When the chopper finally stopped and she felt the tiny lurch the machine gave when the virtual GPS anchor dropped, she prepared herself, then stepped out into the air and repelled down the cord, landing lightly on her feet.
Letting the cord go, she unhooked from the line and took in the three adults standing rigidly between Kate and the girl. Then, she smiled, hoping that the expression was reassuring. The woman between the two men didn’t look reassured at all. Her arm went behind her, and Kate was sure that she had put her arm around the girl as another layer of protection. Kate didn’t blame them, and she wasn’t sure what to say to make them feel at ease as she took that first step toward them.
Kate’s movements were confident, her gaze making clear contact with the group as she approached, determined to make it through this introduction. Once they knew who and what she was, surely they would relax.
“Is that the girl?” Kate said, then grimaced at the gruff sound of her words.
She had meant to sound a lot nicer, but her booming, commanding voice was not easily squashed. She sighed. Maybe they would attribute her gruff tone to attempting to be heard over the Chinook engines.
“Step back and state your business,” the man said, his tone equally loud and demanding, his confidence in his authority noticeable.
This man was someone important within this group and maybe in this town, but that didn’t matter. Whoever he was, as General in the United States Military, she held authority over almost everyone in the country, so the man’s bravado was useless. Kate wasn’t going to be intimidated by a booming voice and a tall stature.
She stood her ground without fear.
“Is that the girl from the Prophecy?” Kate repeated, startled by the words she’d used.
Where had that come from?
A tiny voice answered, much to the obvious dismay of the adults gathered around her.
“I am,” the little girl said from her hiding spot before stepping out.
The red-headed woman reached for the girl in desperation, but the child slipped out of reach, and the man who had spoken first held the woman back.
“Lucy, come back here,” the man said, but the child ignored him.
Kate stuck her hand out, and the child shook it, her expression confused.
“I saw you in a dream,” the child said as if mesmerized.
“I saw you, too.” Kate could feel herself softening in the presence of this familiar soul, and this time when she smiled, she knew that the expression was soft and kind. “I’m Kate Black,” she offered, still holding the little girl’s outstretched hand even though she wanted to hug her.
“Lucy Archer,” Lucy said. “Princess Lucy Archer. These are my parents.”
Kate furrowed her brow. That was something that she wasn’t expecting.
“I didn’t dream about parents, but I guess that makes sense.” She looked at the three adults standing there, her voice loud to be heard over the roar of the helicopters above.
The redhead was pale, one hand trembling as she reached up to push the hands that held her away. The woman glanced at the other houses, and it was just then that Kate noticed that they had quite an audience. She needed to get as much out as she could before these people scooped Lucy up and ran.
“I guess I should tell you why I’m here,” Kate said, then waved off the helicopters.
Their noise was bothersome and wasn’t helping her convince these people that she was on their side. The neighbors that stuck their heads out of their doors looked petrified, and only Lucy seemed unbothered by Kate’s presence. The young girl stood almost toe-to-toe with Kate, long brown hair waving gently in the breeze, her soft gray eyes that were almost blue staring into Kate’s brown eyes without fear or question. Lucy knew something. Maybe she knew what Kate did, or maybe she knew much more. Until they had a chance to sit down and talk, Kate couldn’t be sure what the girl knew or how she fit into things.
The choppers dipped out of sight, and the instant their engines died down, Kate heard Lucy’s mother let out a heavy sigh. As Kate had suspected, the choppers circling overhead had set the residents on edge, and having them out of sight and silent was already helping.
“I’m General Kate Black, and I’m here to save you,” she said when she could finally hear herself think, smiling again and trying to reassure the child and her parents that her intentions were pure.
“Save us from what?” the man said, almost scoffing as he stepped forward to stand beside Lucy. “We don’t need saving. We take care of our own. And what are you doing here? You’re a long way from New Hope.”
Kate looked up at him, shocked by what he’d said.
“How do you know about New Hope?” she asked, then almost kicked herself for blurting it out.
“This isn’t the first time that President Johansson has sent someone to speak with us about reunifying, but our answer is the same. We want no part of it. New Hope is heading nowhere good, and we don’t want to get dragged into that.”
“I don’t know where you got your intel, but I assure you that New Hope is prosperous and heading into the future with good spirits. There’s nothing to get dragged into. We’re here to relocate the humans of Aldeia to the eastern side of the country where they’ll be safe.”
“Safe from what?” the man asked.
“WereDragons, if you must know, though I’m surprised that you’re so far into their territory and living comfortably. I thought the humans that fled the east were living a more simplistic lifestyle, but regardless, you’ll still need to come back with us.”
The man laughed, but the sound put Kate on edge. She had a feeling that he was laughing at her expense, and she didn’t like it.
“Look, lady,” he began.
“General Black,” she corrected.
“I don’t care,” he countered without raising his voice. “You could be the President, and I still wouldn’t care. This is my kingdom, and we’re not going anywhere. You, however, are free to leave, but you will not take my daughter with you.”
“Your kingdom?” Kate laughed. “You are a delusional one.”
Her words got no reaction out of the man, and she was disappointed. She felt the girl’s hand in hers still, and when Lucy squeezed Kate’s hand, Kate looked down.
“This is my kingdom, too,” she said quietly. “You shouldn’t be so rude to my dad. He will save your life someday.”
Kate’s stomach dropped at the certainty in the little girl’s voice.
“You’re here because you need our help,” Lucy continued. “You should sit down and talk with my parents instead of trying to tell them what to do. The people of Aldeia will not go with you, and the dragons of Aman don’t need your protection. Fate brought you here so we could help you, not the other way around.”