She fit. Perfectly. Accepted at last, he thought. Torkel leaned down and inhaled the fragrance of the fruity shampoo she’d used. This was what he’d waited seven years for. This feeling of belonging to another.
“Torkel Alonson, present.”
They both turned at the sharp command.
Torkel let her go but clasped her small hand in his and faced the Commissioning body. Merlyne’s eyes gentled when her gaze landed on him. Merlyne was his mother’s best friend. Every time he left the sands alone, she grieved for him also. Merlyn was a good female.
“Torkel you have been Chosen,” Conra said. Conra led the Commission. His waist-length braid had long since turned gray. “Please present her.”
Torkel raised their joined hands. “Faye Reid has Chosen. Torkel Alonson has accepted.”
“I protest.”
The angry complaint came from behind them.
Torkel turned to see the last man left on the sands. The one who had not been Chosen. Sympathy ran through him. How many times had he stood there and watched as other men were chosen during the presentation then left with eager smiles? But never had he protested a female’s right to choose.
“On what grounds, Axan?” Merlyne demanded.
The blond male stormed over, his bare feet slapping against the sand. His forceful steps created dust trails in his wake. He stopped on the other side of Faye. Torkel tightened his fingers around her hand. When Faye edged closer to him, his chest expanded with pleasure.
“I protest on the grounds that everyone knows Torkel is unwanted. He’s walked the sands year after year and no female would have him.”
Naine, the third member of the Commissioning body frowned. “I fail to see how that impacts the decision today, son.” Axan was Naine’s youngest child.
Axan jabbed a blunt finger in Torkel’s direction, barely missing Faye’s face. She jerked away and this time leaned her full weight into his side. Torkel growled.
But Axan continued. “I saw them talking before she chose. He must have bribed her.”
Quiet settled over the remaining crowd. The other women and their Chosen waited and watched outside the ring. Torkel would have laughed outright if not for the egregious charge.
Conra quirked a brow at Torkel. “A serious claim indeed. Torkel did you violate order and speak before the choosing.”
Merlyn bit hard on her bottom lip, eyes on him. Naine’s gaze darkened with sympathy. Torkel tensed as the press of the silence from the crowd weighed down on him. Honor demanded he admit the truth. They had exchanged words but nothing that could have swayed her in his favor.
“I asked how to choose him,” Faye blurted.
All eyes went to her.
“The instructions just said to give our medallion but,” she raised her arms pulling Torkel’s with her. “I didn’t know what to do.”
More murmurs among the three members of the Commission. Torkel’s heart swelled at her defense of him.
Axan glared at Torkel and spoke in Enotian. “You will not have her.”
Torkel flexed his hands. This was Axan’s second year. He was fairly young and arrogant from what Torkel heard. To challenge him however would make Torkel look the villain. Axan wouldn’t last five minutes in battle against Torkel. Fists or weapons.
“It is for the woman to choose,” he stated to Axan.
Axan’s tanned face burned bright red. He fisted his hands at his side. “She is mistaken.”
“What’s he saying?” Faye asked, tapping his mid-section.
Torkel flinched from the contact and glanced down. She had such tiny hands. “He disagrees with your right to choose.”
Her shiny bow-shaped lips parted. Brows slanted down in determination as she stepped even closer to Torkel. Her proximity and delicate fragrance was having a notable reaction on his body. He cursed the lightweight of the loitte he wore.
“We will ask the woman again,” Conra announced. “It is only fair to make sure her decision was not coerced.”
People gasped and the heat of embarrassment filled Torkel’s face. Axan smirked and folded his arms across his chest as if sure of his victory. The tide in the crowd shifted. Many nodded in approval. The visible evidence of their relief angered Torkel. All he did for his world. The battles he fought. Was it so hard to believe a female would want him?
“Do you agree, Torkel?” Merlyn asked in a soft voice that carried.
Torkel released Faye’s hand. He could refuse but people would always question his honor. They would whisper that he cheated. Faye’s head tipped up, her brows raised in question because the assembly spoke in their native language. Confusion darkened her eyes but Torkel blocked his desire to soothe her. It was better to remain distant in case she chose Axan. “I agree.”
Faye looked bewildered, her gaze going from him then back to the Commission.
“Faye Reid, Axan Bular has questioned the choosing. We ask you to choose again.” Conra used Standard and Faye understood every word by the widening of her eyes.
Her body brushed against his, her fingers reaching out to Torkel but he kept his hands to his side. At the brief look of disappointment on her face, his throat tightened. Already his emotions were engaged.
“Do I have to pick him?”
Her voice was sweet. A different cadence compared to the guttural tones of Enotia. Torkel could imagine it calming him at night as they spent the evenings together. He would love to spend his down time with nothing but the gentle notes of this female’s voice in his ears
“You don’t have to pick Torkel Alonson if there was a mistake.” Conra and the others frowned.
Axan’s triumphant smile spread over his mouth. “The female chose me.” He gripped her upper arm but Faye pulled away and ducked to the other side of Torkel.
Axan cursed and made to follow.
Torkel shifted his weight, blocking Axan from pursuing her even as he mourned the brief moment of happiness from thinking he’d finally found a woman to spend his life with.
“Move aside, Torkel. Allow me to claim my Chosen or forfeit your honor.”
Anger burned in his chest. All heard Axan’s challenge and people were on their feet. Some screamed out Axan’s name, others hissed in Torkel’s direction but it was the bright spark of red at the edge of his vision that caught his eye. The distinctive red uniforms of Jutak warriors stood out among the browns and green of the crowd. His friends and teammates pushed to the edge of the stone barrier. Team One. He’d told them not to come.
Torkel bowed his head reluctantly. He would not cause a scene. “Of course, Axan.”
He forced his feet to move and cleared a path to the female he’d had if only for a moment. Thickness coated his throat as he headed toward the exit. His team mates eyed him with pity. They knew this was his last year for presentation and understood his reasons for not wanting to participate again. Most of them were Enotians. Those that weren’t at least had decent ancestry. He alone was of Marenian birth among their ranks. All his life he’d fought the stereotype of his people yet in this he would always be considered unwanted.
“Hey. Wait!”
Torkel ignored the woman’s voice and walked faster.
“You must return the medallion, Torkel the unwanted,” Axan called out.
Torkel paused at the edges of the sand. His hand went to the medallion the female had placed around his neck. Once he crossed the threshold it would be official. He would no longer be eligible for choosing.
Axan’s taunt was meant to insight his anger. Maybe have him snap to prove he was an evil monster like other Marenians. He’d never let Shaya and Marlin down by displaying the behavior of a Marenian.
“Get off, you oaf. Torkel, please.”
Torkel turned in time to see Faye kick Axan in the leg and dodge his arms. She raced in his direction, her hands gripping the hem of the cloak to lift it. Her feet slipped and she went to her knees. Axan chased behind her and grabbed her by her loose hair.
It was her scream that relea
sed him from his amazement at the tableau taking place in front of him. His muscles began to swell and harden in preparation for battle.
Chapter 4
Faye didn’t understand what was going on and the man she’d Chosen barely glanced at her when she questioned the proceedings. Why was it taking so long? The other women had chosen and now watched outside the stone barriers with their men.
Torkel moved away from her and the little weasel on the other side of her grabbed her arms pinching the flesh. Faye jerked back from him and put herself on the other side of Torkel. He was her husband or Chosen which meant he had to protect her.
The other man shot her a hate-filled look from his blue eyes and came after her while her Chosen walked further away. Faye’s eyes bugged. People stared.
“Hey. Wait!”
The brochure hadn’t covered this but her Chosen didn’t stop or glance back.
“You belong to me, now. After I punish you for shaming me, I’ll enjoy your lush body,” the man harshly whispered in her ear.
At the implied threat, her pulse kicked up a notch. When he grabbed her upper arm and dug his fingers into her tender flesh, Faye cried out in pain. Ignoring her, his lips curled at one corner as he snarled. “You must return the medallion, Torkel the unwanted.”
Now he pissed her off. “Get off, you oaf. Torkel, please.”
The man wrenched her arm behind her back. Faye lost her temper and kicked him. Hard. He released her and she charged after Torkel.
She almost reached him when she tripped and fell to her knees. Something snagged on her hair and wrenched her head back. Faye cried out as tears welled. The brute’s breath scraped against her face smelling of sewage. This wasn’t how it was supposed to be. What barbaric practice allowed a man to abuse the women who wanted to be with them?
Her scalp burned but the man wouldn’t let go. He tightened his grasp until she thought he’d yank the strands from her scalp.
A loud roar jerked her head up. Torkel flew across the sand, his face a mask of rage.
The man managed to get Faye to her feet but with hope reborn, Faye slipped from the cloak and his hold, then jumped for Torkel. He caught her mid-air and spun on his heels, keeping her well out of the crazy dude’s reach.
Screams and shouts poured out. The entire place was in an uproar.
“Halt!”
Faye wrapped her arms around Torkel’s broad shoulders and ducked her face into his neck. She shook hard enough that he had to adjust his hold on her and lift her higher against the reassuring heat of his chest.
What was wrong with this alien planet? Tears ran down her cheeks. “What’s going on, Torkel? I chose you. I chose you.”
Axan yelled but she couldn’t make out his words.
“Enough,” another voice shouted.
Faye dared to lift her head. Men in red uniforms blocked the other man from her and Torkel. Face red with fury, he kicked up sand every few steps as he tried to circumvent the human wall barring him.
Torkel glanced down. “Axan is out of control. He protested the choosing and you agreed.”
Faye leaned back to see Torkel’s face without the sun in her eyes. “No, I didn’t.”
His lips pressed tight together for a moment before he spoke again. “Faye, when Conra ask-”
“Torkel Alonson, bring the female forward.”
He didn’t get to finish what he was about to say. Two men and a woman in black robes stood on the sand. Silence reigned.
“Never have I seen such a display,” the woman hissed.
Her blonde hair curled in ringlets about her head. The features of her face were delicate enough to get her a role in one of those ice shows as a princess.
“I must agree with Merlyn.” This from the man at her side.
“I second that,” said the man with the gray braid though his blue eyes twinkled.
“Faye Reid, you have caused a stir in one of the oldest traditions on our planet,” said Merlyn.
“He attacked me.” Faye rolled up her sleeve to show the purple bruises already forming.
Torkel growled.
“You will keep calm, Torkel Alonson or your maman will deal with you.”
To her surprise the tough guy quieted at the woman’s admonishment.
“I am Naine. We don’t harm females who come to the choosing. For that, Axan will receive a sufficient fine.” The first man looked sad and disappointed.
“I’m Conra, the head of the Commission. We ask again who is your Chosen, Faye Reid?”
“Torkel. I only chose Torkel.”
They all nodded. “Then the matter is finished.”
“No,” Axan screamed. “She is a human from Earth. He doesn’t deserve the rare treasure.”
“The presentation is now over. Torkel, I trust you and your men can get your Chosen home safely.”
“Yes.” Torkel’s deep voice rumbled beneath her ear.
***
Faye found herself bundled off into a hover car with men seated on both sides of her. Worried that something else could go wrong, she’d refused to let go of Torkel and spent the entire ride in his lap. A very comfortable lap and for once she didn’t think about how round her butt was or how she might be too heavy for a man.
The four men with them all wore red uniforms that fit tightly over their bodies without being obscene. Each time she looked up from Torkel’s chest, she found herself the object of their attention. The feeling disconcerted her.
They arrived at a multi-level structure in grey stone that reminded her of a business complex. The men exited first then cleared the way for Torkel, who had to bend low to climb out with her in his arms. Neither of them spoke on the ride but at least he hadn’t tried to move her.
“Can she walk or are her legs damaged?” One of the red uniformed men asked.
“She can walk, Jaron,” Torkel said.
“Maybe Axan hurt her when he tackled her on the sand,” another murmured, his blue eyes vigilant as he unholstered his blaster and kept it pointed down by his thigh as if prepared for an attack.
Torkel stiffened and his pace quickened as they entered the building. “Page medical and have the doctor sent up.”
“I’m fine.” Faye didn’t think she needed medical intervention.
Torkel barely spared her a glance. “Axan left bruises on you. The doctor will take care of it.”
And that was that.
Content in his arms and since he didn’t complain, Faye didn’t demand to be let down. The lobby of the well-lit building was empty. Echoes from the boots the men wore bounced off the white walls. No furniture or carpets on the tiled floors. Maybe it was a ghost town or this was everyone’s day off. When they reached the elevators, Torkel had to turn to the side to enter as all of them crammed in the small space.
Faye peeked over Torkel’s shoulders to find four sets of eyes on her. She swallowed her nerves. “Hi.”
The one Torkel referred to as Jaron smiled. “Are you really a human from Earth?”
She nodded, bumping her head on Torkel’s jaw.
“Are all Earth women as troublesome as you?” Unlike the other three, this man was closer to Torkel’s height and had light brown hair instead of blond like the others.
“I don’t know about all Earth women but I didn’t start the trouble.”
“Actually you did,” Jaron protested. “Arak, Geile, Gregir and I came late to the presentation but everyone heard you renounce Torkel.”
Faye struggled in Torkel’s arms. “Put me down.” She pushed at his arm. “Please.”
He lowered her carefully to her feet but kept an arm around her shoulders.
“I chose Torkel. I gave him the necklace they handed out.”
Jaron’s brow pinched. “Necklace?”
“Medallion,” Torkel filled in, staring forward at the doors of the elevator.
Had she done something to anger him?
The brown haired man spoke up. “When the Commission asked you to choose again, you said-”
“Do I have to pick him?” Faye repeated. She remembered what she said because she’d been frightened to death.
Now all four glared but Torkel didn’t turn.
“I meant the jerk. Not Torkel. I thought they were forcing me to change my mind.” Faye faced Torkel and pulled his head down by gripping his chin. “You believe me, right? I didn’t want the other guy.”
“What is a jerk?” Jaron asked.
Faye ignored him. “Torkel?”
He finally faced her and when he did his tone was as flat as she’d ever heard someone speak. “It would have been okay if you changed your mind. I would not have held you to your mistake.”
His words hit hard for some reason. “I didn’t make a mistake. I wanted only you.”
The elevator doors opened to a narrow hallway with thick grey carpet on the floor. There was only room for two men side by side. Torkel walked beside her while two others walked ahead and two followed behind. Faye remembered what the man from the Commission had said.
“Am I in danger?”
“As your Chosen, I will see you safe.” Torkel kept walking, his bare feet silent.
“Oh my God, you don’t have on shoes.” Faye skipped to keep up but he ignored her as he entered a room behind the guys who’d been in the lead.
Faye froze, only half noticing the two guys who gently moved her out their way to enter. At least ten stares pinned her to the spot. Men standing, some sprawled on lounge chairs and a few others around the room played a game on a low round table. It wasn’t until Torkel reached the center of the room that he realized she wasn’t with him. The look he cast in her direction displayed patience. Torkel came back over to lead Faye all of the way into the room.
“This is my Chosen, Faye Reid. She is deserving of your respect.” Torkel announced to the room. He pointed to the men who’d accompanied them. “This is Jaron, the dark-haired one is Arak. Geile and Gregir traveled with us also.”
Torkel kept both her hands in his and spoke clearly. “That was not a typical presentation. I want to make you welcome but I wish to change clothes first. Then we can talk about any concerns you have.” His fingers brushed over her knuckles. “Will you give me a few moments?”
Torkel's Chosen: A World Beyond Book 1 Page 3
