Dragon's Claim Read online

  Dragon’s Claim

  Red Planet Dragons of Tajss Book Nine

  Miranda Martin

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  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Miranda Martin

  About the Author

  Copyright © 2018 by Miranda Martin

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Created with Vellum

  Chapter One

  Penelope

  A lock of hair is sticking to my face, and I blow a huge puff of air at it, trying to get it out of my eyes. I'm not entirely successful, but I don't want to stop to free up my hands until I make it to Ormarr's apothecary. Putting the heavy box of herbs down and then picking it back up will only be more effort. I can deal with an irritating lock of hair for a little longer. Even in this heat.

  It's the middle of the day, which means Tajss's twin suns are beating down on me without mercy. I squint so I can at least see where I'm going. Falling now would just be icing on the cake. Plus, I wouldn’t want to have to fish everything out of the sand on top of everything else.

  The herbs I'm carrying are an early harvest. With Bashir's help, Ormarr's been able to get some basic flora going, simple plants that can take care of simple needs. But the box I'm transporting now has the big guns, herbs I'm sure he'll be excited to see. As soon as he gets his hands on them, I know he'll be itching to brew some new tonics.

  Of course, I have to get there first.

  The heat is intense, and I'm near full exhaustion from running water out to the men periodically to make sure they don't get dehydrated as they work on the wall. Probably I should have kept a better eye on my needs as well. I take a deep breath and trudge forward. I will not pass out. That would be way too embarrassing. So I won't.

  I try to think of something else to distract myself from the weather and the burn in my muscles. My mind wanders to the wall, and I immediately wonder if one of the dangerous creatures on this crazy planet will show up and damage it before the men even have a chance to finish it. Judging from previous experience, chances are that is exactly what will happen.

  I sigh as I adjust my burden.

  Maybe that sounds pessimistic, but I think it's actually realistic here.

  I really would have liked to enjoy this planet we ended up crash-landing on, but it's difficult for me to get past all the negatives, even when everything is relatively quiet like it is now.

  There are so many things on Tajss that can kill you if you aren't careful. Plants, animals—even a disruption in the supply of epis that keeps us humans alive, giving us unnatural resistance to the harsh conditions here. This place has some of the most gorgeous flora I've ever seen—and the ship had records of quite a lot of plant life. But does it really matter how visually appealing all of it is when most of the plants can and will kill you, given half a chance?

  Vegetation is supposed to be the safe kind of life!

  And the animals here...they're some of the most awesome examples of beasts, which is definitely the word I would use for the majority of them. But, again, they aren't even close to being safe. It's an approach-at-your-own-risk kind of deal. Many of them would kill you rather than look at you.

  Even if one wanted to tranquilize them to conduct some scientific study, many of them have thick hides that a normal dart can’t even begin to get through. So tranquilizers are useless. Probably worse than useless. You'd probably only succeed in irritating the heck out of the animal and causing it to attack.

  I adjust the box again. I'll have impressive muscles in no time at this rate. Hey, maybe I'll end up looking as badass as Sarah Connor in Terminator 2. I can only hope. I blink as sweat drips into my eye.

  Ugh. Not worth it!

  Honestly, what I find most difficult to understand about all of this is how the men talk about Tajss, specifically how everything was here in the past. When it was a civilized planet, before the war that destroyed their entire way of life. They talk about all the wonders of the glory days, but, at the same time, they act as though those days are gone forever. Like they can never be recaptured.

  Why?

  Why do they think Tajss cannot be redeveloped, cannot again become that wonderful world they remember so fondly? They were able to do it before. Why not again? It's as though they don't even want to try! I simply don't understand that mindset. Embracing such a bleak and fatalistic idea about future development is much too depressing for me.

  And resigning myself to living here as it is? Without any hope of improvement? I can't think too long about that or I'll really sink into the doldrums. I'm having a difficult time just living moment to moment as it is. Maybe that's why I'm the only one who is holding out hope that there might still be a way to get off Tajss.

  Maybe it's desperation—okay, it's probably desperation. But it isn't completely out of the realm of possibility that Earth fared better than Rosalind thinks. Maybe there is a way to communicate with home. I can't just let that go. I'm too stubborn a person. For a lot of situations, I truly feel like if there's a will, there's a way.

  If anyone has the will to try for this particular dream, it's me. I don't even care if it is a desperate hope. The truth is, I need that hope. Even if the others may think it's delusional to hold on to it. I need that delusion to keep going. To keep living in this place like this.

  It’s not because I'm not grateful. I fully and completely appreciate the hospitality the Zmaj have shown. There's no denying the fact that we'd all be dead if it weren’t for them. If it weren’t for these gargantuan hunks with hearts of gold. They saved us. And for that I will always be grateful.

  This just isn't the life I want to live.

  Maybe it does sound like I am ungrateful for this new chance at life, but it doesn't change how I feel.

  I still miss what I lost. I had a career on the ship. I inspired and molded young minds after years of studying for that position. I felt like I had a purpose, like I made a valuable contribution to our community.

  And here? Here, it's just—

  My train of thought cuts off as a huge bird-like creature sweeps by the wall, its predatory, sharp-featured face signaling it's no gentle beast. I watch it warily as I keep moving, but it continues on without making a move to gouge anyone's eyes out. Whew!

  The animal sighting has me mentally shifting gears back to my book, a Tajss encyclopedia I've been working on, a project that keeps my mind engaged. It gives me something to do so I don't go completely crazy here.

  "That is a vtak," Ormarr explains. "Though I have no idea why it is out at this time of day, when the suns are still high in the sky. They tend to hunt at night unless there is a storm coming."

  I grunt, making a note of the name as I lower the sizable box to the floor, careful to use my legs and not my back.

  "Why did not one of the men carry this here?" Ormarr asks, frowning. "It is much too heavy for you."

  Really? I cock an eyebrow at him.

  "If we can car
ry your babies for eleven months and then go through labor, we can definitely handle hauling a box," I retort, placing my hands on my hips as I catch my breath. It was difficult to lug the thing around. But no way I'm going to admit that now.

  Ormarr smiles, like he can see what I'm holding back, the amusement dancing in his eyes as he heads over to lift the herb box.

  He picks it up easily—the weight is obviously much easier for him to carry than it was for me—and takes it over to his sturdy work table.

  Muttering to himself, he sorts through the bundles. Lifting a sprig to inhale its fragrance, he hums under his breath as the scent hits him.

  "Good harvest," he remarks, setting it down with care. "These will certainly come in handy." He smiles at me. "Thank you for your work, Penelope. It is much appreciated."

  I give him a small curtsy, ready to head back out.

  I'm so sweaty and sticky from being out in this heat. I know exactly where I want to go next. Though it might be some time before I can get away.

  "Wait." I turn around, frowning as Ormarr stops me. "Take this with you," he says, holding out another sprig, this one smaller than the other.

  I hesitate at the mischievous glimmer in his eye, taking the offering slowly.

  "What's it for?" I ask warily, wondering what the joke is.

  He chuckles at my suspicion.

  "Simply for fragrant bathing," he reassures me. "No drying required. I believe you will enjoy the experience. I've heard some of the women complaining about the lack of supplies."

  I tense, hoping my dismayed reaction isn't noticeable. Does he know about the spring I found? Why else would he give me this? And have that look in his eye?

  I can't ask without giving it away, and I need that place, need the tranquil solitude it provides. Sometimes I feel like it's the only thing keeping me sane here. I scan Ormarr's features. There's no way to know for sure. If he does know, something tells me he won't rat on me. He could have already if he knows. And he hasn't. As far as I know.

  That last sequence of thoughts confuses even me.

  Shaking my head, I search his eyes, but Ormarr's are hard read. He'd probably be an excellent poker player. Deciding to err on the side of caution, I put on my game face. If he isn't going to broach the subject directly, neither am I.

  "Thank you, Ormarr. That's really very thoughtful of you."

  He inclines his head at me, a smile still flirting with his mouth as he turns back to the herbs.

  An hour later, I still haven't gotten a chance to escape. I sit, watching Delilah trying to reformulate her secret sauce. It was legendary on the ship. I know I'm not the only one hoping she'll be successful sooner rather than later.

  "I just can't seem to get the right proportions," she mutters to herself, the table in front of her covered in samples of various non-lethal flora, as well as smoked and powdered meat bits. It's quite a daunting array of potential ingredients.

  "I'm sure you'll get it," I encourage her. "That last batch was definitely closer."

  She nods, muttering something else to herself as she scurries over to the pot again. A lot of us have taken to various endeavors to keep our brains engaged here. Delilah's sauce is probably the equivalent of my encyclopedia. Something to focus on, something to keep her sane. As I watch her lose herself in her self-imposed task, I realize this is the perfect opportunity for me to slip away. The others are engaged in their brain-defrags. No one will miss me. So that's exactly what I do.

  Quietly, I leave the village, trying not to draw attention to myself as I make my way over to my secret spring, where I'm sure nobody will bother me. I feel a little twinge of guilt as I make the trip. I'll probably let the other girls know about it eventually, but I feel like I'll snap without a little more time to myself. At least for now. There's just so much to process, so much to reflect on. I need to decompress to keep my mind sharp, keep myself in balance. The grind of day-to-day life in a place like this can be mind-numbing all on its own. So I'm okay with keeping this small pleasure to myself right now.

  A woman has needs! Not the least of which is a greater purpose, at least for me. If I all I can have is this small pleasure, I'm going to hold onto it as long as I can.

  I wipe the sweat off my forehead as I continue, pondering what my next step should be in terms of finding an intellectual outlet for myself. The hand-written starter encyclopedia I've been filling out with the information I've gleaned from the others is a good start, but I'm nearing the end of what I can accomplish with that. I'm reaching the point where I'm going to be ready to explore the wild with a purpose, to gather more intelligence directly to add to my project. It feels like the logical next step.

  There's just one problem with that. I'm not stupid enough to think I can handle myself out there alone, immersed in Tajss’s wilderness. I'm a casualty waiting to happen on my own. And doesn't that just chafe?

  I've never felt so completely vulnerable.

  On the ship, I knew I could handle myself. Here, it's an entirely different story. It hasn't sat well with me since day one. It's so frustrating to feel like I can't even take care of myself, especially since I'm so used to being able to do that.

  To make matters worse, none of the men will help me improve, help me become more self-sufficient. They won't train me to hunt, won't train me to fight. Both things that I firmly feel like women need to know how to do on this planet! What will we do if something terrible happens and we have to fend for ourselves? No way we'll be able to survive for long without being able to at least find food for ourselves. The Zmaj are proving stubborn on this. But I'm stubborn too. I’m going to keep chipping away at the obstacles put in front of me because I'm not giving up.

  But for now, I'll settle for striking a deal with one of the Zmaj to help me venture out of the camp and write the manual. I'm not an idiot. I'm not going to head out there alone only to be eaten by the first animal—or plant!—that thinks I look tasty.

  I sigh. I've been sighing a lot lately. Man, I really hate feeling helpless. It's more than annoying in this environment—it's terrifying. I ponder that until I hit the small rock wall and settle back into the present. I don't want to think about all that right now. This is supposed to be my time to relax, not think about everything driving me crazy. I have the rest of the day to do that.

  I take a deep breath, the fragrance of the herbs growing nearby making me smile. The spring—my own private hot tub—is tucked safely behind the short wall. The water sparkles in the dappled sunlight. My tiny oasis from the harsh world.

  I have an urge to jump in immediately, feeling every sweaty, gritty moment of being out in the hot sun, but I take my time, glancing around to make sure nobody else is in the vicinity. When I'm sure the coast is clear, I can't undress quickly enough. When I'm bare, I slide right into the warm water. It's always the perfect temperature. Thankfully, today is no exception.

  Closing my eyes in pleasure, I take a minute to enjoy it before reaching for my clothes. I fish out the sprig Ormarr gave me, adding it to the small bit of unscented soap I still have from the ship. Oh, it smells amazing! I inhale deeply, reveling in the water and that delicious scent as I soap up, getting the grime of the day off me. I feel like a new woman afterwards. This is exactly what I needed.

  Thank you, Ormarr. You're an amazing man—er—dragon.

  I roll my eyes at myself, soaking in the delicious moment. I let myself relax, let my body drift onto my back, enjoying the sense of weightlessness, the warm water cupping my body...

  Wait.

  What's that sound?

  My eyes snap open as the heavy, rapid footsteps close in.

  It sounds like someone is...running.

  A big someone.

  Who is—

  A big Zmaj clears the small wall in the next second.

  My train of thought freezes as my eyes meet Bashir's own startled ones.

  Oh, shit.

  His eyes glance down at my breasts for a split second, revealed from my floating positi
on on my back. I gasp, immediately using my arms to cover myself, feeling the blood rush to my face.

  Tajss, why do you hate me?

  He looks just as embarrassed as I do, quickly averting his eyes.

  "Excuse me," he mutters, turning and promptly running away again, almost with more speed than he'd used to get here. He must have heard me and come to investigate. Maybe he thought I was in trouble. I don't know. But no matter his intentions, the damage is done.

  I sink lower in the water, though it's no use now. I'd been so careful. So careful to dress modestly, to avoid any hint of romantic interest with any of the Zmaj. I'd maintained dignity and respect, not wanting to be seen as a potential partner in a relationship. But that is all likely gone now.

  Not because I'm the most beautiful woman in the world, but even human men are visual creatures. And Bashir is more sexual than that—he's one of the big, lusty dragons for goodness sake! I'm more than likely sexualized in Bashir's eyes now, and there's no going back from that. No matter how many loose clothes I wear now, or how businesslike I keep my demeanor, you can't go back from being seen naked.

  Letting out a frustrated huff, I let my arms drop. What's done is done. I don't relish seeing Bashir again. I can already imagine how hard it's going to be to look him in the eye without blushing. It's going to be weird, but I'm going to have to just push through it. Maybe if we both ignore what happened... Damn it, why did it have to be Bashir out of all the Zmaj?! I have to see him every day!

  Mood completely shattered, I wade to the edge of the water and haul myself out to get dressed.

  Well—

  At least he was a gentleman about it.