Free A Soul Divided (The Blood Fire Trilogy Book 1) by Daniel M. Quilter

with full citizenship in the human empire, as well as twelve-million denarius.”
    “Forgiveness? Only Knune can forgive, Vahn, or did you forget your childhood religion when you decided to become a traitor? And  isn’t it a bit ironic that a man with so much blood on his hands as your king, is offering to forgive me of the blood on my hands?” Drake said.
    Vahn sat in silence. He clearly didn’t know how to respond, so Drake continued talking.
    “And frankly, I’m insulted that such a rich man would only offer twelve -million denarius for a job like this. What is that in grhars anyway? Like twenty-million? I could make that in a year if I robbed the right people.”
    “You want more?” Vahn asked. “Because that can be arranged.”
    Drake lowered his gun. The rest of the soldiers slowly lowered theirs as well; although Drake noted that there were now snipers up on the walls who kept their rifles trained on his head. Had they really been able to get snipers set up on those walls without Drake noticing just during his conversation with Vahn? V.A.L.O.R. soldiers were more talented than Drake had been giving them credit for.
    “Good,” Vahn continued. “Now what are your terms?”
    “I have no terms.” Drake said. “I’m not doing it.” He pulled the trigger of his revolver. Smoke flew out of the barrel, billowing up into the surrounding air completely obscuring the view of the soldiers within fractions of a second. Gun shots rang out from the soldier’s rifles and then quieted down as the smoke cleared. Vahn looked around, shocked at what had just taken place. Drake was nowhere to be seen.
    “Our ship!” Vahn yelled out, running out the main gate just in time to see the only transport that could get them out of the prison flying off into space.
     

 
    Chapter 8: Angela
    “Do you think he’s coming to get us?” Angela asked her younger sister. They had been sitting in a small, dark, run-down house for the past three days, and Angela was getting sick of it. If he didn’t show up today it would be time for them to strike out on their own and find their own way off this planet.
    “I sure hope so.” Nora replied. “And I hope he brings food.”
    It was brave of that boy to save a bunch of slaves, but the rescue didn’t seem to have been well planned out. The rescue itself was a success, but leaving them here didn’t seem like it was part of the plan. There was a well for water, but there wasn’t a scrap of food in the place. What kind of rescuer would save you just to leave you to starve?
    “But even if he doesn’t bring food, I wouldn’t mind seeing him again.” Nora mused out loud, speaking more to herself than to anybody else.
    “Are you still stuck on that?” Angela asked, not bothering to mask her irritation at the comment. Nora had spoken almost exclusively about how attractive she found Drake ever since they’d met him three days ago. Drake had his charms, sure, but the other girls didn’t seem to even notice how annoying everything else about him was.
    “Shouldn’t you be more worried about whether or not he can get us home than if he’ll date you?” Angela continued. “It seemed like he had no plan at all to rescue us. He just did it on a whim. And he wasn’t attractive. He was filthy! And he smelled terrible.”
    “I just think it’d be nice if a good looking, heroic guy like him came home with me.” Nora said, “And how could you smell him over the stench in that cart anyway?”
    “Alright, so I don’t know if he stank or not, but he was too old for you.” Angela said defensively. The thought of her sister being with Drake made her angry “You’re only sixteen, and he looked like he was at least twenty-five, possibly older.”
    “Actually I’m twenty-one.” a voice came in through the doorway.
    Angela and Nora turned simultaneously to see Drake standing in the doorway.
    I can’t believe he’s here. Angela thought as she examined Drake.
    He looked much better now