There is no honor in letting someone else draw blood, but he took efforts to avoid it to a different level than the rest of us. He was open to all methods and tricks that came with dirty fighting. That, coupled with his already impressive size, made him out to be the sort of opponent you wouldn't want to run into if you could avoid it.
And now he has further added to his menace. His impressive height has gained an additional boost in the form of new bony spikes. His skin is a brighter red, with odd streaks of silver. He is completely covered in armor and weapons.
All in all, a sight designed to inspire unease, if not terror.
I narrow my eyes at the traitor. "I hadn't expected you either, but I can't say it is a surprise considering your usual terrible choice of company and allies. You clearly have always had more in common with slavers and pirates."
Xar'Ar'ax chuckles. "I don't know what I enjoyed more. The cries of the female you caught me raping and killing or destroying members of the Maj'Ras as I escaped. Both were quite pleasurable."
I snarl in disgust and anger. "You truly are a vile creature. I almost pity the winds of death when they come to receive you upon your death."
My attention snaps to Mar'cte when I hear Kira cry out. The traitor has his hand around part of her throat and lower jaw. Fear is ever-present in her eyes as he squeezes her. Xar'Ar'ax laughs and follows my gaze to his brother standing next to him with the small female.
"I can thank you for at least keeping our prize safe for us. I thought she may have met her demise with one of the many beasts here. Instead, we find her in your presence."
I blink, confused.
He continues his pompous tirade. "Imagine losing a whole shipment of perishable goods like these over such a hostile planet. The genali traders really should be more careful with their ships."
"I assume you had something to do with it, then?"
"Of course we did. If they are going to charge that many credits, there really should be more hidden treasures to find."
Either he's lying, and they found out there were valuable slaves on the planet, or he shot down a ship just for entertainment. If they did the latter, they must assume Shentrea will never find out or they wouldn't take the risk.
The bastard's incessant rambling brings me back to the present.
"My brother and I will be taking her with us now. Tell me though, do you think she will be even tighter and more delectable than the young female you didn't save? From the size of her, we might only get one use out of her."
Mar'cte laughs at his brother's remark and responds to Kira's struggles by squeezing her harder with the arm he has around her chest. She lets out a pained groan and I hear the snap of a bone.
Disgusting degenerates, my mind screams.
I want nothing more than to take this despicable traitor's head off, but I'm dealing with a difficult situation here. If I make a move, they might kill Kira, just like Xar'Ar'ax did to poor young Nkisa.
My hands tighten into fists at the memory before I hastily push it away.
"Let her go. This fight is between you and me. Or have you become a coward in addition to a traitor?"
I glare at Xar'Ar'ax, my teeth bared in a snarl. "Let her go," I reiterate, louder this time.
Xar'Ar'ax cocks his head to the side. "Now, why would I do that? She's my prize. I found her."
"Slavery has been outlawed for millennia. You're nothing but a disgrace."
I hear the unmistakable sound of wrist blades being engaged and look over in time to see Mar'cte holding one threateningly in front of Kira's face. I growl a warning at him.
"Watch how you speak of my brother. He's one of the best warriors in our clan, and you and I both know it," Mar'cte growls.
"You are no longer of the clan. You will cease this disgusting banter and fight me. If I win, she goes free."
"I can fight for myself," she yells out, then lets out her usual string of curses.
Mar'cte's moves his hand up to her mouth to stop her.
Xar'Ar'ax reaches behind him to pull a weapon from his back. "I will fight you. No one else will be a challenge here and I have grown bored with squashing slimes and trampling prey."
Before I can begin the ceremonial acceptance, Kira takes advantage of the loosening grip, pulls her glass dagger and drives it into Mar'cte's unarmored hand. He lets out an enraged roar.
