Eye of the Dragon Watches

If Lygawa was on edge, she certainly didn't show it, as she walked with Mai with a much easier attitude than Mai had expected, with all the soldiers about in their varied preparations, it was a little confronting for the smaller woman to pass through them all.

While Nullawhy was staying behind again, to guard their possessions, she was also keeping a sharp eye and sensitive ear out too, from a nearby hill, just in case something went awry, and the other two needed a... dragon sized distraction.

The 'enemy' to all these troops, simply waltzed right between them, quite carefree, while Mai was more cautiously trailing in her steps, seeing that hardly any of them gave a look their way, let alone a second glance, despite the two being standouts amid all the many men.

I know I appear young and smaller... in a few ways, compared to the average ladies of this land... but we're both hardly being noticed at all - which is making me feel more nervous for some reason...

The troops did mostly gather a way off the wandering stone road, while the females stayed upon it, but even when Mai tried to get some information from any of them, she found it difficult to get their attentions.

"Excuse me... are you someone who's in charge here?"

She stopped to ask a member with a little more fanciness to his metal suit than the majority, while also wearing a clean light-blue cape.

He sat on a wooden crate, next to some sort of massive, heavy duty crossbow, one of several the women had noticed along the road; apparently 'supervising' his subordinates, but busy enough in doing nothing to apparently ignore the woman.

"Sir... I'd like to see the... whoever's in charge."

Mai made her voice stronger, in case he hadn't heard her over the present ambient sounds, but felt ignored again, till she was just about to ask again, when he gave a quick point of his finger and a few words alongside it.

"You want that fellow - in the biggest tent."

He didn't even bother to look at them.

Taking his 'helpful' advice, they went right up to the big round tent, and with no-one about the exterior, they decided to go right in.

One dark-haired man, with stubble and shoulder length hair, sat behind the largest desk in the tent, while there were other desks around, he was the only person behind any of them, but appeared to be the 'CO' here.

Somebody that heavy, and with so much golden decorations, had to be the one in charge...

He too ignored them, until they got to the edge of his desk.

"Who let you in here... and what do you want?"

"We're... simple villagers and we just wanted to know what so many from the army are doing out here?"

"I don't have time for this... get out of here..."

He gave an angered glance, but didn't move.

As the two ladies didn't budge either, he eventually gave in.

"If it'll get rid of you - we're going after some Dragons..."

The women continued to watch him without showing any emotion, which it looked like he wasn't expecting.

"Why?"

Lygawa said flatly.

"They're big scary lizards - that's why..."

"That hardly seems like a real reason..."

Lygawa turned to Mai, who asked another question to the man that screwed his face with disbelief and confusion.

"Is there another reason at all?"

"Not particularly... just who are you people anyway?"

The two before the desk looked to the other, having lightly discussed what they'd say beforehand, as they'd made their way to this spot, and as their first attempt didn't appear to be working, they shifted to the second.

"We are an interested party..."

"An interested... what...?"

He blustered with annoyance.

"We're here to find out the army's intentions, toward the Dragons..."

Lygawa leaned in over the table's edge with a fang showing smile.

"...And find the reason why you would break the long standing peace."

"What in... blazers are you on about? We've never had peace to begin with... Look ladies, I don't think you're grasped what is going on around here, but I'm very busy so..."

Lygawa huffed and put her fists to her hips.

"We are not going anywhere till we get what we want."

He sat in a quiet mix of emotions, getting over the silvery ones little tantrum, but confusion was still the reigning expression he had, yet to catch on, so Mai plucked up some courage and spieled out.

"We'll spell it out for you - since you're so clueless; we're here to find out if you're just here for a show of force, or intent on a brutal battle..."

"That you'll probably lose."

Lygawa added, flashing her sharp grin again.

He looked about in slight panic then, cornered by their questioning, but with no allies anywhere in sight, the older man shifted his sights between the two.

"Are you here on behalf of those... overgrown lizards?"

The women didn't say a word to deny or confirm his assumptions, but he went on.

"We won't be intimidated by them any longer..."

"I want the real reason, not the spiel."

Mai grew annoyed with his stalling, figuring he was playing for time as he grew louder to get attention from outside.

"Fine."

He gave in, quicker than she expected again, and after a long pause he spoke in a hush.

"Our keenest watches have seen the same careless dragons make several trips, back and forth - highly unusual for the typical primitive beasts to do..."

In her anger, Lygawa's tail suddenly appeared and promptly swept everything that sat before him off his larger desk, then swayed behind her menacingly.

"And I have just witnessed some stupid actions of some Humans, more so than what the typical irresponsible bipeds often do too..."

"Easy now..."

Mai put her hand on her shoulder, hoping to calm the highly irritated reptile down a little.

"You're a...!"

He stopped himself, but while he might have had a good poker face, there were also tells, as his hands shook slightly on his armrests as he continued to stay seated with a steady face, finally grasping that a powerful Dragon stood right before him.

"I'll assume it was you then..."

He smirked, perhaps trying to suppress or subvert his fear, growing in his eyes.

"So because a few have been flying about... you're planning to try and... what... scare them off?"

It still didn't make much sense to Mai, who was ignored as the commander focused on the revealed presence of the dragon before him.

"I've never seen it... before... But the Kingdom knows the rumors that they often walk amongst us are true! They are no doubt scouting our defences, planning their next move..."

His surprise and fear had gone, quickly replaced with anger as his voice grew louder as his paranoid beliefs flew at them.

So he... or they're taking the random flyovers as provocative and menacing actions...?

"So there's been an incident... lately?"

Mai asked, hoping if she played with his ramble he'd give a cause for their preparations.

"Not for years..."

He snapped back, but returned his dark eyes to Lygawa almost instantly again.

"...but those cowards won't make a move against us, because we already have the upper hand, and they know it!"

Lygawa frowned as he reverted to not making any sense.

"And then we'll take the fight to them, and show we're not frightened by those hiding winged lizards anymore..."

He'd gotten into a little tirade now, and didn't know when to stop.

"Humans have the will and the ability to take down you beasts, and have enough knowledge of the lands you creatures dwell on too, so you can't hide there any longer...!"

The utter hypocrisy: their learning about Humans - so they're a threat? But then Humans can scout all they want - but not them? And if the Dragons are really hiding scared - you will suddenly start an unprovoked fight? Uh it's... enough to give me a headache...

Mai needed to put her hand to his empty desk, as what she thought was a coming headache became more, as images and sounds streamed into her mind; a ruined castle, a forest on fire, houses in smoky ruins, spilt blood, Human and Dragon shrieks and screams - in a horrible battle.

Oh dear...

"We'll clear the forests of you beasts, then come for those that hide in the mountains!"

He was practically gifting them his plans now, but with Mai distracted, Lygawa had had enough.

"You underestimate our power, and overestimate your own - at your peril."

She gave warning, before poking Mai gently with her tail tip to regain her attention, as she motioned for the flapping exit.

Strangely the army commander still stayed seated as the women turned and started to leave.

"As long as I run this army, we will take you all down... mark my word!"

His words did thankfully give Mai an idea.

Well then... we just need to visit someone else, somebody higher up the chain of command... someone that fool can't disregard...

Leaving the tent and the blustering fat guy, who still shouted angrily from his seat at them, Lygawa's tail vanished again as they quickly made off for the road, before briskly going back along it - while being so far unimpeded.

"New plan Lygawa"

The silvery girl nodded alongside.

"Nullawhy can go on ahead, while we have one more stop to make..."

"Where to this time?"

"We're going to pay the King a visit..."