To Protect Dragons

22. Almost

My father held me in a tight hug. He pulled me in close and if he wasn't someone I knew inside and out, you wouldn't be able to tell that he was crying.

There had still been no word from Kazuto, but there had also been no more hunters found. I was in a position where my options were to wait around, or to act first for the sake of my people.

Walking towards the dragon I was riding the armor that had been made for me a few days before hung heavy on my body, my movements were slower but I suppose there was always a price for protection.

Riko had non stop tried to convince me to not fight, even right now as I was saying goodbye to my father he was pleading silently from behind me.

Everything felt as if it was in slow motion for me, is this how every man felt when he was going to war? Was the knot in the pit of my stomach a mutual feeling between everyone here? Or did a person become accustomed to war after a while.

I was riding a marvelous green dragon, her scales almost glistening in the sunlight, she had been Riko's dragon once upon a time, but now he fought on horse, skilled in the arts of close combat and using his sword to end the lives of others.

Would I be able to do the same thing?

It seemed like the walk to the dragon was taking ages. My people who weren't fighting in the battle stood on the sidelines of our kingdom to watch the soldiers march away, some screaming support and to avenge our dragons, while some stood quietly, paralyzed by the aspect of war.

"Kana snap out of it." Riko gripped my upper arm as he continued to walk forwards.

"Your people are watching you, get your act together."

I shook his hand off and nodded my head. "I know." I said a little too harshly for my own liking.

"No, you're scared shitless, and you should be, at least now I know you have an idea about what you're getting yourself into." He said as he confidently walked away from me to his large war horse.

15,000 men. Kazuto's men had almost double that amount. But we also had over 20 dragons. Their poison would be a problem, it was going to be a bloodbath. We were almost on even playing ground, almost.

Stop thinking about him. I kept telling myself this. There was almost no chance at all I would even come within 50 kilometers of Kazuto, but for some reason the thought was persistent in the back of my head.

Time was moving in slow motion for me as I finally reached the dragon I would ride into battle. Riko and the other soldiers had already mounted their horses or entered formation to march. The other archers who were riding dragons had already mounted as well. They were waiting on me to lead to first round of troops, after the first strike of battle three more would encircle the capital, closing them in. Our dragons would come from above. Innocent people would most likely die.

"Hello Urvet." I said speaking softly and patting the neck of Riko's dragon. She blew out hot air from her nose in response. I could see the pain in his eyes as he looked at Riko now riding a horse. He may have forgotten his bond with him like most soldiers do, but a dragon remembers forever.

My heart went out to him. He would follow Riko into any battle, even if it meant his own death. A bond with a dragon was stronger than life itself. I clenched the strap around its neck.

The crowd and soldiers around me went quiet. My father stood in the distance, watching his only daughter as he clutched his cane tightly.

For a moment it seemed like time froze, my mother was reaching down at me from the sky's and holding my cheek in her soft warm hands. Her voice was long forgotten in my mind, small whispers of encouragement left her mouth, a mixture of my voice and what I believed her voice use to sound like. It had been too long.

I opened my eyes and took a small breathe. I looked around me at all the people who were looking at me for answers. But who was I supposed to look for answers from.

I took one last shuddery breathe before I put myself together, I needed to be the Queen that was strong for her people, I didn't have any room to be weak. "My people" I paused and raised my voice, echoing above the silence around me, "My friends, today we march into battle, today for the first time in over 4 centuries we go to war with the South. Our peace could not be sustained forever, while war has been a far away thought in our minds, or perhaps not even a thought at all, history of the South's abuse towards our people and dragons will continuously happen over and over again. We must protect what is ours, we must fight for the ones we love and the things that make our nation our nation! I will stand with you today, and I will stand with you for the rest of my time as your Queen. Today we protect what is ours, Today we fight for the North!"

Cheers erupted around me, the vibration and energy around me was electrifying.

It was almost enough encouragement to convince myself completely.

It was almost enough to convince me that the moments where Kazuto had protected and cared for me was an act.

And it was almost enough to convince me that going to war and fighting against Reo, who showed me kindness when no one else did was the right thing to do.

Almost.