Dragon Alliance Dark Storm : Dark Storm (77 page)

“Now we must attend to the republic’s response and counter to this deadly attack. I will order the resumption of the invasion of Shidan with the aid of the weirs. King Ibliss and his hierarchy will indeed pay for this treachery. Our kindness and patience was taken as weakness, by him and many more. The weirs saw that the first of our response was quick, decisive, and devastating, as the good king’s palace was laid to ruin. Our forces will take the kingdom of Shidan by storm and institute a more representative form of government that respects its own people and its neighbors. Once Shidan is held and then helped along, we will focus on reducing the growing Morgathian threat. Although with the recent defeat of such a massive naval force, they can’t be much of a menace on the seas at present. I hereby order all Morgathian vessels, both warships and merchant, as open for capture or destruction. The sun will set on the black talon ships as well as any bearing the Blood Wolf pirate colors,” Reagresh stated.

“Premier, I do protest this stern overreaction,” Senator Kushien opened the senate floor for discussion, but he was on a short leash after his outburst and removal from the assembly hall at the last gathering.

“The chair recognizes the senator from the High Mountain province, but I warn you, Senator, after your last tirade, stupidity and treachery will not be tolerated,” Senator Gindren warned his outspoken Enlightened colleague.

“Thank you, Senator Gindren. We have seen the images from the weirs’ overzealous attack on the sovereign kingdom of Shidan and the devastation that our dragon benefactors caused there. I would say to you, fellow senators, that not only is this more than sufficient punishment for any infraction King Ibliss and the Shidanese might have conducted, but I would go as far as to say it borders on the punitive and cruel. This whole attack on our soil was only the Shidanese responding to the weirs’ unprovoked destruction of a peace-loving monarch’s very home. The pirating that has been taking place and even the assassination attempts on the dragonriders by the Black Scarabs are only a measure of desperation from this republic’s and especially the metallic dragons’ greed and lust for gemstones, power, and control,” Senator Kushien quickly blurted out before the whole of the senate erupted in shouts and arguments over the Enlightened senator’s not-so-well-thought-out words.

As Gindren’s hammer pounded on the metal plate that was bolted on his stone podium to regain the decorum of the senate meeting, Senator Santoric rose up to answer Kushien’s inflammatory words.

“To address the foolish words of the esteemed and always noted senator from High Mountain Province, we must first look at the simple timing of the events of his allegations. For the Shidanese to have countered the weirs’ attack, they would have had to have known of its intention weeks in advance of even the last meeting between Ibliss and the Capital Weir and senatorial diplomatic entourage. One just does not assemble a fleet of that magnitude in a matter of days; this takes months, so this attack has been planned for a long time. Additionally, I know Senior Admiral Zewal can testify that the Shidanese do not possess the resources, manpower, or organization to amass the armada that was just thrown against us. This had all the trappings of Morgathia, even to the point of their standards just being turned around from the white talon to an upside down moon. For this blatant treachery, I propose that we not only bring down the Kingdom of Shidan but renew open hostilities with Morgathia as a measure of retribution,” Santoric countered and proposed, to the cheers of the majority of the senators present, while strong counter shouts rose from the Enlightened Party portion of the hall.

“While this might have some fraction of potential truth behind it regarding the timing of this attack, it still does not settle the rationale behind the aggression. That reason is hatred and fear of the Alliance and its bullying ways, especially of the weirs and the metallic dragons. This outward and forceful method of diplomacy almost legitimates the desperate measures such as we have seen toward the Alliance,” Tekend stood and smugly pontificated even though he was clearly intoxicated.

“Ha, potential truth is the best that the Enlightened can ever hope to espouse, and how was your ship ride home with your gracious Shidanese hosts, Senator?” Senator Zelmall stood and countered the arrogant Enlightened senator to the laughter of over half the senate and a few snorts from the dragons, including Gallanth.

“The Alliance and especially the weirs have been exerting overt control and pressure over too many kingdoms for too long, and this is now the result. This attack almost bears legitimacy as a result of our actions in wanting to spread the idea of a republic and freedom to others. The Morgathians do not even attempt this in their more efficient method of rule. Why do the Alliance and especially the meddlesome metallics feel a need to interfere when the Enlightened way, when fully explained, is the only path to contentment and order,” Enlightened Senator Bidenj rose to speak out of anger at Zelmall’s counter to Tekend’s argument.

“The Enlightened way is a path to drones and servitude, in the order of the orcs, an ant colony, or Morgathia itself,” Senator Dejent from Eladran Province rose and loudly spoke out, his thin features and steel gray hair accented by his anger at the POE senator’s almost blasphemous words. “When it was formed and united, the Alliance was the most unexpected, complete, and remarkable nation in the history of nations and kingdoms of this world. That day dawned a new era of light and freedom that has shown brightly for all others across the darkness of the world to see and pin hope upon. The Alliance rose as an independent republic among kingdoms, states, and other contrived powers. The fate of millions in the past and present and that of millions more still unborn has and will depend on the courage and conduct of the Alliance armed forces, the weirs, and the metallic dragons and riders. If the Alliance should fall, the whole of this world would slip into the shadow and darkness of tyranny. There would be no Alliance banner coming to the rescue of the oppressed or those in danger. Therefore, your ranting about the so-called evils that you attribute to the republic and the dragons are either sadly misinformed or downright malicious lies,” he finished to the standing ovation of most of the senate and the approving crooning of the dragons.

“The time for a vote is called; the evidence against the Shidanese and the Morgathians is indisputable,” Senator Santoric spoke up trying to circumvent further useless arguments from the Enlightened senators, but Senator Tekend quickly interrupted.

“Before a vote is cast, the involvement of the Morgathians is still in doubt. There was no such direct evidence of them at all besides maybe a few mercenaries that may have served with the Morgathian army,” the portly Senator Tekend stated.

“What do you call the black-sailed warships and the thousand chromatic dragons then?” Santoric angrily rebuked him.

“The standards on those vessels were not the Talon ships of the Morgathian fleet, and there has been a growing number of instances of the chromatic dragons working independently of the Covenant and Tiamat as of late. Even in the attacks on Battle Point and the eastern border with the fire giants, no Morgathian standards were displayed. Look at the attack on Dagrad and Hasera to see the pattern of war from both our weirs and a province of Morgathia, which was not evident in this latest attack. As far as an invasion of Shidan, it will likely be repulsed, for they are renowned desert fighters and it is their territory they will be defending,” Tekend weakly argued his untenable position.

“This is utterly ridiculous and beneath even Enlightened contempt. The Morgathian Talon standard was simply turned around to appear modestly Kallysh, and many of the ships that had the Blood Wolf pirate flags were so freshly made that the paint had run for they didn’t have time to be sewn. A poor attempt at a ruse. The attacks on Battle Point and the fire giant incursion were also clearly of Morgathian origin. As far as the Shidanese, you have all seen the crystal images of the weirs’ strike and how effective it was. The Shidanese and most of the Kallysh Southern Ontaror kingdoms talk big of war and their warriors’ prowess and bravery in their lotus smokehouses. However, in real battle, they fall easily to Alliance steel or just run for their lives like the true cowards they are,” Canjon, the dragon ambassador, said in an irritated fashion.

“How dare you talk of the Shidanese and Kallysh in such a manner! I personally witnessed the Dagrad soldiers fight the wings of chromatics to a standstill with nothing but their manticores, bows, and spears. They did not need dragons of their own to fend off the rogue chromatic threat to their capital city. The chromatic dragons were likely just looking for treasure simply to sustain themselves since the Alliance’s metallic dragons hoard the gemstone supply, using their strength to deny others of their kind adequate treasure and resources. This is very likely the reason that this isolated attack occurred against our coasts and especially Atlean Weir, due to its intrinsic wealth as the largest trade city’s fortress,” the gray-haired Senator Tekend angrily espoused.

“Yes, the chromatics were just trying to get their fair share of the metallics’ treasure, for they are likely starving. They were mistaken in attacking the innocent cities, likely due to hunger, and Atlean was the only city actually attacked and even then with very little damage,” Senator Turbic added to Tekend’s comments.

“This is the most idiotic theory I’ve ever heard. Then, Senators, why did they attack the city itself and not just the weir, or did those burning buildings by the harbor confuse you?” Senator Zelmall answered. “Did it occur to you, Enlightened Senators, that the metallics and our armed forces stopped them before they could get to any of our other coastal cities, as happened here in Draconia? This is the most blatant perversion of the truth I have ever heard. Unless you are delusional, you are shallowly engaging in devious and arrogant deceit,” he pointedly argued back.

“This is what I call ridiculous; simply put, our own dragons of the republic and our armed forces stopped them before they had much of a chance to cause mayhem and destruction. This is the most dim-witted argument I’ve ever heard, or maybe you are slightly delusional or possibly bordering on arrogant deceit. Did you also forget the massive armada that bore down on Atlean that was stopped by the dragons and the fleet, as well as the ice ships that had to be built in secrecy?” Senator Santoric continued to pressure the Enlightened forum.

“Yes, speaking of those overpriced ships and these new breeds of dragons among others, how much did this cost the poor of Draconia who need more assistance and handouts from the republic? As a former high-ranking admiral in the Alliance Navy, let me remind the senate body that for any measure brought against Morgathia, definitive proof is needed that those were indeed their warships. No seeing crystal image or dragon memory can state that the true Talon flag of Morgathia was flown over a single vessel,” Senator Katsleez, a former admiral now turned POE, stated with his typical arrogance and condescension. The recently elected Senator Katsleez represented the northeastern portion of Draden city and province. He was a self-serving, self-righteous politician that Admiral Zewal had to relieve because of his incompetence and lust for power. Naturally, he found his way into politics, especially Enlightened politics, which welcomed him in with open arms.

“Yes, this blatant misuse of vital treasure and funds by the weirs is a disgrace, just as is their treatment of dignitaries, both foreign and domestic. A certain respect needs to be instilled in these arrogant dragons and their riders, and maybe then incidences like this incursion on Atlean could be prevented,” Terrjok added with a bit more of an angry tone in his usual condescending manner. This was likely the result of his being left behind in Shidan after the chromatic ruse attack and being forced to travel in less-than-luxurious conditions in a Shidanese merchant ship. That voyage had to take a long route to get to one of his company’s ships, which had eventually ferried him home past the massive naval battle that was underway.

“Ha, Enlightened Senator, you should have asked your good friend King Ibliss for better accommodations, like his own royal pleasure ship, to ferry you home,” Senator Cheyneck spoke out to the laughter of the majority of the senate, including snorts from the dragons. Senator Cheyneck was from the mountain region between Ice Bay and Ferranor Weirs and Provinces. He was a very intelligent, dedicated leader, but still had a razor-sharp sense of humor. His quick wit and pointed speech had made him quite a considerable political force in the Alliance. “And as for not boldly displaying the Talon flag of the Morgathian Navy in battle, Senator Katsleez, if you need more proof that this massive armada was not of their making, then you spent too much time at sea crushing your peers to get rank. The salt water and sea breezes have affected even your short-lived sensibilities,” the senator said with a sarcastic smile on his face, his receding gray hair accenting his devilish blue eyes and sharp features.

Just then, the dragon knight guards at the senate hall’s entrance announced a dignitary’s entrance. The sea elf king walked onto the senate hall floor and stood to be recognized by Senator Gindren, his pale greenish-blue skin was accented by his finely crafted light-aqua-colored scale armor, which he was wearing indicating he was fresh from battle.

“The senate recognizes the king of the sea elves, Aleslade. We are honored by your presence,” Senator Gindren announced to the senate body.

“Dragons, Senators, Dignitaries, and Friends, I want to first apologize for not warning the Alliance of this treacherous Morgathian attack. We were unfortunately struck with a massive saragwin hoard reinforced with many kraken, giant sharks, and dragon turtles. My people had to fall back almost to your shallows and into Sauric Bay before we could stem the onslaught. Their dark crystal enhanced shamans and kraken cast a dispel over our seeing crystals and we could not warn you. Most of our territory was compromised, except a few of our strongest undersea castles, and many of our whales were lost. We did stop them just short of the coast, but by then, their armada had slipped by and began their attack. If it wasn’t for your young bronze dragons from Freiland and your weirs, we would have been annihilated. Once the metallics arrived, the battle turned. We are now reclaiming our lost territory and silencing the last of the enemy’s resistance. As far as the nature of the attackers, a saragwin shaman we captured stated it was the Morgathians that had been helping them build up their forces for months in preparation for this attack.