A Warrior’s Woman

by Missy Lyons

  “I have heard enough.” Kona was firm and everyone suddenly became quiet. “That fence will come down and a gate will be put up in its place that the shepherd boy can use for his sheep.”

  “But how is that fair for me?” the old farmer interrupted.

  “The boy will give you one bag of wool a year to use the land and for any hay the sheep eat on their travels. Is that fair?”

  The boy and the old farmer looked askance at each other before replying. “Aye—it sounds fair.”

  Kivra was too shocked to say anything. She watched in amazement as Kona settled the dispute effortlessly. She was extremely impressed with his diplomatic skills Kona was a good man and his actions showed that he was attempting to be fair to both people. Perhaps this match had come about unconventionally, but he could be a good ruler for her kingdom if she were to keep him.

  And that was a big if.

  Chapter Four

  It was not often that off-worlders were allowed on the planet. There were a few places on the planet they had been allowed to land, and Kanaha was one of them. Kivra’s father had started trade agreements years ago. The aliens wanted the Chromia crystal. They were beautiful in their own right and the Kanaha’ans only used them for jewelry in the past. But the aliens taught them that they could be used as a fuel source for hyper speed travel, so the crystals were now valued highly intergalactically.

  Today they were to witness the loading of a cargo ship of crystals and Kivra was there to see that the aliens were honest. Kivra watched, bored, as the aliens loaded up their cargo. The crystals had been packed in crates and were well padded. If they knocked together, they began to vibrate and gather an energy that could cause them to become damaged. The men had to be careful, or they wouldn’t be nearly as valuable.

  “Humans are much smaller than the men of my homeland,” she mused. They looked similar in their makeup, but were often times not as muscular, nor as big. There were several men who were smaller than she was. Her soldiers stood by the sidelines holding their tazer guns in front of them as if they expected trouble. She watched the men slowly load up the crates in the cargo hold. Her father had learned not to trust the aliens and she had limited their movements in Kanaha as well.

  There had been instances of dishonesty and one time a woman was kidnapped, only through quick actions was she returned to her family. Ever since, the aliens had been watched closely and allowed only minimal movement on the planet.

  This particular trade was for new medical supplies and equipment. Kivra gave her approval on the inspection of the medical equipment. Galactic credits were no good here. Kapomo people did not embrace the new technology, and clung to the old ways they knew. No one wanted to change the world too much, and most of the technology was not accepted; but the improved medical technology was what Kivra wanted. Two of her men loaded the wagons behind the large brown bantas with the medical equipment.

  One of her soldiers gave a wave, symbolizing the cargo was fully loaded. He shook the hands with the captain of the ship and Kivra stood to one side, watching the doors closing on the ship.

  “Move out!” her captain shouted, signaling all the soldiers to take cover from the rockets. All the soldiers responded immediately, following Kivra and Kona to a safe distance away.

  Kona broke the silence, after the rocket ship took off, leaving a trail of white clouds behind it. “Not many people would trust a human long enough to trade with them.”

  “Not every human is bad. I have to do what is best for my people. Their technology is way beyond ours, so we might as well benefit from it.” Kivra began while mounting her Banta. Kona helped lift her up and then slid into the saddle behind her. Although he kept his opinion to himself, she noticed he held her a little tighter on the ride back than he had on the way out to the fields this morning.

  * * *

  The marketplace was busy for a weekday. Merchants lined the street, their shops open, while the shopkeepers swept out the persistent desert dust that always seemed to invade their shops. People stopped at the stands to haggle over prices. Women were cloaked protectively in their flowing robes, from head to toe. The men were in lightweight clothing, but still well covered for protection from the desert sun.

  A boy darted in front of Kivra and Kona’s Banta, causing the beast to startle and rear up on his hind legs. Kona cursed under his breath, grabbing the reigns tightly in his hands and attempting to calm the beast and keep Kivra from falling off in front of him.

  A much older man came out from the alleyway, chasing the boy and yelling after him. “Stop, thief!” Several of her men jumped to action, running after the boy and slamming him to the ground. They pulled him roughly to his feet and dusted him off, bringing him unwillingly back to face his queen. The Shirkan is law in her country, and Kivra would have the last say on this matter. This was part of her job she didn’t like.

  The punishment for stealing in her country was to take the hand that stole, but this was just a boy. It wouldn’t be fair to deliver such a harsh punishment to a child that had barely seen twelve turns. She swallowed hard hoping she would not have to dish out such a harsh penalty.

  “What happened here?” she demanded.

  “My Lady,” the merchant kneeled in the sand before her, recognizing her as a member of the royal class, “this boy stole mangos from my stand.”

  Kivra closed her eyes. He stole food? How could she hold it against the boy for stealing food when he was hungry? “Where’s the proof?”

  One of her soldiers searched the boy, and removed two of the exotic fruits for Kivra’s approval. Kivra shook her head in disapproval. As much as she hated it, the boy would have to receive some type of punishment. “What say you in your defense, Boy?”

  “It was not for me, but for my sister. I am sorry. We had no food, and I had to do something. I couldn’t let her starve.” Tears glistened on his cheeks, as he spoke. He knew what the punishment was as much as anyone else knew what he deserved.

  “You admit it then?” Disapproval was evident in her voice.

  “Mistress, I cannot lie to you. I admit I made a mistake.” The child bowed his head in submission, not wanting to look at her in the eyes as she dealt her punishment.

  “Give him five lashes,” she said, hesitantly.

  “Five lashes? That’s all? But he stole from me!” The merchant was clearly outraged at the light punishment.

  “But you have your fruit back. Aye? It’s only five lashes the boy deserves.”

  Kona interrupted. “Nonsense! Give the boy fifty lashes, and he is to serve as a house servant for forty days in my house.”

  “How dare you override me?!” Kivra shrieked in distress.

  “Quiet, Kivra.” Kona admonished. “The boy needs discipline. It’s obvious the boy has no father to act as a role model.”

  Kivra was in shock. How dare he override her? She watched as her own soldiers moved to follow her order—or was it Kona’s order? They picked up the boy and stripped him, baring his back. They held him prostrate before her and Bruno brought out his whip from his saddlebag and laid the first stroke into the boy.

  “ONE.” Bruno counted the times he landed the black leather whip against the boy’s skin.

  The first strike was always the hardest. The first touch of pain, with promises yet to come. The boy yelled out with the impact.

  “TWO.”

  The whip laid on his flesh, leaving a strip of red against the golden skin. The boy responded with a pain filled whimper.

  “THREE.”

  Each time the whip landed on the boy’s flesh, he screamed out in pain.

  “FOUR.”

  The boy began to cry, knowing this was just the beginning of his punishment.

  “FIVE.” Bruno looked up to his lord and to his lady expectantly. Kivra gave him a stern look, shaking her head to not continue and Kona just nodded his head, giving his approval. The boy whimpered, not knowing if there was more torture to come.

  “SIX.” Bruno let the whip f
all for the sixth time, and not looking up again, he continued. The boy screamed out then stuck his fist to his mouth muffling his screams of pain.

  “I hate you right now, Kona,” Kivra muttered under her breath.

  On the sixth drop of the whip, Kivra realized her own ruling had been overridden and Kona’s order accepted by her men. The merchant seemed happy with this new verdict and Kona seemed pleased with himself.

  Kivra however had never been angrier. She felt her body heat rise with the rage gathering inside of her. This was just a boy, and her ruling would have given the boy a punishment Kona should have accepted her ruling and left it at that. But no. He issued a challenge and now it was being taken out on this boy, just a child.

  Bruno continued to whip the child over and over until he counted to fifty lashes. Then, with great care, he helped the boy to his feet and eventually to the wagon behind the queen.

  Kona won at every battle they had so far and Kivra was angered that he should win so easily. Kivra couldn’t help it. In one swift move, she launched herself at him, wanting to wipe that smile off his face. She pulled back her arm to slap him as hard as she could, but she was not quick enough.

  With one strong hand he caught her arm in a vise-like grip, and with the other arm he pulled her body into his. She struggled to pull away, but her fighting was in vain. He held her in his unforgiving arms. Finally, she growled out her frustration. “Just let me go, Barbarian.”

  “You are going to learn your place one way or another, Woman.”

  “I know my place, Kona, and it is to protect my people from people like you,” Kivra hissed.

  “You will protect your people? Then who will protect you from people like me?” His words were a soft purr.

  “He was just a child.”

  “Did you want him to lose a hand? He deserved it for what he did, but as a boy he had a lighter punishment. Now he is in your charge and you can train him into a man for the next forty days, and hire him as a paid servant after that. Hire his sister too, for all I care.”

  Kivra didn’t want to admit he may have saved the boy a much harsher punishment. If the merchant had demanded blood, he would have had a right to it. She could only focus on Kona contradicting her ruling, and Bruno listening to his order as if he were the reigning Shirkan. Her word of honor was the only thing preventing Kona getting kicked out on his big white bum. She would finish out her term for her challenge loss and then he would be gone, she vowed to herself.

  He wrapped his arm possessively around her middle for the ride back to her home. She elbowed his arm away and he just tightened his grip. She growled a warning to him and he chuckled to himself, ignoring her foul mood.

  The sooner the interfering man left the better.

  Chapter Five

  “Don’t look so pleased with yourself, Warrior. Your month is nearly up, and then this service is over.”

  Kona tipped her head up to his as if he was going to kiss her, but instead he brought his lips to graze her neck and she could feel his hot breath as he whispered in her ear. “Ah, but until then you are mine, which means you do as I say.”

  “So what does it matter if you have my body, if you don’t have my heart? One month and then you go.” Even if he was a good lover, she needed more. Without him in her life, she could expect everything to return to normal.

  “Until then, I want you to spend every moment with me. Every minute in my presence, and any moment you are not with me, you should be waiting for me in my bed.” He lit up with pleasure, witnessing her blush at his raw desire to have her in his bed. “I will be making a trip to my homeland.”

  Kivra furrowed her brows. “I can’t go. I have responsibilities. I am Shirkan.”

  Kona’s expression changed, showing his fierce irritation before those harsh lines of his face disappeared. “This is not up for arguing, Kivra. We go to Kapomo tomorrow.”

  “Will I at least see my sister while I am there?”

  “If you wish.”

  “Good.” Kivra’s upper lip curled up in a half-hearted smile. Something good would come of this trip. She had to honor their agreement for one more week and then all bets were off. If she let him stay any longer, he would worm his way into her heart. The sex was good, but it wasn’t worth giving up her title or her heart for. “Then I wish it.”

  “Whether you wished it or not, you would be going, so I am glad you decided to join me willingly Princess.” His tone didn’t allow for argument.

  Kivra arched one eyebrow curiously. “And how might you have done that?”

  “Any way I had to, Princess. I’d throw you over my shoulder if I had to and drag you home.” His throaty words carried a promise she didn’t want to test.

  The image in her mind of being thrown over his shoulder made her shiver, partly in anticipation and partly in desire. The only reason she didn’t fight him anymore on the subject was because she feared he would probably enjoy forcing her to go just a little too much.

  * * *

  The long dusty road had not been kind. The heat was near unbearable and Kivra had to keep the scarves wrapped around her head and over her face to prevent breathing in the dust that was kicked up by the rogue wind. Even as well clothed as she was, the fabric had not prevented a sticky layer of sweat and dirt from sticking to her skin.

  Curse this land and its desert heat.

  How could Kona stand having been raised here? As if he sensed she was thinking of him, he pulled her closer to him, her back resting against his front side. It was comforting in a way, the gentle rocking movement of the Banta, coupled with the way he held her. As if he cared for her.

  If she wasn’t careful she could begin to grow fond of the man, and that would be a disaster, a mistake that would only end in her heartache. He was no better than his cousin who’d kidnapped her sister, and she would be better off remembering that he was a barbarian at heart. This was only a physical relationship they had, and that was all it would ever be.

  There was no love match here.

  The plains of Kapomo seemed to stretch endlessly into the distance. A few outcroppings of sandstone were the only reminder that they were still moving. She missed the lush green vegetation, the green grass, and the tall trees. Most of all she missed the sound of water. Here there was no water. No matter which direction she looked, there was only the desert sand and the sun.

  She leaned back even further, letting herself rest against Kona. He shifted to support her weight. It felt good to let him hold her like that and to be held tenderly as if she was more than his lover.

  As if they might even have a future together.

  Her eyes closed, savoring the moment, relaxing into his frame as the soothing movement of the Banta rocked her to sleep.

  Chapter Six

  Kona gently shook Kivra awake. She blinked her eyes in a sleepy stupor, remembering where she was. A palatial estate was built, in the middle of the desert. Built entirely of clay bricks, it kept the air in the house more temperate. Kona helped her down off the Banta and Kivra looked up at the two-story home in appreciation. Large windows and archways were used through out the house to allow cooling breezes to flow.

  “Honey! You’re home!”A woman came out the front doors to greet them, immediately recognizing her son. Her sky blue dress flowed out behind her as she walked and a friendly and welcoming smile adorning her face as she welcomed Kona. She kissed him warmly on both cheeks, but she did not miss how he held onto Kivra. “And what’s this? You brought a guest!”

  “Mother, this is my woman, Kivra of Kanaha.”

  He had not introduced her as his lalani? Being called his woman did not make her feel as temporary in his life. It was not the same as being called his wife, but it still warmed her heart to be thought of as belonging to him.

  His mother lit up when she heard him introduce Kivra, latching her arms around her in an immediate hug and then pulling her out of Kona’s arms and into the house “Finally you bring home a girl! Oh, come inside. We have much
to talk about.”

  “We do?” Kivra asked nervously.

  “Yes. Come out the garden and we will sit and catch up. Kona, you don’t mind taking care of her things do you? You can bring those up to her room and then meet us in the garden.”

  Kona frowned, unaccustomed to taking orders, and especially orders that might separate him from his woman. “Kivra will be staying in my room, Mother.”

  Kivra blushed, keeping her tongue in cheek.

  “Fine.” His mother waved him off and pulled Kivra into the house and out of Kona’s sight. “But if you get her pregnant, you will be taking care of her child. This is no ordinary peasant, you know. Kivra is of royal blood.”

  “I know mother!” Kona ground out in frustration. He pushed his fingers through his long wavy brown hair. He hoped she would not be interfering the entire time. He wanted his mother to meet his mate, not come between them.

  * * *

  Kivra sat in the lush gardens, with Kona’s mother Jillian. The garden was an oasis in the desert and hidden in the center of the palace. The lush vegetation kept the air moist and livable in the small area. Several children played Hide and Go Seek in the bushes, and exotic birds jumped higher on their branches to escape the children’s play area. Kivra sat next to Kona’s mother on the garden bench, happy to rest a little after their tiresome journey.

  “I am so happy for you two. You must tell me all about how you met. This seems so sudden. Kona never brings his women home to meet me, so I have to think he is serious about you. Have you known my son long?”

  Serious? About her? That made Kivra feel a little uncomfortable. More likely he was just showing off his prize to his kinsfolk. She blushed under the older woman’s scrutiny. “Not long, under a month.”

  “Well that is fast for a courtship, but I do hope he intends to do the honorable thing and marry you.”

  Thank the heavens Kivra didn’t have to answer that she had no intention of marrying her son, even if the barbarian had asked her.