The Rogue Prince
Page 21
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 kidnapped 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 whole 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 o
ut.”
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.”
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Michelle loves to travel and try new things, whether it's a paranormal investigation of an old Vaudeville Theatre or climbing Mayan temples in Belize. She believes life is an adventure fueled by copious amounts of coffee.
Newly relocated to the American South, Michelle is involved in various film and documentary projects with her talented director husband. She is mom to a fantastic artist. And she's managed by a dog and cat who make sure she's meeting her deadlines.
For the most part she can be found wearing pajama pants and working in her office. There may or may not be dancing. It’s all part of the creative process.
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