Dragon Alliance Dark Storm : Dark Storm (30 page)

“The undersea war between the saragwin and the tritons—that we Freilanders call mermen—have been getting more vicious. The sea devils are also aligning with the kraken, which have taken several of our ships. Without the help of your bronze dragons and wizards, we would have suffered many more dead among our warriors. This is what leads me, on behalf of King Richion, to request from the Dragon Alliance Republic, at least one dragon, preferably a bronze dragon or dragons, with their affinity for the sea, to be permanently stationed in Freiland. The dragons would answer to the Alliance, of course, with our coordination in matters of dealing with major threats. This sharing of dragon friendship will strengthen the ties between our two nations, provide greater protection to our raider ships, and aid our cause against these current and future threats,” he finished and sat down to a small round of applause.

“Now that our barbarian ambassador is finally finished, I would like to address a common theme that was brought to light in both these statements. In particular, meaning the connection with our dealings with the kingdom of Ian. Our unfettered support of this small insignificant land is likely the main reason why the Shidanese have been encouraging the hostilities we have noticed in the Southern Seas. If we would disavow our defense pact with them, that would appease the Shidanese and Arianans. It is a simple matter and easy point of negotiation, for if placed in a peaceable diplomatic environment, the reasonable rulers of Shidan will see our noble intentions, and we can resolve this matter in true Enlightened fashion,” the POE Senator Bidenj from the Ice Bay region arrogantly stated, to which Ragnarg stood with his hand on his sword hilt almost ready to challenge the senator to a duel for his statements, but his assistant calmed him down as did a nod from Senator Orhanch, who stood to address the senate.

“Senator Gindren, may I address the good Enlightened senator’s comments?” he asked.

“Yes, please proceed,” Gindren answered the scholarly senator from the Eladran Province.

“First, I would like to say of the shame it is for us, as the leadership of the Alliance, to talk of abandoning the only republic-oriented kingdom in the Southern Ontaror Region. Ian has been a fierce ally to the Alliance in an area where we have few friends other than our neighboring Ismer Emirates. The mere fact that a free kingdom sits among those oppressive dictatorial and theocratic states is a thorn in their back side, and they would love to drive them into the Southern Sea or annihilate them altogether. To abandon the Ianese would be the ultimate act of betrayal and cowardice, but then I am sure that this is a common practice among the Enlightened,” at which a rise of disgruntled shouts and murmurs rose from the POE senators, to which Gindren pounded his hammer to regain order and composure in the hall and allow Senator Orhanch to continue.

“This is not to mention the proliferation of the chromatic dragons and giants that are apparently being harbored by Shidan, Ariana, and even some of the Kaskar tribes. These are all plaguing the middle kingdoms and provinces of Northern Ontaror with ever-increasing raids and incursions. Our very motto of ‘Truth, Justice, Honor, and Strength’ negates the dishonoring of a defense treaty. As far as negotiation, you can’t negotiate with evil, for when you do, evil always wins. They don’t compromise; they only lie in negotiations. And appeasement never—and I repeat
never
—works. Even this Kallysh religious fervor that has swept across that region and into the archipelago island kingdoms, in its present extremist form, is not tolerant of any others, even the moderates within their own populations.

“The religion of the Triad, which we have here and in many other lands, teaches peace and selfless sacrifice. This is exemplified in the sacrifice the Creator’s own spirit made in an attempt to mend the rift between the metallics and the chromatics. Even after a violent execution, his spirit dematerialized and reappeared here in Draconia, where he talked of faith before he ascended. That is true negotiation, not capitulation.

“So now, I give a warning to all gathered Enlightened senators and your mindless followers. Appeasement has never and will never work. It will only lead to greater bloodshed, innocent blood, which will be on your hands, and you can be absolutely sure that you will be held accountable,” Orhanch finished to the thunderous applause that even included a congratulatory salute from Gallanth and Valianth in Draconic.

“This outrageous point of view is as barbaric as our Freilander allies. Peace and understanding are the answer. Greeting our misunderstood antagonists with open hands, not swords or dragon claws, is the only way to proceed. Negotiations with promises of compromise and gifts, to accommodate their ways and beliefs into our own, to demonstrate our noble intentions, is the only way!” Senator Bidenj shouted.

Orhanch quickly countered, “Fools! Negotiations only work from strength. What you are proposing goes against human nature, and never does nature say one thing and wisdom another. Negotiations only work among reasonable people. You can negotiate with metallic dragons, elves, dwarves, the Freilanders, maybe even the Northern Ontaror kingdoms—not the Shidanese, not the Morgathians, not the orc tribes or the chromatics. I would like to see you approach them with open hands, for if you would be so foolish to do so, you would have them cut off. And if you would still persist in this maddening approach, you are of no more worth than chaff, and maybe even less consequential.”

“I call on the word of our elven nobility to bring the wisdom of their years into this debate. King Denaris, Queen Eladra, do the elves not see, in their infinite wisdom, the futility of maintaining a warlike approach in the dealings with these misunderstood kingdoms? They are only hostile to the republic because of their fear of our so-called dragon benefactors,” Bidenj attempted to shift the debate, by bringing the elven rulers into the fray. For even though the POEs thought of themselves as the pinnacle of intellect, even they had to acknowledge that the elves, with their mastery of nature and magic, were a force to be reckoned with in any discussion or debate. While they disliked the elves, they also admired them for a multitude of reasons. The Enlightened begrudgingly admitted the superior intelligence of the elves but more envied them for their wealth and longevity. They, however, did distinctly dislike them in one sense, for they usually sided against most of the Enlightened points of view.

“My dear Enlightened senator, I see your memory is as limited as your sense of honor, but now let me recall the last two thousand years of my life and our combined history. My husband and I aided your ancestors and forefathers in creating the great republic that is the Dragon Alliance. This was in coordination with, and oversight by, our illustrious metallic dragons. Without them, your entire society, and especially your trade guild, would fall. They are the wellspring of your security and prosperity, which somehow, in spite of the evidence that is plainly in front of you, in your irrelevant diminutive minds, you actually hold them in contempt. The elves, as always, stand with our dragon benefactors, their riders, and those with the wisdom and foresight among your peers to see us through this looming crisis. You ask for the elves’ thoughts, I will instead give you yours. Your whole philosophy is based on arrogance, condescension, and lies and you depend on your followers to be ignorant and gullible, for truth and knowledge are your worst enemies,” Eladra replied. As usual, she was quick to the point and as sharp as a mithril arrow.

Bidenj, obviously frustrated at the reply from the elven queen, fired an irate response back, “My dear elf queen, you must also know that without the Alliance and the trade and merchant guilds, the independent elvish kingdom in Allghen Forest would not be as prosperous or even exist in its present state, so who is truly the wellspring of prosperity?” he retorted referring to the trade guilds that many of the more wealthy Enlightened controlled.

“Senator, the elves have little need of your greed and avarice. We have existed as a kingdom under ourselves long before the formation of even the provinces of the weirs. We live to maintain the order of nature and of all living things, as well as to aid the noble metallic dragons in their cause. You and all your plotting, scheming, and shortsighted plans are as inconsequential and as temporary as a summer squall but unfortunately just as damaging,” Denaris spoke in a slightly irritated tone, as if scolding a child for doing a selfish act.

“You arrogant, pointy-eared, and self—” Bidenj started to rant when he was interrupted by Valianth.

“Senator! Ours is a world governed by the aggressive use of force. However, it is the application, motive, and intent of that use that truly matters. For it can be used for good or evil. The very nature of life is struggle, not a peace demonstration or Nature Purist festival. These things, while they can be said have a small portion of use, are inconsequential. They are only allowed to occur under the shield that the weirs, elves, dwarves, and Alliance military provide against the storm of evil and tyranny that would flood your lands if it were allowed. To deny this fact is to deny the very fabric of nature itself,” Valianth answered sternly in the powerful, almost frightening voice only a gold dragon could muster. It echoed against the stone walls of the great senate gathering hall. This caused the Enlightened senator to sit down, for none could withstand the stare of a gold dragon, unless they were totally shielded by the truth.

“Senator Gindren, may I address the senate?” Premier Reagresh stood, his salt-and-pepper hair along with his imposing height giving his worn but commanding countenance a determined look.

“Please, Premier, the floor is yours now that Valianth has cleared it of false air,” he answered.

“To answer part of this argument, I will discontinue the flow of food and relief monies to Shidan, Ariana, and all those neighboring kingdoms that we deem are harboring pirates or chromatic dragons and are sponsoring violence against their neighbors and on the high seas. To recapitulate the words of our esteemed elf partners and noble Valianth, the purpose of great power is to protect the weak and to promulgate good. With few exceptions, kingdoms don’t have friends, they have interests. This is at their best; at their worst, they have devious intent—” Reagresh stated but was interrupted by Senator Tekend.

“Premier, I request, no, I demand, that we send a special diplomatic envoy to Shidan to discuss the current situation of this so-called undeclared war at sea. For with the leadership of the Enlightened, I know we will find a peaceful compromise to this problem,” Tekend stood and arrogantly stated in his thick accent.

“First, Senator, you demand nothing; you request. But as a final compromise, I will authorize the diplomatic corps to arrange a reinforced envoy to the Shidanese capital, as one last attempt to settle this matter peaceably. I ask General Becknor and Valianth to escort the ambassadors in a sign of strength to demonstrate our intent. If the Shidanese do not agree, or we do not see results, then I will call on a vote for war with Shidan and their allies,” Reagresh was quick to seize the moment, for he knew that at present, the non-POE senators did not quite have the two-thirds majority needed to formally declare war. The weirs could still fight the Shidanese and likely wipe out their army and most of their navy, but without the support of the rest of the Alliance military, they could not sustain the fight. This would put too much strain on the dragons to provide the combat power and logistics to their forces for a prolonged campaign, not to mention that the weir legions were less than half of the total number of soldiers the regular Alliance Army possessed.

While not ideal, or totally what the Enlightened wanted, Tekend agreed on one condition, “Premier Reagresh, I accept this offer, but I request the entire Capital Wing to escort my portion of the envoy for our protection.” This fit into their plan to keep the Capital Wing busy. Little did they know that the Morgathians and Shidanese had still other plans.

“In the interest of diplomacy, the Capital Weir agrees to escort this envoy to the Shidanese capital, but let me state now, that we will not tolerate any aggression made against us and will answer such with incredible ferocity,” Becknor stated.

Mkel asked Gallanth telepathically, “
Gallanth,
why
don’t
the
dragons
just
lead
us
?” he asked half-jokingly, half-seriously.

My
dear
rider,
you
know
that
our
role
is
to
guide
and
protect
mankind,
not
to
lead
it.
That
would
be
the
chromatics’
goal;
plus
how
would
your
race
learn,
if
not
from
your
own
mistakes
? The gold dragon replied.

Mkel always liked being able to talk to Gallanth through their minds, as did all dragonriders. “
I
understand,
my
friend.
It
is
just
frustrating
to
see
this
exchange
with
those
who
have
less-than-noble
intentions
.”

“
Patience,
my
rider,
it
will
all
come
out
in
the
end,
for
the
truth
is
more
powerful
than
any
magic
or
dragon,
no
matter
how
hard
those
without
honor
try
to
suppress
it,”
Gallanth
explained.