Page 16 of Wed to the Bullman

“We came right over.” Vrakius lifts Dario, carrying him as he jogs to me.

“We came out this morning. I left her with the basket to harvest cucumbers and tomatoes while I took care of fence repairs for the livestock. I came back afterward, and she was nowhere, her basket and the vegetables on the ground. I found eight sets of footprints in the dirt clods at the edge of the garden.

“Oh no! Agnes!” Auryn cries as she catches up with Vrakius.

“Bandits.” Vrakius nods. “We’ll gather our sentinels. She can’t have gotten far.”

Tears fill Auryn’s eyes. “I saw a small ship take off earlier.”

Anger flows through my veins. “I will kill the entire lot of them.” I shove my dagger into the sheath and grab the sword. South Taupas carry blasters, which are against the Taurus Terra law.

“Brother, you’re not in this alone. I’ve sent out a call for help with the Taurus Sentinels. They’re gathering and coming here. I suspect this will open war with the South Taupas.”

I stomp away and pile into the truck. Vrakius talks with Auryn, who grabs Dario and nods.

“They’re staying at your house in case Agnes comes back.”

We drive the truck up the road, meeting the Taurus Sentinels and pull up beside them in their big-wheeled vehicles.

“Bandits were seen all around yesterday. They are encamped just south of here on the border.” Abearon nods as I let me lead the pack. It’s my wife at stake here.

My fingers white-knuckle the steering wheel. “If they harm her, I’ll kill all of them.”

“Calm, brother. It’s more than likely a kidnapping to use against us for what they want, part of our land.”

I turn to my brother, my brow furrowed. “We won’t give them what they want, and we’ll take back what they’ve stolen.” South Taupas come in wanting what they didn’t rightfully gain, and using warfare methods of obtaining it. The place has never fully been at peace from their shenanigans.

We pass the airfield from which their ships take off and land. They come and go to the mothership flying above this planet often, probably kidnapping others for their gain. Abearon marches forth with me on his heels. Before Abearon says a word, I draw my dagger and grab the South Taupas by the neck, threatening to spill his blood everywhere. His goons rush in to stop me, and Abearon steps between us.

“Peace, Vozak. We don’t know what happened yet.” Abearon tries his fairness actions first.

My hands balled into fists. “I want my wife back.”

“How dare you come at me with such accusations. What is the problem?” The South Taupas growl at us, his furry brow knit as one above his beady eyes.

“My wife disappeared. Grabbed right from our garden. Eight sets of footprints, and your people were seen in the area just prior.”

The South Taupas blinks at me, his mouth twitching.

“We don’t want a war on our hands. Your people are trespassing on our land. I understand you want better soil, but our land is not yours.” Abearon tries to talk, but the South Taupas holds up a finger and disappears. I take off after him, but Abearon and two others of the Taurus Sentinels grab me and hold me back.

“Let go. They have Agnes.”

“It seems your female isn’t here on the planet any longer. She’s safe and will be returned if you will give up one third of your land for us.”

“We’re not here to bargain. The land is ours; we staked a claim on it years ago. Just like all the other aliens on Alia Terra, the land is ours. You can find unclaimed land to have like you’ve found south of us. This is not yours to have. It’s full minotaur territory. You need to find your own Taupas territory.”

“Enough!” I wave my fist in the air. “I want my wife back, then we’ll deal with the land issues.”

“I am Toraaj. I am the leader here. The human female is on the mothership until the land issues are to our satisfaction.”

I lunge for Toraaj; my hands go around his neck. Two more Taupas swoop in and pull me back. Toraaj coughs and backs away from me. Vrakius grabs my arm and pulls me close.

“Careful, Vozak. Keep calm so they won’t hurt Agnes.”

I growl and come out of his grip. Reasoning isn’t a part of my personality when someone I love is in trouble.

“You harm me, we harm her. If anything happens to me or any of us here, she will be the first to the space plank walk.”

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