Chapter 3
Prisoners
“How do you plan to inform Duruk about the Terrans?”
They stood on the edge of the sloping platform at the edge of the temple and gazed out over the vast desert.
Kyber responded without addressing Massapa directly. “We will tell them we are alive only because the Terrans joined us in our survival.”
“Duruk will not be happy to know we have Plat under guard,” Kleesod remarked.
Kyber agreed. “There is much that will need to be explained, including why the Terrans are not our prisoner, but the D’har is.”
Massapa made a rude sound. “I would chance to say that is not going to be your biggest problem.”
Again, Kyber agreed. “Kelen.” It was all he had to say. To the Seneecians, it would be bad enough that he and the others had consorted with the Terrans instead of killing them outright. But to admit that he’d taken one of them to wife, and he and Kelen had Confirmed their union in front of witnesses, would cause major conflict.
Gaveer moved up to stand beside him. “Tell us what you want us to say.”
Lifting his chin, Kyber mulled over the request. It would not be against Seneecian law for him to command the others to lie for him. In fact, it was expected. Kyber would be held solely and fully accountable for all actions he had taken with the Terrans and against Plat. Kleesod, Gaveer, and Massapa would not be blamed nor punished because they had followed orders as directed, and as expected.
“I want you to tell them the truth.”
The other three Seneecians gasped, turning to give Kyber disbelieving looks. “Kyber, why—”
Kyber lifted a hand to stay Massapa’s protest. “I know you all acted of your own free will, but Duruk, and subsequently the Triumvirate, will believe you were following my orders.” He finally eyed each of them. “Let them believe that. Those are my orders. Let them believe your actions stemmed from my orders, and avert any punishment from being dealt to you.”
“That is not right, Kyber,” Gaveer heatedly remarked. “Why should you bear the burden of punishment?”
“Because I bear the title,” Kyber snapped back. “That is my duty. That comes from being your Por D’har.” Grinning lopsidedly, he added, “Besides, even if you told them everything you did was self-driven, do you think the Triumvirate will take your word for it?”
“A ship!” Kleesod pointed in the distance as a tiny speck gradually drew closer to the garden temple. It soon became recognizable as a Seneecian land shuttle.
Kyber and the others remained on the rocky slab as the craft came to rest less than fifty meters from where they stood. As the rear bay door lowered, he noticed his brother had already spotted and recognized him.
All eight Seneecians exited the shuttle. As per protocol, Kyber and the others knew two were left inside the craft—the pilot and one guard. Duruk casually led his warriors to the rim of the stone ledge and stopped short of stepping onto it. Kyber saw the man give him a curious stare and knew why. Duruk expected his younger brother to give obeisance to him, as a Por D’har would to a superior ranking officer. When Kyber remained unbending, Duruk frowned.
“Has time on this planet removed all training from your addled brain?”
“No.” Short, simple, and direct. And it definitely pissed off the D’har.
“Then why do you not bow to me, Por D’har?”
“Since when is a D’har required to bow to another D’har?” Kyber stoically replied. Secretly, he enjoyed watching the momentary surprise come over his brother’s face.
Duruk quickly collected himself. The man’s dark eyes darted to the three men surrounding Kyber. Kyber half-expected the man to question one of them, blatantly asking if what Kyber said was true, but thought better of it. Even if they said Kyber’s claim was true, he would take it as them lying as per Kyber’s orders—an expected reaction. Even if Kyber wasn’t their D’har, he was still their commander as their Por D’har. Yet, Duruk wasn’t totally satisfied.
“What happened to D’har Plat? Did he not survive the crash?” That remark told Kyber the remains of their lifepods had been discovered.
“No, Duruk. D’har Plat survived. I challenged him for rank using Tooth and Nail, as is my right, and gained my title.”
For the second time, Duruk registered surprise. “You killed him?”
“No. He is my prisoner.”
The Seneecian again took in the fact that only four men faced him. “Where is he? You have him in hiding?”
“He is being watched by our allies.”
“Allies? Who?”
“The Terrans.”
Duruk’s response was immediate and expected. All nine Seneecians pulled their weapons, ready to blast the enemy.
“Where are they holding Plat?” Duruk demanded.
“They are holding him where I commanded,” Kyber said, making sure he enunciated each word carefully. Before his brother could respond, he repeated his earlier comment. “They are our allies. They are under my banner of protection, and therefore—”
“Therefore nothing! They are the enemy, not our allies!” Duruk hotly remarked.
“They are our allies,” Kyber continued to reiterate. “If we had not joined forces, this planet and the creatures that inhabit it would have killed all of us before now. We owe our lives to their help, and they for ours. I have given them my word as D’har that no harm will come to them when we are rescued.” He narrowed his eyes and restated his last comment more forcefully. “They will come to no harm. I gave them my word as D’har, and I expect my word to be resolute.”
The challenge was given. In a perverse sort of way, Kyber was hoping the man would contest his claim. Maybe even try to invalidate it. Disappointingly, Duruk yielded.
“What is it you wish from me and my crew?” the man inquired.
“Passage back to Seneecia, where the Terrans will be allowed to notify their planet of their survival.”
“And then what? Provide them safe passage back to their galaxy? Are we now a shuttle service for their enjoyment?” Duruk made no effort to hide his disgust of Kyber’s plan.
Kyber refused to rise to the bait. “That will depend on what their government requests. Until then, they will be treated as—”
“Prisoners,” Duruk interrupted with a sneer. “On my ship, they will treated as my prisoners.”
Kyber gave a slight bow of his head. On this issue, he couldn’t argue or demand otherwise. It was Duruk’s ship, and Duruk was the D’har. What he said was law. Any attempt to countermand the man’s authority would give Duruk permission to abandon Kyber and everyone else on this rock. The most he could hope for was that Kelen and the others would not be treated with any form of cruelty. “I accept, D’har Duruk,” he murmured, which seemed to appease his brother. Raising a hand, he signaled to Gaveer, who went to retrieve the others.
This battle had been won, but the war was far from being over. There would be many more battles to fight, but for now he could rest assured the Terrans would not be killed on sight when they emerged.
Steadying himself, Kyber waited for Kelen and the rest to join them.