Even knowing what I knew – that they'd already discovered our identities – hearing him say my name made the blood in my veins run cold. Byr's grip on my hand tightened and I knew that he was growing as anxious as I was.
“What do you mean?” Byr asked, managing to sound more confident than I had.
The man turned his gaze on to Byr. “What I mean is that you two are going to take a little trip with us,” he said. “Back to Unduth. And after we collect the money being offered for your safe return, we're going to use it to take our planet back.”
I cocked my head. “Back from whom?”
The man looked at me a long moment, anger smoldering behind his eyes, but a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth.
“The girl thinks she's funny.”
He reached out for me and froze, as if he'd caught a strange scent on the wind. The man looked around wildly, and with my grip on Byr's hand tight, I began to slowly edge backwards. The men in front of us were tightening their grip on their weapons, the expression of concern becoming more deeply etched upon their faces.
Whatever Vink was going to do, he had to do it now.
As if reacting to me, lights – almost as bright as the sun – flooded the plaza. I looked up to see the outline of two ships – the source of the lights – swoop down to hover over the square.
“By order of the King, drop your weapons and put your hands in the air,” a booming voice echoed around the plaza.
“It's a trap!” the scarred man screamed. “Fight to the last!”
The group of men began firing at the two ships above us. Behind the group though, I saw Vink's men, clad in their red and blue armor, come streaming into the plaza, their weapons at the ready. The scarred man's troops saw them coming and adjusted their fire – turning from the ships to the men coming at them.
Knowing that our chances of getting hit increased dramatically if we continued to stand there, I pulled Byr away, holding on to his hand and running toward the far end of the square, away from where the lasers were flying.
“Hatare, look out!” Byr yelled.
I looked back just in time to see two men coming at us – the scarred man's fighters. I spun around at the same time Byr did. Moving to the side, I drew one of the men away from the other and turned to face him. He rushed at me, a baton in his hand. He'd obviously been told to take us alive – which gave me the advantage.
The man swung the baton, but I'd anticipated it and danced away from the blow. As he followed through with his strike – and miss – I closed the gap between us, sliding the baton out of my belt in one smooth motion. I shook my arm to extend it at the same moment I raised it above my head. Bringing it down with as much force as I could muster, I struck the off-balance man on the back of his neck. I hit him so hard, I felt the force of the blow traveling up my entire arm.
The man crumpled to the ground, face down, without a word, or sound. I looked at his motionless body for a moment, wondering if I'd accidentally killed him. But, I was in the middle of a fight – I'd deal with the emotional ramifications later.
I turned just in time to see Byr take a punch to the face. His head rocked backward, but he actually smiled at the man. Byr lowered his shoulder and rushed the man, tackling him down to the ground. In a heartbeat, Byr was on top of the man, straddling his chest, and began raining down blows on the other man's face. Punch after punch landed until eventually, the other man stopped moving.
Breathing heavily, Byr got to his feet and looked at me, giving me a lopsided grin. “See? You're not the only one good in a fight.”
I looked over to where Vink's troops were engaged with the rebels, a smile on my face. The fight was winding down as the last of the rebels were falling – or throwing their weapons down. I turned back to Byr, smiling even wider. We'd made it. We'd survived and we were going to get our meeting with the King.
My smile though, turned to horror when, out of nowhere, a red laser streaked in and sliced through Byr. He looked at me, his eyes wide. There was disbelief on his face mixed with stark terror – he couldn't believe he'd been shot any more than I could.
“No!” I screamed.
I rushed toward him as Byr fell to his knees, his eye markings glowing brightly. I got to him just before he toppled over backwards and cradled his head in my lap.
“You're going to be okay,” I said, tears streaming down my face. “You're going to be just fine. I swear it. You're going to be okay.”
I checked him out and saw the wound on his side. His thick, blue blood was pooling around the neat, precise hole the laser had cut through him, and his shirt was stained with it. He coughed and looked at me, his eyes wide and the bright glow of his eye markings beginning to dim.
“No, no, no,” I shouted, shaking my head.
“Get on your feet,” a voice commanded me. “It's time to go.”
I looked up to see the scarred man staring down at me, a weapon pointed straight at Byr. He was bloodied and was breathing raggedly, but he was still alive and still intent on dragging us back to Unduth.
“He's done for,” the scarred man said. “Leave him and get to your feet. Now. We're getting out of here.”
I shook my head, my tears flowing freely, my body shaking with my sobs. “No, I won't leave him.”
The man lowered his weapon at Byr's head and I tried to get in the way, tried to get in between them. The man looked at me and delivered a vicious backhand. My face exploded in pain and I saw stars as my head rocked backward. Where his hand had connected with my skin, my cheek burned with pain.
I looked up, my vision blurred with tears, just in time to see the man's body jerking and twitching as lasers from behind tore through him. He fell to his knees and then face down in the grass beside me. His one eye was open and fixed on me, as if he were judging me, even in death.
Vink was there beside me. “We need to get him medical attention.”
I nodded and let Vink and his men get Byr to a ship with a medic where they began working on him right away. They refused to allow me near him, telling me that I wouldn't want to see what they were doing. But I'd wanted to be there. To hold his hand through it all – to make sure he knew he wasn't alone and that I was there with him.
I wanted him to know I would be by his side and wouldn't be going anywhere.
As they worked on him in the back of the ship they'd landed in the plaza, I looked around. I saw the vague outlines of the bodies that littered the ground – some rebels, some of Vink's men. It had been a fierce fight and one that had cost a great many lives. I wasn't accustomed to seeing death – it was never considered proper for an Unduthian woman to be around the dead or dying. So, to see it on such a massive scale was – sad.
I felt profoundly sad for everybody who'd lost their life in that fight. It was unfortunate that they couldn't sit down and work out their problems through discussion and dialogue, rather than through weapons and death.
But such was the nature of man, I supposed.
“A few got away,” Vink said as he stepped beside me. “But we dealt a pretty good blow to the rebels with tonight's action. Thanks to you and your friend.”
I nodded and looked in the direction of the ship, watched them huddled around Byr as they worked on him.
“I'll need to take the two of you to the palace,” Vink said. “You'll be placed in protective custody. But don't worry, your needs will be attended to. You won't be held like a regular prisoner. I give you my word. You will be comfortable.”
I nodded, not sure what else to say. There really wasn't anything left to say. Instead, I let Vink lead me away.
Chapter Thirteen
It had been two days and I'd gotten no word on Byr's condition other than vague words. They told me he was recovering and that he would be okay. But I wasn't sure I fully trusted or believed anybody who came into my room.
Vink had been true to his word – I'd been put up in a very elegant room. One much like I'd had back on Unduth. My every need was being att
ended to, and I wanted for nothing. I was being treated more like an honored guest than a prisoner.
They'd questioned me extensively – yet gently. They'd wanted to know if I had any connection to the rebels or not, and if so, to what extent. Eventually, I believed I convinced them that I had no connection to them whatsoever.
The room was nice and the view of Optorio's red ocean was stunning – but there was no mistake about it, I was still a prisoner.
I sat on the balcony that sat just off my bedchamber, admiring the ocean and the way the sunlight sparkled off of it dazzlingly. Unduth had some beautiful places – places I enjoyed visiting – but there was nothing like this. The way the sunlight sparkled off the red ocean made the water appear like it was on fire. It was gorgeous.
I sipped the glass of wine the staff had left for me as I pondered my current situation. Nothing had been said yet, about a meeting with the King. I was getting very little information about Byr, and I had no idea what was going to happen to me. Would he send us back to Unduth? Would he grant us asylum?
Worrying about it twisted my stomach into knots and was keeping me up at night. Though the bed was soft and luxurious, I felt wrung out. Like I hadn't slept in days – because I really hadn't.
The chime sounded on my door and I stood up, setting my wine glass down as a moment later, it slid open. The two guards posted outside my room stood aside and let the woman enter. A moment later, the door closed and with a soft chirp, the door locked.
I stared at the woman – she was unlike anybody I'd ever seen before. She was not Unduthian. She was not Optorion. With fair skin, eyes that were a dazzling shade of green, and hair that was a deep auburn color, she was beautiful in her own, unique way.
“You must be Queen Riley,” I said, dropping into a formal curtsey.
She favored me with a warm, genuine smile. “No need for that,” she said. “I'm not one who stands on ceremony. May I come in and speak with you?”
She seemed sweet and she seemed genuine. I smiled and motioned to the chair on the balcony beside the one I'd been sitting in. As she walked in, I poured a glass of wine for her and waited for her to sit. When she had, I retook my seat beside her. Riley sipped from her wine and looked out at the ocean.
“I was charmed by this world when I first came here,” she said. “Awed by it. It was so unlike anything I'd ever seen before. The beauty of Optorio is captivating.”
I nodded. “It is, Majesty,” I said.
She looked at me and arched an eyebrow – a very human gesture, if I had to guess. “Please,” she said. “Just call me Riley.”
I smiled at her and suddenly felt awkward. Self-conscious. “My name is Hatare,” I said.
She grinned at me. “Yes, I know who you are,” she said. “I've learned much about you, Hatare. And I must say, I'm quite – impressed with you.”
Impressed? Why would she be impressed with me? I was a nobody from another world. She looked at me as if she could read my thoughts and smiled.
“You are a very strong, young woman,” she said. “And I'm impressed that you were determined enough to take control of your own life and your own destiny that you risked everything the way you did. You could have been killed and yet, you persevered. You took a stand for what you believed was right – that you should have a say in your own life. You risked everything for your right to self-determination. That, is impressive. Admirable.”
I didn't know what to say, so I remained silent. I felt the heat flooding my face though and knew that my cheeks were flushed. It wasn't every day you were complimented by a Queen.
“What you did is truly courageous, Hatare.”
I shook my head. “No more courageous than what you did, Maj – Riley,” I said.
She shrugged. “That's open for debate,” she said. “Personally speaking – and this is just between you and me – I would love to see those terribly archaic customers on your home world abolished. I can't imagine what it must be like growing up knowing that you are only being groomed for a life you have no say in. I can't imagine growing up in a life you have no control over. That's no way to live.”
Tears welled in my eyes as I thought about it. “I hated it,” I said. “I dreaded my birth year celebration coming for a long, long time.”
“I would imagine you did,” she replied. “I know I would have.”
I gave her a small, grim smile. The longer we talked, the more I liked her. She was authentic and sincere and made me believe that I could trust her. And I believed we were alike in a lot of ways. Riley was a strong woman who refused to be bent to the will of others. It was a quality I admired in her. And one I thought she was giving me too much credit for having – because I didn't.
“I don't think I'm as courageous as you believe,” I said, “I almost killed myself that night. I had planned on it, actually. I thought it would be better to be dead than live that life. But my father's house maid – a friend of mine, actually – she talked me out of it. It was her suggestion that I run. So, I don't believe I deserve the credit you are giving me.”
“It was up to you to walk out the door, Hatare,” she said. “It took a tremendous amount of strength and courage for you to leave – rather than go through with the alternative. And I'm glad you didn't. But don't sell yourself short. You still had to make the decision to go. And you did. For that, you deserve all the credit in the world.”
I gave her a small smile, still feeling strange about having praise lavished on me. By a Queen no less.
“Thank you, Riley,” I said. “Your words mean a lot to me.”
She smiled at me in return. “Just know that I am in your corner, Hatare,” she said. “I know my husband is in a difficult situation, but believe me when I tell you that I will be doing everything I can to help you avoid returning to that life.”
She reached across and took my hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze.
“Thank you, Riley.”
Book 3 – The King’s Court
Chapter One
Hatare
I sat in a large, plush chair on the balcony just off my room, overlooking the red ocean of Optorio. The sun was sparkling off the sea, making it sparkle dazzlingly. It was absolutely gorgeous. And with a cool breeze blowing in off the water, I couldn't have asked for a more beautiful afternoon.
Of course, the one downside of it all was that I was a prisoner. Oh, I was being held in a very comfortable, very beautiful cell, but it was a cell nonetheless.
“I trust that you're comfortable?”
I turned around quickly to find Riley standing behind me. I'd apparently been so lost in thought, that I hadn't heard the door chime, or the whoosh of it opening. Riley smiled at me, and in a violet colored high-necked gown, and with her hair swept up into a stylish pile atop her head, she was radiant. For a human, she was a beautiful woman.
I nodded. “Comfortable enough, thank you,” I said. “But is there any chance I can get out of this room and walk around some? I'm going a little stir crazy in here.”
Riley stepped forward and dropped down in the chair next to me. She looked at me, giving me a sympathetic smile.
“I know this is hard,” she said. “I know it sucks to be locked up in here. I know I'd be going nuts in here.”
I gave her a small smile. “To say the least.”
“I'm sorry they feel it's necessary,” she said.
“They?”
She gave me a smile. “I don't believe that you're a threat,” she replied. “And I don't think you're here to do us harm or spy for your government or anything like that.”
I looked at her, feeling a slow, rolling anger building up within me. “Is that what they think? They think I'm here to – ”
Riley put her hand on my arm and gave it a gentle squeeze. “No, sweetie,” she said. “Not really. I know that Jendrish doesn't think so. And neither does Vink. But his advisors are urging caution with everything going on right now.”
I sighed and leaned back in my chair, staring out
at the sea. I hated being locked up. Hated that I didn't have the freedom to move about. Explore this new world.
“It's only temporary, Hatare,” she said softly. “Believe me, I know this sucks. But it's only for now. Only for a little while longer.”
I ran a hand through my hair and continued staring out at the ocean. I wasn't angry with Riley. It wasn't her fault. None of this was her fault. And on one hand, I could understand why Jendrish and Vink were being cautious. After all, armed soldiers had arrived to take Byr and me back to Unduth. I didn't know a lot about interplanetary politics, but I knew enough to know that putting troops on the soil of another planet was frowned upon. In a big way.
I was sure that there was plenty of talk going on between Jendrish and the Council of Unduth about it. And about us.
But I knew it wasn't Riley's doing in any way. I was just frustrated.
“How is Byr?” I asked.
Byr had been wounded during the fight with the rebels who wanted to turn us over to General Gravus and the Unduthian authorities. And hand me over to my father. I hadn't heard much about him since I was locked away – he'd been with the Optorion doctors. But I did hear that he had survived and was healing – which brought me no small amount of relief.
Byr was an interesting man. I'd never met somebody like him before – our class differences made that impossible. The Unduthian upper class was forbidden from mingling with the lower classes. The lower classes – the scraps – were thought to be unworthy of people of our station.
That was just one of the many things I hated about Unduthian society.
“Byr is recovering well, from what I've been told,” Riley said.
“Will I be able to see him soon?”
Riley's smile brightened. “Yes, I believe so. The doctors believe we'll be able to move him out of the care unit soon,” she said. “We'll have him moved here to share this room with you, if you like.”
Sharing a room with somebody else – a man, no less – seemed strange to me. I'd never shared a room with anybody. But I was desperate to see a friendly face, to have somebody to talk to. Staring at these four walls and hearing little more than my own voice day after day was driving me absolutely crazy.
Rocor (Dragons of Kratak Book 5) Page 62