The Order of Dragonfire

Chapter 14

"You can't." The High Lord sighed, growing weary of the conversation. The elders had been summoned in the highest of secrecy for the city's safety, but Gareth's plan was sheer lunacy.

"I can and I will. I have to." Gareth replied bluntly. "We can't turn our back on such a terrible mistake, and we all know that the dragonstoned are our only hope. Without retrieving more we're doomed."

"But we'll go down fighting." Aster growled. She looked around the small meeting chamber for support from the other council members, but failed to find much enthusiasm for it.

"Yes, and I fear that's the reason they're so keen to remove our defences as sneakily as possible."

"I understand, Lord Gareth. But I mean you can't." The High Lord couldn't deny that Gareth had a point. Interrogation of their newest invader had made them all confident that he was telling the truth. Whilst his knowledge of why they wanted him to steal the amulet was almost non-existent, what he had described made a lot of sense. If they had tried the same technique before then that would perfectly explain Alex's actions. Why she had never mentioned it remained a mystery, but that was a minor point.

"It has to be me. This isn't just about redemption. It will prove to be a dangerous task and few others are even close to being powerful enough to handle it." Gareth argued.

"No. This is final. You have been tasked with leading the Order of Dragonfire, and that is what you shall continue to do. We can't risk losing you and having the Order disrupted, and definitely not when we're on the brink of war. Defence is our highest priority and you shall see to it that the sorcerers are ready for an attack, be it with magic or steel." The High Lord rarely put his foot down, particularly against Gareth, but this appeared to be one such occasion.

"Do you have an alternative? The stones need retrieving and it falls to the Order to do it. I assume you don't want legions of mages heading off and leaving the city undefended?"

"No, I suppose not." The High Lord pondered the dilemma they found themselves in. The Order would need to retrieve the dragonstones to defend the city, but going to do so would drastically cut their defensive ability. The Order of Dragonfire would be the main line of defence against the tower's armies which would surely comprise their own Order's sorcerers. Whether they sent people to retrieve the stones or forgot about them entirely, they would be sacrificing a major aspect of their potential defence and would be hopelessly vulnerable for doing so.

"Need I remind you that these jewels are the stuff of fiction? Told to us by drunkards, bandits and merchants making a living off promising wondrous treasures only to present us with dirt?" Inella, supervisor of trade, snapped.

"That is true..." The High Lord said, realising this may be an excuse to avoid the dilemma. Why risk losing precious forces on a quest for something that surely wasn't real?

"That settles it. Lord Gareth, I'm afraid this is still out of the question. Unless you have concrete proof these dragonstones exist, you and the Order sham remain to defend the city. This meeting is over."

"But Al-" Gareth started.

"I don't care." The High Lord lost his patience.

"Me neither. Now if you'll excuse me, I have an influx of merchants whose stock I need to approve for sale. Probably worthless tat." Inella stood up to leave. The other elders soon followed, leaving Gareth alone with his failure. He had hoped they would understand their obligation and the importance to the city, but were somehow totally blind to it.