Garret
Tristan was just lounging on a large debris outside. It was a piece of the chapel tower, that have almost crushed him to death. The corner of the tower somehow remained in one piece and required heavy machinery to move. Tristan leaned his tall body against the wall and hung his head feigning a nap, but he looked up when I approached him. "As you were." I mocked him, he did not even try to stand up. "I need you to get Commander Knight to meet me in the command center in fifteen minutes, then gather Lieutenants and join us fifteen minutes later." I said.
Then I returned to the command center. The news of the trove were exciting and I berated myself inwardly for not thinking about it myself. The Order of St George was hundreds of years old and owned property in England and the US, these were the means to get funds to run the Order until we get back on track. It was way better than being on Talon's payroll. The news of the Order's soldiers being orphans shook me at first, but then it matched perfectly the corrupted organization, that I have discovered the Order to be. Now there would be no dying of dragon fire in young age, and we wouldn't need as many recruits. Even though I was disgusted with the Order taking advantage of completely helpless children, at the same time the news made me feel more like I belonged here. I was an orphan just like them, taken and twisted beyond recognition just like them. I would not abandon them until I made sure they would go on just fine without me.
"You asked to see me" Commander Jason Knight entered and stood neither at ease nor at attention perfectly opposing my authority without warranting retribution.
"It have been brought to my attention, that you are looking to seize all of the Order's assets and the very leadership of the Order at the expense of my life if need be." I said. "I was elected by the remaining soldiers of St George even Lieutenant Ward and his men to lead the Order towards new future. I will not let that future get squandered by your greed or ambition. Please, sit down." I indicated the table between us. He looked at me with hatred and for a moment I feared he would attack me there and then. I had my hand on the Glock by my side and I was sure I was faster than him. But I was not sure how I would feel after killing Madison's father. He sat down and fletted his fingers on the table in front of me.
"I see my daughter have betrayed the trust I've placed in her." He said coldly, and I ignored the bait. "I will not tolerate treason Commander. Either you are with me or you are against me. So choose now and let's get it over with." I said.
"And if I don't choose to follow your lead boy? What then? Are you going to kill me?" He spat angrily.
"Then I want you to leave western chapterhouse and never come near me again." I said. It would mean losing the only woman I could possibly ever be with for a longer time, but I would rather live by myself than not live at all.
Commander Knight looked hard at me and I weathered his stare. "I will follow your lead kid." He said. "I am very glad to hear that." I said and put my hands on the table. "Now, we have things to discuss."
Tristan stepped in shortly after followed by Lieutenant Ward and Lieutenant Mitchell, who both snapped to attention before they were asked to sit down. I fixed each of them with my state before addressed them in my mist serious tone.
"You all know, that Lieutenant Knight has different vision for the Order of St George than me and our cooperation has been strained. But now it's over. Commander Knight wishes to assume more responsibility in the Order just as I wish for more freedom. I have decided that from now on Commander Knight will be responsible for daily drift of the Order and I will be mostly overseeing our cooperation with Talon." There were twenty seven soldiers in this chapterhouse and eighteen more in London, mostly scouts Andrew amongst them providing me with information about the Order's business in England. Keeping them busy have been a headache especially since Madison arrived. I would let her dad do that now.
"Lieutenant Knight have informed me about a way to gain access to all of the Order's assets and property..." I told them, what I knew about the trove. "Retrieving the trove and securing ressources for the Order will be your first objective." I said to Jason Knight. "We are awaiting first payment from Talon, but I want us independent of their purse as soon as possible. Use the men who can help with the search." If Commander Knight was surprised by this turn of events he did not let it show. Then I went on to the newest task.
"Lieutenant St Anthony. I want you to travel to Talon's headquarters and meet with a viper called Stealth about her leaving the organization." Tristan looked surprised. "Any questions?" I said and so it began.
Two hours later we left the armory. The news were to be announced to the remaining soldiers next morning. Tristan went to pack and I went to find some privacy.
Alone in my room I let myself think about all this in other way than planning the best strategy. Madison's loyalty laid with her father first and now that I have found out him to be my enemy it did not feel so good. I was thinking about a red hair girl who begged and promised the Archivist anything, anything to spare my life. Ember would not let anybody plot my demise and sit idly by. I might have told myself that I only wanted company, but I craved devotion just as much and I was devoted to Ember. Even if she has chosen Riley, I wanted to be with her. And I just couldn't believe that she was gone.
I took my phone out of my pocket and dialed her number.
.
.
Ember
Darkness warm and safe surrounded me, I saw my mother, her huge black head and a pair of enormous gray eyes. I could not recall her name, I have lost it alongside my magic, when I killed my rider. But I could remember this first sight of her, the pieces of the egg were still laying all around one caught my foot and I stumbled, but nothing could make me take my gaze off these eyes. There was so much love and joy in these ancient eyes. I was a miracle, I was perfect and she was delighted to meet me. She named me Ember from the way my small red body looked among smashed eggshell, like a smoldering ember in a pile of ashes. I stretched my entire body to full height and she craned her long neck and touched her muzzle to mine. True love's kiss to welcome me to existence...
Buzzing sounded and the warmth and the vision started to fade. No! I tried to hold on to it but some other part of me fought desperately to banish it and drag me away from my mother and toward the obnoxious buzzing.
I palmed the phone on my night stand meaning to mute it but my fingers betrayed me and a deep voice said. "Ember?" I groaned inwardly trying to get a hold of myself. Where the hell was Cobalt, when I needed him?! "Hi Garret! What's up?" I said and was surprised to genuinely care. "I miss you." He said. "Oh I thought that you had a new girlfriend?" I said with more vitriol than was necessary, I dumped him after all and I was pregnant with another male. "Yes, but her dad planned to kill me and this made me remember that you would not have let anybody hurt me." I felt sudden panic. "I still would not let anybody hurt you Garret. It's just..." I was not ready to endure agony his death would cause me to feel. I just wanted him to stay away while I run my organization and ensured supremacy of dragon kind. "It's okay Ember, whatever you had with Riley turned out to be stronger. I just wish you did not cut me off." He sounded very sad and I felt feelings for him thrashing inside of me, threatening to overpower any reason. "I have my reasons Garret. Good bye."
I hang up and turned the phone off completely. I trembled fighting against sudden urge to call him back, to beg him to come to me, hold me and never leave me. I pulled covers over my head. Maybe Cobalt should sleep here with me? His presence made me strong, while Garret made me softer than a marshmallow. I dreaded what would happen if he come here when I was alone, no this could not happen. I wanted him estranged from that Order girl but I also wanted him alive. I could not completely suppress the grief of losing him and seeing him kissing that other girl made this loss more substantial. Garret was dangerous, he made me feel unimportant feelings, think about unimportant things. I saw my mother's gray eyes narrowing with displeasure. But what did she know? She has been gone for so long...