Chapter 7 Next #2
I choke up; my vision blurs, and Bjorn knows what to do. Gathering me into his brawny arms, he holds me with my face pressed close to his chest, until I get a few deep breaths and finally don’t cry.
But I want to; oh, how I want to, for everything we’ve been through, and all we’ve lost, as these close family and friends look on.
Waiting for me to tell them what comes next.
“Let’s get food and settle in,” Jarl Jorg says now as he glances around the group, extending his hand to the laden tables. “Then we’ll have our chat.”
We do, as everyone is in need of sustenance.
I feel how exhausted all still are from that wicked battle up north, as everyone loads up entire silver trays of food rather than single plates.
The Jarl pours drinks from his best whiskey, bourbon, and scotch, while Mathilde hands out the most expensive cigars from the humidor.
Before long, we’re all settled on the green velvet chaises, gathered in a group around a collection of coffee tables. Everyone is eating and drinking like ravenous bears; though I know the food is ridiculously top-shelf, I can hardly recall what I ate.
When I finally look down at the remains of my decimated meal, I see kottbullar, lingonberry jam, and several other Swedish sundries. Everything sits in my belly heartily now as I sit back on my chaise between Strom and Bjorn, sipping my latest whiskey.
I’ve got a pleasant buzz, and the cigar Mathilde offers me only enhances it, as she gives me a conspiratorial grin. I have a feeling she gave me one of the Jarl’s best cigars, as she winks at me and dances back to her seat.
But everyone is done eating now, smoking, drinking, and picking through the leftovers as we simply enjoy being alive. Blood Dragons never know when we’re going to die, so we enjoy every pleasure life offers.
And the Jarl isn’t being stingy now that we’re facing what could be the end of all our lives soon. It makes the room thoughtful as we smoke, drink, and finish eating in silence.
Mikkel and Baldur migrate to the long couch with me, Bjorn, and Strom, as Laerke pulls up a chair beside us.
I feel the weight of the Jarl’s gaze as he peruses us from across the tables, plus Mormor Annika, Svanhild Magnussen, and my stepfathers.
Only our King is missing from our war-council, and Prince Halfdir, as this meeting of the True Knights and their top allies goes down.
A council of the ages, if anyone is left alive to sing about it later.
“We come to it, at last,” Jarl Jorg finally says in his strong but aged voice, gazing around us all. “An hour of wolves and shattered shields, I believe, if anyone here has watched The Lord of the Rings movies.”
Chuckles come from all around as heads nod and lips smile. Though we love our ancient ways, Blood Dragons also adore modern cinema, especially if it has anything to do with battle, the more arcane the better.
“We have much to discuss in the coming hours, friends,” Jarl Jorg continues more soberly now.
“My great-grandson has told me about everything that happened at the hidden city, and everything your Bloodbonded group did, creating the Soulstone. Strom’s told me of your aim to destroy the Soulstone and weaken the Black Dragon, crippling it from ever reaching its full strength so we have a chance at fighting it.
What we need to do now is discuss our approach in the coming days.
While our King cannot be present, as he is negotiating an increasingly tense situation with the Ice Dragons, not to mention the rebel Jarls, understand he is receiving a real-time magical transcript of our council, which he and I will discuss later tonight. ”
As Jarl Jorg nods to an ornate magical recording contraption of silver and agate sitting beside him and humming gently as it whirls through with Blood Dragon runes, heads nod. The Jarl’s eagle-gaze roves us all now, impressing the import of what we do here.
Before returning to me.
“We have lost key territory, having had to abandon the hidden city up in Magnussen lands as we did two days ago,” the Jarl says with no bullshit now.
“Though the gambit you managed with the Black Dragon was great, blasting that un-winnable battle apart so it didn’t end us all right then and there, we have lost precious ground in this war.
Even though you and your drakes have the Soulstone now, Rikyava, our enemy, your sister Lithava, has the hidden city.
Her forces secured it as we were blasted away; the Black Dragon itself guards that location now, and we cannot even get close.
Our enemy has secured the cradle of the Black Dragon’s birth, to renew the ceremonies that will revive it to its fullest. What we must do now is discuss what happens next.
And hope to all the gods we can find a solution that saves us. ”
“We believe we have two options, my Jarl,” Strom says at once, as he pins his great-grandfather with his fierce green gaze.
He cuddles close to me as he speaks, our sides and knees touching on the chaise, though he doesn’t put an arm around me in this war council.
“The first involves the Soulstone, which we believe could be the key to stopping the real force behind the Black Dragon’s power—the Black Rift itself.
As you all saw at that battle, there is an evil malevolence that lives beneath that broken cavern, which resonates with the Black Dragon.
They are two of a kind; long ago, Hedda Anderlen created her creature by using not just donated Blood Dragon souls, but also that vile force, to give it life.
It’s a place Rikyava discovered was ruined long ago by our ancient Ancestors.
But that ruination gives that spot power.
Unimaginable power—which it gives to the Black Dragon. ”
“And which we believe we might be able to stop before it destroys the entire world through the creature,” I say now, knowing I need to fill the Jarl in on everything we’re up against.
“Explain,” Jarl Jorg says as he stares me down.
And I know it’s time to get into it, so we can figure all this out, at last.