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BLASTER FIRE SHOT AT them from behind, but the vehicle they’d stolen was too fast to be hit. The three volunteers they’d managed to bring with them cowered in the back while the rest of the crew held onto their seats as Taryn drove them towards their target. “Is he behind us?” Andie asked. She could make out the lights from the estate in the distance and hoped that the guards hadn’t figured out where they were going.
“Someone sure is,” Keana responded.
Andie’s jaw clacked together as they pushed over a particularly large bump, and she saw stars for a moment. She hated driving on wheels, but the anti-grav on their truck was malfunctioning and they didn’t have another choice.
Sparks shot off as a blaster shot hit the hull of the vehicle and one of the volunteers in the back screeched. Keana caught Andie’s eye and jerked her head back. Andie didn’t want to unclip her harness and be thrown around, but the volunteers were panicking and they were too important to lose.
With a deep breath she unclipped her belt and carefully moved back, taking a seat on the ground beside one of the volunteers and bracing her hand against the wall. They’d found two Oscavians and a human among the captives who were willing to go along with their scheme, but she could already see regret in their eyes. They’d chosen to come with the crew when safety was in their grasp, and Andie wouldn’t fail them now.
“Sorry for the turbulence,” she said, managing a grin even as her ass hurt from more bumps and divots in the road. “Looks like the duke isn’t as on top of infrastructure as he could be.”
The human cracked a smile and Andie reached out to put a reassuring hand on her arm, grateful when the woman didn’t flinch. “How much longer?” the redhead asked.
“We’re close.” The truck rocked again and Andie took a deep breath. “It’s a brave thing you guys are doing. Thank you.”
“He shouldn’t get away with this,” one of the Oscavians said, his voice hoarse. Andie noticed bruising around his neck and did her best not to stare. “Slavery is illegal.”
If the Oscavian was still clinging to legalities then she doubted he’d been held captive for long. She hoped whatever psychological damage this caused healed just as quickly as his bruises.
“We’re going to stop him,” Andie promised. “By morning this will all be over.”
“Speeder overhead!” Taryn called back. “Heading for the estate.”
“Can’t get a read on identification,” Keana said. “It’s not one of ours.”
“What’s going on?” the other Oscavian asked. “I thought you stopped them back at the docks.”
That had been the goal, but between disabling most of the guards and Nevys’ vehicles and herding the captives to safety they hadn’t been able to stop them all. And, Keana had pointed out, it would look more realistic if they showed up at the estate with guards hot on their heels. They needed the prince to believe something was going on, especially since Mebion might have already accused Xandr of various crimes.
“Not all of them.” Andie winced as a sharp turn slammed her against a seat. “But we’re okay, I promise.”
“I’ve heard a lot of those lately,” the human muttered.
Andie didn’t know how to reply to that. The car came to a jolting halt and doors slammed. A moment later the hatch in the back opened and Keana was waiting. Andie waved the volunteers forward and covered their rear as they crossed from the road onto estate property. The vehicles that had been trailing them were gone, but she didn’t for a moment believe that they were safe.
The estate looked normal. There were no panicked partygoers running around and Andie didn’t see any guards. Keana took point, leading their group through the garden and towards the house. They needed to get to the party and present the captives to the prince; it was their proof that Mebion had been allowing slavery on his planet. But to get there they needed to avoid the guards. If they were detained this would all go wrong. Fast.
Worry crawled through Andie’s veins. She was certain this was going to go wrong, that a guard would round the corner at any moment and take them into custody. She balled her hands into fists to keep them from shaking and clenched her jaw, tension stringing her tight enough to hurt.
And just as they got out of the garden their luck ran out.
“You there! Halt!” a guard shouted as they walked out of the maze of flowers and towards the house.
Taryn tapped Andie on the back twice and that was her signal. She broke away from the group and started sprinting towards the guard with Taryn close behind her. Keana and Kiran were supposed to hide until they had cover. Andie’s lungs burned and she could hear the guard’s blaster firing, though the shots failed to connect.
Just a little more, she prayed. She could do this, she just needed a little more.
***
HIS PROOF COULD SHOW up any time now. Xandr kept the frustration off his expression while his brother, who’d joined them after they’d snuck off, steadfastly denied the accusation. He turned it around on Xandr, accusing him of everything from stealing the ducal jewels to murdering their father. Xandr had killed, and he’d lifted plenty of shiny stones, but those two accusations weren’t true in the least.
They hadn’t quite left the party, as that would have attracted too much attention and speculation, but they’d moved to a small alcove that kept them mostly out of sight. Xandr could see a few curious faces turn their way, but no one had approached yet.
“Criminal misconduct is the purview of the courts of justice,” the prince said, grimacing as he took in the expressions on Xandr and Ceetr’s faces. “If you wish to levy a charge, the proper procedure is to contact a steward of the court. I cannot do more than take one or both of you into custody and make a recommendation to a judge.”
Ceetr’s eyes narrowed and Xandr recognized the calculation in that look. For some reason his brother wanted the prince to render a verdict rather than the courts. Was it merely impatience? Or did he have something bigger planned?
Where was Xandr’s crew? If the prince saw what Mebion was doing he’d be able to make his recommendation for charges brought against the duke and take him into custody. But he wouldn’t do it on an accusation alone.
“I challenge Karday Xandran for his right to stand as a lord of Mebion.” At first the words didn’t register. When he met his brother’s eyes he saw a maniacal gleam. The prince couldn’t punish either of them for a crime, but he did have the authority to strip them of their titles.
Shock ripped through Xandr. A challenge? He knew of the obscure law, but he’d never heard of it actually being used. And did Ceetr really think he could win a fight? Against him? His brother had the muscle, but Xandr had spent the last ten years living the life of an outlaw. Fighting was his life. What kind of game was Ceetr playing?
The prince darted a glance around the room as if he might be able to make an escape before getting caught up in Xandr and Ceetr’s squabble, but Ceetr was standing between him and freedom. Taking a deep breath, the prince addressed the duke. “That is highly unusual, your grace. Again I must direct you to the courts of law. Legal proceedings can strip your brother of his title in a much more civilized fashion. We are the Oscavian Empire, not barbarians.”
Ceetr drew himself up to his full height and puffed out his chest. “This is my right as duke, your highness. My brother’s place as lord puts my people at risk and I will not stand for it another day. I demand that the challenge be answered.”
The prince stared at Ceetr for several moments before finally nodding once. “The challenge is heard. Lord Karday, how do you respond?”
Xandr wracked his brain to come up with the right answer. He didn’t give a shit about his title and would cast it off in a heartbeat, but right now that title was offering him a little protection. If he weren’t a lord, his brother could have easily thrown him into jail and remanded him to Oscavian justice, and Xandr was certain Ceetr would do that if the title was suddenly stripped. No matter what happened, it would buy his crew the time they needed to get the prince’s attention. “I accept the challenge to retain my title.”
Prince Ryxar muttered something too quietly to be heard before waving a hand to summon an attendant. The attendant appeared out of nowhere and stood at his prince’s side, ready for orders. “Shall we do this in the morning, your grace?”
“I cannot let this injustice stand another moment, highness. I want it done now.” Mebion scowled out the demand.
“At the party?” Whatever royal training was keeping the prince’s temper in check finally slipped and his disbelief shone through.
“We have the necessary witnesses, let’s not wait.” Mebion shot a triumphant look at Xandr, as if he’d just expertly played the game, but Xandr didn’t think they were operating under the same rule set.
“Lord Karday, do you have any objection to getting this done now?” the prince asked.
In any challenge, the challenged party could demand a full day to prepare, if Xandr remembered his rules correctly. The memories didn’t come from the law but from fantastical stories and books he’d loved as a child where honor challenges played a big role. Under other circumstances he might have forced his brother to wait, just to frustrate him, but if things went right Xandr wouldn’t be on the planet in the morning. And this fight would drag everyone’s attention to the party and away from anyone trying to get in. “I can beat my brother any day of the week,” Xandr said, letting all of his inborn lordly confidence shine through. “Let’s get this done.”
The prince turned to his attendant. “Notify the duke’s court and my retinue. Have the room cleared and a challenge floor set. You have one hour.” Then the prince addressed them. “Gentlemen, prepare yourselves. News of this will spread quickly.” He walked after his attendant, leaving Ceetr and Xandr alone.
“What are you playing at?” Xandr couldn’t stop himself from asking.
“I gave you a chance to get out of this without getting hurt. You chose this path, brother.” Mebion scowled and walked back into the banquet room, leaving Xandr alone.
Not getting hurt? Tell that to Andie’s and Keana’s bruises. Tell that to his imprisoned crew. Xandr wanted to lash out and end his brother before this went any further, but if he touched him before the challenge took place he’d be arrested. Was that Mebion’s grand plan? Issue a challenge so that Xandr couldn’t fight him? Or did he just want to see Xandr bleed?
It didn’t matter. The crew would be there soon enough and then this farce would be over and they could all go home. He looked forward to his cramped bed with Andie curled up against his side.
When Xandr left the alcove he wasn’t surprised that Zeesa came up to him, though she did look over her shoulder as if to check that her husband wasn’t watching. “What’s going on?”
“Ceetr challenged my position. We fight in an hour.” Saying it out loud made it sound more absurd.
And judging by the look on Zeesa’s face she agreed. “Challenged? Challenged? That’s ridiculous! And you accepted? What are you playing at?” It all came out in a harsh whisper, and yet her face somehow remained serene. No one looking at them would have suspected a thing.
“I’m not playing at anything, your grace.” Suddenly Xandr was exhausted. This mission was taking more out of him than any other. “Ceetr challenged me. You know why I’m here.”
“I do. Now would be the perfect opportunity to do as I asked.” She turned away without waiting for Xandr to respond. She hadn’t taken it lightly when he refused to kill his brother, and she was right that an honor challenge would be an excellent place to kill Ceetr. The thought hadn’t crossed his mind until then.
But it wasn’t part of the plan, and the plan would work. If his damned crew would show up.
Given his ten years of absence, Xandr would have expected everyone to be on his brother’s side as news of the challenge filtered through the crowd. But a few attendees came up to him and offered their support and shared surprise that Ceetr would do something so archaic. Xandr accepted the support with smiles, but didn’t stay too long to talk to any one group. He kept his eyes on the guards on the perimeter of the party and watched for any strange behavior.
It seemed like there were fewer than there had been at the beginning of the fete, but that could have meant that some were reassigned to prepare for the challenge. Or his crew was nearing the estate and they’d alerted security.
“What’s this about a challenge?” a disturbingly familiar voice asked at his side.
Xandr turned to find Nevys dressed up like all the other lords in attendance, his hair clean and styled, his beard trimmed, and his posture regal. “Does Mebion know that you didn’t leave?” Xandr asked. He would have said that his brother wasn’t that stupid, but given that Ceetr had just challenged him to combat he couldn’t believe that any more.
“He knows what he needs to know. Seems he needs a little reminder when it comes to debts.” Nevys scowled.
For a moment Xandr felt a strange kinship with his enemy. Chasing up payment for services rendered could be a huge part of outlaw life, and Xandr’s crew had spent their fair share of time making sure they got what they were owed. “I’m sure the prince would be happy to hear the details,” Xandr said mildly. “Just tell him what you’ve done for Mebion and what he owes you. It will all be sorted out.”
Nevys snorted. “You always thought you were clever. Do you really think you’re getting out of this?”
“I know I am. What about you?” He left his enemy there, uncaring of how he responded and wondering if Nevys was in communication with his ships. The man hadn’t seemed agitated, which could have meant that Xandr’s crew had failed. But if Nevys knew that, he would have certainly rubbed Xandr’s face in it. No, Nevys didn’t know. Xandr had to believe that. And when the crew arrived, his presence at the party would only help the evidence they were gathering.
It had to work.
The hour before the challenge flew by, and while Xandr kept his eye out for the crew they still hadn’t shown up. At the appointed time, the prince’s people cleared the center of the room and summoned Xandr and Ceetr to meet. The gathered nobles circled them, front row spectators to the kind of fight that hadn’t been seen in living memory. Xandr could feel the constriction of his clothing and wished for something more comfortable, but there was nothing to change into, and he wasn’t concerned enough to call a halt to the proceedings.
“Lord Karday Xandran’s title has been challenged by his grace, the Duke of Mebion. An honor challenge will settle the matter. The opponents are to fight until one yields or the match is decided by the presiding judge. I have given that honor to the captain of my guard.” He nodded to a looming Oscavian woman dressed in an Imperial Guard uniform.
Xandr glanced at his brother and saw he wasn’t looking at the prince. Following his gaze, Xandr didn’t see anything, but wariness sparked within him. Ceetr had to be planning something.
“An honor challenge is not meant to be to the death. However, if either of you succumbs to your injuries or is struck down during the sanctioned period you will not be held legally responsible. If you continue to fight after the challenge is called and inflict additional harm, you will be arrested and charged accordingly. Deliberately stepping out of the challenge ring is an immediate forfeit. Do you understand?”
They did.
“Lord Karday, do you wish to refuse the challenge?”
He just wanted out of there, but that wasn’t an option. “I do not.”
“Lord Mebion, do you wish to retract your challenge?”
Ceetr’s lips quirked up in a savage grin. “I do not.”
The prince beckoned both of them to step into the ring. “Begin.”
