Page 125 of Phoenix's Fire

He paused as a swell of conversation rose. Nodding, he let people accept that, then continued, "Because of this, our militia will meet - and stop - them before they even reach Lorsa. But sending our protection forces outside the city walls is not ideal. Sadly, it's the only option we have."

"We need them here!" someone said just loudly enough for it to carry.

Jerlis lifted a hand, showing he'd heard. "We have the police forces still, along with others who are not skilled enough to be in the militia, but brave enough to make sure we're not helpless here. And if this works? For once, after how many years, for the Moles to get nothing from us?"

A cheer rose up at that. Jerlis looked around, nodding to show he agreed with the sentiment. "But this means only essential jobs will be operational tomorrow. All schools will be closed! The militia will report to Zasen when and where he tells them, so they can prepare to protect Lorsa. The rest of us?" He looked from one side of the crowd to the other. "We will get to a safe place and shelter there until the city bells ring. That will be well after dark."

"How long?" someone yelled.

"How will they know to ring the bells?" someone else called out.

That set up a murmur of questions, but a woman near the back screamed one that stood out. "What if they don't come back?"

Jerlis glanced over to me, then shook his head subtly. Clearly, he didn't know how to answer those, so I moved up beside him. Patting the air, I waited for the voices to die down.

"Our brave militiavolunteers," I said, putting emphasis on that last word, "have been preparing for this since the last battle. Zasen has devised a plan of attack that - "

"Did he ask the Phoenix?!" someone demanded.

I lifted a hand, begging them to give me a chance, but at the same time, my eyes scanned the crowd until I found a bright teal boy sitting above the heads of the people around him. Following him down, I found Zasen watching me. I nodded at him, then tried my best to answer what I could.

"The leader of Lorsa's militia," I tried again, "has found a way to use our Dragon abilities to the best advantage. Thanks to the Wyvern's experience with the Moles, and the Phoenix's knowledge of them, we think this is our best chance to protect everyone inside the city walls."

"What about those outside?" a man yelled.

I looked back to where I'd seen Zasen, but he was gone. Tamin was now onKanik's shoulders, and there was a line of shifting bodies. Trailing that, I found Zasen making his way towards the stage towing Ayla along behind him.

"Those outside will be the militia," I answered. "Yes, they are risking their lives, and yes, we should all be grateful for them. I'm not about to promise they will be fine, because we all know what the Moles do. But let's let the Wyvern explain this himself."

It took a few more steps for Zasen and Ayla to reach the stairs, but then they hurried up. Ayla's eyes were a little too big, proving how much she hated this, and the moment she reached the top, she gave me a scathing look.

"You said I wouldn't have to talk!"

"You won't," Zasen assured her before lifting his voice. "You want to know the plan?" he roared, proving he could bellow with the best of them. "It's simple. We go out there!" He stabbed his finger to the south. "We head into the forest and catch the Moles before they're ready for us. That givesusthe advantage. We have arrows coated in Dragon venom. We have more arrows -so many arrows!We have knives and krael. Most of all?" He lifted his tail. "We have venom, and we know they cannot stand against that."

His words made a few people cheer in support, but there was still worry on too many faces, so Zasen gestured to Ayla. "The Phoenix has answered every question I have. Our newest refugee, her friend, has told us what she can, but they are not Moles. They were victims of the men down there, so our plan may not be perfect, but it's better than it's ever been before."

"What about injuries?" a woman called out.

"We will have medics with us," Zasen assured her. "Every team will have at least one person trained in first aid. We have assigned meeting points, ways to signal problems without alerting the Moles, and have planned for as much as we can. Sadly, this is not a guarantee. Like Rymar said, some may die tomorrow. Many of us will likely be injured, but we're willing to do this to protect thosewecare about."

"And remind them we can understand English," Ayla said.

Zasen flashed her a smile. "The Phoenix has another good point. This time, we can understand their orders. Thanks to the women the Moles cast away, we know their words. We can make out their orders for movements and planning. They cannot understand us, though."

"But this will only stop them once!" Ayla said, yelling at people the exact way she'd said she didn't want to.

"Go on," I encouraged.

She gave me a terrified look, so I nodded. When that wasn't enough, I gestured to the crowd. On her other side, Zasen reached up to clasp her shoulder in a gesture of support. It was enough to make Ayla stand a little taller.

"This," she yelled, "is a way to turn them back. What we hope for is a way to truly stop them. To make sure they never come back. That will not be easy, and until we find it, we want to keep them as far from this perfect place as we can!"

"Nice," Zasen praised. Then he gestured to her. "The Phoenix is right. This will not be easy, and it will not be the end, but tomorrow we will not lose children. Wewill not wonder if our parents, siblings, and partners have been taken from us. Those we mourn will be warriors who accepted the risk, not citizens caught unaware. We do not want this war, my friends, but the Moles don't care. They started this. Tomorrow, we take the first step in finishing it!"

People immediately began cheering at that. Ayla flinched, then looked up at Zasen with a smile taking over her face. I found myself nodding, surprised at how nicely Zasen had handled that, but this was his area of expertise. He knew how to tap into the anger and resentment people had suffered with this long. It was what drove him most days.

"All you, Jerlis," I said, shifting aside so he could have the center of the stage again.

---