Chapter 166
The group of people behind Dron had started to fall into small cliques of people.
The journey so far wasn’t very remarkable. The sun was hot. The land was dry. Nothing was happening. They took it upon themselves to pass the time by conversing and telling jokes.
It bothered Dron.
He was unnaturally moody.
Not just because he wasn’t used to traveling with so many people but because he felt as if they could go faster. If they focused as much energy on moving they could make better time.
He knew he was being unreasonable. They were moving at a brisk pace and so far no one had complained about the need to take a break.
As the leader, Dron knew he couldn’t demand too much from the people behind him.
To his surprise, Mikael hadn’t fallen back with the rest of the crowd but instead stayed right next to him.
They didn’t talk to eachother but there was no need to. Besides, Dron felt better with the young kid close to him. He didn’t say it out loud but he had a very strong urge to protect him.
To make sure at least this member of the family survived.
A moment later, Dron heard footsteps moving quicker until Kraznek wound up right beside him. "Mark Chief, according to Krex there should be some hunters den coming up soon. Maybe we can take the first break there."
"Break? Who needs a break?" Dron snapped at the man.
"You expect us to walk straight through don’t you?" Kraznek almost sounded disappointed.
"I expect you all to walk until you can’t anymore."
"Not to go against your word Chief but if you push everyone to the point of failure it’ll be that much longer until we can get back on the road. I thought you wanted to make it to this stronghold quickly."
Dron could here the snideness of his comment. Though he couldn’t tell Kraznek he was wrong.
"Fine, we’ll stop briefly at the hunters den. Make sure the men don’t get comfortable. We will not be staying there longer than need be."
Kraznek shrugged his shoulders before he turned and went back to the main group.
"Are you always so short with them?" Mikael asked when Kraznek was out of ear shot.
"They aren’t here to be my friends. I don’t have to be polite when I give an order."
Mikael tilted his head as if he were trying to understand what was just said to him, "They don’t have to be your friend but maybe it would be better if they didn’t all want you to fall in battle. People care less when mean people die."
"Mean people? Everyone is mean in their own way. You’ll learn that soon enough."
"No, not everyone. My father was good. He helped everyone he could. He did his best to live a good life. He wasn’t mean."
Dron felt like a cad after those words left Mikael’s mouth. He was right. There were some good people in the world. Tempest being one of them. Though she tried sometimes, there wasn’t a mean bone in the woman’s body. She even still wanted to hold out hope that the high royals would make amends and rectify their ways. She was always seeing the very best in everyone.
It’s one of the main reasons Dron was so worried about her being close to Rynax for so long. How long until she came to think that he was a good man. A worthy man?
Dron shook the thought out of his head. He was already on his way to her. Their connection would last a little longer. He knew it.
"How long have you been training? Will you try to go for the military class?" Dron did his best to steer the conversation away from Mikael’s dead family. It wasn’t really a topic that he wanted to stay on.
"There was one point in my life that is what I wanted. My father always told me not to get my hopes up about it. He said the people in the poor class don’t make it out unless they are omegas. He was hopeless. After a while of hearing all of his horror stories about how he was treated when he tried to go to the military class I gave up that dream but then I came here..." Mikael looked behind himself briefly before he turned back to the front and continued. "Here they don’t have classes. They just have people who do what they are good at. Skills are taught freely. I’ve been training since I’ve gotten here. My combat trainer says I have a real talent. He says I can be one of the most skilled alphas in the land if I keep up my training." Mikael raises his chin. He’s proud of this accomplishment.
Dron can hear it in his voice.
"You know being a soldier isn’t all about how well you can hold a weapon or how quickly you can kill your opponent. There are other skills that go along with it."
"Like what?"
"Patience, for one. Attention to detail. Submissiveness." Dron shook his head. He had spent more time than he could remember staying back in perfect formation unable to do what he knew needed to be done simply because his superior had ordered him to do so.
"Submissiveness? Alphas aren’t supposed to be submissive." Mikael shrugged his shoulders hard and his brows crumpled in slightly.
"No, not all the time. There is a primal power inside of us but we must learn to control it. There are times when it’s better to let others lead and we follow. Even if it’s not what we want. Its discipline and its hard but it’s necessary."
"Is that what it’s like having a mate? If so I don’t think I want one."
Dron should’ve been offended, but instead he was tickled. It showed just how young this boy truly was.
"Not exactly. Having a mate does make you somewhat submissive, but the reward is worth it. Have you not started your matehood classes yet?"
"No, that was supposed to start this year, but I guess I won’t have to go."
"It’s a shame. You would’ve enjoyed them. Maybe Tine will have some here at the settlement. I promise you, learning to care for a mate isn’t something that you should ever be ashamed of. Having a mate is one of the greatest blessings you can ever recieve."
"I don’t know, it just seems like a lot of trouble to me. They don’t stay. What’s the point of going through all that—" Mikael’s words cut off abruptly.
Dron looked to the side only to see that not only had he stopped talking but he had stopped walking as well.
Dron took a step back toward Mikael, "Are you okay? Is the heat getting to you? The hunter’s den isn’t very far. We should be there shortly."
"We’re being watched." Mikael whispered. His eyes locked on something in the distance.
Instantly, every one of Dron’s senses perked up. "Are you sure? Where?"
Mikael started to raise his arm as if he were going to point in the direction, but Dron batted it down. "No, don’t point. Just tell me. Don’t bring any extra attention.
"Just over your left shoulder, about three hundred paces, near the treeline." Mikael whispered again.
"Okay, keep walking next to me." Dron turned and continued on his path. His hand moved down to his weapon. He wanted to make sure Mikael was right before he let the group behind him know there was trouble.
Slowly, Dron let his eyes scan the sparse treeline. The trees were bare, as was most of the vegetation on this island, but there was a small cluster of them. In between the thick branches, Dron saw what Mikael was talking about.
There was indeed someone there. They didn’t move, but they were watching the group.
"Kraznek." Dron called out.
Moments later, the man came rushing up to his side. "Mark chief?" He asked clearly, not sure why he was being called from the group.
"Stay even. I don’t know for sure yet, but it appears that we are being followed." Instantly the alpha’s shoulders pulled back, and Dron could see him have the urge to turn and look in the direction that Dron was looking.
"How many?"
"I only see one right now."
"Shall I get the men into formation?" Kraznek asked. He was ready to do whatever needed to be done. Dron appreciated that.
"Not full formation, but put the most skilled on the flanks in case we have to make a move." Dron stared Kraznek down. He wanted to get his point across.
"Heard."
"Be quiet about it. I don’t want to cause a panic."
Kraznek shrugged his shoulders.
That was the issue with bringing more people along with them on this journey. Even though they all volunteered, half of the people from the settlement had never seen any real battle. If there was going to be a fight, there was a strong chance everyone would just run off in the chaos.
Dron grabbed hold of Mikael and urged him forward so they began to walk again. If the person watching him had no intention of doing them any harm, Dron would ignore them, but he wanted to be ready just in case.
"You have a weapon, correct?" Dron asked the young man.
Mikael dropped his hand to his side where there was a small dagger. Dron wasn’t comfortable with Mikael getting close enough to have to use that.
"Anything you can use from a distance." Dron asked, and he watched the young kids eyes widen for a second.
"I can, but..." Mikael hesitated.
"But what?"
"Everyone said it’s childish. I don’t know how effective it’ll be in a fight." He reaches down to his ankle and pulls out a small slingshot. It’s worn as if the kid had used it many times in his life. It was probably the first weapon he had been given as a child.
"Use what you have, but if it comes down to a fight, I don’t want you in the thick of it. Stay to the flanks." Dron looked down at Mikael and hoped that the young man would listen to what was being said.
He didn’t want him to think he wasn’t useful, but Dron knew if it came down to it, he’d be more concerned with making sure the boy was safe. It would take his mind off the battle.
Mikael didn’t push back, he just shrugged his shoulders in agreement.
They’d already walked a few more paces, and from what Dron could see, the person staring at them in the brush hadn’t moved.
As stealthily as he could, Dron looked over his shoulder at the group behind him. Everyone was still in good spirits, but he could see his group had all taken up positions on the outside of everyone, making what looked like a big half circle, protecting the newcomers from every angle.
"Maybe nothing is going to happen." Mikael whispered up to Dron.
Dron wanted to believe that too. Maybe it was all just a coincidence. Maybe everything would be fine, but then again, if that was the case, he was sure he wouldn’t have this horrible feeling brewing in his gut.
One thing Dron never did was ignore his instincts. They were usually what saved him.
Dron opened his mouth to agree with Mikael, but before he could utter the words, there was a long, deep hoot sounding behind everyone.
Dron didn’t have to look behind him to know what was going on. They were being surrounded.
"Incoming!" Verux yelled out, and that is when Dron turned.
Coming from the back was a small army of men. An army that they would never be able to get through. They needed to find a better location. Right now they were all out in the open. The opposition could surround them and pluck them off one by one.
Dron quickly scanned the landscape and could see the cliffs just ahead of them. If he could find a narrow passage, he and his men would have a chance to fight back.
It was his only choice.
He turned, pointed to the cliff face, and barked out an order he’d never thought he’d hear himself say.
"Run!"
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⏸ PAUSE■ STOP