Stardancer (Tellaran Series) (7 page)

Aidar’s eyes narrowed as he circled Dael. His foster-brother swung his sword. Snarling, Aidar blocked it and shoved back with such force that he sent Dael sprawling.

Aidar stood over Dael, breathing hard, his bare chest streaming with sweat.

From the floor of the Circle, Dael blinked up at him, astonished.

With a curse, Aidar flung his practice sword away. It bounced and skidded, echoing in the emptiness of the large room.

Dael got to his feet and brushed his dark hair back. It had come loose from its tie during the long practice and his face was drawn and streaked with sweat. Dael leaned his hands on his thighs as he sought to catch his breath.

“I have offended you, foster-brother, that you attack me so?” Dael gasped.

“You have not,” Aidar said shortly. 

“One of your warriors displeases you?”

Aidar wiped the sweat away from his eyes. “No.”

“Ah,” Dael straightened. “It is the Tellaran female then, the one with hair like fire.”

“What do I care for the doings of a slave?”

Dael shrugged. “She seems biddable enough.”

“
Biddable?
” Aidar pushed his damp hair back. “She is impossible! I give her wine from my own cup, I let her sleep while I labor and she gives not even a smile in return!”

Dael nodded solemnly. “Truly none would believe you care for the doings of a slave, foster-brother.”

Aidar scowled at him. “Pity your sword is never as cutting as your tongue, Dael.”

Dael laughed. “Ah, for this I do apologize. Cenna shares this trait but I think it is better in a woman to have sharp words.”

“Our sister could learn much from the Tellaran woman.”

“A shame she is clanless. She would make a good mate for you.”

“She!” Aidar exclaimed. “She is contrary, rude, stubborn—!”

“A good match indeed.”

Dael ducked back grinning as Aidar took a threatening step toward him.

“I cannot control her,” Aidar grumbled. “She shouts at me. She calls me coward.”

“I cannot believe it so!” Dael’s dark eyes were amused. “Women of the Empress’ City fell weeping when you left.”

“She is not Az-kye. She is pleased only when she looks on
Tellarans
.”

Dael shifted his weight and his gaze dropped to the floor.

“Foster-brother?” Aidar frowned. “Something troubles you?”

“I have looked on your Tellarans much while your duties involved you elsewhere.”

“This I know,” Aidar said, puzzled. “I am grateful for your labor.”  

Dael looked off to the other side of the Circle. “I am pleased to look on one of them.”

Aidar blinked. “Which female pleases your eye, Dael?”

“The one with the golden hair and eyes as blue as Lashima’s sacred pools.” Dael’s words came out in a rush. “She is delicate as a little bird and she has a quick, sweet smile. The Tellarans call her
Nisara
.” His color rose and he avoided Aidar’s gaze. “I think . . . I think it is not displeasing to her to look on me.”

“I remember this one now,” Aidar said, crossing the floor to retrieve his sword. “Others have remarked on her.”

“Others? Who?” Dael hurried after him. “You have not promised her to another?”

“I think she would be pleasing to Malm.”

“
Malm!
He is clumsy and stupid! He will be brutal with her! How can you give him her when I—” Dael suddenly stopped, staring. “You tease me.”

Aidar laughed. “You do not hesitate to tease me, foster-brother.”

Dael’s face flushed again. “I should not have done it.”

“Well, is my task done if you remember that. But come, Dael.” Aidar clapped his foster-brother’s shoulder. “Does she please you so, she is yours.”

Dael’s face split into an unwarrior-like grin. “I thank you, foster-brother.”

“Your problems are easier solved than mine own.” Aidar poked at the floor with the point of his sword. “She calls me ‘bully.’”

“What is this?”

Aidar explained, and Dael shook his head. “Why does she call you so?”

“Because today I was such, though I sought only to teach her the proper way to behave. What am I to do when her behavior offends another? I can bear it but should she offend another I must give her over or lose my honor.” Aidar stabbed hard at the floor, leaving a dent there. “She disobeys, she is disrespectful, and still I cannot punish her.”

“Give her to another to train.”

“I did so! I gave her unto Barin to train. She was badly treated.”  Aidar raised his eyes. “In my anger I have sent Barin to work with his slaves.”

Dael’s brow furrowed. “It is not your way to lose your temper so easily.”

“She says she is not a slave because the Tellarans do not keep such.” Dael’s eyes widened and Aidar held up his hand. “Tellaran logic will make your head ache.” He sighed. “I sent for comforts for her fellows and still she is not pleased.”

Dael shook his head. “You cannot be ruled by your own slave.”

Aidar spoke quickly, “I think, perhaps if I give her to you—”

Dael nodded. “I will—”

“No! I do not know why I have said this. I will not give her to anyone.” Aidar looked away. “And she does not understand her life can be demanded at any time if she gives offense.”

“You care so much for her life?”

Aidar gave a short nod.

“Then, foster-brother, you must find a way to secure her obedience.”

Kinara rested her leg with as much of her body close to the holo-fire’s warmth as she could manage without falling off the couch. She was not used to the cold or lying around not doing anything.

She couldn’t hope to overpower him. After she realized he’d locked her in she’d searched the rooms but couldn’t find anything she was sure both heavy enough to knock him out and small enough for her to wield easily. He didn’t wear a blaster either, only that stupid sword.  

With a sigh she relinquished her place by the holo-fire and wandered through Aidar’s quarters. They were decorated in almost painfully elaborate style. She studied a tapestry hung on the wall near the bed showing the violent battle scenes that, from what she’d seen on this ship, seemed to be a constant theme in their artwork.  

She opened a trunk near the wall again.

It was filled with opaque white cubes the use for which she couldn’t fathom. She didn’t see how she could use them as a weapon so she’d left them be during her earlier search. Curious now, she picked one up, turning it this way and that, then carried it to the fireplace to get a better look. There was nothing in it that she could see. There was no catch or device to open it, only a dark funnel-like opening at the top. Peering down, she could see nothing but a tiny little hole.

“Well, this is exciting,” she muttered. “No wonder he has a whole box of them.”

She crossed the room, intending to fetch another to see if the little cubes fit together in any way when the thing slipped from her fingers.

She jumped as the chamber was filled with the deep baritone of Az-kye song. It rumbled on deep and full and, eyes wide, she watched the knee high holographic projection of a man in wild costume singing his heart out.

Just
what
he was singing she didn’t know. For all her fluency she could only catch a word here and there. The image of a woman joined the man’s and she began to sing with him, her voice high and lilting and it finally dawned on Kinara she was hearing an Az-kye opera.

The realization hit her hard. The Az-kye she’d studied knew nothing of beauty or order. They were violent, uncivilized brutes, not music lovers.

She couldn’t understand the words but there was a common thread of human emotion in the music. It was the sound of love, loss, and suffering. She sat on the floor to listen, so enthralled it was several moments before she realized she was no longer alone.

The song faded softly away as the recording ended. 

“I did not know you cared for our music,” Aidar said quietly.

“I didn’t know your people
had
music.” She stood, bending to retrieve the cube. She cradled the cube in her hand. “It was beautiful.”

“
Shade of Quen’dalla
.” 

She looked up and he gave a faint smile. 

“It is the name of the opera. A favorite of mine.” 

“Oh.” Kinara fiddled with the cube for a moment. “I couldn’t understand much of it.”

“It is in the ancient language.”

“What’s it about?”

“A warrior cursed with immortality for honoring pride before all else. He is driven by it to a battle while his bound mate dies. He wanders after her shade, forever seeking to join her in death.”

“That’s awful.”

“Great pride carries a price.”

“It doesn’t seem like a theme the Az-kye would appreciate.”

His smile was rueful. “Think you,
Cy’atta
, my people have no fools? I did not believe you thought so highly of us.”

“Well,” Kinara replied. “You got me there. I guess even Az-kye are human.”

He inclined his head. “I am pleased you find us so.”

“Mostly human anyway.”

He sighed. “You are still angry.”

“Do you care?”

“Yes,” he said, his dark eyes reflecting the firelight. “I find that I do.”

Kinara tossed back her hair. “I don’t think that I’ll be risking another ‘disobedient Tellaran’ lesson by telling you what I think, thanks anyway.”

“Tell me your thoughts,
Cy’atta
. I will not punish you.” She didn’t answer and he sighed again, more deeply this time. “I have not punished any other for your words, either. Truly, you do find me ‘bully,’” he said, struggling over the Tellaran word.

“And you don’t think you are?”

“Yes, I admit, I was ‘bully’ today.”

“I know why you did it.”

He lifted his eyebrows.  “You do?”

“Of course. You wanted to show me what to expect from my new station in life.”

“It was ill done of me.”

“Is that an apology?” He opened his mouth to speak and she held up a hand. “Wait, let me guess. You don’t apologize to inferiors.”

“You make this difficult.”

“Why should I make anything easy for you? You have no thought for what I want.”

“It is not my place to think of such,” he said, his tone suddenly sharp. “I have waited long enough. Come here.”

Kinara froze, the cube still in her hand. “Why?”

“Because I would have it so.”

Kinara made her feet move until she was standing in front of him. His dark eyes reflected the flames.

She started when he touched her and his hand slid over her waist to rest on her hip as he stepped closer.

His fingers traced the skin of her cheek lightly. “You are not afraid?” 

She shook her head, unwilling to trust her voice.

“I want your pleasure not your fear,
Cy’atta
,” he said, his voice husky. He tilted her face up and brought his mouth to hers.