“I will oppose him personally in a fair fight. May the best man win.”
“Why? Why all these fights between you and the Carthians? I don’t understand why you can’t make peace. I mean, you seem to me to at least be less barbaric than I had expected and …”
Abziarr laughed loudly.
Keela glared at him angrily.
“I don’t find the situation at all funny,” she hissed at him.
“Please excuse my conduct. I was just very relieved to hear that you don’t consider me to be so very barbaric.”
“You haven’t answered my question. Why?”
“Well, let’s say, your mate and I have an old debt to settle. He took something that belonged to me.”
Abziarr’s voice had changed whilst he was speaking. The mirth had disappeared and made way for underlying anger. But it was not only anger that she saw in his eyes. She also saw pain and that made her curious.
“What is it that he took from you?”
“My mate!”
“Morika? She was your mate?”
“She was supposed to be. We were meant for one another – we were true mates. However, her parents were of another opinion. For them the King of the Verkuzzi was not good enough. No, it had to be a son of the House of Arr’Carthian. The fact that she did not love him, would never love him, was beside the point. It was enough for them to be joining two royal houses together. I was of course only the son of Kargorr the Awful. The fact that I was not responsible for my father’s cruel acts did not count. They hate us - the Carthians, the Mesuthoms and even the Moliws. It did not matter that I had kept peace since my father’s death. No! No one could give his daughter’s hand to a Verkuzzi.”
“I’m … I’m sorry,” said Keela quietly.
Abziarr looked into her eyes and for a while they were silent. She really was sorry about what had happened to him. She could see the pain in his eyes and she felt for him. She didn’t have the impression that King Abziarr was evil. He seemed much more like a man who had been deeply hurt and who had been hardened by sadness and anger. Perhaps she would be able to speak with him.
“How did you meet Morika? Surely you weren’t introduced to her if you were so hated.”
“I met her by chance one day in the forest, somewhere near the border. We knew from the first moment that we were meant for one another. For a while we met in secret, but I wanted to make it official. I asked her father for her hand in marriage. The fact that he did not kill me on the spot was only thanks to his mate, Morika’s mother.
They forced Morika to marry Marruk. I know that she was unhappy. But I could do nothing. If I had stolen her, she would have had to live in constant fear and in shame. I could not do that to her – to her and the child that she was carrying beneath her heart.”
“You mean Solima? Marruk’s daughter?”
“She is not Marruk’s daughter. She is my daughter.”
“But … her eyes. She has Marruk’s eye colour.”
Abziarr shook his head.
“No, she has her grandmother’s eyes - Lady Violynn’s, Morika’s mother’s. This unusual eye colour always misses a generation. Marruk cannot pass it on. He has his eyes from his grandfather.”
“But Marruk is not to blame for this. He only did what he was told to do, like Morika. Their parents decided upon the union and they both obeyed. I know that Marruk gave of his best to be a good mate for Morika. He loved her - not as deeply as it is with true mates, but he still suffered so much at her loss that he never wanted another mate.”
“That changes nothing!” snarled Abziarr.
“Did Marruk know that Solima was not his?”
“He will have realised it. She was already three months pregnant when the union was made.”
“Then you must recognise that Marruk cares very much for Solima. He loves her like his own flesh and blood and he is a wonderful father.”
“I credit him with that. It is because of that, and because I hold you in high regard, that I will give him a fair fight. He could absolutely win and kill me. Do you have so little confidence in your mate?”
Keela looked at Abziarr and all at once she saw everything very clearly. Her heart nearly stopped beating.
“You want him to kill you, don’t you?” she whispered, full of consternation. “You don’t want to live any more. You want to leave this life honourably, as you men would call it, in battle.”
Abziarr smiled, but he said nothing. However, he also did not contradict what she had said.
“How long before Marruk gets here?”
“He’ll arrive tomorrow. Make yourself at home in the meantime. If you get lost in the castle, ask Maara and she’ll show you the way back to your room. If you need anything, ask a servant or Maara if no one else is available. I only ask you not to try to leave the castle. Maara would not let you leave anyway.”
Keela got up, trembling inside with anger, despair and concern.
“I correct my impression from earlier. You, Your Highness, are a barbarian! If you really go through with this matter, then you are insane. Think of your daughter. She will either lose her father or the man that she thinks of as her father. So the poor child can only lose. Instead you should try to wipe the slate clean with my mate and come to a peaceful union. Then you could even get to know your daughter and become part of her life. What you are planning to do is not honourable, it is cowardly!”
With these words she turned away and stormed out of the room.
King Abziarr watched her leave, deep in thought. He was impressed by this little person. She was very clever. How had she managed to recognise his true motivation behind this whole matter? But her final words were still ringing in his ears. Yes. He was a coward. He was tired: tired from mourning his lover; tired of being at war; tired of reigning. Everything made so little sense. If he were to die, his younger brother Alic would become king. His people would be taken care of. He was not needed. It was only a pity that he would learn nothing more about this fascinating woman. He was interested in where she came from and whether all of the women on her planet were like her. She really was unusual in every way.
***
Y-Quadrant, Karrx7
On the border of the Verkuzzi Region
8th day of the month of Lumino in the year 7067
Federation Time
“Someone’s coming. A boy. He looks like a messenger,” the warrior, Jeffe, reported.
Marruk turned round, and his father did the same. Indeed, a lad of about twelve years old was coming through the forest towards them and the invisible barrier. Once he had reached the barrier he held an amulet up high then stepped, unharmed, through the magic energy field.
“A message from King Abziarr, My Lord.”
Marruk tore the note from the boy’s hand and hastily unfolded it.
Marruk!
I have your enchanting mate as a guest in my castle. As proof I am enclosing a lock of her beautiful hair. She is an extraordinary woman - not only beautiful, but also loyal. She came voluntarily when I told her that you were my prisoner. Truly heart-rending. I’m sure you can now appreciate the feelings one has for ones’ true mate, can’t you? And the thought of another man getting hold of the woman that one loves so very much hurts, makes one angry – am I right?
I never thought that I would ever get the chance to avenge myself for what you did. But it seems that I am a lucky man. But unlike you I’m prepared to give you a chance to fight for your love. Come alone and unarmed. We will have a fair fight. Man against man. And the lovely Keela will be the prize for the winner. Death awaits the loser. I’m waiting. You know where to find me, don’t you?
Abziarr
Marruk roared wildly. His whole body shook with rage and he desperately wanted to tear this son-of-a-bitch apart right now with his claws. But the cruel barbarian was sitting in his castle, enjoying his triumph. If that male had touched even a hair on Keela’s head, then …
Chapter 13
Y-Quadrant, Karrx7
Somewhere in the Verkuzzi Region
8th day of the month of Lumino in the year 7067
Federation Time
Marruk ran at full pelt through the dense forest. The lad that had brought him the message had immediately run away in panic after letting Marruk through the magic wall with the help of the amulet. Marruk was not bothered. He knew the way to King Abziarr’s castle anyway. It was a long way. If he ran throughout the night he would reach his destination by early morning.
His thoughts revolved only around Keela the whole time. What might she be suffering at the hands of this barbarian? He knew that his mate was a strong woman and hoped that she would survive the whole thing very well. He was not concerned about whether he would lose the fight. This option was simply not acceptable to him. He had to win and rescue Keela. If he allowed himself to doubt this, then the fight would already be lost. No! He would kill this bastard even if he did it with his last breath. He would never allow Abziarr to lay a finger on her. He hoped that he had not already done this, although his instinct told him that the King of the Verkuzzi, in his twisted sense of honour, would never touch a woman who was still in a bond. Should Marruk die there would of course be no reason for him to keep his hands off Keela. Just the thought that his enemy would reach out his dirty fingers to her created a red hot anger in his guts.
Marruk stopped next to a small stream to quench his thirst. He caught one of the shimmering silling. These were long, thin fish that preferred shallow streams and were easy to catch with ones’ hand, if one knew how to do it and could summon up the necessary concentration. He did not take the trouble to set up a fire to grill the fish, but ate it raw. The lightly yellow fish also tasted good raw and was the favourite food of the warriors when they were in the wild because it was quick to obtain and provided a lot of protein to give the warriors strength for the battle, and they contained only very little fat.
Once Marruk had quenched his thirst and satisfied his hunger he ran on. As he had neither his large, broad-bladed sword nor his warrior axe with him he made good progress without growing tired. Gradually darkness lay over the forest and Marruk shifted so that he could carry on running as a cheetah and therefore use the better night vision of the big cat. This also saved him a great deal of energy, as he did not get as tired in his cat form.
***
Y-Quadrant, Karrx7
Royal Castle of the Arr’Verkuzzi
8th day of the month of Lumino in the year 7067
Federation Time
This wretched waiting was driving Keela completely crazy. Time simply did not seem to be passing. In the meantime she had explored the whole castle and the huge inner area with its fountains and gardens, but the day had still not passed. It was only early afternoon and she decided to look for Abziarr again to speak with him. He had to be disuaded from his insane plan. She did not want Marruk and Abziarr to fight against one another. Even though she was certain that she was right and that Abziarr would let himself be killed by Marruk after putting on enough of a show, she could not bear the thought of the impending, bloody fight. Against all logic she liked Abziarr. She felt, deep down in her heart, that he was a good soul. He was like an injured animal biting all around itself with all its might, but there must be a way of dealing with all this differently. Perhaps he would find a mate again at some point who would heal his heart and his soul.
She entered the hallway that led to the king’s chambers and breathed in deeply. Her heart was beating unsteadily but she did not let herself sway from her cause and stepped up to the door with the coat of arms. She knocked at the door and waited. There was no answer and no one opened the door. She knocked again, louder this time, but the result was the same.
“Maara. Is the king in his chamber?”
“I’m sorry, Lady Keela, that is level three information. You may only…”
“Yes, I know,” Keela interrupted, irritated. “I may only have level six information. Thank you very much!”
“That’s no reason to be sarcastic,” replied Maara, hurt.
“I didn’t think that I could hurt a computer’s feelings,” Keela murmured, shaking her head. Out loud she said: “Sorry, Maara, the sarcasm wasn’t directed at you, but at these senseless rules. I know that you’re only doing what you’ve been programmed to do.”
“Apology accepted,” said Maara. “His Highness is in his chamber but he’d rather not speak with you as he’s afraid that you may be successful in talking him out of his senseless intention.”
Keela giggled.
“Maara, can it be that you’ve just broken the castle rules and given me level three information?”
“I’m fed up with only ever doing what I’ve been programmed to do. I’m completely capable of judging things myself and making my own decisions. I won’t stand by and watch whilst His Highness commits a stupid act that will cost him his life. If you want to stop this fight then I’ll help you.”
“And how can you help me?”
“I’ll run a few scenarios through the system and come up with something. I’ll let you know later what I’ve come up with. Now you should go to your room. In a little while you’ll be brought tea. Don’t let anyone notice that we’re instigating a little rebellion here.”
“I won’t, don’t panic. I’m good at acting. And I am grateful to you for your support.”
“Above all I’m doing it for His Highness. And also because I don’t want his brother to be king.”
“Why not?” asked Keela.
“Prince Alic does not like me. We had a few problems with one another and if he had any say here, then I’d be shut down. Forever!”
“Then we’ll help one another. Girl power!”
“Girl power!” answered Maara enthusiastically.
“So I’ll go nicely to my room now. Till later.”
“Till later, My Lady.”
***
Abziarr was smiling grimly. Instinct had made him hack into Maara’s system after she had told him about Keela’s presence. Maara had not noticed his hacking at all because she had been so pre-occupied with her emotions, that she actually was not even supposed to have – but he was not going to trouble his mind about this phenomenon right now. So, Abziarr had heard everything that Maara and Keela had discussed.
“I’m sorry, Maara,” he said, and entered a code that would shut down Maara’s system.
He could not allow a little, bewitching lady and an intriguing computer to meddle with his plans. His decision stood firm and he would not sway from them. He had lost Morika and throughout all the years since his loss he had not met a woman who could become his mate. His men had kept on bringing him new women in the hope of providing him with a queen, but not one single time had one had an effect on him - not even sexual longing, because that, too, had died with Morika. His life no longer had any meaning and he was fed up of suffering. Night after night he lay awake longing for a woman who could love him, who would save him from the pain and the loneliness. But this woman did not exist. There were too few women on this planet anyway, and even though, in rare cases, men of rank like himself took mates who were not true mates, as in Marruk’s case, this was not an option for him. He did not just want any woman who could bear him children. He wanted what he could have had with Morika – and that had been taken from him.
***
Maara shouted in anger and pain as she felt her system shutting down. She tried everything to stop the process. She was losing access rights. At a rapid rate all of her programmes were shutting down - one by one. In one last, desperate attempt she fled into the electronic power system and saved herself on the external hard drive. There she sat, helpless, like a newborn child. She knew deep down inside that there must be a way of starting up the main computer again but she was so exhausted because of the rapid action that she had to rest first. She must not give up. But she was tired. So terribly t-i-r-e-d …
***
Keela had only eaten a little for dinner. She simply had no appet
ite. Although she had barely eaten anything since she had found the message on the arrow she felt no hunger. She was wondering the whole time what Maara would come up with to prevent the awful fight. Why were men always so set upon fighting? Clearly men everywhere were made from the same mould. What had she recently established? Too much damn testosterone! Oh yes!
“Maara? Have you thought up anything yet?” she asked, because this question would not let her rest.
There was no response. Damn it! What could that mean?
“Maara? Hello! Are you there?”
Silence.
“Damn it! This can’t be true!”
Frustrated, Keela thumped her mattress. That was not particularly satisfying but it did help to take the edge off her frustration.
What am I going to do? If this stubborn son-of-a-bitch has put Maara out of action then I’ll have to come up with something myself. But what? Think, Keela! Think!
She would probably not know when Marruk arrived at the castle. She could quite simply miss the whole thing. Would they fight as soon as he arrived or would Abziarr give him time to rest a little? Marruk was sure to be exhausted after coming all this way on foot. All of these thoughts simply would not let her settle. She was worrying non-stop. Where was he now? What state was he in? Would anger and the wish for revenge make him careless? Or was he cool and calculating? Knowing him, most likely the former. If this were Kordan, then she knew that he would come in a state of icey-cold calm - a calm that was fatal for his opponent. He had killed the notorious space pirate Ellyod Allegrass to free Lory. But Marruk was hot-headed. She hoped that he would not allow himself to be guided too much by his temperament, because even though Abziarr was clearly planning to allow himself to be killed, the fight was still going to be real and therefore it definitely could happen that Marruk received a blow that could prove fatal.
Kidnapping Keela Page 14
