The man of thought who will not act is ineffective; the man of action who will not think is dangerous.

~ Richard M. Nixon

Chapter 10: The Gambit

Richard was livid. "This is madness! He's going to kill everyone in Ealdor. Men, women and children?!"

"His orders were no survivors and no witnesses," said one of the younger druids. "It will be arranged like bloodthirsty bandits wiped it out. If just one person were to reveal what has happened then he would bring war to his kingdom."

"And he completely neglects the fact that he is using his kingdom to wage war for his own personal vanity," Kilgharrah stated.

Richard shook his head. "No, I still don't understand. Why would Uther take such a risk? If he wants to avoid a war yet still have you then he could simply try to blackmail the village privately and demand Balinor in exchange for being spared. Cenred employed those maneuvers during his last siege."

Balinor thought Richard had a good point. Uther had proven that he was willing to make bargains to spare unnecessary trouble. This one however he wouldn't have any qualms of actually keeping.

"Gaius did include that in the message as well. Apparently, you were seen with villagers from Ealdor, another man whom I surmise must've been you," he said indicating Richard. "And a woman with the dragon. Uther seems to believe that you are gathering followers to be against him."

Balinor and Richard had a horrified look shared between them. This spy must've somehow seen Richard and Hunith with Balinor and Kilgharrah that day a couple of weeks ago.

"Now it makes sense," said Kilgharrah. "Uther believes that you have made a foothold here and wants to eliminate all your possible allies with no danger of letting one go unnoticed. He is playing it safe by eliminating all the villagers to ensure he doesn't miss one."

Balinor's heart was racing and the blood was pounding in his ears. He knew Uther was set to kill him but he never would've imagined that he would sacrifice a whole village of people just to defeat him and Kilgharrah. "Did Gaius happen to include when this attack would take place?"

The elder answered. "Unfortunately no. The intimate details of this plan are being kept as quiet as possible. It has been seen that Uther is having catapults being built and forges have been given iron ore to make salted iron clad weapons by royal command." Balinor felt like tearing his hair out. "Also," the elder continued. "There has been a steady increase of Uther's men close to the paths leading to the borders of Camelot and Essetir. We believe it's to make sure that no talk of the invasion reaches Essetir. It wasn't easy but, fortunately, there are paths in this land known only to a few. And it doesn't seem like the force is ready as Uther still remains in Camelot and he wishes to lead it himself. Gaius has recommended that you and the dragon make an appearance far enough away from the area to hopefully call enough attention off this village."

"Thank you," he said gratefully. "I can understand the risks you took to get this message to me and I am forever grateful."

"It was an honor and a pleasure Balinor," he reassured him with a bow.

Balinor and Richard were heading back to the village fast paced.

"What are we going to do?" Richard asked.

"We? Richard, there is no 'we'. This is on me Richard. I have to leave here and draw Uther away. I lured his attention here so I can lure it away. I'm what he really wants."

"What makes you think you can Balinor? Who's to say that Uther won't come here anyway even if you and Kilgharrah are sighted on the other side of the Five Kingdoms?"

"He won't," he said as if he could will it true with just those two words.

Richard stopped walking. "What about Hunith?"

Balinor stopped in his tracks too. He kept looking firmly ahead until he just huffed and kept on walking.

"Hunith, I can't stay here."

He and Hunith were in her hut with tensions high. He had returned to Richard and Gina's home and apologized for his hasty exit earlier and took Hunith quickly back to her home to talk with her. He told her about how Uther finding out that he was here and that he now had to leave and she wasn't taking it well.

"Balinor after everything that's happened between us, you're just going to up and leave and not look back?" she asked angrily.

"It's not as though I have a choice."

"Of course you have a choice Balinor. You don't have to tuck tail and run whenever things look like they're going to go bad."

"These aren't just looks Hunith, they are bad. Uther is coming here with an army for me and Kilgharrah."

"How can he even do that? This isn't his land and he would risk war if he tried."

"Which is why he is going to wipe out Ealdor," he quickly threw in.

Hunith froze in her tracks. "What?"

"He seems to believe that I may have created some kind of foothold here which is why I retreated to it. He's going to kill everyone in Ealdor to avoid any word getting back to Cenred that Camelot had stepped into his territory so it went set off a war."

"No…you can't just wipe out a whole village, even one that isn't a concern to Cenred, and not have him notice it. Someone will accuse Uther since Camelot is close by that has the manpower to do it. Who else would've done it?"

"It's going to be set up like bandits attacked the village. They'll sack and burn it as they take care of me and Kilgharrah. Just another unfortunate hamlet that fell prey to the wrong set of bandits and not even Cenred would question that."

The thought of the headman Jack, Richard, Gina and her unborn child, of all the villagers she'd see every day just being put to a sword, it was too horrible to even imagine. Yet, something inside her was telling her that it very well could happen. "I don't believe it," she whispered.

"That's why I have to go. Gaius suggested making a strong appearance somewhere far away from here. Hopefully it could pull Uther's attention from this village."

"And what if it doesn't Balinor? What if Uther comes here regardless? If you're right about him believing Ealdor is your foothold, he's not just going to turn a blind eye. He will come here and question us and then kill us anyway."

"Not with the spectacle I have in mind. Uther is like a dog chasing a meat bone. Kilgharrah and I will cause some scenes within Camelot and drive Uther around after us." He hoped that is how Uther will react if he has become that obsessed with him. "It's the only way Hunith."

"You have to leave," she said. She spoke it with a painful acceptance running through her. "That settles it then, you'll just have to take me with you."

"What? Hunith, no. I can't take you with me," Balinor argued.

"Balinor, I'm not going to forsake you. If you won't stay with me here then I'll go with you wherever you go."

Balinor was started to struggle with his breathing. "Hunith, I can't bring you into this life."

"Balinor, I brought myself into this life the moment I let you into my home."

"Yes," he cut in. "This is your home. Ealdor is a beautiful and peaceful place and I will not rip you away from it. Not for me."

"You are more than worth it Balinor. I…I love you."

Balinor wanted to shatter into pieces right then and there. It is true that he had fallen in love with Hunith but he never had the chance to tell her and here she told him first, just like that. "I love you too Hunith," Balinor managed to say when he thought he could. "I really do…which is why I can't condemn you to this life, my life. With Uther's war on magic I will never be able to be free. He will hunt me down all for a power that was destined to me since my birth through my father and his. Everyone I care for will be in danger no matter where I go. Look at what Uther is doing just to have a chance to destroy me. I can't even go into a land that's supposed to be safe without him darkening my door. That's not your life Hunith and I won't let it be."

Hunith was silently spilling tears and shaking her head. "Balinor, it's too late for that."

"It's not. I won't let it be. I'll leave and make sure you have your old life back."

"Even if you left it wouldn't change anything. It's going to be my life one way or another if what you say about your family history is indeed true."

"Hunith? What are you talking about?"

"I'm pregnant, Balinor," Hunith said with a near whisper.

Balinor must've heard wrong. "What?"

"I missed cycle over two weeks ago. I've also been feeling nauseous and been having a few strong cravings. Gina went through the same thing when she started carrying. I'm pregnant Balinor."

Kilgharrah could feel the distress left behind by Balinor. He knew that this time couldn't last but he assumed it would come down like this. His silent thoughts were interrupted by some wood dropping nearby him. The druids were staying to camp here for the night before they went to move on.

"Allow me," Kilgharrah said when they finished readying the wood for their fire. He snorted some flames out of his nose and ignited it for them.

"Thank you," the elder said.

The young druid named Abel laughed. "That was amazing."

"Give it time, the trick gets old." Kilgharrah and the Druids looked up to see Richard there with a great basket in his arms. "I managed to get some fresh food for all of you."

"You didn't have to do that," the elder insisted

"You risked so much to sneak from Camelot into our lands to warn us about what was coming; I think some good food is the least we could do." He then gave it to Abel who started to unwrap and ready it for everyone. Richard decided to sit by them fire next to them. "Besides, chances are that are stores are going to be burned down when Uther comes so best not let it all go to waste, am I right?"

One of the druids laughed to himself. "I can see why the young Lord Balinor and you are friends?"

"Wait, Balinor is a lord?"

The elder shook his head. "Not in the sense that the title 'Lord' is in the way you have come to know. Dragonlords are noble not just for their bonds and control over the noblest of magical beasts but in their character and nature as well."

"Noble?" Richard smirked. "Him?" he said pointing his thumb at Kilgharrah. "Are you sure?"

"Watch what you say Richard to a beast that can reduce you to ashes with one simple breath," Kilgharrah said with a stern look but a joking tone.

He nodded his head furiously. "Noted."

"I just wish that we could've met Balinor and you noble Kilgharrah under better circumstances," said the Elder.

"As do I, though it would seem that Uther is robbing good men of that when they are out of his sight as well as in it." Kilgharrah's insides burned at the thought of that man. He was causing his dragonlord great pain all over again. First he took away good friends of theirs in a few magic circles, then their brethren, and now he was taking the first real place that Balinor and he could call 'home'. It just wasn't fair.

"You're not alone your grace," Abel huffed. "He has caused us Druids great grief as well. Many of our kin have lost friends inside and outside our communities to this tyrant. There is hardly a day where we feel safe and don't have a night free of nightmares among our people thanks to his relentless wraths."

"And now he is bringing that wrath to my home," growled Richard. "Now Balinor will have to leave. This is going to break Hunith's heart."

"I'm afraid the situation won't be settled as simply as either Gaius or Balinor hope. Even should Balinor and I leave and create a scene elsewhere, Uther won't forsake his plans for this village. It has given shelter to Balinor and granted him friends as well. He will want to know what has been done here and then destroy this village regardless. All leaving will do is make Uther see it as weakening where Balinor might be vulnerable."

Richard angrily made a fist and hit the ground next to him. The thought of losing Gina and his unborn child to Uther was making his blood boil. "He shouldn't be allowed to get away with this. With any of this."

"I agree young man," the Elder said. "However, what can be done?"

"Unfortunately, there is nothing that any of us can do to stand in the way of his plans," Kilgharrah answered grimly.

"So we should just give up and subjects to his swords like lambs to a slaughter?" Richard yelped.

"I didn't say that Richard. I said, there is nothing any of us can do."

"You mean there is someone else? Who?"

"King Cenred," Abel said all of a sudden. "Uther's dark plans are designed for him to avoid Cenred finding out he is coming or was here. Yet, if Cenred were to know then that would foil everything."

"Yes," Richard cheered. "I'm a soldier in Cenred's army. I could ride to him and report about Uther's plans to him and he could put soldiers in Uther's path."

"He would believe you?" Abel asked.

"I am an officer. I made it to a lieutenant but that should be enough for him to believe me. His plans to capture Balinor and escape war would fall to pieces."

"That wouldn't work I'm afraid," the Elder put in. "Cenred finding out about Uther coming might make what he is avoiding inevitable but it wouldn't save the village. Cenred would take advantage of the situation after Uther makes his move. His nature wouldn't send troops in to protect one village."

Richard felt himself deflate. He's right. He might be a soldier in his army but there is a good reason why he didn't want to stay on full term. Cenred was insufferable, selfish and greedy. He would see losing an outline village as a small price to pay for justifiably waging a war. He looked to each of the Druids who had sullen looks themselves before stopping at Kilgharrah whose draconian features seemed sullen himself. As his gaze lingered on Kilgharrah's gold scales an idea seemed to shine within him.

"Wait, I think I have a way to get Cenred to come here after all."

"You do?" they asked.

"But, it's a gamble and it would need your help Kilgharrah."

"What is your plan Richard?" Richard started to explain his plan and it sounded crazy to the Druids' ears but Kilgharrah thought it was quite clever for a villager to come up with. "This is quite a gambit Richard."

"You don't think it will work?" he asked a little worried.

"Actually, with a little luck and perfect timing, I think it just might work beautifully. But it must be put into effect immediately."

"I'll ride at first light," Richard said. "Will one of you come with me?" he asked the druids.

"I will," Abel volunteered.

"And," Kilgharrah said. "It will need Balinor's help. Hopefully, I can convince him to partake in it."

End of Chapter 10

A/N: Hunith is pregnant…we all knew that was coming but this time around, Balinor knows it as well. Last time, he left to protect Hunith but this time around, he has another to protect and leaving wouldn't make it so simple. Uther won't let another Dragonlord be born into this world and he knows it. The next chapter will have Balinor dealing with this new revelation and the plan being put into action. Uther will also be meeting someone to set other things we know about in motion.