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He lifted a hand and his flunky scuttled out of the room at a rapid pace, returning shortly with a richly dressed, pale-faced and sweating noble.

Ekatereen didn’t give him a chance to collect himself, saying, “What do you have to say in self-defense after breaking our most stringent laws regarding interference with the property rights of others? I’ve given custody of the slave Benet back to his rightful owner, now convince me why I shouldn’t enact the harshest penalties under our law against you. ”

Nichevsky fell to his knees, glancing from Kyden to the Empress with tears in his eyes.

“Your Majesty, I apologize for allowing my competitive instincts to overwhelm my sensibilities about the law. As a sportsman I wished only to present the best possible team to compete in your incomparable games. For your greater glory of course.”

“Of course,” she said drily. “Death Dealer Kyden has graciously agreed to sign a contract with you for the services of the man in question, to compete for your team in the Games, at the conclusion of which he’ll return to the Five Systems with his master.

” She flicked a glance at Kyden. “If he survives.”

Kyden hadn’t been able to learn much about the specific event Benet had been kidnapped to enter but he gathered it wasn’t going to be one of the purely athletic events.

You didn’t bring in a deadly ringer for table tennis.

He had confidence in Benet. He also enjoyed the way the duke flinched when he heard the empress refer to Kyden by his arena handle.

“I—I’m grateful,” Nichevsky said, clearly astonished he was being offered a way out. “I’d be happy to sign.”

I bet you are . Kyden wasn’t impressed with this sniveling noble.

The empress raised a hand and a servant immediately stepped forward with a portable desk.

Another followed bearing a rolled up scroll and a third brought a pen.

The contract was laid out on the desk and Kyden and Nichevsky stood together to read it over.

Kyden appreciated the fact it had been written in Basic for his benefit.

The terms were as the empress had discussed and obviously Benet wasn’t going to be able to escape competing, not if he wanted to go home.

Kyden picked up the pen and handed it to the noble. “After you.”

Nichevsky scrawled a long signature on the indicated line and then Kyden did his slashing version of his name as Elara had taught it to him, the Badari having no written language of their own.

The servants rolled up the contract and tied it with a red ribbon, handing it to the minister.

Then the trio took the desk and the pen and exited as silently as they’d come.

“You will of course watch the Games from the Nichevsky box as his honored guest,” the Empress said with a hint of amusement in her voice.

Kyden gave her a small bow. “Thank you, your majesty. There is one more thing.”

He felt her displeasure as clearly as if she’d shot him with a stunner but he pressed onward. “Is there another of my people here in Outlier? Another Badari?”

Her lips thinned as she stared at him from the ornate throne and he had to hold his talons in their sockets with sheer willpower.

“There is,” she said at length. “But he isn’t your concern. You have no claim on him and he is a Hereditary Asset of the Crown. There is no question of his provenance.”

“May I at least meet with him?” Kyden pressed for whatever he could get.

If there was a Badari brother here, which she’d just confirmed for him, maybe he couldn’t extract the man right now but he could make plans for later.

Kyden’s driving mission in life was to free any of his brothers he found and bring them to his home to enjoy the fruits of freedom the way he himself did.

He didn’t care for her smile and the amusement didn’t touch her eyes.

“In view of the fact Dmitri has been training your man Benet since he got here, yes, you’ll inevitably meet him.

Remember to whom he belongs and act accordingly.

” Ekatereen rose from her throne and walked away, exiting through a side door while the Outliers in the room genuflected.

Kyden pivoted to the minister. “I want to see my man now,. He’s been out of my control for months and I need to assess his condition.”

“Of course. His Grace the Duke will accompany you, per the Empress’s previous orders to me,” the official said. “My presence won’t be necessary, will it, Your Grace?” There was a clear threat in the mild sounding question and Nichevsky swallowed hard and shook his head.

“No, of course not,” he managed to say.

“I’ll see you to the gate,” the minister told Kyden smoothly, gesturing for the guest to preceded him to the throne room exit.

Talinn at his back, Kyden led the way out of the labyrinthine halls of the palace, following his instinctive sense of direction.

The minister seemed amused at his ability to find the right twists and turns.

Nichevsky was silent, lagging behind. When they emerged into the pleasant afternoon sunshine, there were no groundcars waiting, which had the minister frowning and upbraiding his assistant in rapid Outlier.

“Apologies, Lord Kyden, but the car will be here in ten minutes. Do you wish refreshments while you’re waiting?” the minister said at last.

“I’m fine.” There was a shady area overlooking a garden so he moved there and stood staring at the expanse of greenery. Watch my six , he told Talinn. I’m going to try an experiment and I need to concentrate.

Kyden closed his eyes and summoned his power as an Alpha.

He reached out mentally, homing in on the full Badari and mysterious Badari-like signatures he sensed, which were together.

Guess I found this Dmitri and Benet. The urge to connect with the other Badari was nearly overwhelming but right now it was more important to brief Benet.

He visualized his friend and pushed his power into the mind of the man, forcing open a pathway for communication, shaking his head as he did so.

This was all wrong—how could a human possess even a primitive version of the Badari mental link?

A mystery for later. He prayed to the Great Mother for the experiment to work and a second later there was a snapping sound in his head as his demand for attention reached Benet’s conscious mind.

Benet?

He sensed great confusion in his friend.

No time for long explanations. I’m here with Talinn and we’ll be on our way to meet up with you in a few minutes.

The Empress agreed I could take you home after the Games are over.

Firmly Kyden beat back the wave of joy and relief in Benet’s mind.

This whole rescue hinges on you being my slave for which I apologize but it was the only way so when we meet remember you’re my property, not my brother-in-arms. Nichevsky will be with me.

Now Benet was confused but not upset. He cautiously formed a mental sentence. I don’t care what it took, I’m grateful, brother. Happy to pretend anything you need.

Talinn touched Kyden’s arm carefully. “The groundcar is here, boss.”

Kyden broke his link with Benet and opened his eyes. “Let us go then.”

Once they were in the vehicle, with a subdued Nichevsky in the opposite seat, helping himself to a large quantity of feelgood, which he didn’t offer the Badari, the Duke appeared to be in a state of shock.

Kyden had no sympathy for him. Seven hells, the way the empress had spoken to the man, he was probably lucky to be alive.

He cast his telepathic power out once more, finding Benet with ease now a link had been established. Is there a true Badari with you?

Dmitri, yes.

I need his name, his true name. Quickly.

There was silence from Benet so Kyden assumed he was obtaining the information required.

He kept the contact open, assuming Benet wouldn’t have any idea how to make the communication work in the opposite direction.

There was much to discuss about how this had happened and he’d have to instruct his friend how to carry on telepathic conversations but not today.

He sensed the groundcar speeding smoothly over the roads. He’d noticed it bore a small flag denoting the empress’s ownership and he assumed other traffic was clearing out of their way. He drummed his talons on the arm rest.

Hendon , Benet’s voice said in his head.

Thank you. Now he closed the link. Time must be growing short. Switching his mental attention to the aura of the other full Badari, he sent a mental blast. Hendon of the Badari!

Kyden had to push, not as hard as he had with Benet’s mind but more than he should have been required to with a fellow Badari. He had the sensation of a path opening reluctantly, synapses recoiling and then falling into the required configuration.

I am here, Alpha , said a voice laced with pure astonishment.

I’m on my way to you and Benet, brother . Kyden wished he was bringing good news for this unknown Badari but the Empress had been adamant about the man’s status as hers. There was no reply but if the man hadn’t had telepathy before Kyden could understand.

The groundcar swept through the gates of the athletic facility and Kyden focused his mind on the upcoming reunion with Benet.

Benet stood with Dmitri, watching the approaching limousine with eager anticipation.

He’d been sure Kyden would find a way to help him and sure enough, here his friend was, having worked a bureaucratic miracle.

Benet had just completed a run in the metal maze and he had a major slash on his left arm, which was healing nicely, thanks to his new Badari blood.

He was hot and tired and anxious to know what the terms of his release from captivity here would be but primarily he was happy.