Page 29 of Cast By Flames (Dragon's Breath)
The Shadowan leader was a massive green dragon nearly three times as large as the average shifter in beast form. It spoke volumes about his current problems that he behaved civilly and exhibited no malice toward the Taugud. The last time they’d met, it had been on a battlefield where they both suffered familial losses. Years had passed, but dragons tended to have long memories.
Aidan settled his wings more firmly against his back.Of course, but I am curious about what compelled you to change your mind about joining us in the war.
Several of our settlements on the western side of our territory were attacked. We lost more than fifty dragons, including several of our precious hatchlings. Some of our strongest guards were at that border, yet they were no match for the Kandoran legion.Volker pawed the ground, ripping his claws through it.I admit I underestimated them despite your warnings.
It must have been a terrible massacre for him to confess that.
Do you understand that we are forming an alliance of dragons, humans, sorcerers, and slayers and must work together to succeed?Aidan asked.He wanted no room for doubts or surprises and ensured that point came across from the outset of every negotiation.
Volker glanced at the green dragon beside him—a female covered in his scent. She must have been his mate, though Aidan didn’t know her name. She appeared to hold some sway over the leader since they seemed to be communicating with each other privately.
The pendragon returned his gaze to Aidan.We are willing to do what it takes to protect our people from the madness spreading from the West.
If that is true, it would also include allowing us to assist you in fortifying your border.Aidan described the shield wall they’d prepared and how it would work.We will need the support of your humans and any sorcerers—including dragons with magic—within your territory if we are to join our defensive measures with yours before the onset of war. All participants must be given safe passage across all of our lands for the foreseeable future.
Even though they’d have limited time, expanding the shield as far as possible was vital. The farther it was extendedand the more magic they fed into it, the more difficult it would be for the Kandoran to advance east. At present, if the enemy got past the Shadowan border, they could infiltrate Taugud territory from the north. Aidan had been counting on his neighbors to accept his plans for the defensive strategy to work. He couldn’t begin to describe the relief he felt that they were finally coming around to his offer, though later than he preferred.
Volker’s gaze turned thoughtful.The idea of your shield sounds promising. We recently heard of a similar one deep inside the Kandoran lands and would appreciate such a wall to protect our young. The human cattle in my territory shall be safe if they agree to assist in its assembly.He shook his large head and snorted.We will consider it with the sorcerers.
Admittedly, it was a difficult concession for any dragon. Aidan had to believe they would come to understand the benefits of working with magic usersand thatthe toriq leader would comply with all his stipulations. In fact, he’d make certain of it soon enough.
I will have our human leaders reach out to your side to start the process.
The Shadowan pendragon swished his large green tail.I will speak with my people to ensure they cooperate, and we will be happy to help with the shield fortification in any way possible. It is imperative that my toriq and lands are protected while we battle.
Do you have a way to communicate with your humans?Aidan asked. Though no one in the Taugud could speak telepathically except beast to beast, there were exceptions elsewhere among dragons and people like Rayna with the ability.
Volker was quiet a moment.One of ours has the ability and uses it upon occasion. A human sorcerer in the northeast part of our territorycan speak into our minds, and he hears us if we converse openly with each other.
Aidan had no doubt the pendragon didn’t appreciate anyone listening to their conversations and wondered how they discovered him.Will this sorcerer be amenable to working with you, or is he a problem?
He has asked for cooperation between our kind.His chest rumbled with annoyance.“But we have declined several of his requests in recent months. We would have killed him for his insolence, but he eludes capture through cunning magic and two slayers who protect him.
That explained Volker’s reluctance to speak of him.If he is that powerful, then you must consider him as an ally. Make certain he is not tainted first, but I suspect the slayers would have killed him if he were a problem. This man will improve your defense capabilities and help bridge your communication gap with humans. It is worth a temporary truce.
Very well.The large green dragon’s throat rumbled.We will speak with him and see if we can come to an agreement for the duration of the war, rather than eat him as many would prefer.
Aidan inwardly winced at the thought of consuming a sorcerer. Surely, that would result in terrible indigestion.I appreciate your consideration for the greater good.
Hmmpf, yes. We must sacrifice much to stop the Kandoran.
Pardon me.Edythe—the head of the Taugud elder’s council—stepped forward.But in my lifetime, I have never seen your people cooperate with ours so readily. We are asking far more from you than ever, and I find it hard to believe a single attack on your toriq is enough to bring you to our side. Why should we trust you?
Aidan would have wondered about that as well, but as a leader himself, he had a good idea of the reason. The latest attack would have hit Volker personally as a failure to protect his territory. Pure dragons tended to be more violent than shifters,but they also aimed to have the upper hand when facing their enemies. It was all about being cunning and formidable. They didn’t start a war unless they believed they had a good chance of winning.
Volker’s losses in recent years had no doubt hobbled his sense of dominance, and now he’d do anything to prove he could still serve as a strong leader for the Shadowan. Perhaps, even, some within his toriq had begun to question his rule.
Volker’s red eyes narrowed. For a moment, he did not speak. His mate bumped into his side, and he glanced at her. It took several minutes before he returned his attention to Edythe.
We have sent multiple spies out over the last year, hoping to gain information on the Kandoran, but most have never returned. Finally, one who had been gone for two months came back a few days ago, injured and exhausted but showing no signs of infection. He was the bravest and craftiest of our toriq. It took several days for him to recover before he could tell his story, but it was then we learned of the size of the army we faced. You had not been exaggerating after all. It will take everyone we can gather if we have any chance of survival, and even then, it may not be enough.
Though it means cooperating with many of your old enemies?Edythe asked, skepticism in her tone.
Volker snorted.Old enemies such as yourself lack the capability to eradicate us. I must put the survival of my toriq first, and I’m willing to do whatever it takes to ensure we all live to fight another day.
Aidan was pleased the Taugud elder took the time to ask difficult questions and that the Shadowan pendragon had gathered intelligence similar to theirs for confirmation.Everything he’d hoped to accomplish today was falling into place.
But he had more to add.Then, you should also agree that if we succeed in this war, everyone who participated in the alliance must adhere to a six-month truce afterward. No matter how prepared we are and how well we fight, we will all sustain losses. A period of recuperation must be included for everyone’s benefit.
