Rocor (Dragons of Kratak Book 5)

by Ruth Anne Scott

  “Wait,” he said.

  A column of men in plain black armor, wearing helmets that obscured their faces, came rushing into the courtyard. Yurat's fighters parted, clearing the way for the men in black – and like us, their faces were etched with astonishment.

  The men in the black armor paid no attention to us, but quickly took up positions in the courtyard and began laying down a heavy field of fire. What remained of Gravus' men were cut down quickly, efficiently, and ruthlessly.

  More of the black armored men emerged from inside the Ministry building – they'd apparently worked our plan to completion. They'd apparently cleared the Ministry of all threats. And just like that, the battle was over. Gravus' mercenaries and the Ministry's soldiers had either all been killed or had made their escape somehow.

  In what seemed like a matter of moments, the day had gone from won, to lost, to won again. And yet, it wasn't Unduthian fighters who had claimed the day.

  “Who are they?” I asked.

  Byr shook his head. “I don't know.”

  My immediate thought was that an alien military force was using our civil war as cover for launching an invasion – an invasion meant to enslave Unduth. I kept my weapon at the ready. I didn't know what was going on, but I was going to fight.

  One of the black-clad soldiers approached us. He stood a moment staring at us – though, I couldn't see his face from behind his darkened helmet.

  “Who are you?” I asked.

  “You two,” he said, his voice sounding tinny and robotic coming out of his helmet's comm device, “come with me. Now, please.”

  Byr and I exchanged a look and he gave me a small shrug. We weren't being threatened, we weren't told to drop our weapons, we weren't being held at the point of a weapon – and he'd used the word please. If this was an alien invasion, it was the politest one I'd ever heard of.

  We followed the man out of the courtyard and back toward the park where our transports had originally set down. There were a number of other, smaller craft in the park now. All black and bearing no markings of any kind – like the armor of the mysterious men.

  “Follow me, please,” the man said.

  He touched a control panel on the side of one of the black crafts and a door slid upward, revealing a dimly lit interior. We followed the man inside and he closed the door behind us, touching another button that presumably locked it. The feeling of apprehension was thick within me and the knot in my stomach was as tight as it had ever been.

  I looked over at Byr – his face was tight with tension and I could see that he had a tight grip on his weapon. What was going on here? Another soldier in that non-distinctive black armor stood up as we entered the cabin and looked at the man behind us.

  “Are we secure?”

  The man behind us nodded. “We're secure.”

  “Losses?”

  “Two,” the man said. “Both have been secured as well.”

  “Good,” said the soldier in front of us.

  My grip tightened on my weapon as the soldier reached up and removed his helmet – and then my heart almost stopped entirely. The soldier wasn't a man – it was a woman.

  It was Riley.

  I turned around, already suspecting who the second soldier was and smiled when I saw that I was right. It was Vink. I shook my head, not believing what I was seeing or what had happened.

  “It's nice to see you two again,” she said. “You're looking a little battle hardened, but none the worse for wear.”

  “Thanks to you,” Byr said, heaving out a big sigh of relief.

  “But how?” I asked. “Why did – ”

  Riley smiled. “We didn't,” she said. “We were never here.”

  “Yeah, but – ”

  “Optorio cannot be involved in the internal conflicts of other planets,” Vink explained. “The King of Optorio cannot tell another world how to govern their people. Which is why officially, he has taken no position on the rule of Unduth and has taken no sides in your civil war.”

  Riley nodded. “Optorio and Unduth have been allies for a very long time,” she said. “And Jendrish is unwilling to do anything that would jeopardize that longstanding friendship.”

  I nodded, finally understanding. Jendrish couldn't take a public position, so he'd sent in a covert force to help us claim victory. The relief I felt was as thick as the smoke in the air outside. I couldn't believe it and felt weak in the knees because of it. Byr put his arm around my waist, helping me keep my balance.

  “I just – I can't believe this,” I said. “I don't even know how to begin to repay you for – ”

  Riley shook her head. “There is nothing to repay. Remember? We were never here.”

  “Right,” I nodded. “Of course.”

  “You're free now,” Riley said, “to build your world. To build it in the best way you can.”

  I stepped forward and threw my arms around Riley, our armor making it an awkward, clumsy hug, but I hugged her tight nonetheless. When I finally released her, I turned and did the same with Vink – which was made even more awkward given the fact that he wasn't the hugging type. But we managed.

  We stayed and talked with them a little while longer – it was genuinely nice to see Riley again. She was somebody I respected and admired a tremendous amount. And I couldn't have been more thankful to her than I was in that moment.

  Eventually though, they had to go. Riley and her troops couldn't risk being seen or recognized by anybody.

  Hand-in-hand, Byr and I stood there, watching the last of the Optorion ships ascending through the clouds and into the atmosphere.

  We were left alone with each other – and a new world to build.

  Chapter Eleven

  It had been a year since the day the Ministry fell. And in that time, we'd taken some great strides toward building a new, better Unduth. One of our first acts was to establish a truly representative government – one that would work for all the people. All of the old customs and traditions that had governed Unduthian life for so long, had been abolished.

  Of course, there was plenty of resistance to our reforms. That had been expected. But we handled them as best we could.

  Manyr had survived the fight at the Ministry and had risen to a prominent position within Unduth's new government. Having done plenty of research on other world governments, we had adopted a parliamentary style system, which meant that Manyr was our Prime Minister. She was accountable to our two co-equal houses of government, but she was in effect, our leader. All final decisions rested with her.

  It was a good first step, but hardly the only one. True change and progress was going to take time. Although the people on the fringes embraced these reforms and yearned for genuine equality, the former upper-class remained largely resistant.

  Knowing that we could wind up with another coup on our hands, we'd formed a military to protect the interests of the people and our government. Our military would do our very best to maintain peace and order, but we also made it clear that we would quell any uprisings aimed at taking us back to Unduth's old ways.

  There were plenty of mechanisms in place for the people to air their grievances with the government – and I truly hoped that people would use them. That was the only way to have an effective system of governance – participation by the people and government accountability to the people.

  Byr and I did our best to stay out of the formation of the new government. All we wanted was to live a quiet life and enjoy this new world of ours. But try as we might, Manyr and her people wouldn't let us go. Not entirely. She named us special ambassadors to Optorio. It was an honor and one we could not refuse.

  Plus, it wasn't too taxing and allowed us to see Riley and Jendrish again quite often, so the position had its perks. The King and Queen of Optorio were good people and had become true friends to us and I counted my blessings for it.

  Byr and I stood on the balcony of our new home overlooking the bright lights of Kinray. As I watched the streets below bustling with
activity, knowing that these people lived beneath a blanket of freedom and equality, I couldn't help but smile.

  Byr's family lived in a nice house within the city and we saw them often. I'd grown close to his mother and actually felt like she was more of a mother to me than my own had ever been. Though her diagnosis was still terminal, the doctors were doing a fantastic job of extending her life as long as possible. My hope was that they would one day soon, find a cure for the disease that ravaged her body.

  Even a year later, the reality that we'd done it, that we'd destroyed the Ministry and had won our fight, was overwhelming and at times, still unbelievable to me. But we had. And I was happy. And as I looked over at Byr, I realized that I was happier than I ever thought I could be.

  I raised my glass to him. Riley had sent along a few cases of that amazing Optorion wine I'd grown so fond of – and I was eternally thankful for the gift. But this was to be my last glass of it for a while. As I looked at the liquid by the lights of the city, I lamented that fact – but also rejoiced in it.

  “To my dear husband,” I said.

  He touched his glass to mine, sounding a soft clinking noise. “And to my dear wife.”

  We each took a sip, looking deeply into one another's eyes. “We did it,” I said. “I still can't believe it, but we did it. Unduth is becoming the world we've always wanted it to be.”

  He nodded. “It is. And I couldn't possibly be any happier than I am right now.”

  I raised an eyebrow at him. “No? Don't think so?”

  He looked out over the city, a satisfied smile spreading across his face. “I don't think so. This is everything we've always wanted.”

  I took another drink of the wine, savoring it. “Well, it's sad that you don't think you can be any happier,” I said, feigning a pout. “Because I have news I thought would make you the happiest man in the galaxy.”

  “Oh?” he asked and took a sip of his wine.

  A slow, broad smile spread across my face. “I'm pregnant.”

  The sound of his wine glass shattering against the tile beneath our feet punctuated the look of complete shock on his face – and both made me laugh.

  “A – are you kidding?”

  I shook my head. “No.”

  He scooped me up, wrapping me in a tight embrace, tears flowing down his cheeks – just as they were flowing down mine. He set me down and looked at me, his expression stunned but happy. Byr opened his mouth to speak but found he didn't have words, so he closed it again, instead, pulling me into another embrace.

  And we stood there for a long while, embracing beneath the lights of Unduth's moons and the lights of Kinray, happy, in love, and best of all – free.

  THE END

  20. Legends of Black Salmon Falls (Series Preview)

  Loved by a Bear (Book 1)

  Prologue

  The man took a seat at the counter of the roadside diner. It was late, there was a chill in the air, and it had been drizzling on and off all day long. In other words, just another typical day in the Pacific Northwest. But he was used to it. As a truck driver, he'd made the run up and down through Washington, Oregon, and California more times than he could count.

  But in all his trips up and down the West Coast, he hadn't ever passed through Black Salmon Falls before. He was on his way to Olympia and this popped up as a shortcut that would save him a few hours. So, the man, always looking to do less work than necessary, decided to give it a shot.

  “What can I get you?”

  The man looked up from the menu at the cute, perky little waitress who was husting over to where he was sitting.

  “They got you workin' late,” he said.

  She shrugged. “It's quiet,” she said. “Gives me time to do some homework.”

  The man nodded and looked the girl up and down. She was pretty – had a wholesome look to her, with her long blonde hair and milky white skin. She probably wasn't more than nineteen or twenty. Fresh faced and with a girl next door appeal.

  And the man was suddenly in the mood for something – it just wasn't for food.

  But the man was subtle. Sly. He'd had more than enough practice over the years and all of his trips up and down the left side of the country to know that he needed to bide his time and wait for the opportune moment. He was patient and he was deliberate – skills he'd spent years honing.

  “Homework, huh?” he asked. “What are you studying?”

  She smiled and he thought it made her even prettier. “Nursing,” she said. “I want to be a nurse.”

  The man nodded. “A nurse, huh?” he said. “I bet you'll make a good one too.”

  The girl smiled and her cheeks colored. She had a sweet, quiet way about her. Definitely the girl next door type. Definitely his type. The man felt that familiar surge of energy in his body he got whenever he was on a hunt – whenever he found his quarry.

  And he had definitely found his quarry.

  “So, what can I get you?” she asked.

  He sighed and looked at his menu. “I'll take some coffee. And give me the chicken fried steak special. Fries instead of mashed potatoes, and wheat toast, please.”

  “Sounds good,” she said. “I'll go get your coffee right away.”

  “Thank you –” he squinted and looked at her name tag, “Aubrey.”

  She smiled at him. “Of course.”

  The girl turned and punched his order into her computer. She was a good-looking girl and the man smiled to himself. He hadn't intended to stumble upon this little treasure trove, but he thanked his good fortune for it. He hadn't had a woman in a few weeks and he'd been feeling a little restless. Aubrey had come along at just the right time.

  The man smiled to himself again – apparently, the gods were rewarding him. He wasn't sure what he was being rewarded for, but he'd take it.

  She came back and set his mug of coffee down in front of him. “So, you just passing through?”

  He nodded. “Yup, got a run up north a ways yet,” he replied. “Thought I'd stop in for a little fuel for the last push.”

  “Good idea,” she said. “The last thing you want is to fall asleep on the road.”

  “Yeah, tell me about it.”

  She flashed him another smile and then turned and walked off. She checked on two guys at a table in the corner. He felt a surge of anger rush through him as she laughed and flirted with the two guys. The girl belonged to him. And he didn't like the way she was throwing herself at those two guys.

  A few minutes later, she returned and set his plate down in front of him with a smile. “One chicken fried steak special.”

  “Thanks,” he said and then looked over at the men in the corner booth. “You know those guys over there?”

  “Yeah, they're regulars,' she said. “Local guys. They usually come in for pie and coffee a few nights a week.”

  The man nodded and couldn't completely stuff down that surge of dark anger inside of him. “Yeah? So, which one you screwin'?” he asked. “Both of 'em?”

  The girl froze in place and looked at him, eyes wide, her mouth agape. “Excuse me?”

  “Just a question,” he said. “You seem pretty friendly with 'em. Pretty familiar.”

  The girl let out a sound of disgust and turned away from him, storming off to the other end of the counter. It wasn't his smoothest move, but the man didn't care. She belonged to him. She was his property. And he didn't like the thought of his property being handled by anybody but him.

  The man dug into his meal, keeping on eye on the girl, who was trying to concentrate on her books. But judging by the look on her face, she was having trouble doing it. He'd obviously rattled her. Which wasn't a bad thing. It was part of his routine – he usually just set it up a little bit better. But he relied on his quarry being rattled and upset. It clouded their thinking and kept them off balance.

  And that was exactly how he wanted them. Needed them.

  He drained the last of his coffee and raised his cup, indicating he wanted a refill. Still
looking angry and upset, Aubrey closed her book, grabbed the coffee pot, and walked down to his place at the counter. She didn't smile, make eye contact, or speak to him as she refilled his mug.

  “Listen,” he said. “I'm sorry about before. I just –”

  “It's fine,” she said, her tone telling him it was anything but fine.

  She turned to go, but he grabbed her by the wrist. She cried out in pain as he forced her to turn around and look at him.

  “I'm trying to apologize,” he hissed. “The least you could do was have a little respect.”

  “Please,” she said, struggling to break free of his grasp. “You're hurting me.”

  “I said I was –”

  The man stopped talking when a hand fell onto his shoulder, gripping him tightly. He turned and looked at the man whose hand was on him. Standing behind him were the two guys from the corner booth – the local boys. The two guys his property was probably banging like drums.

  “There a problem here?” the guy with his hand on the man's shoulder asked.

  “No problem,” the man replied. “Just trying to make a point.”

  “Yeah, you can probably make your point without manhandling her,” he said and then in a tone practically dripping with ice, added, “so take your goddamn hands off of her. Now.”

  The man looked at him, fighting back the rage that was bubbling up inside of him. Now, was not the time to let it out. He'd be able to extract his pound of flesh later. On a field of his own choosing. He let go of Aubrey's wrist and she immediately held it close to her chest, rubbing it like it was sore.

  “My apologies,” the man said. “It was a simple misunderstanding.”

  “Yeah, well,” said the guy behind him, “I think it's time for you to go.”

  “I haven't finished my meal yet,” he said.

  “And you're not going to,” the guy said. “You can get another meal somewhere else down the road.”

  The second man stepped in and took the plate off the counter, walking behind the counter and dropping it in a tub of dirty dishes with a loud clatter.

  “Looks like you're done,” he said.