Page 6 of Warrior
A laugh bubbled up from my chest, reverberating in the quiet room. With a sheepish shrug, I replied, “Yeah, I speak all 6492 Earth languages—and the Alliance's universal tongue.”
Her pale oval face held a mixture of surprise and delight. “H—how? Why?”
“As I told you, I am an Earth protector. It is my duty to learn as much as I can about the people I protect. Everyone on the Bardaga is schooled in your language, culture, and customs.”
I watched Daisy as her brain struggled to make sense of what I said. She nervously bit her lip and shifted her weight in the chair. The Kerzak’s hand tightened on her shoulder, and she flashed him a smile before turning back to me. "How did you learn about us? I don't think there's an Earth university in the cosmos. I guess there could be... I mean, I don't know...."
"There is not," I corrected before her mind could wander too far. "We learned from the radio and television waves sent into the cosmos from your Earth. Plus, we've been able to tap into your Earth network. Your int-ter-net."
Daisy snorted softly, her eyes flickering across my face before she looked away, a hint of a blush on her cheeks. "I don't know if that's a good thing," she muttered.
“Why would it not good to learn as much as you can about a people?” I couldn’t steal my gaze from her face. Her emotions lay there, with no artifice or attempt at deception and it made her shine like the two suns over my home planet.
It is a good thing,” she replied, lips parting into a smile that sent my blood racing. “I always studied about a place before going on a mission trip.”
"Mission trip?" I asked with raised eyebrows, glancing between her and the youngling. “Are you a warrior?”
Her lips curled into a wider grin as she explained, "No. A mission trip is when you go to a place to help those in need." The memory illuminated her face like the sun.
Did she not realize her explanation of a mission trip was exactly the call of the Vaktaire? “You care for others weaker than yourself. Like a Vaktaire warrior.” Instinctively, I stood to give the salute of respect. The chains rattled loudly, and I growled at the hindrance of movement.
“I guess we should get those chains off you,” Daisy said, rising to her feet. She placed a hand on the Kerzak’s shoulder. “Ewok, could you go get the key?”
The youngling grumbled under its breath and shot an icy stare in my direction before trudging out the door. His protectiveness over Daisy was not normal for his species.
"You should never turn your back on a Kerzak," I murmured, keeping my voice low to not alert the creature of my warning.
“What?” Daisy choked, glaring at me. “Ewok? He’s a sweetheart.”
I resumed my seat on the cot. “He is a Kerzak, the scourge of the universe. The only Kerzak is a dead Kerzak.”
A sound of choking disbelief broke from her lungs. “You have got to be joking.”
When the Kerzak stepped back into the room, Daisy's face immediately shuttered, and her lips clamped together. Her gaze darted from me, clearly conveying that she did not want the youngling to know my opinion. She smiled warmly at him and held out a hand for the key.
"Thank you, sweetie." Daisy ruffled his hair affectionately. "It's getting late, and you must be tired. You’ve got to go to the mines tomorrow, so why don't you head off to bed?"
The Kerzak leaned around Daisy to stare at me. If looks could kill….
“I fear you will not be safe with him,kida.”
"I'll be fine." She rubbed her hands over his shoulders like one would stroke a pet. I watched her close one eye tightly in something humans called a wink before she leaning closer to the Kerzak’s ear. “I’ll be fine. I already knocked him out once, remember?”
Well, that’s surprising.
Ewok hesitated, his gaze dancing between us before wrapping chubby arms around Daisy’s middle in a gentle hug. She gave him one last head rub before shooing the youngling out the doorway.
“You knocked me out?” I couldn't decide whether I was surprised or amused.
“Yes, and I’ll do it again if I have to." Daisy cut her eyes to the shovel lying near the doorway. "I’m not letting you out of those chains until you promise you won't hurt Ewok or any of the other children.”
“Children,” I gawked in disbelief. “There are other children here?”
The sadness that crept onto her face cut my heart to shreds. “Yes. All the miners working here are children.”
A primal growl emerged from my throat; a war cry ready to sound. “A mine is no place for a child.”
“Tell me about it,” Daisy nodded sadly, coming closer but still not within reach. She was faithful to her word and required a pledge from me.
