Page 53 of Retribution
“I will fight with you cousin,” Xazzok said, appearing in the doorway, clutching a sword in one hand.
“You’re a retired warrior,” Zamek pointed out.
“I didn’t retire because I grew old and feeble, I served the required minimum of ten years in the Kall army and then I decided to run a vineyard and take a wife I couldn’t ever bear to be apart from.” He stood tall in the doorway, holding the sword higher. “But I still practice my battle skills daily.”
“Zamek,” Layla said in a shaky tone.
He turned to face his new bride. Worry clouded her eyes and her hands trembled at her sides.
“All will be well, wife,” he said, reaching out to cup her face. He pressed a quick kiss to her lips and met her eyes. “Stay here. Inside the house. I expect both you and Fallonn, as well as all the servants, to remain inside with the doors and windows locked. Once Xazzok and I step outside, I will activate the house-wide security system.” He was confident he would best Commander Vavvis and the foolish warriors who’d come with him, but when it came to Layla’s safety, he would not take any chances.
“Please, be careful,” Layla said, tears glittering in her eyes. “I-I don’t want to lose you.”
He softened his expression. “You won’t lose me.” After one final kiss, he joined Xazzok in the entryway, where he donned his weapons’ belt, but kept his battle-ax out in his hand. He turned to peer at Layla one last time. “You shouldn’t watch,” he said.
Then he was gone. Out the door with his battle-ax held high. He paused long enough to set the house-wide alarm, then he focused on the three foolish males who would undoubtedly die today.
“We are here to take you into custody, on behalf of Kall authorities. We are also here to collect your slave and deliver her for execution.” Commander Vavvis snarled. “Throw down your weapons and surrender.”
“Hm. I don’t think you’re here for any of that, Commander,” Zamek said in a condescending tone. “Layla and I have just been married—and yes, we had a marriage license approved earlier today by the Sumlin District council. Marriage laws predate the laws concerning retribution rights. Layla is safe and legally protected. Furthermore, you know as well as I that it takes a majority vote from the High Council to charge me with treason or strip me of my position as General. No such vote has been called yet, or I would have been invited to the session to defend myself and answer questions.”
Vavvis went pink. “You married that human?” He slammed his sword in the dirt.
“I did,” Zamek replied with a smile, turning his battle-ax in his hand, his manner casual by outward appearances only. He was acutely conscious of the balance of the weapon and the distance between himself and Vavvis. One calculated toss and he could split Vavvis’s skull in two.
“Councilors Horth and Crozz intend to call for a vote soon!” Vavvis cried out, his tone that of a petulant child who wasn’t getting his way.
“As is their right,” Zamek said, “though I doubt it will do them much good. My friends in the High Council assure me that a majority will not be reached.”
Vavvis’s face paled another shade of pink. “You-you have friends in the High Council?”
As he continued spinning his battle-ax, ever so slowly yet carefully, Zamek nodded. “Many friends.”Manymight be a stretch, but he had enough, and that was all that mattered now.
“Then I challenge you for your position as General!” Vavvis yelled.
“Ah, and there it is, the real reason you’re here. You thought I would be easily disposed of, didn’t you?”
The commander growled, and the two warriors with him started to back away. They were young and Vavvis had likely manipulated them into joining his doomed cause, no doubt with promises of a High Warrior medal.
“Where are you going?” Vavvis said, spinning on his companions. “We must fight!”
“You tricked us,” one of the warriors said. “You told us General Zamek had already lost his position as General. You told us the vote had already taken place and that he’d been officially charged with treason too.”
The two warriors sheathed their swords and returned to the airship.
Vavvis sputtered and once again slammed the tip of his sword into the dirt.
Zamek glanced at an amused looking Xazzok. “I don’t believe I’ll have any difficulty slaying thisummkkaon my own. I hope you’re not upset that you won’t be needed in the fight, cousin, though I am deeply honored that you took up your sword on my behalf.”
Xazzok chuckled and stepped back. “Thisummkkais all yours,” he said with an elaborate gesture at an increasingly pink-faced Vavvis.
“Better move back a bit farther, cousin, to avoid the blood splatter.”
“Good idea. This is why you’re the General.” Xazzok laughed again and Zamek found himself joining him. It would be an easy fight, too easy. But the commander wasn’t fit to breath Kall air, let alone continue to lead warriors. He’d conspired against Zamek and his family—for Layla was now his family—and for that the dishonorable male would die.
* * *
“Why arethey just standing there talking? And why did those other warriors return to the ship?” Layla asked, her stomach tightening with worry as she peered out the second-floor window, where they had a much better view than in the downstairs sitting room.
