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DKP 7-6 A peace offer
🕑 Added 2021-08-07 18:02:42 +0000 UTCLilly flew low, just over the treetops, to keep her riders more comfortable. Tavis, Ayawa, and Gedris held on as the landscape raced by and the wind blew in their faces.
“Do you think you can stop them?” Gedris called from the rear where she clutched to Tavis for dear life.
“I won't know until we get there,” Ayawa replied with a shout from the front. “Not all the southern tribes are easily dealt with. We still fight between one another from time to time.”
“Not to mention some of the tribes consider you an exile,” Tavis added.
“We will deal with that if it comes up,” Ayawa said in a dark tone.
Lilly turned her long slender neck around and looked over the riders as she listened to the conversation.
“Gersius doesn’t want to fight your people,” Lilly said. “You must find a way to convince them to leave.”
“I can only do what I can do,” Ayawa replied. “My people can be stubborn and headstrong. They follow a very different code of honor than the northern people do.”
“And Gersius respects that,” Lilly said. “That’s why he doesn’t want to fight them.”
“It was smart to send Ayawa to deal with them,” Gedris added. “From my experience in the south, they are not impressed by blessings. They like people with strong character and deep traditions.”
“Traditions run as deep as blood in my people,” Ayawa replied.
Tavis squeezed her waist and leaned in to remind her that she broke several of those traditions and was despised for it.
“We have to try,” Ayawa replied. “Two Crows is riding hard with the others. He will be here in five days in the event they won’t talk to me.”
“They had better talk to you,” Lilly said. “Gersius doesn’t want to fight your people, but I am going to help the empire defend the border if I have to.”
“Maybe a battle or two with a dragon will turn them back,” Tavis offered.
“I doubt it,” Ayawa said with a shake of her head. “They must have known the empire had dragons before attacking. Since they are holding land they must be prepared for an eventual battle with one.”
“I hope you won’t be upset if I kill some of them,” Lilly pressed.
Ayawa shook her head as she took on a hard expression. “They chose this course of action, not me. If it comes to violence I am sure they will be to blame for that too.”
“It’s already come to violence according to Gersius, we’re here to prevent more,” Tavis added.
Lilly huffed and turned back to watch where she was going as they continued to debate how they would approach the invading tribes. Hours later, they were flying over-dense forests into the southeast as Lilly looked for the city Gersius told her to find.
“What if the people panic when they see you?” Tavis asked as Lilly began to hunt for the elusive city.
“I will deal with that,” Lilly replied. “The whole of the empire must know about me by now. So long as I approach peacefully, I should have a chance to speak, and then I will tell them who I am.”
“And if they respond with arrows first?” Ayawa asked.
Lilly looked back with blazing blue eyes and a cruel smile. “Then I convince them to stop. Gersius may not want this fight but he isn’t willing to show weakness either. If they insist on a battle they will get one. He is only holding his hand back because of the role you and your people played in getting him here.”
“I understand his point of view,” Ayawa began. “But The tribes don’t share a common government. One tribe might welcome the peace while another will press on to keep fighting.”
Lilly nodded but held on to her position that if they wanted a fight, Gersius would give them one. He would hate every minute of it, but he would win it in the end and establish a strong border.”
She turned back and looked for the river, finally catching sight of it a few minutes later. With wings spread wide, she flew over the broad expanse, the sunlight dancing on the surface. Several boats witnessed her passing with people pointing and shouting. When the city finally came into view, she climbed higher to circle above and find a safe place to land.
“It’s a walled city,” Ayawa observed as they banked, flying over outlying villages and farms.
“Gersius said they are wealthy from trade routes to the south,” Lilly called back. “He wants to preserve those routes if possible. He said they go all the way to the southern coast.”
“Across the southern forests,” Ayawa remarked. “No wonder they attacked here. This land trades with the tribe's blood enemies.”
“Who are their enemies?” Lilly asked.
“The people who live on the coast far to the south. We call them the sea lions because they use a lion's crest as the symbol of their kingdom. They are shipbuilders and require a lot of lumber. Their land is rocky and sparse with trees, so they frequently come north to plunder the forests in our lands. We have been fighting with them for as long as I can remember. My grandmother told of the battles they fought when she was little.”
“That’s going to make this harder,” Tavis said. “Not only does Gersius want them to leave his lands, but allow the trade route to their enemies to continue.”
“The empire has no conflict with the coastal kingdoms,” Ayawa replied. “But my people are not likely to understand that. They went silent as awareness of just how difficult this conflict was going to be.
Lilly circled lower, heading for a pasture close to one of the outlying villages. With wings spread wide, she touched down as gently as she could and settled to her feet.
“Stay on my back, and I will walk toward the city,” Lilly said as she stepped over a fence to get on the road.
“Is this wise?” Tavis asked. “Maybe you should approach in your human form.”
“Gersius said they needed to embrace the dragon, not the human. He wants them to meet me as I am so they know the authority I bring,” Lilly replied.
“That man always has a plan,” Ayawa growled. “I hope he is doing well to the west.”
Lilly looked back with wide eyes as she thought of her loved ones further west. While Gersius was hoping for a peaceful resolution in the east, he was on the offensive in the west. Sarah, Numidel, and Shadros would even now be attacking all across the neighboring kingdom's borders. They were going to damage the enemy's infrastructure and panic the people until they pleaded for peace. He hoped to accomplish it without leaving the people in poverty, but he was prepared to torch the capital city to make a statement. She put the disturbing thoughts aside and focused on the village ahead and the people already running in fear as she approached.
“Nobody is going to talk to you,” Ayawa shouted as they reached the first buildings.
“I have done this before,” Lilly retorted. “It just takes one brave person to start.” She waded into the lane with houses on either side as doors slammed and windows were shuttered. Once she was about halfway in, she lowered her head and spoke in as calm a voice as she could. “Good people come out. I am Lilly Dra'Udwan, wife of Gersius Dra'Udwan. I am your dragon Empress, and I would not harm you.”
Not a single person answered her call, so she lifted her head high and proceeded on, heading for the walls of the city.
“This isn’t doing so well,” Ayawa commented.
“The common people frighten easily,” Lilly replied. “They will get over the fear in time. Usually, the guards at the walls will stand their ground enough to talk.” As she approached, the gates were already closing as the last villages fled inside.
“Maybe one of us should approach them,” Gedris suggested, but Lilly walked right up to the gate and knocked loudly.
“Hello? Please don't be frightened. I am Lilly Dra'Udwan, the dragon empress. I was sent here by Gersius to try and end the conflict in the south. Please, I need to speak to somebody in charge.”
A man appeared on the wall above to lean over the edge cautiously. Lilly looked up with a blink and lifted her head high enough to nearly be level with him.
“You’re here to help us?” the man asked.
“I am an empress of the dragon empire,” Lilly replied. “Your emperor sent us to try and bring peace with the southern tribes.”
“Then why is there a southern warrior on your back?” the man asked.
Lilly looked back at Ayawa and then back to the man. “She is a friend of the empire. I brought her to try and reason with her people. The emperor wants peace with the southern tribes. He doesn't want to have to conquer them. Now please, where can I find the king of this region?”
“King Daniels is in his war camp to the south outside the town of Kerrinwold,” the man replied.
“He’s not even here,” Ayawa grumbled.
“It made sense to stop here first,” Lilly replied and looked up to the man. “Can you tell me roughly what direction to fly in?”
The man pointed vaguely south, and a little west as Lilly backed away from the wall. She turned to move into the open but paused to look back and make eye contact with the man. “When I come here next, I expect the gates to be open to me. I am your Empress, and I will not be barred from any city in the land.” With that, she spread her wings and beat the air, lifting skyward and intentionally flying over the city to make a point. She roared to make sure people looked up and headed off to find the missing king.
“Was that necessary? Ayawa balked.
“Yes,” Lilly replied as she looked back. “I am not happy that I was barred from the city.”
“You are too big to enter the city,” Ayawa argued.
“I can fit down the wide streets,” Lilly countered. “I do fine on the streets of Calathen.”
Ayawa grumbled and held on as Lilly flew over the rolling forests looking for a village with a large camp next to it. An hour later and they found both, circling once again to find someplace to land. Lilly had to use a hay field at the edge of the village and then pick her way carefully around trees.
The camp was right outside the walls of the small town, built into the trees. It was a disorganized collection of tents and clusters of horses with a few wagons. Her presence startled those below and men ran in every direction, a few forming as if to repel her.
“If you are going to fight a dragon, I recommend you stand farther apart,” Lilly called as she drew closer.
“It can talk,” men cried as Lilly came to a halt.
“What if they attack?” Ayawa asked as she strained to see around Lilly’s neck.
Lilly paid her no mind and introduced herself as the wife of the emperor and their empress. She then declared that she and her riders had come to end the war with the south. She wanted to discuss the matter with the king and his officers. Her demeanor and general calm put some at ease as weapons were lowered and faces looked for direction. Eventually, a tall man with a black cloak made his way to the lines. He had a bold mustache and deeply set eyes on a worn face. He stepped ahead of his men and gazed up at Lilly as she waited for him to say something.
I am Evan Daniels, King of Ellorn,” he said with a powerful voice. “It is an honor to finally meet one of the empresses, though I have to admit I was in the wrong.”
“You were in the wrong how?” Lilly asked.
“I bet my generals that the stories that you were actual dragons was a fantasy. I fear I am in quite a bit of debt now.”
Lilly lowered her head slowly and gave him a nod. “Lady Sarah is also a dragon. She is a red, far greater in age and size than me. She is battling the invasions further to the west, but I have come with allies to try and end the conflict here.”
“Forgive me, Empress Lilly, but I do not see how you can bring an end without an army,” King Daniels replied.
Lilly nodded again and turned slightly to their side to reveal her riders. There were some gasps when they saw Ayawa, and even the king looked alarmed. Lilly explained that Ayawa was a trusted friend of the empire and had helped win the war to reform it. She was going to attempt to negotiate with the tribes to send them home.”
“Negotiate?” the king replied. “Those butchers have slaughtered villages and farms. The people might see such tactics as soft.”
Lilly let out a snort as her eyes blazed brighter. “If you value your kingdom, never accuse Gersius of being soft. He is currently burning the lands in the west and plans to turn their capital to ash. He is only showing a restrained hand here because a small number of southern warriors fought for him in his march to Calathen. Out of respect for their sacrifice, he is willing to give these people a chance to see reason.”
“And if they don’t?” the king asked.
Lilly lifted her head high as she made a low rumbling growl. “Then I deal with them instead. I will wage war on them until Gersiusarrives in person, then he will turn Sarah and the other dragons loose on the south.”
This brought cheers from the assembled men, but Lilly could see the king understood it better. They were hoping to avoid an open conflict and solve this problem peacefully. She lowered her head to speak more gently and asked the kind where the enemy lines were. She wanted to fly out and meet them to show the invaders that the empire had dragons to back it up. She also wanted to try and begin the negotiations before any more damage was done. She conveyed Gersius's desire to keep the trade routesopen. He wanted materials from the south to aid in the war effort against the Doan, and southern steel was some of the best.
The king stepped closer and lowered his voice as he struggled to remain calm so close to a dragon.
“My lady, I understand why you wish to seek peace, but my lands have suffered. The people have been at this terrible war since you marched on Calathen. Tens of villages and dozens of farms have been plundered. Hundreds of people are dead, including women and children. These tribes don't see us as strong people, and thus we have no value to them. The savagery they have shown thus far has instilled a deep resentment in the hearts of those who still live. They don't want peace; they want revenge.”
“This is going to fail,” Tavis said from Lilly’s back.
“It isn’t going to fail,” Lilly replied and glanced back at him.
“How are you going to satisfy their need for revenge?” Tavis asked. “You might broker a peace, but an angry militia will march to the south a year from now and burn one of their villages. They will return the favor a month later, and before you know it, you will have a second war.”
“It is hard to share a bottle once blood is spilled,” Ayawa added.
“What is that supposed to mean?” Lilly asked.
King Daniels explained it meant that two people would not sit to share a drink when one of them had just murdered a friend of the other.
Lilly tossed her head high in frustration as both sides agreed it was a poor idea. “Look, I know this will be hard, but Gersius does not want a war with the tribes if he can avoid it. If he can't, he will make sure they fear ever going to war with us again, but we have to try first.”
Ayawa shook her head but agreed to try. The king gave them instructions on how to find the tribes and wished them well. Lilly asked him to keep his army at the ready until she was back. With that, she spread her wings again and took to the sky, heading off to find the deadly invaders.
“Are you nervous?” Tavis asked as he leaned into Ayawa.
“Nervous to be going before a collection of hostile tribes as the voice of the empire?”
Ayawa asked.
“I mean about seeing your people again,” Tavis said. “You aren't well-liked in the south.”
Ayawa took a deep breath and slowly let it out. “I am sure they will have some kind words for me,” she said at last. “But I have to try for Gersius, even if this is doomed from the start.”
“It is not,” Lilly said and turned her head back to look at the riders.
“Goodness, girl, how can you twist your neck like that?” Ayawa asked in shock as Lilly hovered right before their faces.
“We have long necks so we can clean ourselves,” Lilly replied. “Now, please stop saying this will fail. It pains Gersius to think he might have to go to war with your people. He has too much respect for you and Two crows to desire such a thing.”
“Girl, you need to remember that I fled my people because of their beliefs,” Ayawa replied. “I appreciate how Gersius feels, but I am not counted as one of them anymore. If he has to go to war with them to secure his border, I will not shed a tear.”
“What about Two Crows and the people with him? They still have strong family ties to the tribes,” Lilly pressed.
“That is the only reason I have agreed to try,” Ayawa sighed. “I still think he would be better off as the voice of the empire in this matter.”
“Gersius trusts you to deal with this in a manner he would agree with,” Lilly insisted.
“I already told you I will try,” Ayawa replied. “But we have to be realistic about what the likely outcome will be.”
“It’s going to work,” Lilly replied and turned to look down. They flew on for another hour before they found a burned village. There were bodies in the fields left to rot in the sun as useless trash.
“The king is right,” Tavis said as they looked down. “The savagery is terrible.”
“I am going to fly lower,” Lilly replied and spread her wings. She sailed just over the treetops with her long neck stretched out ahead. Her eyes scanned the ground as she raced by, rustling the leaves in her passing. Finally, after twenty minutes, she spotted the first camp and rose high to avoid any arrows.
“I see hundreds of people with skin like yours,” Lilly said as she banked around a forested hill.
“It has to be a camp,” Ayawa said as she strained to see it through the trees. It was well hidden in the forest so that only Lilly’s sharp eyes could pick out detail from this distance.
“I am going to land by the shore of that stream,” Lilly said and pointed. “I will walk toward them in the open, so they know we are not attacking.”
“I hope that makes a difference,” Tavis said.
“If they use arrows, I will do my best to shield us,” Gedris offered but knew she could protect very little.
“Just protect your family, don't worry about me,” Lilly said as she dipped out of the sky and came to the shore of the stream. The trees started right on the bank, so she had to pick her way into them, her long neck above the canopy to guide her back to the hill. Minutes later, she reached a thinner area and was able to move more freely as she boldly approached the hill. From a safe distance away, she came to a stop and used the dragon voice to call out to the hidden people all around her.
“I know you are here,” she began. “I am Lilly Dra'Udwan, first wife of Gersius Dra'Udwan the Dragon empire. You and your people are inside our lands, killing our subjects. I demand one of you who can speak for the tribes come forth and explain why.”
“Will that work?” Gedris asked.
“This is a people with deep tradition and culture. They won't run from a challenge unless they have no respect for the challenger,” Tavis replied. “Lilly being a dragon, and empress and his first wife makes her a prize.”
“They are probably trying to figure out how to capture her as we speak,” Ayawa added.
Lilly snorted and issued her challenge again, demanding somebody come forth to explain why they wanted war with the Dragon Empire. Eventually, they did come in numbers that were not expected. Dozens crept out from behind trees or appeared in the tall grass, bows in hand with arrows resting on strings.
One woman, in particular, strode forward with six others. She was tall and regal, with dozens of feathers woven into her hair on one side of her head. She had strong eyes and a flat mouth that seemed to scowl. She walked up to fifty paces from Lilly and then tossed her head as if annoyed at being called out.
“Who is it that speaks to us as if she has authority?” the woman asked. “You say you are Lilly, the dragon empress, but what does that matter to us? Why should we care what titles you honor yourself with? To us, you are a dragon, a curse on the land and the cause of the nightmares that still haunt my people.”
“We forgot about your people's distaste for dragons,” Tavis whispered.
“I didn’t think it was this bad,” Gedris added.
“Shush,” Ayawa said with a pat of her hand.
Lilly looked down with a tilt of her head as if all of the questions had been silly.
“I represent the empire that doesn't want to fight a war with your people,” Lilly responded. “We consider your people honorable and call many of them friends and allies. I brought one of them with me to speak to you and show that the empire and the tribes should be friends.” With that, she turned enough for people to see the riders on her back. Ayawa stood up so all the gathered people could note her appearance as she glared down.
“I am Ayawa of the Su Niem tribe. I have come here to tell you that you are making a terrible mistake in attacking the Dragon empire. Its leaders hold our people in great respect and wish to build good relations with the tribes. I ask you in their name to stop this pointless aggression.”
“Ayawa?” the woman repeated. “Are you not the scourge of our people? Are you not the one I hear abandoned her tribe and her responsibilities to chase after a pale man?” She paused as a wide smile crossed her face, and their eyes met. “I know of you and your deeds. Shame to you for daring to speak as if we are your people; you abandoned that birthright long ago.”
“Not off to a good start,” Tavis whispered as Gedris glared at the strange woman with narrow eyes.
The woman pointed to Ayawa and spoke in their native tongue to the laughs of the assembled group. She then paced a few steps, giving Ayawa a sideways glance as a smile curled her face.
“I am Sahli, Warrior maiden of the black oak tribe. “I will not treat with you, Ayawa, for you have no respect for your blood.”
Ayawa climbed to the side of the saddle and dropped to the ground to rise slowly, her eyes locked with the defiant woman. She strode right up to her and the two engaged in a contest of stares.
“I am here to spare you the shame of defeat,” Ayawa said. “You have enjoyed your little gains, but your time has run out. The empire is aware of you and has sent us to try and save you from what comes next. You think the men you have chased off farms are all this land has to throw at you? The empire is vast, and its armies well trained. When Gersius comes for you, he will come in number unimaginable and with dragons five times the size of the one you see. He will chase you from his lands and soak the ground with your blood as he passes. He will press on into the southern plains, sweeping you and your allied tribes aside until he is sure you having nothing left to fight with. Then and only then will he offer you a chance at peace again.”
Sahli looked unimpressed, smiling through the whole conversation as her people laughed at the threat.
“You speak as if the empire were strong,” Sahli replied. “You speak as if all stood behind this man Gersius. I hear many of your people are snakes in his basket. I am told the people of the east have turned him away, and the those in Doan are about to kick in his doors. The riders to our west are already butchering his weak kings and putting his lands to the torch. Now tell me again how powerful this man is. Show me the might of this dragon empire.”
Ayawa went to reply, but the ground shook as Lilly stamped a clawed hand.
“I am the might of the dragon empire,” Lilly bellowed. “And you would be wise to heed Ayawa's words because I am, but one of Gersius's dragons and some of the others are much larger.”
Sahli looked at Lilly with a calculating gaze then put up a hand to wave her off.
“A land who unites men with dragons betrays the natural order,” she spat. “A weak people who willfully call for the pain of the old times to return. Men and dragons have no place together, and this Gersius must be of sour mind. To call such a beast, a wife is a betrayal of the flesh.”
Lilly huffed as Ayawa turned around and shook her head. “Lilly, no. Don’t do it!”
Lilly raised her long neck and turned to Tavis and Gedris. “Climb down,” she commanded in a rumbling voice. The two did as she said, and Lilly wasted no time in taking off the saddle. She set it between herself and the gathered humans before her eyes blazed with light. A white mist began to crawl over her skin, and in seconds she was engulfed in a swirling mass of white clouds that hid her form.
“By the earth, mother,” Sahli gasped as a moment later, a light flashed out to sting all their eyes.
“Lilly, what are you doing,” Ayawa groaned under her breath as the clouds began to fade. A moment later, Lilly stepped out, wearing a simple white dress. She stormed around the saddle right up to the face of Sahli as the woman looked on in shock.
“Tell me again that I am a beast,” Lily commanded and threw up her arms. “Tell me why I can’t love a man.”
“This is the dragon?” Sahli asked with a nod to Ayawa.
“Yes, this is Lilly Dra’Udwan,” Ayawa replied.
Sahli looked back and took note of the blazing blue eyes that bore down on her. She took all of Lilly in, from the soft shoes on her feet to the white dress that graced her lithe form.
“So this is the wife of Gersius, a flower of a woman fit for fine dresses and soft beds,” Sahli mocked. “Look at her; I bet she can't even lift a sword.”
“I can, too, lift a sword!” Lilly shouted. “I carry the fanged blade of Balisha as my weapon.”
Sahli still didn't look impressed as she sized Lilly up with a smirk on her face. “So the empire sends us one of their girl empresses and an outcast to try and make peace. They have shown the strength of their convictions by hoping we would take pity on them.” There were some laughs as Sahli swayed in amusement. “I expected more from a man who would call himself emperor.”
“Sahli, be careful!” Ayawa scolded. “Lilly has killed people for less.”
“Is she a warrior?” Sahli asked as she looked Lilly over again. “Or is she only an ornament on his arm?”
“I know how to fight,” Lilly insisted. “I have killed more people than you have assembled here.”
“Is that so?” Sahli mocked. “Maybe as a dragon, you are formidable, but you are weak in the flesh of man.”
Lilly scowled and threw out her arms as she made a series of tones. Light flashed in both hands as swords came to each of them. With a fluid motion, she crossed them over her chest and stared over the blades.
“I don’t need to be a dragon to kill,” Lilly said in a firm voice. “You need to listen to Ayawa and avoid forcing the empire to deal with you.”
“Hmm,” Sahli replied. “So the little flower dragon has some claws, after all. Alright, little flower, I will speak to the heads of the tribes. Meet me in the burned village north of here in three days. We will have your answer by then.”
Lilly nodded, and Sahli turned away with a laugh. Her people gave them one last glance, and they too headed away as something was funny.
“Why do I feel like I can’t trust her?” Lilly asked.
“You can't,” Ayawa replied. “She will obey the law of the tribes, but she won't' honor yours.”
“Well, let me change back and leave this place. There is nothing more we can do now.
Ayawa nodded, and Lilly went behind the saddle to change. Minutes later, they were in the air, heading north to find the king's army. Lilly was sure that woman was planning something, so she decided they would show up the army at her back to match Sahli's army. If fighting broke out, she would ensure her side won and send a message to Gersius that peace talks had failed. She hated the idea of sending that message and would do anything to make peace with the tribes. But would Sahli allow there to peace?
