For Promise Yet Unbroken Read online

  Promise snorted and began moving before Jeremey even gave the command, snaking through the uneven terrain toward the crashed Vek ship. The other dragons and their riders followed suit, Colonel Brocius catching a ride with Jack this time.

  They saw the Galactic Federation soldiers before they saw the Vek they were clustered around. There was something strange about it, and it looked nothing like what Jeremey had been expecting, given Colonel Brocius's description. One of the soldiers stood and turned, waving to get the Colonel Brocius's attention.

  "Full evo suits, sir. This planet's atmosphere is well within tolerable levels for Vek; no reason they should need 'em."

  Colonel Brocius frowned. "Odd. Do they know something about this planet that we do not?" He looked around at the riders and their dragons. "But then, these people have been here for decades. Perhaps it was merely a precaution."

  They moved out again, resuming the search. Jeremey remained quiet for a few minutes, until the curiosity became more than he could bear.

  "Colonel Brocius, um, sir, what's an evo suit?"

  "Environment suit," Colonel Brocius supplied. "When entering a limited or toxic environment, the suit makes sure the air you get is breathable, clean, and the proper temperature, amongst other things. We most often use them in low-atmosphere or vacuum situations, but a number of mining platforms use them to dig in conditions that would otherwise be fatal to humans. Or Vek. Our ship had three such suits, though I don't think any survived the crash."

  That could be useful, although if they hadn't survived the crash they probably wouldn't stand up very well to caraca teeth or rachya claws. Not much use on Noman, then.

  "Only three?" Jeremey asked curiously. "What about the rest of your people?"

  "Remain on the ship," Colonel Brocius supplied immediately, then gave a rueful smile. "When it's not in pieces."

  "Sir!" Up ahead, another Galactic Federation soldier waved at the Colonel. "Three Vek here, full evo suits on all of 'em. Mather reports two more to the north, same condition."

  Colonel Brocius frowned. "Six evo suits?" he mused aloud. "That's…" He shook his head, face settling into a blank mask, but Jeremey rather thought he caught a glimpse of unease. Certainly Jeremey was starting to feel it.

  "Vek ships have more suits than you?" he wondered aloud.

  "Not usually, no," Colonel Brocius said, lips compressing to a thin line.

  "What the hell does that mean?" Jack demanded.

  Colonel Brocius shook his head. "Either they were returning from a hazardous mission, or they know something about this planet that we do not."

  "But…" Jeremey trailed off, frowning. There had been people living on Noman for more than eighty years. Surely if the planet held that kind of danger they would have noticed by now. Everyone would be long dead, unless…

  "What if it doesn't affect humans?" he wondered aloud. "Whatever the Vek are protecting against."

  Colonel Brocius started visibly. Jack's brows rose, but he said nothing.

  "Possible," Colonel Brocius said slowly. "We know their tolerances fall approximately within human levels, but we've never done a truly in-depth study of their physiology…" He considered a few moments more, then shook his head and caught Jack's attention. "We need to get to that ship, see if Major Mulhall has found any such indications. If there is such a weapon on this planet, it could turn the tide of the war in our favor."

  Jack's expression didn't change, but Jeremey could have sworn he looked uneasy. A long, still moment passed, then slowly he waved the group onward.

  *~*~*

  As with most events involving danger and adrenaline, the tale grew with the telling. By the time everyone in Fair Valley had heard the story, there was a near-unanimous decision to hold a party in celebration of the victory. Even Jeremey, who was normally ignored, received begrudging praise. The Galactic Federation soldiers, unaware of his history, gave their compliments freely, especially after Colonel Brocius informed them of his shooting.

  The sudden attention was strange; it wasn't like his childhood, where he was the focus of everyone's ire after one of his stunts. This was new and strange and overwhelming. After the fifth soldier clapped him on the shoulder and asked if he'd ever considered a military career, Jeremey finally decided it was time to hide.

  It wasn't too hard to slip away; indeed, from the look of things Jack, Colonel Brocius, and that woman they called "major" had already done so. Not remotely surprising there. Jack wasn't really the type to celebrate, and Colonel Brocius had been sporting a slight frown ever since they'd discovered that all of those Vek had been wearing evo suits. The fact that the search of the Vek ship had turned up nothing had only deepened that frown.

  Jeremey hoped they figured it out soon. He didn't want his home to turn into a battlefield. Too many of Noman's people had died already.

  The stables were almost silent as he slipped inside. A few dragons lifted their heads to blink curiously at him, then lay back down with quiet sounds. Good; if they didn't raise a fuss, there was less chance someone would find him.

  Promise greeted him with a lick and a chirp, nuzzling a moment before promptly stealing his hat. Jeremey protested mostly out of habit, making wild jumps after the pilfered object, but he already felt happier just being around Promise. Even if he was a chronic hat thief.

  "Give that back, you overgrown lizard, or I'm gonna use you for target practice," Jeremey threatened fondly.

  Promise snorted and whacked him in the side of the head with the stolen hat, unbalancing Jeremey and sending him toppling over into a curve of tail that was perfectly coiled to catch him. Rather than scramble immediately to his feet, Jeremey simply lay there a moment, laughing quietly. After a minute's contemplation, Promise snorted again and dropped the hat down onto Jeremey's head. Drool and all.

  "Looks like you've got a pretty good friend there."

  Jeremey startled, shoving his hat up over his eyes and looking up to find an amused Harry leaning against a wall and watching him. His cheeks immediately heated and he tugged the hat back down in embarrassment.

  Warm laughter filled the stable, and then came the hesitant sound of unsteady footsteps. Jeremey looked up again in time to see Harry drop into a nearby pile of dragon bedding with a grimace. "Ow."

  A glance at his leg showed it to be well-bandaged, but still… "You shouldn't be up," Jeremey said with a frown.

  "Couldn't just lie there and miss all the fun," Harry said cheerfully. "I hear you're quite the hero."

  The heat in Jeremey's cheeks increased. "I didn't really do much."

  "You didn't pick off Vek snipers from a good two hundred meters in the air?" Harry asked with a sly grin.

  "Umm…" Jeremey fidgeted. "I wasn't… I just… Anybody could have," he finished lamely, wondering why he was so tongue-tied. Where were the days when he'd taken gleeful pride in confessing to Charlie Colcord that the fate of Mayor Burke's pies was indeed his doing?

  Harry laughed. "Somehow I don't think just anyone could have made those shots from a moving dragon," he said, admiration in his voice. "I certainly couldn't. That's some skill you've got."

  "That's nowhere near as hard as hitting Deputy Eaton in the head with one of Mayor Burke's pies while he's chasing you." The words just slipped out on a scoff, Jeremey flushing crimson when he realized what he'd said.

  But Harry just threw his head back and laughed with enough force that a few dragons poked their heads around the corner to investigate. "Did you really?"

  Sheepishly, Jeremey grinned. "I don't think Frank Eaton's ever forgiven me. Mayor Burke either, but really, I did her a favor. Those were a nasty batch of pies. Totally not for eating." He made a face in memory. That really hadn't been one of Mayor Burke's better efforts.

  Harry, who had slowly been getting himself under control, took one look at Jeremey's expression and burst out laughing again.

  "Wish... I could've… seen that," he managed.

  "I was kind of a terror when I was little," Jeremey ad
mitted, a warm, happy feeling flowing through him at the way Harry's grin widened in response.

  "Just when you were young?" Harry asked, still chuckling. "Not now?"

  Just like that, the happy feeling evaporated. "No," Jeremey said softly. "Not anymore."

  Harry frowned faintly, leaning closer. "Hey, I didn't mean to upset you."

  Jeremey shook his head. "It's okay. I'm okay. I have Promise now."

  The dragon in question whuffed and nudged him, and Jeremey smiled as he stroked the elegant sapphire snout.

  Harry watched them for a moment, slight smile returning. "He really is a magnificent creature," Harry said. "What made you decide to name him Promise?"

  Jeremey froze, swallowing sharply as memories assaulted him. "That…" He exhaled slowly. A few other riders had made casual inquiries, and he rather thought Jack might suspect, but he'd never told anyone before.

  "I was always getting into trouble as a child, never doing what I was told, causing headaches. One day…" If he closed his eyes he'd see it again, bright and vivid and unforgettable. So much blood; he swore he could smell it now. "One day my parents took the fleep herd out to graze… We were out farther than usual, and I was supposed to be lookout, but…" Fear. Blood. Screaming. "I wandered off to explore instead."

  He stared blankly at the floor; he didn't want to see Harry's expression. "There was a rachya in the area. It… I didn't see it, didn't know… until I heard my mother scream." He swallowed, the memory sticking in his throat. "When I got there… I saw it kill her."

  "But you escaped," Harry said, voice soft.

  Jeremey gave a slight shake of his head. "Charlie saved me. I don't know how he knew, but…"

  "Charlie?" Harry asked curiously.

  "Charlie Colcord," Jeremey clarified. "He's the sheriff of Deadwood Gulch, where I grew up. I was his biggest pain… and he saved me anyway." He drew in a breath and lifted his head, mouth set in a stubborn line. "So, I'm going to make it up to him, and my parents, and everyone. I'm going to keep all of Noman's people safe… or at least try." He reached up to stroke Promise's nose. "Promise is… sort of the heart of my promise. Because of him, I can start to honor it."

  Harry looked thoughtful. "That's quite the story… Quite the undertaking too."

  "Yeah," Jeremey agreed, feeling somewhat embarrassed with it all out in the open. It had sounded a lot cooler in his head. "Charlie said it wasn't my fault, that I shouldn't feel responsible, but…"

  Harry moved closer, close enough that their knees touched. "He's right," Harry said. "It wasn't your fault."

  "I was supposed to be watching," Jeremey whispered, stomach turning with the ugly guilt that had clung to him ever since he'd survived the attack and his parents hadn't.

  "Hmm." Harry's hand touched Jeremey's knee, resting there lightly. It felt warm. "Sounds to me like you were in trouble more often than not. Was that the first time you were supposed to play lookout?"

  Jeremey shook his head. "Pretty much every time we took the whole herd out."

  "And did you ever actually do it?" Harry pressed.

  "Sometimes," Jeremey said. He ducked his head, cheeks heating. "Not usually."

  Harry chuckled quietly. "So the way I figure it, your folks pretty much expected you'd run off and were fully prepared to do without you."

  "But—" Jeremey protested, lifting his head. "If I'd been there, I could have—"

  A finger to his lips silenced the protests. "You can't know that," Harry said.

  "But I—"

  Rather than a finger, this time it was lips which silenced Jeremey's words, a light caress of soft heat and the faint prickle of day-old stubble. His breath caught at the first tentative touch, lodging in his throat with the forgotten protest as heat suffused his face before moving lower and spreading through his veins. The lips moved over his, with his, enticing movement, clumsy response, and a soft sound he realized must have come from him.

  Then suddenly the ground bucked and Jeremey yelped, finding himself draped unceremoniously over a sleek dragon tail a moment later. A brief glance showed Harry on the floor, his mouth twisted in pain.

  "Harry!" Jeremey exclaimed, sliding off Promise's tail and kneeling next to Harry. "Are you all right?" He twisted around to frown at Promise. "That wasn't very nice."

  "Ow," Harry commented, drawing Jeremey's attention back to him.

  "I'm sorry," Jeremey said contritely. "He's not usually like that."

  Harry chuckled, though his face was still pale from pain. "So, if I try to kiss you again, I should get your dragon's permission first."

  Jeremey could feel heat flood his face. "Again?" he asked, firmly ignoring the fact that it sounded more like a squeak than anything.

  There was an easy grin on Harry's handsome face as he sat up—carefully—and held Jeremey's eyes with his own. "Yeah, again. If that's all right with you, that is." He winked.

  "Um." Jeremey wondered if his face could possibly get any hotter. "I, um… I… that is… you…" He ducked his head to stare at the dusty floor. "If you want…"

  "Oh, I very much want," Harry breathed softly, leaning close enough that their noses were nearly touching. "May I kiss you again, Jeremey?"

  Breath trapped in his throat, Jeremey could only stare back into those brilliant blue eyes that held him transfixed. Unable to move, unable to speak, he could only watch those mesmerizing eyes and fight a losing battle against the growing heat in his cheeks and groin.

  The corners of Harry's eyes crinkled as he laughed softly. "No response? That's new. I don't think I've rendered anyone speechless before." His breath was warm across Jeremey's lips, then there was something warm and wet and firm and—Jeremey squeaked as he realized it was a tongue and Harry had just licked him.

  "Y-you—"

  The rest of whatever he was attempting to say—he wasn't sure—was summarily cut off as Harry's mouth once more descended over his. It was hot, demanding, drawing out sensations that were at once unfamiliar and yet all too addictive. He wanted to… do something, though he had no idea what, and Harry's kisses made it nearly impossible to think at all.

  Then the pressure on his lips shifted, wetter somehow, and something ran across the crease of his mouth, coaxing, waiting… Jeremey parted his lips in surprise as he realized what it was, and then that devious tongue was in his mouth, caressing him from the inside out in a way that made his head reel and his brain shut down. He shivered, vague tremors wracking his body, even as he leaned closer to the heart of his turmoil.

  Then something shoved him, hard, and the hot sensation of Harry's lips was torn away as a high-pitched snarl filled his ears. Jeremey managed to get his mind working enough to figure out that he was being held in one of Promise's claws while the dragon hissed at a rather wide-eyed Harry.

  "Promise!" Jeremey fumed, struggling against the dragon's grip. "Quit that! Put me down! Harry wasn't doing anything wrong!"

  The hissing snarl continued for a moment longer as Harry's face slowly drained of color. Gradually the sound died out and Jeremey found himself lowered carefully to the floor. He scrambled to his feet as soon as he was free and swatted Promise's shoulder before making his way to Harry.

  "I'm sorry," he apologized. "I don't know what's gotten into him."

  "S'all right," Harry said with a faint grin, though his eyes darted frequently over Jeremey's shoulder to where Promise was still watching, "He's probably not seen people kiss before and figured I was attacking you."

  "Still…" Jeremey grimaced as he helped Harry to his feet. "I'm sorry."

  Harry laughed softly and ran the edge of his thumb down Jeremey's face. "Well, that just means I'll have to kiss you a whole lot until he figures out that it's not causing you any harm."

  Jeremey opened his mouth and shut it again, blood once more rushing to fill his cheeks. "I, um, okay…"

  A brief whisper of lips brushed across his cheek, then Harry's sparkling blue eyes shone down at him once more. "But for now, I'd probably better be getting
back before they figure out I'm missing and send out search parties. Colonel Brocius wouldn't be happy with me if he got dragged away from his plotting for such an unnecessary reason."

  Grimacing, Jeremey sighed. "Yeah, me too. Though I'd rather just go to bed."

  Harry's shoulders shook as he laughed. "Get used to the kisses first," he advised with a wink. "The bed can wait a bit."

  Jeremey blinked a moment, but then, as Harry's meaning became clear, his face flushed crimson. Harry patted him cheerfully on the head, then turned and slowly began to make his way back to the clinic, leaving Jeremey once more alone with only his thoughts and the dragons for company.

  SIX

  It took three days for the Galactic Federation people to get the colony's transmitter working again once it was unearthed from the archives. After it had utterly failed to bring any sort of aid eighty years ago, it had become no more than a useless bit of history to the people of Noman. While the transmitter itself was in fairly good shape due to the lack of use, all of the components that had once been used to link it into the power grid had long ago been stripped down and utilized for other purposes. In the end, a salvage trip to the wreckage of the Galactic Federation ship had to be made and the necessary links cobbled together from whatever useable parts could be found.

  There was nothing so undisciplined as a cheer when the request for pick-up was acknowledged and confirmed, but many of the soldiers wore expressions of smug satisfaction. They had every right to be proud, having survived the crash, then the battle with the Vek, and finally cobbling together a working transmitter out of junk. Soon a ship would arrive to take them home, or at least back to Federation-controlled space.

  In the meantime, there was the waiting. Noman was far from Federation territory, out in the unclaimed sectors where few bothered to go. The location had been perfect for the original settlers: a remote planet far from civilization where they could live the peaceful and simple lives they'd been seeking. Of course, they'd had to make a few changes to the plan when Noman's native fauna started trying to kill them.