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LARIA
I had no complaints about the accommodations Jardun, or I should say the drezdarr, had provided. We weren’t permitted to leave our temporary quarters, nor were the guards removed from the outside corridor. The evening meal, a variety of meats and fruits, was good and the bed was comfortable. I’d even enjoyed the bathing tub, lingering long after the water had cooled.
Sleeping in the unfamiliar surroundings hadn’t been easy. Because of the occasional work my friends and I did for Burke, the world outside our home in the settlement was filled with dangers. Dangers that could potentially get a person killed. I’d spent too many nights over the last few years in a semi-restful state, my mind always aware of my surroundings.
I’d woken exhausted, a little cranky, and troubled by the concerns I had about traveling into the wastelands. To say I was more than a little worried about what we’d face once we entered an area most of the planet’s inhabitants avoided would be an understatement. Knowing we’d be traveling with three lethal vryndarrs who’d survived far worse situations eased some of my stress.
While the solarveyor, a much larger and more accommodating transport powered by the sun’s rays, was being loaded with supplies, Jardun provided us with additional information about the route we’d be taking to our destination. Our first stop would be an outlying outpost near the border of the Quaddrien manned by a handful of the drezdarr’s soldiers.
Out of all the human members of our group, Burke was the only one who’d returned to the wastelands shortly after the crash. He’d been in charge of a small team sent to retrieve whatever could be salvaged and used to build our new lives. According to him, anything salvageable on the levels they could access had been stripped and removed. It was the reason I was surprised when I heard Doyle and his band of mercs had occupied the wreckage. As far as I knew, the ship had landed in an area far from any food and water sources. Why the male had chosen that location baffled me.
Human technology was more advanced than ketaurran. The surviving scientists found it difficult to replicate the modernized devices used on the ship with the planet’s resources. After Jardun told me about the toxin, I wondered if there were other technological items that had survived the crash that Doyle and his men had managed to find.
I imagined all the horrible things that could happen to the inhabitants if someone like Sarus, someone possessed with the need for power, decided to use what they found to start another war, and shuddered.
The trip would take most of the day, and I planned to spend part of it relaxing, trying to recuperate from the beating I’d taken the day before. Once we were underway, I’d moved farther back in the vehicle and curled up on a bench-like seat and stared outside one of the portal panes. Not that I could see much of the landscape through the heavy sheets of water pummeling the ground. The storm had started shortly after our departure and showed no signs of stopping. The horizon was one long strip of varying shades of gray, the buildings in the distance tiny dark blobs.
The others remained near the front of the transport. Garyck was in charge of operating the vehicle and concentrated on the controls. Zaedon was busy entertaining my friends with stories of his exploits and heroism. The bits of conversation I hadn’t tuned out sounded as if he’d done some embellishing and elicited rounds of laughter. I’d even heard an occasional giggle coming from Celeste.
Thinking about all the what-ifs involved with this trip hadn’t helped the persistent throbbing from the headache I’d developed the night before. I closed my eyes and leaned forward to massage my neck.
“Laria.” At Jardun’s deep voice, I opened my eyes and dropped my hands to my lap. Why out of all the males I’d met on the planet did this one have such a warming effect on my system?
He sat down opposite me, his bulky frame taking up most of the seat. “This will help.” He held out a drinking receptacle containing a steaming yellow liquid.
The weather had slowed us down, and though he offered me a warm smile, I could tell by his solemn demeanor that the delay wore heavily on him. The longer it took us to obtain the antidote, the greater the risk to the drezdarr’s life.
“What is it?” I sniffed, then wrinkled my nose at the bitter aroma.
“It is called creevea and has a natural stimulant that will assist with your weary condition.”
My quarters didn’t have anything resembling a mirror or reflective surface, so I had no way to check my appearance before we left. “Do I look that bad?”
He quirked a brow, the hint of a grin on his lips. “You are remarkably beautiful.”
Had he thought I was looking for a compliment with my question? My cheeks heated, and I held back an embarrassed groan.
“You appeared to be experiencing pain, and the creevea will help.” He leaned forward and gently touched my temple. “I believe it is similar to one of your human drinks. I remember reading something about it in the history data books the leaders from your ship had given our people shortly after your arrival. I believe you refer to is as cuffy.”
I giggled. “Coffee. It was called coffee.” And the supplies of the favored beverage saved from the ship had been depleted long ago. If there was any left on the planet, whoever had it was doing a great job of keeping it hidden.
“Coffee.” He repeated the word. “Sometimes it is difficult to translate the pronunciation accurately. Please continue to correct me if I do not speak your language properly.”
I was impressed he’d taken the time to learn more about human habits and interests. Even more so that he’d attempted to say it in my language and not his. Not that it mattered—I had a universal translator surgically implanted via a tiny needle under the skin near my right ear. It was one of the few technological advances that the scientists back on Earth had the foresight to develop.
Everyone who’d participated in the colonist exploration program, including all family members, were provided with a device. This planet hadn’t been our original destination, but now we were here, it had sure made communication and the process of integration into our new and permanent home a lot easier.
“You speak my language very well. I have no complaints.” Complimenting and flirting, something I hadn’t engaged in for such a long time, came easily with him. Maybe too easily.
There were times when I wondered what life would have been like, how differently things would have turned out, if Sarus hadn’t started the revolt that took so many lives. Things were different now. Life was hard, and what I did to survive was dangerous. I couldn’t afford to allow my emotions or my growing attraction to Jardun to get in the way of the mission.
We might live on the same planet, but we came from different worlds. Even if we survived and were successful, after we returned to the city I’d never see him again. He’d go back to doing whatever the vryndarr did and I would return to the settlement, continue working with Burke.
“Are you not going to try it?” He’d noticed that I still hadn’t taken a drink. “I promise it is safe and will not harm you in any way.”
After our conversation the evening before, he must have realized that building trust between us was going to take some time. His reassuring smile put me at ease, and I dared to take a sip. Surprisingly, the liquid tasted better than it smelled, so I swallowed some more. “Not bad.”
“But not good either.” He grinned, though his gaze seemed more focused on me than the drink.
I took another sip. “Thank you, I’m starting to feel a lot better.” Besides my disappearing lethargy, the pounding in my head was subsiding. Even my muscles weren’t as sore as they were earlier.
I thought the heat radiating through my body had less to do with the drink and more to do with his nearness and having his long leg pressed against mine.
Jardun
As much as I enjoyed spending time with Laria, getting close to the female was not something I could afford to do. After supplying her with the creevea to help her bodily aches, I’d returned to the control area to monitor our progress for the remainder of the trip.
The storm had abated somewhat by the time we reached our destination. It did not, however, prevent our group from getting drenched after leaving the vehicle. On the way to the larger of three buildings, we passed another solarveyor similar to ours. Sitting next to it was a much smaller transport designed to carry two or three passengers.
Prior to the war, and because of its strategic location, Sarus had taken up residence on the far side of the Quaddrien. After several of the scattered farming communities closest to the mountainous perimeter surrounding the wastelands had been attacked, the remainder were abandoned. Khyron’s father had converted them into military outposts and manned them with a handful of soldiers.
A direct approach across the wasteland’s flat sandy terrain could be easily spotted by Doyle and his men, making it more difficult to extract Vurell and the antidote. Therefore, Zaedon, Garyck, and I had chosen an alternate route, one that would conceal our presence. I had chosen an outpost closest to one of the few places where a transport could enter the wastelands.
The structure was the only one with light peeking out around the edges of several partially concealed windows. Because the occasional storm had a tendency to drop large amounts of water and cause flooding, the floor of the building was a foot off the ground and supported by thick braces. A wide platform similar to a covered porch extended along the front of the dwelling.
“This sand is worse than the stuff back home,” Celeste whined, then stomped her boots, leaving a trail of reddish-gold clumps on the covered platform.
Zaedon chuckled and stepped onto the platform behind her. “Do not worry, zyrdena, the mud will fall off easily once it dries.” The teasing words that translated into little princess in our language seemed appropriate for the female who was overly concerned about her footwear.
“Sure it will.” Celeste rolled her eyes and stamped her feet a few more times.
Uneasiness washed over me as I waited for the remainder of the group to join me before approaching the entrance to the building. I glanced at the surrounding area and didn’t see any movement, nothing suspicious. “I find it strange that the rumble of our vehicle’s engine has not drawn the attention of those inside.” I directed my comment to Garyck and Zaedon, knowing they would use caution and ensure the females remained behind me and safe.
After receiving a brief nod from both males, I gave the door a hard rap, then pushed it open. As soon as I stepped inside, a ketaurran male growled, “Who the draeck are you? And what are you doing here?”
He’d been sitting at a rectangular table in the center of the room and immediately shot to his feet, knocking his chair backward in the process. The disregard he held for his position was apparent in the way he was dressed. His feet and chest were bare, the dark pants of his uniform rumpled. The sword that should have been attached to a leather belt at his waist was nowhere to be seen.
The human male on his left barely flinched. Dressed in drab tan pants, he remained seated with his long legs crossed at the ankles and propped on the end of the table. His light brown hair brushed his nape, and his prominent jaw was clean-shaven. His gaze remained alert and wary as he inched his hand under the table, no doubt fingering a weapon hidden from view on his hip.
“My name is Jardun, and we are in need of a place to stay for the evening,” I said as I scanned the rest of the room. Other than a few pieces of furniture, the area had been stripped of any personal items that would enhance its dull appearance. It was also in need of some cleaning. A thin layer of dirt coated the floor, and a stench filled the air. Several platters covered with food crumbs sat haphazardly on one end of the table.
The sound of hasty footsteps preceded two more soldiers before they entered the room from a corridor on the opposite wall. It appeared as if the males had taken the time to cover their feet with boots. Otherwise, their appearance was no better than the male glaring at us.
I pursed my lips in disgust. These males were a disgrace and lacked the discipline of true ketaurran soldiers. Judging by the flicker in Zaedon’s dark turquoise gaze and Garyck’s grunt, their assessment of the males closely matched mine.
The vryndarr did not wear uniforms or articles of clothing that advertised our existence. I had no idea what we would encounter during our trip, nor did I want Doyle or his men alerted to our presence. Following Khyron’s suggestion, we had traveled under the guise of a soldiering unit ordered to make random inspections at the outposts along the Quaddrien. It was why Zaedon, Garyck, and I had dressed in military attire prior to making the trip. We also had a fabricated story about Burke and the females being stranded in case anyone asked why they were traveling with us.
To make the tale believable and because the females’ long blades would draw attention, they had agreed to leave their swords in the transport. I did not stop them from hiding a blade or two within their clothing.
“This is an outpost, not a boardinghouse.” The male with bare feet stomped around the table to stand with the new arrivals.
I stripped out of my long hooded coat, allowing them to see my vest, which designated a rank high enough to intimidate. One soldier gasped; the other widened his eyes.
“I will relay your response to the drezdarr. I am certain he will be pleased by your attentiveness to your positions.” I took my time glaring at the face of each male in turn, ending with the human, who remained seated.
The human studied us through a narrowed gaze, giving the females an appreciative glance before letting his focus linger on Burke. He dropped his feet to the floor with a loud thump, then grabbed a mug from the table and drained whatever liquid was inside. “Tarzel, I think I’ll head out and let you see to your guests.” After slipping on the coat draped over the back of a nearby chair, he gave me a brief nod as he stepped around me on his way out of the building.
It was obvious the human was on friendly terms with the soldiers, which made me wonder what he was doing at the outpost. The location was isolated, too far from any cities, not worth a trip without a purpose. Being this close to the wastelands, there was always the possibility he was involved with or worked for Doyle. If I was correct about the latter, preventing the human from leaving and asking him questions could jeopardize our mission.
I decided it would be better to question one of the other males, preferably the one in charge, about any recent activities. “Which one of you is in command?”
“I am the leader here.” Tarzel, the male the human had addressed before his departure, was the tallest of the three males and also the one wearing the least amount of clothing. “There are additional beds in the back of the building that you can use. I will have one of my males accompany you while I show the pleasure females to our rooms.”
The other two males were openly stared at Laria, Celeste, and Sloane. The way they puffed out their chests and leered had my tail twitching. Their lack of surprise at the females’ presence made me wonder if this wasn’t the first time human females had visited the outpost.
During the war, I’d heard rumors of females being stolen, sometimes bartered or sold as slaves to be used for sexual pleasure. There had been a recent whisper or two that it might still be happening.
The idea that the males of my own kind would participate in such a horrible act disgusted me now the same as it had then. Once we returned to Aztrashar and Khyron’s health was repaired, I planned to have a lengthy discussion with him about the situation and investigate it further.
Tarzel moved closer to Laria, grazing her arm with his fingertips. “Come with me, female. You can share my bed for the evening.”
My rational mind knew Laria was more than capable of handling Tarzel’s advances. But all logical reason escaped me the instant his hand circled her wrist.
“Hey, get your...” was all I heard her say before I snarled and yanked him away from her. After shoving him against the nearest wall, I collared him by the throat. “Do not touch her. Ever.”
Tarzel made a strangled noise and clawed at my wrist. His tail slapped against my leg and thumped against the wall.
I squeezed a little tighter. “Am I clear?”
Since my actions barely allowed him to breathe, his acknowledgment came out garbled. After I released Tarzel and shoved him toward the other males, I noticed that Garyck and Zaedon had taken protective positions on either side of the females. They had their hands inches from reaching for the blades at their hips. Burke stood off to one side, wearing an amused grin, yet maintaining a wary stance.
“The females are under our protection and will be accompanying us when we leave in the morning. They are off-limits and will be provided with private sleeping quarters.” Zaedon and Garyck had also removed their coats and were reinforcing my words with scrutinizing glares of their own. “Are we understood?”
One of the lower-ranking males kept his gaze trained on the floor. The other bobbed his head. Tarzel pinned me with an angry glare and rubbed his neck. “Understood.” Disdain edged his cracked voice.
A few seconds later, the door burst open and a fourth, much younger male came rushing into the room. Water dripped from his dark hair, the strands plastered to his face. “I finished walking the perimeter and heard a transport.” He tugged at the loose-fitting pants of his uniform. The males in my group went completely unnoticed as soon as he saw Celeste. “They brought more females.” His voice turned breathy, and lust filled his gaze.
Had my suspicions been correct? Were the males expecting someone else, someone who would be supplying them with females?
“Be quiet, fool.” The male standing closest to the young one warned through gritted teeth. He elbowed him in the ribs, then tipped his chin in my direction.
It was easy to determine the instant the young male noticed the dark green shade of my vest and realized the rank of my uniform. His excitement instantly faded to fear. He respectfully bowed his head, then moved backward and closer to the others.
The vryndarr did not have ranks, nor did we follow the protocols of a soldier. We were elite warriors, our main purpose to serve and protect the drezdarr. My friends and I had done many unpleasant yet necessary things. Things we would gladly do again if it meant giving all the inhabitants on our planet a chance to survive. Some of our directives, the roles we were required to perform, had changed as a result of the war. I was glad that our current performance appeared to be working.
“Are there any other males under your command, anyone else outside?” The question was one that would be asked during a regular inspection. Knowing the exact number of males we’d be dealing with was important information to have if things didn’t go the way I’d planned.
“No, this is everyone,” Tarzel said.
“What are the other two buildings used for?” I wanted a secure place where the females would be safe and away from the scrutiny of the soldiers. It would also provide us with privacy to discuss our plans for infiltrating Doyle’s compound.
“Everything here was left over from the humans who farmed the settlement before the war. The other two buildings are similar to this one, only smaller.” Tarzel ran his hand through his hair. “Occasionally, humans traveling to the city will pass through here. We let them use the building on the right because it contains multiple sleeping quarters. The other is used to store additional supplies.”
The lands surrounding the Quaddrien were not safe. I did not believe humans with families would travel through this area. Mercenaries or those who’d been loyal to Sarus and wanted to avoid capture were more likely the visitors he was referring to.
“Can we assume the male who left was one of these travelers?” Zaedon seemed to have reached the same conclusion.
“You mean Rick? He stops here on his way back and forth to the city.” The young male’s helpful answer gained him a low snarl from Tarzel.
I was about to ask where Rick had been coming from when Burke interrupted. “Why don’t we head over to the other building? It’s been a long day, and I’m sure the women would like to get settled.”
I got the impression Burke had something important he wanted to share but did not want the other males to overhear the conversation. “I agree.”
“But there’s not much over there.” The young one was staring longingly at Celeste again. “She, I mean they, might be more comfortable...”
I cut him off. “I am certain the quarters will fulfill our requirements. If we need anything else, we will let you know.” It was obvious the outpost lacked some of the luxuries found in the city, but as long as we had food and a place to sleep, I wasn’t worried.
Burke and Garyck left the building first, with Laria, Sloane, and Celeste falling in behind them. I knew Zaedon remained by my side in case any of the males were foolish enough to try anything.
Once we reached the safety of the other building, Garyck and Burke returned to our solarveyor. They moved it closer to the structure before retrieving the bags containing the additional blades, clothing, and supplies we had acquired for the trip.
Zaedon appeared at my side shortly after Laria and her friends left the main room in search of sleeping quarters. “You are once again contemplating your theory that Sarus is still alive, aren’t you?” He lowered his voice so we would not be overheard in case the females returned.
It was a topic Zaedon and I had discussed several times. Sarus’s body had never been found. Since the war had ended, my friends and I had encountered those who were still loyal to the male on more than one occasion. The attack on Khyron’s life and Vurell’s kidnapping were too well planned. Sarus was the only one who would gain anything from his death. “Perhaps.” I crossed my arms. “I am more concerned with the possibility of females being furnished to the outposts.”
“We both know Khyron would never allow his soldiers to be supplied with females, willing or otherwise.”
“I agree and believe he is unaware of the situation.” Khyron, like the rest of us, was a man of honor. He would protect any and all females with his life.
“Do you think this has anything to do with the rumors we have been hearing about the disappearing human females?” Zaedon asked.
“I do not know.” It was bad enough dealing with mercenaries and their treacherous ways, then wondering if any of the soldiers were involved. It would be even worse to discover that someone was abducting human females and forcing them to be sex slaves.
“If you plan to investigate when this mission is over, I wish to be included,” Garyck said from the open doorway as he carried more supply bags into the room. He dropped the bags on the floor, then returned to the platform outside.
“I assume you wish to be included as well?” I spoke to Zaedon, then glanced over my shoulder at Garyck, who was closing the door behind him.
“Me, miss an opportunity to rescue young damsels? Never.” Zaedon laughed.
“Damsels, huh?” Burke smirked at my friend’s use of the human term.
“Anyone hungry?” Garyck held up the carcass of a small reptilian animal he’d taken the time to hunt for our evening meal.
“Come on.” I clapped Zaedon on the shoulder. “We can discuss what a bad decision it was to let you read the Earthers’ history data later.”
