Stardancer

by Ariel MacArran

He shook his head. “I was with Cenna. I asked for her help to regain the Tellaran crews, yours and your brother’s. I thought, did I so, you would forgive me.”

  Kinara frowned. “With Cenna?”

  “Ask my foster-sister, if you will. She had many Tellaran slaves to bring to you, did she not? I had hoped to gather all of them for you.”

  Kinara wet her lips. “You lied to me before. Maybe you’re lying now.”

  He closed his eyes briefly. “I cannot say how sorry I am for what did. I am so deeply shamed by it, I cannot tell you.” She could see him swallow. “I should have told you about your brother’s ship. But the way you looked at me, when you thought me his avenger . . . I could not bear to lose that light in your eyes. I tried many times to regain Nisara but Dael loved her so, he would not hear of it. And . . . Kyndan, I thought,” he said his voice very low. “I thought, did you know he lived, you would return home with him and I would lose you forever.”

  “So,” Kinara said hesitantly. “You and Senya aren’t lovers?”

  He took her hand in his own warm broad one. “You and I are bound, Cy’atta,” he said gently. “I cannot take another.”

  All those crude jokes she’d heard about Az-kye bound mates— “Uh, what do you mean, ‘cannot’?”

  He looked at her meaningfully. “Cannot.”

  “You mean that’s for real? Not with anyone else?” Kinara glanced down. “Really cannot?”

  His face flushed. “Really.”

  “Oh,” Kinara murmured, drawing out the word. She hadn’t been attracted to any other man since then either but she hadn’t given it much thought. “Wow.”

  “I was not with Senya.”

  Kinara held up her hand. “Okay, no, I believe you. Not with Senya.”

  And maybe I really should take the time to ask a couple questions before I rush into things from now on.

  I wonder if Tedah knew before he and Lianna—

  Kinara cleared her throat. “Um, how long does this bound thing last anyway?”

  “I heard but I could not believe . . .” He shook his head, his dark eyes troubled. “Truly then, Tellarans do not do this?”

  “Uh, no,” Kinara said. “Trust me, Tellarans don’t have anything like this.”

  “Lashima’s sacred gift is not to be abused.” He searched her face. “I would not have bound with you if I knew you did not understand it was for life.”

  “No,” Kinara said softly. “No, it’s okay.” She shook her head. “Wait, you and Malm fought over me. I mean, if this is for life then why bother? I’d still be yours no matter what, right?”

  He frowned. “It is very rare but if a binding brings great suffering the High Priestess may consent to undo it. That is why challenge is done in the Circle, why you watch. To know me dead is another way you are unbound, free to choose another mate.” He gave a rueful smile. “I hope, did I lose, you would have chosen one more worthy than Malm.”

  He looked down at her fingers intertwined with his. “I thought that to choose another was what you wished that day,” he said quietly. “Until you reached for me and gave me hope again.”

  The feel of his damp palm, the hurt in his eyes. Now, months later, she finally understood the depth and breadth of what he’d pledged to her, what he’d given, his whole life, his utter faithfulness, leadership of his clan but that first morning after they were bound . . .

  I looked into those beautiful dark eyes and told him to keep his filthy Az-kye hands off me.

  “Oh,” Kinara said, hot tears stinging her eyes. “Oh, I’m so sorry!”

  His brow creased. “Why do you say this?”

  “Are you kidding? Sneaking out in a bathrobe, shouting at you, calling you names—” Kinara swallowed hard. “Gods, I must have been the worst Az-kye mate ever.”

  “Think you I ever regretted it?” He touched her hair. “I have loved you since the first moment you looked at me, Cy’atta. I was yours before I bound my life to you.”

  “You love me?” she breathed. “But, I mean, you never said—”

  But he had, hadn’t he? In everything he’d done, right and wrong, he’d practically been shouting that he loved her.

  I was just too blind to see it.

  He loves me.

  Oh gods, he loves me!

  Caught now between smiling and tears she slid her arms around him to draw him close. “We don’t have a lot of time but I think, in the time we do have, I’m going to make the most of this bound stuff.”

  “We have always.” He bent to kiss her, his dark eyes velvet soft. “I am yours forever, Cy’atta.”

  Kinara stood behind Aidar on the bridge of the Ty’pran gripping the rail for balance. He occupied the command position at the apex of the circular bridge. With typical Az-kye symbolism, he kept his body placed protectively in front of hers.

  And I can’t see a blasted thing!

  She had to lean to the right, craning her neck around his shoulder, to see the viewscreen at all. Her damp palms tightened on the rail as she got her first look at the Tellaran force.

  Damn it, damn it, damn it!

  No less than four Armada class ships, each with two Viper class ships flying escort. She recognized all but one. The Revenge was newer than the rest of the Vipers, and must have been completed while she had been in Az-kye territory.

  She called up the specs on her display and swallowed hard.

  Kyndan’s ship was only the first of the Viper class to be fitted with weapons heavy enough to cut through Az-kye shields and armor. The other ships had all been altered to carry the same heavy cannons. To make up for the power drain those ships would sacrifice speed and maneuverability.

  The Revenge was the only ship that could maintain all three.

  That’s what they’ll throw against the Ty’pran.

  “Any response to our demand that they leave Az-kye space?” Kinara asked.

  “No,” Aidar said grimly. “They continue to advance.”

  Their eyes met.

  Kinara gave a reluctant nod. “Remember, hit and fade. For this to work our forces need to break their formation and draw the Tellaran ships farther into Az-kye space.”

  “Command the Tar’in to make a pass on the lead ship,” Aidar informed the communications officer.

  The Tar’in darted forward. It fired a brief volley on the Revenge and plunged into the midst of the Tellaran force firing wildly.

  “Command the other wing ship forward,” Aidar said.

  Kinara felt the gaze of the warriors on her. It was against all Az-kye tradition that the Ty’pran did not lead the battle. It was shocking they did not join the fight now that it had begun.

  She threw them an impatient glance. You guys want to win or not?

  Their wing ship was taking heavy fire from the Armada class Night Song, but their position protected them from the brunt of the Viper’s weapons. The Tellarans could not fire the heavy cannons without risking hitting their own ships.

  The Viper, Sertarian, leapt forward, spraying fire. Arin Rentar must be commanding the Sertarian. Only he would be impatiently jump forward like that.

  Kinara smiled grimly, imagining how the Sertarian’s communication center had lit up with angry demands from the High Commander for Rentar to get his butt back into formation.

  That’s one. We just need to break the rest of their line. And keep the Revenge from turning its sights on the Ty’pran.

  The Ty’pran returned fire on the Revenge driving it, too, out of formation. Another Az-kye ship joined the fight to catch the Revenge between the two. Kinara’s hand tightened on the rail. She knew these people. She knew what they would do.

  She had to be right.

  Come on! Come on!

  She held her breath waiting for the telltale movement and slowly the Revenge turned its sights on Kinara’s guard ship. Given the angle of the Az-kye ships, the Revenge would have to choose only one target.

  It chose the wrong one, and fell right into the trap.

  “Now,” Kin
ara said. Aidar sent the order calling in the other Az-kye ships to the battle.

  The Ty’pran took fire as another Viper attempted a pass. Aidar began to order the Ty’pran to pursue. Kinara caught his arm.

  “No, that’s the Crystal Fall. That’s Herlon’s ship. Let him go, Aidar, he’s trying to draw you off.”

  Aidar looked back at the viewscreen. “There is another Viper coming in.”

  Kinara nodded. “We’ve got to hold them off until the other ships arrive.”

  Maybe I shouldn’t have kept those ships so far behind the main force.

  As if to underscore that thought the Ty’pran pitched again under the Tellaran barrage.

  Aidar was snapping off orders. Kinara watched, sick, as one of the Az-kye ships was pounded. They needed support and they needed it now, but her whole plan relied on the Ty’pran holding position here.

  “The Qu’dara is coming in!”

  Kinara’s head came up at the communications officer’s announcement. “Send them in to assist!” she ordered.

  Aidar returned another volley from the Viper. The Viper was knocked sideways by heavy cannon fire as yet another Az-kye ship joined the fight. The Az-kye ships were too close for the Armada class ships to use their weapons effectively and their quick hit and run attack was the last thing that the Tellarans expected.

  The heavy cannons they needed to pierce Az-kye defenses were useless if the Az-kye ships didn’t stay put. It would take three Tellaran ships to keep one Az-kye vessel under control. Her forces’ quick volleys were making it difficult for Tellarans to stay in any kind of defensive formation let alone chase the Az-kye ships down.

  Once their guard ship had the Viper occupied, Aidar ordered the Ty’pran forward, taking a beating as they passed just as the other Az-kye ships fell farther back. The Ty’pran concentrated fire on the Armada class Sun Dragon as the other Tellaran ships pursued the Az-kye ships into their own space.

  Had Kinara been in command of the Sun Dragon she would have done the same thing. Everyone knew Az-kye didn’t pull back unless they were defeated. The High Commander ordered the other ships to give pursuit and destroy the fleeing Az-kye ships. Once the Tellaran ships had taken out the Az-kye force they would turn back and their combined power would make short work of even a warship like the Ty’pran.

  But those Tellaran ships wouldn’t be coming back.

  Kinara had six more Az-kye warships waiting for them just out of sensor range. By the time the Tellarans realized they had been tricked, this would all be over.

  Kinara forced herself to breathe as she watched the Tellaran High Commander’s ship under the onslaught of Az-kye weapons. The Sun Dragon was a good ship. It could take this beating.

  She swallowed hard. How long can I let this go on?

  A barrage of laser cannon blasts hit the Tellaran command ship, knocking it sideways. The ship turned, trying to keep the missiles from its damaged starboard side. There was a brief glow of blue energy around the ship as the shields collapsed.

  The Sun Dragon drifted resembling nothing more than a child’s discarded toy. Kinara shakily wiped her palms against her skirt.

  Aidar’s gaze met hers. “They are disabled.”

  She looked at the viewscreen again. “Send an armed scout shuttle towards the command ship. Tell them to stay ready to make a run for it into open space.”

  He raised an eyebrow but gave the order.

  Kinara waited tensely while the shuttle was launched.

  A few more moments . . .

  The shuttle was nearly between the two ships now. The Ty’pran’s heavy cannons could not fire at the Sun Dragon with their own shuttle between the ships.

  The shuttle was right at the center.

  “Tell them to head for open space now!” Kinara cried. “Increase the port shielding. Fire the second the shuttle is away.”

  The shuttle ran for open space and coming just a moment too late was the attack from the Sun Dragon. The missiles from the Tellaran ship missed the shuttle and struck the Ty’pran but did no real damage. The weapons officer, now having a clear target, nailed the hidden guns under the Sun Dragon’s hull.

  Kinara could see the explosions along the Sun Dragon’s belly as the guns were destroyed. Every eye on the bridge turned to Kinara.

  “Now they’re disabled,” she said to Aidar then turned to the communications officer. “Hail the Sun Dragon. Tell them we are willing to discuss terms for their surrender.”

  The communications officer acknowledged her order with a nod.

  She couldn’t stay here while they contacted the Tellaran Admiral and she sure as hell couldn’t fall apart in front of her warriors. Her trembling started the moment the door to the bridge slid shut behind her. She waved her personal guards away and they did not protest.

  But then, she knew he would follow her.

  “Not bad, huh?” she asked shakily, stopping so Aidar could catch up. “For someone who was due to enter academy training next year anyway.”

  “I thought –” He broke off, shaking his head.

  “You didn’t think I’d give the order fire on the Tellaran ships. To be honest, I wondered whether I would too.” She gave him a half-smile. “I guess I’m a lot more Az-kye than either one of us thought.”

  “What will you do now?”

  She swallowed. “I’ll get the Tellaran Admiral to surrender himself to us.”

  “You will bring him back to Az-kye?”

  Her head snapped up. “No! This ends now. He’ll withdraw his forces from Az-kye space and the Tellarans on the Ty’pran go with them. My people are going home.”

  His dark eyes were bare with emotion as he searched her face. “And you, beloved? What will you do?”

  A violent collision against the hull jarred the ship and cut off her reply.

  Kinara caught herself against the wall in an effort to stay upright as the deck bucked under her feet. Aidar was already running back to the bridge. Kinara plunged after him, cursing her elaborate clothing. Sirens screamed through the ship. One glance at the displays confirmed her fears. The ship was losing atmosphere.

  “What’s happening?” she demanded.

  The communication officer was frowning at his console. “The Tellarans agreed to surrender but then they resumed fire.”

  “How have they resumed fire?” Aidar asked, turning his eyes to Dren, his weapons officer.

  “I do not know,” Dren replied. His fingers flew over the controls. “They should not have had the power to do so.”

  Kinara all but pushed him aside to look at the displays. What she saw made her heart jump.

  “Hold on!” she shouted.

  It seemed to Kinara that the Ty’pran screamed as the discharge from the Sun Dragon’s heavy cannons tore through her hull.

  Kinara stood behind Aidar on the bridge of the Ty’pran gripping the rail Kinara came to, coughing violently. Smoke filled the bridge. Strong hands, Aidar’s hands, clasped her from behind, pulling her up. She stumbled, her feet caught in her skirt. He pulled her out into the hall and she was dizzy with the need for oxygen.

  He half-carried, half-dragged her forward. She clung to Aidar, grateful the lights here still worked. Klaxons beat through the hallways with a high shrill sound.

  The body of one of her guards lay across the doorway to the bridge. Yentek, Kinara thought dully. Aidar had recommended him as both strong and clever. In her mind she could see Yentek playing with his children at the Az’anti estate.

  “We must hurry, Cy’atta. The Tellaran ship is moving in, they are going to board.”

  Kinara shook her head. “There were heavy cannons under the forward shields too, Aidar. I should have known.”

  He swung her into his arms. “We must reach one of the shuttles.”

  Her arms went instinctively around his neck, her head aching as his long strides jostled her. There’s something about being on a ship dead in space, something you can feel in your bones.

  Wait, what about—

&n
bsp; “I’ve got to get below and get everyone out!” she cried. “Oh, gods, they’ll be trapped down there!”

  “The Tellarans will be boarding,” he said shortly. “They will tend to their own.”

  “They don’t even know they’re here!” She pushed against his hold. “They won’t look. I’ve got to get down there!”

  He hesitated then gently put her on her feet.

  “Get to a shuttle,” he said, giving her a nudge in that direction. “I will tend to the Tellarans.”

  Her eyes met his and he sighed.

  “Well did I know you would not obey me.”

  She managed a smile. “Wouldn’t want me to change now, would you?”

  He muttered something under his breath and she concentrated on keeping up with him.

  Her pounding heart made the pain in her head worse. The air was foul. Twice Aidar lifted her over debris. She swallowed hard at the sight of her wounded warriors. She sent the able bodied Az-kye back to help and she was adamant they take the injured and seek their own shuttles.

  Aidar stopped abruptly and Kinara felt the vibration under her feet too.

  “They are boarding.” Aidar pulled her along. “We must hurry!”

  Kinara forced herself into a run. The lights flickered, then came on again as systems struggled to keep the ship habitable. She skidded to a halt in front of the holding room, slapping her palm against the doorpad. She hit the pad again.

  The door refused to open.

  Tears of pure frustration welled up in her eyes as she pounded on the door. Faintly she heard a sound from the other side.

  Aidar urged her aside. He gripped the door edge with his fingers and bared his teeth as he strained. The door began to move. Hands on the other side of the door joined Aidar’s efforts. In another moment the opening was wide enough for Kinara to slip inside.

  “What’s happening?” Kyndan demanded the instant she was through.

  “The Sun Dragon is linked with the Ty’pran,” she said to the assembled Tellarans.

  “They’re boarding?” Tedah asked sharply.

  Kinara nodded. “They didn’t give me a chance to let them know you were here. We have to get you over to the Sun Dragon.”