“I will have justice for my parents. After that, we will decide what we wish to do.”
What did he mean by that? It was too late to ask as they hit the edge of the city. The docking station was off to the right, but the edge of the desert was before them, the hot sands glinting like diamonds in the sunlight.
The people gathered in a loose circle with Lomar and one contingency of soldiers beside him and the other behind Zaxe. Esau took her hand and pulled her to the front. No one stopped them.
A huge male about seven feet tall stepped into the makeshift ring. He held his arms above his head and roared. The crowd cheered. Her knees began to shake. “Have faith. Have faith,” she muttered under her breath. “I hope you know what you’re doing.”
****
Zaxe sized up at his first opponent. His uncle hadn’t surprised him at all. Any man who’d have his own family killed for gain was a coward. His goal was to have someone else kill Zaxe for him, taking care of the problem.
“I want my own weapon.” When he spoke, the crowd quieted.
“I will provide the weapons,” Lomar told him.
He shook his head. “I don’t trust you to provide me with one that won’t malfunction at an inopportune time.” It was a gamble, but if it paid off, it would give him some backup. And if he died, at least his family would get justice for him. He ignored his uncle and turned to the captain of the guards. “I will give you the code to my ship. My zaxe is mounted on the wall in my quarters.”
“You trust me on your ship?” The captain frowned.
“Captain, if you touch anything or try to get into my computer system it will shut down and lock down, and I’ll be the only one who can get you out of there short of blowing the damn thing up.”
The captain raised an eyebrow. “I see.” He held out his hand. “Give me your codes.”
Zaxe handed him his communicator and keyed in the emergency remote access. “Press this when you get there. They’ll tell you at the docking station which one is mine. It’s a one time in and out and won’t work again. Thank you,” he added when the man took the communicator.
Once this particular code was activated, a message would be sent to his sister and Gravasian command. They’d know something was wrong. The plan was to contact them when this was over and reassure them. But if something happened, they’d already be on the way here.
“If you are who you say you are, then this is your right.” He turned on his heel and left, the crowd parting to let him pass.
Zaxe sized up the growing line of opponents, his uncle’s self-satisfied smile, and his cousin’s smirk. Samar was seated next to his father under a hastily erected awning and sipping a cool drink. He knew without looking that Jamaeh was behind him to his right. He could feel her eyes on him, could still taste her on his lips.
She was depending on him, trusting him to get them both out of this. Their encounter had been brief, but he’d felt her fear and, strangely enough, disappointment. Did she think this was all about power and a title? Considering everything, she likely did. He’d done his best to reassure her. When he won, if he won, the choice to go or stay would be hers.
It was the only way to show her just how much she meant to him. He’d give up a kingdom for her in a heartbeat.
Unable to stop himself, he sought her face among the crowd. She wasn’t cheering or placing bets. Her arms were crossed over her chest, her lips pressed together. Her green eyes glowed like gems, fierce and hard. And she was looking straight at him. He took one step in her direction before he stopped himself. Esau was beside her. The younger man gave him a nod, a reassurance he’d take care of her.
While the people grew restless, Zaxe centered himself with mental exercises. His body was bruised and tired, but he blocked the pain. He shut down his feelings until nothing remained but the need to succeed, to bring death to his opponents.
He’d completed his last mission, paid his debt to the king of Gravas. His sisters were safe. He was finally free. A sense of peace settled over him. A new mission roared to life within him. He must protect Jamaeh. Nothing was more important. Not revenge, not taking his place as rightful ruler of the Northern Territory. While he wanted justice and would embrace the challenge of leadership, he would let it all go to save her.
His iron will snapped into place just as the captain returned. The ancient war axe was a work of art. He had no idea where Artemis had obtained it, but she’d given it to him when he was a boy. He’d been instructed in the use of every known weapon, but the zaxe was his namesake and his favorite.
The captain held it out and gave a curt nod. Zaxe wrapped his fingers around the well-worn handle with a familiarity that came from long use. He didn’t swing it around like his opponent did with his, didn’t make it whistle through the air to the delighted cheers of the crowd. No, his weapon was like him—deadly and silent.
Lomar stood and raised his hands in the air. Everyone quieted. “We will begin. State your name,” he told the challenger.
“I am Novak,” the towering dark-skinned warrior stated. “I will be your executioner.” The last was directed at Zaxe.
He didn’t bother to reply to the ludicrous claim. Time would tell. Lomar frowned when he didn’t get any reaction. “Begin.”
Novak ran at him, swinging wildly. Zaxe stayed where he was, his muscles relaxed and ready, his war axe by his side. He ducked at the last possible second. The blade whizzed over his head, the momentum turning his opponent in a circle. Zaxe swung his own weapon. He didn’t miss. The bigger man fell facedown in the dirt.
The crowd went deathly silent. Zaxe looked at the next man in line and curled in fingers in a “come forward” gesture. The man swallowed, but stepped into the makeshift ring. This challenge took longer as his opponent circled, looking for an opening. But before long, he too was bleeding out on the hot sand.
The line had grown shorter, but there were still three men there.
“All of you at once,” Lomar roared.
So much for a fair fight. He saluted his uncle as the men raced toward him with battle cries falling from their lips. His brain gauged the distance, the odds, and all possible moves better than any computer program. He dipped and struck, sidestepped and struck again before jumping over a low shot. Blood speckled his face and chest by the time he raised his hands in the air in victory.
Would Jamaeh accept him now that she knew that he was capable of being so cold-blooded? He lowered his arms and walked toward the awning. “Is there no one else?” He glanced at Samar and gave a tilt of his chin. “Your son, perhaps?”
“I’m not afraid of you,” the younger man shot back. Easy to be brave when you didn’t have to back it up.
“I have a challenger,” a new voice interjected.
Zaxe inwardly swore and wheeled around. “Reman.”
“Did you think I wouldn’t hear you were back?”
“You know this man?” Lomar demanded.
“We had business together. He cost me a good man.” Reman was surrounded by guards.
“Your man’s reckless actions got him killed.” Zaxe swiped at the sweat dripping into his eyes and squinted against the sun. He was thirsty and hungry and tired. All his life he’d had to fight for everything. Would it never end?