Page 36 of Jewel of the Alien Bandit
“His business is disgusting, but he keeps his word, and he would not harm the estrelds. He doesn’t seek out his slaves, they are brought to him.” Grinding my teeth I glared at him. It was like he was excusing Lord Zorn’s behavior, like what he was doing was somehow an honorable way of conducting bad business.
“You know him,” I surmised.
“I grew up with him.” He nodded his agreement.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Vareo
THE STEELINESS OFLuan’s gaze tore at my insides, making me feel even more guilty for being responsible for her even being here. Let alone the washed out pallor of her condition that led me to using my one favor with Lord Zorn to escape now instead of when I could grab Kensie, the scientist. I’d be caught again by King Sylve without the scientist’s help to reprogram my chip, but not before Luan got back to her moons, and the safety of her people.
The pod docked at Lord Zorn’s personal loading station on planet Necias. Every other transport off the planet had been locked down since we arrived. When the deck was depressurized, the hiss of the oxygen being pumped into the tube between the pod and the trader processing center signaled we could exit. The pod opened, and unexpectedly Lord Zorn was there to greet us personally. His long brown hair was braided in many strands and tied back with his species’ traditional bone adornments that made his hair look like a spine. On his neck was the bird brand of the Zorn, the mark of the slave, and through its heart was a sword signaling his rise to Lord. From slave to Lord, Zorn knew of this life more than most.
Luan may never agree with me on trusting Genbi, but he really was the best thing that had ever happened to the slavetrade when he became the next Lord Zorn. He brought order, and a semblance of morality to the business, as gray as it was. It was a step in the right direction. I wouldn’t fault Genbi for the choices he had to make. He was more a slave than any of us, with no hope or dream of escape, because escape for him would mean someone else would fill his position and in all likelihood it’d be someone a lot less kind.
Kindness, I thought, would be the reason why one day Genbi would groom someone else to take his place, the same as had been done for him.
“Lord Zorn, I didn’t think you’d greet us personally.” Quickly, I unstrapped and scanned the walkway into the transport deck for threats. His guard was nowhere to be seen, he came alone. This didn’t bode well. Genbi smiled, and reached a hand out in greeting, I couldn’t refuse. He was an unGor, and even if he wasn’t Lord Zorn of this ship, offering his hand was an honor to his species. As his grip slid up my forearm to my elbow he pulled me in and patted my back twice before releasing me.
“You used the codes I gave you, and knew you were calling in your favor to leave. I would not have you disappear without a proper farewell.” Genbi peered over my shoulder to Luan and lifted a brow. “This surely isn’t your scientist?”
My mouth went dry, I hadn’t told Luan about the scientist, not exactly. I tried to steer the conversation away by admitting as little as possible and moving on. “No time to get in touch with her,” I tried to keep this line of conversation short. Genbi could see the urgency in my cold eyes, and nodded.
“You’ve done something stupid again, no doubt. You don’t happen to have anything to do with the Krelis’s warships heading to this sector, do you?” Genbi asked, but he had already - correctly - assumed the answer.
“I’ve something extra to ask of you.” I paused and tilted my chin in Luan’s direction. “I need you to get this one back to her planet. I promise you it’ll be worth the effort.”
“I’m listening.” His dark eyes lit up with anticipation.
“She’s your ticket into the next mating ceremony of Estreldez, and whatever else you think you can negotiate for,” I bargained.
“Excuse me,” Luan’s voice shrilled behind me, unhappy with that last bit, but probably both options, including inviting Genbi to the next mating ceremony.
“I’ve acquired many ‘tickets’ but because I’m recognized for my position as Lord Zorn, those tickets have all been denied. How is this ticket any different?” He was right to be cautious about such a claim, the only reason why I had been able to get into the mating ceremony myself was because I was a nobody, and could easily manufacture a past to meet their screening tests. Even with a manufactured past, Lord Zorn was always found out before he made it past the medical examination.
“I am no one’s ticket! I refuse to accept a smuggler of lives to be anywhere near Estreldez. I will sooner die,” Luan proclaimed indignantly.
I shook my head, if she kept this up she would get her wish. She nearly sacrificed her life to make sure I was okay, when my skin would have borne the abuse much more easily than her own. She was dying, and she needed her moons, her own lands, to heal. I would do what I had to do to atone for my carelessness. Her voice seemed to trigger recognition by Genbi, and he took a step back for us both to pass him, stunned.
“You have the Jewel of Estreldez with you, you could have led with that, my brother.” Genbi smiled and bowed to Luan with a flourish.
I found myself stepping between them possessively.
“How do you know who–” Luan stopped herself from confirming his suspicions but it was too late.
“Your voice has been heard on captured communications, and your beauty has been talked about across the star system,” Genbi touted, and then added with his hands in surrender, “I do not mean to offend you. You’ll be safe in my care. I’ll see to it personally that you are returned to your planet.”
“At what cost?” she growled back at him.
“None,” he replied, and I was just as shocked as Luan was. As much as I believed Genbi was a good guy at heart, he had to do unspeakable things to run his business, and the years must have tainted him in ways I couldn’t imagine. Asking for nothing was too good to be true, and had my instincts tensing up for a fight.
“Feel free to return to your pod and go back to where you came from, I will not stop you.” Genbi turned his back to us, and kept walking while adding, “I am an unGor of my word, as Lord Zorn, I am the only one with ships capable of leaving this planet. That is the deal I have with King Sylve, my business is my business. If he breaks that bond, well,” Genbi trailed off unconcerned by that potential outcome.
If anyone could challenge the king it was the Lord Zorn, he was the one with the most connections to other planets, and trading lives was not the only transport he did. It was his ships that hauled all manner of trade in and out of Necias.
“What do you get out of helping me?” Luan snuck her way around me, and was now within reach of Lord Zorn. I quickly stepped behind her to make sure I could swipe her first should Genbi seek to grab her. Genbi didn’t turn back to face us, he had no fear that I would attack him, because it wasn’t in my best interest to. I needed his cooperation. But he didn’t seek to intimidate us either, allowing himself to be in a perceived state of weakness by giving Luan his back, he was showing her his respect, as the future Almder of Estreldez.
“I am a businessman, and even if you abhor me in this moment, you will know that I keep my word when I give it. One day you will trade with my ships, and I will free your planet from dependence on Krelis for your resources, without needing to be controlled by the Necias.”
