As it turned out, it was two days before anyone found the tent beside the smoldering remains of the pirate skyship. They only found that out later, though. They'd been too distracted to keep track of time, or anything else.

The shadow of dragon wings overhead brought them back to reality and by the time the dragon outside had made their way to the tent, they were ready up and dressed. Rorax held Laura protectively in his arms, and she grinned up at him, raising an eyebrow.

"You may not think you need my protection," he said with an answering grin, "but that's not going to stop me offering it."

Laura laughed at that, and they turned to the tent's crude airlock to see who had found them.

Two of the Dragon Guard came through first, and the tent was already crowded when they were followed by Emperor Verikan himself. Rorax blinked in surprise, and then bowed low.

"I see you've outdone yourself, Rorax," the emperor said with a smile. "You were only meant to tell me where to find the pirate lair, and now I arrive to find the pirates scattered, their leaders dead, and you've had time to find your mate too. Maybe I need to find you a tougher job."

Rorax managed a laugh. "I was hoping you'd give me some time off instead, sir. I've got something to celebrate."

Verikan grinned and shook his head. "So I see. Congratulations, my friend! I would love to be generous, but you know how it is: the reward for work well done is more work."

He turned to Laura, looking her up and down with a careful, measuring gaze. Rorax found himself bristling to see her weighed like that, and he could feel the tension in her as she stared back at the emperor.

"You must be Laura Martigan," Verikan said at last. "I've had several requests from the coordinator of LakeTech's colony program to return you safely. Well. They sounded more like demands, really."

Laura frowned. "Are you saying that I'm not free to go home?"

Rorax glowered at that. Up until now his loyalty to his emperor had been absolute, but if he was asked to choose between Laura and Verikan, he knew which way he would go. It didn't matter how many guards Verikan had with him. But then Verikan smiled and offered a hand to Laura.

"You misunderstand," he continued. "I'm not intending to keep you prisoner. All the victims of the pirates that we recover are being sent back to Olympus Colony, and you are welcome to go with them. But you're also welcome to stay with us as long as you like, and if you choose to stay I will make sure that LakeTech lets you. I'm not sure that they would be keen, from the sound of their 'requests.'"

Rorax's frown deepened, and then he understood. Laura knew a lot about LakeTech and Adele St. George — being her bodyguard, she'd have to. They wouldn't be too happy with Laura staying in the hands of a foreign power.

A look at Laura's face told him that she'd reached the same conclusion, and her pained look tore at him. He knew that she was as loyal to her employer as he was to his emperor. Until now, those loyalties had pulled in the same direction.

That would change as soon as they left this place. The pain of that realization tore at him as much as it did her, and he shook his head. I will not let this happen, he told himself.

"Did you say that the pirates have scattered, sir?" he asked Verikan. The emperor nodded, looking surprised at the sudden change of topic.

"Many are gone, and they have no leader now," Verikan said. "Your mission is a success. But there are still a lot of them out there, yes. We couldn't hope to get them all."

"Other leaders will emerge, sooner or later," Rorax pointed out. "And if there is going to be trade between ourselves and the humans in this area, the pirates will be a menace."

For a moment, it seemed like no one understood where he was going. Then Laura took a quick breath, and he knew she'd gotten it.

"Piracy will be a problem for both humans and dragons," she said, a note of hope in her voice. "And the tension between our colonies on your world are going to need to be addressed, too. Maybe a joint effort against the pirates would help relations between us?"

Verikan looked from one to the other of them, and then a smile quirked at his lips. "And I suppose that the two of you could suggest leaders for such an operation?"

"I can think of a human with relevant experience, yes," Rorax said, his heart pounding as he took Laura by the arm.

"And there's a dragon I could recommend, too," she said. Verikan managed to look stern for a second longer before his smile got the better of him.

"For once, this isn't just my decision," he said with a shake of his head. "There are all too few of those, let me tell you. But I am in favor of your proposal, and as long as St. George is agreeable, then so be it. From the way she's spoken of you, Laura, I suspect that she will be."

Rorax felt Laura's hand squeeze his tight, and his grin spread wide across his face. Pirate hunting would be a new challenge, an important one, and one that would help everyone on Mars. But most of all, it was one that he and his mate could face together. That was a reward greater than anything he could have asked for.