Page 10 of On a Barbarian World

Kavon dismounted, and his warriors followed suit. He strode through the wreckage. Had it been a star or a rock from the sky? But when he crouched beside a large object, it wasn’t rock like he expected, but something slick and shiny.

Metal.

“Kavon,” Kian called out. “You need to see this.”

Kavon hurried over to where the young warrior stood at the peak of the next slope. The gouge in the earth went over the side.

“By the heavens.” Kavon skidded down the slope. Ahead, partly nestled in the earth, was what looked like a metal carriage of some description.

He sensed movement and looked over to see Colm drawing his sword.

The large warrior shrugged. “We’ve heard the legends of skyflyers. They are said to have strange weapons.”

Kavon turned back to the wreck. Yes, their legends spoke of people who traveled the stars, but he’d never met any. He didn’t know anyone who’d met a skyflyer. He circled the strange object. One side of it had a large tear that looked like a gaping wound.

He crouched again, and pressed his fingers to a sheet of ripped metal. It was warm to the touch, and not as heavy as he’d imagined. He shifted it a little.

And then he heard a noise that made him pause.

A groan.

He peered closer, and spotted a small, pale hand.

Someone was in there.

He touched the hand. It was warm, the creamy-colored skin smooth to his touch.

With his other hand, Kavon heaved the sheet of metal aside. Then he sucked in a sharp breath.

It was a woman.

She lay on her side, still strapped to what he guessed had been a chair. She was…completely unique. Unlike anyone he’d ever seen before.

All Markarians had dark-bronze skin with a metallic sheen, and dark hair that ranged from the deepest brown to the darkest black.

This woman had pale, creamy skin and hair of a shade he’d never, ever seen in his life. It looked like it was the color of a sunset, or of the delicious flesh of the mata fruit.

He grabbed his knife from the sheath strapped to his thigh, and with a few slashes, he cut the strange harness off her.

He eased her into his arms, worried that she was so still. She made a small sound and he noted that her generous chest was rising and falling. He stared for a second. Markarian women had small, firm breasts, and this woman’s…well, the sight of her was both intriguing and appealing.

“Holy Warrior’s sword, Kavon.” Kian exclaimed. “What is that?”

“A woman,” Colm breathed.

“An amazing woman,” Kian added in a choked voice.

When the woman made another small sound and her eyes opened, Kavon tuned out his warriors. His nanami went quiet. By the heavens, her eyes were the deepest green he’d ever seen, the lush color of fresh grass or his most prized Tanaa emeralds. Kavon felt something rocket through him. His nanami were suddenly buzzing like he’d been struck and needed healing.

The woman’s brow wrinkled, and her eyes were a little unfocused. Her gaze took in Kavon and her eyes widened, then she looked past him to Colm and Kian.

Suddenly, she exploded into action.

She shoved against Kavon, and although it didn’t move him, it did surprise him into loosening his hold on her. As soon as her feet touched the ground, she spun, making him lose his grip on her. She dodged past him, glancing around frantically.

Colm grabbed for her, but she kicked out. Her boot landed right in Colm’s hard gut, and the air rushed out of the warrior.

She shoved past him, and Kian stepped in front of her. The younger warrior reached for her.