Dragons of Arreous (The Dwarf Princess' Dragon Prince)

Planning

All too soon the day shifted to afternoon and the afternoon into dusk.

The progress Kaet had made whilst utilizing Ailashiel's fire was astonishing to her, yet he seemed nonplussed by that—no he was far more fascinated with how she worked the metal.

"You could teach our smiths a thing or twenty," he breathed, awed as she used hammer and will to draw the metal out, lengthening and thinning it to her specifications.

"You flatter me—"

A bell tolled nearby. Ailashiel's body immediately turned, placing himself between her and the door, eyes scanning around them, fingers lengthening into talons—

"That was the day's end bell," she said softly, confusion in her voice, "Workers are to start home, and those at home are to begin preparing the final meal. Do your people not have that?"

"It's not an alarm?"

She gave him a quizzical look, "An alarm for what?"

"Invaders? Danger?"

She snorted, "In the heart of Waynah lands? No one attacks us in our own homes. Our males wouldn't allow it."

"Sometimes," Ailashiel said evenly, calming himself and retracting his claws, "it does not matter what one will and won't allow. Do you at least have an evacuation or shelter plan?"

"Why would we?"

Rage bubbled through Ailashiel. Any leader worth anything knew that sometimes the worst-case scenario did happen. To not have a plan—and to have females that didn't know how to defend themselves... unacceptable.

"Perhaps your males are drawn into a battle here," he pointed to the far end of her table and began moving pieces of metal around to represent landmarks. "The town is here. Maybe they've left a few males to guard it, but then a force comes here." He pointed to the south. "When the males go out to meet that enemy, it leaves these sides completely exposed and unguarded. Your females and children could be killed, captured, enslaved..."

Her eyes widened, "For you to have just thought of something like that... Others must have as well, or they will."

He nodded, jaw clenched. "You don't even have walls around this place. There is no protection once the males leave. None, and nowhere for you to flee to."

"We're a perfect target. No, I don't like that at all. I will—" her bluster and confidence, her anger and acuity fizzled out. "I mean, will you speak to my brother about this? Surely, I just don't know the plans he has in place already."

"Surely," Ailashiel agreed, but he doubted it. The young prince was arrogant and untried, having never faced an enemy that would attack with calculation. It would happen eventually, all that was uncertain was when. "I will speak with him."

"Thank you," she breathed. He noticed her hands were drawn into fists, her face awash with frustration.

"You don't think he'd listen to you, do you?" Ailashiel realized.

She shook her head, "He'd remind me that the males live to protect us and won't fail in that, ever. And I'm sure they'd never mean to, but..."

"But what if they do," he agreed. "Where would that leave your people?"

She was quiet, thoughtful. Then she looked him dead in the eye, "Ailashiel?"

"Yes, milady?"

"Would you help me prepare an evacuation plan as well?"

"It would be my pleasure, Kaetronatella."

***

"You really needn't help me—" she started, attempting to shew him from the kitchen.