LW Browning - Krystile Warriors 01 - Warlord's Honor

by LW Browning

  She turned on her side to rise up, but her broken arm did not bear her weight. There was a great howl of rage that echoed through the night.

  Koda? It was Koda!

  Koda sliced the male's private parts from his body with the dagger he had taken from Foord. He looked up at the others.

  "Get your weapons. Do not stand there like fools!" He shouted. "You dare to touch my mate! I will hang your balls from the trees for the birds to feed. Animals will feast on your sorry carcasses."

  One of the males was trying to pull his pants back up while he attempted to pull his knife from the sheath on his belt. Koda's sword flashed in the moonlight. He cut the large muscle in the back of the male's thigh. That one would stay down. Koda bellowed his rage. "I said get your weapons! Fight me!"

  Koda turned and swung his sword up to strike as most of those who remained closed in. He stabbed, parried and deflected their swords. It was a macabre dance of death. Koda's movements were fast and accurate, his intent to maim rather than kill.

  His sword sang as he spun it through the air so fast they never knew where the next strike was to land. Koda cut them, small cuts to be sure, but they were able to do little to defend against his attack.

  Sometimes an attacker managed to get his sword up to do battle and the sound of metal against metal rang out through the forest. Koda saw Claire as she tried to crawl away from the fighting. He continued to draw blood from his opponents, slicing into them over and over until every one of them bled.

  Koda stabbed one of the males through the groin. The man fell to the ground with a howl of agony.

  The ones who were able to stand looked around for a possible escape route. One charged him while the others ran.

  Koda's warlords had surrounded them and now stood with swords drawn. Ramil's males, bloody and injured, had no hope of getting through the silent circle of warlords.

  Koda deflected the sword of the male who charged him. He used his fist on the side of the male's head to knock him down. He used his whip handle to knock one unconscious, before sending the whip snaking out to catch the ankle of another who ran. Koda flung a throwing star to strike the back of a male who turned to follow his friend.

  "Stand up and fight me," he roared. The shock on their faces told him they had little fight left in them.

  "Then be slaughtered like the animals you are," Koda raged.

  He took his time killing them.

  He spared a glance at Lodi who covered Claire with a blanket. She had managed to crawl to a tree and lean against it.

  Koda tied the males to tree trunks. He tied the male whose thigh muscle he had cut by his ankles, then tossed the rope over a branch and lifted him upside down. He tied the rope off to a tree limb.

  Koda's whip snaked out. One by one, he castrated the bound males with his whip. He saved Ramil for last. The males screamed and begged for mercy. Koda had none. Koda castrated Ramil last, after he had watched all those in his band suffer the same fate.

  Ramil confessed that Veck had sent them to steal Claire. He tried to make a deal with Koda against Veck. Koda was not interested in confessions or in making deals. Tireless, his whip fell on Ramil until he begged Koda for death. Even then, Koda did not stop.

  When Ramil passed out and Koda was no longer able to revive him, he cut the throats of all those who had dared to touch his female. When Ramil was the only one left, Koda sliced his belly open, spilling his entrails on the ground.

  Koda wound his whip and secured it at his hip.

  He knelt beside Claire and examined her arm. "I am sorry," he whispered. He pulled her arm until the bones were back in place. She gasped in pain and passed out. Koda fashioned a splint for her and wrapped cloth around it. He mounted his paccar. Reaf helped Lodi hand Claire up to him.

  She whimpered when they lifted her into Koda's arms. The blanket wrapped around her should keep her warm, but she trembled. Koda held her with great care on the return home.

  Dren put out the fire Reaf had started when they first arrived. The warlords mounted their paccar and followed Koda. Not one of them had spoken a word since they left the castle.

  ***

  Claire wanted only to sink back into the dark well of oblivion and float, but pain gnawed at her. She was grateful that the monstrous emotions and thoughts of those who attacked her had stopped. Koda held her. She floated in a dark pool. She had a picture of Koda whipping males until they died. His blond hair reflected light from the fire, his features distorted with rage. Even so, he was beautiful, like a vengeful god, muscles rippled as he killed.

  When she woke next, she lay on clean, dry sheets. Someone touched her arm. Koda talked with a male. What were they saying? She did not want to know.

  They held something to her lips. She drank the sickly sweet stuff. Soft darkness enfolded her. Drifting in the darkness kept the horror at bay.

  Claire opened her eyes. She had shields again, fragile but shielding her. Looking around, she saw it was light outside the room. The dreams had been as real as her terror. Confused, she tried to separate the nightmares from reality. Her head hurt. She attempted to sit up.

  Koda stood at the end of the bed.

  Her heart beat hard against her chest. She took a deep breath and held Koda's diamond blue gaze.

  The silence stretched. Memories rushed back. A deep breath, oh that hurt. He would do what he wanted. She would try to survive. If she was unable to survive, she hoped to die with dignity.

  She was not sure what her obligation was to Koda, or if she had one. "Veck," she whispered. Her voice was hoarse. "He makes his own deal with the foreigners for Krystiles. He wants to be the leader."

  Koda moved closer to Claire, but stopped when she whimpered and raised her hand as if to keep him away.

  "Did they tell you that, girl?" His voice was gentle.

  She looked away from him. "They touched me. I read them – I-I had no shields." She looked at Koda again and lifted her chin. "Veck sent Ramil to get me."

  "Ramil will not harm you again," Koda promised.

  "Will you? Will you kill me and deliver my..." How to finish that thought?

  "I will not harm you, pita. You are my mate. I will kill anyone who tries to harm you."

  The scene from the woods flashed in her memory. Koda killed them, killed them all. She was not ready to think of that now. Sleep pulled her down, or maybe she passed out. Koda said something, but she did not understand it. She wanted to ask him ...

  ***

  Memories and emotions clung to her like a heavy fog. Wisps of the nightmarish dreams pulled at her and tried to suck her under. She came awake to gulp in great quantities of air. She breathed hard as if she had almost drowned.

  Had Koda been here while she slept? She dreamed he was with her. He soothed her, stroked her hair and her face. He said sweet things to her, words of comfort. Had she been so desperate that she had breathed her needs into her dreams?

  She searched the room. Efia was with her.

  Claire felt stronger and slid out of the bed to make her unsteady way to the bathing room. She shivered even though the water in the shower was hot. She scrubbed, envisioning the water carrying the filth of the males who attacked her down the drain.

  The shower left her weak. Her shields were weak but holding. She dressed herself, the broken arm proved to be a nuisance. She had a sudden image of Koda when he set the arm in the woods. The thought of the woods caused a flash of Koda, fury on his face as he killed Ramil and the males with him. That horror was locked in her mind forever.

  She sorted through what she knew. Koda had saved her from Ramil and his band of cutthroats. Koda had also agreed to hunt the MX for money and turn them over to the STS for execution. Things that she found brutal and barbaric were accepted by these people as a normal part of life. What did Koda have planned for her? She assumed he was as opportunistic as everyone else she knew. Had he mated with her just to increase his power over her? Duty and honor may have played a part when Koda claimed her, but he w
as a mercenary. She might never know his true motives.

  She had to decide if Koda was a shrewd mercenary who lied without conscience or, something worse. It made no sense that he bought her from Calks just to sell or kill her. He probably only wanted her to help him capture the other MX. Fear clawed up her throat when she thought of the MX being hunted and killed like animals. She had to help them, if she could.

  What she knew of Koda's deceit still hurt. She had to put her own feelings aside. Was she going to be able to use him for her own ends, or had he saved her only to help him catch the others before he eventually turned her in to the STS and collected his bounty? She was no match for a mercenary barbarian. Still, she must try.

  How long ago had they ended the program? To think she had been worried about breaking the MX rules when she should have been worried about the other MX.

  She had many more questions than answers. Claire brushed her hair until it shone. Physically exhausted, she sat in one of the armchairs and looked out the bedroom window.

  Koda had bought her from Calks, so she was no longer Calks' problem. Though it should not bother her as much as it did, the betrayal by her MX Handler hurt. He had been a stable force in her life for as long as she could remember. He was one of the better handlers, but she had been a job to Calks, nothing more. She was now a prize to Koda.

  Claire looked up to see Osiria coming in with a tray of hot chocolate and small cakes which she set on the table between the two chairs.

  "The healer is amazed at how fast your strength is returning," Osiria said.

  Claire sighed and looked at Osiria. All along, Koda's people had known that he bought her. She waited to hear what Osiria had to say.

  Koda filled the doorway. Her heart jumped. She must learn to hide the effect he had on her.

  Osiria excused herself and left.

  Claire wanted to stand, but the shower had taken all her strength. She remained sitting in the armchair and forced herself to look out the window away from Koda.

  With each boot-fall she fought the urge to run. She felt his presence on her skin. Her body betrayed her when Koda was near. He sat in the chair opposite her.

  "I would speak with you," he said.

  Claire's shields were as weak as she was. The barbarian thought he held all the cards and perhaps he did. Claire had been a perfect little slave all her life. She had meekly followed all the rules in order to survive. Now the rules were gone. She met his gaze.

  "Of course, Warlord Leader," Claire said. She was formal, determined to give nothing away.

  "There are some things I would explain to you." He leaned forward.

  She flinched. The small table between them offered no protection. She was ashamed that he knew she feared him.

  "Warlord Leader," Claire lifted her chin. "Perhaps I should begin. I know that you bought me from Calks. I hope you paid a high price." She shook from the struggle to keep her voice even. "I have no resources, no recourse except to rely on you. I have few choices, no decision at all concerning my fate. I am accustomed to being a commodity to you normals. You think that I am a piece of property. You have bought me, but you do not own me, Warlord Leader. Never will you own me."

  Koda was still, his gaze steady.

  Reckless as her anger grew, Claire continued. "You have lied to me from the start. I am embarrassed that I failed to discern your deceit. I am an eMpath with eXtra abilities. It was difficult for me to read you, even before the mate bite and your ceremony. I was naive and easily duped, but I am learning very fast." She paused. "I know now that the MX project has been ended and that we are hunted. I know you have agreed to work with the STS to hunt us down and sell us to them dead or alive. I know that the latest order from the MX Facility is that MX be captured on sight. The danon will be paid upon presentation of our – carcasses." Her voice broke on the last word. Defiance blazed in her green eyes. "You have agreed to that. Now you seek to find us and destroy us."

  Koda raised an eyebrow.

  A hard shudder went through her body. "T-the males who attacked me... They knew. I guess everyone knew but me. They knew about the deal you made with the STS to hunt us, and I overheard your conversation – that night." Koda might well destroy her, but she was not going to let him see how much he had hurt her. She pushed on. "I know you are a slaver. I have been honest with you though I have received no honesty in return." She continued softly. "I can understand, with your part in all this, why you chose to lie to me."

  Koda said nothing, his expression dangerous.

  "I can only conclude that you want me to help you find the other MX.

  I. Will. Not. You can kill me now. Choose as bloody a death as you like, that seems to be your way, but I will not help you hunt my own kind, Warlord Leader. Or perhaps I should say, Master," she whispered.

  When he spoke, his voice was soft. "Pita, I did not tell you of the deal I made with Calks because I wanted to give you time to adjust to my people and our ways. I thought withholding that information until you had settled in here was an act of kindness." Koda rubbed his jaw, "I now see the folly of that decision. Calks sold you to me at risk of his life. He knew the MX program was coming to an end. He wanted to give you a chance."

  Claire sat very still.

  "We were approached by the MX Facility via the STS to help hunt MX after the program ended. Since my goal is to offer sanctuary to the MX, I agreed to help the Special Threat Squads. Working with the STS gives me a better opportunity to locate the empaths before others capture them. I deal on the black market. That gives me an advantage over the STS and anyone else in the Conglomerate. I will keep the MX. None will be handed over to anyone." Koda's expression was fierce though his voice was soft. "When the contract to hunt and capture MX was extended to me, of course, I agreed. My goal to offer sanctuary to the MX remains the same. When Calks and I first spoke, I told him I wanted his strongest empath first. He assured me that you were the most gifted. Yes, I want you to assist me with the others. I think you want to save them." He waited for her response.

  "And I should trust you now because you have been so honest with me?" She wanted to scream.

  Koda stood and was over her before she was able to react. He leaned forward and held onto the arms of her chair. Her heartbeat sped. She struggled to bring oxygen into her lungs. He leaned down, his face close to hers. His long blond hair touched her bare shoulders, his voice was a whisper. "Read me to know the truth."

  Claire shivered from his intensity. With her shields so weak, she dared not touch anyone.

  "I will help the MX," he said. "I would have your help to convince them to accept my offer of sanctuary. You can have time to think of this. I would have your answer as soon as possible." He moved back and sat in the chair across from her again. "I have answered your questions, now I will hear from you. Why did you run from me?"

  Claire blinked. "How dare you," she stood up flushed with anger. "You try to blame this on me?" She grabbed a pillow from the chair and slammed it into his chest.

  "You are under my protection. You are my mate."

  "I know!" She screamed at him. "I saw what you – you –– what you did..."

  Koda's smile was wicked. "Yes, pita, it was my duty and my right. To attack the Warlord Leader is to invite death. To attack the Warlord Leader's mate is to invite the same sentence. If there had been more time, I would have dealt them an even more just death."

  "You are a barbarian!" Claire screamed at him. He stood up and pulled her to him. She pushed against his chest, but he lifted her over the small table and pulled her in the chair with him. He held her across his lap, stroking her hair.

  "Shh – pita. I will take care of you. You are not to blame. None of this is your fault. It will be alright. I will make it alright. I vow it to you. Never again call me 'Master', and never again run from me. I will always find you."

  The healer finished his examination of her. He did not hide his shock at the speed of her recovery. Claire knew he wanted to ask questions about
her healing ability, but instead, he made a series of 'mms' and 'hmms' when he checked and removed the cover from her arm. "Be careful with that, little missy. It is not completely healed yet." Finished, he left the room. Osiria followed him.

  She had seen little of Koda during the past few days, but she dreamed of him at night. He sat by her bed and said sweet things to her while he stroked her hair. Mired in self-doubt, she was glad to avoid him as much as possible. She was getting stronger. Meditation in the garden helped since she renewed herself and gained strength from nature. She started down to the garden again. Her abilities had grown and her shields were strong again, but she also felt more emotions, heard more thoughts now.

  Warriors were all over the castle. Claire felt their anticipation.

  As she went through the large hall of the castle toward the garden in the back, she met several servants and warlords headed toward the front doorway. A courier had arrived and excitement was in the air.

  She ran to the garden and found a bench in the sun.

  Osiria came out and sat on the bench opposite her.

  "There is a lot of activity in the castle." Claire sat with her eyes closed, her face turned to the sun.

  "Yes, but there is no need for you to worry," Osiria hesitated. "I know that you are upset with me. I never meant to hurt you, none of us did."

  "I may have need of your help to understand this society. I thought I was only here for a short time. I did not realize I had been sold and my future was – uncertain. You must have thought me very childish to be so easily fooled." Claire felt her words sting Osiria's conscience.

  "Claire, we want you to be happy here with us. We wanted you to have time to get to know us before you found out that you were cut off from all that was familiar to you."

  "I know that I might be killed or worse and I know you cannot tell me what you know of my fate. Can you understand why your words offer no comfort to me? I do not trust you. Any of you. How can I?"