Summer, 1331

Arm still wrapped in a sling, Mera went to check up on his squadron, now temporarily under the command of Raphrsah. Besides her only the two black dragon siblings remained in the 57th, and all three had recovered from some minor wounds.

The dragon squadrons were being worn to the bone.

In contrast to earlier reunions, Mera’s unit was friendly and welcoming to his visit. Victory at Mier’s Forest had given the squadron renown and rewards, choice assignments and respect among the other dragons. Everyone had also gained newfound respect for the abilities of their commander, and even Falknir grudgingly nodded when the bronze dragon returned.

*Welcome back, Meratezatgh. I hope you’re recovering well.* Raphrsah greeted him upon landing, gesturing at his bandaged limb.

*I’m healing, thanks. Still can’t put any weight on it, but it moves when I want it to.*

*Glad they could save your arm.* Hearesecha added. *Gremenal’s own surgeon. That’s impressive.*

*Of course, if you lost it, you could retire from this.* Falknir cut in.

*Oh hush.* Hearesecha silenced her brother with slight annoyance.

Taking on a more polite tone, Falknir continued. *Regardless, it’s good that they’re letting you go home to rest. Wish they could do that for the rest of us, but I guess commanders are special.* The last sentence seemed to return to a slightly poisoned edge. Mera ignored the tone and moved on. *How is everyone doing?*

*We’re all well.* The brass dragon acknowledged. *More meat and covered lodgings help a lot. We’re on some light missions until you recover.*

*Oh?*

*The Tassurians seem to be running out of places for us to attack. While you are recovering, they want us to go raid the Piedmont towns around the Southern Ranges. Upper Corioli. We’ll hit Malkin, Rowena, Cambria, Moor Rock, Sevier’s Ridge, Kadnerson and White Bluff. If we have time, we’ll also hit Northern Pometia. Not many large towns though, and there’s the empty lands in the middle. Goldsboro, Breakshire, Stanton and Triford-*

*No!* The bronze dragon suddenly cut in, horrified.

Raphrsah looked up with slight confusion. *What’s wrong?*

*Don’t you live in that area, Mera?* Hearesecha commented.

*I do.*

*Hm well maybe we can pay you a visit afterwards.* Raphrsah shrugged.

*You’ll be devastating my home and my people!*

*And you think our previous raids were not to someone else’s home and people?*

*This war has been devastating to all our people, Mera.* Hearesecha muttered. *If we don’t end this war, it will destroy us all.*

Mera sighed.

* It doesn’t matter. The Other Men want to eradicate us at the end of this.*

*What???* The other dragons cut in.

*This is why I visited. I need your help. When I was in the hospice, I overheard some of the human healers talking. Gremenal wants to kill off as many of us in this war as possible, then poison the Jutrstra and any survivors. They think that we’ll turn on them as soon as they return the Jutrstra and want to eliminate that risk.*

The other dragons fell silent.

*The bastards!* Falknir finally spat out. *Scheming humanoid scum! We’ll kill them first!*

*Are you sure?* Hearesecha asked. *This isn’t just some human rumor?*

*The human healers were among Gremenal’s staff. I don’t entirely know if it’s true or not, but it seems quite possible. We all know Gremenal is capable of doing this. We all know that Anhake would order Gremenal to do so if he calculates that it is in the interests of the Tassurian Empire to do so. What is the plan for us at the end of the war?*

*There is no plan.* Hearesecha growled. *There was only force and threats and a vague promise.*

Raphrsah seemed to shrink. *They promised to return our Jutrstra to us at the end of the war. But of course they took her in the first place. Of course they can’t be trusted to honor that. The Other Men have no honor.*

*Everyone wants to kill us.* Falknir grumbled.

*I know, I know.* Mera shook his head. *The worst part is that even if we fight or leave, the humans won’t let us be. As they see it, we attacked them. And they’ll go after us. Well, they’ll keep hunting us and remain absolutely righteous about it. The fire-eaters dragged us into this, but we’ll all be punished.*

The bronze dragon stopped. *Unless…*

*What is it?* Hearesecha asked.

Mera scratched his head. *Humans love organization and stability. They love their kings and lords and nobility. The Other Men imprisoned our shaman and held her hostage to make us fight. It’s something that humans could understand.*

The female black dragon shook her head. *Don’t tell me you’re still thinking about using humans- heavens Mera, they killed Thergamorth!*

Mera sighed. *I know, I know… but I can only focus on saving the living right now instead of avenging the dead.* He shook his head as if to clear it.

*Now I may have an idea. It’s convoluted and kind of stupid, but if it works perhaps we can find a way out of this trap.* The bronze dragon awkwardly removed Gremenal's pass from around his neck and played with it in his good forepaw. *This leave gives me a bit of breathing space. While I see no way to escape, I know some people who could come up with something-they're good at that.* He looked back at Raphrsah, Hearesecha and Falknir. *Are you guys interested in helping me? I am asking not as your commander, but as a fellow dragon. Make no mistake, this is rebellion I am planning, and if I mess up and we fail, our heads will be rotting on a stake like poor Lord Kruash. *

The trio of dragons in front of him was silent.

The awkward quiet stretched uncomfortably long. Mera clasped the leave pass tightly in his paw and was about to turn and leave.

Then to everyone's surprise, it was Falknir who spoke first.

*Hell, Mera's talking about fighting and ending this humiliating slavery. We are dragons, not thralls! I will fight! I will kill these stupid Not-Men! I will join your venture.*

*We are risking a lot in trusting you and your plan, Mera.* Hearesecha continued. *But you've proven your worth at Mier's Forest. I will join.*

Finally the brass dragon spoke. *I told you once, Meratezatgh, that I will fight this war to get back our Firestone, get back our Jutrstra and go home. The war has brought everyone untold suffering, but I bore it for those things. Now that the faithless Other Men, upon riding a dragon's back, have difficulty coming down and are considering destroying us all to safely do so, then there is nothing left for us to do but fight our own way. I will join. We will stick together. Our squadron has performed well as one unit, and we will fight for our freedom as one.*

Mera smiled. *Thank you. I really appreciate every one of you for supporting this.*

*Ah stop with the sentimentality.* Falknir snorted. *We've got people to kill.*

*Alright, I need you guys to be ready. I'll be gone for a bit, but I’ll find a way to contact you all.*

*How will you do that?* Hearesecha asked.

Mera scratched his cheek. *I don't know, I haven't thought of it yet.* He confessed. *There's a lot to work on.*

Raphrsah smiled but nodded. *We’ll be ready and waiting.*

*May the winds be in your favor, Mera.* Hearesecha added.

*Ah, the great Major Meratezatgh is trying to formulate one of his genius plans to save us all.* Falknir snarked, though he bobbed his head as well. *Well let us know. I’ve learned to respect that strange pinko-loving mind of yours.*

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Belle and Sebastian-If You're Feeling Sinister

From  TheDinosaurMann!