Talzec frowned. “Answer how?”
“To my mind,” Skehl said. “My mates and I share thoughts and feelings.”
Skye had overheard, because she gasped. “Like Lore. Are you guys offworlders too?”
“I have never known another world.” Skehl shrugged, feeling the tie to Arghet growing stronger. But with it came something foreign, and wrong. “Raia is a barbarian, but she was taken when she was young, raised on other worlds. So in that sense, she is offworlder.”
Quit sharing my secrets.
They are our clan. We need keep no secrets from them.
He felt her eye roll.
“Arghet is up ahead.”
Talzec frowned. “Yes. I feel him. But something else…”
“It is not of Ussed. It’s wrong.” Skehl didn’t like Raia too far away from him. He sped up but couldn’t catch her.
He spent the next several miles trying, as they moved farther from the games.
Something massive flew overhead, and he stared in shock.
“That’s a ship,” Skye said, breathless. He knew Talzec had carried her a good part of the way, as Earthers couldn’t keep up with barbarian endurance. But she’d run a good portion too.
Nine of their brethren accompanied them, though by now the other three would be worried not to find their clan. It couldn’t be helped. Skehl had to find Arghet. Now.
Raia returned, then motioned him to the right. They settled overlooking a crater in which the ship landed. Offworlders worked, carrying plants and rocks to crates. They stacked lumber as well. And there, sitting off the side and fighting to rise, sat their mate bound in ropes. Near him, four barbarians stood watch.
Talzec growled low. “Traitors.” He turned to his men. “Fan out. Wait for my signal, then we go in slow. We must get Arghet free first.”
Skye nodded. “He’s a hostage they could use to try to negotiate. I can loosen his ropes, but not from here. Get me closer and I’ll take out the guys with guns on the ship’s far side.”
Talzec frowned. “You will take care, or I will be displeased.”
She huffed. “Yeah, sure, big guy. Love you too.” She grabbed him for a quick kiss, then left with two barbarians at her side.
Raia watched with approval. “It is good you recognize your female’s abilities. Stifling that which comes naturally only hinders a warrior’s strength.”
Talzec glanced at her, then at Skehl. “Thank you for that bit of advice.” He chuckled. “No wonder Arghet doesn’t know what to do with you. You, Raia, also belong to me.” She sputtered, but he interrupted with, “do not get killed. Assassin you may be, but you are Arghet and Skehl’s mate first. That matters more.”
She opened her mouth, to protest, Skehl was sure, but after a startled look at Skehl, she closed it. “Yes.”
Skehl knew something had happened, but he wasn’t sure what. Only that Talzec looked more than satisfied, and Raia as if she’d learned something important. Skehl didn’t care at the moment. He didn’t like Arghet tied up, looking helpless. That didn’t seem right. Arghet’s energy was off.
“He looks weak.” He frowned. “Arghet is not weak.”
Raia clenched her jaw. “He has been poisoned or drugged. See how he continues to try to stagger to his feet? Even in the rope he fights, but he’s sluggish.” She glared at him, and from the tree line, a vine snaked along the ground.
Skehl blinked, then felt the tie to Raia. He put a hand on her shoulder and squeezed, then lent his strength, his love, to her. The vine moved faster, joined by others. The cats glanced at him, then slunk away at his nod. He wasn’t sure what they’d read in his face, but he wanted them to protect Arghet. And they’d gone.
“That’s a handy talent,” Talzec murmured. “But one that won’t stop alien tech. Let me distract them. You two, get Arghet. Then we unleash a barbarian’s rage on these intruders.”
“Yes.” Skehl nodded, felt the fire in his cheek, and knew it glowed the same blood-red as Raia’s.
Talzec nodded and left them, moving through the trees that led down into the crater, to distract the enemy.
Raia nodded after him. “The ship can take Arghet offworld if we do not get there first. And they will destroy our alpha. And our planet’s life. The animals, the plants, the rocks, they belong here. They will wither and die without Ussed.”
