Bochus threw up his hands and gestured to Morgan but spoke to the standing guards. "Do you really want this as a mate? This disrespectful thing? Even if it was possible?"
Both Eben and Ladon stepped forward, the insult plain on their faces but before they could respond one dragon stepped away from his place guarding the wall and went to stand to look down on Morgan. She was so angry by this time her power was seeping out her eyes in mage light. Everyone was silent, as he looked her over, his face expressionless. Eben and Ladon moved even closer. Morgan refused to back down.
"To hold such warmth as my own I would give much." Then he looked at Eben. "You have the support of the Elite Dragon Forces." That brought many of the council to their feet. And another roar from Bochus.
"You have no right!" He bellowed. "The Elite Forces fall under the jurisdiction of the council. What you propose is treason."
The General roared and it silenced the whole of them. "If the council is proposing that we let our mates die among the humans than it is the council that turns traitor. To our entire race." He turned to face the head of the council. "She is right. A Dragon betrays one of their own. Dragon blood is used to fuel dark magic. The earth beyond our borders is desecrated. The enemy is at the gate. We cannot pretend they are not."
"You don't have the authority..."
"I am Solan Fire-Eater." He roared. "General of the dragon armies and dragon knight of the Light. I have given my oath to protect the earth just as Eben Kincaid and every warrior here. Unless we are more human than Dragon that still supersedes politics and power squabbling." He pulled his sword and the councilors leaned back. But he just turned and knelt before a shocked Morgan.
"I give my oath that I will destroy the dark and protect the Light as is my duty as a dragon knight." The rest of the warriors stepped away from the wall and pulled their own swords, they knelt as well.
"I must protest...” Lord Graedon started.
"How?" Ladon said looking around at the warriors. "You have no fighting force left to protest anything."
Eben finally spoke. "It is done." He said ignoring the sputtering council. "General, if you have no objections, I propose we leave now and handle the dark mage issue before the traitor can inform his conspirators. We strike at their powerbase and we strike now. We destroy every dark mage stronghold and free all the light mage we can find. The soldiers, and as many of the blood practitioners as we can find, will die tonight."
The General rose and sheathed his sword, his men followed suit.
"Agreed." He said, "My men and I will route out this abomination and end the dark mages. The light Mage I leave to you and your lady to sort out." He bowed low from the waist to Morgan then his hand went to the pommel of his sword. "As of right now, we are war."
Chapter 11
It ended there for the warriors. They left with Eben and General Solan to make war. Morgan was left sputtering when Eben gave her formally into Ladons arms with a warning to keep her safe. Then he was just gone. No kiss goodbye- be safe going to war. Nothing.
The council continued to fight amongst themselves with Lord Bochus on one side and Lord Topa on the other. Mostly it was just Bochus continuing to bellow while Topa tried to talk sense into him. Occasionally Lord Fahlion would wake up and contribute but from Lord Graedon there was nothing. He merely watched everything. Mostly he watched Morgan.
Do they not realize the decision has been made? She asked Ladon. So much for Dragon superiority.
Ladon laughed. Come on puny mage I will feel better when you are safe with the hatchlings. He pulled her into his arms. You stay here you might start another war.
Very funny. Then hesitantly. Do you think Eben will be all right?
The Dragon executioner and the Dragon Elite Knights against a few pesky blood mages. The only thing that might happen is he laughs so hard at their defenses that he falls out of the sky and breaks a wing.
Funny. When they were at the entrance, something made Morgan turn and look back. Lord Bochus was giving her a glare so full of hate it singed. Lord Graedon was gone.
Eben could still hear Ladon cursing him through their bond, even this far inside a mountain of rock that overlooked the Valley of Silence. But he didn't regret maneuvering it so that he would stay behind with their mate. They were hardly going to leave her alone.
"You speak to your mates?"
"More like they speak to me. They do not care for my leaving them behind and going into battle."
"What was it like? To finally find your mate?"
Eben was quiet so long General Solan had already turned back to his maps assuming he wouldn't answer. "Like being entombed in ice for centuries and finally escaping and seeing the sun. It is painful and wondrous at the same time."
"Painful?” Solan asked still bent over the maps but with his intense eyes on Ebens face.
"When feelings return it is...intense. I find in myself a savagery that was absent before. It is not an easy thing to love such a fragile being. The thought of losing her is...all consuming at times. But I would not choose another."
"And if she chose another?" Solan had stood to his full height his face glacial in its absence of expression. When Ebens eyes started to glow and his power pulse between them Solan spoke quickly. "I would want no misunderstandings between us. I am not challenging you, I ask because I...should I be lucky enough to find my mate...I doubt that any such would want what the centuries of battle have made me...I am not an easy dragon."
Eben calmed, then gave the question the consideration it deserved. "I more than most understand this worry General. I too have dealt blood and death to the ruleless for so long I feel painted in it. I can only say that you are a Knight of the Light. A bringer of death and an honorable man. Perhaps your mate will have need of all those things."
Before Solan could say anything to that, there was a call from outside.
"Enter." General Solan and Eben both called. They grinned wryly at each other. Both were used to commanding. Eben dipped is head in acknowledgment that this was General Solans command.
"General Solan, Lord Kinkaid." Ryall stated saluting. "The Knights are deployed to all three of the remaining black castles. They report their readiness, and their...disgust. It is as Lord Kinkaid reported. The land is dead for miles around. Nothing could survive that did not live on death."
General Solans face was bitter as he met Ebens. "This should have been dealt with long ago. In our old age we become complacent and apathetic in our duties."
"I thought the same when I saw the first. It is a hard lesson but one we must learn now."
"Vigilance." Solan said with bite.
"And not just with our enemies." Eben agreed. "But that is for another night. Tonight we have an enemy we can see."