A Dragon Scorned (WIP 2nd edition)

Chapter 2

"You're an idiot Kazadun. We can't just attack." Urim slammed his fist into the table so hard the pins and pawns placed on the map nearly fell over.

"You and your strategizing." Kazadun, one of the few that equaled Urim in rank on this mission twirled his dark brown moustache. "We're here to annihilate the Dragon. So why risk-"

"You'd risk all our lives with the frontal attack you're proposing." Urim reddened. Why did he have to raise this point every time? His Brother had always been short sited and prone to rushing into battle.

"As I said," Kazadun continued unphased. "We can use the-"

"And what if here is no Dragon?" Urim waved his hand. "Did you think about the Tempest we'd be unleashing then? Of course not. Or about the fact that we could actually raise one from Blue."

"He's right," Someone whispered in the back and a few heads nodded in agreement.

"But-"

"You two still butting heads after all this time?" The Commander and ship captain entered the war room.

Urim straightened up immediately and the place fell silent except for the rustle of chairs and boots against the wooden deck.

"At ease." Delrin "Gravelbeard" Yemervond waved his hand and added a new pile of scrolls and documents to the already crowded table.

"Commander." Urim nodded. "I was just reminding Kazadun, that excess use of power could very easily backfire if there is not an equal force on the island."

"Yes, yes, we've all heard your favorite story of the simple peasant striking down the Kyar." Delrin grinned at Urim. "But teasing aside, we don't know their Convention, we don't know its strength and what the island really holds."

He looked across all the officers and generals gathered around the table.

"Lady Ducilla can keep us hidden for a while longer, let's use that to our advantage."

"The mercenaries will go crazy if we ask them to wait."

"We won't ask them that." Urim took the chance to push his plan forward again. "They're perfect for a scouting mission. In fact we'd want to limit Brotherhood numbers in case our very presence-"

"That won't be a problem." The rustling of the long, flowing dress preceded the woman's entrance.

Urim turned his head restraining a sharp remark itching at his tongue. The meeting was for high ranking Brotherhood members only. But the plump, human woman with olive color skin didn't seem to hesitate or ask for permission. Her excessively long sleeves almost dragged across the floor as she stepped up to the table.

"I'll provide you with Hear Me Not See Me Not orbs." She pulled out a shimmering glass ball the size of an eyeball from her sleeve and placed in on the table.

"Many thanks, Lady Ducilla." Delrin smiled and bowed his head. "How many could we have for tomorrow?"

"Oh, a hundred or so," she said and Urim noticed a smirk briefly cross her lips.

She knew she wasn't welcome here. What kind of a deal did she have with the Brotherhood for Delrin to be so tolerant of her transgressions? Urim wondered. After all their Commander wasn't know for patience with outsiders or ballroom manners.

"Right, how many scouting boats can we send?" Delrin turned to the shipmaster.

"Five hundred," Orthan replied.

None of the dwarves smiled at the words, but Urim knew deep down, they all enjoyed one-upping the sorceress.

"Urim, you're in charge of the scouting party."

"Ay." He stepped up to the table. "We'll have as many units of three as we can have orbs. Orthan, ready the smallest, fastest boats you have. Kazadun, we'll make sure we have a scout and a warrior in each team, so I'd like your list of top picks for the fighters. While I'm all for keeping it quiet I do agree we should be prepared if things go wrong."

The men nodded. And Urim waved his hand over the almost blank map of the island.

"We'll land along the Interior side to avoid the other waters. But once on the ground we should cover all areas."

"Even the Azure?" Someone blurted to his left.

"No." Urim restrained a shudder. "No need to go into the cursed dreamland. But we do need to know how far it stretches."

Although no one had commented Urim saw the relief on their faces.