Anders saw Natalia’s face burn red and thought the situation was about to escalate to a violent degree when he heard another familiar voice interject from behind him.  

“Red, what are you doing now to destroy our working relationship with our allies?” Britt asked, stepping into Anders’ view.  

Anders suddenly found that they were all caught in the middle of what could be even more deadly crossfire. Adding Natalia’s hot temper to the mix could be the spark that would cause an explosion. He grabbed Natalia by the arm and spoke into her thoughts, I’ll explain the details later. He felt her emotions disagreeing with him so he added, We can’t afford to start another war.  

Natalia jerked her arm free of his grip and scowled at the Warrior Chief, but Red had turned to focus on Britt.  

“What is she doing here?” Red asked, staring at Britt but directing the question to the others.  

“I could ask you the same,” Britt said folding her arms. 

“I am Chief here, not you. I banished you from the Islands,” Red said with disdain.  

“We’re not on the Islands,” Britt responded coldly. “And based on the actions of our people, they’ll go to war without your say in the matter.”  

Red clenched his jaw and glared at her as if he might pull steel on her right then, but after a moment of tension, he relaxed slightly and said, “I approved sending the ships to Southland and it was my idea to come save all of you from the orcs.”  

“That’s mighty generous of you,” Natalia said still glaring at him.  

“Yes, it is,” he replied curtly. “You’re lucky I am so nice and willing to save your nation.”  

“Red,” Anders said in warning. 

“No, no. It’s fine. I’ll be glad to show him who needs saving by the end of this,” Natalia said. “It would be my pleasure to see my people save the Island Warriors from utter annihilation for the second time this year.”  

Before Red could respond, Britt said, “Our people will gladly work alongside the elves and other nations to defeat our common enemy.”  

Anders saw Natalia turn a shade redder when she realized her comment had attacked all Rollo warriors generally.  

“I make the decisions for our people,” Red said. 

“Really? Is that why they disobeyed you to come to the Lumbapis’ aid on Anders’ plea, or are you going to continue to pretend that was your idea. Who do you think you’re fooling?” 

“Silence,” Red spat.  

“Look around you, Red; this was all our doing, not yours. You have lost control of them. The people are finally seeing you for the selfish braggart you really are.”  

“Enough, I said!” Red bellowed and Anders saw him reach to his side.  

Anders, Maija, Natalia and several of Britt’s crew who’d seen the exchange begin formed around Britt, their hands on their swords already pulled part way from their sheaths. Red stopped, seeing he was vastly outnumbered.  

“This isn’t over, Captain,” Red barked and stormed off the way he’d come.  

When he was well out of hearing range, Natalia finally broke their uncomfortable silence by saying, “What’s his deal?” 

“Corrupt, indignant, narcissistic,” Britt said. “The list goes on...” 

“I hope I won’t be seeing much more of him,” Natalia replied. 

“He’ll be at the meeting tonight, but after that we’ll keep the elves and Rolloans separated. He’s not the only one who wants to pick a fight with your people,” Anders said. 

“It’s something I’m working on to change their opinions,” Britt said.  

“I wish you were their Chief and not that guy,” Natalia said. 

“Me, too,” Britt said coldly.  

After a few deep breaths during which they all stared after Red, now moving away down the beach, Maija returned their conversation to the incident that had occurred the night before. After a brief retelling, Anders realized the Lumbapi people were disembarking from their ships and onto the docks. Seeing no one was there to welcome them, he excused himself. “Britt, you’ll make sure Red is at Rune’s by sundown?”  

She nodded, “I’ll make sure he gets the message.”  

“Thanks,” he said, then looked to Natalia and Maija. “The crystals can go up near the port. We’ll divvy them up after the meeting.”  

“Where are you going?” Maija asked. 

“To greet the Lumbapi,” Anders said, motioning to the Southland natives now swarming the docks.  

“Can I come? I heard so many stories when I lived on the Kewians, but never got to travel to the Ramhorn or the Drakeshead.” 

“Sure,” Anders said, and they started out toward the docking area.  

Walking out onto the cobblestone street where the docks made landfall, Anders spotted Princess Inama from among the group in the street, staring at the portside town. Her sinewy form stood taller than most women and her tattoos and piercings would also have drawn attention had the town still been occupied with citizens. The colorful clothing she wore the first time they’d met was, for the most part, similar enough to seem unchanged. Coming to stand before her, Anders said, “Inama, when I heard you and your people were coming to our country, I was so relieved to have so many skilled fighters join our struggle.”  

“Anders, I am glad to be here,” she said, greeting him as the native Southland people did.  

When she leaned in to kiss him on the cheeks, Anders realized he hadn’t mentioned to Maija how they did things in the south. Maybe she already knows? She is from near there, he thought. Blushing, he glanced at Maija and said, “Inama, this is Maija. She is the other recently bonded dragonrider.”  

Maija stepped toward her and leaned in, exchanging pecks on the cheeks in the native tradition.  

Oh, she does know about it, Anders thought with a wave of relief. Then he began to kick himself for not mentioning that they were together. As she stepped away from Inama, Anders added, “We’re um, together.”  

Inama didn’t bat an eye at the information and said, motioning to the town behind them, “I had hoped to see more of the Westland people. This town is so empty; is it always that way in your culture?”

“We’ve shipped anyone who might be in harm’s way out of the area in case the fight came to Brookside. Those in charge thought it best that innocent people be far from any battle,” Anders said. 

 Inama nodded, “I was told not all of your people are experienced in the arts of war. Surely in this time of struggle, you would’ve welcomed their willingness to fight.”  

“It would’ve been welcomed,” Anders said, avoiding the slight, not sure if it was meant to be confrontational. Quickly deciding she meant no harm by it, Anders said, “The Westland Army has been moving out to a camp on the Plains southeast of town. They’re making ready to march tomorrow.”  

“I will have my people join them. We have been cooped up on these wooden houses for too long. They will be glad to know we are marching soon. How far is the camp?” 

“A few hours’ walk along the path at this end,” Anders said pointing to the aviary. “You can start on it there by the tall caged structure.”  

“Thank you. I’ll have them walking on it soon.”  

Anders was about to leave when Maija nudged him, “Aren’t you going to tell her about the meeting?” 

“Oh, shoot,” Anders said under his breath. “And Inama,” he called before she had gone too far. She looked back and he said, “We’d like you and your father to join in our meeting of leaders here this evening at dusk. We’ll be going over a plan here in this building.” Anders pointed to Rune’s practice, one of the buildings directly behind him.