by Vi Voxley
I really hoped I wouldn't have to see those guys again.
Then she got stuck. It was clear the gap wasn't going to let her through. There simply wasn't any way forward and when she tried to move, it seemed there wasn't a way back either. Joanna put her hands against the hatch and pushed as hard as she could. No luck.
This is a very inglorious end.
Something about the ship behind them made her fight for her freedom and try again. And again.
Joanna simply couldn't bear the thought of never getting to be with her fateds. For real, this time, without time limits and pressure. She wanted to know what it would feel like to be happy and carefree in their arms.
Her heart longed for them with a passion she hadn't known was in her. It had taken so little to make her completely fall for her two warriors. The idea that Doraton would use her against them was somehow even worse than everything else he had in mind.
Horrible things jumped to her head as to what Doraton could force her to do with them.
She tried once more.
It seemed that her bones became liquid or her hands suddenly gained the strength to push the massive hatch away from her. Joanna was too amazed to consider the implication at first but as she squeezed her body through an impossibly tight and narrow gap, the truth revealed itself to her.
As she held on to the hovership with one hand, the wind beating her face, Joanna knew Doraton hadn't lied to her. The Orb was protecting the host. She could morph her body like the Haverins did. She could probably control people too, then.
This is bad. I really hoped he was wrong.
The hovership began to slow down, signaling that Doraton knew she was trying to escape. Looking at the ship following them, Joanna took a deep breath. Then she saw the roof of the other ship fall back and Eredin emerged. The fear for her was plain to see on his face, as well as the surprise that she hadn't fallen off the second she was no longer held tight by the ship.
"Jump!" he yelled over the roar of the engines and the blaring sirens. "I'll catch you!"
She believed him. It was insane, but she believed him. Joanna began to suspect that perhaps the host wasn't immune to the Orb either. Maybe it was giving her signals as to what she should do to be safe.
The hovership had almost stopped. It was now or never.
Joanna jumped.
Seventeen
Eredin
He caught Joanna out of the air, pulling her into the ship.
Eredin could feel Rago turn so sharply it made even him fall and speed away. They landed heavily against the wall, Joanna still in his arms.
"Sorry," she murmured, looking at him with the deep, dark eyes that he loved.
There was laughter in them, despite everything that had happened. Eredin couldn't even begin to put into words how much he treasured that sight. It had quickly become the thing he was willing to give his life for, although he would have rather given the life of an enemy who wanted to hurt her.
There was no upper limit to how long he could look at Joanna without tiring, or to how badly he wanted to hold her there forever.
"You can't be sorry," he said, grinning. "Anything that gets you into my arms is alright by me. Even if I swear there are easier ways than to jump out of a hovership. How did you manage that, by the gods? You should have been –"
He couldn't say it. The thought of Joanna hurt or worse was not something Eredin wanted to envision.
Joanna kissed him. Eredin responded to it, pushing his hands into her soft hair and claiming her lips in a passionate, hard kiss that left them both breathless. When she pulled back, his fated looked so incredibly gorgeous that Eredin felt his cock growing harder by the second until it was painful. It was terrible timing but he simply couldn't resist her.
"I need to tell you both," Joanna said, a glint of desire in her eyes. "As much as I would love to stay here with you, we need to move. Where is Rago going?"
"Away from the fighting," Eredin said. "As soon as you're safe, we will deal with the Orochis and the Lord Templar both."
"Quite a hit list," Joanna replied, climbing out of his arms to Eredin's regret. "I think I can help."
"Joanna..."
"Not by fighting, of course. I think I can do something at least," she said. "Now, you both need to hear this."
Eredin took her over to the pilot's seat where Rago greeted her with the same crushing, desperate kiss that made Joanna's cheeks a little red. It was a beautiful sight to see her so full of life and happy.
"First of all, Eredin, your uncle is insane," Joanna said when Rago finally let her speak again. "I hope it doesn't run in the family."
"That is up for debate," Rago put in.
Eredin was ready to draw his sword when he saw the smirk on Rago's lips. He resisted answering with a quip of his own. They had more important things to do.
"Secondly," Joanna continued, fidgeting with her arm again, pulling her sleeve over her fingers. "I can do things. The Orb, it is a weapon, but not the way we thought. I can control minds, for the lack of a better term. Or that’s what Doraton claimed.
“I could make people do whatever I want, simply by touching them. I have to mean it too, apparently. I tried it on Doraton but it didn't work. He said I lack conviction.
"Well, I won't make the same mistake again."
"What do you mean again?" Rago asked just as Eredin said:
"So that is why he wants you."
Joanna nodded to them both.
"He wants me to be his little mind-controller, yes," she said. "That is not going to happen. We need to stop him."
"We will," Rago said. "You have no place in battle, Joanna. The entire Orochi army is coming to get you."
"So I'll wait until it's over," Joanna said, a hurt look on her face that made Eredin give Rago a harsh look. "All I ask is that you don't kill Doraton. I can help with him. I can make him confess everything to the kings, to your people."
That was an idea. Eredin was sorely tempted to take her up on that offer.
"Are you sure?" he asked. "You just said your power didn't work on him."
"I was afraid, I think," Joanna said, furrowing her brow. "I was more focused on escaping and where you were... I can do it, I'm sure. What's the harm in trying?"
That was a fair point. If they could make the Lord Templar admit to everything he'd done and planned... Eredin's heart beat fast. They could save the order instead of destroying it if Doraton himself admitted to his crimes. No doubt the method of interrogation was going to be unorthodox, but it would do for the kings, Eredin was sure of that.
"Alright," he promised. "We will do that if you promise to stay out of harm's way. This power... I know it's tempting, but it's too risky to use it in battle. If it doesn't work, you could be hurt."
"I promise," Joanna said, giving him a chiding look. "And I'm not going to use it. I didn't ask for this power in the first place. I think it's terrible to force someone to do something against their will but I will make an exception for Doraton and his crimes."
"Good," Eredin said, smiling to her. "Then there is nothing for you to fear anymore."
"Except for the army of Orochis attacking your world?" Joanna asked with a teasing smile.
"We are Haverins," Eredin replied, answering her grin. "War is what we do. It won't be a problem."
"I like how you can say that about entire armies," Joanna said.
"As long as you're safe, nothing in the world can come between us," Eredin said seriously then.
The look in his fated's eyes was a sight to behold. The laughter was gone, replaced with something deeper and even more beautiful. For a moment, Eredin thought he could see into her heart, leaning toward them and staying on Corolon.
"Okay then," Joanna said quietly. "You'll go off to battle and I'll busy myself with the important task of finding a glove for my hand –"
She didn't finish that sentence. A powerful blast knocked their ship off course and then they went tumbling down together.
Pul
ling himself out of the wreckage of the ship, Eredin knew the worst outcome had come to be. They were surrounded by a horde of Orochi fighters and Joanna wasn't anywhere near safe.
Eighteen
Rago
They were trapped.
It was as far from ideal as it was possible to be. All Rago had ever wanted was for Joanna to be safe and now it seemed every action he and Eredin had taken had led her to more harm.
The Orochi were wary, however. He'd expected them to attack the ship's wreckage as soon as they'd climbed out of it, yet they stood as if stunned by the sight of the three of them.
As much as Rago considered himself intimidating, he didn't think he'd have that sort of an effect on the enemy.
It took him another look to see that the eyes of the Orochis were all nailed to Joanna and the violet pattern barely visible from under her sleeve.
She was standing behind them, Eredin and Rago forming a living shield in front of them as the world around them burned. Ships were flying above their heads, the Haverin warriors now engaging the Orochi soldiers. No doubt the kings had taken to leading their armies as soon as they heard of the danger.
Rago wondered if they knew why the Orochis had come. It was likely Doraton himself told them.
"Why aren't they attacking?" Joanna asked, her voice laden with suspicion. "I thought they came for the Orb."
"They seem to be waiting," Rago said. "We should take this opportunity to get you away from the battle."
"As much as I hate to be here, maybe we should see who they're waiting for," Joanna retorted, making him grin a little.
His fated was full of spirit. It was a dangerous quality in a fated when the strings of his heart were tied to hers, but Rago found it incredibly sexy nonetheless.
"I'm thinking," Eredin began.
"A rare occurrence," Rago replied, unable to stop himself as the Orochis started to edge closer as if they were drawn in by Joanna.
Eredin and he drew swords as one. Joanna backed away.
"I find your faith in me inspiring," Eredin replied sharply, "but what I was saying is that I was thinking about what Joanna said before. The Orb gives the host mind-control powers, right?"
"Yes," Joanna said. "What of it? I can't get close to all of them. And what good would that do anyway? They are but a fraction of the force that is destroying your home world to get to me."
Her voice was deeply sad, making Rago wish he could devote attention to bringing her into his arms and holding her.
"They look afraid to me," Eredin said. "I believe they're looking for someone who has come to give you a real challenge. An Orochi champion who doesn't just want to kill you and take it back, but who wants it for themselves.
“Look how the regular soldiers avoid you. The Orb terrifies them. Which means we have to get you out of here before that someone it doesn't scare arrives. I will not take chances with your life."
Rago considered that, thinking he'd dismissed Eredin too quickly. The man had a point. All around them, they could see fighting in the distance and above their heads. All of the Orochis seemed to be battling the Haverins with fervor, except for the ones who kept a wary eye on Joanna.
There was trouble on the way. Rago knew he and Eredin were capable of handling any enemy, but they didn't want Joanna anywhere near the fighting, especially if they'd come with the sole purpose of digging it out of her.
"I think he's right," Rago said. "We need to get you out of here –"
"Then I'm right too," Joanna cut in carefully. "If you can get me to the one who controls them, maybe we can break this attack!"
The plan wasn't bad, but it seemed the Orochis weren't as unresponsive as they seemed to be. None of them had bothered to lower their voices, thinking that the Orochis didn't pay attention. Suddenly their leaders roared and the entire lot surged forward. Rago could hear crackling orders coming over their comm links.
Someone was coming and it was scaring the Orochis more than the power of the Orb did.
"Joanna, climb!" Rago bellowed and in the next second, Joanna was scrambling up the remains of their ship as he and Eredin met the Orochis.
They'd left all finesse behind. There were no points to be won except for Joanna's life. The Orochis were desperately trying to get past them, driven by the invisible command of the leader they feared so badly. They struggled against their own companions to climb up the ship and get to his fated. Some of them even tried to throw their blades at her.
"Take cover!" Eredin called to her. "Keep us in sight! Yell the second one of them sneaks up behind you!"
Rago had never been so grateful that the blades of the Haverins were made of material that cut through armors as easily as it did with bone and flesh. He had left Eredin to fend for himself on one side of the ship and taken up guard of the other. The golden sword flashed through the air as Rago parried and struck back, killing with each blow that landed with nauseating thuds on the enemies.
Further, an Orochi ship had landed, bigger and better shielded than the fighters if it had gotten through the Haverin defense turrets. Rago didn't slow down for a moment, but he kept an eye on the enemies that emerged from that ship, knowing trouble had finally found them.
Behind the regular soldiers, the largest Orochi he'd ever seen thudded down the ramp. The beast had maws that could have broken a grown man in half if one was unlucky enough to get caught in them. The deep yellow eyes took one glance at the battlefield before he started pounding toward the fallen ship.
Its gaze was fixed on Joanna.
"That's the female!" he roared over the field so loudly even other clusters of fighters broke and all turned to the champion's target.
"Him," Joanna called from on top of the ship. "That has to be him. The one that's coming for the Orb."
"Kill him!" Eredin roared, his deep voice carrying over the deafening noise of the battle around them.
Luckily Haverins were used to being attacked from time to time. Warrior races tended to make a lot of enemies who held grudges and needed to prove their strength.
All attacks inevitably failed in the end, of course. Rago had no doubt this one would as well, but that barely mattered to him. Joanna was the only thing he could focus on.
"No!" Joanna called. "If you kill him, this will never stop! Just win! I can try the Orb on him, make the Orochi leave!"
Right.
"Stay there!" Rago called to Joanna, seeing something positive for a change in the midst of all the Orochis. "Be careful!"
From across another small hill, the Templars who had sided with Eredin and him before rushed their way. Rago didn't know how they'd found them – possibly tracked their ship or saw it going down – but they were a welcome sight. He was a warrior who made opponents run and cover in battle, but even Rago couldn't be in two places at once.
Leaving the ship behind with a deep sigh of regret, determined not to let the Orochi champion anywhere near Joanna, Rago called out:
"Templars! Protect the female!"
They heard, and obeyed. Taking up the defense of Joanna, Eredin and Rago were free to go for the big Orochi, grateful that their brothers were finally starting to see sense in the world.
The Orochi champion roared, seeing them coming for him. It made his guards throw themselves right between the warriors and their master. Rago paid them no mind.
The common Orochi was nothing more than an obstacle in his way, needing no more effort than the average AI or mech. The thing that worried him was getting caught in their massing, leaving him unable to defend Joanna if need be.
Luckily for them, the champion didn't flee anywhere. He kept them firmly in sight as Rago and Eredin approached, their blades coated in blood and the ground littered with the bodies of their enemies.
"You!" the champion bellowed. "Give me the female! She has no place carrying the Orb! The Orbs belong to the Orochi!"
"You shouldn't have left it, then," Rago retorted, "for anyone to find. The female is ours. If you want to keep your life, I su
ggest you flee as fast as you can."
"Flee?" the champion roared, his large mouth curling into a crooked smile.
It was the oddest sight Rago had ever seen.
"I don't flee!" roared the Orochi. "If you will not give me the female, I will take her myself and carve the sacred Orb out of her hand!"
Nothing more needed to be said.
Rago and Eredin finally broke loose from the crowding Orochis and headed straight for the champion.
"Get me the female!" the champion called a moment before they reached him.
Rago could hear the enemies scuffle away behind him, but he didn't have the time to see where they were headed. Not that it wasn't glaringly obvious. He simply needed to trust the Templars to be able to protect Joanna until they took the champion down.
It was unthinkable to abandon the battle and let the beast take even one step closer to their fated.
In the second Rago's sword clashed together with the large maul the champion carried, he knew the battle was won. It was only a matter of time before Eredin and he brought the creature down. From there, either Joanna managed to halt the attack or they would destroy the enemy the old-fashioned way.
The certainty of that collapsed to pieces when Rago saw the only person who could have thwarted that future. The only man on Corolon who would seek personal gain while his people were in danger, going so far as to fight his own people.
The Lord Templar was making his way toward Joanna with a maniacal grin on his face, surrounded by a large squadron of loyal Templars.
It didn't seem to matter to the man if he had to kill Orochis or Haverins to get to his prize.
Nineteen
Eredin
The surge of rage that shot through Eredin was in no way fitting for a man who had wanted to become a Templar.
It was more than fury, it was something unholy and ungodly, far beyond the anger that drove warriors on in battle. The blazing desire to tear the Lord Templar to pieces with his bare hands was almost blinding.
