Anh had sat on councils before – councils that reconvened on harvest strategy so the dragons could be on hand if rain was required. There was also the 'Council for Peppers' which he and Bong were the only members of, set up in The Winter Haven when they had ran out of pepper and comprised a plan for getting more peppers (It was ineffective – they settled for ginger at the bequest of Minh Huyn). The War Council, however, was a far cry from peppers and rain.
"Will Lao Longzi be joining us?" Lord Cao asked Danzi. The dragon chimed. Anh answered no on his behalf. The Lord sighed. "I appreciate you trying to bring him in."
The War Council was held in Lord Cao's Hall. The room was lit by flickering candles, casting an eerie glow on the faces of those gathered around the table. At the head of the table sat Lord Cao, his expression grave as he awaited the arrival of his council members. Anh recognised each man who joined, if not by name then by face. Some shook Anh's hand, delighted to see the dragons return. Others were surprised to see the young man sat between two great dragons, returned to speak of war. Everyone knew dragons and their keepers had their laws.
The final members of the party arrived. Anh swallowed then rose to greet one of them.
"Tieze Senior." Anh said bowing.
He had met Yara's father before once, and it had been a catastrophic disaster. His eyes looked over Anh coldly. "It's true then. You're back."
"I am."
"Must have been a shame to drop by my home last night and be turned away. Yara was quite tired." He leaned in so only Anh could hear. "But she could barely stay awake at breakfast this morning. I don't suppose you know what kept her awake all night?"
So they had noticed her disappearance last night. Anh breathed in deeply. He was to blame, but he was no coward. "I mean no disrespect, Tieze Senior. We only walked."
"Yes, only walked." He mused. At that moment, another gentlemen came up to them and shook Anh's hand.
"Good to see you again!" The man smiled.
"You too." Anh said, though he couldn't remember anything about the man.
When he left, Tieze dropped his faux smile. "My daughter is growing into a remarkable woman, I'm sure you'd agree. I will not have you tarnish her virtue before we find a valuable man for her."
Anh pursed his lips. He met Tieze's cold eyes. "Yara was always remarkable." He said before returning to sit between Hei Lei and Danzi.
He looked happy to see you. Hei Lei smirked.
Lord Cao raised a cup to the air and the room fell silent. His voice boomed across the room as he addressed his advisors. His words were filled with authority and determination. "Friends; Dragons. Please raise your cup with me to toast to good fortune. For soon, I pray we need it." The men of the room raised their cups and drank. Danzi and Hei Lei raised bowls of meat in place.
"Upon returning from The Winter Haven, our friends, the Dragons, found a Chu Army camped at the eastern shore of Lake Dragon." He swallowed. "500 men strong."
The room filled with voices and questions. A man sitting opposite to Anh was visibly shaken. Another fell into prayer.
"An army of 500 would bring Tinkling to dust!" One man said.
"Abandon the village!" Another cried.
"And go where!" Lord Cao said banging his fist on the table. "Xianyang is under siege. Anhui doesn't have the infrastructure to host refugee's."
One man mused, "Shabian Pass?"
Lord Cao shook his head. "The Xiong Nu have taken advantage of the empire's vulnerability. The Pass is raided regularly."
YOU ARE READING
The Fall of Dragon Haven - A Dragonkeeper Fanfiction
Fanfiction"If it were the girl or the Haven," Hei Lei pondered. "Which would you choose?" "What kind of question is that?" "A rhetorical one I'd like to think." Anh sighed and began scratching Hei Lei under his chin. "It would never come to that." He whispere...
