Chapter 138: Dragons I
Vacuse watched the Duke shoot away into the distance like a streak of green star. He still continued watching even after he was long gone.
Then he sighed. "What a troublesome fellow. He has already made up his mind... we move. To Last Tooth fortress!"
With that they began the journey to the fortress, his guard of Dragon Guards and New Dawn followed behind and around him, their movement causing a storm of dust to rise around them as the ground shook.
Within three hours they were looking at the fortress in the distance.
On their way they met a lot of roadblocks and patrols that stopped them for confirmation. And now, with the fortress so close by, the news that the Dragon heir was close had reached them and a delegation of guards were dispatched to accompany them.
They were taken directly into the fortress to meet the Dragon Lord, who was in a military meeting with his Commanders. The door was gently pushed forward into a room that was filled with shouting chaos.
"Is the Dragon Lord going to take a last stand here? Is that what all of this is about? Although the other Dukes' armies are not here now, they are already on the way!
"No matter how you look at this, three Dukes' armies are just too much for us to contend with. We will be crushed without any hint of doubt!"
"It seems the Vorrakyn really want to wipe out everyone here!"
More and more words like this flew in the air, angry words that made the air taste of anger. The air was thick with tension that made it seem as if the temperature in the room was hot.
Drenvar sat at the head of a long table, his face clear of expression and his eyes like small cold stones of red likeness. The Commander of Kragthar sat beside him, Skya Vorrakyn.
And arranged around the table were the Commanders, each of them with angry faces and pressure-filled auras as they glared at each other and the Dragon Lord. Eighteen Commanders.
Just then, the attendant that led Vacuse in cleared his throat and raised his voice. "Dragon heir! Vacuse Vorrakyn!"
Immediately the angry chatter in the room stilled and all eyes fixed on Vacuse, their expressions twisting as they grew angry just by looking at the Dragon heir.
The tension in the room climbed higher than before.
But Vacuse only shrugged as he walked forward. He bowed to the back of Drenvar. "I am back, Dragon Lord."
The Commanders bristled as Vacuse simply ignored them. One of them could not hold it back anymore and stood up, pointing at Vacuse with an ugly look on his face. "What do you mean you are back? Where are the allies you were sent?
"This is just bullshit!"
Vacuse continued to ignore him as he made his report. "The High Chief of the Warbines sent his apologies because he could not send his people down here due to the war they are currently fighting."
The Commanders only grew angrier, so much so that some of them stood up and acted as if they were coming to slap Vacuse.
It was then that the Dragon Lord finally reacted. "I will kill anyone who causes a ruckus here."
The voice was low but it was laced with a killing intent that drove it home like an arrow. Everyone froze with their eyes wide. This was the first word that Drenvar had spoken since the meeting started.
And it chilled everyone. Even Vacuse stiffened.
After all, of all the people gathered currently in the room, Drenvar Vorrakyn was the strongest.
The Commanders slowly went back to their seats.
Drenvar continued with a small nod. "Welcome, Vacuse. I read your report on things and the plan you proposed. Already, the should-be-in-a-coma Duke has returned to his army camp and called the other Dukes. They will be here by nightfall at least.
"And when they arrive, we, the Vorrakyn, will be no more. We have very few moves to perform.
"We can crush the Frexon here, but we will not be able to fight the other two forces, and we would be wiped out.
"The other thing we can do is refuse to fight and take on a defensive position, waiting for someone to save us.
"The last is to surrender to Duke Frexon, accepting him as our new lord."
The silence sunk like a stone, to the very bottom of the room.
Drenvar looked at all the Commanders in the face. "What do you want us to do about this, Commanders?"
Now it was the Commanders' turn to look at each other. Would they fight and get destroyed? Or should they surrender to the forces?
Vacuse smiled and clapped lightly, drawing all the attention in the room to him once more, but he did not seem to care. "I am a Dragon. And you Commanders are serving the Dragons. Have you ever seen Dragons bow to others? Or fight a losing battle?
"I will make the decision for the Dragons. We will fight."
Drenvar nodded without hesitation. "We will."
Some of the Commanders' gazes darkened. Fighting meant that they would be wiped out by the other two Dukes, but at least the Frexon would not be there.
It took a few breaths before some of the Commanders exploded once more.
"What exactly are you saying? We should die with you on your suicidal hunt? I should have known!
"I for one do not want to...!"
"We should surrender right now! Why fight a battle we know you are going to lose? And besides, where are the Standpoint fortress warriors? Although we know they are not much, the High Commander is still powerful and could help us!"
"Yes, right! The High Commander should also bring his warriors, or are you going to fall back to Standpoint fortress and leave all of us behind?
"This must be what you are planning! And the Orcs must be a way for you to retreat. Is that the secret deal you made with them all along?"