Chapter 37 War Bound

Chapter 37 War Bound
Dawn greeted the camp, but Aizurah and her prince slept on, unaware. The fleet had yet to arrive, so the guards were given orders not to wake them.

The sun was cresting in the sky, and it was nearing midday when the princess finally stretched under the furs, blinking against the bright light. She sat up, startled to find herself in their tent and not in the dirt in front of the fire where she’d fallen asleep.

“Zeidan,” she nudged him softly and watched him stir, mumbling incoherently. “Zeidan, it’s late… We need to get up.” She stretched a final time and forced herself out of the warmth of their cot.

As she laced up her boots, she felt Zeidan’s hands in her hair, pulling it back and braiding it away from her face. The gesture warmed her heart, and she leaned against his chest when he was finished.

“When the fleet arrives,” he told her, “We will go over our strategic options. I’m certain those of us who have been at camp will be part of a skirmish before the day is out. I need you to focus, little dragon.”

“I’ve been focused since we arrived, Zeidan,” she responded, swallowing the anxious lump that had formed in her oesophagus. She turned around and followed suit, plaiting his auburn hair back and out of the way. “If anyone needs to focus, my love, it’s you. You can’t fight at your best if you’re busy worrying about me, which I know you will be. You must trust that your training has taught me enough.”

“Hm, I always worry about you,” he answered gruffly, making her smile and shake her head.

The camp was alive with noise and movement as the couple exited their tent and made their way to the war table, positioned just off the beach. Lord Kyrus leaned over it, tapping his fingers anxiously against the wood, his eyes glued to the horizon.

“They should be here by now…” he muttered to Zeidan.

“The winds were strong last night, working against the sails. I’m sure they’ll be here,” the prince reassured Kyrus, before the pair headed to break their fasts. The porridge was warm, but it stuck in her throat as she ate, still watching the horizon.

As Zeidan predicted, nearly an hour later, sails were sighted in the distance. Aizurah had just finished her breakfast when she felt the mood of the camp shift. Their excitement was contagious and the princess followed the men down to the beach to watch the fleet anchor and come ashore.

Sir Arden Stonewell was in the very first boat to land, along with Lord Taevar and Brendyn Rainfur. He immediately located the princess in the crowd and joined her side.

“How was the voyage, Sir Stonewell?” she asked.

“Miserable, princess, for I worried about you,” he answered honestly, and she gave him a tight smile.

“There’s nothing to worry over yet, my knight,” she replied, sounding far more confident than she felt. Mere minutes later, Aizurah was standing around the table, along with the other men in charge of their army.

“The last time we stood on this beach around a table, we hatched a plan that won the war…” Lord Taevar stated, smiling conspiratorially at Zeidan. During the last war in the islands, they’d drawn the pirates out of hiding by pretending to leave. The fleet had sailed around the coast and out of sight, but Zeidan remained on Varynx, scorching the men as soon as they emerged.

“It was a smart plan,” Maerus said, “perhaps—"

“That plan could not possibly work again, as this war has barely begun.” Taevar interrupted his son with a look of certainty. “A feint of abandonment was far more believable after years of battle. The men were tired.”

“Not to mention that if a single man was left alive to breathe a word about it, the pirates would have already heard the tale and would likely be anticipating the same tactic…” Aizurah hadn’t meant to say it out loud, but the eyes around the table darted toward her. Some looked surprised, others looked impressed.

“Quite right, princess,” Taevar agreed. Maerus smiled encouragingly at her, and she felt minutely more comfortable among the group of seasoned warriors. “We also have an additional dragon compared to last time.” She nodded with agreement.

“Captain Garryn repeatedly retreated into the caverns beneath the hills of Jewelpointe for protection; are they using the same tactic?” Zeidan enquired.

“Not yet,” Kyrus replied, “but with the arrival of three elemental serpents, it’s only a matter of time before they decide that is their best tactic.” There was a long silence. Lord Brendyn offered nothing to their council, to Aizurah’s shock. He seemed to have strong opinions when they were in Rainfall. Perhaps he knew he was out of his element in the field, more so than the princess, for she spoke again while he remained silent.

“So perhaps we should not give them that opportunity,” Aizurah offered “Our dragons have lain quiet for nearly three days, since our arrival, but, as you said, it’s only a matter of time before the pirates are aware of their presence. If we give them time to prepare, to move stores, to fortify themselves, we’re giving up our only current advantage.”

“Agreed,” Zeidan said, and Aizurah gave him a sly smile. “Attacking immediately is prudent for our victory.”

“We’re at a disadvantage at this very moment,” Maerus replied, glancing upward. Aizurah followed his gaze and quickly realised he was right. The sky was bright and blue and unoccupied by a single cloud to hide behind.

“No cover for the dragons…” Aizurah murmured.

“Exactly,” her cousin replied.

“Still, our bonded fly fast. The question is: is it worth the risk? Once spotted, our beasts will afford the pirates… minutes, at best,” Zeidan interjected.

“Minutes perhaps, but once the element of surprise is lost, we cannot get it back,” Taevar replied.

“Why don’t we just attack in the dark?” Aizurah finally asked. The men all stared at her, as though she had told them the sky was green, and the Princess gave an exasperated sigh.

“Alright, look,” she reached over the map on the table and began to move the tiny pieces they used to plan. “Our best method is to surprise them with our dragons. We have stated as much. And as of now, the best coverage we have is darkness. If we attack from different directions…” She placed the pieces around the table to show them. “And the men come ashore after the first wave of fire…” She paused and took a deep breath. “If we wait until just before dawn, it could work, couldn’t it? A large portion of their men could very well still be asleep; it could give us an advantage…?”

Her self-doubt began to eat at her as the men stared, mulling over her suggestion. She swallowed nervously, reminding herself of how humiliating it would be if she started to cry.

“It could work…” Lord Taevar was the first to respond. When no one offered an agreement, he asked, “Does anyone else have a better plan?”