Page 6 of Neverwylde 6
“Allies? Who?”
“The Terrans.”
Duruk’s response was immediate and expected. All nine Seneecians pulled their weapons, ready to blast the enemy.
“Where are they holding Plat?” Duruk demanded.
“They are holding him where I commanded,” Kyber said, making sure he enunciated each word carefully. Before his brother could respond, he repeated his earlier comment. “They are our allies. They are under my banner of protection, and therefore—”
“Thereforenothing!They are the enemy, not our allies!” Duruk hotly remarked.
“They are our allies,” Kyber continued to reiterate. “If we had not joined forces, this planet and the creatures that inhabit it would have killed all of us before now. We owe our lives to their help, and they for ours. I have given them my word as D’har that no harm will come to them when we are rescued.” He narrowed his eyes and restated his last comment more forcefully. “They will come tono harm.I gave them my word as D’har, and I expect my word to be resolute.”
The challenge was given. In a perverse sort of way, Kyber was hoping the man would contest his claim. Maybe even try to invalidate it. Disappointingly, Duruk yielded.
“What is it you wish from me and my crew?” the man inquired.
“Passage back to Seneecia, where the Terrans will be allowed to notify their planet of their survival.”
“And then what? Provide them safe passage back to their galaxy? Are we now a shuttle service for their enjoyment?” Duruk made no effort to hide his disgust of Kyber’s plan.
Kyber refused to rise to the bait. “That will depend on what their government requests. Until then, they will be treated as—”
“Prisoners,” Duruk interrupted with a sneer. “Onmyship, they will treated as my prisoners.”
Kyber gave a slight bow of his head. On this issue, he couldn’t argue or demand otherwise. It was Duruk’s ship, and Duruk was the D’har. What he said was law. Any attempt to countermand the man’s authority would give Duruk permission to abandon Kyber and everyone else on this rock. The most he could hope for was that Kelen and the others would not be treated with any form of cruelty. “I accept, D’har Duruk,” he murmured, which seemed to appease his brother. Raising a hand, he signaled to Gaveer, who went to retrieve the others.
This battle had been won, but the war was far from being over. There would be many more battles to fight, but for now he could rest assured the Terrans would not be killed on sight when they emerged.
Steadying himself, Kyber waited for Kelen and the rest to join them.
