Page 6 of Vindicated

Hal blew out a breath. “If they’rethe ones under attack, that means the entire city is being besieged.”

Hal had a tendency to be dramatic, even for someone in the theatre, but that would explain why the soldiers had left so unceremoniously.

Both Hatch and Ringo made beelines for the door to the theatre, calling over their shoulders that they’d find out what was happening.

I turned to Lettie, Vallia, and Hal, who were the only ones who hadn’t run out when the Zagrath had arrived or after theman had run in screaming that we were under attack. “It must be Kolt. He’s done what he said he would.”

“Gorgeous guys make lots of promises, sweetie,” Hal mumbled. “When have you ever known them to keep them?”

I arched an eyebrow at him. “For me? Always.”

He pursed his lips. “Bite me, darling.”

This made me smile. At least Hal wasn’t too terrified to give as good as he got.

“It has to be the Vandar,” I insisted. I needed it to be them. I needed to know I hadn’t put my trust in the wrong people and been betrayed.

Hatch ran back inside. “It’s true. Kashara is under attack.”

“By the Vandar?” I asked, not bothering to hide the hope in my voice.

Ringo joined Hatch, breathing hard. “Dunno. We didn’t see any Vandar out there, but the Zagrath are bugging out.”

“Bugging out?” Vallia’s jaw dropped. “You mean they’re leaving us? I thought the whole reason our government let the Zagrath take control was because they promised stability and protection.”

Lettie choked back a laugh. “I think we’ve all learned that the Zagrath are brutes and liars.”

Good point.

Hatch waved a hand in the general direction of the city. “All I know is that the government complex has been taken and now there’s fighting in the streets. Fighting against the Zagrath.”

The hope that I’d been trying to keep from exploding finally burst free. “Then we should join the fighting!”

Hal drew in a quick breath. “Us fight? With what?”

I hated that he was right. How would we fight? The Zagrath had made it illegal to own blasters, so unless we could do damage with prop weapons and stage sandbags, we would be little help.

“Now we’re talking,” Lettie said. “I don’t care who’s attacking. If they’re against the Empire, then I’m with them.”

“You’re all insane.” Hal wrung his hands. “We don’t know that the attackers are any better than the Zagrath.”

“It’s the Vandar,” I said with a confident nod.

Vallia bobbed her head. “It does make sense, and it’s very on brand for the Vandar.”

Another boom sent dust sifting from above, and Hatch rushed to the front doors, poking his head out before slamming them shut. Then he ran back to join us. “They’re headed this way!”

“Who?” I asked. “Imperial soldiers or the others?”

Hatch shrugged. “Can’t tell through all the smoke and dust, but someone is coming.”

Lettie made a fist and punched it into her open palm. “If it’s Zagrath soldiers, I get first crack at them for hauling my brother to jail and coming for me.”

“First crack?” Hal gaped at her. “What are you all talking about? Joining the fight? Getting first crack at the soldiers? We’re a theatre troupe. We don’t fight, we act.”

Ringo shot him a sour look. “Sometimes we pretend to fight.”

I winked at Ringo. “That’s exactly right. We pretend to fight just like we pretended to be drunk when we staggered through the city and helped Kolt and Skye escape. Faking it is what we do best, so let’s fake being a well-armed band of warriors.”