48 Execution (1/2)

Of course the elders heard about the gossip spreading around the village. Despite most of the people's limited knowledge on dragon's—mostly superstitions or bad omens—the elders had more of an idea on it.

According to some texts, dragons could be a bringer of fortune or disaster, nobody was sure what. Some clans from islands with dragons argued that their dragons bring them fortune. They had even brought their dragons to other islands without experiencing the so called disaster that these creatures bring.

Not many of the elders had seen a dragon firsthand but the knowledge was available in most central island cities. Now, it was more of a concern how the council should seek explanation to clear the gossips. With the current activity of the volcano, most people opt to give fault to the nearest possible source of the problem so the elders had to move fast.

Fortunately, dragons were not a myth, only a rarity. A travel to the central islands for more knowledge, if not directly getting information from Kal'wa Island, was enough to answer most of the villagers questions. However, the travel would take a long time to return with their desired answer hence, the council would discuss about what would be their actions now.

They were not concerned about the gossips on the dragon attacking the children. Being that the carrier of the news were the children, they might have exaggerated their adventures a bit. That was not the same for some villagers however, like those children doting parents.

Inside the council hall, several white haired men were sitting around the center table. Everyone was talking to each other, some whispering, until the door opened and in came another elder.

Shaman Matnaad noticed the silence and felt the stares of the other elders. He didn't acknowledge everybody until he reached his seat and smiled at the woman seated beside him.

Everybody knew that the boy in question, taking care of the dragon, was training under this shaman. Contrary to what the old man had told Ling before, he was one of the elders who had actually seen a dragon before too. Even fought with a dragon and its rider in his younger days but that was another story.

Previously, he didn't share his knowledge about dragons to the child, Ling, since his experience was during war times. Dragons were used by other clans to fight with neighboring clans, mostly for territory.

This was actually the reason why most stories about dragons were about disasters. The first thing an attacked village saw was the flying creature despite it only following the command of its rider. Regarding these creatures as harbinger of natural calamities, he had no personal experience however.

An old man with long, crisp hair braided with the ends spilling on his right shoulder spoke first, ”Matnaad, we can't ignore the issue about your student's dragon. I have already sent the messenger back to Syudad to ask for more information regarding this but we should not wait for the news before acting.”

”I understand, Toluk.” The limited response from the old man caused continued restlessness on the others present.

”Why not execute the dragon now?” Another elder leaned on the table while staring at Shaman Matnaad and the men and woman beside him.

Hearing this, the woman squinted her eyes at the man. ”The dragon has never harmed anybody–”

Before she could continue however, the man interjected with another glare. ”Yet!” And his point was further stamped by him slamming his fist on the table.

This made the old lady squint her eyes further but she still continued her speech. ”Yet. But the children with it would not have hidden or stayed with the dragon if it had ever harmed them. Are you implying that my grandchild is unwise then?”

Before anybody could speak again, a soft whisper which was heard by everybody proposed a suggestion. ”Let's call for the children first. They could explain their experience with the dragon.”

He paused to train his eyes to each elders' with unsatisfied expressions on their faces one by one before continuing. ”But I don't want anybody pressuring them. The children were still for the future of our clan.”

All the elders present did not have anything to say. They waited for the horn to sound to call for the still missing children.

___