Free The Fight for Peace by Autumn M. Birt Page B

asked. “Would they do you much good if they aren’t soldiers?”
    “They can be trained,” Derrick volunteered.
    “I’m surprised you would realize that possibility,” Jared admitted.
    “I just spent two weeks with Arinna and him,” Byran said with a nod toward Derrick. “At least one of them once a day would tell me the peace talks will fail and are most likely a ploy.” Derrick had the graciousness to look embarrassed. 
    “Then why go through with them?” Jared asked.
    “Because if there is the slightest chance it could be real, we have to try. I have to know we tried.”
    Jared had never quite understood the feelings Arinna had for Byran. He was completely unlike Michael or Derrick, but with that statement Jared saw something deeper in Europe’s new Prime Minister, and it was something he respected.
    “I want to take Derrick with me,” Jared said. Both Derrick and Byran glanced at him. “We are a little short on Lieutenants at the moment. O’Dell is organizing the new recruits, Assad and Faronelli, and overseeing arrangements at the peace negotiations. Arinna will be in charge of Europe, and I can’t go alone.”
    “You can name someone as Acting Secretary of Defense,” Derrick said as Byran remained quiet.
    “In other words, you want to go,” Byran said, squeezing the bridge of his nose. “I’d rather not name someone else. I asked you to do this because I trust you.”
    “The Guard is handling the day-to-day security at the peace negotiations. If there is anything else you need Derrick for, we have video links. I know it isn’t the same, but I want to take him because I trust him too.”
    “I could demand you swap one of the Lieutenants at the peace negotiations with Derrick,” Byran said. “But I know you and Arinna have reasons for every assignment. I don’t like it and had hoped to have your eye at the negotiations, but fine. As long as you are available if I need to talk to you.”
    Derrick gave him a crooked smile. “I really don’t think my presence at the peace negotiations would help anyway. I doubt they really want to see me again.”
    Jared choked on his laugh.
    After that it was all prep for the mission and a quick trip home to his family before it was time to leave in the morning. Derrick was warming up his dactyl when Jared walked into the hangar in the morning. Seasoned soldiers, six for each dactyl, secured bags. Jared had chosen those with not only combat experience, but travel experience prior to the war which closed Europe off from the world. Most going spoke at least some Spanish. Three knew Portuguese. Two were trained field medics as well.
    “I looked over the roster of who you’re taking. Hedging your bets again, Captain?” Arinna asked from behind. She lounged against the doorframe when he turned to answer.
    “You look far less worried this morning.”
    “That’s because I’ve been up all night making sure everything in Europe isn’t about to fall apart,” she said. “I’m too exhausted to worry at this point.”
    “You make me feel guilty for leaving,” he admitted.
    “I just had two weeks off. Don’t worry about it and don’t be gone too long. Either of you,” she said, glance flicking beyond him. Jared glanced to see Derrick waiting a few paces back.
    “Everything is ready, sir,” Derrick said to Jared, but his gaze was on Arinna.
    “I guess I can’t order you anymore, but report often,” Arinna said.
    “You know I will, just cause I want to hear what is going on here.” If they’d been alone in Command, Jared would have hugged her. But standing in the hangar with twelve antsy soldiers and a half dozen mechanics, he saluted her instead. There was laughter in her eyes as she saluted him back.
    Derrick hesitated, blue eyes dark. Then he saluted Arinna as well. “My Lady,” he said by way of leave-taking before turning on his heels and following Jared to the two planes waiting on their elevated platforms.
    A few minutes of shuffling and