Outlaw Read online

  “Why do you say that?” Tenia probed.

  “They wore no uniforms, but they were military, all right, no doubt about it. Two were in charge, one shouting orders while the other stood by the vehicles and watched.”

  “What sort of vehicles?”

  “Hover vehicles.”

  “How many?”

  “Six.”

  “Why didn’t you come forward when we were accused?”

  “We were only two men, who would believe us?”

  “You were survivors belonging to the settlement.” A muscle jumped in her jaw, but she kept her face expressionless. “Your word would have been taken.”

  His head shot up. “No, I was not a member of the settlement. I was a merchant travelling through and only stayed for the night.”

  “You could still have told what you’d seen.” Her eyes narrowed speculatively. “Who did you fear?”

  He coughed and wiped his mouth. A fine sheen of sweat covered his brow as her eyes bored into his face mercilessly. “I agreed to give you information-”

  “You’re giving it.” She leaned further forward. “Why didn’t you speak up, Bacal? Did someone buy your silence?”

  “No. I swear, no one paid me to be silent.”

  “Then what stopped you from speaking up?”

  He licked his lips, and Sinya squeezed his shoulder. “Just answer honestly, friend. They’re only here to get answers.”

  Bacal sighed wearily. “I was scared that if I did, I would be found and murdered by the very men who slaughtered the citizens of the settlement. I was a coward and ran, as did Zed.”

  Unbelievable. Was that really why he hadn’t spoken up? Or was he lying?

  As the silence lengthened, Bacal looked desperately at her. “I swear. I swear. I’m just a coward. A coward.” He started to rock in place, muttering to himself.

  Silence filled the room and Tenia straightened up.

  “Would you be prepared to stand up and tell what you saw to the peacekeepers?” Darvk asked.

  “No.” Bacal coughed again and wiped his mouth. “What is left of my life I want to live in peace.”

  “We’ll protect you.”

  Sinya frowned. “He’s safer here. If it really was soldiers, they would be after him, but they won’t find him this far into Outlaw Sector.”

  “Then how do we prove the innocence of the Reekas?” Maverk stood up, towering over the smaller men.

  Bacal practically shrank on the stool. “Zed may be willing to speak up. He’s always saying that all he needs is a chance.”

  “Where is he?” Reya spoke from the shadows.

  “Ylan, in Kyro.” He looked up at her. “He also says he saw a glimpse of an insignia on one of the soldier’s shirts beneath his cloak, but he wouldn’t tell me what it was.”

  “That’s all he can tell us.” Sinya looked at them all.

  “How can you be so certain?” Reya still gripped the laser in her hand though the barrel was pointed at the floor.

  “Because he’s dying,” Sinya snapped. “What has he to gain by lying now?”

  “What has he to lose?”

  “Not much, warrior. You can’t take treasures to Hell.” Sinya glanced at Bacal. “No offence.”

  Bacal just grunted, coughed again, and this time wiped blood from his chin.

  Maybe we should seek out this Zed,” Sinya suggested. “He may have more information.”

  “Aye.” Darvk nodded.

  Darvk and Maverk walked out, but Tenia noted that Reya kept her gaze on Sinya.

  “Let me guess,” Sinya said. “You want me to go next.”

  Reya didn’t say a word, but nor did she move.

  When he looked at Tenia, she simply stepped back from the door and waited. She knew exactly why Reya wanted Sinya out first, it prevented him from saying anything to Bacal without them knowing. Trusting the space pirate just simply wasn’t going to happen.

  Shaking his head, Sinya strode out of the hut, Tenia following with Reya bringing up the rear.

  Darvk and Maverk waited outside, both of them turning as the hut door shut.

  “Well.” Sinya rubbed his hands jovially. “Let’s have a drink at the tavern together before we go.”

  “Thanks, but I think we’ll head for Ylan,” Darvk replied.

  “Already? Come, Darvk, it’s two days journey. What is one more hour?”

  “An hour closer to the truth.” Reya narrowed her eyes. “Or have you forgotten your brother so soon?”

  The pirate’s face darkened and he took a step forward, only to halt when he saw the threat in Maverk’s eyes. Taking a deep breath, he replied tightly, “Of course I haven’t forgetten my brother.” He shot his crew an impatient look. “She’s right, as usual. Let’s be on our way.”

  Chapter 8

  “Do you think Bacal speaks the truth?”

  Sitting at the table, Reya gathered the scattered cards into her hands. “I wish I knew for certain, Tenia.”

  “A dying man doesn’t have much to win by lying.”

  “Nor much to lose.”

  Broodingly, Tenia rested her chin in her hand. It felt like everything was just beyond the tips of her fingers, so close yet so far.

  Darvk and Maverk entered the dining cabin, the blonde trader going over to the counter to get a drink.

  Leaning his hip against the table, Darvk looked from Reya to Tenia. “Bacal.”

  “Is he lying or not?” she muttered.

  “You don’t believe him?”

  “You do?” She glanced at him.

  “I’m uncertain. What do you both think?”

  Reya fanned the cards down on the table and gathered them up again.

  “I don’t trust anyone,” Tenia replied. “He’s a coward.”

  “Which is a good reason why he ran.” Maverk sat on the stool opposite Reya.

  “And a good reason why he’d lie.” Reya shuffled the cards quickly.

  “So you think he lied.” Maverk watched her curiously.

  “Possibly.” Splitting the well-thumbed deck into three sections, she contemplated the neat piles.

  “He may or may not be lying, who knows?” Tenia frowned. “This could be a dead-end.”

  Darvk studied her. “You still want to follow this through?”

  “Yes. It’s the only lead we have.”

  He nodded. “We’ll be at Ylan in two days and then we’ll find Zed.”

  “Strange that he should live on the outskirts,” Reya murmured.

  “Maybe not,” Maverk answered. “After all, no one knows he survived.”

  “Except us, Sinya, the medic’s daughter, and Bacal.”

  “If you’re scared, you can wait aboard ship and we’ll seek him out.” Merry brown eyes watched for a reaction and he wasn’t disappointed.

  “Like hell, pretty boy.”

  “There’s no shame in a dainty lass like you accepting our protection-”

  Those cold eyes lifted to spear him.

  He faked a shiver. “Is it cold in here? I think its cold in here.” Opening his arms wide, he grinned. “Come and get warm, lass.”

  “Fighting words.” Morgan entered the dining cabin with Cam on his heels.

  “Just offering some comfort to the wee wench.”

  Ignoring him, Reya continued to shuffle and split the deck of cards.

  “Would you rather we questioned Zed?” Darvk asked Tenia.

  She shook her head. “This is something we have to do.”

  “If there’s danger…” His words trailed away as both Tenia and Reya looked at him. Clearing his throat, he added, “I’ll be glad to have you with us for protection.”

  Maverk rolled his eyes. “Is that the best you can do?”

  Tenia couldn’t stop the bubble of amusement as the blond trader continued.

  “Darvk, have I not taught you anything?”

  “I’m trying, you idiot,” Darvk replied. “You could at least back me up!”

  “You’re trying, all right.�
��

  Tenia looked at Reya, but her sister wasn’t amused. Once, she would have laughed. Times had changed. Would they get better? she wondered, as the traders exchanged good-natured insults. Would they find the truth, get pardoned, be free once more?

  Or was this a false hope?

  Whichever, they’d soon find out. One step at a time, Tenia, one step at a time.

  ~ * ~

  Tomorrow they would land on Ylan, and she was almost sorry. Lying on the bunk, Tenia thought back on the last two days. Darvk had spent time with her, laughing and chatting, playing Dinno-Sharpe, talking about his home planet and family. The times she liked best were when they went to the small solitude cabin situated near the gun pits at the top of the ship. Here they gazed out through the large window at the infinite universe and shared more intimate moments.

  They tried to be alone, going to the solitude cabin to keep their distance from the elbow-nudging crew. The crew that were taking bets on whether or not Darvk would win her heart. The traders thought she didn’t know, but she did, the merry lot weren’t that good at keeping it a secret. Darvk didn’t tell her but he knew, just as she was aware that it didn’t upset him, far from it. He’d have done the same in their place and he had done so, in fact, when Aamun had been courting a pretty, dark-haired Daamen wench who was now his beloved wife. That much she’d been able to get Cam to tell her.

  A muffled sound caught Tenia’s attention and she listened. It was a cry followed by a moan.

  Reya.

  In a flash she was out of bed and running across the corridor into her sister’s cabin to find her sitting up in bed, head in one hand.

  “Are you all right?” Tenia touched her arm anxiously. “What happened?”

  “Just a nightmare. I’ve had it before.” Reya glanced up. “Sorry I woke you.”

  Brow furrowed, Tenia sat on the bunk. “What is this nightmare?”

  “Nothing.” Reya swung her legs over the side of the bunk.

  “It must have been something. You were crying out.”

  Sharply, she glanced at the open door. “Did I wake anyone else?”

  “I don’t think so, it’s all quiet out there. Now are you going to tell me about it?”

  “I told you, it’s nothing. Go back to bed.”

  Tenia folded her arms. “I’m not moving until you tell me.”

  “It’s not pleasant.”

  “Tell me anyway.”

  Reya rolled her eyes in exasperation.

  “Was it something that happened recently?” Tenia persisted with determination.

  “ No. Go back to sleep.”

  “A year ago?”

  “Do you ever give up?”

  “Not if I think it’s important.”

  “It’s not.”

  “Let me be the judge of that.” Reaching out, she took her sister’s hand. “Tell me.”

  “There’s nothing to tell.”

  “Reya.”

  She shrugged. “It was over a long time ago.”

  “Then let me share this unpleasant memory with you. I wasn’t there for whatever happened then, but I’m here now.”

  “Thank the stars you weren’t there.” Reya studied her for a long minute.

  Tenia watched her closely. “I’m not going anywhere until you tell me.”

  “Fine.” Reya took a deep breath. “It wasn’t long after Connie brought me to the Outlaw Sector. Zorta was like a prince ruling over his own little kingdom, and he was fighting one of the Argon countries. Can you believe that? Argon is four weeks journey from Zorta’s planet. What a waste of time. Anyway, I was hired to fight alongside his troops, and he sent us to Argon to launch a surprise attack on Kiile, who is head of his own country. We got there, and I made it to Kiile’s private rooms and woke him up.” Reya paused. “By accident. I had no intention of waking him.”

  “You were going to kill him? In cold blood?” Tenia recoiled slightly.

  Reya slanted her a look.

  “Surprise attack? You were going to kidnap him?”

  Rather than reply, Reya paced over to the mirror in the corner of the room. “The people of Argon all have an extremely sensual…aura, I guess you could call it. It takes your breath away until you get used to it. When Kiile opened his eyes, well, I won’t forget it in a hurry. Instead of fighting me, he grabbed my sword arm and pulled me down on top of him, kissing me. I couldn’t believe it. Next thing I knew, his guards burst in and captured me.”

  “I’ve heard of the Argons. Their sexual prowess.” Tenia’s eyes narrowed. “Did he…?”

  Reya ignored the question. “Zorta’s troops, what was left of them, had fled and I was put in chains.”

  “What happened?”

  “I was a novelty to Kiile, but he was still determined to break me, to punish me. Understandable in the circumstances, I was the enemy that had invaded his home to assassinate him.” Reya paused, her eyes clouding. “I’d rather he’d just killed me or beat me, anything but what he did.”

  “What did he do?”

  “He kept me chained to a post in the middle of the great hall during the day, where everyone who passed could see me. My wrists and ankles were cuffed, and I was chained in a kneeling position, a bar keeping my knees apart. A short chain went from my ankles to my wrists, which were behind my back, while a leather collar was around my neck and attached to the chain from the post. A position of humility.”

  This was worse than Tenia had thought.

  “I was helpless and vulnerable, just the way he wanted me. The more I swore and struggled, the more Kiile was determined to have me and have me willingly. For days he teased me, along with whatever Argon man fancied a little sport with a man-hater, which is what they labelled me. Whenever one passed, he’d caress me, anywhere and everywhere. I was helpless to stop them.” Reya’s face was cold, composed, not a tremor in her voice as she recounted the events dispassionately. “I was kept clothed for Kiile reckoned it added to the mystery and sensuality, and he also had me gagged after I nearly managed to bite one of the men. “I hated them all, yet the very essence of their sexuality was everywhere. It follows them and is a part of them. They are very skilled in arousing unwilling women; even the Argon women can arouse unwilling males.”

  Tenia swallowed the lump in her throat at the thought of her proud sister at the mercy of the Argons.

  “After five days I was brought to one of the men’s apartments, where I saw an unwilling and frightened prisoner, a spy, caressed in ways you couldn’t imagine. She was kissed and touched until she was screaming and begging for him to take her. She was so hot she’d have mated with anything. It took three men to satisfy her. Kiile made me watch, kneeling at his feet. He informed me that he intended to do the same to me that night.”

  “Oh, Reya, I’m so sorry.” Tenia made to get up from the bunk to comfort her sister, only to stop when Reya cast her a warning look.

  “He didn’t succeed, don’t worry. I was chained to his bed and he’d only just started…” Her voice trailed away, then she shrugged. “Suddenly Connie was behind him. Using a travel disc, she’d come through the window. She clubbed him unconscious, freed me and we escaped.”

  “What of Zorta? He abandoned you.”

  “Connie and I gagged and tied him up, stripped him naked, and we returned to Argon. We landed right in front of Kiile and his guards before the palace, then we opened the door to the craft and I shoved Zorta off into the dirt at his enemy’s feet. We left before Kiile could recover from his surprise. I heard later that Zorta was insane by the time the women had finished with him.” After a heartbeat of silence, Reya said, “Now you know.”

  “I had no idea.”

  “It’s over.” She stretched and yawned. “No sense dwelling on the past when there’s more important things to concentrate on. What time in the morning do we land on Ylan?”

  “Eight, but Reya-”

  “Enough, little sister. You badgered me until I gave up, just as you did when you were a brat of a chil
d.”

  “I never did!” Tenia gaped.

  “Father didn’t call you his ‘little needler’ for nothing.”

  Tenia laughed. “Wasn’t as bad as what he called you.”

  “Remember when Mother found you eating the mud pies I’d made?”

  It was obvious her sister wanted to change the subject, and Tenia was more than happy to reminisce about happier times.

  It had been a long time, and she was happy to listen to her sister, share laughter, and see a glimmer of warmth in her sister’s cold eyes.

  For a treasured time, they shared memories and companionship, drawing comfort from each other.

  Two sisters reunited.

  ~ * ~

  The town of Kyro was a hodgepodge of large and small buildings. Taverns were scattered throughout the settlement, and brawls frequently broke out. The mixture of wood and stone houses showed signs of grime and neglect.

  A perfectly normal day in a perfectly normal settlement on the outskirts of the Outlaw Sector.

  This time Sinya brought along only two of his pirates, but Darvk brought his customary four and Maverk.

  Sinya led them to a small farmhouse not far from the settlement. Chickens squawked in the yard and a black hound opened one eye to survey them sleepily.

  Meeting them at the door warily was a harried looking woman with three children hanging off her long skirts. “What d’ye want?”

  “We have come to see Zed.” The space pirate smiled charmingly. “You must be his lovely wife.”

  “Zed, you say? He won’t be back for at least twenty minutes.” She sucked in her bottom lip. “You can wait for him.”

  Maverk nodded. “We’ll do so out here.”

  “No. Where are my manners?” Hastily she stepped back. “Please, come in.”

  Tenia and Reya exchanged glances.

  “Zed will have my hide if I make his visitors wait outside. “Please.”

  Going by the bruise on the woman’s cheek, Tenia was fairly certain Zed took a piece out of her hide often.

  Sinya and his pirates went in first, Reya, Tenia and the Daamens filing in behind them to sit at the table she indicated.

  “Sorry I ain’t got nothing more to offer but milk,” the woman apologized, placing thick mugs before them all. “Zed won’t have no ale in this house.”