Balance (The Neumarian Chronicles)

by Ciara Knight

  Fallon nodded.

  “It’s the same type of substance. It’ll take people down instantly.”

  “That doesn’t sound effective. Right now, we need more of the devices you used yesterday,” McCormick said.

  “I’ll make a few more of them if parts are available.”

  “We’ll make the parts available,” Ridgecroft promised.

  “I beg you to reconsider the darts. They’ll be able to help in a ground assault. It’ll prevent more casualties. You can take down the entire infantry without firing a shot or losing a life long enough to disarm them.”

  McCormick shook his head. “Penton, I appreciate your effort, and I have no doubt you think it’ll work, and it just might. But I’m not sending my men and women into battle with no more than a dart gun.”

  “That’s why I’d never mentioned it before, but now I have a way to distribute it to the masses. At least, in theory. The mist bombs. I can utilize that technology to implement my sleeping agent into the air. We can go in for an assault, or rescue mission with no casualties.” Penton’s voice rose with his excitement of saving lives. “Some of those people only defend the queen because they’re scared, or the queen has forced them to. Now we can save them as well as our own.”

  “It’s worth a try,” I said.

  Dred hammered his fist on his knee. “Agree with pretty face.”

  McCormick stood, walked around the table to Penton, and clapped him on his shoulder. “I know you mean well, but wars don’t work that way. Think about this, Penton. If we used those darts, what’re we supposed to do with the troops we capture? How’re we supposed to feed and guard them and still fight? In the end, the darts could become our Trojan Horse.”

  I stood and faced McCormick. “Penton’s idea is a good one, but not for here and now. First, we develop the list. Once we replenish supplies, mend the wounded, fix our ships, and stockpile our weaponry, we’ll meet again to plan an attack on the queen.”

  “Are you saying we’re going to attack Acadia?” he asked.

  “Yes. There are many Neumarians still enslaved there.”

  “There are also thousands of innocent followers of the Triune, human, Neumarian, and Kantian.” Penton’s lips thinned and his jaw clenched. “My family’s lived there for years. Some may still be alive. To do anything other than use the sleeping agent when attacking the city would be mass murder.”

  “Then I guess you better get started on your magic weapon, son,” a council member said, and my skin crawled as the edge of his lip curled.

  Fallon smacked his hands on the tabletop and stood. “I think we can all agree we’re lucky Penton’s gift is the ability to create the most astonishing devices, and he supports the Triune.”

  “We need to align with all them that wants to get rid of the queen,” Dred said.

  “Agreed. We better get our soldiers loaded onto the battle cruiser and head for the Arc. There’s lots of work to be done.” Fallon nodded to the council. Turning, he motioned for us to follow him and strode to the door. Once the guard opened it, Fallon motioned us through, but remained behind.

  Penton and Dred led the way, I followed. Halfway down the hall, I doubled back and waited for Fallon.

  The door to the meeting room squeaked shut until only a sliver of light filtered into the hall. I moved into an empty office, eased the door almost shut, then pressed my ear to the wall.

  “You positive he won’t betray us again, Fallon? Still can’t believe Harrison’s forgiven his treachery, because I haven’t. It cost us too much—Harrison, his wife’s head, along with the majority of the original council,” Ridgecroft snarled.

  Someone betrayed us and my father forgave them? That didn’t sound like my father or the general I thought I knew.

  As their footsteps closed in on me, I slithered further into the dark shadows.

  “If he crosses us, Harrison won’t get the chance to act,” Fallon said. “I’ll kill him myself. Assuming Semara doesn’t do it first.”

  Chapter Nine

  The engines of the ENR battleship almost lulled me to sleep. Almost. But my amazement at how fast we’d traveled kept me alert. I didn’t want to miss a minute. We’d crossed the Channel in half the time it’d taken us in the SB-06. Then again, we didn’t have to hide from ships hunting us from above or slither along the sea floor praying we avoided mines floating twenty meters overhead. The battleship would already be docked if we hadn’t taken an alternate course as a precaution.

  Over the past two days, I enjoyed the downtime with Penton and Fallon. Penton’s ideas for weapons that wouldn’t do excessive damage and plans for Raeth’s leg fascinated me. Whereas he was all about the future, Fallon wanted to talk about the past, specifically the American Revolution and World War ll. Between my time with them, all my hours were at Ryder’s bedside. Which was where I was right now, curled beside him, my head on his uninjured chest.

  Thornton, the doctor who had protected us on the Freedom and kept Dred alive in spite of Mart’s wishes, entered Ryder’s room. He moved to our side and squeezed his shoulder. “You should go to your room and get some rest, Semara.”

  Easing off Ryder, I sat and smiled. “You know I can’t leave him.”

  Thornton nodded. “Not until he wakes up, right?”

  “That’s right.”

  He pointed to Ryder. “Then you can rest now.”

  I spun toward him so fast, my neck popped and I almost fell off the bed. His eyelids blinked a few times, but it was his smile that shot through me. My heart sored with the sight of his wonderfully sexy dimples making an appearance for the first time in days. Gripping his hand, I brushed a gentle kiss over his lips, then lifted my head and gazed into his eyes.

  His lips curled into a weak smile. “Hi, gorgeous.”

  I tightened my grasp, feeling the connection between us surge into my body, reinvigorating me, wiping away all traces of exhaustion with my drug of choice, his love. “How are you feeling?”

  “Not accustomed to long term pain. Mighty tough when I’m used to healing quick.”

  “I know, but at least you’re alive.”

  Ryder traced a fingertip across my palm, sending shivers of delight rippling through me. Then he licked his dry lips and all I could think of was kiss me. “Is there water?”

  “Yes, of course.” I shook off my head ramblings and retrieved water from the shelf next to his bed.

  He took the cup from me and drained it. “How’s Briggs? I wouldn’t have survived without her. She risked her life to save me.”

  He patted the bed by his side and I resumed my usual place on its edge. “I owe her then.”

  “Yes, made me promise I’d take care of her son if she didn’t make it. Did she…make it?”

  I saw the worry in his chocolate brown eyes. “She is alive, but it’s still touch-and-go.”

  I knew why he accepted to care for her child. My heart ached at one more child orphaned. Ryder would make a great father. He had proved that having helped raise Raeth, but I wasn’t meant to care for a child, at least not now. Neither were Ryder and Raeth, not until we won the war. We were the Triune, the rebellion needed us to end this war, and possibly restore the world.

  Ryder’s muscles tightened. “What did the doc say about my injuries? And why isn’t my gift working?”

  I clutched his hand to my chest. “You’ll be fine once you recover from your protracted exposure to the mist. It seems length of time in the mist determines how long it takes for its effects to cease blocking your gift. Penton’s researching that problem, and also giving Raeth a new leg.”

  Ryder tilted his head and stared up at me, his eyebrow quirked in that I’m-naturally-sexy kind of way. “You do mean her implanted leg, right?” At my grin and nod, he said. “Thank goodness. Wait, why does she need a new one?”

  I nibbled the heart of his palm. “It was damaged beyond repair during the battle. You know Penton. Since the day he met her, he’s wanted to give her a new leg, one that functions like a
normal one. Apparently he’s been working on it for a long time.”

  “Don’t tell him I said this, but I like that kid. If he can give my sister a better leg, he’s got my stamp of approval.”

  I nuzzled his neck. “Even to do this?”

  Scowling, he grunted. “That’ll never be okay. She is my baby sister. But you can do that to me all day.”

  He lifted his free hand to cup my head but winced and bucked. “Ow!”

  I placed my palms on his chest and forced him to stay in the bed. “Calm down. you’re still mending, and the pain’s a muscle spasm.”

  “Big bad brother not used t-to being down.” Raeth strolled into the room.

  I gasped. Her new leg reminded me of a smoothly, shaped human-looking leg. While I knew it wasn’t real, it moved with natural fluidity. A perfect match to her real one, shapely, moving with a light step and, knowing Penton, indestructible and protected from freezing up or grinding to a stop due to sand.

  Jumping to my feet, I raced to her and wrapped her in a tight hug. “It’s beautiful!” Then I yanked Penton to me—who looked as if he was torn between beaming and worried about our reaction—and clasped him to me. “That is the best Penton special ever.”

  He looked to Ryder and I wanted to smack him for not saying the same. He raised his eyebrows, “Ah, it looks okay.” He started laughing until he held his side and rasped, “I’m kidding.”

  I walked over and smacked him on the back of his head.

  “Hey, no hitting the wounded,” he said, his lips trembling in mock pain.

  Raeth held her fists to her side and crinkled her nose at him. “B-better her than the lashing I-I’d give you.”

  “Relax, it was a joke, Penton.” He smiled up at his sister. “You look beautiful Raeth. I’m glad Penton could fix you up. You look…grown up.” He attempted to roll onto his side, by the time he made it a glisten of sweat moistened his upper lip and his face turned red, then he collapsed back onto his back. “Can one of you help me up?”

  I hurried over and helped him upright and he reached his hand out to Penton. Moments later, they clasped one another’s forearm in a warrior’s welcome, Ryder looking him straight in the eye. “Thank you.”

  While Raeth’s jaw fell open and Penton looked ready to pass out, I wasn’t surprised. I knew Ryder had liked Penton from the moment we’d met him in Acadia.

  He released Penton’s hand and collapsed back onto the bed, holding his side and groaning. “Now, can you get back to work figuring out why I can’t heal myself?”

  I felt powerless and wished with every fiber in my body that I could heal him. When Thornton joined us, I asked. “Aren’t there any healers on board this ship?”

  He bent over Ryder and injected something into his tube running from the IV bag. “So far we haven’t found one. Ryder is it.”

  I toed the bedpost shattered at Ryder’s devastation and asked, “Is there a chance he won’t regain his gift?”

  Silenced answered.

  Hand fisted, Ryder punched his mattress, then inhaled.

  Raeth moved to her brother’s bed without a hitch in her walk. “We d-don’t know.” Flashing Penton a warm smile, she turned back to Ryder. “I-if anyone c-can figure it out, it’s Penton.”

  Ryder nodded.

  Raeth glided to her knees, sat beside him, and carefully wrapped her arms around his shoulders.

  Tears leaking from the corner of my eyes, I cleared my throat. “Yes, but you can’t return to Acadia. Every woman will want a limb like yours. Can you imagine? Mandesa will want her face replaced with a Penton special.

  Everyone laughed. Of course, we knew it was true. Mandesa would rip Raeth’s leg from her body to have it for herself. She was sick, demented, and dangerous.

  “I think Ryder needs some rest. The quicker he heals, the quicker we can get back to planning our freedom.”

  Penton’s jaw set in his I’m-determined-to-save-the-world look, and I didn’t have a doubt he’d succeed. “I won’t let you down.”

  I followed Raeth and Penton into the corridor. “Hey, Raeth, I can’t get over it. It looks almost a hundred percent natural, yet…better.”

  She lifted her dress, twisted and turned her leg. “Th-the hinge is only visible close up.”

  “Can I feel it?”

  Giggling, she nodded, yes.

  I ran my fingers over it. It was smooth yet almost human. And while I knew it was artificial, it didn’t possess that cold metallic feel. “It’s warm.”

  Penton slipped his arm around Raeth’s shoulders. “Lubricant flows in a circuit throughout the leg and into the toes. The constant movement creates friction, heating the surface slightly.”

  “Brilliant, absolutely brilliant. Once the war’s over, I’ll bet every person who needs a limb will beat a path to your door.”

  Penton paled. “I hope not. I just want some peace with Raeth. I’ll see you in a bit,” He mumbled, scooting Raeth out into the hall.

  Once away from the doorway, he turned her in his arms and covered her lips in a passionate kiss as she seemed to melt against him. As he released her, he spotted me gawking, and turned crimson. “Don’t need to share that with Ryder.”

  “Lips are sealed,” I said, stifling a snicker.

  Penton bolted, leaving Raeth and me in the hall. She turned and faced me, her fingers touching her lips. “I’d die for him. I n-never knew I could love s-someone s-so much. He’s per-perfect in every way. I feel c-complete when I’m with him. Does that make sense?”

  I smiled and nodded. “The best kind. I’m so happy for you.”

  At a loud clang, I rushed back into the room and found Ryder hunched over the side of the bed. His shoulders heaved and his biceps strained against his cotton T-shirt.

  “What do you think you’re doing?”

  “Wanted some water,” he said between pants.

  I grasped his bicep and pulled him back onto the bed, not an easy feat considering he was almost dead weight. “Then you call for me.”

  “Blasted injury. I’m done lying around in bed,” Ryder grumbled.

  “You’ve just woke up,” I said, trying not to scold, and retrieved the water from the shelf. “Keep doing things like this before you’re ready and you’ll rip out your stitches. Then where will you be, back in the infirmary under the watchful eye of Thornton. The only reason you’re not still in the infirmary is because I promised Thornton I’d keep an eye on you.”

  Ryder lowered his head like a scolded child. His dark hair fell over his forehead. It had grown out considerably in just a few weeks. His boyish features despite his massive frame melted my heart.

  “Perhaps tomorrow I can get a chair to wheel you around in.”

  Ryder sighed. “Can we visit Briggs? I’d like to take her son to see her.”

  What was it about this woman and her young boy? He always had to be saving someone. I wondered if now that Raeth had Penton and my father was back in my life—I swallowed hard and refused to finish the thought. “You care a lot about Lieutenant Briggs, don’t you?”

  “I owe her a lot. She’s the reason I’m alive. But it’s more than that.” Ryder’s large fingers toyed with the edge of the sheet. He frowned and his gaze looked far off.

  I sat by his side and took his hand in mine. “What is it?”

  Ryder forced a grin. “It’s just that, well, Briggs’s son reminds me of Raeth’s and my childhood. The general dragged us from our home, then forced us to watch him murder our parents. Afterwards, we were collared and thrown into a Neumarian Enslavement Camp. We were alone for a long time before Uncle found us. I’ve never been more lonely or scared in my life. I didn’t think we’d survive. At times I didn’t want to, all I felt was loss and pain. Then Raeth got sick, and with my collar on I couldn’t heal, at least, not then. Later I learned to use my gifts in spite of the collar. I don’t think I would’ve made it if I hadn’t promised my parents I’d take care of Raeth. I couldn’t fail them or her.”

  My throat tightened
and I tamped down the sobs fighting for freedom. Swallowing hard, I lifted his hand and held it to my cheek, wishing to crawl into bed and cuddle by his side. “That’s one of the reasons why I love you. Your honor and commitment. Even as a child, you were strong, took care of your sister, and kept the two of you alive. Now, you want to save a little boy from a similar fate.” I closed my eyes and inhaled his scent. The clean smell of trees and sun was and always would be Ryder Arteres. It made my body strum, my heart sing, and my soul long to join with his. “I’ll take you first thing in the morning.”

  “Thank you,” he said in a husky tone. “I love you, too. You’re always there when I need you. You’re brave, kind, and most of all—”

  I waited but he didn’t say anything else so I let go of his hand and looked at him.

  He slid his hand around my waist and squeezed me toward him. Then that wicked, cocky grin of his broke free and he winked. “—Your hot body.”

  I smacked his shoulder. “You’re terrible. None of that until your stitches are out. See if wanting me is enough to get you to heal faster.” I lifted the water carafe from his low, bedside table. Everything, from the bed to the tables to the bathroom, was at the correct level to prevent excessive stress on his wounds. “I’ll be back with fresh water and some food in a minute. And don’t you dare get out of bed without my help.”

  “I’m not trying to get out. I’m trying to get you in,” Ryder said, his voice sad and forlorn.

  Yeah, like that was going to work, I thought rolling my eyes as I left his room, and marched down the corridor to the mess hall.

  “Hey, pretty face.” Dred joined me at the junction, wrapping his strong arm around my shoulder. His dark skin a stark contrast to my paleness.

  “How’s it going?”

  “Good, been in contact with me family back at Oasis. General Bellator’s had me send ’em coded messages about what’s happened and warn ’em to be on alert. So, they be gearing up to protect home from the queen. They’ll put up a fight she won’t forget and it’ll cost her, too.”