The Dragon Bond

Chapter 38

"Hal Haar is a man of character, rare for a man of the plains," Symon said.

Aurora nodded.

"Indeed he is. I wasn't expecting him to pledge himself to our cause so easily," she replied.

"That wasn't a pledge to us, that, he gave to me when I first encountered them," Symon began, "no, that was him keeping his promise that he made, and his followers standing behind him in the face of a great threat."

Glimmer huffed.

"We still need more people. All the little villages we encountered during our travels, we now must rally them. That will take time," she added.

Aurora shrugged.

"Thankfully, that is in great supply. The blockade will hold strong indefinitely as long as we keep their men fed and rested. Such a barrier will render the Royal Army unable to function as normal. They may well be part way through a mutiny by the time we arrive," she said.

Symon looked over at Aeryx. She was sleeping tenderly in the grass, with Syron's wing wrapped over her body as he too slept.

"Aurora, have you considered the obligation the two of us have?" he asked.

She and Glimmer both looked at him, puzzled.

"Not long ago, we both had large families," he began, "then the war began. Since then, you've lost both parents, and three siblings, while nearly losing a fourth. It's not unwise to think more of us will die before this conflict is concluded. I am the last of your line and only three of yours remain. We must have you be with child before our lives end."

Aurora raised her head backwards, surprised at Symon's proposal. Glimmer laughed into her hands, though not caring much to hide it.

"We are too young. Now would be a disaster for us, and our children," Aurora replied.

Symon shook his head.

"All four remaining dragons will be needed in the fighting to come, and it's likely that not all four will survive. If we do not act now, it is likely both our lines will end with our deaths. I dislike the idea as much as you, but I see no way around it," he replied insistently.

"He isn't wrong, we've seen dragons shot from the sky under more fair circumstances than is to come, it isn't unreasonable to assume it will happen again. Our lines will die with us if we don't act," Glimmer interjected.

Aurora scoffed, then looked at Syron.

"I suppose they have the same problem. Only four dragons are left in the world. In the coming weeks or months, it's likely that none will be left. With no way to breed them, I can't help but wonder if we are doing them a great disservice," she exclaimed.

Symon squinted, watching Aeryx and Syron closely.

"Perhaps they've already taken care of that, they've been quite close," he said jokingly, but with a degree of seriousness.

Aurora shook her head.

"Inbred species never survive more than a generation, two at most," she replied.

"I wouldn't be surprised if that's exactly what they've done. Given how few survived to this day," Symon suggested.

Aurora shrugged and dug into a piece of bread ravenously. Glimmer too indulged in bread, but Symon wasn't hungry, as he was far to stressed to eat. Without saying anything, he moved to rouse Aeryx. Irritated, she rose from her slumber, nudging Symon with her snout.

"Come, let us enjoy our time while we still have it," he said as he climbed atop her back.

"Where are you going?" Aurora asked.

He looked back at her.

"To enjoy being among the living while I still can. Ponder what I said, and ponder it well," he said before commanding Aeryx skyward.

Glimmer chuckled.

"Are you going to consider what he said? Truly?" she asked.

Aurora shrugged, her thoughts racing.

"Nothing he said was wrong. But, if I were with child, I would be of little use against the Royal Army. I feel that there is no right or wrong choice. Either way, we win and lose," she replied.

"Well, I suppose that does make sense," said Glimmer.

Syron cawed at Aurora.

"We haven't got much time to waste unfortunately. We must march on the Two Mile Fort. We cannot afford to wait months for me to give birth if I do indeed carry a child. We lack the resources to keep an army this size mobile. We must rendezvous in Dragonswood before the attack," she said, looking back at Syron.

Glimmer stood up and started towards Sunray as he brushed up against Syron's enormous wing.

"It's in your hands Aurora. Our family has been devastated as it is, and consequently, we will never be the same. What happens now means very little, so long as our objective is met. If you feel you and Symon can both survive, then wait until you come of the age of majority. If not, well that's between he and you," Glimmer said.

"What would you do?" Aurora asked her.

Glimmer paused, her mind flooded.

"I will likely never have my own children," Glimmer began, "so if I were you, I would not wait. Knowing I may not survive, I wouldn't chance it. But that's only what I would do. I cannot speak for you," she said as Sunray took off, leaving only Syron.

Aurora sighed, and started towards Syron. She stroked his jaw, then climbed atop his back.

"The end of days are near for us all Syron. I hope with all I have, that your kind fares better than mine will. I'm sorry for all you've experienced," she said.

Syron paid her no mind, not that she thought he would. He stretched his wings briefly, as if to feel less stiff before he too would take off, continuing west.