A family of misfits, Jarek thought with a small chuckle. He wouldn’t trade his life of freedom for anything in the world.
“I say we let Rick rot,” Lucien mumbled, pouting. “Would serve him right for breaking my virtual girlfriend. Does he even realize how long it took me to get her breasts just right? And then he goes and melts all three of them off. Poor Fanessa!”
“Did you drink more Torganian Rum?” Viktor, Lucien’s brother, demanded. The two constantly bickered but were actually quite close. If one said the sky was white, the other would swear it was black just for the sake of disagreeing. They were half human, half Dere, and had a milky white complexion that contrasted with the strangest red-brown and red-green of their eyes. Lucien was a communications genius, and Viktor was one hell of a mechanic. The man could rig anything. “We can’t let him rot.” Viktor paused. “He owes me space credits from that last card game.”
“Yes,” Jackson, a dark blond security officer, agreed. “And you owe me.”
“Oh, right, yeah.” Viktor cleared his throat. “I forgot about that. Well, how ‘bout we cut out the middle man and just say Rick owes you?”
“Not likely,” Jackson said. “He’s not good for it and I’d rather not take your loss.”
“Can we please concentrate on saving Rick? Then we can argue about who gets to kick his ass first,” Jarek said, wondering briefly how he’d ever come to captain such a crew. Fate was funny that way.
They hid behind a long stone gate, looking up at the palace which was on top of a miniature mountain with a flat top. Long rows of stairs led up from the base, carved from the tan stone of the planet’s earth. Their position was halfway up so they could easily see the front entrance. Platforms were carved intermittently along the stairs on the way to the top, decorated with black pots and golden statues inlaid with precious jewels. Jarek tensed. The Song Dynasty was a wealthy one. They must indeed have no fear of intruders if they put their treasure within plain view of the city below.
“One of us has to go in,” Lucien said, eyeing Dev.
“Yes, I would make the obvious choice,” Dev drawled, his tone heavy with sarcasm. With his giant red body, he was the farthest thing from the slender humanoid culture of Lintian.
Jarek tried not to laugh. Dev had been around Rick for too long and was beginning to pick up some sarcasm. Usually, the man was completely sober in nature.
“He’s right, guys,” Jarek said, “one of us needs to get in there and find out where the secret purple jade mines are located. My sources say that’s where they’ve taken Rick.”
All eyes turned back to the palace. The location of the mines wasn’t known, no matter how much money he’d thrown down for the information. Most things about this planet were a mystery. Jarek could respect their desire for privacy. His home planet of Qurilixen was the same way. However, at the moment, it wasn’t serving his purpose in finding Rick.
“Are you sure your sources are right? I hear tell that not even the greatest thieves can slip into this place,” Lochlann said.
“Yeah, they guard their purple jade-like the Tog women protect their men,” Viktor added. “Rick would have to get his ass dragged here.”
Jarek frowned. He’d heard much of the same thing. Lintian was an isolated planet that many stayed clear of. The fact that its position was a long way off, combined with the rumored impossibility of breaching the security made it a daunting place, little worth a space traveler’s time. Even if purple jade was valued quite highly, a pirate couldn’t spend a fortune if he was dead. But they weren’t here for jade. They were here for their friend.
“Why couldn’t he have gotten kidnaped by Lord Maximus and taken to the Galaxy Playmates’ mansion?” Lucien asked. “That way we could fight off half-naked playmates instead of these lethal warriors.”
“Rick wouldn’t want to be rescued from that,” Lochlann said.
“Who would?” Jackson added under his breath. All of their eyes were still trained on the palace.
“I slipped through the city just fine earlier,” Jarek said, hoping his men would take that to mean it was possible to get through. “Stealth is the key. This isn’t the kind of place that you go in blasting. We’d never stand a chance against all those guards in a head-to-head fight. We’re too outnumbered. Ideally, it’s best if they don’t know we’re here.”
The men nodded.
“Besides,” Jarek continued, “no one has tried to breach these walls for centuries. Their guards have probably become lax. They won’t be expecting us, especially not looking for a plain map. It should be a simple slip in and slip out type of job.”
One long building made up the palace. It had tiled roofs with wide eaves that tilted up at the ends toward the sky. A long open walkway supported by columns was across the front of the large structure. An entranceway opened up in the center, leading inside the building or down a long row of steps to the outside world. Guards stood along the columned walkway, their loose fitting clothing very reminiscent of the Draig casual wear. It looked comfortable, yet military at the same time. The building seemed to grow out at the side into an enclosed hall, slowly working its way from the very top of the mountain down the side until joining to a lower building that had its own columned entrance and guards.
“It doesn’t look like walking up to the front door and slipping in is going to be an option,” Jarek said, eyeing the dark skinned warriors. Their long hair was pulled back in a single braid, keeping it out of their faces. They were slight in stature compared to the Var warriors, but he wasn’t fooled. He’d seen some of them practicing in a field as they had sneaked into the city. They moved with such graceful ease and deadly precision when they fought, that Jarek knew they would be formidable opponents.
“I’ll do it,” Jackson said. “I’m the best climber, and if the inside of the palace is constructed like the outside, I should be able to make my way across the ceiling without notice.”
“No, it’s too risky. All someone would have to do is look up,” Jarek denied the offer. “There are too many guards. Besides, we have no way of knowing what the inside looks like. The ceilings could be smooth with nothing to grab on to.”
“That doesn’t leave us too many options. If we can’t infiltrate, we’ll have to fight,” Dev said softly. He opened his mouth to continue, but Lucien’s voice interrupted him.
“Oh, my...” Lucien let loose a soft whistle. “Would you look at that tempting piece of Lintianese culture?”
Jarek immediately saw what had caught Lucien’s attention. A slight female shuffled out of the palace, meekly following a taller man whose hair was knotted on the top of his head. The topknot seemed to be a popular style amongst the people. Jarek could instantly tell the man was royalty, or at least a nobleman, by the way he carried himself and by the way the guards bowed in respect. However, the guards ignored the woman.
Jarek couldn’t look away from her. His heart sped in his chest and his breathing deepened. She was lovely. Silken robes hugged close to her small frame. Her long, dark hair was plaited and pulled up on both sides of her head.
“That’s what I’m talking about,” Viktor added, his voice soft.
“Yeah, no wonder you two like her,” Lochlann teased, eyeing Viktor and Lucien. “She even makes you look muscular.”
“We don’t have time for concubines right now,” Jarek said. Even as the words left his mouth, he found himself still staring at her. His gut tightened with desire. How could it not? She was gorgeous. Her downcast gaze lifted slightly and Jarek let his eyes shift with the power of the cat as he narrowed in on her. Like her people, her eyes were brown, a soulful color that begged for a man’s protection, and shaped in such an exotically alluring way that he couldn’t take his eyes off her. She was so delicate, like a flower. The woman even looked like a flower, dressed in flimsy silk. Small, circular patterns were spread over the robe she wore, intertwined with floral designs. It was a simple motif, yet captivatingly beautiful. Truth be told, Jarek found the who
le planet beautiful. The landscape outside the palace was lush and green, and inside the city was clean and designed to enhance the beauty around it. Beneath the palace, the streets of the city were clean, and the people were immaculately dressed.
A tightness developed between his thighs, as Jarek became aroused just looking at the slender woman. Too bad she was obviously this other man’s whore.
Maybe you could liberate her, his libido seemed to tell him.
And do what? His inner reason argued. It’s not as if you want a woman on the ship with you. You’re not like your brothers. You’re not meant to settle down.
It was true. Jarek had felt it since he was a young prince. Even then he would stare up at the stars, feeling their pull. He wasn’t meant to be contained on one planet. He needed more than that. He needed adventure, change, a sense of danger. Women liked things such as stability and a home. Sure, he’d met a few who didn’t, but they were no one with whom he’d like to spend his long years. And, usually, in the end, even those women settled in one place.
Jarek had four brothers, and they’d all found mates. Three had just had babies, and his twin brother’s wife was expecting. It wasn’t as if he needed to find a wife and have children. The family line didn’t depend upon him. He was free to do as he willed.
“She’s so tiny,” Dev said, his voice not holding as much masculine appreciation as the others. “And delicate. She wouldn’t last five seconds in the VR fighting a Huthin.”
“I don’t want her as a sparring partner in virtual reality, space cadet,” said Viktor. Dev’s black eyes narrowed in warning. Viktor quickly patted Dev’s large shoulder in reassurance. “And by space cadet, I mean my very big, mean, tough warrior friend who would never think of crushing someone smaller than himself, like me.”
Dev grunted. Jarek bit back a laugh but didn’t look away from the beautiful woman for more than an instant. She was close. The Lintianese man’s body blocked her partially from view and he leaned to the side to better see her. Soft laughter broke into his daydreaming about the woman. A hand on his arm pulled him back down.
“Uh, Jarek, you still with us, captain?” Lucien asked. “Or is your plan to get seen and captured? ‘Cause if it is, please count us out.”
Jarek motioned the men back, and they instantly crawled along the stone to stay hidden as the woman and her escort passed nearby, going down the overly long row of steps. Jarek watched from within an inlet in the wall as she moved away from them.
“I have an idea.” Jarek grinned, still staring at the woman’s backside. “I know just how one of you is going to get into that palace.”
“How?” Viktor asked, leaning over to take his own peek at her.
Jarek’s grin widened as he looked at Viktor and his brother. “Or should I say, the two of you.”
“I can’t believe you let Jarek talk us into this,” Viktor hissed, pulling on his silk sleeve.
“Me?” Lucien demanded.
“Yeah, you!”
“Hey, this wasn’t my idea,” Lucien huffed, touching his cheek. “How’s my paint?”
“Cosmetics,” Viktor corrected.
“You would know,” Lucien snorted at his brother. Both of them looked ridiculous, dressed as Lintianese women.
Instantly Viktor made a dive for his brother. Lucien crashed into the palace wall. They’d made it past the guards easily. Both of the warrior men had ignored them as the brothers shuffled in, walking as they’d seen the women of the planet do. It was easier than either of them had thought.
“Blessed stars, stop it,” Lucien growled. “Someone’s coming. Start acting all…womanish.”
Viktor instantly pulled back and began smoothing his robes. Lucien did the same, lowering his head and keeping an eye on the man who approached.
The man spoke but his words were in Lintianese, and neither of them had bothered to upload the language into their brain. He gestured to the side and began walking as if expecting them to follow. Viktor frowned and shrugged. The man looked back and said something again, this time louder.
Lucien glanced at his brother. “I guess we follow?”
“Great,” Viktor drawled sarcastically. “But if he tries to slip a hand up my robe I’m leaving Rick to rot.”
The brothers shuffled their feet as they followed the man. He waited impatiently, arching a brow before shaking his head. His eyes trailed over their feminine attire and a small shiver worked its way over his entire length.
When he turned, Viktor grimaced. Whispering, he said, “I don’t know whether to be relieved or insulted by his repulsion.”
Lucien rolled his eyes and gave his brother a shove to get going. Without saying another word, they trailed behind the man, down the ornate, golden palace hall.
4
Mei followed her brother, lost in thought. The docks along the Satlyun were crowded with merchant ships. Close to the water was the space dock with small luxury crafts taking off and landing from the entrance to the long stone building. The ships could be seen drifting across the light blue skies, some of the older ones leaving cloud-like trails in their wakes. It was a beautiful sight.
Wide wooden ships lined the banks of the river. For her, seeing the two so close together was normal, but it was still an odd contrast between the old ways and the new. Even though the boats looked traditional, they were modern in every way, with the ability to hover over the water when the waves got too rough. Mei sometimes wished they couldn’t so that they could ride the water and everything it gave them, rough or not. At least it would be an adventure.
“Not the true love you expected when great-grandmother told you of your future, meimei?” Haun arched a brow as he stopped close to where the Zhang royal ship was docked. “Prince Lok seemed to be a strong enough warrior to me, but what do I know of picking men for my sister to marry? To me, none of them are worthy of you.”
Mei turned her attention from the bobbing mast to study her brother. She just wanted to leave the Singhai Empire behind her. Forever. “You are not funny, gē ge.”
At the moment, part of her wanted to leave her home planet forever. But, looking at her brother’s dark eyes, she knew she’d miss never seeing him again. She was too close to her family.
“I feel your soul, meimei, and I know your heart.” Haun chuckled, his lip twitching up at the side as he pulled her to him in a brief hug. She rested her head on his comforting chest before he let go, and she was compelled to step back. Haun opened his mouth to continue, but a loud shout from the Song palace interrupted him. Automatically he lifted his arm to block her from whatever the commotion was. Mei leaned over to see past him.
Two women ran from the palace with what looked like well over a dozen of the Song guards giving chase. Their robes trailed behind them, disheveled and very indecent. Mei was sure she could see flashes of their flat chests and bare legs.
“What’s happening?” Mei asked, frowning.
“I don’t know.” Haun took a step forward, his body tense as he readied for a fight.
Suddenly, five men appeared on one of the decorative platforms along the side of the stairs. The group of men joined the women in the race down the mountain. They weren’t dressed like the males of her planet and, in fact, they looked like space rogues. She’d seen plenty of pictures of pirates growing up. Emperor Zhang had insisted all his children be well educated. Mei stiffened, intrigued. The most noticeable was a giant red man dressed all in black. Next to him were several humanoids.
“They steal the emperor’s pu ren,” Haun said. He lifted his hand to the boat, motioning the Zhang guard down to his side. “Get in the boat, Mei.”
“No, wait,” she protested.
“Get her in the boat,” Haun ordered the guards, grabbing her by the arm and thrusting her toward them. She stumbled, taken by surprise at his grip. He was only trying to protect her, but it was still annoying to be told what to do.
“Haun,” Mei protested, screaming at him as a couple of Zhang guards caught her by the arm
s and pulled her toward the docking plank. “Get off me. I can protect myself.”
The guards didn’t listen. Mei knew it was pointless to struggle, but she did anyway. The tight bodice of the gown kept her body stiff and her protests ineffective. The guards kept going. They were trained to take the future emperor’s order before hers. Anything Haun said would supersede any protest she made.
“Haun,” Mei yelled.
Haun ignored her. He stepped forward with the Zhang guards as the thieves came down the docking plank chased by the Song men. Mei was thrust aboard the ship. She refused to go down below as she watched from the railing. A soft breeze blew around her, lifting her clothing behind her as it pressed the silk to her stomach and chest. Her guards, obviously wanting to see the capture, didn’t protest her choice of location as they stood at her side in protection.
Mei grasped the railing, itching to be part of the fight. Being a princess, it wasn’t often that she saw any action. One of the pirate thieves grabbed onto a handrail and wrapped his legs over it, sliding past the remaining steps. A few others followed suit, including one of the women whose silk gown ripped loudly as she landed none too gracefully. Without missing a step, the big red man grabbed the woman by the arm and hauled her to her feet as he passed by. The woman limped slightly next to him, but he thrust her forward, and she kept running.
Who were these women? They didn’t move like normal pu ren. Had Emperor Song obtained them from a foreign planet? Were these their people coming to rescue them?
Mei shook her head, automatically dismissing the idea. Emperor Song was too much of a snob to take foreign women into his bed. However, she could see him kidnapping women from his own countryside…
No, Mei, don’t you dare think it. That’s not fair, and you’re just bitter about the idea of marriage.
As the thieves came closer, she got a better look at them. A dark one with long black hair caught her eye. Black markings were on his neck, and she wondered briefly what they stood for. His locks were pulled neatly back into a single rope that flew behind him like a long body of a festival dragon. A woman by the man’s foot tripped, and he grabbed her up, thrusting her toward the big red fellow. The large man caught the pu ren up easily without missing a step and followed the other thieves.
The Pirate Prince Page 3
