by Ashley West
"Seems romantic. Why do the Anquesh perform this ridiculous ritual?"
Rotan blinked. "I thought it would be obvious to an intelligent Earth woman like yourself. Only a worthy warrior deserves a mate. The male has to prove he is worthy of the bride. It's her responsibility to test him in battle." The explanation sounded natural coming out of his mouth. From Jenn's perspective, Rotan could hardly understand the question.
"Why would you bother going through with this charade? Anquesh men are obviously stronger than the women."
"The battle rage makes up for deficiencies in strength. If the male is unworthy, nuxmunit will fall on the woman, and she will easily vanquish him."
Jenn looked at Rotan with disbelief in her eyes. "That sounds great if you're from Anquera. I'm from Earth. Humans don't have battle rage."
"Somehow, you'll have to find inner strength for the task ahead. I believe you are a warrior."
Jenn wasn't sure if the vote of confidence was hurting or helping her. She knew she could not prevail against the Anquesh prince.
"What happens if he wins?"
"If he wins, you'll be his wife. If you win, honor is satisfied."
"What does that mean? Honor is satisfied? Will Warrel send me home?"
One of the women started brushing her hair and made a tsking noise. That didn't need translation.
Rotan didn't answer her at first. He didn't look her in the eyes, keeping his gaze averted. He seemed to be staring at the door. "It's not my place to say anything more."
Were Anquesh warriors genetically modified for stubbornness? "And what if Warrel wins?"
Rotan's eyes narrowed. "Warrel has a previous marriage contract with another royal daughter. The rumor is that he intends to follow through with it."
"Sounds kinky. Do Anquesh typically take more than one wife?"
"No, Jenn, we do not."
The implications of what Rotan revealed and kept hidden were clear and chilling. Warrel had no intention of letting her live if he won the battle in the arena. If she wanted to see Kai again, she was going to have to win.
"Where is Commander Imwaden?"
The longer she was apart from Kai, the more concerned she grew about him. He talked a lot about honor, and it seemed like he took his duties seriously. She was surprised he had let her be in this situation for so long by herself.
Thinking about Kai brought a flood of memories. Being in the taxi alone together. Daily visits each day on the Ruvien during the journey to Anquera. The feeling of tightly pressing against him when the bomb exploded, shielding her body from the worst of the blow.
Jenn was sure Kai wouldn't let harm come to her. Right?
"It's not my place to say anything more."
Jenn rolled her eyes and groaned, startling the women. Nevertheless, they began their work earnestly and after two hours of grooming, hairdressing and primping, Jess wore the wedding outfit of an Anquesh woman.
She looked at herself in a mirror. One of the women had twisted and styled her hair, shaping it into the dreadlocks and braids favored by Anquesh females. Another had trimmed and buffed Jenn's nails to a high gloss.
All of them worked together to put Jenn into an elaborate garment that featured pantaloons in a pattern of yellow, orange and brown. There were slits on the side from her upper thigh down to the ankle. They spent time adjusting a metal breastplate similar to the ones Anquesh warriors used. In the end, it was obviously too large for Jenn. Ballet-like slippers on her feet completed the ensemble.
The women bowed and murmured to themselves as they backed away and out of the room, leaving Jenn alone with Rotan.
"We should go now," said the warrior. "It is time."
Jenn trembled. Would she be able to defeat Warrel by herself?
* * * *
Jenn had a sinking feeling in her stomach when she walked into the hot, bright Anquesh sun shining into the arena. She looked around to see an enormous stadium surrounding her, filled with thousands of Anquesh. She had been nervous before, but now she knew there were going to be a lot of people watching the spectacle of her wedding battle.
If what Rotan said was correct, losing the fight was going to be the least of Jenn's problems. In the middle of the huge fighting area was a tent with flimsy transparent cloth covering the sides. In theory, if Warrel won, she would be having sex in that tent. From what she could tell, the fucking would be visible to the entire arena.
Hell no! There was no way she was going to perform a sex show on any planet. And she didn't want to mate with him in the first place! The thought made her insides burn. She resolved to get the best of the pompous prince somehow.
Jenn lost her confidence when Warrel stepped out of the tent. He looked more imposing than ever. Even though he wasn't as muscular as Kai, he was still taller than her and weighted a lot more. Jenn had one hope. The gravity on Anquera was slightly weaker than Earth's. She thought her muscles might be equal to or even stronger than his. She had spent the past few days working on Tai Chi forms to help control her body's response to the lighter gravity.
Warrel put his hands together and bowed his head slightly, looking up at Jenn over his hands with a fiendish gleam in his eye.
Her breastplate bothered her. It was too big and restricted her movements. She needed to get rid of it if she was going to have a chance. Jenn unlatched the breastplate, letting it fall to the ground. She shook her head, slowly moving her limbs into a Tai Chi defensive pose. A roar went up through the crowd. They wanted a good show and approved of Jenn's defiance.
The prince scoffed, and the sound reverberated around the enclosure. Apparently the acoustics in the stadium were outstanding. Jenn wondered if she could use it to her advantage. "You'll never beat me, Warrel. Are you even a match for a puny human female? You might as well give up now."
Apparently there were translators because someone repeated her comment in Anquesh over loudspeakers. Her words earned laughter and guffaws from the crowd. Warrel's face turned red.
"You need a lesson in respect, human."
Jenn stuck out her index finger and curled it toward her body, inviting Warrel to engage her.
"Bring it," she shouted. Another cheer rang around the walls.
Warrel strode forward. Jenn carefully watched his steps. He seemed overconfident, swaggering and not bothering to defend himself.
She would show everyone he was making a big mistake by underestimating her. As Jenn patiently waited, he stepped inside her range, reaching for her shoulders. Jenn leaned back slightly, then jammed the heel of her hand into the underside of his jaw, causing him to retreat. The crowd roared.
Warrel lurched forward angrily. Jenn shifted to her right foot while bringing her left knee and left hand up. Warrel found himself stumbling into her. Jenn's knee connected with his groin and her left hand struck his face. When his head snapped back, she went for his throat. He gasped and stumbled.
If she ever got back to Earth, she was going to take her Tai Chi instructor out to dinner.
The crowd got to its feet and started making loud noises, pounding on the footboards of the arena.
The follow-through from her lunge left her right leg behind Warrel's right knee. She reached under his left arm. With a quick movement, she rotated it up into a painful, off-center position. When she pushed him with her left arm, he fell to the ground.
If she had thought the crowd was wild before, getting Warrel off his feet sent them into a new frenzy. Someone started chanting her name, and the group picked it up. The arena rumbled as the aliens cried out, "Jenn! Jenn!"
She had never seen a look of hate like the one she saw on Warrel's face. He sat on the ground studying her, scrubbing his jaw and rubbing his throat with his hands.
"I will kill you," he murmured.
No one heard his threat over the roar of the crowd. Jenn was surprised he had the balls to challenge her again. "Not today." She kicked him as hard as she could in the groin. When he started howling in pain, she turned and headed toward the e
xit of the arena. She ran as fast as her slippered feet would carry her.
Then the real attack of the day began.
As she tried to escape, bolts of intensely bright laser fire scored the floor of the arena. People began to scream and scrambled for the exits.
* * * *
When the cell door opened, Kai thought his luck might finally be turning. He moved into a relaxed position to camouflage his true intentions. He formed his hands into fists at his sides and waited for a chance to escape.
The light spilling in from the hallway blinded him. It took a moment for his eyes to adjust to the faint light.
"Is he in there?"
"Commander." Kai recognized the voice. It was Sevit, his second-in-command. "Are you able to stand and walk?"
"Sevit! I never thought I'd be this glad to see you."
"We've all been worried about you since your arrest."
"Well, I'm still alive. But why are you here? I've haven't seen a soul since they locked the doors on me. I thought I might rot in here."
"I don't believe you have to worry about that. Prince Warrel hasn't forgotten about you. In fact, he's announced a public trial for your crimes. Once they find you guilty, you'll be executed."
"It's good to know I'll be getting a fair trial, at least."
"We've done the orbital sensor sweeps you requested, and we have a problem. There's a large fleet at the edge of our solar system. It would only take one quick jump to bring them within the range of Anquera. I tried to inform central command, but no one will take my calls."
"Do you have a plan?"
"I've contacted many of the fleet commanders. The good news is half of them are ready to follow you into battle. The bad news is the others have reported me for treason. We've hidden the Ruvien behind one of the fourth planet's moons. I have a shuttle tucked away in the northern palace gardens for our escape."
"You know they can execute both of us at the same time, right? They don't have to wait for your trial."
"I cannot allow the destruction of Anquera. If they call me a traitor, so be it. I know I will have fulfilled my duty as a protector of the empire."
Kai grabbed Sevit's shoulder. "We'll need warriors like you in the upcoming battles. What about Jenn?"
"The Earth woman? She's in trouble. At this very moment, Prince Warrel is performing the marriage ceremony with her."
"Already? That's impossible. How can she stand a chance against a fully-trained warrior?"
One of Sevit's men was loitering in the background, listening to something on his communicator. "She did it!" he exclaimed.
Sevit frowned. "I thought I told you to turn your transmitter off the battle and stay focused on our secure channel."
"Yes, sir. I'm sorry, but I put down a few credits on the human. It sounds like Jenn landed the first blow. She scored a direct hit on his cock. He's going to have problems using it tonight."
"I've got to get to her," said Kai.
"We're using the marriage ceremony as a cover for our activities. It's the only way we were able to penetrate the defenses. If we stop to retrieve Jenn, I can't guarantee our escape."
"If I escape and leave her, it is a pointless exercise. She is my sindare. I have to get her."
Sevit shook his head.
"By the gods!" exclaimed the gambler.
Sevit shot him a severe glance.
"Sorry, my lord. Jenn just upended the Prince, but he's angry now, and she's frightened. I'm going to double my money."
"Jenn!" said Kai in a strangled voice.
"If we need to get her, then we need to get her. The way out of the palace is clear. Everyone is watching the fight. I'll get the shuttle as close to the arena as possible. Take my transmitter." Sevit pulled out his earpiece and passed it to Kai. "We can't locate you without it."
Kai clasped Sevit's shoulder. "Thank you," he said.
"I think this is the first time a bride has tried to run out of the arena!"
"Go, Commander!" said Sevit. "May the gods run with you!"
Kai took off, running for Jenn's life, racing through corridors of the palace he knew like the back of his hand. He moved into the gardens and toward the gates that would take him to the city streets. The arena was only a few blocks away. It wasn't far by any rational measure, but to Kai, at that minute, it seemed like an enormous distance. He felt his heart hammering against his chest.
He knew Warrel was a miserable bastard and would drag Jenn back into the arena so he could finish the fight. Kai was proud that Jenn seemed to be holding her own, but there was no telling when the nuxmunit would come upon the Prince. Warrel would not want to be humiliated by a human in front of his people.
While Kai was thinking, he saw the telltale flashes of laser cannons firing into the arena. Had the Similicue chosen this moment to attack? He didn't think he could move any faster, but somehow he forced himself to speed up.
Hang on, Jenn. He wished he could telepathically communicate his thoughts to her. I'm coming for you as fast as I can.
Chapter 20
Jenn's heart hammered against her chest as her feet flew over the ground. The crowd was trying to disperse but couldn't get out of the way fast enough. Spectators screamed in fear from the stands as streaks of white fire strafed the arena floor.
The few remaining security guards tried to steer people out of the stands and keep them from panicking. Jenn looked over her shoulder to see Warrel running away from her. A group of Anquesh soldiers formed a protective ring around him as he exited.
He left the arena while she was still inside.
I beat him.
Jenn didn't have time to savor her victory before a loud crack split the air in half, followed by a boom. Jenn stumbled on the ground. It started vibrating and soon the entire stadium was shaking. More screams rose from the chaos of the audience, who began to renew their efforts to get out of the arena.
They were going to turn into a mob soon. The writhing mass of bodies was on the verge of becoming a stampede in the levels above her.
Jenn regained her footing and sprinted to the arch that marked her entrance to the stadium floor. She didn't know where to go, but she had to get out of the doomed structure. Before passing through the arch, a shadow stretched over her body. She looked up. Large ships hovered above the city. Streaks of laser fire were everywhere, and Jenn realized there might not be a good place to hide.
An overriding instinct to survive drove her forward. She thought she might be able to find a place to wait out the attack. If she survived the destruction, the ensuing chaos might allow her to connect with Bretland and his crew. She could get a ride back to Earth.
It was a faint hope. She knew one thing for sure. She had enough of Anquesh, their warriors, and their stupid ideas of what it took to settle a treaty.
Beyond the arch was a flood of Anquesh bodies. These were the ones who had successfully made it out of the stands. They came down from stairs that serviced the stadium's spectator levels. Jenn knew she would stand out in the crowd - she was a short blonde woman in a world of tall brunettes.
A discarded scarf lay on the ground. It was a little dirty, but it was all she had. She picked it up and wrapped it around her head, making sure to tuck all of her hair under the fabric. With luck, she would be able to pass for a younger alien and blend in among the other people trying to escape.
During the fight with Warrel, she realized she was correct about the effect of Earth's gravity on her body. Even without the nuxmunit, she was a little faster and a little stronger than an Anquera native. Her Earth strength helped her fight against the mass of people pressing around her, moving without direction as the ground rocked.
Eventually, her group spilled into the streets. The exterior of the stadium was less crowded but still clogged with fleeing Anquesh. Jenn pressed herself against the enormous stadium wall and surveyed the tumultuous scene. Most people were running to the left. Jenn wondered if they were fleeing to safety or away from danger. A small fighter flew do
wn the road, firing laser blasts at the aliens in the open.
Aliens screamed and wailed as bodies fell to the ground. Another flash of white light temporarily blinded Jenn. When her vision came back, the building on the opposite side of the street was engulfed in flames. Fire and sparks erupted from the site, and the building gave a final roar as it crashed to the ground, filling the air with debris and smoke.
Jenn started coughing. She decided to move to the right, against the crowd, in the opposite direction of the oncoming aircraft. She was afraid more ships would come firing their weapons. Jenn stayed close to the buildings, hoping they would protect her from any stray laser blasts, and not be the victims of more explosions.
She passed people on the street who were moaning and gasping. She wanted to stop at each one and see if she could do anything to help them, but physical therapy was not the same thing as emergency medicine, and she knew nothing about alien anatomy. Jenn tried to avoid eye contact with the injured people and pushed forward. She walked by Anquesh of all types and ages - children, mothers and fathers. Whoever had decided to attack was cruel and cold-hearted. It was one thing to fight a battle against trained warriors, but quite another to bring a war to the general population.
She wondered if Earth was behind the attack.
Jenn passed a side street on her right. She saw a figure running down the street toward her. With a shock, she realized it wasn't another random Anquesh warrior. It was Kai, and he was screaming her name.
She was happy to see him but didn't want them both to die. He was next to her in a second. He didn't speak a word, but picked her up and tossed her over his shoulder.
She pounded on his back with her fists. "I can move by myself!" she shouted.
