The Final Storm (Part 3)

Angry Birds

“Well that went well,” Lauri whispered harshly, stomping out of the meeting room.

            Vali followed soundless, her forked tongue flicking out in agitation. “He’s going to waste the men’s life with that foolish plan of his.”

            “Yeah!” Lauri about screamed, startling a few crows from their perches on the fountain. “I cannot believe how… how boneheaded that guy is! Grr!” she kicked at a forgotten bottle sourly, sending it flying into the bushes with a light crash. “He never listens to what I have to say! Does he really think he’s that smart? I have a feeling he’s up to something.”

            Vali sighed. He is not the smartest human. But hypnotizing him would be futile. Every time I’ve done it it only works for a couple hours, until he remembers his errikim ideas.

            Lauri found her eyes wandering back to the skyline, which was now starting to spread into a glorious sunset. “When Ezra comes back, then we will finally get the respect we deserve… and hopefully our victory.”

            “If they don’t come soon, our country will fall,” Vali said grimly, “the Vulnairians have emptied their towns. Their forces are twice as large as our own. Thistle came by just before the meeting to report. They’ve reached the entrance to the Great Woods”

            “-Which means they’ll be here by tomorrow afternoon!” Lauri swore loudly.

            “I’m guessing they’re planning a siege. They’ll try to starve us out of these walls,” Vali shook her head dismally. “Likely, we’ll fight them until we are no more. And the general’s obstinacy is not helping.”

            Lauri sighed. “Vali, we need to have another little festival. To show you and the other dragons off- give the soldiers a little hope. I can tell from their faces- they know they won’t make it through this. Perhaps a little drink and to gaze into the fierce faces of the mighty dragons might cheer their spirits. I know it will mine,” she teased.

            But as they fell into silence, they were both thinking the same thing. They had just three dragons, two of them under twenty years old. And the enemy had one too, but this one was over a hundred years old, and a fire dragon at that. He would likely burn both the forest and ice dragon to ashes. The people knew of this too, the tale of the great fire dragon had spread like a disease. Lauri cursed herself inwardly. How could she let this happen? She had one of the firstborn in her hands, the wind firstborn, the incarnation of the sky itself, and she had let him slip right out of her hands! He could have insured the safety of their people, could have been the salvation of the country. And now he was dead, or worse, captured.

            I have led the country into a war that we cannot hope to win, Lauri thought as she mounted her dragon and they slid into the lake. I have taunted the Vulnairians with a weapon that I have lost. I am truly a fool. She leaned forward so that her head rested on Vali’s shoulder blades, running her hands through Vali’s tassels. Oh Vali, how I wish I could just turn back time.

            There is no turning back, there is only now, dear Rider. We have to make the most of what we have. I.. I have a plan. Vali swished her tail and plunged deeper, startling a group of silvery flat fish. They darted away as she continued, Thistle and I have been talking and I think we may have a chance of… delaying them.

            “Woo hoo!” Thistle laughed as a small explosion sounded from below. “Good aim, Ryan!”

            Ryan laughed as he hefted a small spherical balloon-like gadget. It was dark and lightweight, the top was fitted with a slim silver band. Several different variants of the thing hung on his saddle, carefully positioned so that they wouldn’t band of his legs or explode against Thistle’s side. “Did you see the look on those guy’s faces? Haha! I think one of them went flying into a tree! Say, what do you think the black one will do?”