The Judge (11 page)

“Are you sure you’re only eighteen years of age, Connor?”

Connor laughed and turned his head to the King, “Yes, I’m sure. You’re doing a great job. But you still haven’t answered my question. What can I do to help?”

Zheng pursed his lips as he looked first to the walls, then the gate, and lastly the never-ending business surrounding them.

“We have this under control. You may want to check in with Morrigan and Lupus to see how the doctor is coming along. We have another day at the most before Vercin comes. He can’t chance us appointing another ferryman and Orion losing his power to travel to The Island. We’ll need the immunizations the doctor is producing to ensure our Elite genes stay active.”

“I agree.” Connor turned to leave but thought twice and addressed Zheng again. “You said that when the battle starts the gate will be the area Vercin attacks the hardest?”

Zheng thought for a moment then nodded. “Yes, if he can’t breach our walls then he will concentrate his force on the gate. Even with the reinforced wood it will still be the weakest access point into the grounds.”

Connor’s eyes narrowed as he examined the two large wooden doors. Randolph and his family were working like dogs dragging and hammering large pieces of metal in place. “Then when the fighting starts, I want to be stationed at the gate.”

Chapter 22

“Connor’s going to be so pissed if you break his arm.”

“Please! I’m working as fast as I can!”

Connor walked into the converted prison cell that now looked more like a mad scientist’s lab. Beakers of all shapes and sizes bubbled, sizzled, and smoked. The doctor was cowering under a desk. Lu had one of his arms in his hands as he dragged the small man out from under his haven. Katie watched, shaking her head in disapproval.

“What’s going on?” Connor said.

The trio looked over at him, each with a different expression. The doctor with relief, Katie with a smile, and Lu with a roll of his eyes.

“Just in time. The doctor has finished the serum for inoculating us. Now when Vercin comes and uses what he thinks will cause us to turn human, he’ll have a surprise,” Katie said. “Morrigan just took the first batch out to the men now.”

Katie was wearing a long blue robe with a deep hood that hung behind her neck. Blonde curls fell behind her at random.

“That’s great news,” Connor said, motioning to Lu. “Now, what’s going on here?”

“This animal is working me to the bone!” the doctor squealed. “He wants me to start working on the antidote for Larentia. I’ve slaved through the entire night! My brain is far past the point of exhaustion. Please, I need rest!”

Connor walked closer and could see the doctor wasn’t lying. The scientist’s eyes were bloodshot. Bags were forming under his glasses and growing deeper by the hour. Instead of the swift Elite that had stabbed him in the street before him stood a weak and tired old man.

“He has plenty left in him,” Lu said, jerking the doctor to his feet and roughly patting him on the back.

The motion nearly made the doctor topple forward.

“And we know the medicine that the doctor cooked up will work how?” Connor asked.

“Oh, it will work,” Lu said, eyeing the doctor like a predator looking over its next meal. “I’d bet his life on it.”

The doctor cowered under Lu’s gaze. “Yes, yes, it will work. I guarantee it. Please.”

“Let him rest for a few hours, Lu,” Connor suggested. “If he’s tired, he’ll work slower. He’ll be more likely to make a mistake. We can give him a few hours.”

Connor could hear Lu growl under his breath but the head of the Abelardus family nodded.

“Oh, thank you. Thank you, Connor. Rest and food and I’ll be up again as soon as I can to work.”

Connor made sure no smile touched his lips as he looked deep into the doctor’s tired eyes. “Doctor.”

There was something in his tone that made even Lu raise his eyebrows in surprise.

“If you fail to cure Laren quickly, I’ll let Lu run his own experiments on you. Experiments that will make what you did to Faust Ulfric look like a game of dress up.”

The doctor’s jaw dropped open. He nodded. Connor knew he had put the fear of god into him.

“Okay, off to bed then,” Lu said, pushing the doctor in front of him and out of the room.

Once the two men had left, Katie burst out laughing. “Oh, I’m sorry, Connor, but ‘dress up’? Really?”

Connor took on a look of feigned injury. “What’s wrong with dress up? I thought it worked. I was going to say ‘a game of operation’ but I’m not sure he would understand the reference. I mean, he’s been locked up in Karnag for the last few centuries. ”

Katie doubled over and Connor joined in. The two finally contained themselves and Katie was the first to speak.

“Well, either way, I think you got your point across. I better get going. Morrigan will need help making sure everyone has had their vaccination.”

Connor nodded as Katie brushed past him to the exit.

“Kat, before you go… I mean, I don’t want to bring up a sore subject, but we’ll be in a war in under a day and… well, your mother is on the other side.”

Katie stopped and turned, making her robe twist around her body in a way Connor would have once found attractive.

“I know. I’ve thought a lot about what I would do. I mean if it came down to—to me choosing her over all of you. I won’t kill her but I won’t let her hurt anyone, either.”

“That’s good enough for me. I know you’ll do the right thing when the time comes. Morrigan is a great teacher. I’m sure she can teach you some non-lethal moves—spells, whatever you guys call them.”

Katie smiled and her eyes twinkled. “Thanks, Connor. And they are spells, we aren’t football players, learning new ‘moves.’”

Screams split the air. Running feet hit the hall outside of the makeshift laboratory.

Katie and Connor looked at one another with worried eyes.

No, not yet, Vercin. Not yet. This is too soon.

Chapter 23

Connor found himself running side by side with Katie down the palace halls.

There was a stream of people running toward the front courtyard. Connor noticed with pride that warriors were grabbing weapons, armor, and shields and running towards the shouts.

This was a people Connor was proud to lead. Not one person ran the opposite way. Not one Elite member slunk back in fear and sought a hiding place in the deep recesses of the palace.

Connor burst through the front gates of the palace and into the cold air. Grey skies seemed to darken by the second as Connor fought to catch sight of what was causing the commotion.

He half expected to see Vercin leading an army of Karnag inmates over the walls. Instead he caught sight of both male and female warriors looking into the sky. Connor caught sight of Miyanda. Her strong rigid back was easily recognizable as she lifted a heavy spear into the air and shouted something in her native tongue.

Connor skidded to a stop next to her, Katie still at his side.

“What—what’s going on? Has Vercin made it to The Island?”

His violet-eyed friend turned. Miyanda was wearing a pearl white smile that split her mouth wider than Connor would think possible.

“No, Judge, your dragon has come.”

Connor’s confusion must have been plain. Miyanda shook her head, still smiling, and pointed to the sky.

Connor followed her outstretched hand and squinted. Even with his enhanced vision the figure was hard to catch. It looked like a bird. As the seconds ticked on, Connor knew that no bird alive was that large. Realization hit Connor at the same time all the reasons that what he was seeing was impossible registered.

“The Island restored your pet to his natural state,” Miyanda said. “To the way his kind were intended to be.”

Connor was beyond words. Instead he ran to the castle wall and climbed the stairs. The air was cold and with each step, the wind gathered strength. Connor rushed past dozens of warriors gathering weapons. His eyes still locked on the impossible.

Vaulting over the last few steps, Connor stood on the battlements. The dragon was close now. Connor could make out large wings flapping through the air. The same roar Connor had heard while he was running from the dragon in the Amazon vibrated through his ears. The noise echoed through the entire palace as the dragon came closer.

Reptilian eyes must have seen Connor because the dragon angled towards him. Connor knew he should be scared. The appropriate response should be fear. But all he felt was wonder. He felt like a small child again, embracing the fantasy of having his very own dragon. His hands gripped the edge of the stone wall as he leaned out with a smile.

The dragon came closer and closer. It had grown since it’s time on The Island. Not only had the dragon’s small wings expanded in size but the animal itself had doubled to nearly twice its original mass. The dragon let out a roar that sounded like a hundred diesel engines starting at once.

The creature flapped its long wings, slowing itself as it settled for a spot right outside of the palace wall. Dozens of warriors had joined Connor on the battlements. Arrows, spears, slings, and throwing blades pointed at the creature.

“Wait!” Connor ordered.

The men around him licked their lips. Eyes darted from Connor to the dragon, every instinct in their body telling them what they were seeing couldn’t be real.

Connor raised a hand. Looking around him, he motioned for the men to lower their weapons.

“If he wanted to kill us he could have already.” Connor looked back at the dragon. “Isn’t that right, Spero?”

The dragon sniffed the air like a dog as it lumbered over to the wall. Raising itself on hind legs the size of tree trunks, it rested two huge paws on the palace wall. Arching his neck forward, he was at eye level with Connor.

Hot breath radiated out of the monster’s jaws in waves. Everyone had known a dragon was on The Island, a few had even seen it. But the dragon they saw compared to the dragon they were told about was so different.

Connor’s first trial was to capture a fire serpent, a long time descendant from the ancient dragons who could fly and breathe fire. When he had captured the beast, the dragon was no larger than an eighteen wheeled truck. Its wings were small and feeble from lack of use and folded permanently on its back.

The dragon everyone expected to see was small, a pet. What was now a few feet from Connor was a beast.

“I told you you should have come and visited him sooner,” a small voice said.

Everyone turned to see who the voice belonged to. Reap had somehow squirmed through the crowd and was now standing by Connor’s right elbow.

“See? The Island cured him. Just like it healed me.”

Connor nodded, still at a loss for words. Instead, he reached out an open hand. Gasps filled the air as warriors witnessed their leader do the unthinkable. The dragon ignored them all. Instead he gently rubbed his massive head into Connor’s palm.

The air whipping around them was cold. The heat emanating from the dragon felt like sitting next to a crackling furnace. With war so close at hand, and now a true dragon on their side, Connor knew that their odds had increased exponentially.

A laugh broke out, ending the silence. It took Connor a moment to realize that he was the one laughing. Warriors on all sides looked to their leader for an answer to his mirth. Connor ignored the stares and looked at his small friend.

“You were right, Reap. Hope—I mean Spero, that was a perfect name for him.”

Chapter 24

With breakfast skipped, Connor would have enjoyed a bigger lunch but this was not the time to think about food. Connor chewed the last bit of meat as he examined the work that had been done in the courtyard.

The walls had been loaded with supplies. Although Randolph was covered from head to toe in sweat, he pushed on. The front gates that had been made of wood now practically looked like they were formed from solid steel plates. Metal pieces crossed and weaved back and forth. Iron bars secured the doors in a dozen different places.

Morrigan and Katie had accepted Miyanda and her people’s help in ensuring everyone had been inoculated with the doctor’s serum. It was actually quite a sight to see huge onyx-skinned warriors dressed in traditional Amazon garb with weapons in hand and war paint handing out shots. All but a few of them were shirtless, wrapped in strong sinewy muscle.

“Kind of weird to see them playing doctor, right?”

Connor turned to see Laren beside him. She placed a hand on his shoulder. Just that simple small touch made Connor feel stronger.

“It’s weird and it’s encouraging at the same time. I doubt that giving shots is their first choice of work but when they were asked, they didn’t hesitate to help.”

“How about you? Have you received your shot?”

“Who, me? No. I was going to get it lat—”

Connor was stopped mid-sentence as Laren flagged down Miyanda.

“Miyanda, I think our Judge here has been shying away from the needle.”

Miyanda raised a dark eyebrow. “Oh, really. Our Judge isn’t afraid of a little prick now, is he?”

Connor rolled his eyes at Laren. “Please, I just haven’t gotten around to it.”

“Are you sure you’re not scared?” Laren asked with mischief in her eyes.

“Of a needle? Of cour—Owww! What? Why?”

“There you go. All done,” Miyanda said, pulling out the slender needle from Connor’s rear end. She held a look of satisfaction on her face that seemed too genuine to be anything but mischievous glee.

Connor scowled at her, rubbing his rear. “Did you have to give it to me in my right cheek? I at least deserve a warning. Do you think this is funny?”

The girls answered with a laugh as Miyanda walked away, headed to her next victim.

“I think she’s enjoying her new job way too much,” Connor said, still rubbing his rear.

“She’s just having fun,” Laren said. “So Lu woke the doctor up after a few hours of rest and some food. He’s working on a way to reverse my dormant Elite gene now. I want to be ready for when Vercin comes. It would kill me to be on the sidelines while everyone fights.”

Connor could see the fire in Laren’s eyes. Despite her being human, her intensity was back.

“I’m sure the doctor will work fast. Lu’s been threatening him all day and I added some motivating words as well.”

Laren burst out laughing.

“What?”

“Oh, nothing. I just almost feel bad for him now. I threatened him, too. I told him that if he didn’t get me in this fight before Vercin made it to The Island I was going to have him eating out of a straw for a month, with or without my Elite gene.”

Connor looked into Laren’s eyes again and didn’t doubt her for a second.

“How are the preparations coming?” Laren asked, changing the subject.

“Everyone is doing their part. I think when Vercin does come he’ll have more than he bargained for.”

“And how are you holding up?”

Connor opened his mouth but stopped short as he was reminded of how good Elite hearing was. Even if they weren’t intentionally listening in to their conversation it was possible wandering ears would hear what they weren’t intended to.

Laren caught the hesitation. She took Connor by the hand and led him around the side of the palace.

The front of the palace courtyard had been cleared of bushes and rocks to make room for the visiting Elites from the five families. The area on either side of the palace, however, still displayed its normal arrangements of thick bushes and colorful flowers.
There was a cold breeze that played with the bushes and flowers in the palace garden. Laren didn’t say a word as she walked with Connor.

There was a comfortable silence as they walked hand in hand. Oblivious to the world around him, Connor let himself relax for what he imagined would be the last time in a very long while.

Laren’s hand was warm. Her skin was soft. The amount of joy that the simple act of holding hands brought Connor was silly. But he liked it, anyway. A few more moments of silence brought them to an area halfway from the front of the palace to the rear doors.

Here Laren stopped. Her slender frame pushed against Connor’s chest as she kissed his cheek and then nestled her head against his jaw.

“So this is what it’s like,” Connor said, holding his treasure.

“This is what what’s like?” Laren asked, still pressed against him.

“This is what it’s like to have the strongest woman I know trust me. To open up and be vulnerable.”

Laren tilted her head and grinned. “I know, you must be just the luckiest guy.”

Connor smiled but his joy soon faded as he was reminded of the events in which they were still trapped. A thought pushed its way to the front of his mind. He knew that this may be the last chance he had to talk with Laren alone. Kicking himself for ruining the moment, he knew he had to say what was on his heart.

“Laren?”

Laren caught his tone, the shift in his warm embrace to a tense stand. She separated herself from him and looked into his deep brown eyes.

“Yes? Connor, what is it?”

“Laren, if things don’t turn out the way we plan… I mean, if for whatever reason I don’t make it—”

Laren pressed a finger to his lips.

“No, there’s been enough talk about death. You will make it, Connor. Morrigan’s prophecy is about you. You completed the trials. You united our people. You are going to succeed.”

Connor bit back a rebuttal. Laren’s eyes were firm and her tone was unmovable. Nothing he could say was going to convince her otherwise. In that moment he was beyond grateful to have her in his life. He had started speaking thinking he was doing the right thing. Covering all his bases in case the worst happened. Now as she moved her finger from his lips he realized she had told him exactly what he needed to hear.

Connor leaned forward and kissed Laren but their lips touched for only the briefest of moments. A sound like thunder reached their ears. But it was only similar to thunder, Connor knew exactly what the noise was. It was the sound of a portal being opened. Vercin had arrived.