by Leslie Chase
Gillian wasn't sure she could cope with that. Just thinking about it made her want to lie down and cry. But she couldn't stop now. If he's dead, I have to know. I'll have to mourn him properly.
Or give up completely. One of the two.
She steeled herself, and made herself a promise. If Zardan was dead, she'd live. For him, because he'd given so much to protect her. Dishonoring his sacrifice by giving up on life wasn't allowed. Pushing the door open, Gillian stepped inside only to freeze on the threshold with a gasp. The sight that greeted her was as bad as she'd feared: Zardan lay beside the bed, slumped and motionless, bloodied and still. For a moment she thought her heart would stop, and the world went grey around her.
"Zardan!" She ran to him, tears flowing freely as she fell to her knees by his side, pulling her gloves off and throwing them aside. She reached for his neck looking for a pulse and finding nothing. Was she even looking in the right place? He wasn't human, after all.
"Zardan, you can't be dead," she wailed. "Goddammit, it's not fair. You can't be!"
She hammered her fist onto his chest in frustration, sobbing.
"Not if you keep making that racket, I can't." A low rumble answered her, and she froze in shock. "Can't you let the dead rest in peace?"
The sound that escaped Gillian's throat was half sob, half unwilling laugh. Jerking back from Zardan, she stared in shock as he lifted his head a fraction, and a tiny smile tugged at his lips.
"You — you asshole," she sobbed, throwing her arms around him. "I thought you were dead!"
"So did I," he said, voice rough with effort, almost too quiet to hear. "I'm still not sure, truly. This could be heaven."
He raised his head a little further, winced, and lay back again. "No. Hurts too much for heaven."
"If this was heaven, you wouldn't have given me such a fright," Gillian said, feeling the smile spread across her face. She pulled back from the embrace, pulling open the borrowed first aid kit and rummaging inside. It wasn't much, but it would have to do until the skyship came back for them. "God, I was so frightened when I saw you. I thought you were gone forever."
Zardan's smile widened as he lay back and let her tend his wounds.
"The thought that I wouldn't see you again was what held me here," he told her. "Gillian Willis, I love you. I would not leave you for all the worlds of a hundred galaxies."
Gillian's hands fumbled midway through applying a bandage at those words. Looking down into his eyes, she bent over him and planted a kiss on Zardan's forehead.
"I love you too," she said. Letting those words out was a relief, and she felt like a weight had lifted off her. "Now shut up and let me keep you alive."
Zardan muttered an answer that she couldn't hear and fell silent. But his smile didn't fade, and Gillian felt her tears of fear and pain replaced by tears of joy as she worked.
By the time they got Zardan back to the ice farm, he was unconscious. This time, though, Gillian had no doubt that he would wake again. She wasn't sure how she could be so sure that he'd recover, but she was. And that was enough.
They settled Zardan on the bed in the room he'd claimed for his own and, once it was clear he wasn't going to wake up quickly, left him to rest. Gillian felt a little guilty for leaving him on his own, but there was a lot to do. Even giving her father a quick run-down on what had happened while he'd been gone took a while, and Harry's excited demands to know what he'd missed only made that slower. Hearing their father's version took time, too, even though it was a simple tale.
Meanwhile, Captain Olsen took his pay and wished them well. He had his deliveries to make, and Gillian felt a small sense of relief. Once he was away from the farm with the story of what had happened, they had a small amount of insurance. There shouldn't be anyone left who'd threaten them, but it was still good to know that their story was out there.
Before he left, the captain did one last thing for them. Logging into the satellite communications network through his ship let them set up a workaround so that they could make calls while Fuller Station was still blocking them. They were back in contact with the outside world, and that made Gillian feel infinitely less vulnerable. She was glad that Maxine had been able to recommend a captain so helpful and reliable — just one more thing they owed her.
"So, what do we do now?" Harry asked in a quiet voice once the family was alone. They were all speaking quietly, as though to avoid disturbing Zardan's sleep. Gillian found that blackly amusing, given that they were waiting for him to awake.
"I need to call the bank again," their father said, raking his hand through his thinning hair. "And a lawyer, in case they try to make a fuss about the money we owe them."
"Can't we just keep the money?" Harry asked. "I mean, after their guys tried to kill me and all that?"
Gillian laughed and shook her head. "I don't think the bank'll see it like that. They aren't in the business of giving money away, and it's not like they approved of what Danforth was doing. Or if they did, they'll have shredded the evidence by now."
"But we'll work something out with them," her father said. "I'm going to pay — I borrowed the money, and a good man pays his debts. But we'll pay on my terms or else I'll kick up a hell of a fuss about why our payment is late. That publicity'll cost them a lot more than the loan's worth."
He sounded remarkably confident for someone who'd just been rescued from a kidnapping, and Gillian liked it. He wasn't talking like the man who'd left for Fuller Station a few weeks ago. Maybe this adventure had helped bring her father to a point where he could move on?
Or maybe it's just the adrenaline of the adventure, and he'll be back to his glum self in a few days. Gillian knew that things weren't necessarily fixed, and didn't want to give herself too much hope for the future. But for the time being, I'll take it.
"Meanwhile, we've got work to do," he said, clapping his hands together. "I know you two were busy with other things, but we've got to get ready for the long winter before the freeze really sets in."
"But, Daaad—" Harry started to complain, only to flush bright red when Gillian started laughing.
"We're just getting straight back to normal, aren't we?" she said. "Okay, Dad, sure. I'll get the patches, we'll have to get the bomb damage covered up before a real storm hits."
Her father stared at her, wide-eyed, and she swallowed another laugh as she realized just how much of the story they'd missed out in their quick retelling.
"There may have been a bit more excitement up here than you figured, Dad," she explained as she started to put her suit back on. "Come on, I'll tell you all about it while we're working."
If nothing else, it would be better to keep busy while she waited for Zardan to wake up.
24
Zardan
When Zardan's eyes opened again, the first thing he saw was Gillian's worried face. And with that, he knew that everything was going to be alright.
"Gillian," he said, surprised at how weak his voice sounded. An attempt to lift his arm made him realize it wasn't just his voice that lacked strength, but he could move it. Barely. The injuries had taken a lot out of him, and he had no idea how long he'd been lying there recovering.
His mate's eyes lit up at the sound of his voice, though, and she grabbed his hand in hers. The contact sent a warm feeling of happiness washing through him, and Zardan squeezed her small hands as best he could.
"Zardan, you're awake," she said in a hushed voice, before repeating it louder. Joy filled her voice and she leaned over him for a kiss.
The touch of Gillian's lips gave him strength, and he pulled her closer. For the moment nothing mattered apart from the two of them, the touch they shared, the love between them. Zardan could feel the beat of her heart against his chest, and it was the most precious feeling he could imagine.
A cough from the doorway drew their attention, and Gillian pulled back from his embrace. Reluctantly, he let her go and looked to see who dared disturb their reunion.
Standing in the doorw
ay was Gareth Willis, an eyebrow raised and a small smile on his face. Zardan looked him over and saw a man much recovered from the last time he'd seen him. Gillian's father stood tall, his bruises mostly healed, and Zardan was glad that Karaos and his man hadn't harmed him seriously.
For a moment, no one spoke. Gillian blushed, looking embarrassed to have been caught in a kiss, and her father locked gazes with Zardan.
"Good morning, Zardan," Mr. Willis said eventually. "It's good to see you awake. You were worrying us."
"Sir, thank you for your hospitality," Zardan said, pulling himself up to sit on the bed and gathering the bedclothes around him. "It can't have been easy to get me back here."
That got a laugh from both humans, and he knew it was the truth. He couldn't remember much of what happened once he'd reached the Grace of Herendar, and what he could seemed more like a dream than reality. Now that he had a moment to think, he realized he was surprised to be alive.
"My daughter tells me that you claim to own this land," Mr. Willis said carefully, a hint of worry creeping into his voice. "Is that true?"
Zardan looked from him to Gillian and saw her blush deepen. Her expression mixed embarrassment with something else, shame maybe? Worry? He wasn't sure, but one thing was certain. She wasn't happy. And that was something he would not allow.
Standing took more effort than he'd expected, but he managed to hide that from the two of them. Right now, the last thing he wanted was to appear weak in front of the father of his mate. A step forward and he towered over Mr. Willis who drew himself up warily. The tall, wiry human was no match for him, even in his weakened condition, but the man didn't flinch from his gaze or withdraw. That pleased Zardan, though he'd expect no less from Gillian's kin.
When Zardan spoke, he didn't answer Mr. Willis directly. Instead, he lowered himself to one knee in front of Gillian.
"Gillian Willis, my mate, my love," he said, reaching out to brush her cheek and looking her in the eye. "This land was once my family's, won by claim and work. But now you and your family have restored it to use, and I will not take your land to restore my own. I give you what claim I have, freely — as the last scion of the House of Herendar, I cede any rights I have here to you."
Gillian's eyes lit up, and from the doorway Zardan heard Mr. Willis make a strange noise in his throat. Zardan didn't look round, though. He kept his eyes on Gillian's, holding her gaze as he took her hand in his. There was pain in those words, in letting go of the past, but a relief too. His heart felt lighter for it, and he knew that he was doing the right thing.
"My legacy has caused you and your family pain, and that was never my intent," he continued when she stayed silent. "Take this, and be safe."
"But what about the ship? Your, your relatives under the ice?" Gillian stammered over her words and Zardan thought that she looked weaker than he did right now. Almost ready to fall.
If she does, I will catch her, he thought. Looking after her is what I'm here for.
"I know you will take good care of them, treat them with respect," he said. "I trust you to do right by the history of my family."
Her hand squeezed his, and she nodded. "I promise I will."
"Good. Then it is settled. And if the banks still try to take your farm from you, then you can speak to the Emperor. He will not let them take the rights that I have given to you, Gillian, not after the mess that has happened here. You can rely on that."
A small whimper left her throat, a sound of relief and delight, but tinged with a touch of sadness and fear too.
"But where will you go, Zardan?" she asked. "What will you do now that you've given up your claim here?"
Smiling, Zardan raised her hand to his lips and planted a kiss firmly.
"My love, I am not going anywhere," he told her. "Not unless you tell me to. You are my mate, the other half of my soul, and I have traveled across the centuries to be with you. I will not leave you now, or ever."
She gasped, and this time she almost did fall. She might have if Zardan hadn't risen to catch her and hold her up.
"You've got my blessing," Mr. Willis said dryly from the doorway, and Gillian gasped again, face going crimson.
"Dad," she said, a warning note in her voice. Mr. Willis just laughed and closed the door, leaving the two of them alone together.
The pause had given Gillian a chance to recover, and she pulled away from Zardan, biting her lip. "Why didn't you start with that bit?"
"Because I didn't want you to think you were beholden to me," Zardan said. "You are free, Gillian. The land is yours, a gift, whatever you say to me. I want you to choose me because you want me in your life, not because it's the only way to keep your family's land."
He rose from his knees, looking down at her. His beautiful, perfect mate. The woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. Just looking at her made his heart race.
"You would really just walk off, and leave me with everything?" Gillian asked. "Where would you go?"
"I have no idea," he told her honestly. "I haven't had time to think about it. Do you want me to go?"
Just saying the words hurt, but Gillian laughed and threw herself at him. "Of course not, you big idiot! God, no. I want you here with me, I want that more than anything I've ever wanted."
The impact was nearly enough to knock him over in his weakened state, but her words gave him the strength. Lifting her in a powerful hug, Zardan spun around and shouted in triumph.
None of his other victories had tasted as sweet as his mate asking him to stay. And he knew at once that there would be little else to compare it with. Perhaps the birth of their children?
He staggered and nearly fell before Gillian took his arm and steadied him, looking concerned.
"Careful," she told him, guiding him back to his bed. "You still need your rest. Into bed with you."
He laughed, a smile splitting his face, and she blushed again. It was a beautiful sight, and he hoped he'd see it often.
"I said rest, Zardan," she said with a little laugh of her own. "That can wait until you've recovered a bit more. I shouldn't have to worry about injuring you."
"Bah, I can take whatever you can dish out," Zardan boasted, knowing that might not be true. They grinned at each other, a shining happiness spreading between them, and Gillian pressed him back firmly.
"We'll test that," she promised. "As soon as you're healed. I promise."
25
Gillian
Zardan's recovery took longer than Gillian had anticipated, but that was alright. There was plenty of work to keep her busy in the meantime, as he got his strength back. As long as he was recovering, she was satisfied.
Most of the work was on the details. The Ardashev Bank couldn't fall over themselves quickly enough to give them an extension on their loan after the situation became clear. They wanted none of the blame for Danforth's actions. Privately, though, Gillian was sure that they'd have been happy enough to take their share of the profit if he'd succeeded.
That didn't matter now. The Willis ice farm was secure, and the authorities of both Olympus Colony and the Dragon Empire were looking into the bank's operations. If there was punishment due, they'd get it.
Meanwhile, making arrangements with the Dragon Empire regarding the Grace of Herendar took time and attention. It was frustrating, on the one hand, but it did have advantages. Gillian wanted to make sure that she handled Zardan's heritage right.
And besides that, there was always the work on the farm. Getting back to a comfortable routine helped all of the humans, and as he got his strength back, Zardan joined in. It was, he told Gillian when she protested, good exercise. And there was no stopping him when he set his mind to something, she knew that better than anyone.
So, it wasn't a surprise when one day she found him trimming ice with a heavy ax, some distance from the domes. He stood on a ledge at the edge of a fissure, slicing out the water ice from under the frozen carbon dioxide with smooth, hard chops that dug deep. Already he'd assembled
a small pile ice blocks, neatly stacked a little way from the cliff edge at which he stood.
Part of her wanted to call to him, but she didn't want to disturb his work. Not when she had the chance to watch. Even in the frozen cold of the Martian winter, Zardan's inner fire kept him from needing to wrap up, and his muscular torso was on display. The sight of him, flexing and cutting, made her bite her lip as she stared.
I should say something, she thought. Not just spy on him. But, well... Wow.
She couldn't tear her eyes away. His strong arms swung the ax powerfully and Gillian bit her lip at the sight of Zardan's muscles flexing as he chopped another block free at the cliff edge. Levering it out, he lifted it and leaped skyward, his great wings spreading as he soared towards the pile of ready-cut blocks.
A robot would cut the ice quicker, Gillian thought. But damn, I'd much rather watch Zardan do it.
He landed, put his fresh block with the others, and leaned the ax against it. Then he turned towards her, and she could see his eyes gleam under his airmask. She realized then that he'd known she was there and watching, and blushed as he flew back towards her. The sight of him soaring high, great wings beating silently, was glorious.
Zardan dropped to the ice in front of her, reaching up to switch his mask's radio to her private frequency.
"So you've caught me," he said. "Am I in trouble for not resting again?"
Gillian had to laugh. As though she could keep him from doing what he wanted! But she had to admit that he was looking a lot healthier than he had been. Perhaps the exercise really was doing him good.
"I wish you'd taken the offer of nanomedicine," she said, avoiding his question and reaching out a gloved hand to stroke the healing scars on his chest. "You'd have been good as new again in no time."
Zardan shook his head. "If my wounds would leave lasting effects, I would have. I'm not stupid. But all I needed was rest and care and your love, Gillian. And these scars are important to me. I won them protecting you, and I will bear them proudly for the rest of my life. Having them erased by over-zealous nanomachines would be a tragedy."
