The Silver Star (Kat Drummond Book 11)

by Nicholas Woode-Smith

  The soldiers formed a protective circle around us as their leader led us outside, towards a practical bustling camp of Anzac troops. Ari followed us, impassively.

  Perhaps, she wanted to die here with her people. But death was never worth it. And she may have kept up the charade if only to keep us safe.

  “This was your home,” I whispered to her, out of earshot of the soldiers. “But you can make a home anywhere.”

  She stared blankly back at me, but I saw a flicker of emotion. Sadness, but also acceptance.

  With some convincing testimony from what ended up being a captain, we were all bustled onto a chopper alongside some wounded soldiers. They stared confused at Ari but didn’t say anything.

  I gripped Brett’s hand as we lifted up into the sky. I hope he realised that he had saved Ari’s life. And even if she had lost her people, that still meant something.

  I watched the palace as the chopper droned away. The last thing I saw, in the distance, was a single Silver Star banner, fluttering in the wind. And then…it was gone.

  Chapter 30.

  Moments

  I felt dirty. But it had to be done. We were saved and released by Anzac because we had claimed to be prisoners. We had to maintain that story. Even if it made us sick.

  We spent a week in New Zealand, being interrogated by Anzac officers and looked over by physicians and healers. It was a letter from Hope City’s Foreign Affairs that finally got us released.

  While we were living under house arrest in Christchurch, we got news of the “Liberation of North Island”.

  Wellington and Auckland were captured hours after the Star Palace fell. Hold outs of Sintari die-hards resisted from the dryad wood but already, a cordon was being put around the forest. No human could live in the wood, so there was no point capturing it. The New Zealand government was content with treating the woods as a gigantic prison enclosure.

  The New Zealand government promised the international community that pogroms and extermination such as that seen in Goldfield by the Extermination Corps would not be repeated here. But elves would be put under observation. They wouldn’t be able to vote, to arm themselves, or practice warlike magic.

  This was generous, according to the spokesman. I didn’t think so. But, perhaps I’m biased.

  By the time that we were released, I was ready to leave this blasted part of the world. Or, more accurately, I was ready to go home.

  But, a long boat trip was ahead of us again. Fortunately, the Honour of the Unforgotten had been out of port at the time of the invasion, and had docked subsequently at Christchurch, ready to take us home.

  I was glad to see Ironfoot again. But I wasn’t glad to be the one who had to inform him of the death of the queen. Dwarves are strong. Resilient. But everything can break. But Ironfoot was strong. He wordlessly accepted the information, and said no more.

  The ship journey was long and held a far more sober and contemplative tone than our first journey. Only Ironfoot’s new crewmates seemed to be at least a bit joyous. Except for when Ironfoot had mandatory moments of silence once a week for an hour apiece.

  It took an age traversing the ocean, and there were sadly no ghost ships, sea serpents or mers to break up the monotony.

  But, eventually, we entered the turquoise seas of Mauritius. We were not to stop long. It was just a short jump back to Hope City. And Ironfoot insisted he take us all the way.

  But there was one person we had to say goodbye to.

  “I wish you could come with us,” I said to Candace, holding her in my arms.

  “You know I can’t. Not yet.”

  “We only see each other when there’s something wrong. For once, I just want there to be peace.”

  “There will be.” She smiled, weakly. But I could see the pain behind her eyes. Allandrea’s remedy couldn’t last forever. And without her, it had wilted away fast. “There will be peace, eventually. For a short time.”

  “But, will I see you then?”

  “Perhaps, but I will return before then. The final battle approaches, Kats.”

  I frowned. “I’m tired of battles.”

  “I know you are…but I’ll be right by your side for this. We’ll face it together.”

  We hugged. Long and tight. But, finally, I had to let her go.

  Candace turned to Pranish and offered her hand.

  “I think you could shorten the incantation for refraction shields if you cut out the middle syllable,” she said, simply.

  Pranish smiled, faintly, and bypassed her hand to engulf her in his own hug. Swifter than mine, but it still caused her to blush.

  Finally, Trudie approached. Candace averted her eyes, and I saw the hint of fear, until Trudie hugged her.

  “I’m sorry…for…you know. But, if you’re Kat’s family, you’re also mine.”

  Candace was lost for words but managed to sputter out a tearful. “Thank you.”

  We watched Candace wave to us from the docks, until she was just a speck. Then, nothing.

  “We’ll see her again,” Treth insisted. “We always do.”

  But that didn’t make the loss feel any less painful.

  Finally, we reached Hope City days later. As we entered the cell phone coverage of my city, I was able to contact Cindy and Guy. They were on a hunt but promised to meet at the HQ after they were done.

  “And, no, we haven’t been attacked by vampires yet,” Cindy insisted. I heard Guy’s grumbling that it wasn’t a joke in the background.

  As we came into port, I was struck by the majesty of Table Mountain. After so long away from my city, I could understand why the explorers of old had considered the mountain a place of primordial power. Even without true magic, it was magical.

  Quietly, we pulled into the main harbour of Hope City proper. The Titan Citadel was lit up like a Christmas tree, despite the time of year, providing a gaudy structure to top the now darkening mountain as the sun slowly set.

  I could hear traffic in the distance. The sound of ship horns. Engines. And music. The city was alive. Bustling. But it felt almost eerie. As if nothing had changed. And that what happened in New Sintar hadn’t happened at all.

  I bid Ironfoot farewell. He wanted to go out to sea before night fell properly.

  “Keep doing what ye are doing, Last Light,” he said, by way of farewell. I didn’t know how to respond.

  We waved him and his crew off as they drifted into the horizon.

  “Kat Drummond?” a voice came from the darkness of a warehouse.

  I turned to see the smiling and self-satisfied face of Phillip Brown, the Foreign Affairs agent.

  “I am glad to see you in one piece. My contacts in Christchurch said that you had a rough time. Captured by the elves?”

  “Yes,” I replied, not asking how he knew where to find us.

  Phillip squinted at Ari, over my shoulder, but didn’t question her presence.

  “If I may, can we talk in private?” he asked. I suspected he was unnerved by the glow in Trudie and Senegal’s eyes.

  I’d much rather fight a hydra, but he’d gotten us released from Anzac house arrest. So, may as well see what this was about.

  I followed Phillip around the corner of a warehouse, telling the others I’d meet them at the bus stop. Brett didn’t move.

  “So, what’s this about?” I sighed, not even trying to hide my frustration. Phillip didn’t seem to notice, as he grinned from ear to ear.

  “Foreign Affairs is pleased with your work, Kat. They want to send you on other assignments. With New Sintar out of the way, Anzac has pledged a peace keeping division to help man the Three Point Line. This is much bigger than just a…”

  “Agent Brown…I’m tired. Too tired. I just want to go home and see my cat.”

  He nodded. “Understandable. But know that there are accolades on the way. You’re not just a monster hunter now. You’re a soldier.”

  I winced and turned to leave.

  “Sure, sure. We can talk some time. Just, cong
ratulations, Kat. For killing monsters.”

  Before I could think things through, I’d turned on Phillip and shoved him into the warehouse’s face brick wall. He flinched at the onslaught, but I stopped, and let him go.

  “I’m sorry,” I said, as he dusted himself off, shocked. “Must be PTSD.”

  I turned away from him.

  “War is hell, Agent Brown. I hope you never have to experience it.”

  Brett was waiting where I’d left him. I kissed him on the cheek and wordlessly walked with him to the bus stop.

  We all split off from there. Trudie and Pranish went to the Davisons. Senegal went to introduce Ari to his family. Kyong slinked off into the darkness.

  Leaving Brett, Treth, Mandy and me to make our way to the HQ. It was quiet within. An intern I didn’t know was manning the front desk. I didn’t need to show identification to be let in. The flaming coat and my scowl was good enough. My aunt excused herself. She needed to go find some accommodation. It had been a long time since she’d lived in Hope City.

  “I grew up here, Kats. I still remember where to sleep and where to avoid. And I…I need to be alone for a bit. But I will see you tomorrow,” she said. It was the first time she’d been home since my mom and dad had been killed.

  “I love you, Mandy. Let me know when you find a place to stay.”

  We embraced and said our goodbyes before I went with Brett to the quiet sanctity of the upper floor.

  “I’m going to go get us something to eat,” Brett said, quietly, as I entered my office, which we’d been using as a bedroom for so long.

  I smiled. “Thanks. Love you.”

  “Love you too.”

  Brett shut the door behind him, leaving me in silence. I felt Treth manifest outside. He wanted to see the traffic. Even he had missed Hope City.

  But now that I was here, I didn’t know what to think.

  I heard a loud purr as Alex curled his way around my ankles. I bent down to stroke him, before taking a seat and unsheathing Ithalen and my seax and unholstering Voidshot.

  It felt like I’d not used them at all, but they felt heavy all the same. But that only meant I had to get stronger. If not for me, for my city. For my friends and family.

  I felt a hand resting on my cheek. A warm, comforting glow.

  I smiled, faintly.

  Whatever was next, I would be ready.

  I always was.

  I hope you enjoyed reading the 11th book in the Kat Drummond Series! If you can, please review the book on Amazon and Goodreads. Reviews go a long way to helping me sell books so I can keep writing.

  Book 12 is on the way, but you don’t have to leave the Katverse till then. Make sure to pick up Blood Hunter, the story of Guy Mgebe’s origin and how he became a vampire hunter.

  Words from the Author

  It’s always hard to leave Hope City when writing these books. While the Kat Drummond Universe (the Katverse, if you will) encompasses many worlds, the vast majority of the series has been set in Kat’s hometown. I’ve enjoyed this. Hope City has become a character in its own right, shaped after my beloved Cape Town.

  But, just because it’s hard to leave Hope City doesn’t mean I shouldn’t.

  Hope City is my comfort zone, and that means it is also Kat’s. And for that reason, she had to leave it once again. In book 7, she left Hope City to explore Avathor and find out more about herself and her role in the universe. In this book, I felt she did more of that.

  Through the elves and Allandrea, Kat learnt more about her powers but, more importantly, about her own trauma and how she can cope with what she has seen and done.

  Writing fiction is a constant balancing act between realism and entertainment. Realism can detract from fun, but fun can also detract from immersion.

  I feel this story needed to be sadder than many of the others. While Kat is a snarky, brave and heroic action hero, she has led a sad life. And it felt wrong that she wasn’t facing it.

  I think this book has allowed Kat to face many of her demons, while also making her contemplate her own morality much more. The same goes for many of her companions. And, I hope, for you as a reader.

  Is there a place for peace despite difference?

  I hope there is. And I hope you do too.

  I look forward to showing you the next book in the series once it is completed. Prepare for a Cursed Earth.

  See you then!

  Acknowledgements

  Thank you to Shelley Woode-Smith, my mother and editor, for ensuring this book is as readable as possible.

  Thank you to all my ARC and beta readers for picking up on errors before publications, and even for telling me months late. I still appreciate it, even if I do growl in frustration!

  And finally, thank you. Yes, you! The reader. Without you, this series would be an unprofitable stack of paper, and I’d be spending my days ranting on Facebook. For helping bring Kat to life, I am eternally grateful!