The Sands of Argurumal (Argurma Salvager Book 3)

by S. J. Sanders

  Malraha might have been confident of winning but Terri wasn’t so sure. There was a subtle strength to the females there, even if most lacked enhancements. Those few who did were not treated any different by the brethren but nor did they lord over the unenhanced like the guard was clearly doing, whether it was conscious or not on her part.

  “We’ll be along soon,” she assured her friend. “Go ahead of me. I’ll put our supplies away while I speak with my guard.”

  Dari nodded and shifted her son up higher in her arms as she adjusted the weight of the rug where it lay folded over one forearm.

  “I will look for your arrival,” she said, leaving the weaving room and turning down a corridor.

  Terri watched the female leave and sighed as she stood and began to pick up the bits of material scattered on the floor where they were working. Glancing over at Malraha from the corner of her eye, she watched as the guard stooped and picked up Harahna.

  Outside of the first time, she never touched the baby if she could avoid it. Terri never took it personally since Navesha seemed disinclined to hold Harahna as well, her entire body freezing up with terror whenever asked. Malraha just had no interest at all outside of guarding them. To see her now pick her daughter up was curious. Harahna’s faced pinched immediately, her eyes narrowing with extreme displeasure. It was only a matter of time before all hell broke loose.

  “Thank you,” Terri mumbled as she quickly took the materials to the storage area.

  Malraha grunted and handed the baby over to her as she rejoined her.

  “I sense your disapproval over my behavior,” the female observed. “Speaking with me is unnecessary. It will not revise my opinion. These people, this place is not worthy of the Ahanvala. We belong at the compound surrounded by the strength of our line. Not here in squalor.”

  Terri blinked up in surprise at the snarl.

  “I personally like it here,” she said slowly as she fitted Harahna into her sling.

  Something flickered over the female’s face that might have been disdain or arrogance… Terri wasn’t sure what since it happened so fast and then was gone.

  “I see that,” the female replied before gesturing to the corridor. “Come. I will take you to the lower pool now.”

  Following Malraha through the dim corridors, Terri enjoyed the various decor. A few alcoves peeked out every now and again that hosted carvings of what appeared to be ancestors or heroes, and at other times a deity or spirits with clearly supernatural characteristics added to their features. Malraha’s dorashnal trotted close to the female’s side, its scaled hide shuddering every now and then with unusual anxiety but never breaking from her place at the Argurma’s side.

  Terri frowned as the walls became rougher, tapestries and all signs of habitation disappearing. She knew that they had lower levels of storage and natural caverns below that kept the household cool, but she had no idea where they were.

  “Malraha, are you sure this the right way? I don’t recall the corridors going to the lower pools looking like this.”

  The guard shot her an unreadable glance and snorted.

  “I am the one with the layout. I know the way. I may be potentially soulless according to these people, but I can store data reliably, which is beyond your capabilities… or theirs,” she added darkly.

  “Okay,” Terri drawled, lapsing into silence.

  She didn’t know what had gotten into the female. If she was having a bad day, then Terri was just going to keep her mouth shut and hope whatever snit was happening got worked out.

  They walked in silence long enough that she was startled with Malraha began to speak.

  “There was a time not too long ago when a mating between an Ahanvala and someone of such inferior status as the people of the Galithilan would never have happened. Harahna, Veral’s mother, in fact was promised to a male of the northern boundary. Did you know that?”

  “Ah, no,” Terri admitted, her steps slowing a little as an inexplicable unease wafted through her.

  Malraha nodded her head, her vibrissae snaking around her, rattling with agitation despite her cool expression. At her side, her dorashnal whined and glanced up at her, but she kept speaking as she turned down another corridor.

  From that direction, Terri could feel a cool breeze hinting at water nearby. She relaxed. This must be another route. It was creepy, but if Malraha thought it would get them there faster, she wouldn’t argue.

  “No. You would not. No one would speak of the mating agreement Harahna had before she met her mate. They idealize her story. The way she delayed taking the hormone and because of that found her true mate.”

  “It does sound romantic,” Terri replied hesitantly.

  The female snorted.

  “It is not romantic. She had an agreement with that male. They agreed that their alliance would strengthen our territory. She dishonored and shamed him in front of his entire household. She was vile to do that!”

  “But the bond just happens that way,” Terri objected despite her better sense screaming at her in warning that there was something wrong with her guard.

  Malraha’s vibrissae flared angrily, her head whipping around.

  “Wrong! There is no excuse. And because of her mating, I am here in this horrible place. I do not belong here any more than I belonged at the northern border. All of this is her fault.”

  A calm fell over the Argurma, and Terri watched her, uncertain of when the female’s temper would flare to life once more. Their programming against emotions seemed to feed her anger once finally released, and Terri was afraid of getting in front of it, even with the protection of her symbiont.

  “We are here,” Malraha said suddenly as they exited from the hall into a large pool room.

  Terri froze, trepidation stirring within her. There was a pool there, but it looked different than she recalled. Even more concerning, there was no sign of Dari or any of her mother-kin.

  “Malraha, what’s going on? Where are we?”

  “The lower pool, of course,” the female replied calmly. “The others are not here yet, but they will be. Come. We will sit on this rock over here by the water and wait.”

  “Actually,” Terri said slowly. “I think I’d rather just go back.”

  The Argurma’s eyes turned to her, their blue depths hard and chilling.

  “Are you afraid, Terri?”

  “No,” Terri replied in what she hoped was a convincing tone. “If no one’s here, I would just rather go back to Veral.”

  The female’s lips lifted though her expression did not otherwise shift.

  “Yes, your loving mate. I am afraid you cannot do that.”

  “Why is that?” Terri whispered as she eased back a step.

  “Because your time has ceased,” she growled, springing forward.

  A cry of surprise escaped Terri, and she brought up her arm, but before she could unleash her symbiont, something sticky encased her entire lower arm. Her head jerked up to face her guard.

  Malraha smirked at her and dropped what looked like a mini handheld cannon to the floor. Whatever it was, it had fired a projectile that burst all over her arm. The female stalked toward her. Although Terri stumbled back, she knew damn well that she couldn’t outrun an Argurma hunting her. To even try would be pointless and would put her in the dangerous position of having her back to the female.

  “Did you think I would not know your weakness by now, Terri?” Malraha purred with a vicious vibration of her mandibles. “I studied you because you are the key to bringing down the Monushava House. My father tried to do it when Harahna turned her back on him. He waited, drawing out his vengeance, and the moment he recorded her emotional breakdown, he sent it to the council. He was rewarded for it, but it was not enough. One case could not declare the house corrupted. Nor could the absence of her son, who turned to salvaging. They let him go because, while not uncommon, males did leave our planet to pursue careers outside our borders, bringing credits into our economy. That henaxi, Fea
tha… she knew, however. She killed my father with her own hand but took pity on his juvenile daughter. She allowed me to live and then accepted my request for a post at her house as if she were doing me a great favor,” she spat.

  Lunging again, Malraha grabbed Terri by the throat, holding her in place as she leaned forward to speak quietly into her ear. Harahna squealed fearfully, her cries echoing in the room as the prick of Malraha’s claws opened tiny wounds, letting blood escape down Terri’s neck into her tunic. She brushed her nose against Terri’s cheek, mandibles widening to better to draw in the scent of Terri’s fear, and breathed in deeply.

  “When Veral returned with you, I knew it was my chance. At first, I had planned just to kill you so that Veral would suffer as his mother did. It would have been fitting since my father had alerted the council as to Harahna’s plan so she could not hide her son. He drove her to grief before he in turn reported her disgrace. I would have done as he did, but nothing I tried worked. Not even attempting to get him to take me as his mate so that I would take control of the house upon his seizure and termination.”

  “How?” Terri wheezed around the hand, her own fingers helplessly clawing at it.

  “Who do you think suggested that Navesha take you to the market? It was easy. I overheard Featha demanding that Veral treat you properly as a mate and take you with him. He looked so close to agreeing, but I could not allow that. I reminded him of his duty and your fragility. When he left to check on our transport, I suggested that she have Navesha take you with her for errands. Setting my would-be assassin in place took only one short comm. I knew that Veral would be too busy with the sudden suspicion he met with triggered by an innocent, concerned, and very anonymous comm message, and the Navesha’s presence would make her the natural choice if anyone suspected that the attack came from within the house.”

  Anger stiffened her face, her hand squeezing tighter. Terri just needed to keep her talking and hope that her symbiont could slowly rip its way out of the binding.

  “You did not die, and I was forced to go into the market to kill the merchant just to be safe. If only I could somehow separate you and Veral. Even better if I could supplant you and earn my rightful place as the Ahanvala upon Veral’s termination. He would not allow it, but it was satisfying watching your grief and sadness grow and his own struggles to contain his need to be in your presence.”

  “And the droid?” Terri gasped.

  Malraha chuffed.

  “I excelled in robotics in my training. I did not get the advanced training that Veral and Larth and many others of our house received, but I had a particular talent with them that I gained further programming for. Because the low-level programming I received was considered inconsequential, it was not marked on my records. I chose to keep it a secret in case I needed to. I reprogrammed the droid as I pretended to set it up for sparring. I had to deflect attention away from me, but I was certain that it would destroy you.”

  “You were wrong,” Terri choked out a laugh around the strangling grip.

  The female’s eyes narrowed.

  “So it seems. You are harder to kill than I gave you credit for. Not even the hathals I put into your offspring’s bed succeeded. I did not have time left. The registrar had arrived, and it would only be a matter of time before you left.”

  “You should have just let us leave. You never would have seen us again,” Terri managed through gasps for air.

  “That would not secure my vengeance and the vengeance of my father. The entire house supported Harahna, and you honored her by naming your offspring after her. The house needs to die with you! It is unfortunate that Veral will not receive his deserved shame, but I will be satisfied with this.”

  “Malraha… what have you done?”

  A grin spread over the female’s face, a terrible grin that displayed all her sharp teeth.

  “It had to be today, Terri. For days I have attempted to catch you alone so I could properly complete my oath. Now I am out of time. Veral is preparing to leave Argurumal tomorrow. Today is my destined day of my vengeance. They are coming!” the female chuffed happily. “I sent all my data and captured vids to the council. They know you are here, and they have evidence of the house’s treason against them. I will be spared as a loyal Argurma, but they will destroy this house. But for your daughter, I think I have a different plan now. I will show her the ‘mercy’ that was shown me.”

  She dropped Terri as she pulled Harahna free of her sling. Fixing a thick, sticky patch over the tiny symbiont, she carried Terri’s daughter over to the dorashnal and laid her on the floor beside the animal. Her daughter hissed, her vibrissae snapping ineffectually, but the female just smirked down at her.

  “The council will find her to be an interesting specimen,” she remarked.

  Horror welled up Terri, and she rolled onto her belly, fingers scraping against the rock as if to crawl across the floor as she desperately tried to draw air into her starving lungs. Her nanos rushed to repair her throat, but it wouldn’t be soon enough.

  Malraha strode over to her again and lifted her up effortlessly, carrying her toward the pool.

  “There is going to be an accident, Terri. You fell in and drowned. Veral will suffer at least that much before the council kills him. That will be good enough.”

  Terri struggled helplessly, her legs kicking out and arms flailing. The blows made impact but did not so much as make the Argurma flinch. The female’s smile widened at her effort, and Terri knew that they had arrived at the edge of the water when she stopped walking and pressed a kiss at the top of Terri’s head in painful mimicry of Veral’s affections.

  “Goodbye, Terri.”

  Water surged around her as she was plunged into the dark depths and held down. She flailed in the cool liquid; tiny bubbles swirled around her as she struggled. She felt the weakening of the binding over her symbiont, but her lungs burned.

  Her breath escaped her in a sudden burst of bubbles, death staring her down through the shadowy outline of the face of the Argurma holding her under and the two burning blue eyes staring down at her with hate.

  32

  “Veral, you have a guest. A strange female who claims to be of your house who demanded entry,” Mahame said serenely, though he caught the faint puzzled pull of her brow. “She arrived with Anahal to vouch for her presence with us and Hitani who came with them.”

  Veral glanced up at his far-grandmother in confusion from where he was looking at plans on a large data screen.

  “You know Anahal?”

  “Yes. My friend has kept me informed of all occurrences within the Monushava House since my Goralth went to the ancestors. I have asked her for many lunars to come to us and be safe here since it became known that you broke your programming and mated with an offworlder. I am pleased to see her, although I do not know this Navesha she brings… and one Farhal, which is curious. She insists that it is an emergency.”

  Veral straightened and turned toward the door, perplexed. He had expected Navesha to comm him if needed. Why would she travel all the way to the Galithilan—and with a Farhal? Did she bring Vazan with her?

  “Access permitted,” he replied.

  “I thought you would say that,” Mahame said as she turned and gestured to a male standing by the doorway.

  The male nodded and disappeared, returning with two familiar females walking briskly beside him. The large Farhal at her side was not Vazan. The male was bigger, easily as tall as Veral himself, with thick ropes of muscle. Whoever he was, he was armed with blasters and kept close to Navesha’s side, his eyes scanning them all with the wariness of a male who had been born to battle. Navesha’s face pinched with impatience as she rushed past the Argurma escorting them.

  The older female smiled but drifted off to the side to join Mahame, leaving Navesha to her purpose with the male close at her side.

  “Navesha,” Veral greeted her curiously as he gave a polite nod to Anahal. “I expected a comm, and why do you bring an unknown male he
re?”

  The female’s vibrissae puffed out and twisted, mandibles twitching with unease for seconds before they stiffened and narrowed her eyes at him in challenge.

  “Is it fine for you to mate with an alien and not for anyone else?” she snapped. “This is Gargoluk, and he is mine. We might not have any hormonal mating bond, but we chose each other. As an ex-mercenary, he adds to our house.”

  Veral stared at her thoughtfully and then the male. There was certainly a ruthless quality about the male’s gaze that spoke of experience. Even his tusks had a razor edge to them as if they had been carefully sharpened.

  “Ex-mercenary… What is that you do now?”

  “I cook in the market,” the male snapped. “I have no desire to be a guard, and I know my way around a kitchen and feeding people. Is that a problem?”

  Veral’s vibrissae twitched in amusement. “It is admirable to have a position that requires considerable patience and skill.” He cocked his head once more at Navesha. “That does not answer the question of your presence here.”

  “I tried to comm, but I could not get through.”

  Larth let out a raspy sigh at his side.

  “That would be a satisfactory explanation. We have only just now adequately positioned the transceivers to allow communications from long-range comms. Before that, we had faint comm abilities with the eastern border, but the increase in storm activity has dampened even those until now,” the male reminded him. “If she tried to comm via the eastern channels, she would have been unsuccessful.”

  He hissed in concern. That was a weakness he had not accounted for. No one from the house had been able to contact him for an entire span!

  “Precisely,” Navesha snapped. “Gorgoluk transported us up to the eastern border to request passage. I get here, and you are wasting time quizzing me on my mate!” Her eyes frantically scanned the room, widening as they landed on Dreth. “Where is Terri?” she shouted.