by C. B. Stone
“Good morning,” I say, leaning down to kiss her brow gently.
“Good morning,” Jaelynn says, wiping the sleep from her eyes. She opens her mouth in a jaw-cracking yawn. Her long, blonde hair is piled high atop her head in a messy bun, and tendrils fall down around her face. Even with bedhead, she is the most beautiful sight I’ve ever seen.
“You look like you’ve been up for awhile,” she observes, as she stretches like a cat. I grin.
“I have been. I decided to take a walk.”
“A walk?” She gives me a sideways glance. “Alone?”
She looks like she’s almost ready to lecture me on the danger I could have put myself in. But before she can, I interrupt her by leaning down and dropping a quick, hard kiss to her lips. I smile again, still feeling high on happiness.
“Yes, a walk,” I say. “And no, I didn’t get myself killed. I just had to see it for myself, you know?”
She nods. “I just wish you would have woken me,” she grumbles.
“And then what? All the guards would have wanted to come with us. This way I could sneak out, see it, and get back before everyone woke up. It’s fine Jaelynn. I’m fine. Nothing is going to happen to me.”
“Promise?” She looks up at me, biting her lip. There is what looks to be fear in her eyes, a look I never, ever want to see from her.
“You know I can’t promise you that,” I say. “But I do promise that as long as I’m alive, I’ll be by your side. That is a promise I can make.”
“Noah, Jaelynn, are you two up?” Cal interrupts us before Jaelynn can say anything else.
“We are,” she calls out. “We’ll be right there.”
She stands and starts putting her sleeping bag away. But before she leaves the tent, I have to say something.
“Jaelynn?” I lick my lips, feeling suddenly overcome with nerves.
She stops what she’s doing and turns to look at me, the full weight of her gaze settling on mine.
“Yes?” she asks, her head cocked to the side like a curious puppy.
Standing up, I walk over to her. Reaching for her hand, I pull something from my pocket with the other.
“When this is all over and one with, would you-” I take a deep breath, “Would you be interested in getting married, perhaps?” I trail off lamely, feeling a rush of nerves, terror, and hope all at once.
Jaelynn’s eyes grow wide, and her free hand flies up to cover her mouth. I can see tears welling up as I place a ring, a simple silver band, onto her finger.
“This was my mother’s ring,” I say quietly. “I’ve carried it with me every day since they’ve been gone. It’s the only thing I have left of her, and I know she would want me to give it to the woman I’ve fallen in love with...”
Jaelynn’s eyes drop down to her hand, but before she can speak, Cal pokes his head inside the tent, his stone-faced expression serious. But then, his expression is always serious, I think to myself.
“Ready yet?”
In that moment, Cal realizes he picked the wrong time to barge in on us. His eyes falling to our clasped hands, he gets a sheepish look on his face, and mumbles an apology under his breath, before leaving the two of us alone once again.
“Oh, Noah,” Jaelynn says, her tears splashing down her cheeks.
I wait, holding my breath, half-expecting heartache to begin. It was a split-second decision, asking her to marry me. Something I hadn’t given much thought to. It just feels natural. Right, somehow. But maybe she doesn’t feel the same way? My stomach tightens painfully as I wait for her rejection.
“I never wanted to get married, but always assumed it was what I had to do. Until now.”
My heart begins to race as I listen to her speak, knowing an official rejection is just moments away. Clearly my instincts were wrong.
“I understand,” I say, dropping my gaze to the ground at my feet.
I never even thought of that. Back home, there was so much pressure for her to marry, perhaps not feeling that pressure has been a relief. I could understand that, as much as it hurts, it makes sense and I can respect her for it.
“But,” she continues, lifting my head up with her fingers. “Then I met you. And all that changed. I finally knew it was possible to love, and honestly, I never thought we could be together. But this war, and everything going on- it gives me hope for a future with you.”
Wait... I give myself a mental shake. What does she mean? My head is spinning. Is this a yes? Or a no? I hear the others outside the tent getting anxious, but no one bothers to stick their heads in again, and for that, I’m grateful.
Then my heart just about stops.
“Yes,” she says at last, her face glowing.
“What was that?” I ask, feeling so disoriented.
“Yes! Yes, once we get to safety, and back to my parents, I will marry you!” She laughs, grabbing my face and planting a kiss to my lips. I kiss her back, laughing with her, feeling a flood of relief that she’s not turning me down.
I hadn’t even thought about her parents. If they were still alive, what if they refused to allow this to happen? Would she choose them over me? I try to push those thoughts from my mind. It’s a bridge we will cross when we get to it. There is no need to fret, not now. In this moment, I have the only answer I need.
Jaelynn wants to marry me. She wants to be my wife.
Shrugging aside any embarrassment, I feel tears well in my own eyes, sliding down my cheeks, tracks of love and happiness to match hers. I grin and hug her tight, letting our tears mingle together and become one.
I might have thought I had a reason to be thankful earlier, but now, my heart is so full of love and gratitude I fear it may burst. Nothing, not even her parents, could ever ruin what we have.
XXI
JAELYNN
The group walks in silence. My heart is full, and I’m giddy. Never before had I imagined I would fall in love and marry someone of my own choosing. I had put off all the interested suitors back in the valley, looking for every reason I could find to stay single. I would probably have stayed single forever if they’d let me. But now?
Now I am willingly considering marriage, and can see myself living a happy life sometime in the future.
“How long until we get there?” Cal asks, looking at Franco.
“A day, maybe two. It depends on the terrain and how often we have to stop,” Franco replies.
Grimacing, I daydream longingly of a nice nap, maybe some lunch. All of this foot travel is exhausting, especially for me. I’m not conditioned for it.
I know Cal plans on stopping as little as possible, of course. We all know that. But our poor bodies can only take so much. Resting is inevitable, and eventually our enthusiasm and eagerness to make it to the peak will wane in the face of the rigorous journey. Still, right at this moment at least, I can’t wait to get there.
Even after we make it though, without my parents present, I won’t want to get married. I need them with me. I need them to share in this happy moment.
As I think of Mama and Papa, a knot forms in my throat. What if I never see them again? Though it pains me, it’s an inevitable possibility I know I will have to face sooner or later. There is a very real chance they are dead. There is just no telling what the Ministry has done with them. Or to them. I shudder,
But now isn’t the time to think of any of that. Looking over at Noah, I know that now is a time to celebrate. To be happy, in the moment provided to us. To feel love and gratitude, and give thanks for that huge blessing, despite our current trials. I will soon be Noah’s wife, and he will soon be my husband, and life will be good. And in that perfect world, my parents will be there every step of the way. My father there to walk me down the aisle, my mother, to help me with my future children. I almost gasp out loud.
Children?
Yes, I realize. For the first time in my life, I know having children is a possibility. They will no longer starve, or live in poverty, not in the new world He is creating for us. The
future He is laying out before us now is full of hope.
Noah smiles my way, and I know he can sense it too. Once we get to Dove’s Peak, life will be good. We will live happily ever after, just the two of us and our family. Life will be so grand, I just know it.
Once we make it to safety, and the war with the Ministry is won, everything else will work itself out, for the good of all. I have no doubt whatsoever in that.
Only faith.
******
Marcus
“Moving on to plan B then,” Leora Blackwood all but growls.
“Plan B?” I ask, though deep down, I know what she means. I’m hoping I’m wrong, but I know I’m not.
Grayburn looks my way, and I’m surprised to see what resembles fear in his eyes. So it isn’t just me who fears what’s about to happen. But Grayburn likely has different reasons to fear than I do.
“Yes, that plan to obliterate the entire area,” she says, her tone icy. “We can’t win this war, not when they have more advanced weapons than us. So we’ll simply end it, by any means necessary.”
She curses under her breath, not pleased at all.
It’s Grayburn who speaks up first, “Just because they have the advanced weaponry now, doesn’t mean we can’t beat them at their own game,” he counters.
Leora looks his way with a raised eyebrow. “Go on.”
“If I may speak of such matters in front of Officer Rose,” he says, glancing in my direction.
She waves a hand impatiently. “Yes, yes, go ahead. He’s been privy to far more than he should have now anyway, and has proven himself loyal thus far, so yes, just spit it out you fool.”
Grayburn flushes. “Well, when I was working on the latest weapons projects, prior to being moved here into the control room,” his lips twist, indicating some bitterness about that lateral move, “We were very close to coming up with a shield that could deflect that of the so-called BirdKiller. If given even just a few hours in the lab, I have no doubt I can bring about that technology once more, and incorporate it onto all the remaining air craft prior to heading out on their missions.”
For once in my life, I want to actually pat Grayburn on the back. Whatever the reason, he also doesn’t want to see the entire Darklands blown into oblivion. The idea of killing all of those people must weigh heavily on his mind as well.
“And why is that preferable to blowing everything up?” Leora questions him, steepling her fingers together.
“Because,” Grayburn says, licking his lips, “now that we’ve already broken the treaty and ventured into their area, that means their land, their people, and their belongings are all ours for the taking. We just need to beat them at their own game first. Think of all the workers we could add to our factories when we do? Think of all the money we could make off of them? The food they’ve no doubt stashed away? All of that could be ours. But if we enact your plan, it will all be gone. Wiped out. All that will be left is us, here, to fend for ourselves.”
My jaw drops. I already know Grayburn is a worm, but this goes above and beyond his normal evil. To enslave our own people is a level of cruelty I never would have suspected resided in the man. But I don’t say anything, because at least this way, it will buy the Bethel army and my daughter, more time.
“You do have a point, Officer Grayburn,” Leora purrs thoughtfully. “And I do apologize for taking you off the weapon stations, I just feared you were getting too close to the projects, too emotionally invested. But now I see that could work to my benefit.”
“So, is this a yes?” Grayburn asks, a smile beginning to break across his features. “Because if so, I can also promise you weapons that far surpass the destruction the BirdKiller is capable of. Within days.”
“Hours,” she shoots back. “We need it within hours.”
“Hours then,” he inclines his head. “You must trust in me Ms. Blackwood. I only have your best interests at heart. And I know you didn’t trust me before, but I’m the best weapons designer you’ve ever had, you have to know that. And I am worthy of your trust.”
I didn’t know any of this. I’d never asked Grayburn what he’d done prior to starting to work with me here in the control room. I just assumed he’d been given the job because of his family ties with the Blackwoods. So I’m a little flummoxed to learn he’d held another post prior to this one, and it was doing something that apparently he’s quite good at. Will wonders never cease? I grin inwardly.
“And if I don’t deliver these weapons and shields in a timely fashion, you will still have the option to eradicate the Darklands,” he continues.
“Okay then,” she nods, after a momentary hesitation. “I’ll get you the necessary authorization to enter the weapons facility.”
And with that, she turns and sails from the room leaving me alone with Grayburn.
“I had no idea,” I state, shaking my head.
“No idea of what, my friend?” Grayburn asks, albeit sarcastically. We both know there is no love lost between the two of us.
“That you cared so much for the Darklands,” I scoff, my own voice laced with sarcasm and disbelief.
“Honestly?” Grayburn grins. “Wanna know a secret? I could care less about the Darklands. Or their people. Or their money.”
“Then why are you trying so hard to keep them from being blown to high heaven?”
“Because,” Grayburn says, as though speaking to a child, “I need to get back on Leora’s good side. I need to show her my worth, my loyalty, and my abilities. This just happens to be the perfect way to do it.”
I roll my eyes. At least that explanation makes him slightly more human. Evil, but still human. Still, I’m disgusted with the ideas Grayburn has planted into Leora’s head. To even think like he did is disgusting.
“Well, good luck with that,” I mutter under my breath. Turning my attention back to the screen in front of me, I try to distract myself from the thoughts ricocheting through my mind. At least Grayburn has given my daughter a few more hours to get to safety. And for that, I’m grateful. Even if his reasons for doing it are more self-serving than heroic.
Nevertheless, it buys them some time, and that time is desperately needed right now.
XXII
FAYNE
I and all the troops, including those from Wellington, march toward Silvah City. There is no fear in any hearts, and I stand proud once more. With Lyon’s troops aiding us, and their weaponry, I’m convinced it’s only a matter of time before the entire Ministry army is annihilated and we can take back the city once more.
Days have passed since we began marching, and the landscape has changed. More houses dot our path, though most stand empty and dilapidated. No more air craft have been sighted, meaning that even though Ministry knows our location, they also know who holds the upper hand. And it isn’t them.
“Don’t get too confident, Commander Pythe,” Michael warns, scratching his beard. “While they may not have this technology just yet, they were on the cusp. At least according to my source on the inside and my latest intel.”
“I’m still surprised you have sources on the inside of the Ministry,” I marvel. “Who has the guts for that?”
“Believers will do whatever it takes to do what is right,” he comments.
We continue walking in silence, and my mind wanders to Cal and the others. Where are they? Did they find safety? What if the Ministry’s troops located them before they could find refuge?
No. I shove those musings aside. I need to believe. I need to have faith in our mission. Anything that happens is meant to happen, I know it. I can’t help fearing for Cal’s safety though. Part of me regrets not telling him how I feel. At the time, I thought I was the one in danger, but now I feel relatively secure in the knowledge that I am safe, that I would make it out of all of this alive. I’m less sure of Cal’s fate. What if he dies not knowing how I feel? Would I ever be able to forgive myself?
“Hold up,” Michael says, stopping abruptly.
“What is it?�
�� I ask, shaking myself free of my thoughts.
“We can’t just saunter into Silvah City without a plan, Commander,” Michael says, shaking his head.
I look around us, and realize then, we’re already on the outskirts of the City. For some reason, I expected there to be soldiers both on foot and in the air, all around perimeter of the City. Not seeing any sends a chill down my spine. The Ministry would never, ever, be this unprepared. Something is up, and I don’t have a good feeling about it at all.
In fact, it feels as though the entire world around us is quiet, breath bated. “What is going on?” I ask, frowning.
“I wish I knew,” Michael responds grimly, scratching his beard again and looking in the direction of Silvah City.
From where we stand, we can see it stretched out for miles before us. Miles and miles of houses and buildings as far as the eye can see. No grass, no trees- nothing but concrete and metal. Even the houses resemble factories. All my life, I have wanted to lay eyes on this place, and for what? It isn’t beautiful. Bethel, the so-called Darklands, with her sunsets and hills and streams that used to carry precious water- that was beautiful. This... this is depressing.
In the far corner of the City, I can see the unmistakable fortress that is the Ministry compound. That is where we need to go. That is our target. Leora Blackwood is there, waiting for us, I’m certain of it. Until she is gone from this world, there is no chance at a better life for the people. I stand there, in awe of the mission before us. This is the first time I think I have truly thought about all that it entails.
But with my troops behind me, I know we can do it. The question is how? How can we walk through the City and into the Ministry fortress, without being engaged by Leora’s soldiers? This many troops will be a sitting duck target for the Ministry guard. And what if fighting breaks out in the City itself? All those innocent people, their lives gone in a flash. The same people we are trying to save will be dead at our hands, the hands of those meant to save them, and that is not an acceptable scenario for me.
