Page 49 of Champion
“No offense, my Lady,” Ixaka said, wings fluttering as much as possible within their bindings. “But why would the Zarpazian want to emulate a fragile human? Why not a gladiator of greater skill?” Ixaka’s gaze danced between the strongest of us.
“The gladiator fight is simply a show. It’s a means to an end,” Willa explained.
“What is Nansar’s goal?” Rickon’s demeanor didn’t seem as combative this time, but his eyes still narrowed in disbelief.
“To kill his father, Duke Ako.”
Murmurs of disbelief followed my mate’s announcement.
“Duke Ako is a good ruler. Why would Nansar want to kill him?” Pavo struggled with the concept. Romvesians and Aljani had always closely allied.
“It’s about my kind and my home planet,” Willa admitted, her shoulders slumping.
I tightened the arm I held around my mate’s waist, drawing her back against me. “From what we know, Duke Ako has been working with the Alliance Council, pushing for Earth to become a protectorate of the Alliance, which means it would become illegal to enslave or injure its citizens.”
“I have heard this,” Gatto admitted. Not surprising since the Trogvyk were mostly slavers.
“Nansar and Ambassador Yaard of the Kerzak want to enslave the people of Earth and steal the planet’s resources,” I continued. “Nansar believes if a human kills the Duke, it will change the Alliance’s position, making the planet and its people subject to his pillaging.”
“Nansar knew Willa would never kill Duke Ako, so he planned to have the Zarpazian replace her,” Adtovar added.
“Bribing you to let me win is part of his plan,” Willa explained. “After I win the competition, they will present me to the Duke as Champion, which would give me—or rather, Vreses—the perfect opportunity to kill him.”
“Despicable,” Pavo muttered, looking ill.
Everyone seemed repulsed, even Rickon.
“This is why they sent me here,” Beiste said grimly, his black eyes dulling. “I overheard Ambassador Yaard and Nansar plotting.” He stiffened, pulling himself up to full height, which was still several inches shorter than me.
“Won’t the Duke’s guards be with him?” Cristox stroked long fingers through the fur on his chin.
“They will,” Willa agreed. “But there’s a ship of Kerzak arriving shortly to help Nansar take the throne.”
At the mention of arriving Kerzak, most of the males shifted uncomfortably. I couldn’t blame them.
“Don’t worry,” my mate soothed the unease. “I have a plan.”
Another plan. Not that I wasn’t proud of my mate’s brain and skill, but knowing she’d most likely put herself in the middle of the danger didn’t sit well with me. Nor would it ever.
“We are yours to command, Lady Willa,” Pavo gave the gesture of respect for his people, drumming his fingertips across his chest. “What would you have us do?”
“I want you to do exactly what you promised Nansar you’d do. Make sure I win the competition.” Willa’s voicebubbled with anticipation. “Nansar will think everything is going to his plan, but when I get close to Duke Ako, I’m going to play him the recording.” She held up the comm unit, the silver tube reflecting the low-burning candle flames. “That way, Duke Ako can hear about his son’s treachery firsthand.”
“When Nansar finds out he’s been betrayed, he won’t go down easily. I expect the guards loyal to him to attack,” Adtovar warned.
“Then we will fight as well.” Cristox thumped his chest with a fist. “We will fight for our freedom.”
“What about the Kerzak?” Zahavi rasped, then cleared his throat of the fear. “Few of us can stand against a Kerzak.”
The Irvikuva was right about that. While several of the gladiators were of a size, unless one was trained in the ways of combat with a Kerzak, to face one could prove deadly. Yet I had another idea to deal with Ambassador Yaard and his minions.
“My warship, theBardaga, will be in orbit by now. If I can get a message to them, they will deal with the Kerzak.”
“Nansar said we are all being moved to the citadel tomorrow.” Willa met my eyes, her blue orbs full of worry.
“Of course,” Adtovar snorted, then spat on the dusty floor as though the words in his mouth held too much bitterness to contain. “Nansar is all about spectacle. He’ll hold the games in the colosseum adjacent to the citadel. It wouldn’t surprise me if he had a video stream, too. In his mind, the more people who see Willa kill Duke Ako, the better.”
“Thanks to Willa, Nansar thinks I’m dead,” I announced, watching surprise play across their faces. “I’ll hide until everyone leaves for the citadel, then travel to my skiff and get a message to my ship about the Kerzak.”
