Page 17

CHAPTER 17

TRISTAN

TWO DAYS LATER

Parker and I are in our tent, where we spend a good portion of our time. Even though it’s a couple pieces of canvas, it’s the safest place I can be.

“Are we making any headway?” I ask Parker, taking a drag off a cigarette. I haven’t smoked since I was a teenager, but desperate times call for desperate measures. There’s been nothing else that can stop the tremble of my hands.

“Not yet, but we’ve stopped their advancement on the eastern side. Right now, we’re going to have to be satisfied with that. The first step will be to stop the advancement, and once we do that, then we can fight back. Your general will be in within the next few minutes.”

“Thanks. I’ll be waiting.”

Parker nods and leaves. Although he ducks out of the tent, I know he won’t go far. I haven’t been able to speak to Lia since I hit the battlefield, but earlier today, I was given an encrypted phone. With everything I have, I hope that I’m able to send her a message she’s able to receive.

T: I hope you’re receiving this, L.

I hesitate to use her real name, but I’m confident she’ll know it’s me since I call her Lia. Almost immediately, a text is returned.

L: I miss you, T. Is this you?

T: I wish we were at the weekend house having fish and chips on the beach.

She should know it’s me based on what I’ve said. I’m trying to tell her it’s me without revealing too much. The worst thing would be if I accidentally let the enemy know who she is and where she’s being kept safe. It bothers me, because I can’t be with her. There’s no way I can make sure she’s safe physically, because I’m here, and I can’t be in two places at once.

L: You have no idea how much I wish that too. It’s not the same here without you. Are you safe?

T: Safety is relative. It’s never guaranteed, but I will always strive to come home to you.

My throat squeezes as I think about my wife there by herself. More than anything, I wish I could be there with her. My memories go back to the perfect couple of weeks we were able to just be a newlywed couple. What if this experience changes me in a way I’m not able to come back from? What if I’m hurt to the point I’m eating out of a straw, or I no longer have all my limbs? These are the thoughts that keep rolling through my head.

L: That’s all I can ask. Is there anything I can do for you? Anything we can send to you?

T: All I need for you to do is keep loving me. To be waiting for me when I’m able to get away and keep thinking about us.

L: I will always love you. There’s nothing that’s going to make me stop.

T: What if I have to make choices that aren’t popular and don’t align with who we have been as people? I’m scared to death I’m not going to be the same person when I come out of this, and you aren’t going to love me.

L: I’m behind you a hundred and ten percent. Just know I’m here at home praying for you and holding the home together. I’m trying to come up with an idea to do for the people of Haldonia. I’m not sure what yet, but I’m going to keep on.

My heart could burst out of my chest. I love her. She’s the best person who could’ve been appointed my queen. If I had picked someone, it would’ve been her. I know that with everything inside my body.

T: I love you. Be safe.

L: You too.

“King Tristan, do you have a moment?” It’s the general of the Haldonia army.

“I always have a moment for you. Please let me know what’s happening and what our plans are moving forward.”

He has a seat next to me so that we can look at the map he’s spreading out in front of us. “We’re planning on moving from the eastern edge and pushing them back.”

Nodding, I listen to him as he explains to me what he plans on doing. “Are you planning on starting now?” I question, taking another drag off my cigarette.

“Yes, sir, we are.”

Turning to Parker, I raise my eyebrows. “I want to be out there. You know I can fly.”

“Your Majesty, you being out here on the battlefield is dangerous enough. We can’t have you up in the air.”

He stops just short of saying the only reason I’m here is for optics, and that pisses me off, because if I was doing that, I wouldn’t be out here on the battlefield. I’d be somewhere safe all the time, giving my directions to how I want others to fight this war. That’s not me. I’ve been on the front lines since we were invaded. “Fuck off, Parker. With all due respect, I’ve been here the entire time. I’ve fired guns when I’ve needed to. Let me do what I’ve been trained to do.”

He sighs heavily. “Tristan, I’d have to go up with you.”

“That’s fine with me.”

He swallows roughly. “It’s not with me.”

“Oh my god, Parker. Are you scared of flying?”

“Not exactly flying, but heights aren’t my friend.”

There’s never been anything that this man has been afraid of that I’m aware of. “While I’m sorry that you’re afraid of heights, it’s where I feel comfortable. It’s where I can make a difference.”

He wants to argue. I can tell by the twitching in his jaw. We’ve worked together long enough that I know when he’s annoyed. At the same time, he won’t tell me no unless it’s a threat to national security, and he knows I’m good at flying. When I was serving, I was one of the best pilots in the military.

“Okay,” he sighs. “If you want to go up, then that’s what we’ll do.”

I turn to the general. “Call and get a plane for me. We’ll be in the air within the next hour.”

This is where I’m at home. Back when I was piloting every day, I was less stressed, had more patience, and was able to see the beauty in all the land around us. In the cockpit, I check all my instruments and listen as the plan for today’s operation is repeated.

“Are you ready, Majesty?” Everyone else had cooler call signs than me, and it always made me jealous.

“Yes, we’re ready.”

In front of me, the air traffic controller is standing, giving me directions. Everything has been so loud since the invasion happened. All the time there’s this buzzing in my brain, causing my ears to hurt. All that noise? It’s gone right now. I’m laser focused in and thankful I have a job to do that I can visually notice the impact of. When I get the okay to taxi down the runway, I speak to Parker.

“Are you okay? We’re about to take off.”

“You do what you need to do, Majesty. I’ll be good back here. I don’t plan on puking or passing out.”

A small smile spreads across my face. It’s rare to have a reason to do so these days, but Parker and my wife can usually bring me some measure of joy, even in the darkest moments. “We’ll see about that.”

My focus is on the jet as we take off, and I radio in our coordinates, verifying what I’m supposed to hit. We’re flying to our target, just off the coast of Haldonia. Part of me wonders if Amelia will be able to see what’s happening from where she is. Maybe I could do a fly-by, but she’d have no idea I’m up in the jet.

It takes longer than I thought it would for us to get to our target. In the air, I’m flanked by three other planes. “Targets are acquired.”

Below us, I can see a row of aircraft carriers off our coast, presumably coming around and going to surprise us with another sneak attack. Little do they know we’re the ones who are going to surprise them.

Once I get over them and target lock, I speak calmly into the mask. “Permission to fire. Target is locked.”

“Permission granted. Fire upon.”

With a flick of my thumb, I make the decision to drop a bomb on this group of carriers and finally feel as if I’m doing something that’s going to make a difference. Hopefully after this, Haldonia is able to make advances in this nightmare.

In my mind, all I can think is fuck around and find out. They may have thought we’d lie back and let them crush us, but that’s not me, that’s not my country, and that’s not my people.

We’ll fight for it all and not stop until we get it.