Plan of Attack

                  Hjalmar Geir, Ella, Leila, Enok and Rune made their way quietly and carefully through several more tunnels and corridors. They moved slowly from the physical and mental exhaustion of the previous battle. Hjalmar Geir felt better about their location and believed he remembered the way back to Jonas and Yerik. After a fair amount of travel, they eventually entered an enormous opening that overlooked a spacious cavern. The location looked familiar. Just a few more steps.

                  Jonas and Yerik!

                  Hjalmar Geir quickly motioned the others to keep quiet. Several dragons dragged Jonas and Yerik back to the central part of the room as more dragons gathered around.          

                  “Do you see Lili?! Is she there?” Leila asked.

                  “I don’t see her.” Hjalmar Geir looked for any signs of her sister.

                  “What do you mean you don’t see her? She must be here! Maybe she is behind one of those rocks…” Leila tried to get a better view.

                  Hjalmar Geir quickly pulled Leila back. “Keep calm! If they discover us, it won’t matter if you sister is there or not. We need the element of surprise. Just because you don’t see her doesn’t mean she is not nearby. She might be held someplace else, we don’t know. Let’s get to Yerik and Jonas, and then we will find out what they know.”

Enok and Ella consoled Leila, helping her focus on the rescue.

                  Hjalmar Geir quickly put a plan in motion. “We need to move fast. Enok, do you think you can get to a lower level on this side with your beast?”

                  “Yeah, sure.” Enok didn’t enjoy leaving the group, but having Rune as a companion gave him the comfort to separate.

                  Hjalmar Geir pointed to an elevated ledge on the opposite side. “Ella, can you make it up to that location without being noticed?”

                  “Seriously, don’t you know me by now? Done!”

                  Hjalmar Geir nodded with a sigh.

                  “Here’s the plan.”

                  Hjalmar Geir drew diagrams in the dirt, then motioned to Ella.

                  “You wait for Enok and the beast to get into place. When they are, Enok, keep the beast there until Ella distracts the dragons with several arrows. Then send your beast to attack from behind when they aren’t looking. That will draw the dragons’ attention. While they are fighting with the beast, Leila and I will get to Jonas and Yerik. Ella, as soon as that beast attacks, help cover Leila and I in case any turn their attention on us.” Hjalmar Geir looked at his squad of youth. They replied.

                  “Got it!”

                  “Got it!”

                  “Got it!”

                  “Huff!”

                  They all turned to look at Rune who seemed to listen just as intently as the others.

                  Hjalmar Geir shook his head with a smile. “Nobody back home is going to believe this story. Let’s move!”