Defending the Lost

by Justin Sloan

  She nodded. “The immediate area is secure.”

  He continued to steer for a moment, but she noticed his sideways glance at her.

  “What is it?”

  “Just… I heard you and Royland talking.” He lifted the control to take the ship to a higher altitude, then set the course before turning to face her. “About the boy, Kristof. You going to take him home?”

  She nodded.

  “Meaning…” He frowned, as if saying this next part was incredibly difficult. “Meaning, you’re leaving us.”

  “In good hands, I assure you.”

  He shook his head, unable to accept that. “There’s nobody on that island I trust as much as you. Nobody who could corral the people like you have.”

  “I think there’s one,” she replied with a smile.

  “No, I…” He paused, mouth open, then frowned. “Me?”

  “I’ve seen the way they look at you. Maybe they fear me, maybe they love me, I don’t know. But they follow you because you’re one of them.”

  He leaned against the controls, accidentally hitting the altitude control so that the ship dipped slightly before he corrected it.

  “Well, damn.”

  “Damn as in you accept?”

  He laughed. “Damn, as in I hate to see you go but I’m incredibly honored by your trust in me.”

  “You’ll do well, because you’re honorable.”

  “Don’t forget that I was a pirate.”

  “I’ve learned that not all pirates were actually pirates.” She stood to join the rest of her crew. “But that said, if I ever come back and find out you’ve let the old ways return, we will have a problem.”

  “Noted, and not something to worry about.”

  She nodded, then left him to captain the ship.

  For the rest of the journey, Cammie got to know their new companions. Bertha was quite the fun one to be around, so much so that when they were preparing to land Cammie told her she was going to do her best to get Bertha a place next to their own.

  “I thought you were heading east, across the ocean?” Bertha asked, repeating the information that Cammie had conveyed during their conversation.

  “True, but we’ll be back before you know it, and I’ll need a woman to chat with. We can compare stories about these goofballs.” She nodded to Bertha’s man, and he smirked. “The stories Bertha has to share would make you cringe, girl.”

  Cammie laughed. “You clearly don’t know me at all.”

  The community at Prince Edward Island was thriving. In just a short time they had managed to give it a festive feel, so that it looked almost like a tourist attraction compared to the compound Bertha and her crew had come from.

  Flags of various colors flapped in the wind and one of the women had taken to carving wood, so that part of the streets now showed off wooden sculptures or reliefs of ships, airships, wolves, and more.

  They even had tiki torches and fire pits on the beach so that each evening would be a celebration of life.

  That’s what they had here, Cammie thought as she smiled, happy to be home and see it all again. A new life.

  Royland had been hard at work setting up security including walls and watch towers, both on the mainland and on the island. He had also had the community work on providing equal housing for all residents. With all of the newcomers arriving thanks to Cammie’s work, he had invited many of the older residents into the main hotel, which the Prince had once occupied.

  After introducing the newcomers to the team that handled processing and finding them quarters, Cammie made her way home.

  She paused out front, watching Kristof and the dog, whom the boy had named Elroy, wrestling over a stick. Finally the boy broke it free and pulled it back to throw, then turned and ran instead.

  Elroy chased after him, her tongue hanging out in pure joy.

  There was something about all this that made her very happy, a feeling of calm that said this was the life.

  But another part of her said it couldn’t last. She knew it was true and didn’t fight it, but instead focused on appreciating the moment. Soon they would take the boy home, maybe work to address the pirate issue over there, and she hoped that Valerie would go along for the ride.

  Kristof finally saw her, threw the stick, and ran over to give her a hug.

  “All went well?” he asked.

  “We have new friends and fewer enemies.” She ruffled his hair, beaming. “What else could we ask for?”

  She had meant that statement to purely refer to the trip, but instantly his expression darkened and she knew he was thinking about his family. That’s what else he could hope for, and she felt like an idiot for making him think it.

  Elroy came bounding back, stick in her mouth, and Kristof’s smile returned as he returned to playing with the dog.

  Cammie went inside and sat beside the bed where Royland was sleeping. She couldn’t take her eyes off of him, this man who had totally made her rethink the way she saw relationships—the world, even. And she hoped she had done the same for him.

  He was here at her side, day and night. Well, during the day he couldn’t always be at her side, but he did what he could when he could.

  She wanted to tell him about their recent journey but also knew he needed sleep, so she curled up next to him and joined him in slumber.

  When she woke, she first turned to the window to see the sun setting, then to the boy, Kristof, sleeping on the couch with the dog at his side. A motion caused her to jump, and only then did she realize Royland wasn’t next to her.

  He was stepping out of the bathroom, towel wrapped around his waist and hair still damp.

  “We can’t wait,” he commented, nodding at Kristof. “The boy has already waited long enough.”

  Cammie nodded, pulling her knees to her chest on the bed. “Agreed.”

  “You wanted to wait for Val, but…”

  “She would have been here by now?” Cammie shook her head, agreeing. “She had her agenda, her goals. Either she’s still searching for Robin’s parents, or taking down Toro, or has headed off to her next task. We don’t fit into that equation anymore.”

  Royland slowly nodded. “Tomorrow, then. The ship will be ready?”

  “Yes, but not William.”

  It only took a second for Royland to figure out what that meant, and he smiled at the thought. “Good choice, that one. He’ll make a fine leader.”

  “Temporary leader,” she corrected. “We’re coming back.”

  “I hope so too,” he replied. “But I am more skeptical than you.”

  ***

  The next morning came quickly enough, and soon they had the ship loaded. Reems would be captaining the ship, the same captain who had led the first successful trade mission with New York since the pirates had gone clean.

  Kristof and Elroy were below decks, getting settled in and keeping Royland company since he couldn’t come out into the sun. Cammie had finished saying farewell to everyone, so she went to the control room and nodded to Reems.

  “You know that comm device?” Cammie asked.

  He nodded. “Get in contact with them yet?”

  “Naw, I mean, they said it was for Valerie.” Cammie took it from her pack and held it in front of her, amazed at the little buttons and solar charging glass. “This kind of technology, it’s almost like magic to me. Might as well be.”

  “If it actually works.”

  “Well, that’s what I was thinking we’d find out.” She smiled. “Seeing as Valerie’s not back and we don’t know if she’s even coming back this way, I thought I’d let New York know.”

  The captain perked up, pausing in his flight-check duties to turn her way. “Well then, what’re we waiting for?”

  She nodded, then flipped the power switch. After playing with it for a moment there were a few beeps, followed by a static sound and then a voice.

  “Hello? Val?” a man’s voice asked, followed by a couple of excited voices and then Sandra’s, “Is th
at you?”

  “Sorry to disappoint everyone,” Cammie stated. “Just Cammie here.”

  “Holy shit!” Sandra laughed. “It’s good to hear your voice, Cammie. What’s going on? Val’s hasn’t returned from Toro?”

  Cammie’s gut clenched as she thought about how to say it. “The thing is, she never said for sure she would be back. And…we’re leaving.”

  “Leaving for where?”

  “We have pirates to face on the other side of the ocean, and a boy to take home. The island is in good hands, but we just—”

  “Cammie!” Captain Reems hissed.

  She held up a hand to tell him to wait, but when she glanced up she froze, seeing what he was staring at. Airships on the horizon, several of them, coming their way.

  “Uh, guys…”

  “Yes?” Sandra’s voice came through, worried.

  “Either we’re under attack and the Prince won, or Valerie just came back.”

  “Judging by that carving on the side of the main ship,” Captain Reems chimed in as he stared through military-grade binoculars, “I’d say it’s your friend Valerie.”

  Cammie handed him the radio, ignoring the questions coming from the other side, and had a look. Sure enough, the lead ship had a large carving of a vampire skull over crossbones, bat-like wings coming out of the skull.

  “That’d be Valerie,” Cammie agreed with a chuckle. She grabbed the radio back and told them, “Our departure has been delayed due to the unexpected return of the Vampire Princess. We’ll call when she’s landed.”

  Cheers erupted from the other side and Sandra warned, “You tell her that if she doesn’t call right away, she’ll answer to me. And you do not want to piss off a pregnant lady. I don’t care how powerful of a vampire you are.”

  She signed off and headed below deck to tell Royland the good news, heart still thumping at the crazy timing of it all.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  Prince Edward Island

  When her ship landed on the field at Prince Edward Island, the former pirates were already gathering around. In the lead was Cammie, a small boy and a dog next to her.

  “Was I gone so long?” Valerie called as she waited for the gangplank to be lowered. “You two had enough time to have a child and get a dog?”

  Cammie laughed and stepped forward to greet her at the bottom of the gangplank with a hug. “You were gone a while, but not that long.”

  A glance past Cammie showed one ship looking like it was about to set off, and Valerie sensed unease coming from the Were.

  “You going somewhere?” Valerie asked.

  “To take this boy home,” Cammie replied. “That, and maybe deal with some European pirates along the way.”

  “I hear they don’t call themselves pirates over there.”

  “So you’ve heard of them?” Cammie’s eyes went wide. “You aren’t just returning, you were going to sail over there and deal with them.”

  “It seems we might’ve met out there if not here, at any rate.” Valerie looked at her ships, thinking that they were all set for sailing.

  “There’s something I wanted to show you,” Cammie said, excitement glistening in her eyes. “Come on.”

  As they walked back to Cammie’s ship, she glanced at the other ships as if just realizing that Robin wasn’t there.

  “She…didn’t come back?”

  Valerie shook her head, and that was enough. As soon they were on the ship Royland greeting her with a hug, and then they made for the control room.

  “Close your eyes,” Cammie said.

  “What?” Valerie laughed. “No way am I doing that.”

  “Come on, you’re a super-powerful vampire who can smell trouble coming from a mile away. Just close your damn eyes.”

  Valerie rolled her eyes, and then closed them. “Okay, what now?”

  A clicking sounded, followed by a voice she never expected.

  “Cammie?” Sandra’s voice said, crackling. “Is she there?”

  Valerie was overjoyed, eyes bursting open as she darted forward and took the odd-looking metal box from Cammie.

  “No way. Sandra?”

  “Dammit, Val! Took you long enough.” Sandra sounded like she was caught between laughing and crying. “How the hell have you been?”

  “We’re fine, and have tales to tell,” Valerie answered. “What’s going on there?”

  “New York’s held together. At times on a thin string, but we’re managing.”

  “And the baby? Everything looks healthy with the pregnancy?”

  “She’s definitely showing,” Diego cut in, slightly muffled. “Ouch!” He laughed. “In a good way, in a VERY good way.”

  “Damn right,” Sandra agreed. “Val, we miss you. And if you’re not here for the birth of my baby, I will hunt you down and kick your ass. Got it?”

  Valerie laughed. “I’ll do my best.” A long silence followed, then she added, “Looks like we have business across the ocean. Time to get my tourist on.”

  “Yeah, so I heard.” Sandra paused, then asked, “Val, when’s it over? Are you ever really coming home?”

  Valerie thought about that, looking from the comm device to Cammie and then to the west, refusing to linger on thoughts of Robin and Toronto. Valerie had accomplished so much, but still had so much left to do. She would get everyone situated who wanted to stay and then the rest would sail across the ocean with them to continue the fight.

  “Home, Sandra? Earth is my home, for now. And until it’s safe for us all, this is where I belong. Out here, fighting for justice.”

  THE END

  Author Notes - Justin Sloan

  Written July 31, 2017

  Life is crazy. I should have gotten this book to you a week earlier (well, because of cover artist timing and all that, it would have been impossible anyway, but at least I would have been done). Some of you already know what happened, but for those of you not on my author newsletter or the Reclaiming Honor Facebook page, here it is:

  This is literally the first book I have bled over to get to you.

  That’s right, I sacrificed my life (kinda) to finish this book. The not too long version of the story is that I was writing the last two chapters at a café, thinking I would finish it up and then head over to the gym for a celebratory workout, when someone runs in, grabs my laptop right out from under me, and takes off.

  It took me a second to process this, and I even thought about just letting him have it. That thought vanished as soon as I realized my Dropbox was full and the book wasn’t backed up—meaning, I wasn’t sure I’d ever finish the book. Trying to rewrite material is grueling, and I don’t know… So yeah, that all went through my head and then I stood and took off after him. I caught up to him just outside, as he was trying to get into the car. He had a getaway driver waiting, so he was climbing into the passenger side, but had the computer toward me. Idiot.

  I grabbed the computer and we struggled, but then the lady started driving. She was shouting at me to get out of the car, some punches were thrown, and then they pulled into the street. Finally, I wrestled the computer away (or he let go? I can’t remember) and went rolling across the road. The car behind us stopped, thankfully.

  So yeah, I recovered my computer, but lost my glasses. I had to get four stitches in my lip and had a bunch of bruises, but that was all.

  Not so bad, right? But a crazy day for me, nonetheless, and one I hope not to repeat anytime soon.

  The happy ending to that story is that a couple days later I finally finished this book that you have before you, and am getting ready to start on the next one. We have amazing things planned with Craig Martelle and others with PT Hylton, and this universe is going to keep expanding in unimaginable ways.

  In my non Kurtherian Gambit Universe (KGU) writing, I’ve had a lot of fun lately too. I launched a Space Marine / Time Travel series with two other writers, and we’ve brought in three other writers to do an anthology in that series and then spinoffs, similar to what we’
re doing here with KGU, but without vampires and all that. It might have some magic though! I’ve always loved the idea of scifi fantasy, but understand the need to keep it from getting carried away. Therefore, that series (Syndicate Wars) keeps it very much to a minimum.

  However, I’m doing a solo spinoff from there, with the idea that I’ll go full steam ahead on the magic in space stuff – so be on the lookout! I have an awesome artist working on the covers as we speak.

  On the note of covers, I’d love to hear what you all think of the new direction we took on the covers for these Reclaiming Honor books. We’re going for more of a personal connection, up close on Valerie, with brighter colors too so they stand out on Amazon. We really hope you like them, because I spent many hours going through artist websites and finding styles that could work and then contacting the artists, etc.

  It’s not easy, but hey, that’s why we get paid, right?

  On that note, this was my first real month being fulltime. Guess what? It’s also a new record for how much my books have made! It probably helps that I released four books in just one week not long ago, haha, and have more coming down the pipeline. Not every series is a success, and it’s always interesting to watch these books launch and see what the fan reaction is.

  For example, Reclaiming Honor has, as you’ve probably guessed, been a huge success. But book five (Born into Flames) had some very mixed reviews. There were a lot of people emailing me or saying in reviews that it was their favorite book in the series by far, and almost as many people saying the opposite. Funny how that works, huh? I hope the ending of this book doesn’t cause similar reactions, but here’s the thing… TRUST US! Please…? Haha. The way we have it outlined is really cool, and a lot of the complaints I hear from people are already addressed—just a couple books out, sometimes.

  Much like the complaints about the Age of Magic, and readers not seeing how they fit in to the world. That’s what we think makes it fun. Eventually you’ll get to the moment where you do see it, where it all comes together for you, and you’ll be like DAMMMNNN! THAT WAS AWESOME!

  We hope.