22

Ethan let out a single loud chuckle when I was done with my tirade.

"We've done a good job of laying out our terms," I allowed my scales to recede so that only my claws were left, "All that's left is for us to agree to a temporary cease fire. All discussions of peace treaties, and land purchase can wait until a later date. Can we agree not to kill each other for two years, and restart these discussions again when that time comes to end?"

Silence engulfed the table again. The humans didn't want to accept this deal so they were choosing not to speak at all. We were powerful enough to handle ourselves, and that made this discussion hard for them. It was difficult for them to admit that another species could be consider intelligent enough for them to recognize that that species deserved the same rights as them. Especially when that other species wasn't human in shape.

They would have a hard time deciding on this even if they had the council's approval. I had human level intelligence, and I was willing to be reasoned with. That was only a start. Until humans recognized me as an ally I wouldn't be getting any rights without using force. I was more than willing to use force, and that was the only reason there wasn't an army at my door.

I needed to create some permanent gates between the hollow mountain, and the wolf island. The safest option would to be create a separate area for these gates to be placed away from camp. I figured that the stone plains to the north was the best place to build a stronghold. The hollow mountain wasn't designed to be secure. Maybe it was the best place to put permanent gates.

I needed to see all of Greenland to decide where would be the best place to build anything. I didn't want to intrude on the forest anymore than I already had. Removing the trees wasn't a good option. Maybe I could use the trees. Use nature to create housing out of trees. That would keep the trees healthy, and there while providing housing to the humans at the same time.

The bigger trees might even word as housing for the younger dragons when the hollow mountain ran out of space. I wanted to flick my tail, and fly out to look around now. I had to sit here until this whole meeting was over. I sat back down in my chair, and relaxed into the stone. I wasn't all that interested in anything they had to say anymore.

They could keep on arguing all night. I had to sit through it all. I was the one that called the meeting. I wasn't allowed to just leave in the middle. The humans were largely against any form of cease fire agreement.

Bringing up instances when I'd attacked people so I could explain myself repeatedly. Aurora growled at them a few times when they raised their voices at me. I managed to remain completely calm despite multiple attempts to get a rise out of me. I was managing to keep Ethan calm, and Aurora silent, but I was starting to run out of patience. The commander of all the military scoffed at my impatience.

He'd probably sat through dozens of these irritating meetings. This was my first I didn't have anywhere near as much experience as he did. Add on the fact that I wasn't all that patient to begin with, and I was working hard at keeping both Aurora, and Ethan calm. Ethan wasn't used to having a short temper. I had to work pretty hard to keep him calm.

Aurora only needed the occasional warning to keep her silent.

"I think it would be a good idea for us to take a break for lunch," I cracked my back as I stood up slowly, "I'm sure you want to stretch your legs as well, and check on your people." I looked at Letty, "Your double should return their people to them."

A few nervous glances at Letty told me that they had no clue that their people had been taken in the first place.

"Apologies," Letty bowed, "They attempted to attack the youngling known as Copper. I didn't allow them to do so."

My claws dug into the stone suddenly, and borderline violently. Causing cracks to spread throughout the table, and the part I'd gripped to break off the table entirely.

"This is the disturbance you mentioned earlier?" I felt my body expand as I moved into a form that was half dragon half human.

"Yes," Letty bowed low, "I wished to reveal this information after the meeting concluded so that I would not anger you during your meeting, but I had no intention of hiding this information so I was compelled to answer when you asked."

I snarled at Letty. My instincts failing to overrule my anger for once. Letty was far stronger than me so it was safe for me to direct my anger at him.

"Why don't we discuss this more away from prying eyes?" Letty suggested.

"That sounds like a good plan to me," I rolled my shoulders as I pretended for that to be enough temporarily relieve my anger.

A quick gesture was all it took for me to teleport Aurora, Letty, and myself elsewhere. I wasn't the best at blinking people besides myself away just yet, but I had been working on it. I focused on getting Aurora away safely, and didn't really worry about Letty. He'd be fine even if he was torn apart by a spatial distortion. I returned to my true form as soon as my feet hit the ground.

My tail lashed out so fast that Letty's head was blown clean off. Blood sprayed all over the area in the direction I'd swung my tail. Hitting Ethan, and causing him to flinch backward. Ethan wiped the blood off himself quickly. Yet somehow through all of that Letty's headless body managed to stay standing.