Page 17 of Benet

“Is Vasili going to be there?” Benet voiced his primary concern.

“Undoubtedly but for now they are to remain apart, except for the big, mandatory events. I’ll be there as well—she’ll be fine.” Dmitri frowned and his eyes glowed, as Benet had seen Kyden’s do on occasion when he was experiencing a strong emotion. “She’s going to have to marry him—we must both accept the hard reality, my friend. Life with Vasili is her future and much as we both love her, there’s nothing we can do.”

“I’ll find a way.” Benet made the vow with every fiber of his being. “If I can figure out an escape from here, do you think she’d come with me?”

“The sense of duty is strong in her and she knows her father is in deep trouble. She might not agree to run away and you must give me your word you won’t attempt to kidnap her against her will. That would be a disaster. The Empress would probably authorize Vasili’s family to hunt you in the Five Systems. You’d be dead and she’d be punished severely,”

“I have friends and allies there,” Benet said. “I could keep her safe.”

Shaking his head, Dmitri reiterated his opinion. “If you take her against her will, the act will kill whatever chance the two of you might have had at happiness. This is an Outlier romantic tragedy, which is a thing their culture specializes in. Take the gift she gave you last night and derive what comfort you can from knowing her heart is yours. There’s no future with Marushka for you.” He laid one huge hand on Benet’s shoulder. “It pains me to see you and her in such a strait. If I could fix this somehow, I would. But even if I killed Vasili, you and Marushka would not be allowed to be together.”

“I appreciate you being so direct, even if we must agree to disagree,” Benet said. “When do you go?”

“I have to pack now and be at the house in an hour. You should eat and go start your training for the day.” The Badari left the kitchen and Benet heard him ascending the stairs.

He stared at the frying pan and the eggs without seeing them. I’ve been an idiot, wasting my time here falling in line with this plan to compete in the Games. I should have been actively planning my escape and figuring out how to take her with me. There was no making up for the lost time now but he vowed to do better once he reached the capital. He didn’t know how much freedom he’d have to move around but surely in the crowds of fans and spectators for the multiday event he could manage to do cautious reconnaissance. There’d have to be innumerable ships coming and going from the spaceport right now as well, which meant more opportunities for stealing a ship.

No longer hungry, he put away the food and drank two survival drinks and ate a ration bar before going out to do what Dmitri had recommended and hit the training course. He didn’t allow himself to try for a last glimpse of Marushka as she departed, although he was watching from a small hill as her groundcar left. We’re going to be together he vowed silently. You’re the best thing that ever happened to me and I’m not giving you up to a monster.

Chapter Six

In Kyden’s office in the Five systems…

“After a lot of careful inquiries and talking to people I prefer not to speak with, I can confirm your man is a prisoner in Outlier,” Prince Pargen said over the open com. “The whole thing is strange and nearly a comedy of errors but there’s nothing you can do now. No one leaves Outlier once they’ve been taken there against their will. I know you’re close friends with Benet but my counsel is to accept the situation and forget trying to rescue him.”

Kyden growled, his inner beast agreeing with him that wasn’t an option. “I can’t abandon my brother-at-arms. I won’t leave him there. There have to be options, some way to extract him.”

Elara gave him a concerned glance, her gaze lingering on his huge talons, fully deployed. “Perhaps if you can tell us what you learned, it might help,” she said tactfully, addressing the prince’s holo image.

“Nichevsky, the Grand Duke who had him kidnapped, is a sportsman and a gambler. A losing gambler from what I gather. He’s wanted to win top honors at the Empress’s Games for decades but always fails. What inspired him I can’t even guess but he got the idea to field a Badari as a member of his team.” Pargen’s holo shrugged. “No one in Outlier pays much attention to the gladiatorial battles in the Five Systems but I guess your fame as the Death Dealer has penetrated even there. A mixed blessing in this case. Nichevsky hired a team of mercenaries and sent them here with orders to capture a Badari gladiator for him. Apparently no one realized you’re not all actual Badari despite the name of the House.”

“So these idiots would have settled for any man from my roster?” Kyden said with scorn. “Fools indeed. Benet is the absolute top of the roster of fighters who aren’t of my Badari blood but there’s a vast gap between what a human can do and what I can do.”

“They probably wouldn’t have taken you yourself?—”

“Damn straight. I’d have killed them first.”

“I was going to say because you’re too famous.” The prince’s answer was mild. “You’re sure you won’t take my first piece of advice?”

“With respect, Your Highness, no.”

“Fine. I knew you’d say that. I’ve managed to secure you a meeting with the Empress’s First Minister. It was impossible to get to her in person.”

Kyden blinked. Taking a meeting seemed like such a mild suggestion. “And what am I to do at this meeting?”

“Get yourself one of Senator Vasclavian’s fancy, fully armed cruise yachts, sail into Outlier bold as brass with the border pass I got you, proclaim you’re there to watch your man in the Games—I got you tickets for the event Benet is scheduled for—take whatever papers you have to prove you own him and demand his return immediately.”

“I don’t understand,” Elara said. “First of all Benet isn’t a slave. Kyden freed everyone when he bought the House. But if Outlier is so impenetrable and hostile, how is claiming ownership going to help?”

Pargen leaned close to the holo cam. “Outlier has a complex system of slaves, thralls, serfs, indentured servants and who knows what else, going back to the original founding of the initial colony. The ruling classes—and especially the Empress—take all of it quite seriously. She or her minister in this case, won’t approve of Nichevsky having interfered with someone else’s slave. Sets a bad precedent. You have to be careful because if the Empress approved of what Nichevsky did, there’d be no hope at all for you to save Benet. But the Duke isn’t in particularly good standing with her so I doubt he asked for her permission. My next piece of advice? If the minister rules in your favor, which I believe he will—" Kyden immediately assumed Pargen had paid a big bribe to the official in question, another favor he’d owe the prince when Pargen decided to collect his markers—“ Be the bigger man and make a deal with Nichevsky. He can save face if you and he make it appear you had a contract for Benet to travel there and compete on behalf of the duke’s duchy. Then as soon as the damn Games are done, if Benet survives, which from what I heard about the event he’s in, could be in serious doubt, have him give Nichevsky the gold medal and get your asses out of there.”

Elara and Kyden exchanged glances. He pointed one huge talon at her. “You are not coming with me on this insane errand.”

“Will you take Rennyr and Talinn?” she asked, not bothering to protest his edict.

“Talinn definitely. I need Rennyr here with you, to run the House. Thank the goddess it’s the off season and fairly quiet right now.” Kyden looked at the prince. “I can’t ever thank you enough for all you’ve done to help Benet.”

Pargen set his fingertips to the bridge of his nose as if he had a headache. “Yes, well please try to avoid Outlier problems in the future. And if you get in trouble while you’re there, it’ll be out of my hands.”

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