Not that going up against a pack of Prytheen warriors was much safer.
Allison had more grim news: since its last maintenance cycle, someone had disassembled our sole laser rifle. Someone — and it had better be Harmon, because if there was a second traitor we were fucked — had pulled it all apart and removed several vital components. Nothing that we couldn’t replace with a bit of effort, but we didn’t have time. Even unconscious and locked up, Harmon fucked with us.
“Karnac,” I said, trying to think of anything to better our odds, “Is your blaster in working order?”
Confused by the question, he frowned adorably. Just watching him brought me hope, or something more. We were together, which meant that we’d get through this, something inside me said.
“It is,” he said, “but you know that it can’t hold a charge on this damned planet, do you not?”
“Yes, I know, but I have an idea about that.” I grinned and his frown just deepened. “What’s its power draw when firing?”
“I do not know in human units,” he said, then grinned. “High. Do you think you can get it to work?”
“Sort of, maybe, if I hurry.” I held out my hand for the blaster, only for him to bring my hand to his lips and kiss it instead.
“Then let us go,” he said. “We’re more likely to get it done if we work together.”
An hour later we stood behind a barricade, watching the storm approach. Heavy snowflakes battered against the window before us, and the icy wind whistled around the station. They’d be here soon, if they weren’t already creeping up by stealth…
That kind of thinking does no one any favors, I told myself sternly, gripping my weapon and keeping my eyes on the approach. The blaster was heavy, too heavy for me, but if it worked, I’d forgive its weight. Cabling ran from it to the ceiling, limiting my movement but drawing power from the station.
Everyone else gave us a wide berth, looks of horror and fear on their faces when they stared at the frankengun. Their caution was justified — Karnac and I had only had time for the shortest of tests, and who knew what firing it at power would do?
“There,” Michiko called, pointing with her left hand, her right holding a sledgehammer. I wasn’t convinced it was a great choice, but it had the advantage that if she connected, her opponent would know it.
The shadows in the snow that she pointed to meant nothing to me, but as we watched, they became clearer. A pack of Prytheen walked out of the storm, a dozen of them lead by an older warrior. Not that I was about to discount him as a threat because of his age: he carried himself with the grim, determined stride of someone who knew exactly how dangerous he was.
“I’m up,” Karnac said behind me. “With luck, I may settle this on my own.”
I turned to embrace him, my heart aching already. If he went out that door, I might never hold him again, might never feel his skin on mine.
If he stayed, though, he wouldn’t be the man I loved. “Be as safe as you can, and come back to me, khara.”
The last word slipped out without me thinking about it, but now that I’d spoken it, there was no going back. It felt right, a perfect description of our feelings for each other.
It had a hell of an effect on Karnac, too. He swept me up into his arms, swung me around, kissed me firmly on the lips. His golden eyes gleamed, and neither of us was breathing normally when he put me down.
“You mean that, khara?” he asked, half-exultant, half-suspicious. Well, I couldn’t blame him, not after how long it had taken for me to come around and accept the truth. I nodded, kissed him again, and stepped back.
“I do. And once you come back safe and sound, we’ll talk about our future.”
I’d swear I felt the rush of joy that went through him when I said that.
“Then I shall return swiftly,” he told me, striding to the door and out into the cold. I turned back to the window and watched Karnac walk down to meet his fellow Prytheen.
“Good to give a man something to come back for,” Allison said. “Nicely done.”
I gave her the finger, blushing. Somehow it hadn’t registered that every one of my colleagues was watching our exchange. “Shut up or I’ll test the blaster on you.”
“Ooh, I see the grumpy Prytheen is rubbing off on you,” Allison replied, unmoved by my threat. I met her gaze, and she winked, subtly inclining her head to the rest of the crew. All of them watched me with amusement. The tension in the air lightened just a touch, and I turned my attention back to the outside.
So I’m a tool to raise morale, I thought. Fair enough, if it worked. We might need it.
Our conversation was cut short by a bark from Amy’s companion Labrador. She’d been in charge of monitoring the radio — Karnac had gone out with a microphone, so we could hear what was going on.
“Vindar,” Karnac’s voice came through loud and clear. “I hope you are well, and your pack has fed. This is Silver Band territory and you are welcome as long as you come in peace.”
Vindar’s voice was old, tired. “We are well, and there is good hunting. I hope you and yours have too? If not, we have food enough to offer. Come join us.”
They spoke Galtrade, thank goodness. Presumably making sure we could all understand what was going on.
“We have plenty of food, Vindar, though you seem to be hunting in our territory,” Karnac replied. “Come join us, and we can hunt this land together.”
Definitely a ritual exchange. Were they offering each other the chance to surrender without losing face? With thirteen Prytheen they not only outnumbered us, but only Karnac was up to fighting one of them on an even footing.
Vindar sighed heavily. Looking at him, he seemed old though not weak, a grizzled veteran of a thousand battles who might have slowed down but was no easy target for the younger warriors. A little shorter than Karnac, a little broader, he wore knives everywhere and silvery bands around his right arm.
“You know I cannot accept,” Vindar said. “And you know that your pack is too small to fight mine. Join us, feast with us, and no one here need die.”
Karnac snorted at that. “You underestimate us, I think. Even if we cannot stop you, we will weaken you. Without the element of surprise, Auric will tear you apart.”
“Karnac, I do not know you. I do not know your humans. But I can count. Perhaps it’s true that you can hurt our chances; none of you will live to see your triumph. Do not throw your life, and the life of your khara, away on a hopeless cause.”
“All you need to do is stop the attack, walk away if you will not join.” Karnac refused to back down or show weakness, and I hoped he knew what he was doing.
“I cannot. Auric defied the Council of Alphas, stood against his brothers and sisters of the Silver Band to protect the humans. He is a traitor, he cannot lead us, and I will remove him.”
“Attacking the humans was wrong. Auric stood up for our honor when he defended them.” Karnac’s blunt words made Vindar wince. “I can do no less, especially when my khara is amongst them.”
“Then there is nothing more to say.” Vindar sounded disappointed by that.
“There is one more thing. If we have to settle our differences by combat, let it be between the two of us. No need for others to die.”