Chapter 4
Chapter Four
*** TAE ***
T ae 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.