“Guys, we have to convince him to stay!” Caden cried. He pointed to the screen showing the wall. “We might, at any minute, find out who the Behemoth’s human counterpart is and he and Mephous won’t be here!”
The looks on the other Dragon Shifters’ faces told him that they didn’t agree with him. Not that they wouldn’t find out who the human counterpart of the Behemoth was, but that Illarion was needed.
“Mephous was hardly useful in the last fight, Caden,” Esme pointed out gently. “It got itself knocked out because it refused to work with us. So this is nothing new.”
“But--”
“Besides,” Mei stated, pushing off from the wall, “this fight will not be a physical one. We already know what happens if it is. And Illarion and Mephous are blunt instruments.”
“Yes, I know, but--”
“You picture us all together, as a clan,” Jahara said with a soft, sad smile. “It is such a beautiful dream. But like my own of having us all in one territory, it is… a pipe dream.”
Kaila came over and hugged him. “Mephous and Illarion are big dummies. They should stay. You asked them. But they can’t get past their own ego.”
“It truly is as Tez said, dear,” Esme added, “that Illarion has been looking for an excuse to leave that has nothing to do with the truth of why he’s really going.”
“Which is?” Caden asked.
“Unrest, dear.” Her expression was sad. “Illarion made himself into a tyrant. Fear breeds resentment breeds violence. He’s going to lose control of his territory to war sooner than later.”
“So the longer he’s away…” Caden realized then what she was trying to say.
“The further control slips from his fingers,” Esme finished with a nod.
“A war will be just what the Behemoth wants.” Jahara shook her head in despair.
“And it could pull in my territory too!” Mei gave an angry shake of her head. “I am risking the security of my territory by being here.”
“What of your mechanical men, Mei? You are not just down to Adama, surely,” Esme pointed out. “Even with the slag fest that occurred here.”
Mei shook her head. “No, but Illarion got some of his hackers to breach my firewalls. I haven’t patched that up yet. And I need to make more if there’s going to be a civil war right beside me.”
Mei’s hands fisted at her sides. Caden went over to her. She eyed him warily at first, but then that bled away and she accepted his hands on hers.
“I know this is hard, Mei. I understand you want to protect yourself and your people, but--”
“Illarion is nothing compared to the Behemoth.” Mei gave him a faint smile. “Yes, I know. But we can’t stay here forever, Caden. The Behemoth has waited decades yet, they may wait decades more before acting. I know that sounds like a long time to you right now. But it isn’t for a creature like the Behemoth.”
Caden understood what she meant, but he was just as certain that it wouldn’t wait that long to attack. But he had nothing but his gut to rely upon and someone like Mei wouldn’t be persuaded by that. So he just nodded and released her.
“I can do some of my work here,” Mei said. “I need to get to it.”
“I am still tracking down Serai’s possible contacts. I’m finding some connections, but nothing that I want to share quite yet, but soon!” Esme said and bussed Caden’s cheeks that did bring a genuine smile from him.
“My people are looking into whether there is any way to track Spirit energy. Perhaps there are swells when the walls are opened or will show us where the Behemoth is,” Jahara stated.
“I have nothing to offer but my fists,” Kaila said. “But I will use them to defend the people of this world against evil.”
“I welcome your and Lana’s strength, Kaila. Everyone brings something to the table,” Valerius told her genuinely.
Esme, Mei, Jahara, and Kaila all left the tower room with promises to be ready at a moment’s notice if something happened at the wall.
“My people are at your command, Valerius,” Tez stated. “Like Kaila, I feel I do not have much else to offer, but my friendship and loyalty.”
“Perhaps Marban could use your people to find more walls,” Valerius suggested.
Marban nodded slowly. “Yes, yes, I could always use more warm bodies. Tez, join me for a drink. Have you ever had Ambrosia?”
