Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 91631 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 458(@200wpm)___ 367(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91631 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 458(@200wpm)___ 367(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Milly and Lord va'Rin exit the shuttle first, dressed in their elegant house robes. Behind them file three servants, dressed in va'Rin livery and carrying enormous boxes of gifts. In exchange for forcing Lord hs'Serr's hand, Milly and Lord va'Rin are going to entice him with three of the crystalline vases he loves so much. They're gifts to soothe his spirit and to smooth things over. I just hope it works. Mina's worth more than a thousand vases.
I follow behind the guards, keeping out of sight as much as possible so Lord hs'Serr doesn't notice me. I wear one of the livery uniforms myself, and my skin is a deeper, richer gray from being in the sunlight all day long. With my head shorn and my tusks removed, I almost wonder if he'll recognize me. I rub the spot where my missing finger once was.
I wonder if Mina will recognize me.
To my disappointment, there's no scent of Mina on the wind. She doesn't appear with Lord hs'Serr, either. He arrives with his clone retinue to greet Lord and Lady va'Rin, and it's obvious that things are stilted between them. There's no invitation to dinner, no invitation to stay and be his guest. He meets them at the landing pad and gives our group a sulky look.
"To what do I owe this honor?" Lord hs'Serr asks, his expression distinctly unwelcoming.
"You received our missive from Lady dra'Niiron?" Lord va'Rin replies, stepping forward. "What is your answer?"
Milly has explained everything to me. Lady dra'Niiron is a very influential noble back on Homeworld, and the one that gifted Lord hs'Serr with Mina in the first place. She is also the noble that gifted Milly to va'Rin, once upon a time. Lord va'Rin asked her to write a letter on his behalf, explaining that Mina was in love with me and, as a romantic gesture, that we weren't to be parted.
I'm told that Lady dra'Niiron's first reply was exceedingly unpleasant, but with the appropriate bribery, she's followed through and written a gushing missive to Lord hs'Serr asking him to give up Mina so we can be together. The letter was sent while we were in flight, heading for Lord hs'Serr's vacation home, so he could have time to digest it. The presents are a gift to soothe ruffled feathers and cost ten times more than Mina's worth, so Milly is hopeful that it will go over well.
But…I can't smell Mina anywhere. Her scent's not in the compound, not on the air, and my senses prick with a feeling of dread.
"You have outmaneuvered me well," Lord hs'Serr says in a dry voice. "To think, if you but applied such focused efforts to our government, the mesakkah would rule all of space."
"I have no interest in ruling all of space," Lord va'Rin says. "I merely wish to settle down with my family and enjoy our lives. And I would like the same for your slave. Will you give her over? I realize this is trying for you since Rina"—he stresses the name—"Is so very beloved. But we hope that the gifts of these vases will make up for the loss."
"I would gladly do so," Lord hs'Serr says. "Alas, I'm afraid it's too late."
My skin grows cold. I shove to the front of the group, past the guards, past the gift-bearers. Hot rage blisters through me and I can feel my eyes turning red. "Where is she?" I snarl. "Where is Mina?"
Lord hs'Serr is immediately surrounded by guards, and the sound of a dozen shock-sticks humming to life fills the air. He remains expressionless, giving me a cool look. "Call off your pet monster, va'Rin."
"Jonathan."
"Where is she?" I will not be stopped.
"Jonathan," Milly echoes, putting a hand on my arm. I want to fling it off, I want to rip the heads off of every single one of those smug, grinning clones. "Calm yourself," she whispers. "Remember."
"Where is the human?" Lord va'Rin asks. "She was here two days ago, surely, when our letter was sent. It will be very bad form for you to sell her out from under our noses."
"Oh, she has not been sold," Lord hs'Serr smirks. He flicks at one of his embroidered cuffs, paying it great attention as my temper grows and grows. Red bleeds through my vision, coloring his robes scarlet.
I'm going to kill him.
And I'm going to make it hurt.
"Where is she?" Lord va'Rin demands. "I will not ask again."
"The female is participating in a training exercise with my gladiator stable," the noble says, adjusting his robe cuff. "They've been training so well, you know. They had to work hard to fill in the hole in my roster, so this is a treat for them. If they find her, they get to play with her." He gives us a cold smile. "But if you find what's left, you can have her."