-Enslaved-by-an-Officer[ Sold 8] (4 page)

“Where are the rebels located?”
“They are on top of the unharvested field of
jild
.”
“Smart.”
“Sir?”
“The owner dare not use excessive force because he fears harming the bulbs.” Honor was now doubly impressed with Carver for not only standing up for his rights but having the brains to do it without getting himself blown to bits. However, Honor was a bit disappointed that the owner showed not one bit of care for the slaves. Had they not elected to stay on top of the unharvested field, they would no doubt be dead.
“The owner is not the man you spoke with,” devotee said.
Honor had just assumed the owner lived on the planet so that he could keep tabs on his investment. “Where is the owner?”
“He is on another planet. His representative is the one who refused to let you land.”
“Ah.” That explained his reluctance. He probably feared word getting out that he couldn’t handle his own slaves. Rebellion had a tendency to beget more rebellion. If all of the slaves on the planet revolted… “I must retrieve the Earthling.”
“They have no weapons other than the overseer’s whip.”
Honor considered that the owner could have simply shot them, but he thought the blood would leak into the sand, damaging the
jild
. And gas weapons either wouldn’t work in the dry air or might cause vomiting. That would ruin his product, too.
“I will go out to them.”
The pilot nodded and went toward the back where extra gear was kept in a series of lockers.
“I will go alone.”
He turned and considered Honor for a moment then offered out a protective head covering. Honor accepted the garment and pulled it over his head so the beige fabric would trail down and cover his chest. Since the heat was impossible, he removed his weapon-riddled belt. He wore only the headdress, his trousers, and boots. Unlike humans, the Krase didn’t sweat to cool their bodies. Since he was large, it took longer for the heat to be an issue, and having the light-colored fabric to give him a semblance of shade would help, but Honor knew he couldn’t remain in the heat for long.
“You take no weapon?” His pilot sounded stunned.
“I am not here to arrest him but to offer him freedom. Something he clearly wants, given his actions.”
“But what if they are hostile to you?”
“Then I will probably die and you should be ready to leave.” Honor left the shuttle. When he stepped out into the sand, he immediately realized the impracticality of his boots, but he had nothing else to wear. He trudged forward, squinting against the glare. The star that Bewen revolved around was fairly white, which made the light bouncing off the white sand almost blinding. Far off in the distance, Honor saw the rebels’ camp. They had white tents clustered in a small group. There were guards stationed around the area, watching for movement. Their attention was on him from the moment he left the shuttle. Honor had no doubt they’d watched it land and were tracking his movement across the desert.
When he reached the outskirts of the field, he saw the neat rows of dug-up sand. It was clear where they had stopped working. The body of the overseer was likely left where he’d dropped since there weren’t any drag marks around him. A massive purple stain covered the head area of the man’s veil. On another world it would undoubtedly still be moist, but here it was curled up as if the stain itself were in pain. There was no odor. Honor figured the being would undoubtedly mummify within days if he hadn’t already.
“Stop!” a veiled creature half Honor’s height called out.
Honor stopped and lifted his hands open and out. “I have no weapons. I am here to talk to Carver Tam.”
The creature pulled back ever so slightly, showing his surprise. There was some kind of signal going from him to the others near the tent, and then someone ducked into the largest shelter. After a moment, a massive man emerged. Honor could not believe how happy he was. He had no doubt he was looking at Carver Tam. He’d been certain he would ultimately find him dead but he hadn’t. And then slowly, his joy faded. He couldn’t have him. His only goal here was to rescue the Earthling and set him free.

Carver realized that whoever the guy was, he was certainly one big-assed dude. He had to be a foot taller than him and at least a foot wider. But his stance was completely nonthreatening. Turning to those inside the tent, he asked, “What is he?”

Carver was given a crash course on the Krase and realized this encounter was probably a prelude to them declaring war.
“I do not think they are here to restore order,” Acerith offered, peering through a slit in the tent wall. “The Krase do not eat
jild
, nor do they own an interest in the planet.”
“How do you know that? Not the eating thing but that they have no financial interest in this farm?”
“The entire planet is owned by one man.”
“Oh.” Carver couldn’t imagine one person owning an entire world. “What is he here for then?”
“He says he’s here for you.”
Carver wondered if his owner wanted him back. When he asked if that could be the case, Acerith laughed at him and shook his head.
“I don’t think you understand that he’s a Krase warrior, not someone’s errand boy.”
Acerith had actually used a different term, but
errand boy
was what Carver’s translator turned his term into.
“Even if your former master had more money than anyone in the galaxy, he would not be able to hire Krase warriors to retrieve his property.” Acerith stood. “I will go and speak with him if you wish.”
“I’ll go.” Carver left the tent and walked toward the Krase warrior. He wished he would pull off his veil so that Carver could get a look at his features. His body was damn impressive, and the color of his skin fascinating, but what did his face look like? Not that he expected he’d be in a better position if he could see his features, just that he was curious. Once they’d all agreed to work together to stage their rebellion, everyone had shared their name and nationality. They were all so different, but the one thing they had in common was that they didn’t want to die by being worked to death.
Acerith had been very valuable in helping Carver determine which species were best for each job. Much to his dismay, he’d discovered some of the creatures working the farm were here because they were criminals. The owner of the planet bought them at a discount rate since they were slated to die. They had liked the idea of freedom but didn’t want to work together as a group. Those beings, mostly men but a handful of women, had stolen the overseer’s mount and left in the dead of night. Carver had no idea where they were and didn’t much care. The rest of the creatures wanted freedom at any cost. They were the ones who had fallen to slavery through no fault of their own. The only one who hadn’t shared his tale was Acerith. Carver didn’t think he was a criminal, but he was clearly hiding something.
As he got closer to the Krase warrior, Carver couldn’t help but notice how cut his abs were. Whoever he was, he barely had any body fat at all, judging by his belly. And his arms were so big Carver wouldn’t be able to wrap both his hands around them, though he would certainly like to try. Carver was able to get a much better look at him when the wind caught the flowing cut of his cape and blew the beige fabric out behind his body.
Fuck
.
That was the only thought that kept repeating in Carver’s head. The Krase warrior was built like a god. With each step closer, Carver wondered if he worked out to look like that or if he came by the ripped physique naturally. Either way, Carver would love to touch him. Just once. Well, maybe twice. There was something so appealing about him, but Carver couldn’t quite put his finger on what it was.
And then he got close enough to see his eyes were red. Not a bloodshot red, but a rich ruby red that had to be normal for his kind. Again, Carver was mesmerized but didn’t quite understand why. He thought of Mac and how he’d looked at him pretty much every day for a year and never felt this kind of pull until that day he’d gotten the good news about the Broncos. Maybe all he was feeling was attraction toward another creature who had a devastating body that looked remarkably human. He was bigger, this Krase warrior, but he was still amazingly human in shape.
“I am Honor Vengeance.”
Carver couldn’t help his automatic response. “Really?”
“That is my name, yes.” Honor removed the lower part of the veil that covered his mouth, revealing very human-looking lips. Carver wondered if his kind kissed and if so what it would feel and taste like to lock lips with this guy. “Are you Carver Tam?”
Carver nodded and slowly removed the lower half of his veil. He wasn’t sure why, but he felt like what they were doing was somehow sexual. Almost as if they were slowly showing themselves to the other in a dance of seduction. Idly, Carver wondered if he removed his pants would Honor follow suit? But then he remembered all he was wearing was the white cloth twisted into something like a loincloth. He was far more exposed than Honor, but he doubted he’d convince the guy to whip out his wang so they could compare.
“I’m here to take you back to Krase.”
“Why?”
There was a brief but noticeable pause in Honor’s answer. “You were illegally sold into slavery.”
Carver felt a wave of relief go through him. Everything he’d left behind he could get back. Mac, the job offer—all of it. He was so grateful he would have cried, but he was simply too dehydrated. “I’m going home?”
Again, another pause, this one much longer. Honor looked down at the ground then up, but he didn’t quite meet Carver’s eyes. “I’m sorry. You simply can’t return to Earth.”
Carver felt as if he’d just suffered repeated blows of the lash. He ached somewhere inside that could never be healed. “I have to go back. I have—you don’t understand what’s waiting for me there.”
Something about Honor’s features seemed to soften. “You have a love there?”
The way he said it gave Carver some hope. Perhaps if Honor thought he was in love he would help him get home. Mac had been the best roommate a guy could want, and after that brief but mindblowing interlude, Carver was pretty damn sure they were well on the road to something. Maybe not love but maybe so. It was difficult to say after one wickedly hot encounter.
“While I’m sympathetic, there is nothing I can do.” Honor looked over Carver’s shoulder. “I will explain, but not here. Will you come with me?”
Carver shook his head. “I’m not leaving them.”
Honor nodded resolutely, and then a tiny grin lifted up one edge of his mouth. “What if I offered to free them as well as you?”
“You’d do that?”
“I would.”
Carver had never been one to listen to advice. Rather than following the notion of never looking a gift horse in the mouth, he was immediately suspicious, and asked, “Why?”
“Because you care about them. And most of them are probably here for the same reason you are.”
“You know what happened to me?”
“After having met Fraunnon, I can guess.”
Carver considered. If they stayed, they would eventually run out of what little resources they had. At least with Honor they had a chance of getting to a better place. “You won’t re-enslave them?”
“No. I swear they will be given freedom and returned to their home lands or wherever they wish to go. Provided they are not criminals.”
“I think all of the criminals left with the overseer’s mount.”
“Then I will be happy to free those left.”
“And me.”
“And you.”
Carver nodded, but he sensed there was something else going on. Honor hesitated in answering, and that gave Carver pause. Just what was the big guy thinking? Since he wasn’t a mind reader and likely wouldn’t develop the skill in the next few seconds, he said, “Please wait here while I tell the troops.”
Honor nodded and then pressed against the side of his throat.
Carver heard him rapidly dispensing orders as he walked over to the main tent.
“So?” Acerith asked. “What does he want you for?”
“Apparently, I was wrongly enslaved. He’s come to free me.”
Acerith was on his feet. “That’s wonderful news!”
“It gets better. He swore to free everyone else here, too.” Carver was expecting another burst of joy, but Acerith looked stricken. “He said he won’t free the criminals. Just the slaves.”
Acerith turned away.
“I thought you’d be happy.”
“I am,” Acerith turned around and forced a smile. “But I will not go.”
“What? Why?” Carver realized if he didn’t go he was going to die here. “It’s suicide for you to stay.”
“Better that than what waits for me if I leave.”
“Maybe the time has come for you to tell me your story.”

In short order, several more shuttles landed. Honor helped the slaves find a place, but he ensured that Carver would ride with him. When Carver insisted on staying with another alien, a Venian named Acerith, Honor felt the first spark of a new and alien emotion. Jealousy. The feeling was so dark and hateful he was literally afraid of how it made him feel. If he gave into the emotion, he would happily kick Acerith off the shuttle so Carver would have no choice but to be with him. However, acting on that impulse was a guaranteed way to make Carver hate him. Only by sheer force of will did Honor not betray anything to those he worked with. He was fairly certain he’d succeeded with Carver, too, but he hadn’t fooled Acerith.

This came as no surprise to Honor. Venians had an odd way of reading others. Not their thoughts, necessarily, but their overall emotional state. They were forbidden to enter certain establishments because of their abilities. How one had ended up here was a mystery that would be solved soon enough. All of the creatures would have to submit to a thorough criminal investigation before they would be released. Honor was willing to free them if they were simply slaves, but he would not be responsible for unleashing criminals back into the universe.

Honor’s jealousy surged to a new and dangerous height when Carver selected a seat next to Acerith. They weren’t holding hands, but they might as well have been. For a moment, he’d thought Carver had a love on Earth, and that would be a shame for Carver emotionally, but Honor couldn’t help but see it as a bonus for himself. He would offer himself out to help Carver forget. However, if he’d managed to find a new love here, there was nothing Honor could do short of forcefully separating them. After what happened when he’d done that before, he would not do so again no matter how much he wanted Carver for himself. Distance didn’t dissipate love.