“And what happens when there are no more hiding places? What happens when Talon destroys the Order and comes after us full scale?” Ember shook her head. “If we keep running from Talon, eventually they’re going to catch up.”

“So your plan is to charge at them head-on.”

“My plan is that we stop running,” Ember said firmly. “And start fighting back.”

“With what?” I snarled at her, and gestured to the group watching in the living room. “A handful of untrained hatchlings? Alone? How long do you think they’re going to last against an army?”

“Not alone,” Ember agreed. “None of us can stand against Talon alone. That’s why we need to ally with the Order, and anyone else that we can find. Ex-Talon servants, other rogues, Eastern dragons, everyone.” She glanced at Jade and Mist, on opposite ends of the table. “If we put out the call to oppose Talon, more will join us. There have to be those within the organization who don’t agree with the Elder Wyrm, who would be willing to fight if they knew there were others doing the same. But we have to start this war ourselves—we have to start actively resisting, instead of running away. If we join with the Order of St. George, we have a chance.”

I could sense a stunned, nervous silence coming from the living room. Most of the hatchlings were still half-asleep, but Ember’s words were waking them up quick. It would probably be only a few seconds longer before some of them started to chime in.

“Join with the Order,” Jade mused, and her normally placid expression twisted into an expression of anger and loathing. “Ally with the humans who destroyed my temple and slaughtered my friends. The thought is...sickening.

“But,” she added, “I do see your point. Talon is not going to stop. They were the ones who gave the Order the location of my temple. They are the ones responsible for the destruction of my home and the murder of my friends. St. George might have done the killing, but Talon was the hand wielding the weapon. All because I refused to conform to their ways. They will do the same to every dragon they find, until we are all dead or enslaved to the organization.” She drummed her fingers on her arm, her expression pensive. “Change must come,” she mused. “That much is certain. Perhaps allying with the Order is the way to bring it about.”

“Join the Order?” On the other side of the table, Mist shook her head. “Well, if that’s your plan, I can tell you one thing—Talon certainly wouldn’t expect it.”