The Dragon's Woman

by Alix Nichols

  “Well, too bad.” She tugged on his wing. “Come on, we can’t just sit around and wait for them to come and get us!”

  If he took off with her, the cyborgs would spot them immediately. They’d catch up with them. Marye would be too exposed. If they shot at her, she’d die. He should’ve flown on and picked a better spot for a break. A forest or a cave might’ve hidden them better. Except… It was the tick that had led the cyborgs to them.

  The good news was the cyborgs couldn’t use it anymore to command him.

  “We’re staying here.” He lifted the wing she’d been pulling at. “Get underneath and hold on tight. I’ll blow them away.”

  The humming got closer still, and soon a swarm of black-clad hive cyborgs surrounded them. He peered. Three score or so. The odds weren’t impossible.

  Several voices shouted simultaneously. “Don’t resist! Surrender now!”

  He unleashed a gust loaded with his hate and fury at them. The ones that had come too close were blown away. The ones who’d managed to stay put drew their blasters and sent streams of liquid fire at him. He absorbed it all. Bullets rained down on his scales and fell off, flattened. He felt their punch but not their bite.

  More cyborgs flew in. He blew as hard as he could, but they kept up the fire pressure, relaying each other, relentless.

  He began to run out of air to blow.

  “Geru,” Marye sent him. “How did you travel between Norbal and Hente?”

  “What?” He tried to focus on her question while keeping an eye on the cyborgs. “Why?”

  “When I asked you back on Hente if you took a cruiser or a private transport, you didn’t know what those were. You said you vaulted.”

  He had, indeed. While he carried the TIC, vaulting had become impossible, the device keeping him anchored.

  “Do you think you can do it now?” she asked.

  “Yes, but I’ve only ever vaulted alone.”

  “You must try to do it with me.”

  Was it even possible? He truly didn’t know. “If I try, it would need to be to somewhere I’ve been to before so that we don’t crash into a rock or find ourselves at the bottom of a sea.”

  “What about that Norbal city? You know it well, yes?”

  “Chev and Horbell have spies there… Still, it might be our best option.”

  “I wish we could go to Hente!”

  That was a pipe dream. “We can’t go home, Marye.”

  “There’s a safe place on Hente.” She sent him an image of a large outfit inside a mountain. “The Refuge. I thought about it when you mentioned crashing into a rock. What a shame you haven’t been there before!”

  “Have you been there?”

  “Yes.”

  “I have no idea if it would work, but… with our minds linked, maybe you could guide me there.”

  Her whole being lit up with possibility, and faith. “I believe I could.”

  17

  When they emerged inside a dimly lit tunnel leading to Refuge’s living quarters, Marye could hardly believe the whole crazy thing had worked.

  Drawing in a breath, she peeked from under Geru’s wing and looked around. His side was less than two fingers from the tunnel’s rock wall. Good grief. She’d remembered this corridor to be much more spacious, both wider and taller than it looked now. Then again, she’d walked through it next to other Ra-humans, not a dragon three times their size.

  Before they vaulted, Geru had crouched, folded his tail, neck and wings in, and wrapped himself into a ball around her. It had been a good idea, that!

  She sat down on the ground, leaned back on him, and allowed a sense of relief to wash over her.

  “Are you all right?” he sent her.

  “Yes! Couldn’t be better. You?”

  “Incredulous. Thankful. Happy.”

  She smiled. Those exact emotions echoed and bounced around her own chest, and she honestly couldn’t tell which of them were hers and which were his.

  A few moments later, she touched his wing. “Can you change now? We wouldn’t want to cause panic or have Nyssa’s mother-in-law attack you with a broom.”

  “Would she?”

  “Don’t be fooled by her frail appearance. Dame Heidd is indomitable.”

  Geru shifted to Ra-dragon and then Ra-human faster and more quietly than Marye had ever seen him do.

  When the transformation was over, he was naked. She stepped toward him, and he wrapped his arms around her. They remained like that for a long moment, celebrating their incredible escape and enjoying each other’s nearness.

  She ran her fingertips over the small wound on his neck. “We’ll have Dame Heidd take a look at that, just in case.”

  He drew back a little and looked down at his bare midsection.

  Marye followed his gaze. “Right.” Her lips twitched. “She might not appreciate the sight as much as I do.”

  He pointed ahead. “I’ve just found a solution.”

  Marye turned around and saw a drying rack farther down the corridor. With a silent apology to her friends, she grabbed a towel from it. Geru wrapped it around his waist.

  “It must be nighttime here,” he sent her. “Or else they would’ve heard us.”

  She pointed to the light at the end of the long corridor. “That’s the communal room. We can camp there until they wake up.”

  On their way, they passed a room filled with printing equipment and supplies.

  Marye stopped and peered in, overjoyed.

  Geru planted himself next to her. “What is this?”

  “An underground press I cosponsored. Can’t wait to hear if it’s up and running!”

  As they got closer to the communal room, Marye heard voices. Many voices, and all of them familiar. It had to be daytime then. And it looked like the Association was holding a meeting in the Refuge.

  She paused at the door with Geru planting himself behind her and listened.

  “Ready?” Timm asked before pulling his commlet out. “This one will air tomorrow, and then we’ll follow up with print materials that will build on the message.”

  He pressed down a key on his device, and Areg Sebi’s voice filled the room.

  You’re listening to Areg Sebi’s latest Address From the Beyond. Let’s talk about education.

  Marye sensed Geru stiffen behind her.

  She looked over her shoulder. “I told you he and Etana were alive! They’re both at LORSS. They’ve forgiven you.”

  Geru’s feelings were such a wild tangle that Marye didn’t even try to unravel it. “Areg records his addresses every week, and then Timm broadcasts them.”

  Geru stared at her, his expression changing from shaken to hopeful. “But whose bodies did the cops find?”

  “One was a corpse planted by Colonel Yaggar on purpose. The other…” She hesitated.

  “Who was the other?”

  “An enforcer cyborg who fell during the rescue mission. Unie Thraton.” Marye braced herself before delivering the last bit. “Iyatt’s betrothed.”

  “Iyatt… as in, Rateh Master Iyatt Martenn?”

  “Yes. Unie was an enforcer, Geru.” Marye touched his arm. “Every enforcer knows the risks when they sign up. They know each mission could be their last.”

  “She could’ve survived that mission.”

  There was no denying it.

  Marye dropped her hand and turned back toward the room. “Yes, she could.”

  Areg’s voice boomed with passion.

  Why doesn’t Caretaker Governor Boggond want menials to get any schooling beyond basic literacy and numeracy?

  I’ll tell you why. If they do, he will have a harder time duping, manipulating, and controlling them. And that would be the end of him.

  Because duping is how he stays in power.

  It’s how the galaxy’s worst cop, Zorom Ultek, keeps his job as Eia’s police chief.

  It’s how both of them break the laws they’re supposed to uphold and go unpunished for their crimes.

 
He went on to discuss the merits of longer schooling, citing the advantages that the proficient class and, especially, the noble-born derived from it. With conviction, he argued there was no tenable justification for denying the majority of the realm’s citizens the chance of a better life.

  When he was done, there was a moment of silence with everyone present still under the spell. The man could inspire. There was no doubt about that!

  “Good stuff,” Duko said.

  Everyone in the room voiced their agreement.

  “Folks in my part of town are the ones who need to hear this address most,” Rhori said, “but I’m the only one with a commlet. And I don’t shout from the rooftops about it.”

  Iyatt turned to him. “That’s where our pamphlets and flyers come in.”

  “True,” Rhori nodded. “I have a great idea on how Lippin and I can circulate them in the neighborhood without getting caught.”

  Jancel smiled. “Do tell.”

  Before Rhori opened his mouth to share his idea, Marye stepped forward. “Hello, everyone.”

  Nyssa was the first on her feet, launching herself at Marye and wrapping her arms around her. “Aah! You’re alive! You’re back! Hermit’s balls, you’re back!”

  The next thirty minutes were a blur of hugs and questions. Marye gave them a rundown of the last weeks’ events and promised details later.

  Geru didn’t speak much, only answering questions addressed to him and throwing anxious glances at Iyatt.

  Nyssa pulled out her commlet. “Must ping Etana and Areg. And Aynu, too!”

  “I owe Etana a huge thank you,” Marye said while Nyssa pressed keys on her device.

  Rhori cleared his throat. “I can call Her Royal Glory and give her the gist of it.”

  “You do that.” Dame Heidd said before pointing at the wound on Geru’s neck. “That needs some cleaning and tending so it doesn’t get infected.”

  “It won’t, my dame,” Geru said.

  The old woman looked him up and down. “You’re a healer now?”

  Stifling a smile, he hung his head.

  Etana reacted to Marye’s account with an enthusiasm that matched Nyssa’s. She was overjoyed and proud that her bit of research had helped. As it happened, she had some exciting news of her own to share. Areg had just left for Zeefede on his first mission as part of the LOR superintendent’s security detail.

  When the commlets were put away, Duko turned to Jancel. “Just think of the implications of this for our cause! Boggond may have two hundred hive cyborgs, the police and the army, but we have a dragon.”

  “We aren’t at war last I checked.” Jancel raised an eyebrow. “Our cause is a political one, not revolutionary. Besides, shouldn’t it be Geru’s decision if he wants to fight?”

  “I don’t want him to fight.” Duko leaned in. “I don’t want anyone to fight. But what do we do if our efforts fail and Boggond wins the Endorsement Vote? We can’t let that happen.”

  Geru squared his shoulders. “If he wins, we’ll regroup and reassess our options. I’ll fight as a dragon if the Association deems it necessary.”

  “Why do you think Horbell went to such lengths with you and the other dragon?” Duko asked him. “The man has hive cyborgs, monster animals, and advanced weaponry. I wouldn’t be surprised if it turns out he’s built a fusion bomb, too, despite the ban.”

  Jancel shook his head. “Fusion bombs require special installations and chemicals that can be found only in one or two places in the galaxy. LOR has sealed those places off. That’s why he’s so keen to have dragons.”

  “Apparently, if our mate is… if she’s…” He glanced at Marye, then pursed his lips and turned away.

  “Killed,” she said it for him.

  He turned back to Duko. “That triggers us to explode, causing destruction comparable to what fusion bombs do.” His shoulders sagged.

  Dame Heidd banged the table, palm flat, and stood. “Enough of this.” She turned to Marye. “Come with me. I’ll show you to one of the empty rooms, where you can wash and”—she glanced at Geru—“change out of that loincloth.”

  She gave Jancel a meaningful look.

  “I’ll get him some clothes,” her son said.

  “Thank you.” Geru bowed and headed straight to Iyatt. “May I have a word?”

  Iyatt stared at him.

  “I am sorry for your loss, and I’m so very sorry for my role in it,” Geru said. “I’ll understand if you never want to see me or speak to me. You have every right to hate me.”

  “I did hate you. I was so angry at your gullibility, your poor judgment—” Iyatt pressed his lips and shook his head as if to stop himself from saying more. “But I’ve gotten over it.”

  Geru stared into his eyes. “How? There’s no justifying what I’ve done… If there’s a penance you can think of—”

  “You’ve done your penance.”

  Geru swallowed, visibly thrown by Iyatt’s words.

  “You’ve punished yourself enough.” Iyatt smirked. “Yourself and Marye. It hasn’t brought Unie back. Nothing, neither my rage nor your atonement, can bring her back.”

  Geru’s eyes darkened and a vein at the side of his jaw throbbed.

  Iyatt exhaled, his expression lightening. “If you want to honor Unie’s memory, dragon man, take good care of your mate and your loved ones.”

  A buzzing sound came from Iyatt’s pocket.

  He pulled out his commlet, glanced at the screen and rolled his eyes. “It’s her again.”

  Jancel looked up. “The hooker?”

  “Yes. I’m not answering.”

  Nyssa knit her eyebrows. “What is this about?”

  Iyatt told them about a woman—a brothel bird—who’d reached out a few days ago saying she had a message from Unie. A message she’d received last week from Aheya’s Garden. He’d hung up on her.

  Nyssa frowned. “That sounds crazy.”

  “I know women like her,” Iyatt said. “Vultures, that’s what they are. They prey on people’s grief and desperation. They’d do anything for money. Selling their bodies is just one of the many dishonorable things they do. Conning is another.”

  “She must’ve somehow found out about Unie and you, maybe through a common acquaintance,” Jancel said. “And now she wants to use that to her advantage.”

  Rhori scrunched his face. “What if she’s telling the truth? Shouldn’t you at least hear her out?”

  “She’s full of shit.” Iyatt gazed at his still vibrating commlet. “Fine—I’ll pick up, but just to tell her to bugger off.”

  He barked “hello” into his commlet and listened for a few moments, his expression changing from livid to confused and then to incredulous. His face was white when he hung up.

  Dropping the commlet into his pocket, Iyatt trained his gaze on his hands.

  “What? What did she say?” Nyssa asked.

  “She brought up something very private.” Iyatt looked up at her. “Something only Unie could’ve known.”

  First Epilogue

  Geru’s family and Lord Atiz had gone into hiding posthaste and brought to the Refuge before Ultek’s men got to them. They would’ve made for perfect leverage to reel Geru and his mate back to Tastassi.

  Timm had traveled to Norbal, now that the Gokks’ relocation there was compromised. Boosted by a handsome reward and using Haddu Gokk’s power of attorney, he’d canceled most of the transactions Geru had made, and paid the fines where cancelation dates had passed.

  Before leaving, Hente’s biggest smuggler had arranged for one of his shippers to take Geru to Drecer. Colonel Yaggar had recommended his home planet for a good reason. The prosperous Homeland Arm colony was known for its attachment to the rule of law and, just as importantly, for its short administrative delays.

  With a little help from the colonel’s parents, Geru had transferred the Gokk and the Atiz businesses to Drecer and obtained residency permits within just three weeks.

  Talk about speedy administration!

/>   Over the following week, the Gokks and Lord Atiz, with the best of his antiques collection, used the same shipper to move to their new home.

  Neither Father nor Lord Atiz relished the prospect of having to start again “at their age” in an unfamiliar environment. But Mother fell in love with the planet where educated women had career options beyond those of a vestal priestess or a healer.

  The twins fell in love with the hunky winged cyborgs Drecer teemed with.

  Benty decided he wanted to be a flyborg when he grew up.

  Geru vaulted back to the Refuge to get Marye, who’d stayed behind so she could spend some time with Nyssa and Aynu and learn to operate the printing machines.

  Their plan was to settle down on Drecer and make frequent trips to the Refuge. They wouldn’t put unnecessary pressure on its provisions, could still help out when needed, and take part in the Association’s work.

  “I’m happy for you two, but also sad you’re leaving,” Nyssa said to Geru over dinner in the communal room.

  She turned to Marye. “It’s been so much fun to have you around! Can’t you persuade your man to stay?”

  “Careful what you wish for,” Marye said, chuckling. “We’ll be popping in so often you might tire of me.”

  Nyssa rolled her eyes. “Tire of you? Not a chance. Will you at least stay through tomorrow?”

  Marye turned to Geru. “Do we have to leave tonight?”

  She’d spoken those words aloud. The link between their minds had weakened over the intervening weeks, and they could no longer hear each other’s thoughts.

  “We can vault tomorrow,” he said.

  She turned to Kerilaga, radiant. “I’ll make pancakes for breakfast if we have enough eggs and milk.”

  The old woman nodded.

  After dinner, Kerilaga played the tar, and the young couples danced. Geru hadn’t had a chance to make love to his mate since their afternoon on the shore of the mountain lake eight weeks ago. He was famished for her, for their joining.

  And he apprehended it.

  When Kerilaga, Nyssa and Jancel retired for the night, Marye turned off the power-candle in the communal room. They crossed the short distance to their room in silence.