Page 3 of Xeda

Every animal was different. All trafficked from the governing systems. A few were from Earth, like Cleo, one of the last tigers, and Neptune the seal. A couple of giraffes and zebras. And a clipped eagle named Apollo. A bird sanctuary housed some from Earth along with those that weren't. No one bothered to separate them, but thankfully they hadn't tried to kill each other.

There was a pond of fish that was used to restock the pools in the gardens. Most were from Oceanus and had to be carefully regulated. Other enclosures included Javi—tiny golden-eyed lizards with twin tails and rainbow-colored scales—and howlers—monkey-like creatures with sly fox faces. A few cats roamed the path. They were the only ones allowed to go free about the grounds. They were also the only species that was genetically engineered. A breed from Earth modified with some other nonnative feline's DNA.

Ophilia never stopped to ask how they were made. Or where they got the alien exotics. But she had heard rumors some had come with those who'd traveled from the system called Xolis. Others were from those races who joined the alliance. It was illegal to traffic anything living. But here on Katamor (known simply as K2), they didn't care about the alliance or the governing system's rules. They were outside of the governing territories after all. On K2, they made their own rules.

By the time she had finished the morning feed, Ophilia started on the cleaning. By then, Janna had arrived and had started on her side. She and Rick, their head keeper, were the sole animal caretakers besides Ophilia.

As Ophilia swept the Javi pen, Janna strolled by, examining her through the metal netting. "Hey."

"Hey," Ophilia replied, wiping her brow.

"Rick isn’t taking Cleo out today. They got that new stock coming. He said he wants you at the loading bay."

Ophilia stopped sweeping to look at her. "I thought he said he didn't need us there."

"Not me. I'm getting the new pens ready. He said Hendrik needs extra hands for what's coming, so he needs your help."

Great. "Guess I'll clean up later then." She panned the pile of debris she had already made and set the bin outside the pen, locking the gate behind her.

"Be there in ten. The ship arrives soon." Janna left before Ophilia could respond, turning for the new enclosures.

They were said to be receiving two new animals—some kind of canine with a whip-like tail and a crocodile. The canine would need special handling, but the croc should be easy.

As Ophilia set her supplies back in the shed and started for the loading bay on the other side of the house, she wondered what got Hendrik so uptight he needed extra assistance.

They weren't told who their new potential fighter was going to be. It had been a last-second trade. A surprise. Only a few people knew, including Hendrik. For a man who loved to brag, she could tell it took all his will not to say a word to the staff. It had to be someone he truly thought had a chance of winning. Assuming he could break them first.

The wind kicked up, a stifling heat, making the trees sway and the banners along the walls whip back and forth. Ophilia tied back her blue-black hair in a short tail as she picked up her pace, climbing up a set of steps toward the house, a four-story, glass and concrete monstrosity more fortress than a home. But they prettied it up with their gardens and their marble displays.

The loading dock was situated on the western side of the property, including a large hangar with several ships docked and a wide landing space in the center with high walls surrounding each side. When she entered through the tunnel and stopped at the wide open gate, she found the dock bursting with people. Even housekeepers were clumped together waiting and watching within the shade of the tunnelways meant for transporting supplies to the house. It was the most guards she'd seen together too, groups standing on the walls with guns resting at their sides. More lingered on the ground, kicking up the red dust.

"Hey, Ophilia," Kendra greeted, appearing by her side. She wore the red shirt and pants like Ophilia only instead of the crest on her left arm, it was etched onto the right side of her shirt, threaded in gold. Her thick dark hair was braided and tied back.

"Hey, Kendra. They let you out of the house?"

"Haha. I got a small break before they start brunch and tea and all that shit."

"Have you seen, Rick?"

She pointed to one side, near the landing entrance. There Rick stood by Hendrik and his two apprentices along with the captain of the guard, Garet. And his second, Tallah, a lygin female with all the cunning of a jaguar. A group of armed men stood behind them. From the safety of a shaded covering nearby, Ophilia caught the sons of Salimar—Cristan and Drake, with their cousins. The two pasty-faced brothers were shoving one of their smaller cousins out into the sun and snickering.

"Why are they here?" Ophilia asked. The sons never came to witness an unloading. It was beneath them. And something only staff did.

"They came to see their new gift," Kendra replied bitterly. "Sal is letting Cristan lead the games this coming season with a new fighter. None of the others were going to cut it, so Sal put in a huge sum this time at auction." Kendra shook her head. "They risked a lot on this one. Heard they sold off two other homes in the city and one of Drake's racers."

"Hendrik didn't choke on who it is?" Ophilia asked.

"Sal would have had him beat if he did. They wanted the fighter here in their territory before word got out. He's putting in extra security, too, and more spy searches. He wants to try to keep this tight-lipped, but that shit never works. Crazyass man who runs this house never learns."

Ophilia shushed her, looking around nervously. The guards didn't look their way. "Sal is coming too then?" she whispered.

Kendra shook her head. She glanced around and then quickly popped a bluum candy in her mouth. Sucking on it she said, "He's in the city doing some business. But he'll be back tonight."

"And Carla?"

Kendra snorted. "Like she'd get her pretty little toes dirty."

Rick turned his head at that moment and saw her, fixing her with a sneer. Even with his shades on, she could tell he was glaring.

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