Bad Sun Rising

     Rjaulaemon has been closed to outside forces for too long. Western nations are ready to force the once prosperous pacific islands to reopen their economic market and industry as Raul inherits his throne. His country, however, is still healing from a grueling civil war that is threatening to restart as the King resumes his power. No archaeologist has stepped foot on Rjaulaemon in two decades, and there have only ever been a handful allowed to excavate at all. By chance, Raul hears a presentation from the young new doctorate, one who he knows already has a deep-seated interest in Rjaulaemon, for reasons he doesn't understand. Looking to instill some nationalistic pride in his people, he allows Lucy Brown to excavate and by chance, she finds the greatest find Raul could have hoped for- until it sends the rebels over the edge and the civil war is renewed 

 

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     “Oh snazzle pops,” her eyes widened in fear, while Raul's narrowed in disbelief. Snazzle pops? Was that an expression? It dawned on him that Lucy was much younger than he realized and that he was essentially trapped in the middle of a coup with someone barely older than a child.

 

     “Is he dead?” Lucy tried to run to him, but Raul caught her.

 

     His hand gripped her upper arm and as she looked up at him with surprise,  Raul demanded, “Leave him.”

 

     “But what if he’s dead, we have to help him,” she argued.

 

      Raul's jaw nearly droppped. Was she in shock? Did she not realize they were in the middle of an assassination attempt? They didn't come all this way just for him, Lucy, as a result of her discovery, was a target too. 

 

     “They’re trying to kill us,” he snapped. “I don’t care at the moment.” Grabbing her wrist, Raul ran for the woods and Lucy's feet automatically followed, just trying to keep her upright as Raul tugged her along.

 

     When there was enough jungle cover, he loosened his grip enough for Lucy to wrench herself away. “I am sorry that you are in mortal danger, prince-."

 

     "King," he corrected as he tried to get his bearings. They could die trying to get out of the jungle. 

 

     Since Lucy had no care for titles, she continued without missing a beat. "But I am not leaving my site to those- to those-  ruffians. What if they damage the artifacts? What if they graffiti the temple with their ruffianness- I’ll have let down a goddess that probably doesn’t even exist, but it never hurts to have all your bases covered.”

 

     He turned to face her, his jaw nearly on the jungle floor.