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Chapter Sixteen
Kaal
After word got around about my fight with the five criminals and how it ended, the threat of attack on us lessened. Still, volunteers stood guard night and day outside our hut. I did my part, varying the times I took watch with the idea that our enemies might be deterred from making another raid on our hut if they thought they’d have to defeat me before they could get to Ree.
My presence didn’t deter the rebels from coming. At first they showed up two or three at a time. As the word got out, more trickled in, until the tiny hut was often crammed with bodies. Unlike the criminals who hungered for a new female to ravage, the rebels came to be near the famous Aria DiMello, daughter of the hero of the Insurrection. To hear stories of her father and tell their own tales of their encounters with the fallen leader. In his passing, he became a larger-than-life figure. I listened, but never spoke, staying in the shadows to guard my mate.
One night after they’d gone, she dissolved into tears.
“What’s wrong?” I demanded. “Did someone harm you? I will have him banned from these gatherings.”
She shook her head. “No. Meeting all these brave rebels, hearing their stories, has been a shock. In all the years I spent by my father’s side, I never knew the full extent of the Federation’s cruel and vicious oppression. I thought the Insurrection was about freedom for the other worlds and their colonies to choose their own rulers, make their own laws. Now I know he tried to shield me from the worst of the horrors.”
She stood up and began pacing back and forth in the small room. “It started with Harald. Hearing how they massacred half his village and left the rest to starve. And the others—story after story of torture and murder, of plundering the wealth and resources of sentient beings on other worlds with no regard for their rights.”
She sank down on the floor, buried her face in her hands. “I saw my father and my fiancé killed, but that was in the heat of a battle. The rebels here on Zibaru—they’ve seen their family members murdered in cold blood. Defenseless old people, innocent children. Don’t you wonder how they could bear the pain?”
“I don’t have to wonder. I know.” I sat down beside her. “I’ve listened to all the rebels but I’ve never told you my story. How and why I became a tracker for the Federation forces.”
She looked up at me in surprise. “I thought you were a mercenary by trade. Available to anyone who would meet your price.”
“Hardly. Until two years ago, I lived a simple life on Rylos. Hunting, fishing, taking care of my family... drinking too much honey mead at festivals.”
“Family?” Her face blanched. “Oh, gods, I never asked—do you have a mate back home? Children?”
“No. I wasn’t ready for that. On Rylos, we mate for life. I was having too much fun bedding willing females to settle down with only one. I provided for my mother and my sister and her young. Her mate Rhazi was killed by an ogladon while he was out hunting. As I told you, my world is beautiful but it can also be harsh and unforgiving. When a male dies, those of us who are still alive care for his family.”
I stopped. Took a deep breath. I had never told my story to anyone. I tried not to think about it.
“We had heard of the Federation from travelers who visited our world, but Rylos was a primitive planet, far from the beaten path and its rulers left us alone. One day Federation troops came to our village, looking for anything they could plunder. We had no precious metals, no jewels. Not even any stores of grain. As I said, we lived a simple life, hunting and gathering from the bounty nature provided. There was no need to hoard food. We shared what we caught and killed with our neighbors and we made or traded for everything else we needed. Tools, weapons, even our clothing, sewn from the skins of animals.
“I’d been out hunting. When I neared my home I heard screams and shouts. They had ransacked the village, rounded everyone up, and were torturing one of the elders, trying to make him reveal where we’d hidden our treasure. He tried to tell them we had no treasure but they wouldn’t listen. Finally one of the soldiers slit his throat.”
I took Ree’s hand, as much to steel myself over what was to come as to comfort her.
“Swinging my axe, I charged into the village. I severed the head of the one who murdered our elder. Then I ran back into the jungle, knowing they would follow me. I laid in wait, and killed the first few who ventured after me, leaving their bodies for the jungle to dispose of. When the others came upon their corpses being devoured by beasts, they ran back to the village in terror.
“Back then, I didn’t realize the Federation soldiers in that squad were all young, barely out of boyhood, and as frightened of their commander as they were of the wild man who’d charged out of the jungle. Maybe if I’d known that, I’d have come up with a different plan. Tried to capture them alive and gain their trust. But I cannot change the past.”
I went on with my tale. “Their commander did not dare go back to the Federation empty-handed, so he ordered the villagers rounded up to be captured and sold as slaves.”
“Slaves?” Ree stared at me, shocked. “But the Federation prohibits slavery. They prosecute space pirates who traffic in sentient beings.”
“That’s another rule the leaders make for others to follow. They’ve taken all they can from the major worlds so they’ve begun raiding minor planets on the fringe of the galaxy. If there’s nothing of value to steal, they enrich the treasury’s coffers by kidnapping and selling the strong and healthy aliens to worlds outside the Federation.
“When I realized what they were doing, I crept back into the village and snatched the commander out from under the noses of his inexperienced troops. I made him a deal. If he agreed to leave the villagers alone, I would allow him to save face and pretend to capture me. ‘I’m a much bigger prize than a handful of children and old women,’ I told him. ‘Rylan warriors are legendary.’”
Ree interrupted. “Are you really? I’ve never heard tales of your warriors.”
I mustered a smile. “Well, we’re legendary on Rylos. And with my axe blade against his neck, the commander wasn’t about to disagree. We traded places and he swaggered out with his arm around my throat, then ordered his troops to escort me to the star cruiser. Of course they didn’t see my dagger digging into his side the whole time. Once we were all safely on board, I allowed him to lock me up. But before he did, I swore to the commander if I ever heard of another raid on Rylos by the Federation, I’d track him down, drag him back there, and feed him alive to the same beasts that feasted on the corpses of his crewmembers. He must have done a good job convincing the Federation I was the only thing of value on my world, since they’ve never gone back to it. Once we were underway they drugged my food. When I fell asleep, the ship’s medical officer installed a chip in the back of my skull.”
“So you weren’t a willing accomplice.” She was silent for a moment, taking it in. “Kaal, all this time I’ve blamed you for the deaths of Jaden and Zeke and Andreu. But I’ve never asked you what happened.”
“I know.”
“Will you tell me?”
