Rider King part 47

Longish chapter!

I stroke Treysa’s scales. My old friend loves the attention. She’s been through so much, but she holds strong by my side.

Dramon stands behind me, hands cupping my hips and his chin resting atop my head. He’s breathing heavily, as if I’m petting him too.

I smile because of them.

Dramon has been through a lot, too. He’s been betrayed and blindsighted not only by Salina but his father. Now here he stands, every bit a warrior. He fought to prove his worth to me.

Me? It’s harder to analyze my growth. I find that it’s so easy to list weaknesses in ourselves but we’re more reluctant to name strengths.

I’m not sure where humans came from or what our original planet was like. We were dragged to Xelor by the Wrenches, and we’re so biologically inferior that we’re expected to lie low in The Colonies. I don’t know why I wasn’t born with that urge to hide behind walls and live along humans. I don’t know why from a young age, I’ve craved exploration, but I’m glad I was born with that courage.

My courage gave me the gift of a Clan, many friends, wonderful memories, and knowledge. It also took my knee and made me cross paths with a husband that hurt me. Still, I’m glad I was born a little different.

I’m a wife, a survivor, and a soon-to-be-mother. My limp is no longer as severe, and I’m truly happy.

I swear that I’ll live my days to the fullest, because I know so many of my female friends no longer can.

“I’m ready,” Beysha calls out.

I’m proud of her. She considers herself inferior because she’s not a fighter, but she’s coming with us into the wild lands.

Behind us are twenty-five men. Dramon and I handpicked the most skilled. We have a lot of work to do. The clan has to expand to two-hundred, and then three-hundred men.

Dramon will have to test each warrior, seeing as I’m in no shape to be fighting. Once the Clan is on its feet, then we will start purging criminals.

We have to find Rexon first. He has his own Clan to rebuild.

“We should get going,” I tell everyone.

The palace gates are wide open, but Centres is nowhere to be seen. I left him a note, thanking him for helping me rise when I was an inexperienced girl. Dramon didn’t do the same, but I understand his grief.

As for Lady Greed, I didn’t even glance her way. I have no need to intimidate her, because she already knows that she’s below me.

Dramon helps me on top of Treysa and turns to Beysha.

“May I?”

“No, thank you,” she raises her head. “It will be good exercise if I walk.”

“Are you sure, Beysha?” I ask. “It’s really far.”

She nods. “Yes.”

I smile at her and touch Treysa’s scaled neck. “You know the way, girl.”

Dramon’s beast circles above us as we walk through the enormous gates. I look back at the palace, and I don’t feel any sadness. There’s only relief, because the palace was another Colony.

We make it out of The Capital and into the desert and dry plains. By night, we walk along the Great River, and settle down by whooshing waves when the moon is high in the sky.

We sleep under the stars, not bothering to set up tents. Dramon doesn’t allow me to rest anywhere but atop his chest. I sleep deeply, and wake up a later than expected because Dramon wanted to let me rest.

We’re soon on foot again. The closer we get to Rexon’s last known location, the deeper Dramon’s scowl gets. I don’t think these Rider Kings will ever get along.

The weather is on our side for the next two days, and we cross the mountains after swiftly cutting through a wild pack of beasts.

We cross a human colony on our way, and a scout reports that it was abandoned. Things are worse than we thought, because humans have been enslaved and displaced all over the planet.

Dramon flies over the hills in search of Rexon. If he’s not here, then we’ll have to keep searching.

I wonder how he’s doing. It has been two years of hell. Did he lose close family? A girlfriend, perhaps?

I look at Beysha and smile. I know how beautiful it is to fall in love, and I can only hope it works out between these two.

When my husband starts descending from the skies, I jog to meet him.

“So? Did you find his camp?”

Dramon swings off, and his fingers gently touch my forehead. “You’re sweating.”

I laugh. “That happens when you’re under the sun.”

“Did you drink water?”

Dramon has made me drink so much water that I’m more pregnant with the liquid than I am with our fetus. I get it. He’s worried about me because the exposure is harsh. I know my body, though. I know its limits. Me and this seed will be just fine.

“Yes, I did. So about Rexon…”

He takes me to the shade and pulls his vest off his shoulders to gently pet my forehead dry.

“Dramon…”

“I found him,” he grunts. “He is as happy to see me as I am of seeing him.”

“Yes!” I clap. “Well, come on. Let’s go.”

We get a head start by flying over the cliffs with Beysha as our men walk around.

Rexon stands on the edge of a small camp with a dozen men behind him.

I swing off and run to his side.

He smiles gently, the look fading when he looks behind me.

“Rexon, it’s so good to see you.”

I know better than to touch him, but I’m genuinely happy about his wellbeing.

“You as well, Rider Queen. I wasn’t surprised to hear that you made it. Of course you bring trouble even to The Vanishing.”

His eyes lock on Beysha, who is trying her best to hide behind me. Beysha isn’t human, so she’s a little taller than I am. Hiding doesn’t come easily.

“This is my friend, Beysha.” I take her hand and sidestep. “We made it out together.”

“A pleasure to meet you, King Rexon.” She lowers her head.

Rexon swings his sword from one hand to another, looking at Beysha curiously.

“Likewise,” he grunts.

“Did you get the message we sent ahead?” I ask him. “About our plans.”

Rexon dips his head. “Why don’t we discuss inside?” He leads us to the largest tent. There are no chairs here, only a bedroll, so Dramon sits on the carpet and tugs me to his lap. Beysha sits beside us, and Rexon across.

“Your proposition of restarting the Clans is interesting,” Rexon starts, his eyes flickering from me to Beysha. “Never in our history have they all been demolished at the same time. One may dismantle here and there, but not all. And we all know how hard it is to grow them back to such a size.”

Dramon is oddly quiet. If I look up, I’ll probably find him glaring.

“I’m surprised you haven’t regrown yours, actually.”

“I kept it small because Dramon would have taken it as a threat otherwise.”

Dramon growls behind me, his chest vibrating. “You think you intimidate me?”

I cover the hand he has on my thigh. “No fighting, please.”

Rexon remains relaxed. “Many men have grown their own Clans, hoping to march to The Capital and take your title, Dramon. Do you wish to tell me you wouldn’t have thought the same of me?”

“We’ve worked together for so long,” I sigh. “Maybe we fought half the time as we sat on Centres’ table and bickered over territory, but we survived together. We can do it again.”

“It will be hard,” Rexon counters. “We have nothing to offer men anymore. They can’t grow families in the Clans, because there are no women.”

“If they’re honorable, they’ll do it for the Winds, Fires, Earth, and Waters and for the children that will replenish Xelor.”

His eyes flicker down to my stomach, and Dramon’s thighs tense as he prepares to launch.

“What’s your answer, Rexon? I know you’re tired. I know you’ve fought a lot, but Xelor needs you. It’s hard to find Rider Kings.”

“I…” Beysha speaks up. Her shoulders are hunched with fear as she speaks up. “If you help Venus, I will stay with you, Rider King.”

Her intention is unmistakable. She wants to give her body even before giving her heart.

“Beysha!” I gasp. I never asked her to do this for me. I wanted her to meet Rexon, not volunteer to stay behind and become his payment.

“It is my time to play my part,” she tells me. “I’ve done nothing for long enough.”

Here she goes again, calling herself useless.

“I will do it,” Rexon tells me and then turns to Beysha. “But I will not make a whore out of you, lady.”

I’m not surprised that Rexon doesn’t accept her. He’s too honorable.

“Thank you.” I tell him.

“Your men will have to merge with my Clan temporarily,” Dramon finally speaks up. “We must travel in search of other Kings. Last I heard, Zoro is dead, and Usuri descended to madness."

“I have a King in mind. He’s not interested in leadership and will be pissed when I disturb him, but he’s a good fighter.”

“Good. We will spar with men to find who is worthy of recruit, and when we reach the right size, we’ll move to the next stage: taking back Xelor.”

I clap my hands. “Let’s get to work.”

End is NEAR 💕