Chapter 4 Yueril
Chapter four
Yueril
The den was cleaner than I had expected, and when I asked for a room, they led me to a viewing screen filled with monitors of every available accommodation, both to show that I would be watched, and to see each pod offering would include its own companion for my stay.
Off to the other wall was a rotation of security cameras, one of which was constantly on the exits.
My eye caught on the discarded emerald of the streets as she clutched the flaps of the junk trader's tent outside.
The edge of my lips quirked up in delight that I had been correct about her following me.
From the moment I saw her huddled amongst the debris of the shuttle strip, my vision narrowed, and it took everything within my willpower to stop myself from summoning my team to raze the city.
I could, with a simple command, overrun this entire port with my crew, but I had instructed them to take rotations of only a shuttle's amount at a time for their celebrations of what they believed was a victory of the planet Necias Prime joining the galactic authority.
Only Belder knew our mission was more than posting up at an outlaw base to stand off against the threat of the Solusgor's approach.
Every warrior under my command was prepared to die to protect the universe, but there was no preparation for what we would face when they arrived.
They weren't an entity of flesh and blood.
"Who is that?" I asked of my escort.
He cleared his throat and tried to motion me back to the other viewing screens.
"No one wants to be caught with a branded slave of Lord Zorn without proof that you've paid your dues.
That one can't be touched until Lord Zorn returns, but I do have plenty of other options for every taste of the universe for your stay. "
I clenched my jaw to control myself and kept my voice even as I demanded, "Bring her to my room." A slave! My scales threatened to spray the whole room with a toxin to subdue them all.
The spindly-looking escort chewed on his lip nervously, unsure of what to make of me, or what kind of outlaw I must be.
"I mean no disrespect, but if you do not know who Lord Zorn is.
.. it's best not to be anywhere near that one.
As pretty as she is, she isn't worth your life, as that is what it will cost you. "
"I'll decide what it will cost me," I hissed and as his throat bobbed, he then nodded his understanding.
"I'll have her delivered tonight, but I will warn you, the last outlaw to touch the property of Lord Zorn met an untimely end.
It won't matter if you plan on paying him after, that you were just looking out for her, or if you claim to inform him that you found her and wanted to return her.
.. Be prepared to defend your life. He'd rather everyone know that escaping isn't an option for a slave, that no one will help them, because if they do, everyone who has been in contact with them will die.
Her best option is to wait for Lord Zorn and return to him for her punishment. "
My scales flared along my skull, forcing my hood back as I sneered, displaying my sharp teeth.
He flinched, and I reiterated that I wouldn't be intimidated by a male that ruled with fear.
"When you bring her to my room, you will tell her that it is a request that the Emerald Treasure show a presumptuous wanderer around for his stay.
In exchange, the room is hers for as long as she'd like.
" I watched him carefully to reiterate, "A request. I will know if you have forced her to join me, and it will be you who pays the price. "
He sputtered, "I cannot keep her at the den, word will spread, and I will—"
I cut him off. "You are not the owner of this establishment." It was clear from his fear that he was nothing more than a caretaker in the real owner's absence.
Behind us, a clucking noise had both our attentions turning to the viewing room entrance, where a warrior spread out his leathery wings in intimidation. My escort cowered, making himself seem small with his shoulders hunched. This may be someone with a bit more authority here.
He looked over at the screen, where my treasure used to be.
She was gone, no longer peeking from behind the dealer's tent.
Then the newcomer dipped his horns to me with a smile.
"Forgive my associate. He forgets that the customer is always right.
If there is someone you want us to bring to you, we will.
You do understand that you will take full responsibility for whatever repercussions come from our procurement, so we'll require the fee upfront. "
"Commander..." the meek one warned against the offer.
A stern stare was all he got in return, but he nodded profusely. The clucking sound from deep in his throat was forming a pattern that sounded more and more like a language not covered by our databases.
"You will follow Commander Goen," my escort suggested while backing away.
Replacing my hood over my head, I followed without hesitation. I was alone, but I was not unarmed, despite being searched when I entered.
He spoke as we walked through the well-kept halls, a vast contradiction to the exterior of the den.
"I've acquired a species that struggles to thrive on my planet, but my queen believes the flightless worms make a welcome change to the taste of our nectar.
I've been tasked with bringing more, since the first gave us a strong kantos spawn.
She believes we need another worm to help her hatch the new generation.
That is where you come in. It is the price for my establishment risking the wrath of Lord Zorn.
You are to make sure this worm will survive longer than the last."
"And you believe I can do that for you?" I asked, incredulous at the assumption that I had any medical experience with a species he hadn’t even identified.
"Your ship came from the direction I'm told the worms were found, and I did not acquire this one from Lord Zorn, so he would not be pleased that I didn't wait for his return to choose from his own stock.
The trader I bought from did not keep his stock in good repair.
You can understand I can't trust either to help me, and I've seen one of your kind heal the Hewve Dragon of a similar sickness.
But of course, my silence about your involvement with an unclaimed slave is contingent on your own silence about this worm I place in your care. "
When we entered an air-locked room, a strange membrane blocked our entry, and the commander tore through it with a stinger extended from his forearm. We entered, only for him to spit on the tear to seal it and tear through another membrane like a containment chamber.
A strange creature with no visible defenses, but of similar build to the trill, lied prone before us.
I approached and used a claw to lift its mouth flap open to see it had the blunted teeth of a scavenger that picks the leftovers of other predators, or forages for plants and berries.
These creatures had no wings to fly from predators, and no scales, or thick hide, to protect against becoming prey.
I pressed against its small claws only for them to bend under little pressure, not even giving the species an ability to defend itself.
It was as vulnerable as a bug, and aptly described as a wingless worm.
"What is wrong with it?"
"That isn't my job, that's yours," the commander scoffed in dismissal. "I'll have the estreld female delivered to you shortly, but as long as she is in your care, someone must be with the worm. Bring the medic that fixed the Hewve Dragon, and the estreld is yours."
"I will clarify that bringing my medic does not mean she is yours to keep. I'm not selling her."
His wings fluttered and folded back, disappearing behind him. "As I said before, as long as you have the estreld in your care, your medic will care for the worm."
I understood clearly enough that Belder would be hostage as long as I was with my treasure.
Belder would willingly place herself in whatever harm's way to help a creature in need.
Prying her from the worm's side would be impossible if she thought she could help him.
It did appear to be male by the looks of the appendage between his legs, but I'd met species where gender was less obvious, and females were self-propagating.
"And should your worm be recovered, then our business is concluded. You will leave both my medic and the estreld alone."
"I have no control over whether Lord Zorn has anything to say about your involvement with what is his, but I will not intervene unless prompted to."
That was as good of a promise that I would receive from such an outlaw.
With a smile, I made it clear to him that my species boasted more than just two insignificant fangs—we possessed an entire array of teeth specifically designed to shred through flesh, and my tongue was rough enough to grate against his thick skin if I wished to extend my barbs.
A warning not too dissimilar to his own, I replied, "As long as I don't find you've dishonored me, your business is your own. "
We were both in agreement, but I wasn't sure he was aware that in my culture, we considered it perfectly lawful to kill anyone who has gone against their word or sought harm against our mates.
He has given me his word that he will let Belder go if the worm recovers, and Belder will be free to kill any of his crew if they do not keep this word. We don't always warn our enemies when we intend to kill them, and Belder didn't have to lift a weapon to end their lives.
I had a feeling they'd find out soon enough that I was not the most dangerous trill of the crew. I pitied any warrior who faced Belder without knowing who we were.
One bite from a trill was all it took to end them.