Buck

"What makes you think I'm afraid?"

Buck decided that discretion was the better part of not getting a sword to the face, and said only, "You were kind of harsh with Recruit Tanaka."

"Yes, I should apologize to her," Autumn said.

“You should, but first you should tell me what that big lizard said that upset you so much.”

“I said it was nothing. We have more important things to deal with.”

“Like what?”

“The dragon mentioned a master."

"Yeah, so?"

"So he's a dragon," Autumn repeated. "A true dragon, not a wyvern or a wyrm. They don't have masters. They don't even have a king or queen. They serve no one. Because they're lizards big enough to be mistaken for mountains if they nap too long, and they generally have enough magic to blow up a real mountain if they sneeze too hard. So. Yeah."

"So something's out there gunning for you that's tough enough to give a dragon his marching orders," Buck summarized.

"Looks like," Autumn said. "I mean, it's likely not personal. I'm hardly anyone of significance."

"Then why send a dragon to kidnap you?" Buck asked.

"Oh, it could be that he was instructed to capture whichever Champion arrived to help you."

"How likely is that?" Buck asked.

“I’m not sure. I just can’t imagine how anyone would know about this Enclave and know I’d be the one to come investigate,” Autumn said. “But that’s not important right now. We have more important priorities.”

“Such as?”

“I need to call for aid. My mentor, Lord Winter, will come and he will help. This Enclave is like nothing I’ve ever seen, but he is ancient and has seen so much more. If anyone will know how to return you and your students to your proper Realm, it is him. And, well, if any single being can face off with a dragon and live, it is him.”

“That sounds like a good idea, calling him,” Buck said. Inwardly, he was just as glad that an actual adult was being called to deal with the situation.

Autumn nodded. “You require provisions and access to water and power. I can arrange for that. How are you set for weaponry?”

Buck shrugged. “We’ve got plenty of guns, but only enough ammo to reload each one twice.”

Autumn tilted her head. “Ammo?”

“Ammunition. Bullets.”

“Oh, right, bullets. I’m not too familiar with those. May I see one?”

Buck didn’t see how she could hurt herself just looking at a single bullet, so he pulled one from his belt pouch and handed it over. She turned the little cylinder of metal over in one hand for several moments, studying it intently.

“This is too complex to replicate in the time we have,” she announced after a moment. “The metal casing is simple enough but the chemicals inside are not something I’ve memorized.”

“You thought you could copy bullets? With what? Magic?”

Autumn nodded, of course. “I can copy extremely simple structures. I can make, say, a musket ball with no trouble but there are just too many complexities to this tiny thing. I would need to study it for longer. I’m sorry.”

“It’s all right. Too bad we don’t have any muskets in storage,” Buck mused. “I guess that’s too complex, too?”

“Yes. However, I do have a way to arm your recruits against the Mistborn, if not against a dragon. Are they familiar with the use of knives, spears, and staves?”

“Well, hand-to-hand combat is part of the training curriculum, yes, but they’d only begun a few days ago.”

“Hm. That’s fine, I’ve worked with less likely fighters in the past. Part of being a Champion is rallying the population of an Enclave to defend themselves. Can’t fight an army single-handed. Well, not for long.”

Autumn’s grin invited him to share the joke. Buck managed a dry chuckle.

“If you don’t mind, have your recruits gather anything that could be used as a stave. The little poles on the side of the building? Those would be good.”

“The flag poles?” Buck asked. “They’re not that strong, they’re hollow aluminum.”

“That’s okay, I can strengthen them. I’ll send for my mentor while you do that, and then I’ll see to the water and weaponry.”

“All right,” Buck agreed. “But, Princess, why do I feel like you’re trying to prep us for you not being here to help?

“Because I am.” Autumn’s face was grave. She took a deep breath and locked Buck’s gaze with hers.

“If I have to... if I surrender. Don't interfere. Let me do what I have to do. You have no idea how close you came to death just now, Sergeant. You and all of your charges. I appreciate that you protected me. I truly do. But I am a Champion and I know my duty. Let me do what I am here to do."

"I can't, Princess. I just can't let a little girl sacrifice herself for me and mine."

"You would sacrifice Tanaka, then? Reynolds? Any of them, for the life of a stranger?" Autumn tilted her head.

Buck looked away.

"I won't let it come to that," Buck grumbled.