Day 288 (266)((256))

Day 288 (266)((256)):
We awoke on our own again to find an empty building. We felt around and found the gathering places where the gnomes were attending Sourmoratane. We also felt the oddlings going about their usual activities. The riders had returned so we went to visit them while we waited for the council's return.
The gnome riders, apparently, had informed the rest about the morning meetings so they were not surprised by the empty streets. The outpost was coming together rapidly and strongly, as Callie pointed out. She showed them soft spots and places prone to have standing water. With her input, they made the appropriate adjustments.
We knew when Sourmoratane was over when people began filling the streets. The council met us at the growing outpost.
"Sisters, we have reached a decision. We cannot simply wait in hiding for Nurz and his bands to find  us. We are calling him out, challenging him to face us. His power against our's. The riders have shown us that we are not weak nor helpless. We do ask one thing of you ladies. Stand with us. We do not know this thing inside Nurz and do not know what it is capable of doing to us. You have faced its kind. Will you stand with us?"
We drew our swords and saluted them, "We stand with you," we replied in unison.
Tears of joy sprang to their eyes. It took a few moments for them to regain their voices. We seven, the council, and a couple of riders went to the council chambers to pen the  formal declaration. Outside of Gowgornok, we would meet Nurz and the ogres in battle. The winner got the Rod. The loser agreed to never bother the winner's people again. We felt that was simple enough for them to understand. We set the time of battle on the next full moon, which was about a week away. A rider was dispatched to take it to Nurz.
While we waited for a reply, the council invited us to tour the city and do "your Sister thing".
It was early evening when the rider returned. Both he and his dragon had not been well treated. At first, they thought the rider was attacking them. When they stopped firing at him long enough for the rider to announce his purpose, they let him land, but began beating him to get "the real reason" he was there. Even after they read the declaration, they refused to believe it or him. The dragon even told them it was true, but "dumb lizards" were not to be believed nor trusted. When no other "story" came from all that abuse, Nurz let him go to return to us their acceptance of the battle and its consequences. The only "formal" reply was Nurz's hand print on the rider's back in the rider's own blood.
Sarah healed the rider as he told of his ordeal. I comforted the dragon. My riding set was very warm as I stroked his head and scratched the spots where all dragons seemed to enjoy getting attention. I saw his wounds heal and life energy return to his pain-filled eyes.
"Lawnoss Kayla, I feel Brimagor through you. He heals me. I do not understand his anger, though. Did I displease him?" Scarlet Rain asked me mentally.
I felt for a moment, then answered, "His anger is not at you. Nurz and his ogres are the objects of his wrath. Any that survive our meeting will know no rest as long as they live near any dragon."
Scarlet Rain sighed and relaxed as he received Brimagor's healing. Sarah, finished with the rider, came over to mend his partner. She was surprised to find him almost fully healed. As an answer, I held my riding set for her to see. The eye "winked" at her.
"I see," she answered, "Dragon magic for a dragon. Still, it wouldn't hurt for me to take a look."
Sarah, gently, inspected Scarlet Rain nose to tail. While causing no injury, she did pull out broken arrow and spear points that could have caused irritation later on. The riders and council inspected these to get a sense of the ogre weapons and weapon-making skills. Scarlet Rain and his rider stayed at the unfinished outpost to fully heal while the rest left to get more building materials and things for battle.
Dinner was quiet as we all dealt with the emotions of the day. The council barely acknowledged us when we parted to go to our suite. We spent a good hour, nearly two, discussing both the treatment dragon and rider received and what fate the surviving ogres might expect from an angry dragon god. We, finally, laid down to sleep.