Exile

by Rayann Marse

The male smiled and nodded, as though to say Classic Agron. "Agron is dead," he said to her, speaking slowly and reaching out a hand to console her, as though this was terrible news.

  Stella felt a chill pass through her. A deep relief. With no guilt at all. Agron was a pig, a horrible, evil monster, and it gave her no end of joy to know she would never have to see him again.

  "What now?" she asked, reaching up to touch her eye. She realized she was crying. Trembling.

  "In a duel like this," the male said through the translator. "The concubines of the defeated male go to the victor. Usually, that is how it works, unless the victor decides not to take them. That almost never happens, but in this case Slych has decided to have all of Agron's concubines. Except for you."

  "Wait," said Stella, pressing a hand to her beating heart. "Why not? What am I supposed to do? I'm so confused."

  "In this case, you are released. You belong to no male. So you have two options. The first would be to stay here, to find a male you wish to belong to and give yourself to him."

  She didn't like the sound of that very much. Her progressive mind wanted very much to believe that there was good here, that not all of the males could be bad like Agron, but she could find little evidence for it, and she didn't want to risk falling right into another trap.

  "And the second option?" she asked.

  "You are not Menin, so you are only attached to our laws and customs insofar as a desiring male wishes you to be. The limitations set on Menin females do not fully apply to you, in reality. It is entirely possible, I think, that if you do not choose a male, one will choose you. Either way, you must either act fast or allow yourself to be taken by the first male who shows an interest. Which will happen very quickly."

  The male began to pace as he spoke, gesturing animatedly. He seemed very... sincere. Shockingly so. Stella narrowed her eyes, trying to suss out an ulterior motive, but she could detect nothing. The male was actually taking an interest here. He was truly invested in helping her. This was almost as much of a shock as hearing about the death of Agron.

  He turned to her now, shrugging and sighing. "I don't know. It depends on what you want. Agron has not made a good impression on you; he is wicked to all his concubines... Slych is much gentler, he treats them as companions rather than property. But unfortunately, you cannot choose him as your owner, because he has already rejected you."

  "Did he say why?" asked Stella.

  "He implied that he only desires one human concubine."

  "Wait. He has another? Was he one of the males who met us when we first arrived?"

  The male nodded. "I believe he has taken the female with the... vividly colored hair."

  "Tina!" Stella grinned, punching her right hand into the palm of her left. "So, she's getting by just fine. And you're telling me that Agron really is an asshole? Even you think so?"

  The male listened then gave her a look of confusion. She decided that the word asshole probably had no good translation.

  "Never mind," said Stella. "Have you seen the other ones I came with? Sybil, Aurora, anyone? How about Kozue? She's my friend. Really small, dark hair?"

  The male looked to be deep in thought, but at the mention of Kozue's size and hair color he perked up.

  "Yes," he said. "I saw her, the small one. She's with Agron's brother, Amnay."

  Stella's heart sank. "No. Please don't tell me she's with that monster's brother."

  The male reached out a hand to placate her. "Amnay is not like his brother. He is a weakling. He had no concubines before. Only his family tie to Agron allowed him to take one of you."

  Stella nodded, sighing in relief. In the contest between rapist and weakling, it was obvious which of the two friends had won.

  "Okay," she said. "That's good. Do you think I could go and see her?"

  "Like I said, you are released. Free. So you can go where you want... within reason. But I do not know where Amnay is keeping her. I can try and find out. And come to you when I know something."

  "Well, thank you. Thank you very much. I don't want to offend you, or sound ungrateful, but... why are you doing this? Answering my questions? Helping me?"

  "Because Slych told me to."

  "I see," she said, feeling even more jealous that Tina, of all people, had fallen into the lap of such a desirable mate. "Not because you want to."

  "I have no problem with doing it. It is my job."

  "Your job?"

  "Yes. I am not of the fighting class. When I was young, I decided that I did not want to fight or to be challenged. I went to the Mindseat and offered myself up as a servant. Now I act for whichever male of the fighting class requires my assistance. This is what Amnay should have done, but he never did. I think because of his experiments and the things he tries to build... He doesn't want to work for anyone else. I am a coward, but I serve a purpose in our society. He does not. And now that he has a concubine, he will be challenged. It will not end well for him or your friend."

  Stella stepped toward him. "Are you serious? Can't he just say no?"

  "In theory. But not in practice."

  "Then Kozue's in danger. We have to find her right away. Understand?"

  "I will find her."

  "Good. Thank you again. I don't suppose I could just become your concubine?"

  It was said partially in jest. But she would be lying to herself if she said there wasn't some hope in the question. This male seemed more her speed, gentle and humane and helpful. She could get along fine with him.

  "No," he said, laughing, as though it was obviously a joke. "I gave up any right to a concubine when I became a servant."

  "So, you've never... you know...?"

  She made a circle with thumb and forefinger, then jabbed the index finger of her other hand through it. In and out, smirking at the male with one eyebrow raised.

  He took her meaning, blushing a deeper shade of purple.

  "Yes," he said. "There are female servants as well, and... well, I have said enough."

  "Okay. Sorry if I'm being nosy."

  She waited, to see if the word would translate. It apparently did, because he smiled knowingly and waved his hand in a dismissive gesture.

  "I exist to serve," he said. Then he looked over his shoulder suddenly, as though remembering something. "Is there anything else?"

  "Yes! I mean, I'm in a strange place, you know? A foreign place. Is there anything else I should know? Any places to avoid?"

  He stared at her a moment then fished a chain out from under the robes he wore. A medallion hung on it, showing a seated Menin with a sunburst radiating from his head in all directions.

  "This is the symbol for the Mindseat," he said, "the main governing body here. If you see any doors with this symbol on them, I would advise you not to go in. Females are not allowed into Mindseat affairs, except when escorted by their mate."

  Stella nodded. "Gotcha. Anything else?"

  He shrugged.

  "Anywhere I should go?" she added. "What should I do now? Can I just... wander?"

  "As long as you don't interrupt Mindseat affairs, you can go as you wish. I would advise finding a female of the servant class and making her your friend. She will be much wiser than I am about the way females conduct themselves. If there is nothing else, I should be leaving. There may be those who need my help."

  She thought hard, certain she would think of a million more questions as soon as he was gone, but nothing came to mind.

  "I guess I'll let you go," she said.

  He nodded and headed for the door. Before leaving, he looked back and said, "I'll do my best to find your friend. If I come up with anything, I'll get in contact with you."

  She nodded, thanked him again, and then stood alone in Agron's room. She looked around, and suddenly found the humor in everything. The semen-stained walls and floors, the sweat-damp and stinking bedding on the floor, the puddle where he had washed himself a short while earlier... It was like the lair of some beast. Some monster from mythology.
>
  Humor was replaced by horror. Stella hurried out of the room and shut the door behind her. Looking both ways, she picked a direction at random and set off. With luck, she might find Kozue before her new friend could. But she had never put much stock in luck; it was better to do your research her find the best, most logical way to tackle a problem.

  She would have to learn the layout of the ship and start to build a map of it in her head. If she could find something to write on, even better. And if she could make a friend, as the servant suggested, better yet.

  Chapter Five

  As they were returning to their room from another successful duel, with a quartet of downtrodden concubines behind them, Ignu stopped abruptly. He put a finger under Aurora's chin and pulled it up so that she was looking into his eyes.

  "Why did you come here?" he asked.

  "Short or long answer?" she asked.

  "Long."

  She grinned. That was the answer she hoped he would pick.

  Dropping down, she fished his cock out with the ease and grace of a bona fide expert. She stroked it with both hands, palms up, reveling in its heat and firmness, the soft silky skin, the ever-present aroma of sex.

  "This," she said, "is the long answer."

  He couldn't help but smile, getting the joke she was going for. Meanwhile, the new concubines huddled together and looked on in horror, as though they were watching an abomination taking place.

  Aurora supposed that what she and Ignu had was something of an abomination, which was part of what made it so hot. They were two separate species, after all. Putting herself in the concubines' shoes, she tried to imagine a human male with a female Menin. A normal, average man pumping away at one of these huge, voluptuous purple females. It would be ridiculous looking, sure. It would give her a good laugh. But would she also be disgusted and a little horrified? Maybe.

  Ignu, paying no mind to the whispers and gasps of his new whores, grabbed Aurora by the hair and pulled her up to a standing position. She let go of his cock regrettably, giving him her world-famous pout. Bottom lip out, eyes in full puppy dog mode. He bent toward her, giving her lip a nibble and laughing at her.

  "I mean the real reason," he finally said. "The original reason. What was it?"

  It was actually a great question. And the reason it was so great was that Aurora didn't really know the answer.

  "Career advancement, maybe," she said. "I was a history teacher. I suppose I still am; I'm just taking a break. They needed someone to work with a translator to come up with a good picture of Menin history and society. I was the perfect match, academically speaking. And you requested women. Good, fertile women. Well, hello, perfect match there, too. I was their first choice, and they made it clear how desperate they were to get me. I was able to negotiate for better compensation. I dare say I'm being paid more for this than any of my colleagues. I wouldn't be surprised if Sybil, for instance, told me that she was doing all of this for free. But no thanks, not me; if you're good at something..."

  She reached down again, giving the base of his dick a squeeze.

  "...never do it for free."

  "Money?" Ignu asked.

  Aurora nodded, thought about it a moment, then shrugged.

  "Notoriety, too," she said. "But yes, I asked them for a lot of money. I won't have it until I go back home, because it's not like you all have stores or anything to buy shit at. Or banks."

  He reached down, grabbing the arm that held him, and moved it back and forth.

  "You're good at this," he said. "What is the payment?"

  She grinned. "The way you make me feel, Ignu. It's the best payment there is."

  He growled in pleasure, bending forward again to bite and suck at her neck. She closed her eyes and let him work her over, moaning and gasping at the mixed pain and pleasure of his teeth. Each nibble sent waves of electricity down to her crotch, and it wasn't long before she felt herself blooming, opening up, radiating with heat.

  Ignu turned her around and had his way with her, his balls slapping heavily with each thrust, Aurora's pussy squelching as he stretched her. The concubines watched, confused; one of them stepped forward, as though to join in, but Ignu pushed her away and said something in Menin, too quietly for the translator to get.

  Or maybe Aurora just wasn't paying attention. Her eyes and ears were on the group of males coming down the corridor, leading a half dozen naked females behind them. The whole parade passed by, eyes lingering, mouths dropping open at the sight before them. Aurora smiled, knowing how jealous these males must be of Ignu. Perhaps, if one of them was stupid enough, they might even challenge him. They would do anything, she knew, to sink into her the way Ignu was now.

  The parade passed by. Ignu spun her back around and picked her up. She locked her ankles together behind his back, and he carried her off to their room, fucking her all the while.

  ***

  Fear. Death. Spilled blood and shrieking sorrow. Victory for her, defeat for everyone else. Within the next few days, Ignu had collected over two dozen new concubines. He fought and fought and seemed to grow better each time. He never tired. His thirst for blood fed his lust for her, and vice versa. Carnage became the aphrodisiac. The looks of fear and shock on the faces of the concubines when they realized they were now mere voyeurs, never to be touched by their owner, were intoxicating.

  Ignu killed, conquered, burned his way through Menin society the way he said he would. He became like a flame tossed on a pile of dry grass, in the middle of a forest full of huge dead trees and their cowering saplings. He knocked everyone down. No one challenged him. It became difficult just to find anyone to fight; the other males, cognizant of what was happening, began to hide away with their concubines, sending out servants for whatever they needed.

  Because a challenge could only be given or accepted directly, with face-to-face contact, there were a few dry periods in which Ignu could find no other combatants. Aurora was there to comfort him, to ensure him his plan would succeed.

  Everyone else seemed to know it would. They feared the sight of Ignu, and they feared the sight of Aurora almost as much. Whenever they walked into a room where other Menin were, most would stare at the floor or find a reason to be somewhere else. Some males, too proud to run, would have no choice but to stand their ground, putting themselves into a position to be challenged.

  At first, the challenges frightened Aurora. They gave her a bit of nerves, gnawing and fluttering in her stomach. But soon she was no longer bothered by them. Ignu occasionally let himself be wounded, because that was just the kind of man he was, but he could just as easily go through a whole fight without being touched. He never even came close to losing, no matter how imposing his opponent was, no matter how many concubines they possessed. It was a decisive victory each time, no contest at all, the type of spectator sport which should have become boring after a while. There were no stakes, no possibility of defeat.

  Aurora walked tall, feeling like a queen on the way to her throne. No matter where she looked, she would never meet anyone's eyes; no one dared look at her, for fear of Ignu. She felt their hate, their seething rage, but it was impotent. They could do nothing with it.

  ***

  Ignu came into their room while Aurora was bathing herself. A grin was plastered on his face; he roared with laughter as he came over and gave her ass a smack with both hands. He had said, many times, how much he loved the way it jiggled.

  She leaned back, hooking an arm around his neck and pulling him down for a kiss.

  "What's got you so happy?" she asked. "Other than me, of course."

  "I've located all of the other humans now," he said.

  "Oh?" Aurora turned, putting her hands on her hips. "What about them?"

  "The little dark one..."

  "Kozue?"

  "Dark skin..."

  "Oh. Big tits and ass, right? Like me. But a lot shorter."

  "Yes."

  "That's Stella," said Aurora. "She's a singer, you know. Really beaut
iful voice. And she knows all about TIDE. How is she?"

  "She was with Agron," he said, frowning. "He is dead now."

  "What! How?"

  "He didn't like Stella. He challenged Slych to a duel, to try and win his concubine. Slych also owns one of the humans. She has bright hair."

  "Tina! The ginger. She's very pretty. Not as pretty as me, of course, but nice to look at. She writes novels." Aurora made a sour face. "But I guess she's cool. Kind of quiet, though."

  "Slych won. Agron is dead, and now Stella is wandering the ship alone. I could take her, if you would like me to."

  Aurora waved her hand. "Nah. Let her do what she wants. If we can't fight anyone, there's no fun in it, anyway."

  She turned back around and realized her hands were trembling. Was it a bad idea to leave Stella alone? She knew Ignu would be able to protect the woman, but she also had an idea that Stella was one of those independent types.

  "Tina and Slych are doing well," Ignu continued. "She seems to enjoy being his concubine. Slych is a good fighter, but I—"

  Aurora turned around fast, putting a finger to his lips. "No. Leave the other human women alone. Let me them be with whoever they're with."

  He stared at her, expressionless, and finally nodded. Aurora gave him a gentle pat on the face.

  "Good boy," she said. "Now tell me about the others."

  As though to reassert his dominance, Ignu gave her another mighty slap on the ass, hard enough to almost lift her off the floor. She yelped and bit her lip, giving him a look that said he was being naughty.

  "The older one..."

  "Sybil. She's the translator I was supposed to be working with until you all decided to split us up and fill us with cock. Which is what I always wanted, by the way, ever since seeing one of you for the first time... But tell me about Sybil."

  "I don't know where she is right now. She may be back on your ship."

  "Why? What for?" Aurora shook her head. "I just knew that old bag wouldn't be able to handle herself. I could just feel it coming."

  Ignu grabbed her chin and forced her to look at him again. His face was blank, but his eyes were serious.