey Council members will be in Gundam in about two weeks. All the towns need to be cleared out by then so our civilians aren't slaughtered." Craven insisted. He could see the understanding on their faces. He knew they were smart enough to fear that number of Grey Council members in one place. Deskira and the third and fourth members of Morgan's unit all looked sick to their stomach at the idea of meeting Azaesel.

Craven was careful not to give them information about Sephira because he and Rauka knew that there was a chance their thoughts weren't safe if they were turned. He planned on only delivering the news to his father and grandfather on the King's Council and perhaps his foolish king himself. Rauka had agreed to not sharing information about Sephira because she too worried about how much danger the dark elf would be in if she were discovered.