Warrior's Paradox (Cadi Warriors Book 3)

by Stephanie West

  “Is that why Rark won’t give it up?”

  “Yes.” Vivina nodded. “Kai was so honorable. He knew the Scelus raiders would use the cruiser to continue their rampage, and likely decimate Thietmar.”

  No wonder Rark won’t part with it.

  “I bet you are proud of him,” June said sympathetically.

  “I am. After the Scelus raiders killed him, they came after me. But I didn’t have the information they wanted.”

  “Bastards,” June cursed.

  Vivina snickered.

  “I cover up, so I’m not constantly reminded of that day. Meanwhile Rark keeps that ship, like it’s his son himself.”

  “Kai died for that cruiser!” June heard the angry retort and spun to see Rark standing in the doorway. “You’re in here convincing my mate to sell the vessel, when I asked you to leave,” Rark growled as he stormed towards June.

  Tytus and Cyprian suddenly appeared behind Rark. From the expression on Tytus’ face, he was not pleased with the way the old warrior spoke to her.

  “What kind of males compel their female to do something so dishonorable?” Rark accused the warriors.

  “Rark,” Vivina said calmly. “June was not bargaining for the cruiser. I had a hand cramp which she massaged with oil. Then we were discussing how she was abducted and I was attacked.”

  Rark’s eyes widened in surprise as he looked from June to Vivina.

  “You should have gotten me. I would’ve helped you.” The old warrior hustled into the kitchen and attempted to take over Vivina’s task.

  “Stop. You can’t do everything for me,” Vivina scolded him.

  The man obviously doted on Vivina when she let him.

  “Rark, about the ship,” Cyprian insisted impatiently.

  June rolled her eyes. Tytus nodded at her, looking equally frustrated with the whole situation.

  “I told you no,” Rark growled. “If you want to drag me out of my home, fine.”

  Oh, hell. What did Cyprian do?

  “What are you saying?” Vivina asked, worry creasing her brow as she studied the warrior’s standing in her dining room.

  “They want the ship, or they’re going to haul me away,” Rark relayed.

  “We offered to pay, but your mate refused. Knowing it is for official Cadi business hasn’t swayed him either. I am given little recourse,” Cyprian bit out.

  “Wow Cyprian. You’re as prickly as a cactus,” June declared. “Did you think, perhaps there was a reason. Their son was murdered because he refused to hand that ship over to the enemy. It’s all Rark has left of his son, and it represents his honorable final deed.”

  “Rark, if the Daimio needs the ship, Kai would want you to give it up,” Vivina insisted.

  Rark’s arms dropped to his sides, looking defeated. The sight made June want to cry. Even Cyprian suddenly looked sympathetic.

  “It is time to let it go,” Vivina said as she wrapped her arms around Rark.

  “We can compensate you,” Cyprian offered again.

  “What do you possibly have, that can replace what I’m giving up?” Rark asked.

  The old man was killing her. Vivina might have been the one injured, but it was Rark that was really hurt by what happened to their family.

  “Nothing can replace family. I know that first hand. I lost everything and everyone I ever knew, when I was brought here.” June paused, feeling hesitant, then forged on. “It might be a stupid suggestion, but what if you traded the ship for a daughter?”

  June started to feel foolish, with Rark staring at her, his head tilted and brow creased.

  “Agreed,” Vivina announced with a happy laugh.

  “Vivina?” Rark said, still looking confused.

  “June told me our house reminds her of home. She has no family here on Cadi, except her mate, and our only young was stolen from us. Blessed Kali is presenting us with an auspicious path if we are wise enough to take it,” Vivina entreated. “Rark, I want to see young playing in that garden someday,” she insisted.

  June grinned. Vivina was already planning for grandbabies, like her mother would.

  “Are you sure about this?” Tytus asked as he wrapped his arms around her.

  “Yes. If that’s okay.”

  “If it makes you happy. It’s not too far from Sargon for us to visit.” Tytus squeezed her tight.

  June smiled. Her decision was impetuous, but when something struck her deeply, she followed her heart. Vivina and Rark would be a good addition to her unconventional new family.

  “It looks like I need to make more for last meal.” Vivina beamed.

  “And I guess I should show you the cruiser,” Rark added.

  June almost laughed when Rark bypassed Cyprian, and took Tytus by the arm, escorting him out of the house. Cyprian followed unoffended by the rebuff.

  “I’ll help make dinner. Find me if you need anything,” June called after them.

  8 Tainted Methods

  June

  June rolled over in bed, to find the spot beside her empty and cold. Her eyes cracked open. Tytus wasn’t in the spare bedroom, Rark and Vivina had lent them. June hauled herself out of bed with a groan.

  I bet that man is already at it.

  She wasn’t surprised. Last night, she and Vivina had to bring dinner out to the ship, since the men were so embroiled with their repair list.

  June smiled as she looked at the cloak hanging on a peg by the door. Vivina had washed it, then cut off the arms and hem, so it fit her better. Vivina had offered her a skirt and top, but she was nowhere near the same size as Vivina. June was too short and had a bit more junk in her trunk.

  June washed up and headed towards the kitchen.

  “Good day,” Vivina greeted her.

  “Moring. Are they all out at the ship?”

  “Of course,” Vivina replied with a shake of her head.

  “I don’t think Tytus came to bed. He has to be exhausted.”

  “I bet you are right. That would be my mate’s fault. Rark gave him free reign of anything in the salvage yard.”

  “No wonder. That was like giving a kid the keys to the candy store. That was very kind. Thank you.”

  “Rark talked about your mate, late into the night. This is going to be good for him.” Vivina took both of June’s hands in her warm grasp. She then leaned in and touched her forehead to June’s. “Thank you, child.”

  Vivina may have thanked her, but the sweet old couple had filled a void June had been feeling too.

  “You’re gonna make me cry.” June’s chin quivered.

  “Do you mind helping me bring out first meal?” Vivina asked when she finally released June’s hands.

  “Sure thing. Load me up.”

  June carried a tray piled with food, while Vivina took two pitchers out to the cruiser. She paused when she caught sight of Tytus on a lift, with his arms buried in the underbelly of the ship. The scruff on his chin was longer, and though his hair was pulled up in a knot, several strands had worked free. He was a cute, hot mess.

  “Hey night owl, breakfast,” June hollered up at him.

  June smothered a laugh when Tytus startled, and nearly knocked his head on the hatch. He looked down at her with a grin, happy to see her. His crooked smile always sent a thrill through her. Tytus stepped to the edge of the lift and jumped down.

  June gasped.

  “Jesus, Tytus, that was like a ten-foot drop. Holy hell,” she said in amazement.

  Tytus shrugged as if it were nothing. He took the tray and kissed her forehead.

  “Good day, sweetness. Thank you for this Vivina.”

  “You’re welcome. You warriors can’t work on an empty stomach.”

  “Meanwhile I slept in, like a bum.” June felt guilty.

  “You were up the night before,” Tytus said with an ornery wink.

  “So were you.” She made a funny face back at him.

  June left it at that. She refused to elaborate on the details of their camping misadventur
es, in front of Vivina. The couple didn’t need to know their impromptu daughter was a fornicating, vandalizing, illegal immigrant, quite yet.

  “You call the others, and let’s set everything on the crate over here.” Vivina put down her pitchers.

  “First meal,” Tytus hollered into the open bay doors of the ship.

  “I’m going to make myself useful today. So, when breakfast is done, you give me a job,” June insisted.

  “You’re pretty good taking things apart. Maybe you can hunt for the items on the parts list,” Cyprian suggested as he emerged from the cruiser loading bay.

  The general had a dry sense of humor. She only knew he was joking because his one eyebrow quirked up.

  “That I am.” June couldn’t help the broad grin that split her face.

  She had a distinct feeling her good impression wasn’t going to last with the general around.

  Oh well.

  “Tytus was telling me how talented you are,” Rark commented as he joined them. “I’d be happy to help you find parts, June.”

  “Sounds good.”

  Everyone quickly ate, then Rark and June headed into the depths of the salvage yard.

  “Thanks for your help. I would probably get lost in this warren of scrap and machinery,” June said as she looked at the mountains of metal.

  “No problem. It’s not too confusing. It’s laid out in a grid.”

  “A really big grid.” June was shocked by the shear mass of stuff.

  “That’s because you’re so small,” Rark chuckled. The smile looked good on him.

  With all the stray metal bits littering the ground, June was glad her shoes had been salvageable, when Tytus cut her loose from the lab floor.

  “We should find the condenser Tytus needs, back here.” Rark looked at the list on the handheld.

  “I’m glad you can read that thing. It feels so weird being illiterate.”

  “I can teach you, but since you aren’t a native Cadi speaker, it will take a while,” Rark offered. “If you tap here, a picture of what we’re looking for will display.”

  “That’s probably a lot easier.”

  An hour later, June was laying on her back beneath a wrecked-out mini cruiser, pulling the fourth part on their list. It was a tight fit, so she was on her own in the little space.

  “How’s it coming?” Rark hollered up, from the ground bellow.

  “I almost got the cathode loose,” June replied as she cranked on the fitting.

  The connection gave way and June slid the rod out of the thruster cone. She wiggled out from under the cruiser and held up her prize in triumph.

  “Good job. You really do have a knack for this,” Rark commented as June carefully climbed down.

  “I enjoy tinkering. My parents used to buy junk at garage sales, so I could experiment with it.”

  June glanced at Rark to see a wistful smile on his face. She tilted her head inquisitively.

  “Just remembering a time when I had another nimble little partner to help me pull parts,” Rark smiled.

  June had a feeling he was referring to his son. She squeezed Rark’s arm sympathetically, as she lay the part on the cart.

  “We’re going to have to head toward the last row on the right, to find this hatch cover.” He pointed to the picture on the handheld. “Do you want to see if you can find it, while I take these things to Tytus, and retrieve a lift?”

  “Sure. All the way back and to the right,” June repeated, as she looked down the row. It continued for at least the length of a football field.

  June wandered the direction Rark indicated and rounded the corner. Her eyes panned the hulls of the stacked salvage for a hatch door that looked like the one in the picture.

  A high-pitched hiss captured her attention. She turned towards the odd noise then froze in her tracks. June’s eyes widened at the sight of the massive bird.

  Or is it a feathered dinosaur?

  The thing was the size of an ostrich, with blue and yellow, ratty plumage. Its beady gray eyes stared at her menacingly, as its long scaly neck swayed in a serpentine motion. If that wasn’t disconcerting enough, the monstrous creature had a sharp, hooked beak, and claw tipped wings.

  Ah shit, June cursed as she backed slowly down the aisle.

  The creature hopped twice, then flapped its massive wings, taking flight, heading straight for her.

  “Fuck,” she screamed then turned and ran.

  June ducked around a corner as the wind whipped at her back. She turned briefly to see the overgrown bird smack into the salvage overhead, sending debris cascading down. The crazed beast gnashed at the metal, snapping a large chunk in half, before throwing it aside. It wanted meat, not scrap iron.

  A dark shadow loomed overhead. June glanced up to see another of the creatures perched atop the salvage.

  “Oh god,” June cried, as she ran for her life.

  A sharp claw snagged her cloak, scraping against her back. June screamed in abject terror. She tore free of the beast, ducking as a jagged beak snapped inches from her ear.

  Her chest burned as she pushed herself to run faster, darting down another aisle. The ominous, flapping gusts of wind at her back, propelled her forward.

  A third creature landed several yards ahead, cutting off her retreat. There was no way she could outrun the vile creatures behind her, let alone get around the one in front.

  “I’m screwed,” June panted as tears streamed down her face.

  Tytus quo Munitor

  “Here are the first items off the list,” Rark said, as he unloaded the cart. “June’s looking for the hatch cover now.”

  Tytus glanced at the time, then turned in surprise. He was shocked at Rark and June’s progress, while he was still trying to yank the same degraded thruster cone.

  “Wow. Great,” he exclaimed.

  “I thought you were being complimentary, when you praised my new daughter,” Rark beamed.

  A sense of pride filled Tytus, hearing the old male express the sentiment.

  “June’s talented and funny. I should tell you sometime how we met,” Tytus chuckled.

  “Well, when I first met June, she sabotaged my rota,” Cyprian chimed in. The corner of his mouth tipped up wryly, as he carried a new control console into the cruiser.

  “I have a feeling it was warranted,” Rark commented.

  Rark wasn’t going to let Cyprian off the hook for his attitude yesterday.

  “It probably was warranted, but she’s still a menace,” Cyprian called over his shoulder.

  Rark’s eyes widened, then both he and Tytus laughed.

  Movement caught Tytus’ attention. He swiftly pulled a knife free from his belt, aimed for Rark’s right shoulder and threw. Rark’s mouth opened in shock as he dropped to the ground to avoid Tytus’ blade.

  The dagger struck its target, lodging deep in the neck of the descending gallinacus. Rark rolled as the raptor dropped dead, where he’d been standing moments before.

  “Mother of Kali. I just purged the lot of those bastards last month,” Rark exclaimed, as he looked down at the twitching beast.

  Most scrappers were diligent at keeping the birds of prey out of their salvage yards. The gallinacus kept the vermin populations down, but would just as easily kill and eat the customers. The single claw on their wingtip could eviscerate a male in the blink of an eye.

  Tytus heard the shrill hiss and looked on the nearby scrap heap.

  “Son of a metcor,” he growled. “Warriors, we have a serious problem,” Tytus bellowed to his companions in the belly of the cruiser.

  “Shit! That’s the bull,” Rark yelled as he pulled a blade from his belt.

  Tytus looked at the angry predator standing on the salvage heap. It was a male alright. Its bristling crest was iridescent silver, as well as the tips of its blue and yellow variegated wings. Where there was one bull, there were no less than a dozen mares.

  Tytus’ blood ran cold when he heard a piercing shriek in the distance.

/>   “June,” Tytus roared as he leapt from the maintenance lift, and took off down the aisle.

  Tytus ducked, and did a barrel roll, just as a claw sliced through the air. He gripped the hilt of his blade, and lashed out with an upward arc, impaling the wretched creature in the stomach. His hand twisted with a deft move, spilling the beasts guts, as its serrated beak lunged towards his face.

  Disrupter fire erupted at the head of the aisle, as dozens of ominous winged shadows descended on the salvage yard. Tytus cursed that he hadn’t retrieved one of the weapons himself.

  There’s no time.

  Tytus continued down the row, in the direction he’d heard June’s distressed cry. His legs had never carried him so swiftly. He veered to the left as he heard the thud of wings beating the air. He leapt onto a wrecked rota, and spun towards his newest pursuer.

  The angry raptor swept out with one sharp-tipped wing, lunged with its beak, then swept with its other wing. Tytus jumped back with each swipe, narrowly missing the attack aimed at his shins.

  Before the creature leapt onto the wreckage, Tytus launched himself onto the winged predator’s back. He gripped its long neck, then plunged his knife into the base of its skull. The creature dropped without further struggle. Tytus jumped free, before he got pinned beneath its stout body.

  No sooner had he killed the creature, then he saw two more circling.

  I need to reach June, Tytus gnashed his teeth in anger. Where in the name of Kali did they all come from?

  There wasn’t one to be seen the night before. This had to be more than a single clutch of gallinacus. They acted like they were starving for a meal, when clearly, they were not, considering their size.

  Tytus kept his back to the scrap heap, as he eyed the two creatures. He couldn’t let them pin him against the rubble, or he was as good as dead. But he also couldn’t let one of them get behind him, while the other attacked his front.

  Sweat poured down Tytus face as he evaded the claws and beaks attempting to gut him. From the continued sound of disrupter fire, his companions were having just as much difficulty with the rest of the clutch.

  Suddenly two dark shapes leapt off the scrap heap, and joined the fray. Tytus sighed in relief to see the pair of hairy Toufik. Thunder had returned none too soon with his band of Toufik.