by Celeste Raye
Maneuvering in the caves meant staying in the form of man. The Talonians would have preferred practicing with the weapons in dragon form, but they could not show the weapon to the always hovering Savra. The less the enemy knew, the better the chances of annihilating them.
Tae balanced the light weapon in his right hand and pointed it at the rock his group was using as a target. It was covered with black holes from the lasers. They had set the lasers on the lowest setting so that the rock was not instantly exploded. It had to last until the end of practice. Tomorrow a new one would be put in its place. Tae was impressed by the accuracy of his fellow soldiers. After missing the rock once each, they seemed to learn how to aim. Tae was competitive. He was currently trying to hit a small hole directly in the center of the rock, not once, but over and over. He succeeded ninety percent of the time, and the rock eventually cracked in half. He accepted the praise for his expertise along with the praise of the weapon. The discovery and design of the weapon were Kelan's, and he did try to explain that to the others, but they insisted on giving him credit for his work as well.
Tae had slept for only three hours, and his mind was overflowing with how much he had left to do in the mines. The closer they came to manufacturing enough weapons to arm every soldier with at least two, the closer they came to entering a war. Tae would have to fight. His life would be in danger. Once he boarded the spaceship, he might never set foot on his home planet again. He was young enough for this to terrify him. Yes, he was a dragon with the use of dragon fire, and he was proficient with the new weapon, but what did the Savra have in their arsenal? So far, they had just been playing with Talonia. Why pick on a species as strong as weredragons unless you knew that you could destroy them? Tae had always believed that a soldier fought hardest if his home was in danger and yet they were planning to take the fight to the Savra. Was that not to the Savra's advantage? No, he did not wish war to ruin Talonia. However, he wanted every advantage. The nuances of war were beyond his comprehension. It would be prudent to leave planning in the hands of his leaders.
He stopped briefly to check on his family, then made the trek down to the tunnels. Kelan was there to greet him and discuss the progress. "Your friends have been busy. Weapons are piling up faster than expected. In less than a week, we should be armed and ready. There will be more than enough weapons for the fight with the Savra and to protect Talonia. Is the training going well also?” Kelan asked.
"The last group is training now. The weapons are simple and easy to use. Our soldiers are praising them. Your design is excellent, and the atmosphere has not been affected. I know that was your biggest reason for going to Earth. Winning the war would be great, but if the atmosphere was destroyed in the process, what good would winning do? We would all die anyway. I am beginning to worry about the war itself. Many of us may not come home. I am afraid of being in that number," Tae admitted.
"It is true. You cannot have war without death. I do not relish the idea of sending men to their deaths, but if we do not, we could lose our entire species. Women and children would die. Fighting on Savra is not ideal, yet it is the best we can do under the circumstances," Kelan explained. "I do not want to lose you, my new friend. Please, do your best to return safely. Michelle would like to meet my apprentice. She is grateful for the respite you have given me and wants to thank you herself. When the final weapon has been manufactured, will you come to dinner at my home?"
Tae was in awe. His mentor was inviting him to his home. Kelan was a high-ranking soldier, despite his demotion for bringing a human to Talonia. He lived in one of the largest homes high in the sky. Tae's home was small and far closer to the ground. Would he ever attain such riches? He would get a chance to see how the rich lived if he accepted the invitation. More importantly, Kelan had called him a friend and that was better than being rich.
"You have not answered," Kelan said. "Have I offended you in some manner?"
"No, sir. I was just surprised by the invitation. You are of the elite, and I am far beneath your station, yet you referred to me as a friend and asked me to your home. I am honored to say yes. Are you certain this is what you wish?"
"Of course, I wish it. Titles are meaningless when it comes to friendship. Honor, hard work, truthfulness, and integrity are what I desire in a friend. You have shown all of those and much more. I am proud to have you in my home. You will be a fine example for my son to follow," Kelan explained.
"I hope to follow in your footsteps, sir. You are my mentor," Tae answered. "Your son is lucky."
Chapter 4
Tae
Tae cautiously entered the building and stepped onto the platform that served as an elevator. The building containing Kelan's home was massive and far more opulent than the one he had lived in all his life. This one was closer to the king's in size and height. As the platform rose, he tried to shake his nervousness. There was nothing to be concerned about. It was just dinner with Kelan and his family. He talked freely with his superior every day. Today was no different. He would formally meet Kelan's human wife and their son, the boy who everyone gossiped about as if he were too special to touch.
Tae pushed the buzzer to announce his arrival. The door was opened by a slender woman with long black hair and big brown eyes. She had an inviting smile on her pretty face. "Hi, you must be Tae. I'm so glad you could come. My husband talks about you all the time." The woman motioned for him to enter. "I want to personally say thanks for making it possible for Kelan to spend a little time with Keshel and me."
Before Tae had a second to answer, a small boy came rushing in. He let out a roar and tried to tackle Tae. "I will save you, Mommy. Bad man will go away!"
Michelle tugged her son off of her guest saying, "I'm sorry. Keshel sees you as a stranger, and he's very protective, just like his father." She turned to the child and explained, "This is Tae. He's not a bad man, and he won't hurt me. He works with Daddy in the mines. Be nice and say hello."
Keshel held out his tiny hand to shake Tae's. His big brown eyes studied Tae's as if he could read his soul. The intelligence and fire behind the child's eyes was almost frightening. "Hello, Daddy's friend."
Crisis averted, Tae followed Michelle to the patio. Tae could only stand and stare at the view. He saw the waterfalls and mountains of his world on a daily basis, but never from this vantage point. You could reach out and touch the magnificent waterfall. For a weredragon, this was heaven. He was among the clouds without flying. Kelan was truly blessed to live here.
Michelle was grinning. "I had the same expression on my face the first time I stepped out here. It never fails to thrill me. Talonia is a spectacular planet."
"I knew it. You stayed for the waterfall, not me," Kelan joked from the doorway.
"Of course, but you're a nice perk as well," Michelle teased as she kissed his cheek.
Tae blushed. He was uncomfortable with the display of affection. He felt like an intruder upon seeing the love they had for each other.
"Tae is red," Keshel announced.
"Yes, son. We have embarrassed him. I think we better remember we have company. Welcome to our home, Tae. I hope you're hungry. Michelle cooked everything in sight."
It was Michelle's turn to blush. "I simply didn't know what Tae liked, so I made a variety. Don't knock my logic."
Tae had no idea what she meant by her last words. He supposed it was Earth speech of some sort. Michelle seemed to say many things differently, though most of the time he understood her meaning. He found her amusing.
The foursome settled down for dinner. Keshel liked to talk, a lot. Michelle called him a chatterbox. Tae filed that word in his mind to use against his little sister, who talked incessantly. He found the courage to ask questions about Earth.
"What is your world like? Does it have waterfalls, mountains, and homes in the sky?'
Michelle replied, "It has waterfalls, but they are spread throughout our planet, and there aren't even close to the number you have here. Earth has mountains as well,
but they too are spread far apart. Some regions are very flat, while others contain huge mountain ranges. The mountains vary: some are snow covered, and others are green. We do have homes that are built high in the air. They aren't like yours, though Kelan had one designed that closely resembled this one. Homes in the sky on Earth are part of a solid building. Each floor holds several homes, and they are many stories tall. It's hard to explain. Kelan is an excellent artist, so maybe he can draw a picture."
"I make renderings of weapons, not usually buildings, but I can do this," Kelan stated.
"Don't be so modest. You designed the office on Earth and the living quarters. The drawings were extremely detailed," Michelle replied. "I'm going to put Keshel to bed. Enjoy a drink while I'm gone."
"You will like this drink. We brought it from Earth. It is called whiskey. It is very potent, like the liquor we make from the mountain plants. Careful, it burns going down," Kelan warned as he handed Tae a glass of amber liquid.
Tae watched as Kelan tossed the drink down his throat and mimicked his movements. He choked and began to cough. Kelan roared with laughter. "I warned you. It takes some getting used to."
With his eyes watering, Tae said, "It has good flavor and warms you all the way through. It does burn, badly."
"The more you drink, the less it burns and the better it tastes. However, I do not think you should have too much. You are leaving to fight in two days. I do not want you to be ill when you go. One more and that will be enough," Kelan declared.
"You must be careful as well. You will most certainly be in charge of a battalion, and you will need your wits about you. Do you think it is possible for me to be assigned to you?” Tae inquired.
Kelan caught Michelle's sad gaze as she came back in the room. She mouthed the word, "sorry," and gave him a smile.
Kelan took a deep breath and explained, "I would be pleased to fight at your side. However, I am not going to the Savra's planet. My duties are here. I must make sure that the supply of weapons does not dwindle and command the soldiers who remain. If the Savra split their forces and attack Talonia, we must be prepared to defend our home. I am developing a large version of the lasers. It is big enough to take a spaceship out of the sky."
"Why you? Others are now trained to make the weapons, and surely you are not the only one who can command the soldiers," Tae argued. "The larger laser can wait. I will help you when we return."
"I volunteered. I do not expect you to understand my reasoning. You are young and unmated. Michelle and Keshel need protection. I am not willing to trust anyone except myself to care for them. Michelle and I are joined by our souls, and we would give our lives to save our son from the Savra. That duty is ours alone. I will not ask it of another," Kelan announced.
"I should not have questioned you. It was wrong to challenge your choice. I hope that someday I will have the courage and honor it takes to do as you are. You will be missed, but I do understand. Forgive me for speaking without thinking first," Tae begged.
"My friend, you have nothing to forgive. It was a natural assumption that the weapon's builder would be among those fighting on Savra. Michelle, get a glass, and this last drink will be a toast to Tae's safety as well as victory for Talonia."
Two days later, concealed by the darkness of the night sky, the Talonian spaceships left the planet. They followed the trajectory of the Savra vessels, which they had stealthily tracked.
Tae stood at a small window in his ship and watched as Talonia grew smaller. He was deathly pale and sick to his stomach, imagining it to be his final glimpse of home. He had tearfully said farewell to his family and given them all his hard-earned wages. If he died in this war, his younger siblings would have to leave school and go to work or become soldiers. A part of him believed Kelan and Michelle would help them.
The Savra did not foresee the war coming to them. They had not set up extra protection for their planet. Only the main cities had guards. The Talonians landed in the outer regions, surrounding the capital. Their ships were silent and stealthy. They blended into the terrain. Hand signals were used to give orders. Through the darkness, the soldiers snuck closer. Tae's group was sent toward the main gate. Sand blew in their faces, blinding them several times. The Savra lived on a dry, arid world, fitting for lizards. It was completely the opposite of Talonia. Tae hated it on sight.
Tae's leader held up a hand to halt his battalion. The city was contained inside a wall. No wonder they had not set up extra protection. There were guards walking along the tops of the walls and in front of the entrance. Until they gained entry, the new lasers would not be used. The light they emitted would give the Savra a target. Dragon fire would do the same. The leader chose Tae and two other soldiers to go with him. They were to sneak up on the entrance guards and slit their throats.
Tae was a strong soldier, though he hated war. He would kill with the laser without a qualm. However, killing a man up close and feeling his life run out in his hands was a different matter. He would obey orders, but he would suffer for it. Tears sprang to his eyes as he snuck up on his enemy. Shaking uncontrollably, he grabbed the lizard/man around the neck and slit his throat. With blood pouring over his hands, he laid the body gently and silently on the ground. Then, he turned and threw up. Between the sorrow and the stench, he could not help himself.
Done with his task, he met the other three to pry open the gate. As the guards on the wall moved toward the back of the structure, they worked to make an opening large enough to slide through. They paused as the guards made it to the front once more. It was difficult to breathe knowing the Savra had only to look straight down and they would be revealed. Yet, it did not happen. The Savra were too complacent and confident that no one would dare challenge them on their own world. The guards were careless and inattentive. They busied themselves with banter and even eating when they should have been keeping better watch.
Gone again, to circle their city, the Savra left the gate unguarded. They believed their compatriots were still below. Instead, Tae and his team completed their task. One by one, the Talonian army entered the city. They paused each time the guards returned. It took hours for them all to enter. By the time they finished, the sky was growing light.
The Savra came stumbling out of their buildings. Some were half asleep, while others were reeling from a night of revelry. The guards would be changing shifts, and their dead would be noticed. It was time to do battle. The Talonian war cry went up, surprising the Savra soldiers.
The enemy raised their weapons, which resembled Earth's guns. They shot at the Talonians as they sent their women and children into hiding. The Talonians allowed the innocent to escape. They would show mercy to the women and children. As the first blood was drawn from them, the Talonians began to use their lasers. The weapons were effective. Half the Talonians transformed, and weredragons took to the sky. The battleground became chaotic as those left in the form of man fought the transformation. The adrenaline of anger and fear caused their bodies to want to change. Some grew scales, and others breathed fire as they were stuck in mid-transformation.
Tae had the strength to remain fully as a man. He found cover behind a pillar and took out any Savra that were within his range. The Savra purposely stirred up the ground, sending a sandstorm into the air. It blinded the Talonians, including those in dragon form. They could hear the Savra laughing, believing they had won.
Tripping over prone bodies, Tae and his cohorts backed toward the buildings where the sand did not reach. Here the ground was covered with rocks. The Savra could not use the sand against them.
Eveline
Something was wrong. Eveline could hear terrible sounds coming from the surface. There were shouting and cries of pain. Suddenly, her prison was filled with the Savra women and children. There was fear in their eyes. A young woman fells against her cell and Eveline dared to speak. "What is happening? Why are you afraid?"
The woman jumped, uncertain that the words had come from the human. She snarled, "You dare
speak to me, slave?"
"You have come to my prison. I deserve to know why you take shelter here," Eveline replied.
An old woman spoke up, "It does not matter if we tell her. She will die with the rest of us if the creatures get inside." She turned to Eveline and said, "We are under attack. Creatures from another world have come here. They are evil and strange. They can change shape, fly in the sky, and breathe flames. They are called dragons. How they got into the city, I do not know. They did not use flight, or the guards would have destroyed them."
"You have revealed too much, old woman. Mind your tongue," a large Savra soldier had come unnoticed to the prison. He knocked the old woman aside and yanked open Eveline's cell. "You are to come with me. We will see what occurs when these creatures catch sight of you. You resemble their females. In the midst of battle, they will not know the difference. Saving you will be a priority, and we will get the upper hand. You will most likely die during the battle, but it does not matter. A slave is easily replaced. You have been sustained by us too long. Your food is better given to our pets. At least they fight along with us. You are a waste of sustenance."
He dragged Eveline across the floor. She fought him, but the women kicked at her, causing severe pain. When they reached the surface, she was bleeding, and her leg was broken from the women's vicious kicks. The pain left her nauseous. Adding to it, the scent of death was all around. The soldier chained her to a post in the center of the chaos. Through the swirling sand, she saw huge creatures of every color flying in the sky. She was shocked at the sight and in too much pain to overcome it. She lost consciousness.