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"Now, dear, why exactly would dragon riders attack other riders?" another Elder laughed, her voice echoing through the room.
Aurelius, struggling to hold back some choice words, blurted out, "Oh, I don't know. Maybe there are some bad people out there who would see us destroyed, whether it's for power or something else entirely. Perhaps not everyone who can speak to the creation of the gods is a saint, you know?"
James and Quincy both nodded. Quincy actually added on, "I know from what little time I've spent in the outside world that there are dragon riders who work for dragon hunters to hunt down there fellow riders. "
“Well, there you go,” Aurelius muttered.
A few of the elders chattered amongst one another, and one lifted his hand to cue for the others to quiet.
“We’ll increase patrols and make sure to keep track of those who enter and leave the village.”
Aurelius frowned. That was something, sure, but it likely wasn’t enough.
"With all due respect," James spoke up this time, "I don't think that will be enough. The attacks have been fast and unseen from what I can tell."
“What else do you expect us to do? Hah, let a newcomer tell us how to run a town we’ve been keeping safe for decades upon decades?” another man spat irritably.
“I don’t know about you guys, but I’d kind of like to live…” Aurelius murmured under his breath.
"Leave," James said simply. He understood the elder's irritation, but they needed to understand, "Or I suppose you'll join the other 10 and I would rather that didn't happen."
Damn… Aurelius thought, he really went there.
“We have this safe haven that has been standing for over a century, and you expect us to leave? Upon the advice of a stranger?”
“Yes! Are all of you daft?” Aurelius shouted.
His face had gone a little red and his eyes were closed as he finished what he was saying.
“Unless you like the idea of being burnt to a crisp that is.”
Quincy stepped forward preventing her brother from speaking again, "This is the best idea. I rather like staying alive."
“We’ll discuss it,” a woman said curtly.
“No you won’t,” Aurelius whispered to himself, “You never do.”
“Now, if you’ll excuse us, we have important business to continue.”
Aurelius turned around and started walking towards the exit, muttering angrily to himself the whole time.
James and Quincy both left after Aurelius. Quincy let out a sigh, "That went about as well as I expected."
James raised an eyebrow, "So poorly?"
"Yes."
“Yup,” Aurelius muttered, “Looks like we may have to take some matters into our own hands.”
"Looks like it," Quincy let out a sigh, "I'll start packing up if you two want to spread the word to the people. Then me and Aurelius can switch out once I come back and he can go pack his stuff."
“Yeah, okay. I have to go back to Mara. I told her I wouldn’t be long, then this all happened,” Aurelius said.
James nodded, "Of course. I'll come with you so we can head out from there."
Mara had fallen asleep against Riven. She pretty much got all the cleaning done. And with everything that happened today she was exhausted.
“Alright. We’ll have to break this news to the poor girl. She just got here…” Aurelius said, looking very tired and worn, “If we can be quick, collateral should be minimized though.”
"Yep," James nodded, "Let's get going. See you soon Quincy."
Quincy nodded and quickly moved back towards her house with Jade.
Aurelius waved to Quincy and kept going towards Mara’s home.
He knocked on the door and said, “I’m back!”
Mara jumped from the sound and laid back down to calm herself before getting up. "Come in." Riven looked up and at the door. He had gotten some good rest and it was very much needed.
Aurelius opened the door.
“Do you mind if James comes in too?” he asked.
"Sure, I don't mind." She opened the door more to let anyone who was there in. "So, what is the pleasure of everyone coming to my home?"
Aurelius bit his lip.
“We might have a bit of a problem on our hands. That’s kind of an understatement actually.”
"What is it?" Mara was curious, but not all that scared. It couldn't be that serious. Riven stood as well, he could sense how Nox was feeling a little worried.
James nodded and stepped in, "Yeah. From what I get you just moved in, but we need to leave. This village could be burned down at any moment, so the sooner or better."
"Wait," Mara rubbed the bridge of her nose, "I cleaned this house fir nothing?" Sure being burned down wasn't good, but to clean this whole house to live in and she has to leave and it might get burned down? It was unfair. "Do you know who these people are?"
(Should I be ready to bring Zander in?)