Ardal handed over the device that looked like a miniature tablet. Jehon leaned over the object, using his one arm to hide it from others. Within seconds his fingers were dancing around the screen followed by a blur of color and noises.
“Jehon is an expert with machines.” Ardal’s voice was low. “He will not make a mistake.”
Fiona sighed. She was way too tense. Too much had happened in the last twelve hours, never mind spending the last six months of her life in hiding. Worrying was wasted energy. Energy she’d need later if today was any indication.
“How do your people read?” Fiona leaned her head back. “Do you use letters like we do?”
“Our language is a combination of symbols and images. It was given to us by the ancients.”
“Who are the ancients?” Fiona traced her finger around a water ring on the table.
***
Ardal watched the light play across Fiona’s features. She was truly beautiful. It had been a mistake to bring her into a place with so many men. There was the odd woman eating, but they paled in comparison to Fiona. Beauty such as hers would make men forget themselves, especially on a planet that had no rules to control men.
She was a brave woman. Despite the fright she must have had from the man at the entrance, she was now trying to relax. Questions about his home land would take her mind off the problems they were facing. Despite being quite a distance from the farm, he knew that it was only a matter of time before the military noticed that they’d left. Then the search would begin again.
“The ancients were a group of men and women who set out the rules for our people.” Ardal kept his voice low. “They decided that women were the most suited to rule and that men should be their mates.”
“So you have left your mates on your home planet.” Fiona turned around and looked at him, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “Do you have any children?”
Firbin moved forward as if to speak, but Ardal lifted his hand. He would explain all to Fiona. It was his right as leader and also his desire. He was connected to her in a way that had never happened to him before. She must know that even though he was attracted to her, he would not take advantage of that.
“Hunters are not permitted to mate.”
“Never?” Fiona glanced at the other men at the table. “None of you have a wife or children?”
“No.”
Fiona frowned and then shook her head. “How do you get new Hunters?”
“We were bred in birthing chambers. Our genes were chosen so that we would be the best possible Hunters.” Ardal’s jaw tightened as flashes of his early life bombarded him. “Then we were raised to fight.”
“You had no childhood?” Fiona’s words were a whisper.
“It was necessary to make great Hunters.”
“Why can’t you have a wife or children?” Fiona’s frowned. “That has nothing to do with being a Hunter.”
“We do not have such things on our planet.”
“Nobody does?”
“The Kaladin choose mates as they desire, but they are not permanent. A Hunter was forbidden to mate.” Ardal watched horror, revulsion, and then sadness play across Fiona’s face. She hid nothing. “How do you do it on earth?”
Her eyes softened. “Two people fall in love and then marry. If they wish, they have children and raise them. They form a family.
“So you have this?”
“No.” Her chest heaved on a sigh. “Some people mistake power and possession for love. They think that they own the other person and will do everything possible to keep that person.”
“This David thinks he owns you.”
Fiona shook her head. “He’s sick. We dated a couple of times. It was enough for me.” Fiona raised her hand to push her hair off her face. “I didn’t want to go out with him, but he insisted on dinner.
“You mated after this meal?” Firbin leaned closer to Fiona, his eyes wide with interest.
Ardal fought to control the surge of anger that flowed through his body. The thought of Fiona with this faceless David was enough to make him want to kill. He clenched his fists and fought the urge to pound them through the table.
“What kind of girl do you think I am?” Fiona’s indignation and anger broke through Ardal’s thoughts.
“What did I say wrong?” Firbin frowned.
“You think I have sex with every man I meet?”
Fiona’s voice was loud enough for the people in the next table to glance over. Ardal forced a smile and then reached for her hand. He touched her, unprepared for the sizzle of intensity that shot through his arm. Fiona seemed to feel it also because her eyes widened and she looked down at their joined hands.
“We are trying to understand how your world works.” Ardal kept his voice low, stating each word slowly. “On Cygnus, women mate frequently with men they just meet.”
“I’m sorry.” Fiona’s hand fluttered beneath his. “I’m causing a scene, but whenever I think of him, my body crawls with disgust. I didn’t encourage him, but he wouldn’t leave me alone. When I said no, he forced himself.”
Firbin gasped and Jehon looked up from the communicator. Ardal squeezed Fiona’s hand. He had never come across this before. Men on his planet lived to please their women, not harm them. That was one of the reasons Hunters could not mate. Their training and genetics meant that the Ancients feared that they would not be able control their emotions.
Firbin was the first to speak. “He hurt you?”
Fiona nodded and then looked down. “He’s insane.”
“We have sworn to protect you.” Jehon spoke with force. “There is no need to worry.”
“Knowing that you’re safe and feeling safe aren’t the same thing.” Fiona gave a Jehon a crooked smile.
With sudden insight, Ardal understood. She was like a wounded animal seeking shelter. A man had done this to her so only a man could fix it. No matter how frustrating or irrational her demands, he must ensure that they were followed. Showing that he and his men would not hurt her was the first step to getting her to trust them.
Just then the waiter brought them their meals. Ardal looked down at the steak that she had ordered and picked up his fork and knife. The first bite told him that she had chosen well. He was used to going without food for days at a time, but it was best to take advantage of this opportunity. Fiona had been right to stop.
“Your food is good.”
Ardal watched as Firbin ate with the enthusiasm of the young. Had he ever eaten without a care? Probably in the days before leadership and responsibility had taken their toll. Now he could only focus on how to get his men and Fiona to a safe place. Fiona required watching. Just walking into the diner had created a situation.
He had reacted without considering the consequences. This was not part of his training, but he did not regret his actions. A Hunter kept his word and never retreated. This world had strange rules, ones that caused harm to the innocent and favored the strong. But was that different from Cygnus?
Centuries of harmony meant Kaladin rule had never been questioned. The use of warriors was restricted to other planets. Hunters were seldom allowed on Cygnus. The Kaladin did not want to be reminded that violence was used to protect them. They considered themselves a peaceful people.
He had come to terms with this when he was a young man. He did not think less of the people who gave the orders. It was not his place to judge, only to obey. Now there were no orders to follow. He must assess this world and make the decisions that would give his men honor and still let them live as they had been bred.
“Do you want dessert?” Fiona leaned back and patted her stomach. “I’m full, but I never pass up the opportunity of dessert.”
Ardal smiled. It looked as if Fiona had forgotten her earlier upset. “What is dessert?”
“Well, it could be healthy like fruit, or bad like chocolate.”
“Chocolate.” Firbin enthused.
Fiona leaned forward and motioned to the waiter. “Four choco
late cheesecakes and coffees. We’ll have a little bad with good.”
The first bite of cheesecake was a surprise. It was a velvety smoothness that held a bit of tartness with the sweet of chocolate. Fiona was right. It was a bit of bad and a bit of good. Perhaps that was how life on this planet was going to be. He never thought about good or bad, only doing his duty.
“Who else will be chasing us?” The words were out before he could stop them.
Fiona swallowed and pointed her fork at him. “Just about everybody.”
“Could you narrow that?”
“Well, the military you already know about. We’re lucky if we get away from law enforcement, but somehow I think the way you tossed that biker is on a security camera somewhere. Who knows where that will show up? Probably on the Internet.”
“Explain Internet.”
“That’s where the computers can access all kinds of information. People, places, pictures, and words and then others can look at it.” Fiona took another bite and closed her eyes.
“How do we close down this Internet?”
Fiona choked. She coughed for several seconds before taking a sip of water. “You can’t shut down the internet. Too many people and businesses all over the world use it.”
“So what you can’t defeat, you use.” This was one of the rules of the Warrior Code. There was wisdom in the code. Even in this strange land it would help him make decisions. “How do we use the Internet?”
“You can start with a website, but you’d have to have something to put on it.”
“Can we ensure that others do not use it to find us?”
Fiona shrugged. “No. The best thing is to keep a low profile.” Fiona took another bite of her desert. “I’ll tell you one thing though, once the ufologists get wind of the crash, they’re going to be crawling around looking for evidence of aliens.”
Ardal took a deep breath. Would this world ever make any sense? “What is a ufologist?”
“People who hunt UFOs.”
“And that is?” Ardal prodded.
“It’s an unidentified flying object.” Fiona shrugged. “Extra-terrestrials or aliens. They’re obsessed with them. They have magazines, television shows, and tons of stuff about them on the Internet.”
So people on this planet searched for people from other planets. “How many aliens have landed here?”
Fiona took her last bite and then pulled the cup with dark liquid toward her. She poured in white liquid, pursed her lips, and took a sip. She sighed and put the cup back on the table before looking at him.
“Most sane people don’t believe aliens exist.”
“So there are none?”
“I’m not so sure now.” Fiona bit her lip. “I think the people who believe in them might be saner than the rest of us.”
“So we must find these others. They may help us.” Firbin leaned forward on the table.
“They may harm us.” Jehon’s gaze did not leave Ardal.
They had been through many battles together and he trusted Jehon’s instinct. His own gut told him that it might be dangerous to try and find others. Who knew where they were from? They might be enemies, or they might be searchers looking for Hunters.
“Jehon is right.” Ardal took a sip of the dark liquid. Heat burned its way down his throat. “To keep your enemy unaware is the best defense.”
“We keep a low profile.” Ardal gave his men a steady look. There was no further need to elaborate. They understood and would obey.
He took another sip of his drink. “What is this?”
“Coffee.” Fiona grinned. “It has caffeine in it. It sort of speeds the body up and keeps you awake.”
“An enhancer?”
Fiona frowned. “That’s one way of putting it. What’s an enhancer?”
“Chemicals or devices used to improve our performance.”
“Drugs?” Fiona’s voice held a note of shock.
Ardal shrugged. Enhancers were a part of his life. Whether he ingested them or they were implanted. A Hunter used whatever means necessary to achieve his goal. He did not fail.
“We use what helps us succeed.”
“That sounds so cold-blooded.” Fiona shivered and then took another sip of coffee. “The worst thing that coffee will do is keep you awake at night.”
“Then it has a use.” Ardal finished his cup. “Let us leave.”
They gathered their stuff and stood. Out of the corner of his eye he noticed the bikers scramble out of the restaurant. That could only mean trouble. He made a move to follow them outside, but Fiona put her hand on his arm.
She handed him money. “Sometimes it looks better if the man pays.”
Ardal felt a tightening in his chest. In the past women relied on him to protect them and to obey. Never had he been asked to step forward and take on a woman’s role. He glanced at Jehon and Firbin, who were both frowning. This planet was upside down, but it was going to be their home. He had better get used to it.
Ardal nodded at the old trucker who had tried to defend Fiona. “Glad to see you have a couple of friends,” the man said in a gruff voice. “My name’s George, by the way. Remember my warning.”
“We will be fine.” Ardal paid the bill. He looked outside, but the bikes were all gone. He opened the door for Fiona to pass before him.
George followed them outside. “I should warn you. Those boys are a mean bunch.”
“We will guard for them.”
“I’m sure you will, but those bikers are members of the FD Warriors, one of the worse outlaw gangs in North American.” The trucker paused and looked behind him before continuing. “They’re nothing but a problem, what with their violence and drug running. They think they own the roads and trust me, we truckers have a better handle on it than they do.”
Fiona rubbed her arms. “We don’t want trouble.”
“You’ve got it whether you want it or not.” George walked with them to their truck. “Those boys can’t let it be known that you bested them in public. They’ll come for you.”
“There must be people who aren’t afraid of them?” Fiona’s voice wavered. “You stood up against them.”
“That’s because I’ve seen enough of their bullying to make me sick.” George leaned in close, his voice low. “The last young girl they accosted ended up dead. She was no more than eighteen and her body was mutilated almost beyond recognition. I vowed then that I wouldn’t sit by and let them get away with it again.”
There was only one option. “We will kill them then.” Ardal’s voice was firm.
“You can’t kill everybody who gets in your way. The police will be after us.” Fiona’s voice was a low whisper.
“They will hunt us later.” Ardal gave her a steady stare. “One such as that does not know reason.”
George nodded. “Then plan it. Make sure you’re somewhere remote enough that the bodies will never be found and you don’t have witnesses. That way the authorities won’t have cause to put you in prison.”
This was a strange world indeed.
On one hand there was violence that he usually only saw during war, and on the other a concern for the pretense of law and order.
“So we should ambush them and cover evidence of it.”
The trucker raised an eyebrow and nodded. “Bingo.”
“What about the police?” Fiona shivered in the cool night air. “Can’t they help?”
George shook his head. “They try, but the FDs always seem to be a couple of steps ahead. I’d hate to think what they’d do to a pretty young lady like you.”
Ardal clenched his fists. Women and children were not safe when men went around hurting and threatening them. The men on this planet were breaking the most sacred of the codes that he was sworn to defend it. He could not stand by and do nothing.
“How can people live like this?”
“You’re not from around here.” George put his hand up when Ardal opened his mouth to answer. “I don’t want to know. I’ve seen too many
strange things driving these roads at night. All I can say is that despite good intentions, you’ll always find those who choose evil.”
Ardal nodded. There were many people who lived selfish lives. The Holman were a good example of that. Power and control was what they desired and they did not care how they achieved it. He and his men were in a strange land, but this was their home now. They would have to choose how they lived in it.
“Now if I were you gentlemen, I’d get into my truck and get out of here before the police show up.” The man nodded back toward the diner. “You’ve done nothing wrong, but seeing how those bikers tore out of here, you can be certain someone in there called them.”
“We will leave.” Ardal opened the door of the truck and waited for Fiona to jump in.
“Good luck boys.” George held out his hand and waited for Ardal to grab it. He shook his hand and then released it. “You keep safe. That pretty young lady needs you alive and free.”
Once the truck had pulled away, he turned to Fiona. “The man touched and shook my hand. Why?”
“That’s how people greet each other, or say goodbye, or agree to something.” Fiona sighed and relaxed against the seat. “Remind me not to take you guys out to dinner again.”
Ardal leaned against the door and considered the trucker’s advice. To follow the Sacred Code and live with honor, he must learn to be secretive. It would not be difficult because a Hunter usually tracked and killed in secret. What was different was now hiding his actions from the authorities.
Fiona was quiet, but her hands were clenched and tight on her lap. Ardal put his hand over hers and squeezed. “We will not allow any harm to come to you.”
“You can’t promise that.” Fiona inhaled sharply. “These gang members are ruthless, evil men. They are criminals who take and do what they want.”
“We are Hunters.” Ardal leaned close to her. “I will defend you with my last breath.”
Fiona looked up at him, her eyes pleading. “Would you promise to kill me if necessary?”
Ardal understood her fear. She would rather die than let these men harm her. She did not yet understand the skill of a Hunter. “It will not come to that, but if it eases your mind, I will promise.”
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