Dragon Defense (Heirs to the Throne Book 3) (22 page)

Lauryn hid a smile as the sailors chuckled.  She admired how Andrew dealt with burly sailors, using humor and compassion.  He allowed the men to maintain a courageous front in the face of fear.  It was a side of Andrew she’d never seen.

When she finally returned to the deck, she found Salizar sleeping with his head cocked at an awkward angle.  She felt guilty about making him wait and gently bent down to shake him awake.

A dark hand snaked out, seizing her wrist, and Salizar violently threw her onto the deck.  His other hand gripped her throat and restricted her breath while he examined her face with sleepy eyes.  

“Never touch a sleeping desert rider.  You may forfeit your life before he recognizes you.”  He eased his grip but long fingers lazily caressed her slender throat.  His fierce gaze turned sultry as he traced the delicate curve of her jaw.  “You’re beautiful for an infidel.  I almost wish your mission would fail, and I could take you as my wife.”

Angry, Lauryn struggled against his touch.  He leaned close and his hot breath made the hair on her neck tingle.  “Tell me!”

She said, “Tamarind agreed to your plan!  Think about your future bride, not me.”  Lauryn gasped as sensuous lips touched hers.  She lingered in the kiss and found herself yielding as his hand stroked her breast.  The sweet warmth of his lips conveyed urgent desire.  Her body responded by arching into the caress.

Terrified by her passion, Lauryn shoved him away.  “I won’t become your mistress while your bride waits!” 

Salizar’s eyes laughed.  “Your words say no but your body says yes.” 

“You confuse the fright of an untried girl, unaware of the ways of men.  Don’t take me for one of your whores on the dock.” 

Her anger stung him and Salizar stood. “I confuse nothing.  Our law allows a man three wives, and I would offer you the honor you deserve.”

“Honor?”  Her stormy eyes flashed.  “In my land, we marry once and forever!  Don’t forget that I’m the daughter of King Donovan.”

“Perhaps Donovan should teach his daughter that a barefaced woman is fair game in the desert.  Find a protector if you don’t want to be branded a whore!”  He stared into the brooding blue eyes of the red-faced princess.

“I’d rather be a whore than a simpering desert wife!” she hissed.

Salizar’s gaze turned fierce.  “You’d better pray to your gods that Tamarind marries me.  Your oath will make you fill her place and learn the hard lessons of a desert chieftain’s wife. I’d soon teach you to tend to the desires of your master.” He stroked her face.  “There would be much pleasure in the lessons,” he said in a throaty whisper.  The expression in his eyes made her shudder.  “One of you shall lie in my bed before the dark moon rises.”  He sauntered from the deck without a backwards glance. 

Lauryn fought tears and rubbed her arm to vanquish the memory of Salizar’s touch.  Her mind replayed the scene as a tight knot gripped her belly.  She didn’t know if she felt fear or desire and wondered why. 

Andrew watched from the doorway, his mouth a tight white line.  He resisted the urge to comfort Lauryn.  Finally, he joined the sailors’ friendly banter with a boldness designed to mask his stormy emotions.

Maggie entered the door, dressed in a silver radiation suit, flashing a wide smile.  “I’ve got the answer to our problem!”

Dr. Alexander laced long fingers behind his neck and leaned back.  “I thought you might.  I estimated you’d take an hour to find the solution, so you’re getting faster.”

Krystal frowned.  “This is no time for jokes!  Tell us what you discovered, Maggie.  I’m anxious to hear.”

Lauryn came out of the largest room in the Public Baths, where patients lay on makeshift cots.  Alexander moved their headquarters into the building after the mullah cleared the city.  Salizar, the only desert rider who stayed behind, sat in an alcove sharpening his steel blade.  When Maggie arrived he listened intently.

Maggie’s eyes flashed as she plopped a sack onto a table.  “I found this!”

Dr. Alexander peered at the sack. “Is it flour?”

“No, it’s an ancient material called concrete.  Entire buildings were made from this stuff before the invention of plasteel.  If we find more bags, we can repair the radiation leak.”

The doctor peered at the bag.  “Will it suffice?”

“It’s not a permanent solution but we might be able to start the reactor.”

“Why should we do that?” Krystal asked.

Maggie grinned.  “Energy from the reactor is necessary for the force field.”

Doctor Alexander said, “They had a force field?”

“Yes!  It’s powered by the reactor!” Maggie laughed. 

“You mock the gods by invoking holy words.  Only the priests speak those words!” Salizar shouted.  Every eye turned to stare.  “Do not speak these words outside the shrine.”

“Salizar, you recognize the words?”  Krystal stepped closer.  “Did you hear them inside the shrine?”

Salizar shifted his weight and nodded.  “Priests chant the holy words and pilgrims hear.”

Dr. Alexander stared at Salizar.  “We came to save lives.  The gods gave us silver suits and the box that speaks, so they won’t deny us any of their tools.” 

Salizar looked ready to fight, as his hand clenched the handle of his scimitar. Krystal gently placed her hand on his shoulder.  He shrugged away from her touch but met her gaze.  She spoke inside his head,
Fear not, Salizar.
  The silent words echoed in his brain, but he shouted, “I cannot say the sacred chant outside the shrine!”

“Very well, Salizar,” Krystal said.  “We’ll go into the shrine and you can tell us the chant.”  Krystal’s eyes challenged the others to remain quiet.  “Suit up everyone and come to the shrine.”

“I will wear garb of the priests?”  Salizar’s voice was filled with awe.

Dr. Alexander looked solemn.  “Wear my suit.  You’re my height and the fabric stretches over your bulk.”  The doctor handed Salizar the suit. 

He took it with trembling hands and bowed. “I will wear it with humility.”  

*****

Salizar led Krystal and Maggie into the reactor chamber.  He walked solemnly to the great iron door.  The words above the door were unreadable until Salizar started chanting.

“Crete mix storage rum sixtee aht decca.”  He raised his gloved hand and a light blinked on the display panel. “O niner niner six,” he chanted and the door slid open.  The room behind the door held bags of concrete powder.  Maggie clapped her hands but Salizar cast her a sour look.

“Sorry, I’ll behave with more respect.”  Maggie’s eyes betrayed her excitement, but Salizar accepted her pledge and strode to the next door.

He passed his hand over the sensor twice.  A beep sounded and Salizar chanted, “Kleeranz prioritee uno!”  Another beep sounded.  “Aytee niner aht fortee.” 

“Jot down the entry code numbers,” Maggie mumbled to Krystal.  

Krystal nodded and pointed at the open door.  Salizar’s long stride outdistanced the two women.  They ran to catch up as he glanced back.  “Aatee six it!” he said and Krystal held back her laugh.  Spacer language, a numerical shorthand, sounded more strange pronounced with a desert rider’s accent.

“You heard him, Maggie, shape up or ship out.”  Krystal couldn’t pass up the jibe and Maggie bit her lip, trying to look serious.

Salizar stood at a door labeled Control Room and looked grave.  “Will the gods forgive us for disturbing their slumber?”

“You bet they will.”  Krystal stepped past him and said, “Condition red, top priority clearance.  Five o five niner six.” 

The door slid open to Salizar’s amazement.  He followed them inside, making a sign against evil.  “Maggie, can you understand any of it?”  Krystal asked.

“These controls activate the force field and look standard.  We should be A-OK after we fire the baby up.” 

“By the gods!”  Salizar slumped against the wall.  “You speak the old tongue and enter the heart of the shrine.”  His eyes widened and he bowed.  “Mistress of the holy flame, spare this unworthy servant the wasting death.” 

“Stow it mate!” Maggie hissed.  “You’re niners now you’ve teamed up with us.  Let’s mix concrete.  Eighty six it to the storage room and hall ass with those concrete bags to the dock.  Roger that?”

Salizar swayed under the impact of the torrent of words.  “Roger!” he muttered and left the room. 

“Don’t push him too hard, Maggie.”  Krystal warned.

“This really takes me back!  I feel like a drill sergeant breaking in a new recruit.  I’ll go easy on him.  Niners?”

“Niners.  But don’t revert to spacer, Maggie.  Donovan might not appreciate it when we get back to the castle.”

Maggie’s eyes sparkled with mischief.  “Aces, doll.  I’ll eighty-six the spacer lingo at home base.”

“You and Trenton were meant for each other!  Believe me.”  Krystal gave Maggie a mock salute and backed out of the control room.

*****

Krystal was the first to spot dragons winging toward the city.  She almost expected something like this from Felesia but stood with her mouth agape.

Lauryn said, “Felesia learned to fly on a dragon!  I knew she would eventually but this is spectacular!”

“Yes indeed.”  Dr. Alexander said, “It’s a dramatic entrance but it’s a shame so few of us are here to appreciate the spectacle.”  He gestured to the empty streets of the city.

Krystal saw Salizar in a nearby doorway, his face filled with fear.  “It’s not entirely wasted.  I’m sure he’ll spread the tale later.”

The dragons loomed overhead and swooped down to land.  Felesia and Jordan scrambled off their dragons, laughing.  The other dragons roosted on nearby rooftops.

“You should see the expressions on your faces.”  Felesia giggled, hugging her mother and sister.

Krystal eyed dragons peering down.  “I hope you don’t plan to keep them all at the castle.  Can you imagine the reaction of courtiers?”

“I’d love to see them squirm.”  Jordan grinned.  “It might be worth Donovan’s reprimand.”

“This might not be the best time to test Donovan’s temper.”  Dr. Alexander sounded somber.  “He’s got real problems.  Come inside and listen to our news.” 

Large vats of grey sludge were scattered through the inner courtyard.  Samurai women solemnly stirred the lumpy liquid and Felesia noticed grey splattered over skin and garments.  Everyone took a turn stirring the vats.

They devoured food and listened to news about the imminent attack from space.  Jordan absorbed the story and looked toward the vats, manned by a new crew. Felesia explained how they rescued Shariel and her siblings, careful to keep their voices low. 

Jordan said, “Brandon stayed at the spaceport to help Shariel.  I’ll make contact with her and tell them to hide in the caverns during the attack.”

“How long do we have?” asked Felesia.

“Less than twenty-four hours,” Dr. Alexander said.

Jordan nodded.  “How can we help?”

Maggie said, “We mixed the concrete with sand and gravel.  It’s nearly ready, so we can use strong muscles to get it into place.  It must set for twelve hours before our test run.”

“That’s cutting it close.”  Jordan frowned.  “We’d best get started.”

Salizar approached the group.  “Change into these suits.” He held up the silvery garments.  “They protect you from the wasting disease—radiation sickness.” He glanced at Dr. Alexander and grinned.  “Even a desert rider can learn new words.”

“Everyone may learn new words and perform new tasks if we survive.”  Dr. Alexander looked grim.  “The world’s changing and we must change with it.”

“Desert dwellers shift with the sand.  You’ll find us more suited than most to change in a harsh land.”

Jordan and Felesia zipped up the suits and flexed their arms and legs.  “It feels strange but comfortable.” 

Krystal pointed to a large tube connected to a valve. “Follow Maggie and carry that tube.  When we open this valve, we’ll pump concrete through until you signal us to stop.”  Krystal explained.

Maggie slipped on her helmet and tested the communicator.  “Can you hear me?”  Krystal nodded and so did the young people.  “Good, let’s begin.”

Salizar solemnly led the group through the doors to the reactor.  Jordan and Felesia felt awed by the size of the machine but had no time for gawking.  The crack in the surface oozed water.

“Haul the tube over there, Jordan.  Salizar, help Felesia hold the mouth steady over the crack.  It’s important to maintain an even flow.  Lord Dartmouth will help me down here.”  Maggie shouted orders, and Jordan hauled the tube into position.

“Begin pumping, we’re in position.”  Maggie noted the slow expansion of the tube.  It seemed to come alive, whipping across the floor as pressure built up.

Dar gripped the tube with all his strength as concrete slipped through the silver skin.  Salizar and Felesia were nearly flung into the wall as a burst of pressure shot concrete out the opening.  Sludge covered their suits as they gained control over the nozzle.  It felt like they fought a giant snake, writhing and twisting to free itself. 

“Keep the flow steady,” Maggie said. “You’re doing fine.”

Jordan’s muscles trembled as he held the hose over the crack.  Minutes seemed like hours as muck oozed into the hole.  Droplets formed on the surface, seeking an escape along the sea tunnel.  Concrete oozed over the wall and hardened. 

“It’s working!  Hold on, just a little while longer,” Maggie shouted.  The tube continued to fight for its freedom as their hands cramped. 

“Cut the flow, Krystal.  Everyone hold steady until the pressure drops.  It’s almost there, just a few more minutes.”

As the tube flattened, Salizar sank to his knees and Jordan slumped against the wall.  Felesia rested on a pipe fitting.  Their suits and masks were covered with slippery muck but no one cared.  Maggie held the radiation detector over the wet slime and scrutinized the repair.  Would it hold when the reactor started?  

“What I wouldn’t give for a ton of plasteel,” she muttered.  “It’ll have to do.”