Leaving Sivadia Read Online Free PDF Page B

that your family you tried to save?”
    “I’m an orphan. It was my life-mate and her parents. We
were to be married next spring.”
    Miles stared at the king for a moment. His eyes widened
and his head tilted forward. “Your highness.”
    The king sat on the edge of his bed and laid his hand on
Miles’ arm. “What you did to that Haagon was very impressive.”
    “I barely remember what happened after…” A sob caught in
Miles’ throat. “It killed the only girl I’ve ever loved.”
    “I can imagine how hard this must be. You fought like a
seasoned pro. There’s only one other person who has stood alone against a
Haagon and survived. And he’s the most decorated warrior on Sivadia.”
    Miles’ brows pulled low. “The General?”
    “Yes. With a little training, you will be as confident a
warrior as he. I had you brought here, to the facility where we are staying
until the Haagons are defeated. I would like for you to stay here and join our
troops. We need a lot more men like you.”
    Miles looked the king in the eye. “Thank you, your
highness. I’d be honored. The more of those monsters I can kill, the better.”
    “You rest today. When you’re up to it, we’ll start your
training.” The king rose from the bed to leave.
    “Your majesty,” Miles said. “I would prefer to get back
out there as soon as possible.”
    “I know, son, but you’ve suffered a devastating loss,
and we still don’t fully understand the effects that Haagon blood has on us.
Once the doctor releases you, you’ll be free to return to duty.”
    Miles nodded and the weight of the world reflected in
his dark brown eyes. Cy’s heart ached for him. If only there were something he
could say or do to make Miles situation better.

Chapter 8
     
    Cy headed over to the ship that housed the troops. He
wanted to stop in and see Miles before he left for patrol. It had been two
weeks since he was brought to the facility and joined the army. Cy made it his mission
to take Miles’ mind off the pain of losing his life-mate. Mostly they talked
and played cards, or worked out in the gym. Some times they would go to the
shooting range and target practice with guns, knives, and bows. Late at night,
they practiced fencing for hours, until they both were ready to drop. 
    Miles was a good guy, but if something didn’t come along
to give him a purpose, he wouldn’t be around for long. He volunteered for every
dangerous mission that came along, as if he didn’t give two shits whether he
lived or died.
    During the past two weeks, the war had only gotten
worse. Each day, they watched the army fighting the enemy. The more Haagons
they killed, twice as many were sent to take their place. The cities were
overrun by them, and Sivadians who’d survived this long had done so by hiding
in remote, outlying areas of the planet. If it could be called surviving. Most
of those areas were unfit to grow food, had little water, and experienced
subzero temperatures.
    Cy knocked on Miles’ door.
    Miles opened it and then pulled a shirt over his head.
“What’s up?”
    “Are you headed out?”
    “Yeah, I volunteered to go on a mission to check out
some old slaughter houses up north.”
    “Man,” Cy said. “I wish I could come along.”
    “No, you really don’t. I’ve seen some really bad stuff
out there.”
    “I know. Watching the monitors is not the same as seeing
it in person.”
    “The smell is the worst,” Miles said. “Rotting corpses
are bad enough, but they smell great compared to a Haagon. They have a
combination stench, somewhere between a dead animal, sulphur and ammonia.”
Miles pulled on his combat boots and grabbed a jacket. “Gotta go, Cy. I’ll see
you on the flip-side.”
    “Okay, man. God-speed.”
    Cy went to the monitor room so he could watch via Miles’
helmet-cam. It was the next best thing to being there.
    Miles was one of about two dozen troops that
materialized in a wooded area at the base of a hill. Three long buildings