Page 136 of Warrior Revealed

“Okay. Hmm, let me see. What will I do if you don’t talk?” She tapped her chin. After a pause for effect she focused on the vile reptile. “I think I’ll cut off your tail and cauterize the stump so it never grows back.”

Jyk’s yellow eyes widened and she knew she’d struck a nerve. Something said his tail was a point of pride.

Now to bring it home.

“Then we’ll send you back to your people and spread the word that you told us everything we wanted to know. Maybe I’ll make sure some of my more colorful suggestions for punishment are anonymously sent to your leader.” She turned to Aculus. “There was this one where the Vikings would pull people’s lungs out of their back so they looked like wings.”

“Done. I don’t have time for this. We have a party to attend. Guard!” Aculus bellowed.

“Yes, Premiere Servant,” the guard said as he entered.

“Hand me your combat knife and get a plasma torch,” he instructed.

The guard swiftly unstrapped his knife and passed it to Aculus before leaving to get the torch.

“Here. You better tie off his tail.” She handed Aculus her shawl as he approached Jyk with the sharp blade. “We wouldn’t want you to bleed out before we can get that wound sealed,” she told the reptile, while wearing a disturbingly sweet smile.

Jyk wildly eyed the knife as it got closer to his tail and really started to struggle when the cold metal met his scaly green skin.

“Gienah!” Jyk burst when Aculus drew blood.

“What about Gienah?” Aculus added more pressure, sending a stream of blood trickling to the floor.

“That’s where the Miran Sona ship is,” Jyk swiftly added.

“We recovered the ship. It’s the rift drive I want.” Aculus’ brow furrowed.

“There’s wreckage among other things.” Jyk’s gaze darted to her.

Other things?She frowned.

Aculus

“What do you think he meant by other things?” Nadzia asked as they left the holding cells and headed into the tunnel leading back to the Sanctuary.

“That’s what I’m going to find out.” But he didn’t have a good feeling about this revelation.

Aculus swiftly looked up the planet and his stomach sank.

“What?” Nadzia squeezed his arm tighter.

“Gienah is a hostile planet, but it does have a breathable atmosphere.”

“Oh.” Nadzia’s eyes widened as she put the pieces together.

“We need to organize the Conclave and get our Cadi friends together.”

Nadzia nodded solemnly and followed him down the corridor. With a swipe on his comm he connected to Payim.

“Aculus, are you coming to your own party?” the Cadi warrior answered.

“There’s been a delay,” he replied to the red-skinned male on screen. “Nadzia and I have discovered the location of the Miran Sona rift drive.”

“Why don’t I feel like this is good news?” Payim frowned.

“We’re pretty sure one of the Miran Sona’s vessels crashed on a planet called Gienah,” he said grimly.

The color drained from Payim’s face. “A ship of human colonists?”

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