>>5719165It is difficult to argue with the evidence—at least, in any way the Great One demonstrated understanding of. He believes wholeheartedly in his ability to conquer the entire Paladin order singlehandedly, and any other resistance the humans can muster.
“But the gryphons—”
“Mmm,” he rumbles hungrily. “Like chi-kuhn.”
Your elder brother is comfortable here, in his element, a naked and savage king—a true Dragonborn, with might such as even you cannot match, and rightly or wrongly he believes himself an unbeatable army of one. Is this the fabled pride and intransigence of a Dragon King?
(…Are YOU like this? No wonder the Serpent Queen seems so frustrated with you, sometimes…)
Still, you know that your brother is not seeing the full picture. He isn’t seeing the forest fire for the burning trees. Luckily, you know how to MAKE him see.
“What about the hatchlings?” you ask. “You may be invincible, Oh Great One, but what of the Red Dragonborn?”
>15The Green Dragonborn blinks his nictitating membranes and tilts his head again.
“What mean?” he asks, then grimaces and corrects himself. “What YOU mean? What… DO you mean?”
You nod, approving his improving grammar, and explain yourself: though you of course have utter confidence in your big brother to utterly annihilate a corps of heathen knights, you cannot help but fear that in the crossfire, some of the young and inexperienced Red Dragonborn will be slain. They are not yet his size, and lack his might.
“Hmm,” he considers coldly. “Could be good for them to learn lesson… Is good to know cannot always win.”
“It is difficult to apply a lesson when you are dead and dissected for parts by a cruel Chimericist,” you note, playing to the Great One’s fearful memories of his genesis and early life.
“No,” he balks. “Will not let that hap-puhn. -I- won’t let that HAPPEN.”
But his confidence wavers, and before long, he has agreed with your conclusion: at this juncture, it is too dangerous to reign here, openly, and to invoke the wrath of mankind.
“When do we luh-leave?” he asks.
You hold up your hands, gesturing for him to settle back into his sitting-place, and explain:
“I have business with the human king. When I return… perhaps in a week… I will lead you back to Bloodrise. Until then… Stay here. Try to avoid attention, or direct confrontation.”
“But food,” he notes blutly.
“Take wheat you need,” you agree, “but… limit destruction fo human settlements. Do not kill them if you can avoid it. Just for now.”
He rumbles in agreement, and nods his head.
“I will see you soon,” you promise him.
“You are good bruh-thur,” he notes, and then amends: “You are a VERY good brother.”
You bow your head in appreciation.
