The second explosion was closer.
Dust fell from the ceiling.
Dinraal was on his feet immediately.
Isolde reluctantly released him.
"Now can we talk about the fact that you were supposed to kidnap me?" she asked.
Dinraal stared at her.
"Now?"
Isolde shrugged.
"I've waited six years."
Another explosion shook the building.
Dinraal's expression flattened.
"Apparently, someone has decided to make our reunion unnecessarily complicated."
Claire moved away from the window.
"They're advancing toward the government district."
Dinraal crossed the room in two strides and took her place.
Smoke rose between the distant buildings.
At first, he saw nothing unusual.
Then his eyes narrowed.
Figures moved through the streets below.
They were not human.
And they certainly were not dragonkin.
Their bodies were covered in dark armor that seemed to absorb the light around them. They moved in coordinated groups, advancing with a discipline that immediately unsettled him.
"These aren't civilians," Dinraal said.
Claire looked toward him.
"No."
"They're trained."
Isolde stepped beside him.
Dinraal instinctively moved slightly in front of her.
She noticed.
A small smile appeared on her face.
Dinraal did not.
"Don't start."
"I didn't say anything."
"You were about to."
Isolde's smile widened.
Claire sighed.
"Could the two of you perhaps resolve your reunion later?"
A distant scream echoed through the city.
Dinraal's expression immediately changed.
The amusement disappeared.
He turned toward the others.
"How many guards are stationed here?"
Claire hesitated.
"Not enough."
"Of course."
Dinraal reached for one of his revolvers.
Isolde noticed the movement.
"What are you doing?"
"Finding out what is happening."
"I'll come with you."
"No."
Isolde blinked.
Dinraal pointed toward her.
"You are the primary target."
"Am I?"
The question stopped him.
Claire looked between them.
Dinraal slowly lowered his weapon.
"You're right."
Isolde folded her arms.
He frowned.
"I hate when you're right."
Her expression brightened.
"I missed that."
Dinraal looked away.
Claire covered her mouth, unsuccessfully hiding a laugh.
A loud crash interrupted them.
Something struck the outside of the building.
All three immediately turned toward the sound.
Dinraal activated his HUD.
A warning appeared across the display.
MULTIPLE HOSTILE LIFE SIGNS DETECTED.
His eyes narrowed.
"They found us."
Isolde drew her rapier.
Claire reached for her own weapon.
Dinraal looked at them.
"No unnecessary risks."
Isolde raised an eyebrow.
"That's rich coming from the man who infiltrated a jumpship alone to kidnap me."
"That was a calculated risk."
"You fired a gun at me."
"I fired near you."
"You missed."
"I didn't miss."
Isolde smiled.
Dinraal pointed toward the door.
"Move."
The three of them left the teleportation chamber.
The corridor outside was empty.
Too empty.
Dinraal moved first.
His cloaking gear shimmered briefly before rendering him almost invisible.
Claire followed behind Isolde.
Dinraal stopped.
A hand signal.
Movement ahead.
Isolde's hand immediately moved toward her rapier.
Dinraal silently shook his head.
Three figures rounded the corner.
They wore the same dark armor he had seen from the window.
One of them carried a weapon unlike anything Dinraal had encountered before.
The barrel pulsed with a faint blue light.
Dinraal watched them carefully.
Their movements were precise.
Military.
Definitely not locals.
The lead attacker stopped.
His helmet turned slowly.
Toward Dinraal.
Dinraal froze.
Can he see me?
The attacker raised his weapon.
Dinraal moved.
The corridor exploded with light.
A blast struck the wall where he had been standing a fraction of a second earlier.
"CONTACT!"
Dinraal's cloak disengaged.
His revolvers were already in his hands.
Two shots rang out.
The first attacker fell.
The second raised his weapon—
—and Isolde's rapier pierced through a gap in his armor.
Dinraal looked toward her.
She pulled the blade free.
"What?"
He blinked.
"Nothing."
The third attacker rushed Claire.
Dinraal fired.
The attacker collapsed before reaching her.
Silence returned to the corridor.
For a moment.
Dinraal approached the nearest body.
He knelt.
The armor was unfamiliar.
He reached for the helmet.
Isolde moved beside him.
"Do you recognize them?"
"No."
He removed the helmet.
Then stopped.
Claire stepped closer.
"What is it?"
Dinraal stared at the face beneath the armor.
It was not a human.
It was not a dragonkin.
And it was not any species he recognized.
But that was not what disturbed him.
The attacker was smiling.
Despite being dead.
Dinraal slowly stood.
"We need to leave."
Isolde frowned.
"Why?"
Dinraal looked toward the body.
"I don't think they came here to conquer this planet."
A warning appeared across his HUD.
He stared at it.
Then his expression darkened.
"What is it?" Claire asked.
Dinraal turned toward the window.
Several new heat signatures were moving toward the building.
Too many.
"They came for you."
Isolde's expression became serious.
"Then why are they attacking the city?"
Dinraal holstered one of his weapons.
"To create confusion."
Another explosion sounded in the distance.
"And to make sure no one notices when they take the princess."
Isolde stared at him.
Dinraal met her eyes.
For the first time since their reunion, neither of them smiled.
"We're leaving."
Isolde nodded immediately.
Claire looked toward the teleportation room.
"The pad is disabled."
Dinraal shook his head.
"I wasn't planning on using it."
Isolde tilted her head.
"What exactly is your plan?"
Dinraal gave her a look.
"My original plan was to kidnap you."
"Yes, I gathered that."
"So we're going with something similar."
Isolde's eyes widened.
Then she smiled.
"You're kidnapping me?"
Dinraal sighed.
"Apparently."
Her smile became dangerous.
"Can I help?"
Claire stared at her.
Dinraal stared at her.
Isolde folded her arms.
"What?"
Dinraal turned and began moving down the corridor.
"I'm starting to understand why your father sent you away."
Isolde's delighted laughter followed him.
Then the building shook again.
And all amusement vanished.
Far above them, beyond the atmosphere of the planet, the jumpship carrying Isolde's attendants continued its descent.
Johanna stood near the front of the transport.
Her hand rested against the wall as she watched the planet grow larger in the viewport.
Something was wrong.
She could feel it.
The teleportation pad had gone offline.
Explosions had been detected near the princess's destination.
And now they were descending into an active combat zone.
Johanna turned toward the attendants.
"Prepare for a hot landing."
Weapons were checked.
Armor was secured.
The shuttle began to shake as it entered the atmosphere.
Then Johanna noticed something.
One of the attendants stood alone near the rear of the transport.
Watching them.
Smiling.
Johanna's hand moved toward her weapon.
The attendant's smile widened.
And the lights went out.