League of Dragon Riders: Fight or Flight

Here’s to You

The dark shapes of dragons circled the city. Jade could just see the tips of the strong walls that surrounded the city of thieves. She didn't like the look of the dragons. Nor did she like the fact that there were probably more in the city itself.

Jade glanced around. They had landed in a small clearing when they spotted the dragons. They decided to make a plan of attack. A plan? Jade thought as she drew circles in the soft dirt. They would never make a plan good enough to combat that amount of dragons in so little time. Sure, they might have the best dragon riders of this generation but sometimes larger numbers overtake better skill. Just ask the late Claif Jordan. That's what happened to him.

Now, don't get her wrong. Jade was going to fight till the end. No doubt about it. She just was a realist and knew that there was a bad chance at winning. Jade always seemed to choose the losing side. Maybe next time, Jade thought, I'll choose the winning side. No matter the beliefs. Then maybe she'll survive.

"No," Jade tilted her head as she listened in on the conversation. She was sitting alone watching the trees while Alaina and Arthur argued over what to do next, "here's the plan..."

"Arthur, you sound like a child," Alaina said as she clenched her fists. She was having a hard time, Jade could tell. She was so close but she needed to make it so it wasn't a suicide mission. Jade was having a hard time figuring out how she was going to make it a non suicide mission. They were already expecting them to fly in. But there wasn't really another way. You couldn't just smuggle a dragon in...not through the front doors. Jade stood and turned towards Alaina and Arthur. They had their backs to her. She didn't hear their words but she didn't need to. She knew what they were going to do. And, boy, was it going to be epic.

"Alaina," Jade pushed Arthur away from her, "I have the perfect plan."

"Do you now?" Alaina asked as her eyes flashed to Arthur.

"Yep," Jade said with a smile, "even better than Arthur's."

"Do tell," Arthur mumbled as he came to stand beside her.

"We smuggle the dragons in," Jade said with a laugh.

"Okay..." Alaina said, "I may not know much about smuggling but isn't it going to be noticeable if we bring in a large creature that can only be a dragon. I mean, it isn't exactly easy to hide them."

"I know," Jade rolled her eyes, "I'm not an i***t, however, I know Drake like the back of my hand. There is a complicated series of tunnels underneath the city. Some are used for sewage but others are large enough to fit a dragon. It is the city of thieves, after all. However, they aren't the strongest tunnels. That's why DeNeigh would rather sign a treaty of neutrality. One good blow to a supporter beam down there and the whole city collapses. Well, except for the castle. That's built on stronger foundations."

"Where would the dragons be exciting through then?" Alaina asked her. Her eyes flashed back and forth as they seemed to think of the possibilities.

"There's an opening for it in the castle courtyard. You may not have seen in with your secret way in but I know where it is," Jade said.

"You'll have to show us and someone else would have to lead the innocents away," Arthur said.

"Actually, no," Jade said with an even bigger grin, "we are all going in through there. See, it's easier to sneak through that way than through the open doors."

"Then it looks like we've got a plan," Alaina asked, "how do we enter the tunnels?"

"We'll have to walk the dragons but I know the way," Jade said as she started off towards the city.

"Jade!" Fergus called after her, "let's eat first."

"Of course," Jade said as she turned back. Alaina gave her a small smile as they all sat around in a circle. Fergus grabbed a sack from behind him and stuck his hands into it. He pulled out a large chunk of cheese and handed it to Annabella. She proceeded to use her dagger to cut it into thick slices. Fergus started ripping apart loaves of bread and passing them around the circle. Annabella passed around the cheese and a collective gasp escaped everyone's lips when they realized how hungry they were.

"Here's to those we've left behind," Arthur said as he raised a bottle of ale. Jade rolled her eyes. Warriors of the Dragons always seemed to like to make toasts before a battle. She supposed they couldn't stop the tradition now. Jade frowned. What was the last toast Claif Jordan made before his final battle?

"To those that we have yet to meet," Maximus said as he raised the bottle of ale that Arthur had passed on.

"To those who battle on even when the war is lost," Nathaniel said as he took a chug of the ale.

"To those who refuse to lose," Jade said as she nodded at Alaina. Alaina smiled as Jade passed the bottle to Fergus.

"To those who fight for what's right," Fergus said.

"To those who will forever remain unforgettable," Annabella raised the bottle but didn't take a drink.

"To those..." Alaina sighed as she sat up and smiled, "to those who will give their lives for this world."