Later, with the sun trending towards the horizon and turning the water a beautiful molten color and with a soft breeze blowing through the palm trees, Nick sat down to finally relax. He orders a drink with Levine and Kiera, and watches the others playing in the water. A few wargen, a stray kitsune or two, and a group of fey are all swimming around, and Julia’s pretending to be a shark dragon. Much to Drenar’s frustration, he gets dunked again. Joey and Angela are busy chatting about something on the beach, Kyle is frantically trying to keep his golems from becoming underwater deadweights, and the rest are doing short races between the marker buoys.
“Think they need us old dogs?” Levine asks casually while drinking some fancy drink through a straw. A distinct smell of rum and something fruity emanate from the spindly glass, adorned with an orange slice. Nick gently tips his hat back and smiles.
“I think they’re all set.” He tosses back a mix of ginger ale and whiskey–one of his favorites, and takes in the scene. He knows that sun and surf won’t be forever. “Besides, I think you two were almost enjoying yourselves.” Kiera scoffs at that and picks up her drink.
“It would be highly unprofessional to have the current head of the Valkyries consorting with a highly ranked SAF intelligence officer. Imagine the scandal that would cause.” Levine can't help but suppress a chuckle, while Kiera peers at Julia, still giving Drenar a hard time. Nick notes Joey gets soaked while they’re competing for swimming, and scolds both of them in the distance–and punches Drenar in the arm playfully. With his armor scales, it was like getting hit by a foam dart, and he just grinned wildly.
“How come you didn’t bring Mystra, anyway?” Kiera asks Levine a short time later.
“School, mostly. She’s smart as a whip, though. Maybe I’m just a little worried about bringing my family in too close. I have personnel watching everyone’s immediate family members in places where Valkyries might…bring some attention.” Kiera smiles slyly at him.
“Nick, does he ever take a day off?” she inquires with a tip of her hat.
“He does not. Completely incapable,” Nick says with a grin. “One has to think he’s married to his job, first.”
“That’s not how my marriage ended,” Levine said with a grumble.
“We all make mistakes, Levine,” Kiera says assuringly. “Even me. I’m lucky that Julia doesn’t hate me forever for what I did.”
“She was still pretty pissed,” Nick adds–and she gives him the piercing raven glare that he's come to associate with Julia. “Well, from this point forward, we’ve all agreed that we keep everything up front. Including me.”
“Yes, dating my teenage daughter's friend? I’m so glad we’re being honest about that,” Kiera says while peering at him. She does have that look of a bird of prey, eying a tasty lizard. He shrugs it off. He’s faced things almost as terrifying as a Valkyrie in her prime.
“Oh, lay off, Kiera. I know you have your reservations, but Nick here’s a professional, through and through. Wish I could say the same for her and James’ parents. Well, that’s one we’ll have to sort out, we’ve been trying to get information out of them about Magitech Industries. So far, I think they’re holding back juicy secrets.”
“A month?” she sighs. “I’m going to break Celes’ neck if she thinks she can hold out for a deal. Angela’s practically a daughter to me."
“I’ve been backlogged uprooting traitors, writing reports, and taking up my new duties. Not exactly how I wanted my promotion by running over my prior boss with a proverbial lawnmower,” Levine adds with a laugh. “We’ll get what we need from them. In the meantime, let’s get everyone together for dinner. I think it’s about time.”
A short while later, they’d gathered at the resort and had a private room booked. Julia and Drenar both look anxious–it’s their last true moment as kids in this world, Nick thinks with a moment of gleaned insight. Both of them had to grow up so fast, and they needed these last moments of levity and carefree. Angela is to his right, smiling and cheering on Julia, who picked up a paper crown and is just rolling with the absurdity.
“Well, I gotta say, me surviving to my eighteenth birthday–oh, and Drenar, too,” she adds while he nods along, “was a bit of a long shot. The odds were pretty good that we should have been dead and buried by now.”
“Not if I have anything to say about it,” Kiera mutters nearby. But Julia continues to roll along with her speech.
“Anyway, I know we got very lucky, and we pulled off a small miracle a month and change before this. I wanted to say, this day isn’t just about us. It’s about having the people that matter most with you, through the thick and thin of it—all of you guys. I’m proud of you all for toughing it out with some of my zanier ideas, dragon science, bad ideas, crazy ideas, and more! And for those small moments where I’ve not always known what to do next.” She glances around the table, biting her lip gently. “Mom, I know we have our differences on some stuff. And some of you guys have been…subject to some of the back-and-forth spirited dialogue.”
“Dearie, we know. It’s been a hard time. I still love you, dear. You and Drenar have stood head and shoulders above the responsibilities that people your age normally carry. I think a few blunt words have been expected.” The rare concession from Kiera is noteworthy.
Julia smiles faintly, and there might be a glimmer of mist in her eyes. It’s been ages since he formally became an adult. Or a young drake, as some of the other dragon-born would call him. Julia continues with her heartfelt speech. “Anyway, I don’t wanna spend any more time doing speeches–that’s what Drenar is for!” She more than nudges him to the forefront, and he runs a finger through his hair–does he ever fix that wild mane? It's gotten longer than it ever was, and yet, he hasn’t gotten a single bit of stubble.
“Way to put me in the spotlight, Tsundere,” he says with a bit of bite. He glances around the table and has that distant for a moment. Drenar can get a little emotional at times, and this is one of those rare moments he is.
I used to be like him. Before I got jaded, and believed that the world had been in a tailspin for a long time. I used to think nothing I did was going to fix it. Maybe with the Luminaires, we can turn the tide a little bit. All eyes are on Drenar, and he taps the table gently.
“Okay, I’ll keep it brief. I’m eighteen, leading a group of misfits from an ancient peace-keeping militia, and my mom’s the ultimate badass of the Valkyries. I likely have a bounty on my head, courtesy of one murder happy dragoness. Kids, do yourself a favor. Don’t try to out singing murderous divas. Because that’s how we got here,” he adds with a small laugh. Julia is in stitches trying not to laugh. The fact that he can be relaxed about this, speaks to his remarkable tenacity.
“Boo, longer speech!” Joey heckles with a grin.
“Okay, fine. Longer speech, then. I’m proud of all of you guys. I couldn’t have a finer group of friends, fellow warriors, arcanist experts, and people who have served as mentors and guardians for all of us. We got here through tenacity, and being there for each other. Plus, more than a little daring. We have a lot of work ahead of us, and people counting on us. So we need to train hard. And thoughtfully.”
“Still on the hook for weapons training tomorrow,” Nick finally chimes in.
“Still sounds like a birthday present,” Drenar grins. “Alright enough with the fancy words, let’s eat, and get the most out of our last day before we fling ourselves back into danger!” Without any additional hesitation, everyone digs into the meal, hard-earned after a busy day on the beach. He can’t remember the last time he had prawns–it has been a while, and surprisingly not on his shopping list. He’s going to have to fix that.
The evening wanes on, with everyone talking, joking, and doing their best to be…well, young one last time. Angela keeps stealing glances at him, those grey-blue eyes always examining him with interest. They talk about a few facets of missions of years past that he hasn’t shared yet–and of some of his more difficult hunts in the wilds. She’s never deterred from knowing any of the details–even going to ask him how he prepared ambushes, details about monsters, and a few mishaps that Joey laughs about.
“No way! Did Nick run away from a monster? That’s absurd! Heart of bravery, from this one!” Angela says defensively. Joey looks confident while leaning in.
“Well you see, when the Kryngaxx gets into their territorial defense mode, there’s almost nothing that can stop them. So, Nick and Amaranth were dragons flying like lizards out of hell, I’m on Amaranth and firing off every alchemical round I have on me, to slow it down! That canopy in the Amazon was too thick to take off from, so we’re booking it through the underbrush! Man, that was scary.”
“You never said you participated in the hunts!” Angela says with a laugh. Joey tosses back her hair and smiles.
“Well, I was there for research. Nick prefers the catch and release, or at least to get rid of only dangerous monsters that will actively hunt Kin. Though, there are big monsters out there that even he won’t tangle with.”
“Oh?” Angela says with a sly smile. “Do tell me, how did you get out of that one?”
Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
“By hiding. It wasn’t fun. That Kryngaxx nipped my tail,” he grumbles. “Joey then proceeded to gum up its mouth with some alchemical foam. That bought us enough of a distraction to keep running, and lead it far and away from some campers. I mean, it was technically a success…but big guns and tactical knowledge don’t always cut it.”
“Proof that even our resident hunter knows his limits,” Joey says proudly with a pat on his shoulder. “Ah cheer up Nick, knowing your limits is important.”
“Yeah. I need a full team roster for big hunts like that,” he concedes. “I could have used an unstoppable tsundere dragon then. And, maybe a subtle application of force.”
The evening grows late. Everyone eventually filters to their guest rooms, and Nick notes that there might be some slight changes in room assignments. Julia subtly sneaks into the room Drenar and James are sharing, and Drenar is busily chatting with Joey on a couch in the commons. Nick however, wants a little bit of quiet time, away from the noise. He’s still in his swim trunks, and heads out to the pool and jacuzzi tub.
There’s a cooler breeze going, now that the sun is down, and the scent of tropic fruits, flowers, and other greenery fills his nostrils. He sits down in the jacuzzi, not even bothered by the warmer temperatures.
As a Hinterland green, he could almost sit in a lava bath. He’s heard a daring few dragons have tried, but that sounds remarkably dangerous, if not outright lethal. He leans back and leaves a towel by a bench nearby, taking in the moon rising over the resort. He’s not worried about security–a few SAF agents had also been tagging along, a few close friends he knows he can trust for their steadfast support. He glances up at that starry sky, noting the light pollution out here is virtually nonexistent.
One has to wonder if there’s anything left of the gate colonies. Did the outsiders wipe them all out? Or, are there still fellow Kin among the stars, gazing in our direction, and wondering what happened to us during the Schism War? He knew some of the history, but not all of it. He allows himself to submerge up to his neck, relaxing in the stream of turbulent water. He closes his eyes, and takes in the sounds of the breeze, a distant sound of nighttime insects…
And bare feet walking across the patio? He turns to see Angela, hair let down and gazing at him. She’s clutching at her swimsuit, and wearing an anxious smile. How did she know where he was?
She only hesitates a moment, before sliding down into the tub, and lets out a soft gasp at the hot water. He peers around, and realizes they are in a rather secluded spot–the windows on the far side are dark, and there’s a retaining wall and some plants closer to this side, obscuring the spot from prying eyes. They’re alone for now. He tilts his head in curiosity, and she keeps looking like she wants to say something.
I hope I’m reading this wrong. He has a pretty good idea of what she wants to talk about, and he motions gently. “I’m not that rough around the edges,” he assures her.
“You have a few rough edges,” she says, her hands on her hips, and looking confident. “How come you’re out here?” She does edge around to be seated next to her, all pale skin, freckles, and lithe musculature tantalizingly close. He hadn’t tried to get close to her–not on purpose, anyway. It also didn’t help that he still effectively looks like a teenager. His Awakening hit a little earlier than most; At fifteen, it’s pretty uncommon.
“Ah, I just needed to sit back, take a moment, collect my thoughts.” He’s still thinking in the back of his mind about how all this is about to disappear, this moment of calm. There’s nothing ahead of her but heartbreak, violence, and losing faith in humanity, by his measure. But Angela picks up on his distant gaze, and edges closer.
“Nick, I know that tone. You’re worried. You do a good job of deflecting, but I know when you’re worried.” He doesn’t flinch when she presses up against him, gently. “Why don’t we just talk, the two of us?”
He relents and sits up in the tub. Maybe he did read it wrong? He purses his lips for a second while thinking about how to proceed. “Alright. I’m concerned that the training we’re doing isn’t enough. I worry about what’s going to happen when we run into an impossible situation. Or, when we watch the Talons lose their restraint, and start committing atrocities. I’ve lost good fellow agents who just couldn’t handle it. Combat has a way of bringing out the worst in people.”
“You think we can’t?” she questions.
“I think you can handle just about anything, if I’m being candid.” She’s still wearing that solemn expression.
“Are you saying that because you have feelings for me?”
“I’m saying that, because I know you have the drive and ambition to be a Valkyrie or a Luminaire, Angela. You’ve come further than Drenar, even.” Her lips crease upward.
“Flatterer.”
“No, I mean that. I’m surprised Kiera didn’t try to poach you, yet. Though, I can imagine she might want to avoid any awkward conflict of interest or favoritism, if she doesn’t,” he adds with a wry smile. “Now, getting back to the dragon in the room–or jacuzzi, in this case? Yeah, I have feelings for ya. Just throwing that out there.”
“The kind of feelings that…might go further than friends?” His heartbeat quickens–nothing scares him, but this gets mighty close.
“Only if you’re willing. I’ve got baggage. Some, you know, by my reputation. Other stuff…well…”
He thinks back to fighting in the mud against Menazarri zealots, trying their best to take over a small island nation. SAF had been tasked to put a stop to that. What it had turned into was a horrorscape of bodies, blood, and inventive deaths by those zealots. He’d lost two people he considered friends. Just the thought of the carnage sends a shudder down his spine.
She sees it and wraps both hands around the back of his neck. The press of her body is close, and her voice is soft–like satin over glass. “You know I gave this a lot of thought, Nick. I spent two years trying to patch a hole in Drenar and Julia’s souls. I know how hard it can be. I know there are a lot of things you don’t talk about, but you don’t have to be this reserved, stoic stick in the backside all the time.”
“You might not like the old me. There are demons buried down there, Angela.” Flirting with murkvine a decade ago had been his wake-up call, and he threw the stuff to the wayside after his mother’s death. “I’ve seen a lot of awful stuff.”
“I have, too. You think I’ve forgotten Val, with half her face burnt off, and healing in record time? Do you think that didn’t register as an utter horror show? Or the fact that she hacked people apart like she was a butcher?” She pauses and waits for his response. “I saw people burned to a crisp. I saw people die horribly, Nick. None of that comes close to knowing I was dead for fifteen minutes when I was five, and even that has dulled with time. I got through all of those, because we have collective friends that have been through absolute hell, and we’ve held each other together.”
He forgets that she’s no longer a stranger to that kind of trauma. “I have seen, and done awful stuff, Angie, to protect my teammates. Those kinds of things stay with you for a lifetime.”
“Then we face them, together.” She draws close, her forehead gently pressing against his, and she looks down, eyes closed and deep in focus, and her voice is barely a whisper. “I should be dead and buried right now, Nick. But I’m alive. I’m living the life of my choosing. There’s a reason Sam and I were brought back to this world, and my parents have said nothing. They still claim the shard of mana in my body is some sheer luck that kept me alive. I don’t buy that for a second. I don’t know if I’m going to like what I find when I get the truth out of them, or if Joey’s expertise uncovers something. But, I will keep marching forward to keep this world safe, and the people I care about. Including you.”
Her words stop all his attempts to keep distance in their tracks. She’s committed to this. And it’s not something he planned for. “You have to promise me one thing, Angie. When we’re out there, in the field, against these monsters who kill people without a second thought, or enslave kin and exchange them like trading cards? Don’t ever lose yourself. I mean that.”
“That sounded suspiciously like a ‘yeah, I want you in my life’, Double-O dragon,” she says, with just the faintest trace of joy.
“I don’t want to lose the most important people in my life–you included–to the horrible things people can do to others. Especially when their actions and violence are unchecked.” She opens her eyes, a calm gaze inches from him. “Drenar has it right. We keep the high morale ground, wherever we can. I’ll be the professional with the stick up my backside, keeping us alive, and making sure we can go to sleep at night, knowing we did the right thing.”
“There’s the Nick I know and love. Now, where were we?”
“Somewhere where canoodling isn’t going to be readily observed.” Her eyes light up with delight.
“Hah. Coincidence?”
“I’ll let you be the judge,” he says with a wry smile before she closes the gap.
It looks like he’s the prey of the hunt—this time.
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