Chapter 13
As Giss fashioned a small clasp at the end of her braided hair, she watched the scene in the room carefully. The Ketturan warriors were frighteningly serious. They’d stalked in and subdued the masters with a few quick blows and the threat of a blade almost as tall as she was.
Both Ketturan men were heavily muscled with black curly hair, bare scarred chests, and skin pants that bulged in interesting places. The enormous one whose hair spilled down his back was called Darx. He said nothing, keeping order by his fierce stance in the center of the room. She had no doubt, he could cut a person in half with his long blade. The other one, also tall, but not gigantically so, had shoulder-length curly hair, the front of which was secured in a loop atop his head to keep it from his eyes. He spoke to every caged pet in the room except her.
Larsinc offered no resistance when the shorter-haired warrior cuffed him. And he remained expressionless and calm, not having said a word or moved a step from where he’d been.
Once Detrey finished speaking to each person individually, he walked to two cages and cracked the locking mechanisms on them. One female and one male pet were thus liberated and crawled out of their cages and stood. Then he came to Gissandre’s cage. He cracked the lock with a smashing blow, opened the door, and waved for her to step out.
She looked up, but otherwise did not move.
Darx spoke in Ketturan to his compatriot. The shorter-haired Ketturan warrior pointed at himself. “Detrey,” he said. He cocked his head. Then in broken Endrica, he added, cocking his head at the warrior in the center, “That’s my brother, Darx. Zawri wanted us to find you.”
Giss’s brows shot up. “Is she here?”
He shook his head.
“But you’ll take me to her?”
He nodded. “You’ll come with us. She’ll meet us.”
Gissandre grabbed a shiny bar to pull herself up. She stood barefoot on the plush cushion. “What do you intend to do with him?” she asked, nodding toward Larsinc. “A trial on Orius? Or one on Kettura?”
“Kettura,” Detrey said.
She nodded and stepped out of her cage and advanced, walking past the two liberated pets who huddled together. What had they told Detrey? That they were being held against their will? That they’d like to join the Ketturan community? She thought it must have been something like that. Well, if they wanted a different life, it was good they would get it.
She stopped next to Larsinc, and Darx’s gaze raked over her from head to toe.
“If you have a question for me, please ask,” she said, unsure of whether he knew enough Endrica to understand. She looked at Detrey. “I’m prepared to provide testimony at any time.”
Darx spoke a few words in Ketturan, and Detrey smirked.
“Let’s go,” Detrey said, motioning the group forward.
They were taken down passages, with the warriors setting a brisk pace. Detrey led and his monstrous, scowling brother took up the rear. The group arrived in the hangar and was ushered on board a large ship with stunning artistic markings. The metal in places shimmered such an intense black that it reminded her of the black sand beach she’d been on with Larsinc.
Passing the control room, the massive com screens and electronics told her the Ketturan vessel was exceptionally equipped and expensive. She remembered Larsinc’s assertion that Kettura was a very advanced civilization. Apparently, he hadn’t exaggerated.
She stole a glance at Larsinc. His restraint was incredible. The men were likely his friends. He’d described Ketturan warriors as a brotherhood. And yet, he didn’t try to explain or defend himself. She supposed he knew he would have a chance to speak formally, but she’d never have been able to stay silent if she’d been among friends who thought she was guilty of wrongdoing.
When the main door of the ship closed, Larsinc said one sentence in Ketturan. It was a harsh language, but his accent made it melodic. She only recognized one word and realized he’d given the other men a warning because the word she’d recognized was Urcolin.
She followed the men, but they held out a hand to stop her when she tried to join Larsinc in a room with a bench seat and a bed. Detrey pressed buttons on a console and a door slid shut, enclosing him behind it.
“I’d like to wait in there with him,” she said.
Detrey shook his head, before turning to address her and the other pets. “You can go anywhere except the control deck. If you want food, it’s in there,” he said, pointing to a kitchen and dining area.
The ship disembarked from the pleasure luxury-liner, and she watched the stars blur by as they began their journey.
“This way, Gissandre,” Detrey said.
She followed him, glancing over her shoulder once. “How long will you keep him cuffed? If he’s locked in a room, why does he need to be shackled?”
Detrey ignored her questions, ushering her down a hall. There were multiple bedrooms, but none of them had doors. Inside one large stateroom, she found a couple. Another dark warrior, this one quite handsome, and a violet-eyed woman Giss recognized as one of the Endricane princesses.
“Your highness,” Giss said with a small gasp. She curtsied. She’d heard Princess Lanamoar had been married to a military man, but the details had been vague. Savage warriors had never been mentioned in the news reports on Orius.
