The night before the fight

It's been a few months since I have heard anything from Blaze. Kem told me he understood my situation and started researching ways to keep Blaze around for longer. He also told me to not get my hopes up since the blessing is so progressed. Sheldon told me to not disgrace the pride of a fire dragon by crying. The others were more sympathetic than her. I also kept my distance from Sonja since I scared her with the mini forest fire.

I trained but not as hard as I once did. I even found a lava lake and dove in head first. I spent days at the lava lake meditating and soaking for brief moments in the lava since it's a little on the hot side for me. I did all of that in hopes the energy would reach Blaze. I never heard from him though. 

"You coming? The final meeting is about to start." Sheldon calls into our home cave breaking up my thoughts.

"I'm coming." I say getting up from the floor.

Sheldon and I walk in silence to the camp fire. Maddie made a 1:32 scale figure of Gilton's mansion out of stone. All the floor layers were side by side so we could memorize the lay out for the last month. Sonja and Kem confirmed the lay outs multiple times so we could move efficiently tomorrow.

"Tomorrow there will be a council meeting in this room." Kem points to a large corridor on the first floor with a large table placed in it. "Gilton always shows up late just to prove his authority. He always walks Tundra along this path around the mansion."

Kem showes a path on the ground level that wraps around the building in an elaborate garden. 

"Leaf and Arata will be incharge of containing the council elders. It won't be easy since they are all strong but your sleeping flower plan should take out most of them. Amaya and Elbereth will take Olive and Dre to the west wing to free Sonja and the enslaved dragons." Kem starts his explanation.

"Hold up." Sonja's voice cuts through the glass orb. "Amaya and Elbereth can head straight to the enslaved dragons. I will meet them there. Once the forces there have been destroyed and dragons freed I will come join the fight against Gilton."

"Alright then." Kem agrees. "Sheldon, Ragon, Maddie and I will strike outside on the path to eliminate as many causalities as possible. Mitus and Pearl you will be on standby to heal injuries. Everyone else will join us once their tasks are done... This plan sounds too simple."

"Simple is fine." I say cracking my knuckles.

"We know all the signals and rendezvous locations." Says Kem.

"Yea you drilled those into our heads." Pearl complains rubbing her temple.

"Pretty sure you were the only one drilled." Sheldon smirks.

"You know what?" Pearl growls.

"No fighting." I growl to them both. A silence follows after the girls huffed and looked away from each other.

"I finished the outfits." Amaya speaks up.

"Amaya worked really hard on them and they look so good!" Elbereth boasts.

"Thank you." Amaya says a little flushed.

She runs to get the crate she put them in. Once back she hands out the matching outfits and shows Sonja hers. We all got black leather jackets, a fitted white t-shirt or tank top, dark pants for everyone but a mini skirt for Amaya and Sonja, and a personalized item. Elbereth got fingerless gloves, Kem got an elbow brace/warmer, Mitus and I got beanies, Amaya has garters to hold the poison viles Olive made, and for Sonja, fishnet leggings.

"You really shouldn't have." Sonja says smiling embarrassed.

"Oh don't act like you can't pull them off." Amaya smiles a little forcefully.

She did this to be passive aggressive, didn't she? Not that I really mind...

We all thanked Amaya before going our separate ways to rest for the night. The dragons and I went back to the cave while the humans went to their cabin. With everyone on edge, sleep will be difficult. 

"Ragon?" Sheldon whispers.

"Yea?" I say a little groggy.

"We will win tomorrow, right?" There is uncertainty in her voice.

My heart breaks a little since its not her normal fierce self.

"I wish I could say that we will win. I believe all of us together can bring down Gilton and Tundra. If we can't tomorrow then we get out alive and come back stronger. Or we make a better plan. Maybe even both." I say scooting out from under Pearl's tail to be closer to Sheldon.

She rests her head on my chest. "I really hope it ends tomorrow. I hate what they did to my family."

"They will pay for what they did." I tell her. I bring my hand up to stroke her beautiful multicolored blue scales. Without much thought a murmur escapes my lips. "You really have grown up to be beautiful."

"W-what?" Exclaims Sheldon jerking away from me. She then tries to shrink into herself as if to hide.

"You'll make some dragon very happy when you decide to pick a mate." I inform her.

"As if. Gosh my mind is racing more than before. Thanks for the help." Sheldon mutters before curling up away from me.

"Oh don't be like that." I say patting her side.

"Then don't bring up mates." Mumbles Sheldon. 

"Very well. Anything else you want to talk about?" I ask.

"No, I'm ready for sleep." Says Sheldon.

"Good night." I reply.

"Good night." She mumbles leaning more into my hand. 

I give her gentle rubs til I fall asleep.

□■□Sonja POV□■□

Tomorrow's the day I will be free from this cell. I look around slowly at all the random things I gathered in the last two years. This place has grown on me but I'm ready to be free again. I do wonder what will happen to this place. I did place a protection barrier on the library so in theory it should be protected against magic attacks. That's if a dragon doesn't get thrown through the ceiling... 

Nope the library will be safe! 

I give my face a slap to bring my focus back to the present. I hear foot steps coming up the staircase. They sound like Guilton's trudging steps.

"Good evening my bride to be." Guilton says with his cackling voice. His long black hair is tumbling over his shoulders. The dark green robe with gold trim doesn't help his pale sunken face but does bring out his dark green eyes. In his thin hands he holds two wine glasses and a wine bottle. "How are you doing tonight my dear? My day was long so I wanted your company for the evening."

I stay silent while he sets his things on the small table outside my cell. He pulls out the only wooden chair and sits on it. Gilton brushes back a strand of hair over his pointed ear before opening the bottle of wine.

"Not even going to acknowledge me being here? That's disappointing. I do enjoy the sound of your voice. It's very soothing." Says Gilton pouring two glasses of wine.

He'll loose interest and leave soon enough. I just have to wai-

"Care to talk about the magical protection barrier around the library?" Gilton asks while swirling his drink.

And I'm caught.

"The spell you used is flawless. I'm impressed to say the least. I wouldn't have found it had you not placed the one over my study. Speaking of hidden spells. I found an explosive one by the north tower. You have been quite the busy body." He grins at me.

Hopefully he didn't find the others. If he did then tomorrow's plan will not go smoothly. I have to stay calm and have hope.

"Guess I got bored and wanted some excitement." I shrugged.

"Well there are other exciting things you can indulge yourself in." Gilton gets up walking to my cell and holds the one glass inside the bars. 

I don't move from my bed. 

"Still treating giving me the cold shoulder? I could have sworn you would have warmed up to me after I delivered those dragon laud books to you." The glass slips from his fingers shattering on the floor.

I look at him in shock. I thought one of the maids or swordsman I befriended here placed those books there.

"What? You look surprised that I would do such a thing. Is it really unbelievable? Well care to talk about what you learned?" He leans against the bars with his back to me while sipping on his drink.

"Nothing more than you already know." I say flopping to my side and covering myself up.

Yes his back is turned to me but I would have to go through glass shards to reach him. And my magic is drained from that north explosion square. Any attack now would be futile.

"Looks like you're tired. I wish you sweet dreams my darling." He says quietly before leaving.