Blood of Heroes (The Ember War Saga Book 3) by Richard Fox Page A

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    “Ar’ri, Caas, come here,” she said to the two children who were doing a terrible job of hiding behind a wrecked cart. Caas led her brother over by the hand.
    “He doesn’t think you’re ugly,” Caas said. “He’s sorry.”
    “I’ve been called worse. You two want to do something fun?” Torni asked.
    They nodded in unison.
    “Here…put your finger on this button. When I count to three, push it. Ready? One…two…”
    Ar’ri pushed the button and a balloon inflated from one end of the carry box. It expanded to nearly a yard in diameter and rose into the air. Ar’ri laughed and clapped his hands while Caas crossed her arms, brooding.
    “Do you know what that was?” Torni asked. “It will float into the air and call for help. Our planes use special technology that…only we can use.” Ar’ri waved to the departing balloon while Caas kicked at the dirt.
    Since the last banshee was killed, none of the other Dotok had come over to check on the two children. All the other survivors were children, women with babies, or the elderly.
    “Caas, where are your parents?” Torni asked.
    The girl pointed a finger toward the fire. “They sent us with teacher to the shelter, then the flying noorla used their lasers to start the fire. Can Mommy and Daddy run through the fire like you? They have the hard clothes too.”
    Torni took the little girl’s hands in hers and squeezed her fingers.
    “Oh, Caas…” Torni choked up, then forced her emotions away. She was a Marine and a non-commissioned officer; she wouldn’t look weak in front of anyone. “I…we’ll look for your parents when we get to New Abhaile, all right?” Caas’ pale green eyes looked on the verge of tears, but she nodded and looked up, watching as the balloon faded away into the haze.
    Torni felt a tug on her shoulder. Ar’ri held a hand under her face.
    “Hungry,” he said.
    Torni reached into the cargo pouch on the small of her back and fished out a small box of chocolate-covered cracker sticks. They were her favorite, and possibly the last box in existence that had chocolate and almond sprinkles. She’d found it at the bottom of a sea bag when she moved into the barracks in Phoenix, and she didn’t have the heart to eat the very last of her pogey bait from before the Xaros invasion.
    Torni tore open the box and made a presentation out of giving a single stick to Ar’ri. The little boy snatched it from her hand and devoured it. Torni tapped Caas on her elbow and gave one to her.
    Caas sniffed at it and took a tentative bite. “What is it?”
    “A Pocky stick, they were my favorite when I was your age,” Torni said.
    Caas looked at the cracker like it was an ancient artifact, then gave it to her brother.
    “Sarge, Yarrow said these are safe for us to eat.” Bailey walked over, carrying a handful of white berries. “And the others say they’re in season.” Bailey knelt down and held the berries while Caas and Ar’ri ate them one at a time.
    “Let them eat. We’ve got ration paste,” Torni said.
    “Umm, ration paste,” Bailey chuckled. “I’ve had vegemite that tastes better than that garbage.” The sniper smiled and tussled Ar’ri’s hair. “When was the last time you saw children, Sarge?”
    “I saw a few in Phoenix.”
    “You have kids? Before?”
    “No. I had the Corps. You?”
    Bailey’s mouth twisted. “Baby girl. Left her with my sister when I signed up for the Saturn mission. Plan was to send for her once we got settled, Titan station up and running.”
    “What was her name?”
    “Abigail.” Bailey sniffed and wiped a tear away. “She looked like her deadbeat father. Only thing that bludger ever left us were my Abbie’s eyes and her curls. Ah, look at me gettin’ all clucky.”
    A high-pitched whine filled the air. Torni stood up and scanned the sky.
    “Doesn’t sound like Xaros, does it?” Bailey asked.
    The children latched onto Torni’s legs and whimpered.
    “It’s OK. It’s OK.” Torni