Dragon and Liberator

"Go ahead," Jack told her. "I'll be along in a minute."

Alison glanced at Draycos, then nodded. "Okay," she said. "But make it snappy." With Taneem padding along behind her, she left the room.

"Are you all right?" Draycos asked gently.

"I don't know," Jack said. Suddenly, to his surprise and embarrassment, more tears were flowing from his eyes. "I just feel sort of . . . I don't know. Sort of lost."

"That's to be expected," Draycos said. "For the past six months you've been on the run, living with fear and danger and a burden no one your age should ever have to carry. Along the way, you've grown a great deal as a person, as well as learned things about yourself and your history you thought you'd never know."

He reached up a paw and rested it gently on Jack's arm. "You've never had a chance to truly grieve for your parents. Now, finally, you have that chance."

"I guess," Jack said, swiping a hand across his eyes. "But it hasn't just been the last six months. With Uncle Virgil, and then after he died . . ." He shook his head. "That was my life, Draycos. It was all I ever knew. Now, suddenly, everything's changed."

"Yes, it has," Draycos said. "It's called being at peace. Being at rest. It's something you haven't experienced since you were three years old." He lashed his tail gently. "To tell you the truth, it's something I've never truly experienced, either."

Jack looked down at the K'da, a wave of tangled thoughts and emotions swirling through him. There was grief for his parents, certainly, along with the scary sense that his life had changed forever. There was also a little shame that he was even carrying on like this when Draycos and his people had suffered so much more than he had.

But on top of all the rest of it— "We did it," he murmured, the fact suddenly and truly sinking in. "We saved your people. We actually did it."

"We did, didn't we?" Draycos said, his jaws cracking open in a K'da smile. "You and I, and Alison and Taneem."

"And Langston, and Mr. Braxton," Jack added. He felt his stomach tighten. "And Harper."

"All of us together," Draycos agreed quietly. "We're safe, Jack. You're safe."

Safe. The word flowed through Jack's mind like a gentle summer breeze. Safe.

"Hey, in there?" Alison's voice drifted back down the corridor. "You two get lost?"

Quickly, Jack wiped the last of the tears from his eyes with his sleeve. "Keep your socks on," he called back. "We're coming."

"Then do it," Alison said as she and Taneem stuck their heads around the doorway into the room. "Grandfather's waiting, and you don't want him mad at you."

"Oh, right," Jack said dryly. "What's he going to do, take away the dessert cart?"

"Worse," Alison said solemnly. "He might limit you to a single day at Great Galaxy Romp next time he takes us there. And no roller coasters at all."

"Actually, no roller coasters would be fine with me," Jack assured her. He gave Draycos a lopsided grin. "I'm at peace now, you know."

"Not for long," Alison warned. "You're an ambassador to a whole race of people. Two whole races, actually. Your future's about to get really complicated again."

"Complicated, but good," Draycos said. "For all of us."

"Absolutely," Alison agreed, reaching down to stroke Taneem's neck.

"You really think so?" Jack asked.

"Oh yes." Alison smiled. "Bet on it."