Page 9 of Commander's Slave
“Thank you, brother,” Edek said as he took his seat. Without ceremony, he began to pile his plate high with meat and vegetable dishes, as well as other native Kall fare. “So, tell me about this human slave. What crime did he commit to be sentenced to a lifetime of servitude?”
“Not he, but she.”
“She,” Edek corrected with a dismissive wave of his hand. “What didshedo?”
Draken shrugged with exaggerated nonchalance and sipped his wine. After a long moment, he cleared his throat and glared at Edek with an air of annoyance. “It matters not what her crime was.”
Edek scowled. “You don’t care if you have a murderer under your roof?”
“I doubt she’s a murderer. Aside from her gentle and kind demeanor, as you and I both know, most humans who take Kall lives are immediately put to death. In any case, it’s not my fault the slave block is anonymous. She’s a hard worker—I have no complaints there—but she refuses to tell me her name or confess her crime. I’ve been calling her Heslla, after the orange flowers the Holy Ones cultivate on the mountain for their healing properties. An apt name, in my opinion. Wait until you see her flowing auburn hair. She’s a little healer too, that one. I couldn’t even walk a short while ago, and now look at me.”
“Her real name is important. As are her crimes. A good beating will get it out of her.”
Draken’s face reddened and he avoided Edek’s eyes. Gentle and compassionate as Draken was, Edek doubted he’d even threatened the human slave in an attempt to learn her name and her crimes. Nevertheless, Edek was determined to secure this information, even if he must use forceful methods. He wasn’t his brother. No, his heart was much darker. Pitch black, even. He would have no compunction about hurting the human female in order to extract a confession.
His blood hummed with the same eagerness he’d felt while traveling to Earth, during which he’d been prepared to battle the humans and slaughter as many as he could, not simply to help his people win the war, but for his own personal revenge.
“She is a small human female,” Draken said, giving Edek a hesitant look. “Have you ever evenseena human female before? None have ever visited the Sumlin District as tourists, as far as I’m aware. When I went into town on auction day, it was the first time I’d ever set eyes on a human female. There were several on the auction block and it grieves my heart that I could not buy them all. They are so small and fragile looking.”
Edek regarded his brother with yet another scowl. It was on the tip of his tongue to call Draken weak and foolish, but he pressed his lips together and reminded himself of all his brother had done for his family.
“These human females were small and fragile looking, you say, however they have been condemned to a lifetime of slavery,” Edek eventually said. “They wouldn’t have been given such a sentence if their crimes did not warrant it, so perhaps none of them are as fragile as they appear. I believe in the fairness of the Kall justice system. It isn’t as though any of them, including the one you bought in my name, were sentenced unfairly.”
“You’re a fool if you believe in the fairness of the Kall justice system, brother. Don’t you remember the slaves Father owned when we were children? All of them were kind and none of them ever tried to harm anyone in our household. Father even trusted them alone with Mother.”
Edek snorted. “Of course they were kind and never harmed any of us. They were too afraid to do otherwise. Father beat submission into them directly upon their arrival. That is why they would disappear into the slaves’ quarters for several days, as they were too injured to begin their duties immediately.”
Draken paled. “Father did not.”
“I assure you, he did. You always slept through the night and nothing could ever wake you. But I awoke to their screams. I even crept downstairs and witnessed it one night. He caught me and explained his methods, though he did ask me not to tell you. He said you were too sensitive and it might turn you away from devoting yourself to warrior training.” The instant he finished speaking, Edek regretted sharing this news with his brother. He ought to have taken this secret to the grave, if only to spare Draken the shock of their father’s mercilessness.
But what if Draken is right? What if the Kall justice system is flawed?
Despite himself, Edek couldn’t help but allow this worry to enter his mind.
Staring down at the table, Draken shook his head slowly. “I-I never knew.” His gaze shot up and collided with Edek’s, a look of determination suddenly filling his blue eyes. “I will pray for Father’s soul.”
Edek growled. He was partly frustrated over his own feelings of guilt as he remembered the slaves their father had owned, and partly frustrated over the fact that he too now owned a slave. And not just any slave—but a human one. A female.Fluxx. How could this have happened?
“Father was an honorable warrior,” Edek said in a scolding tone. “Save your prayers for where they are truly needed, brother. Now, about this human female slave. We must learn her name and her crimes. It is important for the safety of this household.”
Draken’s face broke into an infuriating grin. He lifted his eyebrows, his eyes twinkling. “Afraid of a small human female, are you, brother? I do not fear Heslla, and I am no warrior.”
“Enough.” Edek slammed a fist on the table. “We’ll learn her name and her crimes before the night is over.”
Edek fingered the thick stem of his wine glass as he contemplated means of coercion. He didn’t want to worry about a vengeful human thrusting a knife in his chest as he slept.
Confident that he’d learn every minute detail about his slave this evening, he turned at the sound of the kitchen door opening.
A tiny servant with downcast eyes carried a wine pitcher between her hands.
Small hands.
Human hands.
Her alien scent assaulted him at once, sweet and strangely intoxicating, and his merciless inner warrior sprang to life.
Growling deep in his throat, Edek jumped to his feet and shot toward the doorway. Startled, the little slave stepped back and stared at him with wide blue eyes. He heard Draken yelling something, but the blood was pounding so hard in his ears that he couldn’t decipher his words.
