Page 47 of Taken to Heimo
“Enough,” Mathilda shouts. Does she interrupt Deena now because she sees that Rhorkanterannu is clearly unsettled? His jaw ticks. So does a muscle in his thick neck, right along the column of his throat — one of the few vulnerable parts of him.
“Rhork,please.I’m asking you. I’mtellingyou. I’ll do the shekurr. Take me instead…”
“No!” I shout at the same time that Mathilda leaves my side and I hear a loud, horriblethwack.
Rhorkanterannu draws his largest blaster so quickly I blink and see my entire life flash before my eyes. I’m dead. We all are. Because he moves more quickly than anyone I’ve ever seen.
Anyone except Krisxox.
But he doesn’t fire.
“Those who harm females in my presence tend to lead very short, painful lives.”
His eyes narrow. The hard plates of his lips peel back to reveal stone teeth. They’re a strange color, his teeth. Like mother of pearl. Strange, only because they don’t fit at all with the rest of him.
“Rhorkanterannu, your Grace…” Mathilda starts.
“I am aNiahhorru pirate. Not a pompous quadrant king. I am Rhorkanterannu and that’s how you will address me. Now tell me why I shouldn’t vaporize the head off your neck and leave the rest of you here for the khrui pod we spotted before landing. There were younglings among them. I’m sure they could use the fresh meat.”
Behind me, Mathilda chokes and I feel a sick sense of satisfaction I’m unaccustomed to, hearing her suffer.
“Deena’s words are obscene. She does not understand that a virgin’s body is worthmorein the eyes of any male. She isalsoa virgin. And she is also available, for the right price.”
Nobody speaks.
Rhorkanterannu’s gaze returns to Deena. In his expression, I can read nothing.
“Centare,” he sneers — the Meero word forno.“I don’t want her.” Behind me, Deena makes a small sound right before Rhorkanterannu says, “She is defective. I could not evengiveher away at the slave auction. Release her. She is not even worth the ebo it would take to keep her fed.”
Mathilda laughs and it’s that laugh more than Rhorkanterannu’s words that make me wince. I try to shrug out of Mathilda’s iron grip, but it tightens. “As I suspected. Release her,” she orders the guards.
With a tortured grunt, Deena breaks free of their hold. She looks at me and says, “I’m not going to let them get away with this.”
“Go,” I rasp. Before they change their minds! “Go!”
She shows Rhorkanterannu and his pirates her middle finger, turns and takes off running, her defective leg carrying her far and quickly.
Rhorkanterannu and Mathilda both watch her go. “Don’t go far, Deena,” Mathilda calls out in a light, cheery tone before turning back to Rhorkanterannu and clasping her hands together. “Shall we proceed, Rhorkanterannu? You are free to take her.”
Rhorkanterannu hesitates for a long moment, staring Mathilda down, as if debating…debating…He still hasn’t lowered his blaster.
Mathilda must sense her life hanging in the balance, because she says, “Don’t forget, I am your only access to human females on this planet and only by taking this one will I be able to guarantee that access. Next time, for a much higher price…” Her voice trails off, as if in question.
“What is the price, Mathilda?” I say, but she doesn’t answer.
Rhorkanterannu doesn’t look at me at all, but his expression shifts, his plates moving microscopically even though he’s hardly moved. He’s just a wall.
Then he barks, “Get the female. Bring her on board.”
The two pirates behind him come towards me and my stomach cramps. I feel sick, my brow breaking out in cold sweat. My palms get clammy as they carefully latch onto me and pick me up off of the ground with all eight of their arms. I’m nearly boneless as they carry me, and though I fought Nondah, it’s memories of him now that keep me from fighting at all.
“Krisxox,” I whisper, but I know he’s far away now.
We reach a low ramp that ascends into the black, bowels of the ship. I dig the heels of my sandals into its slippery surface and scream, “What price is this, Mathilda? What price am I being sold for?”
I look over my shoulder and the last thing I see is Mathilda’s sweet as sin smile as she says, “Nothing at all.”
And then I’m dragged into the dark and my stomach lurches into my throat and I feel sick enough to vomit, but before I can, I fall unconscious.
