“I never expected to fight alongside a Naga,” Owen said.
“But you did. And you saved his life, not once but several times,” Garul said. “Saved my crew, too. Thirty Naga still live because of you. They all owe honor debt now.”
Owen didn’t know what to say. He wasn’t sure what a Naga honor debt looked like, and he certainly hadn’t ever wanted to acquire one! His head felt confused, full of conflicting emotions. “I hated the Naga, you know.”
Garul nodded. “I once hated humans, too. Then I learned to understand them instead.”
That made sense to Owen. “It’s hard to hate what you understand.”
Garul nodded again. He took a deep breath, let it out. “What I ask, it has never been done before, understand? Some will not like it. But I am Naga! I do as I feel honor demands.”
Owen wasn’t sure what to make of that. What was Garul planning to do? Whatever it was, Hereford already knew about it and had said yes, so it couldn’t be too bad. “What do you want me to do?”
“Naga have tradition. Older warriors who find young one with true warrior spirit take youngling on as Haklek,” Garul said.
“A warrior apprentice,” Hereford supplied.
“Yes, is so,” Garul said. “You lost parents to Naga in war. If you still hate Naga, I understand and will still be your friend. But if you would have parent-figure again, I will take the role and help you become the warrior you might be.”
Owen sucked in a lungful of air. He wasn’t sure what he’d thought Garul was asking him about, but that hadn’t been anywhere on his radar! This was…unexpected was too weak a word. What did it mean, to be a ‘Haklek’ to a Naga?
But a deep part of him told Owen to trust this being, this person who’d fought alongside him. He might have saved Garul’s life, but the Naga had saved him as well. They were bonded in a way that only close quarters battle could bring people together.
“Is all right if you say no,” Garul said into the silence in the room. But he looked disappointed.
Owen felt like he stood on a precipice. Did he have the courage to take a leap of faith? He thought of his parents. What would they want of him?
His father, a warrior in his own time, and a man of honor. He would want Owen to follow whatever path he needed to, provided he did it with passion and purpose. Owen’s mother, though? She was always full of light and love. He smiled just thinking about her, the first time her memory had brought a smile to his lips in a long time. She never held a grudge and always judged everyone on their actions. Owen knew what his mother would say about the hatred he’d harbored for so long. She’d hate it — and then she would forgive him anyway.
Something clicked inside his head at that moment, and Owen decided to take a leap of faith. “I’d be honored.”
Garul snapped his head around and looked at him. “Truly?”
“Yes. It’s…it is what my parents would have wanted,” Owen said.
“Is good, then. Honoring parents is something both Naga and Humans have in common,” Garul replied.
“But will I have to go with you? Live among Naga?” Owen asked. He tried to imagine what his life would be like surrounded by aliens instead of humans. He’d have to learn the Naga language, he supposed. Well, Garul had learned English. Owen could probably learn his tongue, too.
“Actually, no,” Hereford said, coming over to the bedside. “Garul and his Naga, plus his ship, will be part of a special new mission. A joint Human-Naga task force that will seek out the Kkiktchikut and destroy them. We’re done waiting for them to hit us. It’s time they learned to fear us, instead.”
Garul nodded. “This ship will be your home, with human and Naga alike. With me. Together we go bring battle to our enemies.”
Owen felt a sense of history in the making. Humans and Naga had begun at odds with one another. The Naga had almost wiped out all life on Earth. But now they had a common foe, and both species were coming to realize they had more in common than they’d thought.
Something inside him had changed, too. Owen felt different inside. He still felt anger, but the hatred which used to be a constant companion just didn’t make sense anymore. Not after what he’d seen.
He reached out his hand to Garul, who took it in his claw. “Then I’ll be your Haklek. And the Kkiktchikut had better watch out, because they have no idea what they’ve unleashed by bringing us all together.”
The End
To be continued in Book 11!
Other Books by Kevin McLaughlin
The Ragnarok Saga (Military SF)
Accord of Fire - Free prequel short story, available only to email list fans!
Book 1 - Accord of Honor
Book 2 - Accord of Mars
Book 3 - Accord of Valor
Book 4 - Ghost Wing
Book 5 - Ghost Squadron
Book 6 - Ghost Fleet (2019)
Valhalla Online Series (A Ragnarok Saga Story)
Book 1 - Valhalla Online
Book 2 - Raiding Jotunheim
Book 3 - Vengeance Over Vanaheim
Book 4 - Hel Hath No Fury
Lost Planet Warriors (Military SF with light romance)
Book 1 - Desperate Times
Book 2 - Desperate Measures
Dire Straits - Free short story for email list fans!
Adventures of the Starship Satori (Space Opera blended with military SF)
Finding Satori - prequel short story, available only to email list fans!
Book 1 - Ad Astra: Book 2 - Stellar Legacy
Book 3 - Deep Waters
Book 4 - No Plan Survives Contact
Book 5 - Liberty
Book 6 - Satori’s Destiny
Book 7 - Ashes of War
Book 8 - Embers of War
Book 9 - Dust and Iron
Blackwell Magic Series (Urban Fantasy)
Book 1 - By Darkness Revealed
Book 2 - Ashes Ascendant
Book 3 - Dead In Winter
Book 4 - Claws That Catch
Book 5 - Darkness Awakes
Book 6 - Spellbinding Entanglements
By A Whisker (short story)
The Raven and the Rose - Free novelette for email list fans!
Dead Brittania Series:
Dead Brittania (short prequel story)
Book 1 - King of the Dead
Book 2 - Queen of Demons
Raven’s Heart Series (Urban Fantasy)
Book 1 - Stolen Light
Book 2 - Webs in the Dark
Book 3 - Shades of Moonlight
Other Titles:
Over the Moon (SF romance)
Midnight Visitors (Steampunk Cat short story)
Demon Ex Machina (Steampunk Cat short story)
The Coffee Break Novelist (help for writers!)
You Must Write (Heinlein’s rules for writers)
Exclusive free story for fans of Kevin McLaughlin’s science fiction! Learn the story of how John found the alien ship on the moon, launching the adventure which spans the stars and saves all of humanity!
https://www.instafreebie.com/free/Uor9d
About the Author
When not practicing hobbies which include sailing, constructing medieval armor, and swinging swords at his friends, Kevin McLaughlin can usually be found in his Boston home. Kevin’s award-winning short fiction is now available in digital form at all major ebook retailers. His urban fantasies “By Darkness Revealed” and “Ashes Ascendant” are available in ebook and print. His latest stories, the “STARSHIP” series and “King of the Dead” serial, are ongoing.
I love hearing from readers!
www.kevinomclaughlin.com
[email protected]
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