Page 27 of Chieftain
The word felt like slime on my skin. "We can go get her, can’t we? Take her away from him?”
“The Vaktaire have authority to seize and protect any stolen human.” Khaion’s palm covered my shoulder, issuing a wave of comfort to my senses. “The issue is finding her.”
Siemba spoke up. “Duke Ako rarely leaves his citadel, so they must transport the human to the Ajaxi system. With the solar flares in the Romvesian system at this time of rotation, travel will be impossible for the next several moons. Nansar would be tasked with retrieving the human and most likely would wait out the solar storm on the Korfu moons.”
“Nansar is a good male by all accounts,” Khaion mused, the fingers against my shoulders twitched.
"Yes," Siemba agreed. “It will take five imera in the battle cruiser to reach Korfu.”
“Five days,” Khaion translated for me. “If we can retrieve your friend while she is still in Nansar’s custody, it would be better.”
“What are we waiting for?” I jumped to my feet.
“So soon?” Dixa pouted, coming to my side.
I wrapped my arms around her shoulders. It felt like I held a friend of years and not just hours in my arms. We sniffled, hugged, and promised to see each other soon. Dixa would onlylet us leave once Khaion promised to bring me for another visit. We comm’d Bartuk and told him to ready the shuttle as we navigated our return tavern. I turned to wave back one last time at my new friend as I stepped through the doorway.
And slammed face-first into a furry rock wall.
Chapter 9
Khaion
Emmy’s slight, frightened sound tore through me like a blade.
A lone Kerzak stood at the doorway leading into the tavern. His dark eyes narrowed on the tiny human, thick black snout twitching as he took in her scent.
“Delicious.”
I swallowed down a battle cry, fingers itching to pull the twin blades in the scabbard at my back when I heard her voice. The Kerzak might not notice the undercurrent of fear in her tone, but I did.
“I’m so sorry.”
Thick black lips pulled back over wicked sharp teeth, and the creature’s gray tongue probed the tip of a fang, checking sharpness, no doubt.
My body moved without thought, sliding in front of Emmy. My hand landed on her hip, turning and propelling her back down the hallway into Siemba's waiting grasp. The Stranac put Emmy behind him, further toward safety.
The Kerzak let out a low rumble.
“No harm here, just a clumsy human.” Siemba stood shoulder to shoulder with me, blocking Emmy from the Kerzak’s view.
"Human has given offense. She is forfeit to me now." My translator turned Kerzak’s series of growls and snarls into words.
“Forfeit, seriously?" Emmy grumbled from over my shoulder. "Maybe you should be the one making amends. I’m sure our bump hurt me a hell of a lot more than it hurt you.”
A massive claw-tipped paw waved at triangular-shaped ears as though to swat away the sound of her voice. The beast tilted his head, giving another series of growls. "Delicious smelling human belong now to Utar of the Kerzak.”
He attempted to reach for her, but I shouldered the attempt away, my hand going for a blade. The scrape of metal on leather echoed through the tiny hallway. He would not lay a hand on her!
Siemba's hand, as large and sharp-clawed as the Kerzak's, grabbed my wrist. His amber eyes darted toward the tavern where the remaining five Kerzak gathered at the end of the bar.
“We apologize for the offense Lord Utar. Give us a micron to speak and say goodbye, and we will comply with your command." The Stranac released my arm, lips pursed and flickered his gaze over his shoulder to where Emmy stood.
Every fiber of my being rebelled against his words, even though I logically knew his way was best. Two of us against six Kerzak could not protect Emmy. Siemba's hand landed sturdily on my shoulder, turning me. Emmy's face, wide-eyed and tense with fear, met my gaze.
"Goodbye?" Her voice squeaked. "What do you mean goodbye?"
I didn't stop to explain. There was no time. My arm snaked around her waist, lifting her to my side before barreling back toward the lounge. Siemba gave a gesture of respect to the Kerzak before closing the door to the tavern. I heard the click as he engaged the locking mechanism; little defense the lock would be against six Kerzak.
