Page 17 of Drakhana's Secret
“Just like what you did yesterday morning.” Baba smiles. “Tell us where to go and what to do. Give us a purpose and we will follow with open hearts and minds.”
Again, she makes it sound so easy. “I don’t know where I would be if I didn’t have you in my life, Baba. Please, stay by my side as long as you can. Promise me that.”
“What I can promise you is guidance for as long as I am able.”
I guess that’s better than nothing. If I’m to lead my people, I will need advice. Baba will be able to give me that.
“Don’t be afraid to ask questions when you don’t know something. It’s better to have a leader that learns as they go than a leader who thinks they know it all.”
I nod and take those words to heart. “If the clan will be able to tolerate my making mistakes along the way, then I will take up the mantle. Let me think on our next steps and I’ll address everyone once I’ve made my decision.”
“Spoken like a true leader.”
My insides grow warm. We return to our breakfast, discussing the supplies that we still have and what we might need along the way. I’m already starting to get ideas of how to divide responsibilities during this journey so that everyone feels included.
Gallant returns to the camp just as we finish breakfast. He stands in the middle and calls everyone’s attention. Baba and I share a glance before we stand. I make my way toward him.
“This morning,” he says in a commanding voice so that everyone can hear him, “I managed to log on to the private servers of our company. I found out through the message boards that there is a small faction of fire and ice dragons in San Francisco.”
A wave of worry spreads through the camp. With the recent attacks, the last thing everyone needs is to face another potential fight. I’m about to speak when Gallant beats me to it.
“That’s why I’m asking for a small contingent of dragons to fly into the city with me,” he says. “We can force them out and make the city our home base.”
“Force them out?” I say, feeling the growing fear among the young ones.
“We still have a few buildings we own there and some income streams that can sustain us,” Gallant continues. “If we can set up a base there, we can go about getting back our territory.”
Fear mixes with anger courses through me when I say, “Let me get this straight, you want to get dragons we already don’t have to spare in order to fight off the ice and fire clan in the city?”
“Yes. It will be quick. That way the city will be safe for the rest of us.”
“The way our village was safe?” I challenge. “Let’s say you were successful in routing them out of the city. Who’s to say that they won’t double back and bring a larger force with them?”
“We have to show them—”
“No!” I cut him off. “We cannot gamble on the lives of our brethren that way. Fire and ice already have it in for us for some reason. I don’t see why we should antagonize them further.”
“Sapphire, please. You have to see this my way.”
“All I see is your way will get us all killed.”
“But we have to protect the clan,” he insists, his voice hardening.
“I am protecting the clan by saying no to you. This is not a fight that we can win. Not in the stay of things. You have to at least see that, Gallant.”
“We have to hit while the iron is hot.” He slaps the top of one hand over the palm of another. “We have to show them that we won’t take their attacks lying down.”
“Attack them with what?” My voice begins to rise. “All we have are elderly and the young. Surely you don’t want to see them slaughtered.”
“We still have warriors—”
I cut him off again with a shake of my head. “They are warriors that we cannot spare. There is no guarantee that your plan will work. I, for one, am not willing to risk it.”
“You’re playing things too cautious, Sapphire.”
“Better to be cautious and alive than take the risk and die. You didn’t see what happened to our village, Gallant. You didn’t see what the fire then the ice dragons did to our people. Why are you so willing to gamble away their lives?”
“We have to stand up for ourselves.”
