The Iron Altar Series Box Set One: Books 1 to 3

by Casey Lea

  “Darsey,” he said urgently, but there was a strange hollowness in his voice. “Keep hope.”

  Hope, her mind demanded incredulously, but, if Nightwing sensed the thought, he made no response. Instead, he turned away and stepped into the ceaseless flow of mermaridian without a backward glance. He slipped between two massive individuals and was gone. Darsey swallowed and closed her eyes, the only two motions left to her. The bustle of the crowd hummed around her and so did the renewed scan.

  Waves of energy pulsed gently through her body and sensations of heat and cold washed with them. Darsey started to shiver after one passed, but was instantly hit by an attack of pins and needles. The aggravating sensation disappeared almost immediately and she realized that the tek was still taking Nightwing’s threat very seriously.

  Min-yung tapped an impatient foot, but his subordinate continued at a careful pace. The strange energies passed through her body at much lower settings and she scarcely felt them. Min-yung cleared his throat warningly and there was a final, frantic burst of sensation before all input vanished.

  Darsey’s world went blank again and she was alone once more, trapped by sensory deprivation. However, she was prepared this time and had her panic under tight control. She held firmly to her sense of self, wrapping it around her as snugly as if it was her body. She made herself relax and the nothing passed more quickly than she had feared. The outside world returned with a rush of sound and light.

  The first thing Darsey saw was Min-yung’s face, and her body tried to shudder in response, but remained quite still. It was a dead thing, embalmed in alien energy and still beyond her control. Her peripheral vision caught the tek moving his hands in her direction, but she was unable to look his way. Her eyes were now as frozen as the rest of her. Her senses seemed to be fading as well. The surrounding sounds were still present, but increasingly muted. Even the tek’s high-pitched defense of his scan to Min-yung was hard to hear. His voice was distant and bemused.

  “It is complete, Master, but still very strange. Her cells are porous, most porous. They’ve no cell wall, just a membrane that absorbs in odd ways. There are traces of exotic matter. Impossible I know, but I’ve triple checked and it’s there. Exotic matter within her cells-”

  Min-yung silenced him with a slash of his com. The tek choked and his words were lost in phlegm.

  The auctioneer sniffed with satisfaction. “No need to talk loud of differences we can little explain. Will she swell if it rains? Will she bloat when wet? No? Then all’s good. Delete such details and give me full control.”

  The tek bowed his head and moved out of Darsey’s peripheral vision. Min-yung returned to watching her, standing close to the front of her cubicle. She tried to glare back, but even the smallest of motions was stopped by the surrounding glue that still held her close. Her skin grew chilly and then numb when that energy sank into her. The restraint field felt as though it was congealing on her skin, before tightening to slip past her physical defenses. It wrapped her in cotton wool, then slid deeper still, absorbing all input until only faint echoes of her surroundings reached her brain.

  Darsey tried to ignore Min-yung’s dimly heard order to move forward, but her body obeyed promptly. She stepped from the cubicle and stopped before the mermaridian. “Smile,” he ordered confidently, and she did, although inside her mind was screaming.

  She was helpless and horrified when her body moved obediently after the mermaridian. She followed him back into the crowd as if in a trance, stepping close behind and dancing through the gaps between workers as if she had been sold many times before. They worked their way back across the chamber and eventually stopped before a close-knit group clustered around a plinth. The circle opened to let them enter and Darsey stepped numbly forward and onto the dais at their centre.

  She stood straight and apparently unconcerned while her official dressers started their work. They were quick and practised and irresistible. All Darsey could do was rail at them mentally. Her unheard curses and elaborate threats were her only distraction from the casual invasiveness of her pre-sale preparation. A trio of low-level staff finished stripping and cleansing her while their superiors argued over effective accessories.

  “No,” one wailed loudly enough to claim Darsey’s swaddled attention. “We want erotic and exotic, not Rim whore. Think true-quality. Like this…”

  Darsey blanked out his further description with some unlikely speculation about his parentage. She should have been shaking with rage, but her body remained perfectly composed. It bent and turned compliantly to be wrapped in scraps of dark blue silk, held together by glittering golden strands. The lowest swathe of cloth settled snugly around her hips and was gathered on the right by a gold clasp. The silk split from that point to leave her right leg as bare as her back. The expensive dilmah hugged her close, before reaching the ground in ripples that pooled behind her. She turned and smiled while her unresisting limbs accepted bangles and jewels. The final touches were made all too soon, when her hair was swept across to one side and a makeup glamour dusted into place.

  Darsey’s transformation was complete and her pack of dressers stepped back against the press of the crowd to study the result. She longed to punch every smugly satisfied face in front of her, but instead she obediently twirled to show off her finery. It was the final indignity and pushed her past rage. Her mind was ice cold and completely clear when she spun back to a halt. She found unexpected control in that chill calm and lifted her gaze above her tormentors.

  The kres was gone.

  Darsey managed to raise a hand to cover her eyes and kept it there. How could she have been so stupid? She should never have trusted him. The guy wasn’t her big brother and he certainly wasn’t something more. He wasn’t even a guy. He was a sulky alien and she had just been dumped. She had no idea why she was so sure of that, but she knew soul deep that Wing wasn’t coming back. She had no Plan B and she was all alone.

  Panic threatened, making Darsey’s stomach clench, until she remembered there was still one person she could rely on. The only person she could rely on. Herself.

  25

  A Promise Kept

  Wing side-stepped, stopped, pivoted, turned and leapt forward without noticing the crowd around him. His feet found a path while his mind floundered. There was one thing he’d always known about saving Darsey, apart from the fact that she’d probably take his head off in the process and that was that he could always walk away. He tried to think of an alternative, but it seemed his body was already in full flight. There was just no way out of here. Not with her.

  Wing reached a curved wall and slammed straight into it. He stopped, with his forehead resting against its cool surface while his hands tightened into fists. Drakkit. He wasn’t a runner and he didn’t leave people behind. He couldn’t be a traitor. Not again.

  He froze and closed his eyes against unwelcome insight. That was exactly what he was. He’d run from his last love and was about to abandon his new… well, his new primitive, alien friend. He grimaced, and then slammed his fists into the wall on either side of his head.

  Ears ringing, Wing stepped back to glower at twin dents in the metal. The crush of people behind him eased, but when he looked around none of the slavers made eye contact. Instead they hurried about their jobs, while also leaving an unusual amount of clear space around the kres. It seemed temper tantrums could be useful.

  Wing turned back to the damaged wall and sagged against it. He had to leave Darsey. Right now. He truly had no choice. His mission was a priority that made his yearning to stay irrelevant. If he ignored his mission then his own people would suffer and he would fail the friend who’d raised him. How could he face his mentor after that?

  Perhaps that was the answer. Wing straightened, while his mind suddenly soared. Yes. Crest wouldn’t like it, but if he could be convinced, it would be the perfect solution.

  The kres spun back into the crowd, still careless of the swaying, tree-trunk mutt around him, but sprinting this
time. He reached a privacy alcove in less than five seconds. He slid into that shallow indentation and an energy field slammed into place behind him.

  “Out-talk,” he ordered his com tersely, while his finger tapped in the code to release a speck of exotic matter and open a long distance passage. His mind flew to secure the link, but then long seconds dragged slowly by while Crest verified his ident. Wing started to pace, sweeping from one side of the small space to the other while he waited to be acknowledged.

  “Son,” a soft voice quavered and Wing spun with a glad cry.

  “Crest.” He sprang forward as if to hug the hologram and stopped awkwardly. His family retainer smiled and Wing grinned ruefully back. “Are you well?”

  “Well enough, my Lord.”

  Wing paused in surprise. “So formal?”

  The white haired kres regarded him solemnly. “Perhaps it’s time to recall your proper rank, Lord.”

  Wing’s teeth clamped shut so hard it jarred his jaw and he had to turn away from the temptation of a tart reply. He strode to the edge of the alcove, before swinging back to pace a more careful return. “I’ve no rank, Crest. Sharpeye made that clear. At best, if I succeed in my mission for the Shadows I can return from exile, but that’s all. We needs must accept that, old friend.”

  Crest nodded as if considering the order, before the lines around his mouth pinched tight. “Never, Lord. You have a standing and a destiny that no false Arck can steal.”

  Wing almost threw up his arms in disgust, but Crest’s mild regard stopped him and he was surprised to find himself smiling instead. “I appreciate your faith in me, though it makes it hard to stay humble.”

  “Very hard,” Crest agreed with a chuckle that made his thin body sway. “Now to business, lad. What news of the t’ssaa? Why do they hunt kres?”

  Wing walked away again in an effort to stamp out his impatience. “Unknown, though I’ve a lead to follow soon. But for now I’ve a most urgent issue that needs your help.”

  “I live to be of service.”

  “Good. There’s a girl-”

  A wheeze escaped Crest and was followed by a coughing fit. “Excuse, Lord. I’m just pleased to know that you still retain your priorities.”

  “Most funny, Cressy. She’s about to be sold into slavery and I can’t stop it.”

  “A sad fate, but one that many on the Rim share. Your mission takes precedence.”

  “And I won’t be diverted from it, but I need you to buy her.”

  Crest’s eyebrows shot up so high it looked like his hair had reclaimed his forehead. “Buy her? Turn slaver? Are you crazed, boy?”

  Wing’s hair tugged at the nape of his neck, but he ignored the childish reaction. “Neither crazed nor a boy. Darsey’s an alien. A human and these are the co-ordinates of her home world.” He paused while his com sent the identifier through. “It’s my fault she’s here. I broke through to her system, so I also carry the blame for her lost crew. I plan to buy her freedom and I wish you to help. If you won’t, then clear this feed.”

  Wing paused, taut with determination and checked the wrinkles on Crest’s face more closely. His mentor was most definitely smiling. “You’ll do as I ask?”

  “Indeed. Understand, Wing, one day you will rule our people and to do that well you can’t always think of yourself. So your concern for this ‘who-min’ girl pleases me.”

  Wing leaned back against the wall with a sigh. “You might have said such more quickly.”

  “And missed a chance to test my most promising pupil? Never. Do you understand now how much it can cost to be selfless?”

  “Yes.”

  “Your entire fortune? So when you do return home it will be without rank or money?”

  “At least I’ll be home.”

  “And will you regret it?”

  “No,” Wing answered without hesitation and realized it was true. Saving Darsey would be his best act for a very long time. “The money’s irrelevant. Just see her safe back to her people.”

  “I’ll try my utmost, but there will be buyers in this pit far wealthier than you. Your friend represents a new species and from your eagerness to save her, I guess she’s most attractive.”

  Wing felt a tug against his scalp that might have been his hair stirring again and folded his arms. “She’s quite lovely, in an alien way, but that’s irrelevant. I’d help her even if I’d never seen her.”

  “Why?”

  “Because she needs it. Enough testing, old one.”

  Crest chuckled softly, but quickly sobered. “You’ll always be tested, Wing. That’s part of life. As for this issue, I’ll bid as high as I can and add my own funds too, but an exotic beauty could easily build to a record price. Your goal is noble, but may well be thwarted. It’s most likely another will claim your friend.”

  Wing forced a smile, despite the fear tightening his chest. He ignored the pain to stand straight and confident. “You’ll bid, you’ll win, I’ll deliver Darsey to you and you’ll see her safe home to her Earth. Don’t be concerned. I have a plan.”

  26

  Sold

  Darsey’s hand was dragged from her eyes by the alien force now controlling her, but her heart lifted. Wing was back. Despite her fear, no her terror, he hadn’t left after all. A familiar dark head pushed past the shoulders of the mermaridian circling her, only to stop the moment their eyes met.

  Wing stared at Darsey blankly. His expression was gob-smacked and she wished that was literally true. She could happily have thumped him, after the fright he’d given her. Instead she stood there, cursing the stupid smile she was still wearing.

  “Relax,” Min-yung ordered when he moved to join Wing and Darsey’s face grew instantly still. However, Min-yung’s smile was untouched while he studied her with clear delight. “Ye, ye, a fine job, people. I’ve some relief, considering what we had to work with. Effort plus from all.” He eyed Darsey with professional satisfaction before looking at Nightwing. “She’ll fetch top credit, kres. Your leader will be best pleased.”

  “I hope such,” Wing answered tersely. “What’s next?”

  Min-yung’s gaze had returned to Darsey and he answered vaguely. “The usual, Senior. The scans and adverts are already sent. There’s much interest shown and it won’t pass long before the buyers demand access. Yes.” He looked down at his com, while a stream of data was directed straight to his eyes. “Indeed. Desire is high and growing quick. The prime auctioneer has set sale time.” Min-yung paused and his eyes widened around the data stream. “She must be confident. We’re to auction in half an hour.”

  Half an hour, Darsey protested silently, but Wing was already repeating the words incredulously.

  “Half an hour? That won’t give enough buyers time to register. Greon also wished her to be seen at the market. He thought that would draw more interest-”

  “Tsss,” Min-yung interrupted angrily. “Greon should know such is not allowed.”

  Darsey’s gaze remained riveted on Wing, who was stony faced.

  “Understood,” he snapped. “Then I need privacy. I wish to instruct the slave in her future duties.”

  Min-yung laughed in response. “Absolutely not. If you wanted to instruct her, you should have done so before she was merchandise. It’s too late to indulge your appetites now. We’ve not made her lovely to attract you. Buyer proxies are already arriving and the female’s on live feed. I suggest you do your instructing without her. Do you wish a room, so you may be alone?’

  The auctioneer’s caustic question was cut short when Wing scowled, his eyes darkening ominously.

  “Well, mayhap no,” Min-Yung amended. “My pardon, Senior, but your ignorance is unsettling. This lot was ours from scan-in time. She became our interim property and stays such until passed through the pit, whether with sale or without.”

  “Without sale?” Wing asked quickly, but the auctioneer looked back to Darsey with an easy smirk.

  “Scant fear of such, Senior. She’ll sell well and for huge cre
dit. You should have indulged your farewells sooner.”

  Wing absorbed the suggestion without expression or comment. He studied the floor silently, ignored by the staff moving past him and by Min-yung, who was staring at Darsey again. She was the only person aware of the kres and she watched him with the intensity of sunlight through a magnifying glass. Don’t. Leave. Me.

  Wing stared back as if searching for words, but Darsey was forced to turn away. She executed a slow spin while Min-yung’s fingers caressed his com. The auctioneer was clearly enthralled by the dance of his puppet and missed a more foreboding flash of movement beside him.

  He had no warning before Wing’s fingers closed on his wrist, wrapping around his com with unexpected force. He yelped and Darsey heard the auctioneer’s bones creak when Wing’s combat powered grip tightened.

  The surrounding crowd flowed on, apparently oblivious to Min-yung’s predicament. A passing mutt paused briefly, but moved away when its master failed to summon it. The auctioneer could only whimper and belatedly struggled to pull back, but Wing held him fast.

  “No fun, is it?” the kres asked conversationally. “To be held against your wish.”

  “N-no,” Min-yung managed to agree. “Please-”

  “Free Darsey,” Wing ordered. “Give us the fifty minutes together. Out here, with all eyes, is fine.”

  Min-yung made no effort to debate the order or to call for help. Instead, he raised a finger in awkward surrender and reached carefully for his trapped com. His movements were slow and precise, while his attention stayed fixed on the raptor eyes watching him. He tapped his control pad once and then again with a shaking hand.

  There was a sudden exclamation from Darsey. It was her first voluntary sound since the scan and her heart contracted when she realized what it meant. Her hands flew to her face and her knees buckled. The plan had failed. Hadn’t it?

  She looked desperately to Wing and his expression plunged her into a horror as suffocating as any control field. She shook her head, but his face offered sympathy, not hope.