Chapter Eight
Zawri thought she mightnever get to see her home again, so it was with great excitement that she took the glider carriage around the final curve to see the mansion rise up in front of the setting sun on the horizon. The valley of trees with blossoms swaying on their branches beckoned her almost as a family might. While they were growing up, her father had called the oldest trees, Grandmister Tree and Grandmama Tree. Centered in a valley of trees, they were at the heart of the oldest part of the family fortune. The yearly sap production was used to make a rare syrup that was used in culinary masterpieces on dozens of worlds.
She thought about the tiny dropper her father had used to create tiny syrup cakes on their graduation celebrations. She felt a pang of regret. She’d wanted Tok to see her home, but he hadn’t been able to secure visitor’s passage, even with false papers. He and Wex could land their disguised ship to drop her off, but they couldn’t travel freely. The authorities had already worked out who they were from their last visit and it wouldn’t be smart to have their ship sitting on the planet for long.
She’d had to tell them goodbye at the landing diamonds, among the cold high season winds. She’d hugged and kissed Rollow and Wex and wished them successful adventures. But with Tok, she’d slipped a hand into his, hiding their intertwined fingers when she kissed him. And she’d whispered a goodbye against his lips that she was sure he couldn’t hear, but perhaps could feel. “Goodbye, my love,” she’d said.
She’d hurried away from them before her resolve failed her. There were many things that needed to be done, and they wouldn’t happen if she remained a handmaiden on a pirate ship.
At her home’s front doors, she found a notice to appear before the magistrate and the council or find the property forfeit. She tore the paper off the window, scowling at it. She would deal with the legal summons in time. It was a good thing that she hadn’t been away seven months or in hiding for longer.
She recalled the advice that Rollow had given her about permanently securing her claim to the property through an off-world bank. Using a wealthy and powerful planet like Endricane would force outside oversight and prevent any quick seizures.
As soon as she switched from low power to in-residence power, she made the necessary com communications. She had just finished wiring the fees when the chimes announced the arrival of a visitor. Her heart sped up. Had her pirates come to see her home after all?
She hurried to the receiving door. When she opened it, however, she found Quicknon. He must have had a watch on the house.
She glanced down at her woven shift. Very informal for visitors, but at least not sheer. The tan of her skin offset a pair of brilliant gold and jeweled bracelets on her right wrist that had been gifts from Wex and Roll.
“Well, that’s a skin color,” Quicknon said with a scowl.
You should see the color on my backside, she thought defiantly. She’d been spanked as recently as that morning and the memory of her time trapped between Wex and Tok’s strong bodies afterward heightened her flush.
“I suppose,” she said.
“Where have you been? Search parties tried to track you without success.”
“I don’t think the men who took me care to be tracked.”
He studied her. “I see you’ve been ridden like a whore.”
Her eyes narrowed as her temper snapped dangerously. “I see my friends and neighbors wasted no time giving up on my safe return. A quick claim of my property dated only two weeks after I went away? You should be ashamed.”
“We assumed they would sell you into slavery after using you themselves for months or years.” His gaze dropped to her breasts. Her nipples were adorned with delicate trinkets and the entire effect created a slight tenting of the shift’s fabric.
He reached out for her breast, but she slapped his hand away and took a step back.
“You’d be foolish to do that,” she said.
He caught her right arm and dragged her forward. “You’re tainted now. I can take you as a ward and use you as slave or concubine.” She raised her left hand, exposing the tattoo on her wrist.
“No one will stop me. The land—” The words died on his lips. He caught her left arm in both his hands and peered closely at the mark. “Counterfeit. A ploy.”
“You think so? Then test its authenticity,” she whispered, her gaze steady. “Abduct me. Rape me even. I believe it might be a good sacrifice on my part to rid to world of your vile presence.”
After several beats, he attempted to gather his composure. “His name?” Quicknon demanded.
“Is not your concern. His aim should be the only thing that concerns you. I promise you it’s very good.”
He stepped back, looking around as though he might already be in a hunter’s sights.
“You are altered.”
“Indeed,” she said in a low unhesitant voice. “Forever,” she said, tapping the mark.
He hustled to the door. “No one here will have you as a ward, let alone as a wife.”
“No one here will have my property either,” she said coolly. “I am my own mistress now and for good. Tell the rest of them.”
