Stardancer Read online

  Kinara wrung the napkin into the sink, rinsed it and wrung it again. “Shimmersilk trimmings, carved stone, tub deep enough to swim in,” she murmured. “Nice to be clan leader.”

  It took her a few minutes to have his supper set to rights and get his boots cleaned off. She replaced the spoon and grabbed a cloth off the serving board to serve as a fresh napkin for him. She pushed the plate in front of him and looked everything over as he sat down.

  She nodded. “Okay, I think you’re set.”

  His shoulders tensed. “I am pleased you think so.”

  Kinara frowned. “Did I forget something?”

  He looked at her from beneath angry, blond brows. “Perhaps you might refill the wine cup?”

  “Ah, sure.” Awkwardly holding the heavy jug against her waist, she managed to pour more. She spilled a little on the table and wiped at it with her palm.

  She put the cup next to him as he lifted the fork to his mouth.

  She watched him eat for a moment. “How is it?”

  “Cold,” he said shortly.

  Kinara shifted her feet as he ate. He didn’t seem to need anything else right away so she pulled out a chair and sat down across from him. She folded her hands to wait, her arms resting on the table.

  He stopped with the fork halfway to his mouth, staring.

  Kinara spread her hands. “What?”

  “You do not sit with me, Tellaran.”

  Kinara blinked. He’d let her sit before. “I’m not allowed to sit? Why not?”

  “The day has been too long for this,” he muttered and returned to his meal.

  Kinara looked around the room. She was hungry too and wondered if she could get something to eat now or she had to wait until he was finished.

  Anything I learn might get us out of here. “You have some nice quarters. Are you in command here?”

  His head came up and he glared at her. “No.”

  “But you’re a clan leader?”

  “Yes,” he bit out and returned to his meal.

  “So what does that mean? That you’re clan leader?”

  “It means the gods do not favor me.” He shoved his plate away.

  “Are you done already?” she asked, frowning.

  He stood. “Bring my wine, Tellaran.”

  She brought his cup and set it beside him as he lifted a datapad. What a strange culture! Swords and animal skin clothing but they also possessed technology that could compare to Tellarans’.

  He settled himself on a couch near the holo-fire and she stood beside him awkwardly.

  “Can I eat now?” she asked.

  His head snapped up. “What?”

  “I’m hungry,” Kinara said impatiently. “Can I eat now?”

  He glared, then with a sound of annoyance waved her away. “Go eat, Tellaran.”

  Kinara served herself from the sideboard and took up her seat again at the table.

  He frowned but he didn’t rebuke her. And what was she supposed to do anyway? Eat standing up?

  The food was better then she expected. The spices were like none she’d ever tasted but surprisingly the meat was sular steak. She didn’t even know they kept the beasts for food. Taken during one of their raids of Tellaran colonies maybe?

  The Az-kye seemed absorbed with the display on his datapad and didn’t issue her any other commands. When she finished her meal she stacked the plates as neatly as she could. At a loss, she poured him more wine, this time managing not to spill any. She tidied around him, looking over his shoulder at his datapad, reading what she could.

  She paused and frowned at the engine schematic he was looking at.

  She started when he spoke. “What?”

  He held his cup out to her. “You may have some wine,” he repeated.

  She busied herself with straightening the cushions. “I don’t want any.”

  “It pleases me that you take some.”

  She gritted her teeth in annoyance then, taking the goblet from him, she took a swallow.

  He watched the expression on her face. “It does not please you.”

  “It’s fine,” she replied stiffly. Truthfully it had more bite than any drink she’d ever had. A cup of this stuff and she wouldn’t be able to stand.

  “It is too strong for you, perhaps.”

  “I just said it’s fine.”

  He shrugged. “Do you wish, I would not object if you added water to it.”

  Defiantly, she drank deeply, struggling not to cough as it burned its way down her throat. Her eyes narrowed at the amused expression in his dark eyes as he took the cup back.

  “Sit, Cy’atta,” he said, pointing to the place on the floor beside him.

  She sat cross-legged. When she was settled at his feet she met his eyes squarely.

  A smile touched his mouth. “What you have read, it interests you?”

  “I don’t know what you mean.”

  His gaze sharpened. “You displease me. Do not lie to me again.”

  She set her jaw at the implied threat. “As you like.”

  “What interests you so, Cy’atta?”

  “Your engine’s propulsion systems.”

  "The engines? What of them?”

  I’ll show you what ‘useless’ Tellarans can do. “Your use of astuk crystals in low grade coils costs you a great deal of efficiency.”

  His brow creased; she’d surprised him. “It provides the power we need.”

  “But you lose nearly twenty percent of the energy with your method. I bet the lights on this ship are dim because your power output is so inefficient. You’re probably having all kinds of problems using a triple caliber system and a single caliber containment design. With a higher grade you could widen the containment field and lose less energy in the exchange.”

  He poured himself more wine. “Explain this.”

  Giving the Az-kye more efficient engines wouldn’t give them more powerful ones, Kinara thought as she finished. Even if this savage implemented all of her suggestions, it wouldn’t bring them up to speed with Tellaran engines.

  “Of course, Tedah knows a lot more than I do,” she finished casually. “You know, the one you said was hardly worth feeding.”

  His dark eyes sharpened on her. “He knows more of this?”

  She shrugged. “Well, certainly. He studied engine design on Rusco.”

  He fingered his cup. “He could be dangerous then.”

  “Danger—? No, I—”

  He tilted his head. “You care for him.”

  “He’s my friend! You aren’t going to–”

  “He mounts you?”

  Kinara blinked. “No.”

  The Az-kye studied her. “Another of my Tellaran males lies with you, then?”

  None of them had ever been more than a friend. She was tempted to claim she had a lover back in Tellaran space but this warrior had an uncanny way of catching her lies. Tedah might not have set her heart racing but she always kind of thought it would be him that . . .

  The less said here the better. Cheeks burning, Kinara shook her head.

  “I am surprised,” he said softly.

  His fingers gently skimmed the skin over her collarbone. She shivered, shocked by the pleasure of his touch.

  “You are afraid?”

  Kinara forced herself to meet his eyes. “No, of course not.”

  He smiled faintly. “You do not lack for courage, Cy’atta.”

  After a moment he drew his hand away. She swallowed hard, mortified by the flash of disappointment she felt when he did.

  “Tell me why I should keep this Tellaran.”

  The room was miserably cold. Why have a holo fire and keep the room so starblasted freezing? Kinara drew her legs up to hug her knees. “He knows a great deal. Maybe he could teach you.”

  The warrior gave a short laugh. “Think you I would learn from a slave?”

  “You don’t mind listening to me.”

  “But to look on you pleases me.”

  Kinara turned her
face away.

  He sighed. “And now you deny me that. Very well, Cy’atta, you have won. Let me look on you and I will consider keeping this Tellaran.”

  Kinara narrowed her eyes up at him.

  “You are not like other females, Cy’atta.” He shook his head, his dark eyes crinkling with humor. “Ones who smile or pout to get their way.”

  “I’m not an Az-kye woman. I actually have something intelligent to say.”

  He burst out laughing. “What you Tellarans think of us! Truly, you amuse me.”

  “I happen to know a great deal about your people, Az-kye. I studied you for months.”

  “This is so?”

  “Yes, this is so!” she snapped. “I know you are nothing but a bunch of uncivilized brutes, barbarians who respect nothing!”

  He nodded gravely. “This is what you have learned in your studies.”

  Kinara opened her mouth to reply but something in his face caught her attention and she scowled. “You’re making fun of me.”

  “You are easily baited, Cy’atta,” he replied, his mouth twitching with amusement. “Why do you call me ‘Az-kye’?”

  “Mainly because I don’t know your name. I can think of a couple other things I'd like to call you.”

  “I am sure. You will address me as ‘my lord’.”

  “Az-kye don’t have names?”

  “Yes, we have names. I am Aidar of the Az’anti. But this is not for you to say. You will call me ‘my lord’.”

  “No one calls you by your name?”

  “No slave calls me by my name. Unless,” he added softly, letting his fingers run through her hair again. “It is a favored slave and the name is spoken in privacy.”

  “Stop that,” Kinara said shakily.

  His fingers whispered over the skin of her cheek. “Will you disobey me even in this?”

  “In what?”

  He leaned forward, cupping her chin.

  “In bedding,” he murmured just before his mouth touched hers.

  It was an act of will not to yield to the warm sweetness as his tongue explored.

  He drew away to look at her, seeming genuinely perplexed. “I know you are roused. Why do you resist, Cy’atta? I will not hurt you.”

  Her mouth was still tingling. Gods, if any man can kiss like that why did it have to be a starblasted Az-kye?

  Remembering Kyndan, the crew of the Reliant, her own people imprisoned on this ship, Kinara hardened her jaw. “You have my crew. I can’t stop you from doing what you want.”

  His fingers lightly traced her cheek. “I have not taken a bound mate and no other woman shares my bed now. You need not fear punishment or jealousy.”

  “Well I’m glad I’m not going to get blamed if you chase me around the bed but I won’t join willingly with you.”

  He searched her face. “Not even for your own pleasure?”

  Her heart was hammering. “No.”

  “You will disobey me?”

  “No. You can order me to your bed but that isn’t the same as my choosing it, is it?”

  He looked annoyed. “But you will lie with me if I order it?”

  She wet her lips. Was he going to order her? “For the sake of my people? Of course I will.”

  He let go of her and took up his goblet again, his expression going cold. “It is a good thing, this. It is unseemly for one of my status to bed a slave, I think.”

  She gave a nod. “Couldn’t agree more.”

  His eyes narrowed. “But you have distracted me. Explain why I should retain this worthless Tellaran.”

  “He isn’t—” Kinara began heatedly then with an effort made her tone calmer. “Tedah has a real gift with engine design and propulsion systems. He could work on this ship and have it fifty percent more efficient in no time.”

  “That is no concern of mine. My time on this ship is finished once we reach Az-kye.”

  “But Tedah could improve a civilian system just as easily as he could a military one. You can’t be so rich that it wouldn’t help. You could hire him out if you wanted—”

  “I could hire you out as well.”

  She couldn’t stop the spasm of fear from crossing her face. “Are you–” Her voice caught. “Are you going to do that?”

  He looked away and put his cup down quickly. “I am tired. I will think on what you have said.”

  “But are you—”

  “I am tired, Tellaran. Be you silent now!”

  Rebuffed and frightened, Kinara stayed quiet as he stood and dimmed the lights.

  “Come.”

  Kinara scrambled up and followed him to the bed, shifting her feet as he undressed. Nor was he at all shy about undressing in front of her.

  Her studies hadn’t told her anything about clan leaders or how they fit into Az-kye society but this man had power here, enough that the warriors guarding her crew instantly obeyed him and no warrior they passed in the hall had questioned him. Her stomach knotted. Could she really afford to reject him? She didn’t want this to be something she did because she had to.

  Kinara’s eyes widened as the last of his clothes were thrown aside. He got into bed and nodded to the place beside him. “You will sleep here.”

  Kinara hesitated. “Why?”

  “Because it pleases me to have you so,” he fairly snapped. “Obey me.”

  Awkwardly, Kinara climbed into bed with him. Any ideas she had about keeping her distance were squashed as he wrapped his arms around her. His body was warm but she shivered anyway.

  “You are afraid?”

  “I’m cold. It’s freezing in here.”

  He tucked the blankets around her then held her again, his body warm against her back.

  Kinara lay stiffly in his embrace. She started when he rested his cheek against her shoulder.

  “What is it now?” he demanded.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Do Tellarans not sleep?”

  “Of course we do, but I mean . . .” She gripped the blankets. “Is that all you are going to do?”

  She felt him go still for a moment, then he said, “I am tired, Tellaran. Trouble me no more tonight.”

  He cradled her. Between his body heat and the blankets it was the warmest she’d been in hours. As time went on and he didn’t try anything she began to relax a little. Maybe Az-kye got cold too and he just wanted her there for warmth.

  The Rapier is towed by the Ty’pran. The crew is held nearby. We’ll get out of this.

  Kinara listened to his breathing become deep and even. Whatever he had planned for her wasn’t going to happen right now.

  I don’t want kill him if I don’t have to. I just need to give him some time to fall asleep then I’ll figure out a way out of here . . .

  Kinara awoke to find the Az-kye standing beside the bed, already dressed again in warrior black. She had the uncomfortable feeling those dark eyes had been watching her for a long time.

  He turned away. “You are lazy, Tellaran.”

  Kinara rubbed the sleep out of her eyes, silently cursing herself for falling asleep like that and sat up.

  “I must have just passed out.” Kinara stretched, feeling the muscles in her back loosen. “I guess I really needed the sleep.”

  “Think you I care?” he fairly snapped.

  Kinara blinked. His mood was, if anything, worse than last night and her stomach tightened. Right now all she could do for her crew is try to get on this warrior’s good side. Hurriedly she got out of bed and stood awkwardly beside him.

  “Is there something you want me to do, Ad-uh, my lord?”

  “I am hungry,” he grumbled. “But to have you fetch my meal would turn my stomach I think.” His hair was darker than it had been the night before and Kinara realized that it was wet. He smelled clean to her as he bent down to adjust the fastenings of his boot.

  “Maybe it’s the food.”

  He looked up at her sharply. “What?”

  Kinara pushed her hair away from her face. “I said, ma
ybe it’s your food. You might like Tellaran food better. In fact, if you send for supplies from the Rapier, I could–”

  “There is no Rapier, Cy’atta.”

  “Oh, well, okay. Whatever you call it now, if you sent to my ship—”

  “No,” he said, straightening. “There is no ship. I ordered it destroyed.”

  The air went out of Kinara’s lungs in a rush of disbelief. “You did what?”

  “I have destroyed it. Will you have me repeat everything for you today?”

  The floor seemed to tilt away from her feet. Kinara sat down on the bed hard and gripped the mattress. She thought the Rapier towed alongside the Az-kye ship, ready for the moment she could free her crew. Without that ship how could they even hope to escape?

  She was trapped here, unarmed, alone, with who knows how many warriors between her and the crew and no ship to escape to even if she could get her people free.

  Gods, none of us might ever see home again!

  “Will you keep me waiting, Tellaran?”

  Kinara looked up at him. “But why? Why did you destroy my ship?”

  “It was not your ship. It was mine. What I choose to do with mine own is no concern of yours, slave.”

  “It was mine!” He’d blasted her best hope to get her crew home to dust. Kinara shook her head, rage breaking through her shock. “How could you?”

  His blond brows rushed together and his dark eyes were smoldering. “You displease me greatly. Be you silent now.”

  She shot to her feet, too furious to fear the dangerous glint in his eye. “How could you destroy it? And why?” She held up a hand. “Oh, don’t bother! I know the answer! Because you filthy brutes don’t know how to do anything else but destroy!”

  His nostrils flared. “You do not learn easily, Tellaran, but you will learn your place!"

  He seized her upper arm and pulled her along with him into the hall. He had long strides and Kinara was nearly running to avoid being dragged along.

  Her anger sharply gave way to alarm. Tellarans meant nothing to him. Was he going to make good on his threat to kill one of the crew?

  But as unfamiliar as this ship was, she realized he was not taking her in the direction her crew was kept.

  “Where are we going?”