The Shattered Dragonslayer

Chapter 5: Clash of Fire (Part 1)

At the north field beyond the houses, swords were clanking, guns were cocking, and there were scattered whispers among everyone. The army appeared hard faced and ready for death to break upon them like water over stone, but even so their numbers looked so few; there stood not two hundred men there, and some twenty women who chose to join in combat. The rest of the women took to a few of the houses further back near the forest where the violence would less likely reach, where they kept watch over the children. Among this latter group was Kathleen, who helped move the furniture around in the homes in order to create barricades or shields for them to hide and protect the children behind.

There fell an ominous red and gold light over the field as the blacksmith and his dog joined the mass. His grip tightened on the stock of his rifle as he became engulfed in the crowd. Raylan was running up from amidst the sea of faces to meet him.

"Demetri!" He waved his hand like they hadn't seen each other in several moons. "I had started to think you'd chickened out on me!" He laughed out loud and embraced him, then led him across the plain. "Isn't it glorious, brother? Everyone's here. I tell you, I've had my concerns and doubts here and there but seeing everything come together, I really believe we'll win this fight. This is our beginning."

Demetri didn't really speak. He couldn't offer anything inspiring or in protest. That was, until he saw Tammy coming to join them.

"Is he spittin' sunshine and rainbows up your rear again, Demetri? Want me to sock his mouth shut so you can get some peace and quiet before this raging blood bath begins?"

"I'd rather you be inside one of the houses. Women shouldn't be bloodying their hands in battle."

"Spare me your sentiment over my innocence, Demetri. I'm not about to let you men do all the dirty work around here; I'd rather get me my own dragon head and see its sorry hide hang on my wall. Besides, you could use all the help you can get, we're not exactly great in numbers, you know."

Raylan laughed, "we're grateful for your help, Tammy. I bet I'll spot you popping one's head with your bare hands at some point - won't that be a sight, aye Demetri?" He shoved him in the shoulder.

"Yeah, yeah, you're both funny."

Benjamin joined them from the front of the mass, carrying a blaze pistol in hand with a blade strapped to his right hip. He was of a broad build, and blond like Raylan, and for as long as Demetri knew him there never seemed to be a trace of fear in his countenance. "Everyone looks to be here," he announced to Raylan, resting his hands on his belt.

"Yes sir! And our best fighter has just arrived and is ready to bash some dragon skulls together, right Demetri?" He grabbed his shoulder again and shook it.

"If you say so," he grunted, crossing his arms. "I'm assuming you have some sort of strategy for defeating a dragon battalion."

"You assume correctly," responded Ben without missing a beat. "I'm about to go over it with our army here: we all know that Duhra comes once a month with two or three entourages to collect their portion of our fruits - that's the whole point of choosing this day. So, we ambush the guests once they land and bombard them with their own fire. It will take some time, days even, before the rest of their pride realizes their leader isn't coming back and will probably send a few scouts out first to search for him, and we'll pick them off as they come. By the time they recognize the need to bring the whole pride over we can out number them. We must be careful however; when the first party lands we must encompass them subtly, like we are simply giving them a routine welcome as they go to inspect the village, and when I give the word we will strike instantly, all at the same time. They can't know what hit them. This plan will take a lot of precision and boldness, no room for second thoughts or cowardice."