The Five [EDITING]

Chapter Fifteen: Reunion

GEACOB

   On the trip down, we had discussed the best possible story with the least amount of lies as possible to say to the Rangers, but now that I was here, I couldn't bring myself to lie to them so thoroughly. Not when they would be risking their lives if they agreed to help.
   So after everyone broke their fast and met in the front room, Alie, who I'd warned about what I was about to do, sat at the bar and braced herself as Darci asked her question.
   "Why'd you send for us, Geacob?"
   "Because we need you to help us get into the dragons lair."
   There was a moment of stunned silence.
   "You means t'say," said Lenny almost hopefully, "that y'needs ta get into the Lair of Dragons City, aye?"
   "No. We need to get inside the dragons lair beneath the castle that sits at the top of the Lair of Dragons."
   Another moment of silence.
   "Ye've gone and turned into a jelly." Lenny said in wonder.
   Niko crossed his arms. "The City itself is near impossible for a Ranger ta get in. Goin' in is nothin' short of killin' y'rself. But ye wants to not only get into the city, but get into the lair itself?"
   "Why?" Asked Darci incredulously.
   I let out a breath. Here we go.
   "Myself and four others, including Alie, had a vision of the cities burning only a couple of days before it happened. We found each other this winter but we don't know why."
   "We wish to speak to the dragon in order to receive some sort of an answer." Alie added. "We have reason to believe it was the dragon himself whom sent us the vision."
   "Even if we does help you," Niko said, seemingly unfazed over the fact that we've had visions, "tis known the only ones can speak ta the dragons is royal blood of the King Argo Dargolyn line, a line that died out sixteen years ago durin' the war."
   "Maybe they can't speak to us, but they may be able to understand us and send another vision."
   "You believe the dragons sent the visions?" Darci seemed to still be surprised by this fact and it was more of a wonderment than an actual question but I answered it anyway just as Alie had said.
   "We don't know, but we believe so yes."
   There was a long silence as the ten of them exchanged unreadable looks. Darci spoke again.
   "You're askin' us to risk our lives for you on a guess that you may not be entirely insane?"
   "Yes." I said simply. "I wouldn't ask for help if we could do it on our own."
   Alie spoke. "We know how all this must sound to those of you who have not received a vision, but speaking for myself, Geacob, and the three other than have shared the same experience, I would like to assure you that we see absolutely no other option. Our plan sounds desperate because it is. We are desperate."
   I nodded. "We're going, with or without your help..."
   "But we have a better chance if you'll protect our backs as we move forward with our plan." Alie continued for me and I couldn't help but notice the intelligence in the use of her wording. The way she said it reminded them of the unspoken law to defend a Ranger in need. Those rules didn't apply to situations like this and she knew it, but the loyalty between the Rangers were strong and those words hit a spot in the mind, even if it wasn't Law.
   I watched her words take effect across the faces of the Rangers like a ripple across a still puddle. Darci, having experienced being trapped by her words once already, narrowed her eyes and it seemed she would resist.
   But then she sighed and looked at her men one at a time, then at Lenny who nodded once. She sighed again. "It has been fairly boring lately." She said.
   Niko seemed a bit more hesitant, however. "I've already lost two men."
   "The choice is yours Niko." Alie said kindly. "We are asking, that is all."
   He pursed  his lips, but then gave her a near toothless smile and then waved his hand. "Bah." He said. "How any man could say no to those silver eyes, I can't imagine." He looked at me. "And y'r uncle would wish me dead if he knew I let his nephew go off without m'help. We're in, lad."
   Alie nearly fell off the stool in her rush to hug the old man, then Darci who rolled her eyes at the show of affection. She came to me next and gripped my fingers in her own, relief showing strong across her face. With their help, we had a chance.
   A chance to reach the lair at least. Surviving the lair was another challenge altogether and one we could not plan for as no one alive today had ever been inside.
   I forced my mind away from the thoughts of our possible fiery deaths and squeezed her fingers in return.