Black Sapphire | Xaden Riorson | S/H

XXXVI

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     There's a slow, awkward silence. Normally, in moments like these, I would curl into myself like I could hide away. But in this moment, I keep my head reared high and stare Dain down from across the table.
     "Good job remaining professional, Aetos," Xaden says casually. He tilts his head away from me and slowly scratches down his neck over his relic. I doubt it actually itches because that move is way too hot to have an actual point. "Really shows those leadership qualities at their best, eh."
     One of the riders—Exal—whistles lowly from the end of the table. "Do you boys just want to whip it out and measure? It would be faster."
     Liam snorts and smothers his laugh, but he's giving himself away by his shaking shoulders and the tear at the corner of his eye.

     "Enough!" Mira calls. She doesn't waste a moment as she slams her palms down onto the table and makes the whole thing tremble. Every dragon figurine topples over and she stares us all down for a moment.
     "Oh, come on, Sorrengail," he whines. "This is the best entertainment we've had in ages." I shake my head quietly and finish the second to last side.
     "Considering Mira can extend the shield if the wards are down, I'd send her out first to scout the area with Teine. We need to know what we're dealing with: infantry or gryphons," Violet offers. Mira nods her head approvingly.
     "Good." She moves her dragon closer to the model fortress. "Now let's assume there are gryphons." I pick up my head and widen my eyes like I'm a doll.
     "Aetos, would you like to do your job?" I ask, keeping my tone sweet and innocent like how I talk to his father. He almost seems taken aback by the switch. "You know you're the squad leader."

     His hand clenches the dragon and I raise my brows like I'm truly surprised by his actions. I'm half expecting the wooden model to snap in half but he sets it down before he can do much damage to it and looks away from me.
     "Liam, you have farsight, right?" he questions. Liam nods once with steady shoulders. "I'd have you fly out as well and analyze what's happening with a bit more detail. Looking for traps, weaknesses, where the gryphon riders are, then report back."
     "'Cause fuck the civilians," I grumble to myself. Mira looks over at me and almost laughs under her breath.
     "Yes. Check on the civilians, as well. Good. You see there are weaknesses in the wooden gates." Liam takes a moment to move his dragon toward the fortress as well. "The Navarrian citizens have been captured and are being moved and held out of sight."
     "So much for blasting the whole place," Ridoc murmurs.

     "Emery, would you say your wielding lets you shape dragon flames?" Dain asks. Emery nods.
     "Yes, but I'd have to be in the keep."
     "Then we'll have to get you into the keep," Mira says with a shrug. Emery looks at her with confusion.
     "You want me to leave my dragon and go on foot?" he asks.
     "Why do you think we get all that hand-to-hand training? Or would you rather leave all those innocent people to die?" Mira pauses for a moment to give him time to respond, then flicks her wrist so the dragon figurine goes flying from his hand and into hers. She leans over and sets it down in the middle of the castle. "What we need to ask is how to get you close without getting you killed."
     "I suppose all the others would be fighting the gryphon riders once they launch," Violet says carefully.