Phoenix Rising (Dragon Legacy) (14 page)

Not like it was an emergency, anyway. He doubted anyone would suffer serious harm if their bobble-head dolls came in a few days later than they'd planned on. He found himself suddenly wistful for the days when he'd sneak through corporate barricades, and deliver medicine to people stuck on worlds ravaged by violence or disease. These other shipments paid the bills though, and his accounts were running low right now. Medicine was expensive to ship when you were paying for it yourself, it turned out.

“Eli? Eli Hawk?” a familiar voice called from across the dock. He recognized the face, but couldn't remember the name. He smiled.

“Hey!” Eli said, shaking his head. What was his name? It was driving him crazy. The man walked over, muscles visible through his gray dockman uniform. He wrapped Eli in a strong hug, clapping him on the back before pulling away and speaking with a slight tribal accent.

“I'm glad you made it out of there, my friend! I didn't think we'd see you again, but your timing couldn't be more perfect!” He looked at Eli's ship and cargo. “Still flying this thing, huh?” He laughed, his bright grin contrasted against his deep skin tone. He saw the look in Eli's eyes, and raised his eyebrows, understanding. “Kel,” he said with his hand on his chest. “You brought us medicine for a strepto virus outbreak. Snuck through King Harris's embargo, if I remember correctly,” he grinned.

Then it all clicked. Kel had been one of the men to pick up and distribute the medicine...but that had been over five years ago. “You've grown up a bit, haven't you?” Eli smiled, and Kel let out a rich laugh.

“We all have,” he answered, and pointed at Eli's cargo. “What are you doing after this?” he asked, and Eli shrugged. He didn't really have any immediate plans, strangely enough. He couldn't remember the last time that had been the case.

“In that case, why don't you stay with us tonight? We're throwing a party, and there are many people who'd love to see you again.” Kel gave him a big smile, and Eli decided to go with the moment. Who knew, maybe it could be fun.

“Sure. Just let me finish up here first,” Eli said with a grin. So, Kel told him their coordinates, and Eli plugged in directions so he could find his way over. Before Kel left, Eli asked, “What did you mean, my timing couldn't be more perfect?”

“Oh,” said Kel, “we might have a job for you. Apparently some members of the tribe need a transport to Altonas.”

Altonas? There was hardly anything there. He'd been there once, and the only thing memorable about it had been how completely unmemorable it was. All those mountains and not even enough snow to host the winter sports games. “Altonas, huh?”

“I know,” Kel chuckled, “but we can pay you for it. Mama Teke says it's important they make it there soon.” He shrugged, spreading his hands. “What can you do, eh? But hey, drinks are on me tonight! We make a mean moonshine that'll kick you in the pants.”

An older man yelled over to Kel, and Kel winced. “That's my boss. Gotta go, but I hope we see you later!” He ran back to help with unloading the rest of the seemingly endless cargo shipments that flooded the citadel every day. Took a steady stream of supplies to keep these places running.

He turned back to his own cargo. Skippy was sitting on top of a crate, sleeping. Eli smacked the side of it. “Come on, buddy, we gotta get this done pronto. We're going to see some old friends tonight!” Skippy beeped with joy, and zipped around, finishing the labels in record time. Before Eli knew it, they were done and he and Skippy were off with Slowpoke content to rest at the dock.

Eli whistled an old song as he and Skippy made their way up to Kel's place for the party. “Could be a fun night,” he grinned.

16

The evening had been a blast so far. Eli had forgotten how much fun the tribe was to party with. The moonshine was even stronger and smoother than Kel had promised, and Eli felt himself loosening up as it buzzed through his body, his inhibitions fleeing under its influence. Everyone here was so free, and the dancing around the bonfire was primal. They all danced with bare feet, naked toes sinking into the fertile soil beneath them as the music carried the dancers deep into the night.

He noticed a beautiful young woman of the tribe looking at him as they danced. Her face was painted with the tribe's ritual markings indicating she was unattached, and he felt his pulse quicken as her dark eyes smoldered at him. It was intense, that connection he felt with her under the starlight. The flickering fires cast light and shadow across the throng of bodies in a dance all its own.

Then the song went silent, and everyone cleared a space, leaving her standing alone. Hands pulled Eli back to sit on one of the log benches, and then the new song began. The drums were slow and throbbing, joined by a seductive melody that promised something just out of reach. The lithe young woman danced like silk on water, her toned body flowing in rhythm to the captivating melody and beating drums. As she danced, her eyes were closed, and the men of the tribe would gasp and whisper whenever her dancing turned their way. There must be something going on here, Eli reasoned as he watched, enchanted by the vision she created here beside the living fire.

He was so caught up in the feelings she was stirring within him, he didn't notice when the music stopped, that she was facing him. He was startled back into awareness as her eyes shot open, drilling into him with a fiery intensity he'd never seen. His heart was beating fast, and his mouth was dry. He softly cleared his throat, and she smiled, revealing a brilliant set of white teeth. The tribe cheered, and the music resumed, everyone jumping up to join the new dance.

As the evening progressed, they danced closer toward each other, all else seeming to blur. The pounding of the drums, the melody of the reeds, and the chanting of the singers melded together into a tapestry of attraction between Eli and the woman, and soon they were dancing arm in arm, the air between them charged with excitement. She looked up at him, a mischievous glint in her eyes, and cocked an eyebrow at Eli as she nodded off to the side. He caught her meaning, and let her lead him by the hand through the dark to share a tent for the night.

After a while, she fell asleep beside him, but Eli lay there awake, wondering at how strange his life had been recently. It seemed like there was some greater purpose to it, and he found himself wondering what it could be. Eli looked at the beautiful woman beside him, and then let his own eyes surrender to the fatigue he'd recently worked so hard to earn.

Mama Teke, slightly surprised by the recent interaction, beckoned to Kel. He pulled himself away from a flirty local girl. Mama Teke smiled. She was happy he was enjoying life. When he arrived, she asked over the din of reveling, “Will he help us?” Kel considered, and then nodded. “Good,” she said.

Eli was woken up by an incessant beeping from outside the tent. Skippy, he sighed, then roused himself from the empty cot and prepared to go outside. As he stepped out, Eli was greeted by the smiles and cheers of tribe members as they passed by the tent. He waved, feeling slightly awkward, and smiled. Skippy bumped him in the shoulder, and pointed toward the forest. As he watched, the woman whose tent he'd shared emerged from between the trees carrying a bundle of dry sticks for kindling. She smiled when she saw him, but continued toward the fire to offer up her bundle of fuel.

“Young man,” a grandmotherly voice warbled from beside him. Eli looked over his shoulder and saw her smiling at him. “My boy Kel tells me you were the pilot who helped us back on Kaj.” She nodded, putting her hand to her forehead, heart and lips, and Eli smiled, feeling unsure of what to say.

“Eli Hawk,” he said, extending his hand. She took it, but he could tell it wasn't a normal gesture for her. He continued, nodding toward the young woman. “She's beautiful,” he said, and Mama Teke laughed.

“She said the same about you, earlier.” Mama Teke let out a deep sigh as she sat on a bag of grain in front of the tent, and looked up at him. “We need your help, Captain Eli.”

He nodded, and sat down beside her. “Kel said you had some people needing transport to Altonas,” he mentioned. “Kind of out of the way, isn't it?”

“Depends if that's where you need to go,” she responded with a wry grin that made her face years younger. Her eyes were still bright with energy and not much got past her.

Eli coughed nervously, and rolled his neck. “Kark,” he laughed, then looked back at her and shrugged. “Well, it looks like we're heading into a big old mess anyway. I suppose it wouldn't be any crazier than anywhere else. You do know the House of Lords just declared war?” he asked, and she nodded solemnly.

“War's no good,” she muttered, then looked back at him. “But you gonna do anything about it or no?” she asked.

Eli considered, looking over at the fire. The beautiful young woman he'd been watching was gone. Where to, he wasn't certain. It surprised him, the connection he felt with her after such a short time. It was more than simple attraction. He'd felt that often enough before to know the difference. Eli shook his head and looked back at Mama Teke. “What can I do? I'm just one man.”

She chuckled. “But a good man,” she said. “And that is why it matter what you do.” She looked at him, and he felt any resistance he had crumble away.

Eli laughed, wringing his hands and looking up at the sky. “Fair enough,” he conceded. The young captain sighed, and then laughed at himself as he recognized he'd already made his decision. “All right, I'll fly them to Altonas. Just tell me one thing.” The old woman looked at him, waiting, and Eli continued. “What's that lady's name who I...was dancing with last night?”

“Kita,” a lovely alto laughed from behind him. He turned, and saw her standing there, skin seeming to glow in the morning light. “Good morning, Husband Eli,” she said. He gulped, and felt his heart leap in his chest.

“Good morning what?” he croaked, and Mama Teke laughed.

“I'll let you two sort this out. Much to talk about,” the old woman chuckled, then heaved herself up and walked away, leaving Eli alone with Kita, the most beautiful person he'd ever seen, and right now, also the most frightening.

“Husband?” he asked. She just smiled, crossing her arms. Eli felt his head spinning. How much of that moonshine had he drunk last night, anyway? Skippy beeped something that sounded like 'too late.'

Quinn, Kai and their son Quincy all sat around a table in the empty pub. The Wasted Wagoneer was closed for another few hours, so Kai had given him the time to explain what was going on. As he related the events of the past week, he could sense her mood darkening. When he told her about what had happened earlier that day, she nearly blew her top, but reined in her reaction until he was finished.

“Quincy...is that what happened?” Quincy nodded, and Kai exploded up from her chair with a yell. She paced the room before collecting herself enough to rejoin the men at the table. “Quincy, I need to talk with your father alone, please.” Quincy nodded and left, glad for the opportunity to be somewhere else, and when Kai spoke again, it was with great effort not to yell.

“So, you decided to bring this here, to our home?” She glared at Quinn, and he looked away, embarrassed

“I'm sorry,” he said, blushing. Good, let him be embarrassed! He should've thought about this before suddenly unloading all his problems on her after seventeen years of silence! Then she calmed herself down a little, and continued.

“Look, I can understand that you need someplace to lie low. I get it, but do you realize what you've done?” She looked at him, and slammed the table with her palm. “Hey, look at me when I'm talking to you.” He turned to face her, and then nodded. He got up, pushing his chair back in. “Don't you ever get tired of leaving?” she accused. “I thought you were a hero, Quinn. What happened?”

He looked at her with sadness. “I wasn't a hero, Kai. Just confused. And apparently the only difference between then and now is that I've gotten older.” He smiled through his tears, and spoke. “Goodbye.”

“Kark it, Quinn! I'm not yelling at you just to hear myself talk! I need you to understand what's wrong!”

“What are you talking about? My failure as a father? As a man? What?” he asked, his voice rising.

She glared at him, but wanted to give him an explanation he could grasp. “You put Quincy in danger, and you put yourself in danger! You've been lying to me, keeping secrets from me, and you've been gone...for seventeen years! Don't you care that your son's only known you for a few days? Do you care about him?” She was screaming at the end, and pushed a chair across the room as she walked toward him, knocking over the bar stools to her right.

“I do!” Quinn replied hotly. “I do care about our son! But I never knew I had a son until the two days ago!”

“Exactly!” she screamed, hoping he would finally understand. She stood her ground scant inches away from him. “How could you?” she almost cried. “You never came back!” She slapped him hard enough to draw blood from his lip, and he put his hand up to his face, angry and confused.

Kai was at the end of her rope, and didn't know what to do. She felt so conflicted about her feelings, but still wanted to go over to him, to hold him and tell him that she'd missed him. On the other hand, maybe she should just break a bar stool over his thick head.

Long ago, Kai had resigned herself to raising their son alone, and over the years had felt her heart start to shut itself off toward the man who'd left them behind. It had happened bits and pieces at a time as the years passed. Now he was back, and it was as if all those parts of her that had died were suddenly springing back to life. Kai felt her knees go weak, and her hands shaking from anger, and sank into a chair.

There, hunched over like a broken wind-up doll, she felt old and worthless, as if any chance at romance had passed her by. I'm not going to cry in front of him, she promised herself. She closed her eyes, but the tears came anyway. They came in deep, wracking sobs of grief over a life that had become so different from what she'd wanted as a girl.