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The ground crew had just finished their work replenishing a nearby cargo vessel after a mining expedition to the Luxar region. The beast of a ship took up an entire side of this landing pad, but it would be large enough to accommodate the humans, with plenty of space to sleep, shower, and stores of food for weeks of travel.
It wasn’t, however, to be manned alone.
Aldor leaned over my shoulder, his wide blue eyes narrowing. “That’s the one?”
Without a word, I jerked my head in a nod.
Every muscle in my neck went rigid as we waited for the ground crew, bumping into each others’ shoulders, wrestling on their way to one of the larger terrapads to head for home or entertainment.
At the first twitch of my hand, Lethen rushed out of the shadows, bounding on the balls of his feet across the space between us and the ship. He was a young hybrid warrior, but motivated, and often at my side.
I thought he hoped to stand out amongst Kaelum’s chosen warriors, especially now that our prince had set his eyes toward the future.
Since he had claimed Lucas as payment for his assistance saving Crux, the crew, and the humans on board, Kaelum had changed. At once, his time was taken up by pleasing Lucas, his concerns shifting to accommodate the human’s presence at his side.
He was settling seriously to the task of inheriting his father’s throne. Finally, we would prove to our people that hybrid warriors were as strong as true-born Thorzi. They would accept their prince as their future king, and our paths would be set.
Aldor, not one to rush into anything, tilted his head at me curiously.
“Go on,” I whispered.
He frowned, but he’d be in charge of this vessel.
Aldor was one of the only true-born Thorzi warriors who served Kaelum, though there were plenty who did not see his value. He had a single mark from Lyr, which turned him a brilliant shade of pink and did nothing else for him. After receiving such a lackluster gift from our sacred star, he had stopped risking his life to try and get another.
Though he did not have gifts like I did—armor, plasma claws, the ability to summon light, or the rare tactician’s mark that had given my father his role as war chief of our people—Aldor was steady and responsible. He would see the humans home.
It was not easy for me to surrender my position protecting Prince Kaelum from harm, but I trusted the crew he had put together with my life, and more importantly, I trusted them with his.
Aldor led the rest of Kaelum’s crew to the cargo ship and I followed at a slower lope. They piled onto the ship, high stepping their way up the ramp while Aldor waved them on. But when I stood at the bottom of the opening, arms crossed, he began to frown.
“You are not coming?” Aldor asked from high above me.
With a shake of my head, I shrugged. “I will take Prince Kaelum’s ship. Give you cover while you and the humans escape.”
He sighed. “So I have to pilot this monstrosity.”
I smirked. “Yes. Take this vessel. Once we have freed the humans and regrouped at the palace, you will take them off planet. I will stay behind in our ship, provide the distraction while you, Kaelum, and the humans escape.”
His expression turned hard and skeptical. “Stay here and cause more trouble, you mean.”
The fullness of my laugh risked drawing attention, but we were lucky. The stars were twinkling in the sky, the horizon going a soft, creamy purple, and we were alone on the landing pad.
In truth, I was eager to stay on Thorzan and not accompany the humans on the weeks’ long journey to Earth. I would be able to stay, to see Crux answer for his crimes and see if, finally, this was enough to unseat him from favor.
Unlikely, given that he had a reputation as our people’s savior. He continued to have support from Vipha and other council members. Still, I would enjoy staying behind to see the king put him in his place. And if my testimony could make matters more difficult for him? All the better.
“Wise Aldor”—I grinned—“this is why I trust you so. That is precisely what I mean.”
CHAPTER3
WES
It took me over a week to figure out how to circumvent the security on the cells, and that was my own fault.
In my defense, I’ll point out that I was abducted by aliens, who were then attacked by other aliens, then I spent... I don’t know, three weeks? Being held prisoner.
I wasn’t sure what had changed, but somehow in the middle of our time there Crux had gone from superior douchebag to snarling monster, shutting down even the tiny slivers of freedom he’d given us when we first arrived.
