That got rid of his smile, though there was no other indication that her words annoyed him. “I am claiming you, woman. Do you mean to resist my claim?”
“I’m not going to let you rape me, if that’s what you call resistance.”
“There is no rape in a claiming. Your lack of protection denies you your right to resist.”
“But I wasn’t without protection. That phazor you tossed away was all the protection I needed. It stopped you, didn’t it?”
He did not like that reminder. “Your weapon is strange to me, but weapon it is, and women are forbidden the use of weapons. Since they are so forbidden, only a man’s protection can prevent a claiming.”
She wasn’t getting through to him, but that didn’t stop her from trying again. “What if I can prevent it?”
He crouched down by her feet, his hands now within reach of her. The urge was strong to draw her legs up and away from him, remembering how fast he had moved before. She remained as she was, however, sitting on the ground, her legs outstretched as if she had nothing to worry about. She had more than her share of worries, though. Martha, who could hear what was going on, could Transfer her out of this situation, but Tedra knew she wouldn’t. Martha would be all for her getting raped by this barbarian, probably thinking it was just what she needed. That farden computer was forever deciding she knew best when it came to Tedra’s needs.
“You have other strange weapons I have yet to see?” the barbarian asked her.
“Strange by your standards, but not by mine.”
She’d caught his curiosity now. “Do you show me these weapons, woman.”
“And spoil the surprise? Do I look dumb, warrior?”
He laughed. She liked the sound. She liked him. Too bad he was insisting on this claiming business. She couldn’t afford to be claimed by a man on this world when she wouldn’t be staying here for very long, and when she had negotiating to do that just might be the salvation of her planet. Her own personal inclinations couldn’t get in the way of that.
When his humor had run its course, his eyes came back to her glowing with appreciation. “Whatever surprises you have hidden will be revealed when we have seen to yourbracsandcomtoc.”
Tedra didn’t try to hide her groan. It was loud and long. “That again? I thought I made myself clear on that score. Didn’t you get yourself stung trying to take my clothes before? They’re staying on me and that’s that. They wouldn’t fit you anyway.”
He gave a snort, letting her know what he thought of that last crack, but she’d already known he didn’t want the clothes for himself. He just didn’t want her wearing them. And he was staring at her thoughtfully now, increasing her nervousness with his being so close.
“You are claimed, woman. As well you know, this means you must yield to my will. Yet you continue to defy me, risking punishment. I have never met a woman who would willingly court punishment.”
He was either genuinely perplexed by her attitude or subtly letting her know what would happen if she didn’t buckle under to his demands. Tedra’s tokens were on the latter, and she had never liked threats, subtle or otherwise.
“You still haven’t met one, warrior. What you’re missing here is the fact that I’ve never heard of your farden claiming before, so how can I know the rules or regulations pertaining to it? It’s a word the Sha-Ka’ari use, so one I know, but not in the sense thatyou’reusing it. But above and beyond that, I simply won’t be claimed. It sounds suspiciously like slavery to me, and I’ll kill the man who tries to enslave me—which reminds me of something I should have asked right up front.Doyou people own slaves?”
She could see he was dying to address some of her other points first, but deigned to answer her question anyway. “We have no need of slavery in Kan-is-Tra. There are servants aplenty in the Darasha, those of this land who were conquered many centuries ago. There are countries to the east that make slaves of their captives, but Kan-is-Tran warriors deal differently with captives.”
“How differently?”
“They are treated as claimed women.”
“All right,” she sighed, “what’s the differences between the two?”
“A claimed woman cannot be misused, sold, or killed, as is frequently done with a slave. She can also become the mother of a warrior’s children if he chooses to so honor her. What she cannot do is deny her warrior’s will.”
“And if she does?”
“You have already been told the consequences of such action.”
“Punishment, when you just said she couldn’t be misused,” Tedra spat out.
“There are ways to punish that cause little harm.”
She’d just bet there were, and he likely knew every farden one. “Well, I’m glad we got that cleared up. I had a feeling your claiming wouldn’t be to my liking, and I was right. You’re just going to have to ignore the fact that I didn’t come here accompanied by … wait a minute.” She grinned suddenly. “I don’t mean to be rude, but”—she switched to Kystrani—”Martha, I want you to send Corth down here immediately. I don’t need the aggravation this barbarian is giving me. I’ve got a job to do, and I can’t do it if I have to fight every warrior I come across who tries to claim me. Corth will satisfy their idea of protection. Martha? Come on, damn it, I know you can hear me.” She waited a moment more, and held up her hand when the barbarian started to speak. “Martha, if you cross me on this, I swear I’ll get even. I’m not down here to get breached, as much as you’d love to see it otherwise. Now stop fooling around and send me Corth!”
Nothing, and the barbarian was done waiting. “Why do you talk to yourself, woman, and in words that make no sense?”
“I’m talking to Martha. She’s the voice you might have heard coming out of my phazor unit.”
