Stardancer (Tellaran Series) (3 page)

“Sit,
Cy’atta
.”

“And you think that’s that, huh? That you can just toss aside my name and give me a new one?”

“Yes.” His eyes narrowed a bit. “I am displeased.  Sit you now.”

Will he really kill one of my crew if I don’t?

Stiffly, she sat at his feet.

He reached out, stroking her hair as if she were a pet. Kinara twisted her head away.

“I have many Tellaran slaves now.” He sat back. “I will send for another, more pliant, female.”

She froze. She was in command, she wasn’t going let Nisara or Mari or any of the other women suffer this instead if she could help it.

“No,” she croaked. “No.  Tell me what you want me to do.”

“Smile for me,
Cy’atta
.”

She blinked. “What?”

He tilted his head. “I would have you smile for me.”

He held her gaze for several heartbeats. Finally Kinara managed a sickly grimace.

He studied her face and gave a nod. “I think you will provide me adequate amusement after all.”

Kinara concentrated on her breathing, willing herself to hold her temper, to stay seated at his feet.

His gaze turned measuring. “What do you here?”

She blinked. “You told me to sit here.”

“No. What do you
here,
in our space?”

“We didn’t mean to be.” She licked her lips. “We were on patrol.  Our navigation systems went down and—”

“Do not lie to me, Tellaran,” he said sharply. “What do you here?”

“I came—” Hate burned her chest. “You killed my brother.”

His brow creased. “I?”

Her words came out in a snarling rush. “You! All of you!” She waved her hand to indicate the vessel around them. “The crew of this
ship
did. Seven months ago the
Ty’pran
attacked and destroyed my brother’s cruiser. Gods, you didn’t even give them the time to—” Kinara’s hands balled into fists. “You killed him, Kyndan and his whole crew! Twenty-four good people dead!”

The warrior’s face went cold. “I remember this Tellaran ship. It is not something I could forget. They crossed into our space and attacked us unprovoked. They killed many Az-kye.”

Kinara stared at him in furious disbelief. “The
Reliant
was a
patrol
ship, they wouldn’t have opened fire! They didn’t stand a chance against you. Their weapons were no match for a warship like this. You murdered my brother and his crew! I came here to make you—all of you—pay!”

He gave a short, disbelieving laugh. “
You
are come here to seek vengeance,
Cy’atta
? It cannot be so. Tellarans do not understand loyalty
.
” His glance ran over her dismissively. “You do not have
honor
.”

She shot to her feet.

“We are capable of more loyalty than you can
begin
to understand, Az-kye! And just so we’re clear, I’m your prisoner, understand? Not your slave, not your plaything. And if you want me to answer you, you fucking well better call me ‘Kinara.’”

He scowled then a light of understanding touched his eyes. “You are Tellaran. You do not accept the loss of honor from your defeat because you have never had any to lose.” He nodded toward the floor. “You will sit now.”

“Go to hell!” she spat and turned her back on him.

He stood, his face naked with astonishment. “What is this you do?”

“What am I doing?” she sneered. “I’m showing you just how much you mean to me, O Great Master! You want a drink? Get it yourself!  You want conversation? Go find another blockheaded
Az-kye
to talk to!” 

She only made it halfway to the bed platform when she heard his step behind her. She didn’t even have time to glance back before he seized her by the wrist. 

Ignoring her shriek of outrage he pulled her into the hallway. He didn’t slow even as she cursed, his iron-like grip not slacking in the slightest as she struggled.

They passed other warriors, but, as though the sight of a man dragging a woman through the ship were an everyday thing, the warriors did nothing more than send curious glances their way.

“Where are you taking me?” Kinara demanded.

“To see your people.”

The way he said it made it clear this was a punishment not a reward.

Her stomach clenched.
Oh gods, how angry have I made him?

The floor beneath her bare feet was cold, dark green stone.
Why would anyone outfit a warship with stone?
The walls were a lighter green than the floor, the ceiling above a burnt bronze. Dim golden light shone from depressions in the walls. 

“I thought you said they were below,” she said but the corridors were sloping ever so slightly down. She shook her head mentally at the design.
What kind of warship is this? 

“Be you silent!”

He pulled her past two warriors and his hand went to her lower back, pressing her toward a window that overlooked a large room.

Kinara stopped struggling instantly. Her crew was below in that room, all dressed as she was in simple, white smocks. Two more warriors moved among them with wicked looking stun pikes, apparently examining and separating them by sex and build.

The Az-kye’s hold on her tightened. 

“Do you see them,
Cy’atta
?” he demanded, his voice a snarl in her ear. “Do you? That one,” he said, indicating Caitin, who had served in engineering, “will fetch a fine price in the Empress’ City, I think. He is strongly built. But that one,” he continued and Kinara’s breath rushed out of her lungs as he pointed to Tedah. “I think him a poor worker. It is hardly worth feeding him. I could well do without him.”

“No,” Kinara said hoarsely.

“I could kill him now,
Cy’atta
. Perhaps have another do it, so I may be sure you watch?”

“No,” Kinara whispered. “No, I’ll do as you say.”

“Yes,” he growled. “You will.”

He released her. Trembling, she clasped the window’s edge, trying to make a head count. Were they all there?

“
Cy’atta!
”

“Yes.” Kinara took a final tear-blurred look at her friends. “Yes, I’m coming.”

Kinara followed the Az-kye back to his quarters. Two Az-kye women, dressed in smocks like the one she wore, were already there serving dishes of food. The women moved on silent, bare feet as they went about their task. Their downcast eyes flicked curious glances her way as they placed covered dishes along the sideboard. They retreated, leaving the man’s quarters as he sat himself at the table. 

The warrior looked at her impatiently. 

Kinara lifted the covers off the dishes but didn’t recognize anything.

What am I supposed to do?

It was clear from his expression he had no intention of guiding her.  But the crew needed her, so for the time being she was going to have to at least
look
like she accepted captivity. 

“Okay then,” she muttered under her breath and picked up a plate. The women had brought enough to feed a dozen warriors. At his size she figured he probably could eat twice his weight and ask for more. She started on one end of the serving board and filled his plate from every dish and bowl.

When she was satisfied he couldn’t complain she’d stinted him, she brought the overfilled plate to the table. Before she could set it down some of the contents slopped over the side. 

He hissed in disapproval as the sauce hit the floor and splattered across his boots. 

“Damn it!” She quickly shoved the plate into his hands and grabbed the cloth napkin from his place setting. One of the spoons in his setting went clattering across the table as she knelt to clean the mess off his boots. 

She wasn’t used to wearing anything but coveralls and raw nerves made her clumsy in the loose smock. Her shoulder bumped the table, upsetting it and knocking over the wine cup. The warrior jumped to his feet to avoid being doused. The wine ran off the table and onto the floor, spattering across his feet with every drop.

The Az-kye’s scowl was ferocious.

She offered him a sheepish shrug. “I’ve never been a servant.”

He closed his eyes for a moment. “Table first, Tellaran.
Then
boots,
then
floor.”

“Right.” Kinara started sopping up the wine from the table. 

He shifted his weight.

Kinara paused. “What?”

“A clan leader does not hold his plate for a slave.”

Clan leader?
“Oh.” 

He looked at the plate in his hands and back at her meaningfully. 

“Oh!” Kinara put her hand out. “Here, I’ll take it.”

He let out a frustrated breath and handed it to her. She wiped a spot clean to put it down then got started on the rest. 

Her napkin was soon soaked with wine.

“Um,” she murmured, looking around for something else to use.

“The bathing chamber is through
there
,” he said shortly with a nod in that direction. “Rinse the cloth.”

Kinara went toward the bathroom but wine was dripping off the cloth. Biting her lip, she cupped her hand to catch the run-off, hurrying before it could drip between her fingers.

“Stars,” she murmured, stopping short at her first look at the bathroom. Surrounded by white, polished stone was a deep sunken pool filled with churning hot water. There were benches of stone too, around which someone had placed towels and baskets containing tiny cakes of soap. Steam rose from the hot water and the room smelled heavenly.

An extravagance on any world, this bathing room was absurd on anything other than a pleasure cruise. It was half the size of the main chamber; there were Zartani Princes who probably didn’t have accommodations this luxurious.

Kinara wrung the napkin into the sink, rinsed it, and wrung it again. “Shimmersilk trimmings, carved stone, tub deep enough to swim in,” she murmured. “Nice to be clan leader.”

It took her a few minutes to set his supper to rights and get his boots cleaned off. She replaced the spoon and grabbed a cloth off the serving board to serve as a fresh napkin for him. She pushed the plate in front of him and looked everything over as he sat down.

She nodded. “Okay, I think you’re set.”

His shoulders tensed. “I am pleased you think so.”

Kinara frowned. “Did I forget something?”

He looked at her from beneath angry, blond brows. “Perhaps you might refill the wine cup?”

“Ah, sure.” Awkwardly holding the heavy jug against her waist, she managed to pour more. She spilled a little on the table and wiped at it with her palm.

She put the cup next to him as he lifted the fork to his mouth.

She watched him eat for a moment. “How is it?”

“Cold,” he said shortly.

Kinara shifted her feet as he ate. He didn’t seem to need anything else right away so she pulled out a chair and sat down across from him.  She folded her hands to wait, her arms resting on the table.

He stopped with the fork halfway to his mouth, staring.

Kinara spread her hands. “What?”

“You do not
sit
with me, Tellaran.”

Kinara blinked. He’d let her sit before. “I’m not allowed to sit?  Why not?”

“The day has been too long for this,” he muttered and returned to his meal.

Kinara looked around the room. She was hungry too and wondered if she could get something to eat now or if she had to wait until he was finished.

Anything I learn might get us out of here.
“You have some nice quarters. Are you in command here?”

His head came up and he glared at her. “No.”

“But you’re a clan leader?”

“Yes,” he bit out and returned to his meal.

“So what does that mean? That you’re clan leader?”

“It means the gods do not favor me.” He shoved his plate away.

“Are you done already?” she asked, frowning.

He stood. “Bring my wine, Tellaran.”

She brought his cup and set it beside him as he lifted a datapad. What a strange culture! Swords and animal skin clothing but they also possessed technology that could compare to Tellarans’.

He settled himself on a couch near the holo-fire and she stood beside him awkwardly. 

“Can I eat now?” she asked.

His head snapped up. “What?”

“I’m
hungry
,” Kinara said impatiently. “Can I eat now?”

He glared, then with a sound of annoyance waved her away. “Go eat, Tellaran.”

Kinara served herself from the sideboard and took up her seat again at the table.

He frowned but he didn’t rebuke her. And what was she supposed to do anyway? Eat standing up?

The food was better then she expected. The spices were like none she’d ever tasted but surprisingly the meat was sular steak. She didn’t even know they kept the beasts for food. Taken during one of their raids of Tellaran colonies maybe?

The Az-kye seemed absorbed with the display on his datapad and didn’t issue her any other commands. When she finished her meal she stacked the plates as neatly as she could. At a loss, she poured him more wine, this time managing not to spill any. She tidied around him, looking over his shoulder at his datapad, reading what she could.

She paused and frowned at the engine schematic he was looking at.

She started when he spoke. “What?”

He held his cup out to her. “You may have some wine,” he repeated.

She busied herself with straightening the cushions. “I don’t want any.”

“It pleases me that you take some.”

She gritted her teeth in annoyance and then, taking the goblet from him, she took a swallow.

He watched the expression on her face. “It does not please you.”

“It’s fine,” she replied stiffly. Truthfully it had more bite than any drink she’d ever had. A cup of this stuff and she wouldn’t be able to stand.

“It is too strong for you, perhaps.”

“I just said it’s fine.”

He shrugged. “Do you wish, I would not object if you added water to it.”

Defiantly, she drank deeply, struggling not to cough as it burned its way down her throat. Her eyes narrowed at the amused expression in his dark eyes as he took the cup back.

“Sit,
Cy’atta
,” he said, pointing to the place on the floor beside him.

She sat cross-legged. When she was settled at his feet she met his eyes squarely.

A smile touched his mouth. “What you have read, it interests you?”

“I don’t know what you mean.”

His gaze sharpened. “You displease me. Do not lie to me again.”

She set her jaw at the implied threat. “As you like.”

“What interests you so,
Cy’atta
?”

“Your engine’s propulsion systems.”

“The engines? What of them?”

I’ll show you what “useless” Tellarans can do.
“Your use of astuk crystals in low grade coils costs you a great deal of efficiency.”

His brow creased; she’d surprised him. “It provides the power we need.”

“But you lose nearly twenty percent of the energy with your method. I bet the lights on this ship are dim because your power output is so inefficient. You’re probably having all kinds of problems using a triple caliber system and a single caliber containment design. With a higher grade you could widen the containment field and lose less energy in the exchange.”

He poured himself more wine. “Explain this.”

Giving the Az-kye more efficient engines wouldn’t give them more powerful ones, Kinara thought as she finished. Even if this savage implemented all of her suggestions, it wouldn’t bring them up to speed with Tellaran engines.

“Of course, Tedah knows a lot more than I do,” she finished casually. “You know, the one you said was hardly worth feeding.”

His dark eyes sharpened on her. “He knows more of this?”

She shrugged. “Well, certainly. He studied engine design on Rusco.”

He fingered his cup. “He could be dangerous then.”

“Danger—? No, I—”

He tilted his head. “You care for him.”

“He’s my friend! You aren’t going to—”

“He mounts you?”

Kinara blinked. “No.”

The Az-kye studied her. “Another of my Tellaran males lies with you, then?”

None of them had ever been more than a friend. She was tempted to claim she had a lover back in Tellaran space but this warrior had an uncanny way of catching her lies. Tedah might not have set her heart racing but she always kind of thought it would be him that . . .

The less said here the better.
Cheeks burning, Kinara shook her head.

“I am surprised,” he said softly.

His fingers gently skimmed the skin over her collarbone. She shivered, shocked by the pleasure of his touch.

“You are afraid?”

Kinara forced herself to meet his eyes. “No, of course not.”

He smiled faintly. “You do not lack for courage,
Cy’atta
.”

After a moment he drew his hand away. She swallowed hard, mortified by the flash of disappointment she felt when he did.

“Tell me why I should keep this Tellaran.”

The room was miserably cold.
Why have a holo fire and keep the room so starblasted freezing?
Kinara drew her legs up to hug her knees.  “He knows a great deal. Maybe he could teach you.”

The warrior gave a short laugh. “Think you I would learn from a slave?”

“You don’t mind listening to me.”

“But to look on you pleases me.”

Kinara turned her face away. 

He sighed. “And now you deny me that. Very well,
Cy’atta
, you have won. Let me look on you and I will consider keeping this Tellaran.”

Kinara narrowed her eyes up at him.

“You are not like other females,
Cy’atta
.” He shook his head, his dark eyes crinkling with humor. “Ones who smile or pout to get their way.”