He would defend the woman no matter the cost, or the foe. He would not fail in his mission. She would remain protected until he got her back to the safety of Sol-3, where the peace talks were to ensue.
And if it were Terrans out to kill him?
Then he would fight to the death if that’s how his end program was written.
He grabbed a low-hanging tree branch and swung onto it. He needed a better vantage point to see what was coming.
It did not take long.
From out of the distance at first, just the branches moved in a kind of unison. Like a team working to clear an area.
A military unit. Wrathin moved toward the team but stayed concealed high in the trees.
Was it Rhimodian?
Terran?
They moved closer. One broke through the brush. Terran. A military group, armed, and ready to fight. He counted four Terrans, and they were looking for the woman.
“She should be near,” came one.
“Signal’s clear. She’s gotta be around here.”
Was it a rescue? Had they come to save their emissary?
They were close.
“That red ahead. That’s gotta be her.”
“Of course, they’d be dressed in the royal house color,” another one said, a snarky tone in his voice.
They broke through the clearing to where the woman laid. She had not moved from her position.
Or had she, just a bit? Had the red fabric shifted? Wrathin wasn’t sure, but it did not look the same.
“Damn,” one said. “It’s only Veta.”
Wrathin raised his eyebrow.Veta. A nice name. He liked it. Much better than that long name that Harbin had mentioned.
“She’s on the list too.”
What list?
People with their names on lists was rarely a good thing.
“Thought we had her, with that red ceremonial robe.”
“Doesn’t matter. Take the shot,” The leader said. “Let’s get this done. We have a mission.”
The man raised his weapon.
Wrathin hurled one of his blades.
It pierced the Terran’s shoulder, and he cried out.
They turned.
Wrathin leaped from the tree.
