Page 3 of Naga General's Mate

Suddenly, a missile streaked across the clearing from the smaller ship. Brivul’s tail whipped forward as he launched himself toward the civilian transport, knowing even as he moved that he couldn’t reach it in time. The world slowed around him. Each millisecond burned into his memory.

The missile struck. The civilian transport erupted into a fireball that lit up the surrounding forest. The shock wave knocked Brivul back, his scales scraping against rough bark. Heat washed over him as secondary explosions tore through the civilian vessel.

“No!” The word tore from his throat. Two hundred souls. Families. Children. Gone in an instant.

Through the ringing in his ears, he heard Nia’s voice crack over the comm. “General… there’s no… there’s no survivors.”

Smoke and ash filled Brivul’s lungs as he stared at the flaming wreckage. His tail went slack against the forest floor, the fightdraining from his muscles. The acrid stench of burning metal and flesh coated his tongue.

“General, your orders?” Cantos’s voice crackled through the comm.

Brivul’s fingers crushed the grip of his rifle, his fury no longer contained. Two hundred innocent lives. His responsibility. His failure.

“Secure the area. Round up any surviving pirates,” Brivul ordered.

“And the civilian transport, sir?”

“There’s nothing left to save.”

His crew moved with seasoned efficiency, but Brivul barely registered their actions. The flames from the transport danced before his eyes, each flicker another accusation. He’d led them right into this trap.

“Sir, we found the pirate captain.” Lors approached, dragging a bound figure. “What do you want us to do with him?”

The pirate spat at Brivul’s feet. “The great General Brivul. Not so mighty now. Are you?”

Brivul’s hand shot out, lifting the pirate by his throat. His eyes blazed as he brought the struggling man close to his face.

“Two hundred civilians. Children.”

“Casualties of war, snake.”

Brivul’s grip tightened. One squeeze would end this worthless life. But the dead wouldn’t care. Their screams still echoed in his mind.

He dropped the pirate. “Take him to the brig.”

“General?” Lors asked, his voice tinged with doubt.

“I said take him to the brig.”

Brivul slithered away from the wreckage and boarded the warship. Each movement felt heavy and weighed down by the souls he’d failed to protect.

Back in his quarters, he stripped off his tactical gear. The insignia of general caught the light, mocking him. He’d worn it with pride, but now it felt like a brand of shame.

His terminal chirped with an incoming message from command. They’d want a report, explanations, justifications. He had none to give.

Brivul’s fingers soon moved across his keyboard. His resignation would be on their desks by morning. Let someone else wear these stars. Someone who wouldn’t lead innocent lives to their death.

Chapter 2

Mila

The metal bucket clankedagainst Mila’s knee as she scrubbed the floor of Kurg’s grand hall. Her knuckles burned from the caustic cleaning solution, but she kept her movements steady and methodical. Head down. Invisible.

“Move faster. The master expects this done before the gathering.” The overseer’s boots stopped inches from her bucket.

“Yes, sir.” Mila shifted to the side, careful to keep her eyes on the ornate floor tiles.

The boots moved away, and she released her breath. Another day of staying beneath notice. The less attention, the better chance of protecting Priscilla.

---