Outlaw

by Angela Verdenius

  Wrapping her arms around herself, shivering violently, Tenia peered through the narrow openings between the slats at Reya to find her sister’s eyes peering back at her.

  “Love you, sister,” Tenia said.

  “It’d sound better without your teeth chattering,” Reya replied.

  “I bet your lips are going blue.”

  “You should see my nipples.”

  That surprised a short laugh from Tenia, the sound washed away quickly as the rain teemed down harder.

  “That’s it,” Reya said with grim approval. “Don’t let them get you down, Tenia. Don’t give them the satisfaction of seeing you scared, seeing you cry. Never let them see you cry.”

  “I won’t.”

  Conversation between them stopped as rain hammered down, drowning out any chance to talk. Drawing her knees to her chest, Tenia dropped her face into their shelter, curling up tight in an attempt to produce some warmth.

  The bounty hunters stayed warm and dry in their heavy fur coats while sheltering beneath the verandas. Their faces were expressionless, and pity had no place in their hearts for the hapless captives as they watched the cages sway in the cold wind until the teeming rain blotted them from sight.

  ~ * ~

  As the Daamen trading ship drew near to Comll, Red picked up the bounty hunter’s ship on the radar.

  “Scan the communication waves,” Darvk ordered tersely. “See what information you can pick up on the lasses.”

  He did as bidden, and the crew gathered outside the door to the control cabin, holding their breaths as a jumble of voices came through the intercom, disjointed words crackling out.

  “Two warriors…hanging tomorrow…caged in the rain…won’t beg…”

  “It could only be them,” Maverk breathed. “They’re alive.”

  “We don’t get to Comll until late tomorrow morning.” Darvk sucked in a harsh breath. “We can only pray we’re on time.” He turned to bark orders at his crew. “Make sure we have weapons ready. When we land we head into Oslow, regardless of hunters or soldiers!”

  They scattered, and he stalked down the corridor to his cabin to pace it restlessly. Suddenly he smashed his fist down onto the small table in frustration before slumping down into the chair. They had to get to Comll in time to save the sisters. They had to.

  For Tenia, he’d face the Devil himself in Hell.

  If anyone came in-between him and her, if anyone tried to stop him getting to her and her sister, he’d tear them apart regardless if they were bounty hunters, soldiers or peacekeepers. He had the right, the right of ownership, and he intended to fully exert that right.

  Maverk appeared in the doorway, face grim. “I tried to talk to the peacekeeper again with no luck.”

  “That bastard.” Dark’s jaw clenched so hard it actually gave a popping noise. “He knows that the hunters can do as they wish until we get there.”

  “Ownership is contentious when it involves wanted outlaws.” Maverk ran one hand down his face tiredly, the strain of the trip and worry showing. “They were in the Outlaw Sector when captured by bounty hunters.”

  Aye, and Darvk knew that was the one thing that was their stumbling block. Outlaws in the Outlaw Sector, regardless of being with their owners, were a grey area. He had no reason to place before the Intergalactic Peace Council that would be deemed acceptable for entering the Sector with outlaws in his possession. The law was immovable when it came to that.

  If the bounty hunters had grabbed the Reekas while in the Lawful Sector, had dared to drug the Daamens, the outcome would have been so very different…

  But the one thing he could do, that Maverk could do, was lawfully reclaim their ‘slaves’ in the Lawful Sector. The bastard of it all was, they had to be there physically to do it. And that was the ticking bomb. Would they get there on time to stop the hanging?

  Fear, anxiety and frustration bubbled up inside him, and unable to sit any longer, he started pacing.

  ~ * ~

  The rain stopped, the iron slats folding back up to the top of the cage, and a breeze picked up to stir the soft fringe on Tenia’s forehead. She shifted on the floor of the cage, making it sway and the chains grate slightly. Unable to sleep, she sat with her back against the bars, her eyes trained on the shadowy shape of the gallows.

  “Seems this might be it.” Reya spoke softly. “I’d always hoped I’d die in battle, not a prisoner.”

  “I always hoped to die peacefully. Guess neither of us gets our wish.”

  “Guess not.”

  After several minutes of silence, Tenia asked, “If you had a few minutes of freedom left, what would you do?”

  “Grab whatever weapon I could lay my hands on first, fight my way to freedom, and run like hell.”

  “I should have known.” Tenia gave a crooked smile. “A fighter to the end.”

  “You?”

  Her gaze sought out the white blur of Reya’s face in the dark cage nearby. “I’d fight my way free then search for Darvk.”

  “Darvk.” It wasn’t a question.

  “I have no idea if he’s alive, if he’s safe.” She swallowed past the tightness in her throat. “I’d need to know he’s all right before I could do anything else.”

  “You have surely given your heart to a man, little sister.” Reya didn’t sound surprised.

  There was no denying it. “Disappointed?”

  “No, you’re meant for love and a family. I’m only sorry it doesn’t appear to be your destiny.”

  “What about you?” She rested her wrists on her bent knees, wishing she could see her sister’s expression. “Don’t you wish for a family, a man to love you?”

  “I don’t need a man’s love.”

  “What if things were different?”

  “They aren’t,” Reya responded shortly. “So there’s no use wishing for the unobtainable.”

  Recognising the finality in her sister’s voice, Tenia steered the topic of conversation away from men and families, and they talked instead of other things.

  The night passed, the warm breeze caressing their skin.

  Morning came too soon.

  The sun came up, flooding Oslow with brilliant light, the rays fingering the gallows that rose into the air, casting long, grim shadows on the ground. The cages were lowered and the Reekas, heavily chained still, were led out under heavy guard to attend their needs. Unable to fight, the hunters taking no chances, Tenia and Reya could do nothing but go where they led and be forced back into the cages as soon as they were finished.

  Unable to even rub her skin beneath the heavy cuffs, Tenia could only run her fingers around the iron collar circling her neck, wishing she could pull it away, still feeling the sensation of having it pulled so tight against her throat.

  The bounty hunters were expert at subduing outlaws. Damn them.

  Tenia and Reya watched in silence as the gallows were finished. The builders turned their attention to attaching heavy sandbags to the two ropes. The trapdoors opened, the bags falling through and jerking to a halt, stopped by the ropes.

  The crowd gathered early, anticipation filling the air.

  Time ticked past, the sun rising higher.

  Cormac had stood the entire time in the shadows of the veranda not far away, watching the carpenters and two of his bounty hunters test the ropes.

  “Maybe he gets paid by the hour,” Reya suggested.

  “That’s not even funny.”

  “Might help us, though. The longer he waits, the more he gets paid, the more time we have.”

  Tenia looked at her.

  Reya raised her eyebrows.

  They watched the men at work.

  They watched the men finish.

  They watched the head carpenter speak to Cormac then leave, but only to walk a small distance away before stopping and turning.

  Cormac stepped off the veranda.

  Most of the bounty hunters positioned themselves to ensure a large clear arc around the front of the gallows.r />
  The rest of the bounty hunters moved in close, looking up at the cages.

  The cages started to lower.

  Tenia’s jaw clenched.

  The time had come.

  ~*~

  The trading ship was nearing Oslow, but Darvk feared not fast enough. In the control cabin he paced restlessly. Today was the day of the hanging, but when?

  Crackling sounded and he jerked his head up when a voice reached his ear. “You’re in a hurry.” The screen flickered and a man’s face appeared. Boyishly handsome with brilliant green eyes, golden hair, and sensuality that seemed to ooze out of his very pores, he wore a close-fitting tunic with long sleeves and tight pants encased in boots.

  This man was head of one of the countries of Argon, and a friend to the Daamens.

  “Kiile?”

  “Is Maverk there with you?”

  “I’m here.” Maverk appeared behind Darvk’s shoulder. “What news have you got?”

  “News?”

  “You only contact us when you want something or have information about something we need.”

  “Then let’s get down to business.” Kiile’s gaze was speculative. “Some good news. Your women are alive.”

  “Tenia and Reya?” Hope swelling, Darvk clutched the armrest of the chair. “They’re all right?”

  “For now, but the execution is near. One hour away, in fact.”

  “One hour? God, nay!” Anguish flared through him, his heart dropping in despair. “We can’t make it in time!”

  “Wait, my friend.” Kiile held up a hand. “We have on board four of our fleet craft, faster than anything in this galaxy. We’ll bring you all down to Oslow in them faster than you are presently going.”

  Dashed hope resurged. “Where are you exactly?”

  “Check your radar.”

  The Argon ship was a red blip on the screen. Less than fifteen minutes from the trading ship.

  “We go to face bounty hunters.” Darvk had to be honest. “If you help us, you’ll make an enemy of them as well.”

  Kiile gave an elegant shrug. “Do I look worried?”

  ~ * ~

  Outwardly calm, inside she was a mass of nerves as, on the platform of the gallows, Tenia was led to the nearest noose that hung down from the heavy beam overhead.

  Reya was led beside her.

  A hush fell over the crowd staring in morbid fascination at the two outlaws awaiting death. Anticipation filled the air.

  Cormac gazed steadily from one beautiful, stoic face to the other before he stepped aside to address the crowd. “The Reeka warrior women are outlaws, captured and facing execution. Remember this day, and know that the Inka Empire and the law deal harshly with outlaws. For their crimes, Reya and Tenia, daughters of Karana, leader of the Reeka race, die.”

  A roar of approval swept the crowd and a chanting arose. “Die! Die! Die!”

  From the corner of her eye, Tenia could see Reya look out with calm composure over the blood-lust-filled crowd.

  The noose slipped over Tenia’s head to settle around her slender throat, but the knot wasn’t placed beneath her ear to break her neck when she fell. A cold chill went through her as the truth dawned. The hanging wasn’t to be swift. They were to strangle to death. They were going to struggle and twirl on the end of the rope until they died.

  The dance of death done by so many of her sister warriors.

  The thought of her kinswomen dying the same way strengthened her, enabling her to meet her sister’s eyes with composure. “I will see you on the other side.”

  A warm smile crept onto Reya’s lips. “Most assuredly, sister.”

  The nooses in place, the hunters stepped back and silence filled the square.

  Gazing over the crowd and between the buildings, Tenia saw the hills in the distance. The sun felt warm on her back, seeped into her body. A rakishly handsome face came to mind, and fiercely she clung to it.

  Reya thought fleetingly of Maverk, but her thoughts were mainly on the betrayal. It was hard to imagine that Sinya would betray her to the law. After all she’d been through, this was how it was to end, twirling a grotesque dance on the end of a rope for the entertainment of the rough crowd in this forsaken settlement. Ah well, she’d die without begging, like the warrior she was.

  Leaving the platform, Cormac walked down the steps and around to the front of the gallows. Looking up at the bounty hunter standing beside the trapdoor lever, he nodded.

  ~ * ~

  Twelve traders and three Argon men spilled out of the four fleet crafts that landed on the outskirts of Oslow. A pilot, along with two gunmen, was left inside each craft, ready to land and take off in the market square at a seconds notice.

  They found every shop and tavern deserted, owners and inhabitants alike having congregated in the market square. As the men neared the back of the crowd they caught sight of the gallows and the two tall, slender figures upon it.

  A cold hand clutched Darvk’s heart and squeezed when he saw the noose about the golden-haired warrior’s throat. Before he could shout, he saw Cormac nod.

  Everything appeared to happen in slow motion. As he surged forward through the crowd with his crew, firing lasers in the air, the lever to the trapdoors was pulled and the two warriors plunged down.

  ~ * ~

  Oxygen was cut off, the pain of the rope snapping taut nearly making her black out. Tenia jerked and spun, fighting frantically to reach the rope above her, but she was unable to raise her arms, her wrists shackled and attached to her ankle chains by a shorter chain.

  Reflected in the reddening features of Reya thrashing on the end of the rope beside her, she saw her own desperate and frantic struggle for life.

  Shouts and screams went unheard as roaring filled her ears, the images around her beginning to blur, growing darker.

  Dying was supposed to be merciful, not this slow, agonizing squeezing out of every last drop of pain and horror and helpless rage, strangling, unable to draw a last gasp of air.

  She didn’t want to die. Not like this. Better to die by the sword - so much quicker, so much easier!

  Red, clawing pain clouded her vision, every organ in her body screaming for oxygen. Consciousness receded.

  She was dying.

  This was it, then. This was the end.

  ~ * ~

  Darvk and Maverk aimed the lasers over the heads of the fleeing, screaming crowd. The twin crackles filled the air, and it was with relief so strong it nearly brought him to his knees that Darvk saw the ropes split apart and the Reekas fall to the ground.

  Stunned to see the giants storming through the crowd, Cormac recovered quickly, ordering the traders to stop.

  They kept on coming, determination and cold death in their eyes.

  Seeing the number of giants bearing down on them, the hunters aimed their lasers and fired, but the surging crowd of settlers meant they couldn’t aim properly, hd to be careful not to kill them as well. It hampered their aim so that some of the traders, including Darvk, received only flesh wounds, but none were serious and nothing stopped them.

  Then three Argon men burst out of the crowd, their lasers cutting down three of the bounty hunters with no hesitation.

  Laser fire was now searing the air from both sides.

  But the number against the hunters were too many, and they were kept pinned down, unable to now get a good killing aim on the Daamens and Argons even though the settlers were now undercover.

  Taking advantage of the cover, Darvk and Maverk made for the sisters lying unmoving on the ground.

  “Shoot! Shoot!” Cormac yelled at his men. “Don’t let them get the warriors alive! Shoot the Reekas!”

  The four hunters still standing looked up as a humming filled the air and froze as four fleet craft swept low over the buildings. Three landed in the middle of the square but the fourth hovered, guns aimed at the bounty hunters.

  Knowing it was all lost, Cormac cursed loudly.

  Coldly furious, he threw one look at h
is men and as one they lowered their lasers.

  Darvk and Maverk came to a skidding halt by the warriors. Dropping to their knees next to Tenia and Reya, they pulled the nooses from around their throats.

  Tenia’s breathing was a rasping, tortured sound but she lived. A quick glance at Reya clasped to Maverk’s chest confirmed that she, too, had survived. Enraged, Darvk looked to where Cormac stood with Kiile’s laser at his back.

  “Do you want me to kill him?” Kiile drawled.

  “Just a minute!” someone hollered.

  “It’s Quincy,” an onlooker murmured. “The law.”

  “Such as it is.” Another man sniggered.

  “The law?” Darvk roared. “Where were you while this was happening, Peacekeeper?”

  Quincy, face pale, came to a stop. “The law was being carried out, and you’re obstructing it.”

  “I’m preventing murder!”

  A muscle ticked in Cormac’s jaw. “They are outlaws, wanted dead or alive.”

  “These outlaws have also been sold as slaves. This wench bears my brand.” With one hand Darvk yanked the leather skirt up on Tenia’s left thigh showing the brand to the peacekeeper.

  Quincy started trembleing as he looked up at the giant traders forming a protective half-circle around their captain and the fallen warriors.

  Disgusted at the cowardly man, furious at the bounty hunters, Darvk snarled, “Undo these bloody shackles.”

  Hands shaking, Quincy pressed a thin rod to the steel bracelets on Tenia’s wrists and ankles. “They weren’t in your presence, there was nothing I could do.”

  “You cowardly bastard,” Maverk grated.

  “Darvk’s nostrils flared. “Now release Reya.”

  “What of these bounty hunters?” Kiile asked in a conversational tone.

  Gazing down into Tenia’s face, Darvk noted that her skin was back to its normal colour and that a raw wound from the rope encircled her throat. Picking her up, he handed her to Morgan who took her gently into his arms. “Take her inside.”

  Morgan nodded grimly and carried her into the light-speed craft.

  Maverk passed Reya to Garret. “Take care of her for me.”

  Standing shoulder to shoulder with his friend, Darvk’s gaze bored mercilessly into the head bounty hunter.