I can see that the old man looks at Diana with care, but I grow suspicious. I wonder how much of his concern is for the young noblewoman, and how much is based on getting the puppet Lord Aeron out of power.
“Are you saying what I think you’re saying?” Diana protests. “You want me to go to the jungle planet with these brutes? How the hell will I ever get back!”
I know I should feel concern for her, but suddenly another pang of jealousy hits me.
Great. This gorgeous, highborn lady – who makes me remember that I’m nothing more than a greasy mechanic – is coming to the jungle planet with us. I have no choice – I’m on the run – but couldn’t she just hide out with Lord Tenderfoot? Or…
Then it hits me.
Oh, Gods! I’m going to go to a jungle planet?
The reality of the situation strikes me like a punch in the face.
Of course I have to go. I’ve poisoned Lord Aeron. I’ve broken three Aurelian fugitives out of jail. If I stay in the Capital – or even Independence itself – it’ll only be a matter of time before I’m caught, executed, or worse.
“I’m scared,” whimpers Tyler.
“I’ll keep these children safe,” Lord Tenderfoot sees my pained expression. “I’ll care for them in secrecy. The jungle planet is no place for a child.”
He snorts, returning to absent-minded scholar.
“They write that there are eagles the size of a transport ship there, and legend even tells of huge, winged reptiles in the sky – like the dragons of the Old Earth legends.”
“No! I’m going with Tammy!” Stacy cries, understanding what we’re talking about. There’s fiery anger in her voice, and I take pride knowing she learned that from me.
I look at Lord Tenderfoot. I can tell he has a good heart – one that is full of grief at the loss of his niece just yesterday.
“You promise you’ll keep them safe? And in secret?”
Lord Tenderfoot nods. “I’m out of the political sphere. I’m just happy to keep to myself and do my research. I enjoy learning more about different cultures, and I have great wealth with which to do so. Plus, no one saw your party entering my estate, and my staff is to be trusted. The children will be safe here.”
I stare at him, trying to tell if I can truly trust the old man or not.
“Once the search has died down,” Tenderfoot reassures me, “the orphans can be moved to a safer planet. No one will be suspicious of orphans having worked with Aurelians – they’ll be seen as victims, unlike the two of you.”
Diana and I glance at each other.
“I can look after them even off-world. I have estates on every planet in this solar system.”
That was all I needed to hear.
I turn and see Stacy looking up at me, her eyes huge and filled with tears. My heart breaks at having to leave her – but if what Lord Tenderfoot tells us of this jungle world is true, then I can’t in good conscience take any of the children there.
I cross the room and give Stacy a huge hug.
“This is what needs to happen,” I reassure her, squeezing her tightly. “You’ll get an education, and you’ll be able to have the life you’ve always wanted.” I lean in closer to her ear, whispering. “…and you need to take care of Tod and Tyler.”
Stacy looks up at me with wet eyes, then nods. She turns to her friends. “Okay guys, we need to be secret. So, no yelling or crying, okay?”
I look down at her with beaming pride. Just as Runner’s fate was twisted by the hateful rhetoric of his father, Stacy has learned bravery and independence from me. I know she’s going to be okay- and Tod and Tyler will too, with her to look after them.
The two boys listen to Stacy’s words and nod reluctantly. Then they rush to me, wrapping their little arms around my body in a huge hug. I squeeze them right back, knowing I’m going to miss them dearly – but if I’m truly going to a distant, jungle planet, I can’t keep them safe anymore.
My heart breaks knowing I might never see them again, but I can’t be selfish and bring them with me.
Eagles the size of a Gods-be-damned transport ship? It’s enough to worry about the kids, but maybe I should worry about myself! I’m going there?
Diana swallows. She’s been trained from a young age to hide her emotions, but I can see them through her calm veneer. “Great… winged… reptiles… What did you call them? You said like… like dragons from the old fairy tales?”
Lord Tenderfoot looks nervous, too. He speaks in the guttural language to the Aurelians. I’m shocked that the three of them laugh in unison – a deep, booming sound that I want to hear for the rest of my life.
Lord Tenderfoot smiles. “There was a dragon, but it was slain many thousands of years ago by a great group of Aurelians… and a beautiful human woman who’s gift to the tribe was to share an amulet that allows communication between your kind and theirs. When you arrive, you’ll not have to learn their language to understand these men.”
A tinge of nervousness goes through me. I feel like I know these Aurelians, but I haven’t yet shared a single word with them other than our names.
What if they’re like the soldiers on the transport ship? Full of machismo and crude jokes? What if they see me as nothing more than an animal to be bred?
My thoughts stop as the Orb suddenly pulses. Tendrils of lightning arc out, but there’s no pain as they touch my body. The Orb caresses me
