Page 17 of Bound by Fire and Scales (The Dragons of Earis #1)

I pushed through the heavy doors of the council room, with Sabrina and Anpyhr following right behind me. The council were already assembled, both Kislav and Enrik were also there turning to face us as soon as we entered the room, and when my eyes fell on the small group of men wearing fur-coats, I knew exactly who our unexpected guests were. There, standing in the middle of the room, was the leader of the Iceclaw Clan, Morlav, his son Vlastov, accompanied by a small entourage of his clan.

“Morlav,” I addressed the Iceclaw Clan leader, stepping forward to meet him. “Your presence honors us.” I gave a nod to Vlastov. “Vlastov, it’s good to see you both.”

“Zephyr, you’re looking more and more like your father.”

The words carried a reminder of just how long Morlav had led his clan. Like Kislav and me now, he and my father had grown up side by side, fought in the same battles, and once sought to bring peace to the dragon world. His eyes flickered with something almost nostalgic before hardening again.

“We came because we had no other choice. The situation requires immediate action, and I trust your council is fully aware by now.”

“They’ve just learned,” I replied, turning to face the council.

Loryr, ever the council’s spokesperson, was the first to break the silence. “You sent warriors to the Iceclaw Clan without consulting this council,” she said, her tone sharp with accusation as her eyes narrowed. “You’ve overstepped your authority, Zephyr.”

“I did what needed to be done,” I said, my voice firm. “The Iceclaws are our allies, and I will not apologize for defending them. We won’t stand here and do nothing while their borders are under attack.”

Morlav’s icy gaze flicked over the council before settling back on me. “Your warriors fought with honor, Zephyr, but the situation is getting out of hand.”

Vlastov stepped forward, his face tight with anger. “The borders between the Ice Mountains and the Thunder Lands are infested,” he said. “We’ve already lost too many dragons to gryphons attacks.” Judging by the whispers between the council members, they were only now beginning to grasp the severity of the situation.

“And that’s not all,” Vlastov continued, his voice sharp. “We believe mages are behind it. They’ve been lurking in the shadows since the fall of the Thunder Lands, and now they’re using the gryphons to seize control of the borders. But we don’t have proof—yet.”

“Mages?” Enrik pushed off from the wall, arms crossed, his gaze razor-sharp. “Are you sure about that?” Our eyes met for a brief moment, both of us recalling the last time we faced mages during the war’s final days. If mages were involved, it spelled trouble—and we both knew it.

Vlastov’s jaw clenched as he glanced at his father, then back to Enrik. “No. Not yet. But the attacks are too coordinated. Gryphons don’t fight like this unless they’re being driven.”

Kislav, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke, his voice calm but firm. “We couldn’t afford to wait for proof. When Morlav’s call for aid came, we knew action was necessary. If we waited, we would risk losing our strongest allies.”

I nodded in agreement. “The Iceclaw Clan have always stood with us. I won’t let them face this threat alone.”

Loryr glared at me, clearly unimpressed. “But sending men without council approval undermines our unity. You made a dangerous choice, Zephyr.”

“I made the choice because it was the right one,” I said, locking eyes with her, my tone leaving no room for argument. “If we had waited for the council to debate, more lives would have been lost.”

Before the discussion could spiral further, Sabrina stepped forward, her voice cutting through the rising tension. “You can debate protocol all you want later. Right now, dragons are dying. If mages are involved, we need to act fast.”

Loryr shot her a dismissive look. “And what could a mere human possibly know about mages?”

Sabrina lifted her chin, her tone steady and unflinching. “I may be human, but I was part of a guild long before I came here. I’ve taken on more jobs than I can count, and if there’s one thing every adventurer learns quickly, it’s that mages are unpredictable and vicious. That spells danger. I’ve watched too many of my guildmates die because of mages. They don’t care who they hurt, as long as they get what they want. And if they’re targeting the Thunder Lands and the Ice Mountains borders, you should be very worried.” Her words sent a ripple through the room, silencing any immediate response that the council could have.

Morlav gave her a slight nod, acknowledging her point. “She’s right. If we don’t contain this now, the threat will spread.”

I turned to face the council fully, my voice firm with authority. “This is not just about the Iceclaws. This is about all of us. If the mages are involved, and if they're truly trying to retake the Thunder Lands, it won’t stop there. It will spread to the Fire Islands next.”

Kislav spoke up again, his voice steady. “We cannot afford to lose any more dragons. We must stand together now!”

Loryr’s eyes flicked to the other council members, gauging their reactions. It was clear they weren’t happy about being left out of the decision, but the weight of the situation was sinking in.

Enrik sighed, stepping away from the wall. “So what’s the plan? We can’t just sit here talking while our allies are being slaughtered.”

Morlav spoke then. “We need reinforcements, and we need them fast. The gryphons have been relentless, but if we can strike back before they attack again, we have a chance of pushing them out of the borders.”

“And the mages?” I asked, knowing the council feared them more than the gryphons.

Vlastov’s eyes darkened. “They’re out there. We’ll find them.”

Kislav looked at me, and I nodded. It was time to move. “Then we fight,” I said, my voice clear. “Together. The Iceclaw Clan, ours—we’ll face this threat as one. No hesitation.”

Morlav’s icy eyes met mine, a flicker of respect passing between us. “Agreed.”

The council was silent, but the decision had been made. “You’re both welcome to stay with us while we plan our next move,” I said, my voice calm but authoritative. “It’s been a long journey from the Ice Mountains, and you’ll need your strength for what’s ahead. We’ll see that you have everything you need during your stay.”

Morlav gave a sharp nod, his piercing eyes meeting mine. “Thank you, Zephyr. The Iceclaw Clan appreciates your hospitality—and your support. ”

Vlastov, standing silently beside his father, offered a quick nod in agreement. He wasn’t one for pleasantries, but the slight easing of his stance showed he understood the weight of our alliance.

“I’ll have quarters prepared for you both,” Anphyr said, as she stepped beside me with the poised grace she always carried. “We’ll ensure you’re comfortable during your stay.”

Sabrina stood just behind me, as usual, observing in silence. Her calm exterior gave nothing away, but by now, I could sense the quick assessments running through her mind. She had been instrumental in convincing the council of the seriousness of the situation, and I couldn’t help but wonder about her past as an adventurer. I hadn’t known she had crossed paths with mages before, and the thought stirred a brief curiosity about the battles she had faced long before accepting my offer.

“We’ll hold a formal dinner tomorrow night,” I announced, looking around the room. “We’ll use the time to properly welcome our allies and begin the planning. By then, we should have a clearer strategy for the road ahead.”

There was a murmur of reluctant agreement from the council members, though their grudges simmered a little. They weren’t happy with the situation, but they knew better than to openly challenge me in front of another’s clan’s leader.

“Not so fast.” Loryr’s voice cut through the tension. “What about the Soulfire Ritual?”

“You can’t be serious, Loryr,” I said, my gaze hardening as I looked down at her and the other council members. Every muscle in my body tensed. “That has to be postponed. We need to deal with this crisis first.”

“No.” Her voice was calm, too calm, and her eyes glimmered with an eerie detachment. “I think we should go ahead with the ritual tomorrow, as planned. The new moon is upon us—it’s time. If they can manage to spare some time for dining, I’m sure the Iceclaw leader can make room to witness the ritual.”

A heavy silence followed, thick enough to choke on. My mind raced. What was Loryr up to? Did she truly not grasp the gravity of the situation, or was this some deeper game? Her cool indifference chilled me, as if the fate of our allies—other dragons—meant nothing to her.

“As you wish,” Morlav said, his voice steady. “We don’t want to disrupt your clan’s plans. And besides, a night of rest before we begin our discussions will serve us well.”

The council members began to leave, clearly relieved to step away from the tension in the room, though Loryr lingered. She stared at me with a smug look on her face, as if she knew something that I didn’t. I frowned. What was she planning?

As the others filed out, Kislav approached me. “We made the right call,” he said quietly, his voice steady. “The Iceclaws are key to holding the northern borders.”

“I know,” I replied, though the weight of our decision still sat heavily on my shoulders. “But convincing the council will never be easy.”

Kislav smirked. “It never is. But they’ll come around, like they always do. The dinner tomorrow will help. Morlav’s presence reminds them we need the Iceclaws as much as they need us.”

I stole a glance at Sabrina, standing quietly at the back. I stepped closer, lowering my voice, the tension between us as palpable as the tension in the air. “Are you sure you’re ready for the ritual? You can still back out,” I murmured, my eyes searching hers. “Morlav and Vlastov will be watching every move you make. That’s what Loryr wants—for you to fail, to humiliate us in front of another clan.”

Her gaze met mine, determination shining through her hazel eyes. “I won’t fail, Zephyr. I’ll give it everything I have. When have you ever seen me half-ass anything?”

I smirked down at her. “You never have, and I don’t expect that to change now.”

She smiled back at me and I caught a sniff of her scent, the sweet vanilla gaining smoke notes, turning her scent slightly spicier. When her scent got like that, it meant that I had somehow pleased her. I didn’t know what I had done for that change in her scent, but… Gods! It was intoxicating. I wa tched her as she stepped away from me to talk to Anpyhr, and soon Kislav was joining my side.

“You think she can survive the Soulfire Ritual?”

I didn’t answer right away, my mind imagining Sabrina walking into the flames. She wasn’t a dragon. This wasn’t her world, her fight, and yet, she was walking straight into the fire. My chest tightened with the thought of her facing that ritual, the flames, the magic, knowing Loryr wanted her to fail. Sabrina was strong, but the Soulfire wasn’t something strength alone could conquer.

Could she handle it? Would it break her?

“She will,” I said, choosing to believe in her. “I know she will.”

Kislav studied me, and I could see the doubt in his eyes. He’d seen the Soulfire break dragons before, creatures born of flame. What hope did a human have? The question lingered unspoken.

“She’s different,” I added, my gaze distant, still seeing Sabrina’s face, her steady eyes full of fire and grit. “She’s stronger than any of us give her credit for. She’s survived things most wouldn’t even attempt.”

“You better be right, Zephyr,” Kislav murmured, his voice low. “Or you'll have to find a new fake mate.”