The Dragon's Speech

Chapter 2: This is Our Way

Clearing my throat I began, "Now that we have reached an agreement, it is in the best interest of your people that we begin training immediately." I couldn't help but smirk.

"My brother, Terrowin, will accompany you or your representative to begin taking stock of all of the provisions, horses, livestock, and other resources that you currently have available. You will need to share any and all information with him that he asks, we will need to know all resources at your disposal if we are to survive the winter."

"Sybalt, our best weapons maker, will accompany myself to evaluate your weapons stock, construction, assembly, and the current fighting force you have assembled to aid us in ending this conflict." I stated.

At this statement, I could already see their eyes shifting back and forth between my father, brother, and I. This is when things get good.

"I will need you to gather the best fighters you have in each fighting style and weapon, and upon my personal evaluation I will reassign them as first or second class under one of our respective men for instruction."

As this the murmurs began, as they always did. I could barely hide the contemptuous smile from my features.

As was the way with my people, when your life is your own, it brought about a strong sense of equality among all races, creeds and genders. You were worth what you could take with your own hands or what you could weave with the intellect of your words.

In this land, there were confusing invisible boundaries dictating your class and status. And for some backwards reason, the presence of breasts, a deeper skin tone or penis somehow dictated your standing.

This way of life was perplexing to me, and I thoroughly enjoyed undermining this way of thinking whenever I had the chance.

My brother was a brilliant orator, 'he could charm a king from his crown,' as my father likes to say. His primary role was to win the hearts of the people, to secure our food, lodging, and win the opinion of the local people we were staying with.

He also had a gift for battle strategy, this he gained from my father, whose military mind was the driving force behind all of our operations.

My specialty was in combat. I lived for the thrill of it. I was proficient in a variety of close quarter weapons, and trained to quickly disarm those that I was not capable of defeating by brute strength alone.

Being the last female in my line, and the youngest child, my father was very protective of me. Much to my aggravation, but I understood his reasons. The loss of our homeland, and the tearing apart of my family almost broke him. So I gave into his requests when it came to my safety.

It was the older gruff man that spoke first, "My apologies, my lady, but I do not think my men will take kindly to being," noticeable pause, "evaluated by one such as yourself."

I retorted strongly, "If they want to live long enough to take back their land, then they will have to." Seeing the red creep swiftly across all their features, my father stepped forward.

"Garloch, I know our ways may be strange to you and your men, but I promised you my best warrior and instructor. That is none other than my daughter, Eilea. We have precious little time, so the sooner we can get past this and begin training your men not only to survive, but to fight back, the faster you can return to your peaceful way of life."

He bowed his head slightly in acceptance. "I will take your words as wisdom, Tarac, but when we entered into this agreement, we were in belief that we would have the dragon of the north fighting with our men."

"And you shall," my father assured him.

"Both my son and I will be on the battlefield alongside your men. But to defeat an enemy such as this, your men must be shown where they are weakest, in order to become stronger." He stated with a nod of his head. Garloch accepted this was a curt nod and a grunt.