by Celeste Raye
"All my work was for nothing," Tae declared. "They have destroyed it and collapsed the tunnel. We are further behind than ever."
Kelan could hear the defeat in his sullen voice. He reminded Tae, "We are alive. That is what matters most. You saved my life, and I thank you. We must see if everyone else escaped the tunnels, then make a new plan. We cannot give up. It is what the Savra are hoping to accomplish. We will not allow them to win. Are you with me?"
"Yes, sir. I will work double time if you will have me. It is just frustrating to take two steps forward and be sent one step backward."
"I understand. It has occurred too often of late. I have had enough of it myself," Kelan replied.
Hesher ran toward them. "How bad is it? Have we lost everything?"
"I do not think so. The tunnel containing most of the finished weapons was emptied this morning. They were transferred to the armory and should be safe. It is not close enough to where the Savra drop their bombs. We did lose the casings Tae had finished. He worked all day and most of the night. It is a setback we could not afford. Now we have a new digging job before we can go on. Perhaps, we will find salvageable material beneath the rubble," Kelan stated.
"I will no longer give the soldiers a choice in the matter. They will be ordered to aid you. They will argue and become hostile, but I do not care. Those who are rested will begin digging immediately. You are injured. Go to the healer and get treated before that arm becomes infected. Tae, see that he obeys. He can be stubborn at times," Hesher commanded.
"It shall be done, Commander." Tae took the reluctant Kelan through the rubble. A makeshift hospital had been erected near the ravaged area, and the healer was busy mending cuts and bruises.
Daer, the healer, looked up to see Kelan being dragged into the midst of the injured. His arm appeared worse than the others waiting for aid, so Daer motioned him to come near. "What trouble have you gotten into this time? Can you not stay clear of these messes? I always seem to be mending you. Michelle will not be pleased."
"Mind your own love life, Daer. Tell me, are the rumors true? Are you the one pursuing Shara? When she championed Michelle, Shara mentioned a suitor. Is it you?" Kelan asked.
"Would you believe me if I denied it?" Daer asked. "Shara will reveal her suitor in time. I will not deny or confirm the rumors. Suffice it to say that I find her perfect in every way. Most of the Talonian males do, despite her being virtually unobtainable. With you married and out of the running, the field has opened up. Now stop asking questions I cannot answer and let me repair the damage to your arm before your wife learns of it. She has her hands full enough with your son."
Tae listened to the banter between Daer and Kelan. He was surprised to realize they were friends. Kelan appeared to have friends everywhere. Then, Tae remembered that Daer had testified for the human Kelan had mated. Of course, they were friends. Daer had even delivered the mixed species child. More shocking was their subject matter. They spoke of Shara, the rare white dragon, as if she was a mere Talonian girl instead of a princess. It revealed so much about the differences in their stations and his. If he were to speak about Shara in such a familiar fashion, he would be punished for sure. She was rare and revered among the dragons of Talonia and thus, a taboo subject for gossip.
"Am I needed further, or may I join the others in the tunnels?" Tae respectfully asked.
Daer and Kelan jumped in response to the question. They had forgotten his presence and had spoken freely. "You may go," Kelan replied. "However, do not take what you have heard here and gossip with the others. Daer and I make jokes, but they are not intended for the ears of the masses. Shara's life and choices are off limits to those who are not close to her."
"I heard nothing that I wish to repeat," Tae announced. "The princess holds my reverence. I will honor her with silence."
"You are a good man, Tae. I appreciate your respect for the princess. I must show my mate that I am alive, then I will join you and the others. We must salvage what we can and speed up the manufacturing. Hesher is sending all the available soldiers. Pick three to work with us. We will begin training them immediately. I trust you to choose the most appropriate men," Kelan commanded.
Tae walked away with a proud stance. He was being given authority over the soldiers. It was not something he had expected. He also had not imagined earning Kelan's trust so quickly. He would not betray it. His smile shone on through his dirt covered face. He had a mission, and he would see it done, quickly and perfectly.
Hesher was herding soldiers toward the mines. Their grumbling and discontent was loud, but the commander was adamant. "You will obey my orders. If you cause trouble, I will see to it that you lose rank. If you do not cooperate with Kelan and those he leaves in charge, I will consider it as a reason for dishonorable discharge. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes, sir," they mumbled.
"I didn't hear you!" Hesher shouted.
"Yes, sir," they shouted back.
Hesher turned to Tae. "Has Kelan been appropriately treated? When will he be here to give these men orders?"
Tae answered, "He has gone to show his mate that he survived the collapse. I am in charge until he has done so. I am to pick three of the soldiers to aid us the others are to be split among the diggers. We need our room cleared first, so we can train our helpers. Until that is done, I will take the men I choose into the annex and help separate the minerals."
Hesher replied, "Pick your men."
Tae stared at the angry faces of the soldiers. They were not amused by his sudden rise in power. He searched for the friendlier faces of the men he knew personally. There they were, pushed to the back as usual. The poorest soldiers seldom rose in the ranks, though they worked harder than any other weredragon. Tae pointed at three of the most honorable and trustworthy men he knew. "I want them," he told Hesher.
"What? I outrank them by several degrees!" one soldier shouted.
"I do not think rank has anything to do with Tae's choice," Hesher answered. "He requires those who are willing to follow his orders. He knows who he can trust and who he cannot. I understand his choices and concede. I will not permit you to pull rank or interfere in any way. Let his chosen men come through."
The soldiers made a small gap, allowing the men to go to Tae. They did jostle them somewhat as they walked past. It was a spiteful and childish gesture that was ignored by all.
Kelan approached as Hesher was dividing the rest of the soldiers. He demanded, "Give me the strongest to clear my working space. We need to uncover the weapon casings and see how many are still usable."
Hesher called forth several of his best soldiers and ordered them to follow Kelan. They grumbled but obeyed. After all, being chosen for this duty meant their commander considered them to be the strongest. It made them feel superior to the others.
Kelan kept the smirk from reaching his eyes. He had once been just like them: always vying for praise and a top ranking. His idea of success had changed drastically after his assignment on Earth. Now, success meant saving Talonia for his son. Rankings no longer mattered when your planet could be destroyed on another alien species' whim.
"Where is Tae?" Kelan asked.
Hesher replied, "He has taken three men to the annex. He said they would help separate the minerals until your room was cleared."
"Good idea," Kelan stated. "He is an intelligent young man. That is exactly what I would have done. Come, men; we have digging to do."
"You are going to help dig?" Hesher inquired.
"I do not ask the men under my command to do anything I am not willing to do. So, yes, I am joining in the digging. Thank you for the soldiers. I will return them to their normal duties as soon as possible."
Tae was glad to see Kelan return. So far, he was doing well in teaching his friends, but being in control made him antsy. He was used to being a follower. Most of the time he had been relegated to the lowest positions. Now, he had suddenly been thrust to the top. He had surprised even himself by rescuing Kelan fr
om being crushed in the collapse. He did not know he was capable of acting as a hero.
"Tae, I wish to have a word with you. Step out here with me for a minute," Kelan commanded.
"Is there a problem? Did I not follow your orders?" Tae asked.
"You followed them perfectly. There is no problem. In fact, I want to make you an offer. You more than proved your worth today. It is obvious that I can trust you with my life. I am willing to promote you and give you a pay increase since you are taking more responsibility than I had previously foreseen. Of course, your duties as a soldier must come first, but I need you here as often as you have time to spare. In my absence, you will be in command. Would this interest you?"
Tae tried to calm himself. It was the offer of a lifetime. He could get his family much needed aid and lift them out of poverty. He would gain respect and honor that could be passed down to the children he hoped to have someday. He would be on a level playing field to find a mate. Women would not shun him for working in the mines. He was young, and his life was changing quickly, but he was ready for a challenge.
Tae replied, "I am very interested, but I have much to learn. Thank you for the hope this will give my family. I am eager to learn so that I am of use to you. You are changing my future in an instant. It is difficult to comprehend."
"Sadly, changes are a byproduct of war. In order to survive, everything and everyone must change quickly. For some, it brings prosperity. For others, loss and pain. I hope your changes continue to be prosperous ones. Come, there is indeed a lot you need to be taught and very little time to do so. I pray you chose your apprentices well. They must learn at an accelerated pace. I will work with two during the daylight hours, and you will take the other and work throughout the night. With your other duties, there will be little time for rest. Sleep when you can. Do not waste time on frivolities. These must wait until after we have won the war," Kelan lectured.
Chapter 3
Kelan
Kelan walked out of the tunnels and into the dark night. He was weary but elated. The soldiers had made quick work of clearing the fallen debris from his workroom. They had been able to salvage more than half of the casings. Despite the negative way the day had begun, it had ended quite well. His injured arm ached, and he was relieved to let Tae take over for the night. He had been so lucky to find Tae. He prayed his son turned out as honest and hard working as his apprentice.
Kelan hoped his son was still awake. He missed playing with him and hearing his childish giggles. Michelle would have food waiting for him and kisses to soothe his tired body. Kelan laughed to himself remembering how Michelle had once turned her nose up at Talonian food. Now, she not only ate it, she cooked it as well. Although, she still had a small stash of the foods they had brought from Earth. Those she doled out sparingly as if they were treasure worth billions of dollars. The hot chocolate was reserved for their son. Since the first time his eyes had lit up in wonder upon tasting the sweet, warm treat, Michelle had gladly given up her favorite treat to him.
The platform had barely reached the level of his home when Michelle came rushing out to greet him. "Are you okay? How's your arm? Let me look at it."
"Can we go inside for this?” Kelan laughed. "I would like a hot shower and something to eat before I am accosted."
Michelle blushed. She knew she was overreacting to his injury, but the last time he had been hurt he hadn't woken up for days. He had been brutally attacked because of her. Very few weredragons had been willing to welcome her to Talonia. With the help of Daer, Hesher, and surprisingly Shara, she had finally been accepted. Her tiny son had sealed the deal. He was a weredragon, with the best of humanity’s traits added. He was only two, but you could see the intelligence in his eyes, as well as the fire behind them. In adulthood, he would be a force to be reckoned with.
"I'm sorry. I've missed you and worried about you all day. You're correct. A shower and food should come before questions. However, Keshel can't wait. He waited up to see you. Can you give him a moment before he must be put to bed?” Michelle inquired.
Kelan kissed her sweet lips and pulled her close. "I cannot think of a better way to spend the next hour or so. With you by my side and Keshel in my arms, I am filled with happiness and love."
He opened the door to his home, and a small whirlwind ran directly at him. He swung the muscular child into his arms and was rewarded with a squeal of joy. "Daddy home. Read please," Keshel demanded.
"Did mommy write down another of Earth's fairytales for us?” Kelan inquired.
"Dragons," Keshel replied.
Kelan arched an eyebrow at Michelle and said, "What kind of dragon stories does Earth have? I doubt that we are the heroes."
"It's not an Earth story. I made this one up, especially for our son. The dragon is definitely the hero. Keshel drew the pictures. You're going to love it," Michelle answered.
"Beautiful and creative. I knew I made the right choice when I hired you. You are even better as a mate. Where is this story? Keshel, go get it," he said as he stood the boy on the floor.
As the child's sturdy legs carried him quickly through the house, Kelan turned to his wife. "Dragons are heroes now? I love you too." Then, Kelan gave her a kiss full of promises for later, once their son was fast asleep.
Eveline
Chained to the wall in her dark prison, Eveline scratched in another mark. It kept her sane to count the days, otherwise she had no sense of the time passing. She drank the dirty water in the bowl that sat on the floor, then curled up to sleep. The floor was damp and cold, like always. After ten years, she was used to it. Being chained in here was as close to freedom as she could get. It was actually her sanctuary. No one abused her or forced her to do chores. Her fears could fade, and she could dream of more pleasant times.
Today had been different. The Savra had left her in the corner with their pets. There had been no chores or beatings. Her captors spoke of war. They talked of flying creatures that breathed fire. Did they mean dragons? That was crazy. Dragons only existed in fairytales. Had they been planning all this time to attack something that existed only in their imaginations? Or were the fire-breathing creatures actually some type of weapon that they didn't have a name for? That was possible. It didn't matter to her what they meant. As long as they were preoccupied with it, they would leave her alone. That made whatever it was her best friend.
Left alone, her neck had scabbed over. If they kept ignoring her, it would have a chance to heal. A terrible thought made her sit up in a panic. If the Savra lost the war, what would happen to her? Would she starve to death down here? No one knew she was here, after all. If the Savra lost control of the planet, would the next aliens to take it be worse? Eveline didn't know whether she wanted to be found or not. She reached up and twisted her tangled hair around her finger, just as she had done since she was a very small child. It soothed her. Her heart longed for the family she had been taken from. Had she been missed or forgotten? Were her parents still alive? It was better not to think about it. Tears only made her scraped skin burn. She shut her eyes and willed herself to sleep.
Kelan
Clean and fed, Kelan pulled Michelle down on the bed with him. He lavished kisses on her long neck and pushed her filmy gown off her shoulders. He never grew tired of touching her soft skin. The bruises from her abusive lover on Earth were long gone, but a few scars remained. He ran his fingers over each one, then kissed them. It was a ritual he performed each time they made love. It was his way of reminding Michelle that he would always save her from harm.
Uncovering her smooth, round breasts, Kelan flicked the nipples with his warm tongue. He began to suck them and whispered, "I envied my son when these belonged to him. Thankfully, they are mine once more."
Michelle threw her head back and arched her back. She moaned her pleasure, holding his head in place. "I've missed you so much. These long work hours have kept us apart too often. I should thank Tae in person for giving you back to me."
"We can do tha
t later. Tonight is just for us." His hands roamed over her curves, reveling in how her softness complimented his hard muscles. He allowed his hand to slip to the inside of her thigh and touch the warm wetness of her center. His thumb circled the most sensitive spot and elicited an instant climax.
Michelle panted and begged, "It's been too long. I need you. Please, my love. Fill me and make me know you are mine."
Kelan slowly kissed his way back to her lips. She wrapped her legs around his waist. He teased her by touching her center with the head of his member, rubbing it gently over her swollen nether lips. "Is this what you want?” he asked.
"More than my life," she replied.
Kelan impaled her with one mighty push. Her body accepted and welcomed him. Michelle's legs tightened, shoving him deeper. "Now, we are one," Kelan declared.
"Always," Michelle answered.
Together, they began to move in the dance of love. Each thrust was a declaration of joy in being mated. No other could fulfill the needs of their souls. This union was meant to be. They had found their match across the stars, recognizing the other half of their souls.
Michelle shouted his name as she lost herself in the explosion of her climax. Kelan soon joined her, a tiny spark of dragon fire emitting from his lips. Their worries fled, for nothing could compete with love.
Tae
Hidden in the caves behind the waterfalls, the Talonian soldiers practiced with their new weapons. Dragon fire could destroy, but it only reached so far. These weapons would give them ten times the range. In conjunction with their fire and ability to fly, it would give them an advantage against the Savra. Fighting on a planet they knew nothing about was going to be extremely difficult. They would require every advantage they could get. The Savra also had weapons they had pilfered or copied from Earth. The battle could be won by either side, unless the Talonians became proficient with the new weapon. They had risked so much to gain it. Sending Kelan to Earth had almost given their planet away. Luckily, Michelle was honorable and would never give away their secret. Her abuser had tried, but everyone considered him crazy. For the moment, they were safe from Earth. The Savra were enemy enough.
