The Dragon Bond

Chapter 39

"I do not understand how else we can defend," James exclaimed, irritated.

"We must construct more crossbows for our spears. And the towers must be lined with grapnels," Ser Daryl replied.

Ser Jarys shook his head.

"Our catapults should be on the exterior wall. They'll be much better served engaging the hundreds of thousands of men on the ground. Focusing half of our weapons on five dragons is reckless when there stands a hoard of blood thirsty men at our gates," he said.

"But Ser Jarys," Ser Daryl protested, "those dragons are the only reason the rebellion stands. If we can slay them, a million men could march on these walls and a million men will be held back. Without their dragons, they are nothing. We must focus all the resources we can spare skyward."

James huffed.

"Well, the way I see it, the dragons will dive on us from directly above. The girl isn't foolish enough to thwart such an easy advantage. They'll all dive upon us from above. We need to attack with all we have. Their foot soldiers will be useless without their dragons," he said, agreeing with Ser Daryl.

Just then, Lyrine entered and sat next to James. She pecked him on the cheek and stretched, having only just woken up.

"Is everything alright?" she asked, sensing the tension in the room.

James turned to her.

"We will never again engage our enemy in the field," he began, "we have lost far too many lives on the offensive. Wives and children will never again see their fathers and husbands. We have been reckless. From today forward, we hold up here. When the enemy descends upon us again, we will be ready for them. All our forces concentrated here. As long as we live, the rebellion will never be able to assume absolute power. For that, they will have to come to us, and when they do, they will be crushed."

Lyrine raised an eyebrow.

"And what of the women and children? The maids? Cooks?" Lyrine asked, irritated.

James was puzzled.

"What about them?" he asked.

Lyrine scoffed.

"If your intent is to draw the enemy to our home, you're knowingly putting innocent people that are not meant to fight in harms way. Innocent people will die if what you suggest is to transpire," she said firmly.

James shook his head.

"When the time comes, the women and children will be relocated to the cellars below ground. Every man, regardless of his position, will be fighting. We expect hundreds of thousands, if not more, to march on our walls. No man will be spared," he explained.

"Your Excellency," Ser Daryl began, "if I may, might I suggest using the boy as leverage? To offer his life in exchange for a surrender may save countless lives." he suggested.

James shrugged.

"I don't believe that to be a smart idea. While it could work, I see no way to pass the message along. The next time we encounter the rebels, it will be to end the war with blood. The boy will then be released, regardless of the outcome," he asserted.

Ser Daryl threw his hands up, then slammed them back into the table.

"There is no reason for the boy to live. He must die for his crimes," he barked.

James glared at Ser Daryl, shaking his head.

"We have discussed this already Daryl. We will not murder a child we have imprisoned. We are not cowards, and we don't execute children. I have spent a lifetime doing injustice to those who did not deserve it. I have executed people for the most trivial of offenses. I cannot change the past, but I can change what will come after today, and I will not be as low as to murder a helpless child," he declared.

Ser Daryl scoffed, stood up and stormed out of the room angrily.

"He's just a talker. Ser Daryl has never disobeyed you, and I don't imagine he'll start over something so minor," Ser Jarys said.

"Perhaps," James began, "but someone that willing to speak against me over the life of a prisoner, it's dangerous. Ser Daryl has served me well, I would hate to act against him."

Lyrine shook her head as it hung down, moaning in frustration.

"Why did this have to happen?" she mumbled.

James put his arm around her shoulders.

"This is no one person's fault. Man was never meant to cross with dragons. Once they did, war was inevitable. It happened once before, and it would be foolish to think it wouldn't happen again. You need not worry. No matter what comes of this, you and Nira will not be harmed," he said tenderly.

Lyrine grunted, shaking her head.

"It's not just about me and Nira. So many innocent people on both sides have already died. We are being starved out by the trade route blockade and there stands nothing we can do without a functional navy. Thousands are dead, widowed wives and fatherless children. We have slain children ourselves and yet we complain about our enemy showing us no mercy. There will be no winner here. Everyone will either lose, or die," she barked angrily.

James sighed.

"We cannot undo what's happened. All we can do now is prepare to end it with the least amount of bloodshed as is possible. And to do that, we must hold up behind these walls, armed and ready to strike down any dragon that comes within range. And that is what we're going to do," he said commandingly.

Lyrine breathed in deeply, clamping her eyes shut.

"I cannot stay here if you intend to bring your war here," she started, "if our walls are breached there will be no stopping them. They outnumber us and even one dragon in the sky will spell the end if those walls cannot hold. If you choose to hold up here, Nira and I will be nowhere to be seen."

James grabbed Lyrine by the throat, crushing it. Ser Jarys grabbed James's arm, trying to free Lyrine, but it was of no use. Enraged, James threw Lyrine to the ground and pinned her down with his knees.

"You will remain here with our daughter. You will not steal her from under me just to be eaten alive by wolves in the forest. Our walls will hold, and the dragons will die. Nira will never leave these walls until our enemy has been vanquished," he said furiously.

A moment later though, he realized what he had done and quickly allowed Lyrine to stand. She covered her mouth, tears streaming down her face. She tried to speak, but could not, rather turning and fleeing the room. Ser Jarys glared at James, shaking his head in disappointment.

"You should be ashamed of yourself boy," he said before hurrying after Lyrine.

Now James stood alone in silence, but for the light breeze darting across the room. Crushed, he fell to his knees and wept profusely, sickened by what he had done. Unable to face Lyrine or Ser Jarys again, he only sat on the floor, reminiscing at his stupidity.