The Fields of Fire

Chapter 15: Tau Adana

Tau woke up from a pleasant dream to a shove. It was Xara, standing over her in the darkness. She had a finger over her mouth signaling Tau to remain quiet. She looked down at Tau, "There are men at our door. Military men, and a Dragon Rider. Somebody must have told them about you. Brandon's stalling, you need to go, now."

Tau couldn't believe it, Rex, that bastard. She'd been there for weeks, but she knew it was only a matter of time before that green haired shit tracked her back to Brandon and Xara's. She looked around her room for her Ejection Pack, despite her long stay in Atheria, she'd never unpacked it, figuring she'd need what was inside later anyways. She swung her legs over and got up out of her bed, still in Pajamas. She could see Xaren staring at her through the doorway, he ran forward and gave her a hug. "Thank you, thank you so much for being such an awesome friend."

Tau just held him in her arms, "Yeah, right back at you." The past few days it was crazy for her to see Xaren's excitement. Everyday his smile was just as big as it was at the Dragon Festival, he was a Dragon Rider and he was damn proud of it. He flew with his dragon every afternoon right before sunset, and he was even set to go to the meeting of the Dragon Riders' council in a few days. Tau couldn't help but feel some amount of pride, "Promise you'll keep kicking ass, when I'm gone."

"I promise." He said.

Xara tapped on her shoulder, "You have to go. Out the back door. There were reports of scout planes near a beach 10 miles east of here. Maybe if you get there they'll find you." Tau nodded, she grabbed her pack and made her way past Xaren through the doorway, before her was that same hallway she'd walked down when she first arrived here. She wanted to say goodbye, but she didn't know how, and in what amount of time? These people had been so kind to her, a few words couldn't do it justice. Before she could turn around to try and say a proper goodbye, she saw Brandon walk somberly down the hallway.

Xara stepped past Tau to greet her husband, "What's wrong? Are they gone?"

He looked at Tau, "They weren't here for you." He glanced at Xaben, standing timidly in the doorway, he handed forward a piece of paper to Xara. It was rolled up so she quickly unrolled it and read, "I've been drafted. I ship out tomorrow."

"What?" She seemed upset, "You can't let them do this. You're not a soldier you belong here with your family." Tau felt sort of out of place seeing this conversation, but she couldn't help but empathize with Xara. This really was a tight nit family, she couldn't imagine what this home would be like with Brandon gone.

"I tried." He seemed ashamed, "I got the letter 3 weeks ago. I know i'm not a fighter so I tried to dodge it, but they need men for the invasion, they didn't give me a choice."

"An Invasion?" Tau couldn't help but feel some repressed patriotism flutter back into her chest, "but I thought the Navy turned back?"

"Not your invasion, Ours."

Tau was struck by the thought. An attack on Zytria? She could barely believe it.

"You're leaving?" Xaren asked.

"Yes, but-"

"You'll come back though."

Brandon smiled, "Yes. Very soon. They say the war will be over in a few months. The Humans are already losing, we just need to go over there, show them we're serious and then they'll give up. I'm sure I won't even see any fighting."

"An Invasion?" Tau asked stunned.

Brandon hesitated before answering, "Yes. The Dragon Council wants to end this war quickly, the only path to total surrender is to get men on the ground and show them we're serious." He looked at Xaren and smiled, "But according to Atherian Intelligence, the Zytrians are already openly discussing surrender. They won't keep up the fight much longer when we've got boots on the ground. The Dragon Rider who came assured me the war would be over before Yanitaz."