Page 87 of Shadow Master
And there it is. Our salvation. A wave of our own.
Our army is coming, and this time, when I order Athos to turn around, he obliges.
* * *
The bright lightdissipated to leave me staring up into a familiar Cheshire cat grin.
“Larkin?” I wrapped my arms around him and squeezed.
He made a purring sound, which was pure pleasure, and then my attention fell on someone else, and my heart swelled with joy.
“Dad?”
Payne pushed Larkin out of the way and gathered me into his arms. “I’m here, Indie. I’m here.”
“How did you know?”
“I didn’t. But the outside world is in trouble, and my gut told me to come check on you.”
I looked to Larkin. “I thought you were gone.”
He shrugged. “Long story.”
“Larkin and I have been traveling together,” Payne said.
Kash pulled himself up. “Thank you for saving our asses.”
I looked around for the first time. We were back at camp. Shit. “I need you to take me to the battlefield.”
Larkin frowned. “Odds of survival are low.”
“Lower if I’m not there to help. Please.”
“Me too,” Kash said. “Another few minutes and I can siphon again.”
An idea bloomed in my mind. “Larkin, can you stay with Kash. Let him siphon and get him out of there once he has?”
Larkin rolled his eyes. “Urgh. War is so tiresome.”
“Lar, come on,” Payne nudged.
“Very well,” Larkin conceded.
Larkin held out his hands to Kash and me, and Payne put a hand on Larkin’s shoulder.
“No.” I gave Payne a stern look. “You need to stay here.”
Payne looked offended. “I’m not going to stand back while you fight.”
“Then head to sector two’s border. It’s east of here. There are some bags of fire grain behind the forge. Load up the wheelbarrow and take it with you. There are cadets there. Our last line of defense. Plant the explosives and keep morale up.”
His mouth tightened, but he nodded.
And then Larkin was whisking Kash and me back to the battlefield.
* * *
HARMON
