Page 5 of Drakhana's Secret
I don’t need to question what will happen if I open myself up to the possibility of the power that’s being offered to me. All I have to do is accept and I will absorb the power of the earth. I look up at the darkening sky and pray to the dragon gods.
Please let the fighting stop, I beg anyone who will listen. Please don’t let the war reach us. I don’t want to have to be forced into a corner.
I am afraid, not because I think we will lose. I am afraid because I know in my heart of heart that we will win. We have a power that the other clans have not seen. If I start using it . . . if we start using it . . . this war might as well be over.
But, if that happens, what will be left of this beautiful earth? I can’t possibly fathom a future where everything has been destroyed just because a select few has taken it upon themselves to disturb the status quo.
Four
Gallant
The extra security and protective patrols aren’t quite doing it. The fighting between the ice and fire clans has gotten so bad that I have to resort to ordering all the able-bodied earth dragons out onto the streets. At first, it was to keep the peace.
When that didn’t work, it was to break up the fights. When that stopped working too, I ordered them to chase out any ice and fire dragons they spot within their districts. They don’t have to wait for fights to break out. Just get out.
Knowing that I can’t just give orders, I join my brethren on the streets, enforcing the orders that I hand out. It’s almost as if we’re living a lawless existence. Handing down vigilante justice just to keep our streets safe.
A first can get out of hand fast. If any humans get hurt, that will bring double the pain down on the dragons. There’s no need for that kind of attention from the cops. They take care of theirs and we take care of ours.
I do business with humans too. Any disturbance on that front will also cause our interests to suffer. I can’t have that.
At the same time, I question the leadership of both clans. Can’t they reign in their people? Do they even know that these fights are breaking out in San Francisco? Or are they playing blind and concentrating on their territories? Others be damned.
I honestly want to teach Logan and Rastus a thing or two, but I can’t risk driving away their business. Hopefully, they will understand that what I’m doing by driving out their brothers in arms has to do with keeping my city safe. If they won’t enforce their authority then I’ll bring down mine.
As for the vote of the council, I don’t believe what we’re doing constitutes as defying that. We’re not actually engaging in the fights. We’re merely stopping them before they start.
That’s a sensible thing to do. Some might even call it the responsible thing. A service to the community. The elders can’t fault me for that.
I’m maintaining the peace. They love peace. I’m acting on a higher rule that supersedes their earlier vote.
Happy with my decision, I don’t notice that a group of fire dragons tracked us into our territory when my brethren and I just finished breaking up a fight from a couple of blocks away. I’m with my head of security and a few other earth dragons. We’re actually too high on our good deed that we aren’t really paying attention to our surroundings, thinking that we’re already in our territory where we’re supposed to be safe.
I’m joking around with Branson when he stops in his tracks. I follow his gaze. Ahead of us are ice dragons. About five of them. All holding batons.
When we turn around, that’s when we see the fire dragons that have been following us. They are all holding chains. No one has guns because they don’t need it. Dragons are stronger than any bullet.
“There’s six of us and ten of them,” I say to Branson as discreetly as I can.
“I like those odds,” he says, trained to fight more dragons than that.
The other earth dragons with us are also warriors. I’m not worried that we’re undermanned. What I’m worried about is the breaking of the council’s rule not to engage in any fight with the other clans.
“Gentlemen,” I say, holding out both my arms in the universal sign for stop. Both groups cease advancing. “I’m sure you are aware that you’re in earth clan territory.”
“You have no business coming between our fight,” one of the fire dragons says.
“You’re not a part of this war,” an ice clan dragon adds.
“For once, you agree on something,” I reply. “Can we leave it at that and go our merry ways.”
There’s confusion in the air at first. I think my words hit a nerve. Never will fire and ice admit to working together. This puts everyone present in an awkward situation.
“Stop interfering,” says another fire dragon. This one has beefy arms and a dim look about him.
“Yeah,” a similar ice dragon says.
“Again, you’re agreeing.” I’m teasing them at this point since it seems like both groups aren’t the top shelf dragons we should be concerned about. These guys are grunts at best. “My brethren and I are stopping your fights because you’re getting in the way of our businesses. What will your leaders say if I tell them that you’re acting like children?”
