The first Saturday Snippet of 2022 is Star Legend book five, The Dauntless! The story of Taylan Ellis and Major Wright continues in this space opera with an Arthurian legend spin.
The Dauntless goes live on Amazon on 20th March this year. If you’re new to this series, you can get a taste of book one, The Valiant here.
Chapter One
Taylan hated herself for what she was about to do but she had no choice.
She checked herself over for a final time. She’d discarded the fortune-teller’s garb she’d been wearing for weeks with relief. She’d hated dressing up like a fairground display. Now the Britannic Alliance had retaken its homeland, she was back to plainer clothes as well as boots and a warm coat—essential requirements at this time of year in West BI. She’d also cut her hair.
Her clothes were second hand and worn. She hadn’t wanted to spend her remaining funds on anything fancier. She hoped she didn’t look too shabby for the receptionist to take her seriously.
A stiff wind blew in from the sea as she walked along the harbor front, undoing her previous efforts at combing her hair. The sea was unusually rough. Waves crashed into the walls and spilled onto the promenade. She dodged the tongues of water that reached across her path.
As she arrived at the West BI Parliament, her heart was beating fast, though not due to exertion. She had to succeed today. Her children’s lives could depend on it.
The building’s gigantic roof extended over the broad walkway, slowly undulating, mimicking the movement of the ocean it faced. Wide steps rose up to the glass-fronted entrance. She had known about this place all her life but she’d never been here before. She’d never imagined she would have a reason to visit it.
Taking a deep breath, she mounted the steps.
At their top stood four security checkpoints. She picked one and walked through the archway. No alarms sounded. She emerged into the lobby.
Parliament was busy, unsurprisingly. The Britannic Isles had been in turmoil since Kala Orr had been forced to give up control of the country. The BI government had returned to its seat in London and begun issuing laws and regulations like they were going out of fashion, while at the same time repealing nearly everything Orr had put in place. But compliance among the Crusaders was patchy at best. There were regular protest marches and disturbances. Fighting and looting had become commonplace. From the conversations she’d overheard, most of Orr’s followers were deeply skeptical of what they were being told. They didn’t believe their Dwyr had married Arthur and handed the reins of power to the former government. They suspected she was being coerced.
In the time Taylan had lived in Crusader society, her estimation of them had sunk low. Their beliefs were bizarre and they were gullible to a ridiculous level. But she had to give them credit when it came to their understanding of the current situation. They were absolutely right.
Navigating the crowd, she approached the reception desk. The shortest line was five people deep. She waited impatiently for her turn.
When it came, the receptionist looked her up and down before saying, “Yes?”
The woman greeted every other visitor before Taylan with a Good morning sir/madam. How can I help you?
Self-consciously, Taylan smoothed her hair. “I’d like to speak to Mr Jonte.”
The receptionist’s lip curled. “I’m afraid that won’t be possible. What did you want to speak to him about? The government has several help pages on its website. I can point you to the right one.”
“I don’t need the government’s help. This is a personal matter between Mr Jonte and me.”
“If you know him personally, then I’m sure you can discuss your business with him on your own time.” The receptionist leaned over to address the person behind Taylan. “Next, please.”
She stepped to one side to block the woman’s view. “I can’t speak to him outside his office hours,” she blurted. “I’ve tried.”
She really had. She done all she could to find out where Jonte was living and how to contact him. But now he was a member of the new government, he was well-protected from ordinary people like her. Anonymous limousines with darkly tinted windows left the building each evening, whisking the officials away to their homes. Vidcalls and mails were routed to secretaries who vetted them before they reached their intended destinations. No attempt she’d made to contact Hans had succeeded. She knew it for a fact because he would have replied. She was certain. She’d made it clear he was her last resort.
The receptionist replied, “Then I’d hazard a guess Mr Jonte doesn’t wish to speak to you.”
“He will if he knows it’s me. Please, just call him and give him my name.”
The woman’s expression turned hard. “As I said, that won’t be possible. Stand aside, madam.”
“No. Call Mr Jonte. It’ll only take you a few seconds. I swear to you, he’ll see me once he knows who I am.”
“This is ridiculous,” muttered the receptionist.
Her hand moved under her desk. She was summoning security.
“All right,” said Taylan. “You don’t give me any choice.”
She reached into an inner pocket of her jacket and pulled out a fist-sized grenade before placing it on the desk with a clunk. The receptionist’s eyes nearly shot out of her head. Her chair squeaked as it scraped backward over the floor tiles.
The grenade was made of materials scanners couldn’t detect, and it had cost all of Taylan’s remaining funds.
A stillness and hush spread out across the lobby like an earthquake with Taylan at its epicenter. Quiet footsteps sounded around her as the people waiting shuffled away.
At last, she had the receptionist’s full attention. “Call Mr Jonte. Now.”
Giving a small cough, the woman reached for the headset hanging around her neck and moved it onto her ears. At the same time, her gaze flicked to somewhere beyond Taylan’s right shoulder.
She lifted the grenade above her head. “If anyone comes any closer I’ll detonate it.” She glanced behind her. Two security guards were poised mid-step.
She turned to the receptionist. “Now.”
The woman spoke quietly into the mic. Was she really speaking to Jonte? Or was she only playing for time?
The receptionist nodded and gave a tremulous smile. “Mr Jonte will speak to you.”
She lifted the headset and stood up. Leaning over the desk, she handed it to Taylan.
She checked behind her again. The security guards had managed to come closer while she’d been distracted. It didn’t matter. As soon as she spoke to Jonte, he would sort out the problem. He would assure them she wasn’t dangerous.
One-handed, she slid the headset over her ears and adjusted the mic. “Hans?”
The line was silent.
Feet pounded on tiles as the guards rushed up. A large man’s fist enclosed her grenade-holding hand while her other arm was twisted painfully behind her, the force lifting her onto her toes. The guard holding her arm pivoted her and began marching her, dragging her, toward the exit. The other guard maintained his firm grip on her hand.
“It’s okay!” Taylan protested. “There’s no need to…arghhh!” The pressure on her arm was unbearable. If she didn’t do something, the guard would break it or dislocate her shoulder.
She went deliberately limp, forcing every muscle and tendon to relax. As the tension left her body she slumped, pulling her captors down with her. The agony in her shoulder briefly increased but then the hold on her arm loosened. She wrenched her wrist free. Turning, she kicked one of the guards in the knee. He completed his passage floorward, his features twisting in pain. The other guard continued to grasp her hand wielding the grenade as if his life depended on it.
She elbowed him in the face, once, twice, three times. His nose flattened beneath her jutting bone, spurting blood. Yet he still didn’t let go.
The other guard was rising, heavily favoring his uninjured leg, his face pale and sweaty.
“Let…go…of…my…,” Taylan muttered between her teeth, punctuating her words with a punch to the first guard’s face. He was only inches away, too close for her to get her full strength behind the punches, but by the fourth one he began to lose consciousness.
As his grip faded, she pulled her hand free.
The other guard leapt at her.
She threw the grenade into the crowd.
Shrieks and screams echoed in the chamber and the people stampeded.
She ran.
Pain lanced from her back as needle-sharp points pierced her coat and embedded in her skin. A bolt of electricity ran through her and every muscle in her body clenched. She toppled like a felled tree to the floor.
Thanks for reading chapter one of Star Legend book five, The Dauntless. Preorder your copy here or read part two.