Page 59 of Barbarian Daddies

I know Alicia stayed back, as did Amber with the kids, but they’ll be joining us soon. Once our fighters are done combing the city for any remaining Sky Tribe fighters, once the surviving enemy combatants are imprisoned, pending a military trial, once the fires are out and the people feel safe within the city walls once more, my friends will come into Sapphire City, they’ll come into their new home and share this joy with me.

“We did it, fellas!” Helios adds as he and Kharo move through the throngs of people, beaming like the twin suns upon reaching the base of the steps. “We’ve taken the first city. May we take more before the year’s end!”

“May we take more!” the Fire Tribe warriors declare in unison, laughing and vigorously shaking their hands. Yet there is a somber shadow lingering on each of their faces.

It took a lot of violence and plenty of death for this victory. Sunna’s people are fewer today than they were yesterday. It was not an easy fight, and it will take a while for the blood to be washed from the city’s cobblestone streets. It will take a while for the smell of smoke and burnt wood to fade away. A while for the damaged buildings to be repaired or rebuilt, depending on the damage they sustained during the attack. A while.

We’re still at war.

We cannot truly celebrate this moment, even if we want to.

The enemy isn’t sleeping. As we look up to the sky and welcome the sunrise over the city, there are messages flying all over Sunna. Words being spoken, darting from one military leader to another as they prepare for retaliation. The Sky Tribe will not leave things be. They’ll try to take this city back, and they’ll come at us with plenty of force and firepower.

“We only have a few days to prepare our defenses,” Kharo says once he reaches us. “The Sky Tribe will send jets and grunts to try and take the city back.”

“They’re welcome to try,” Kai replies. “They won’t dare bomb the city itself. They want it back whole, not in ruins. And we have the people here by our side. I don’t think a show of force will get the Sky Tribe what they want.”

“They’ll make their way up to the gates and rattle their guns at us,” Maur adds. “Their jets will fly overhead and maybe hit a couple of towers just to scare us. But if we’re smart, they’ll go back with their tails between their legs.”

He means that literally. The mark of any frightened beast.

A thought crosses my mind, a grin slowly slitting its way across my face. “We have access to jets and drones now, too,” I say. “The northeastern hangar just past the white cliffs. Selina didn’t have time to deploy her troops last night.”

“Our brilliant doctor here makes a very good point,” Kai replies. “The Sky Tribe won’t get anywhere near us. We’ve got enough ammunition and firepower to keep them at bay while we rebuild and regroup, while we strategize and prepare for the next stage of this war.”

“And let’s not forget that by the time they send their troops over here, they’ll have lost another starship, too,” Kharo says, chuckling softly. “Yeah, they’ll have their hands full.”

It’s done.

That is what matters the most.

We have a city and access to precious resources. Weapons and barracks. Ammunition and supplies. We have civilians willing to support us, and we will support them in return by bringing their city back to its former glory. I’ll use my research lab to work on a cure for the plague, but we’ll also protect the surviving Sunnaite women. We’ll take them out of that wretched breeding center Selina forced them into, and we’ll give them safe homes in isolation while I bring us closer to a plague-free world. I don’t know when it happened, but curing the plague has become my life’s mission.

It's not just important. It’s imperative to save these people, especially since now we know they may be victims of horrendous genocide and certainly not nature’s wrath. Maybe that’s why Sunna reacted to me the way it did. Maybe that’s why the desert drew me in that night, why the ground split open and the realm’s fiery essence poured freely for me.

The effects of that strange water have since faded, but a pleasant sensation lingers in the pit of my stomach. A tranquility I haven’t experienced in eons. We have plenty of work ahead of us. But we’ll handle it. We are stronger now than we were yesterday.

“We’ve agreed for the Hadana clan to govern this city,” Binzen says, looking at Kai and Maur with a bright smile. “You worked the hardest, and you’ve got Cynthia handling the research lab here, as well. You’ve done a marvelous job with your riverside territory, too, brothers, and so we feel you deserve this chance at a broader leadership.”

“We will, of course, assist you with anything you need,” Izzo adds. “But this palace should be your new residence henceforth.”

I give my lovers a hopeful glance. “The bathrooms in this place are amazing.”

“Then let’s take you home, my love,” Kai laughs lightly.

“We’ll see you three later,” Helios says, warmth glowing in his crimson eyes as he takes a couple of steps down. “There’s more work to be done securing the city’s outer districts but leave that with us. By nightfall, we’ll bring more of our people in to repair the wall’s defenses and rebuild the gates.”

We agree to hold a council meeting later, hoping by then we’ll have heard from Jewel and the Kreek brothers. I know she’ll be okay no matter what. She’s one hell of a fighter and relentless when it comes to accomplishing her objectives. I can’t wait to see Amber and Alicia, too. We have our own celebrating to do.

But in the meantime, I let Kai and Maur take my hands and gently welcome me into our new home. It’s odd… the last time I came here, I was a prisoner, yet now I’m walking in willingly and gladly.

“This is weird,” I giggle as Kai and Maur follow me up the main lobby stairs of the palace. “I can’t even remember how I got here the first time.”

“You were knocked out,” Maur says.

“Right,” I mumble, looking up.

It’s a beautiful place, though parts of it have suffered with the passage of time. The ceiling paintings have faded, once having depicted Sunna’s beautiful red skies with puffy yellow clouds and the twin suns serving as the base of a massive brass chandelier with long, swirling crystal arms. The floors are covered in white marble with shimmering red veins, while the crown molding decorations are brushed with bronze powder. Chunks are missing here and there, but they’re still pretty, still evoking opulence and royal luxury.

---