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Benet threw back his head and laughed. “Now I feel at home. Betting is huge in the Five Systems, with bookies taking bets on every aspect of what happens in the arena, including whether anyone’s underwear will fall off, which has happened to rookies on occasion.

Or they don’t wear any and when their kilts fly up the crowd gets an extra X rated thrill. ”

Marushka and her two dogs established themselves in the shade where she’d have a good view of the course and Dmitri and Benet walked through the layout. As he went and listened to Dmitri explaining the lethality of each feature of the obstacles, Benet was astonished at the pure evil of the design.

“It’s a damn good thing I have perfect balance,” he said. “So many of these challenges seem to require it.”

“Remember speed through the course is also a big factor,” Dmitri reminded him.

“What was your best time?”

Raising an eyebrow, Dmitri smirked. “You’ll never beat it, not being a true Badari, brother.”

“Maybe, maybe not, but I like to know what target I’m aiming for.”

The Badari told him but the number was pretty meaningless right now, until Benet had the complete set of functioning barriers to surmount.

He tucked the time away in his head for later.

If he had to do this dumbass, dangerous stunt because he’d been kidnapped and brought here, then he was going to do his best.

His first trip through the course was at a leisurely speed, getting a feel for the order of the obstacles.

“These walls will be vibrating,” Dmitri said, indicating a stretch of the course. And plates rise up from the floor at random intervals, trying to force the runner off balance and throw him into a shock barrier or worse.”

“Nice. We can try that tomorrow.”

Truth be told as the week wore on, Benet enjoyed the obstacle course.

The metal maze was intense and stressful but he liked the challenge and physicality of overcoming the barriers.

Each day Dmitri added a few more of the live elements he’d be facing, or simulations of them, as there was no need to risk an acid bath or a pit full of long snouted, razor-sharp toothed reptiles, or a fall into a nest of angry vipers.

By the end of the week Benet was running the course in times near to Dmitri’s and the Badari—and Marushka—were properly impressed.

He hadn’t been kidding when he claimed his balance was impeccable and even the barrier which was a greasy one inch pipe stretching over an acid pit with swinging weights coming at him from either side didn’t faze him.

“We’re cutting practice short today,” Dmitri said on the fifth day. “Tonight we go and fulfill our duty as bodyguards.”

Benet poured a bottle of water over his head because he was hot and sweaty. “I don’t remember the duke saying anything about me working as a bodyguard.”

“I told you before, I’ve taken over since I claimed you as a true Badari, may the goddess forgive me. The duke has no say in what I decide as long as you’re ready for the games.”

“So are we guarding Marushka?” Benet asked. He’d wondered about her absence today. Usually she joined them at breakfast and spent the entire day with them. He’d missed her and hoped she wasn’t getting sick.

“Of course. That’s my assignment from the current empress. She’s going to a party at her fiancé’s estate.”

“You’d think she’d be safe there,” Benet said.

“No one of the imperial blood is ever truly safe anywhere on Throne Planet,” Dmitri replied soberly.

“Assassination is a political tool for advancement here and often approved of by those in power at the highest ranks. Outlier is a snake pit. But tonight Marushka’s greatest danger will be the son of a bitch prince she’s engaged to. ”

“Tell me how you really feel. So it’s not a love match?”

“Hardly. He played the nice guy, turned on the charm while he was courting her but we all knew since the empress favored him for her ward Marushka would have to accept the proposal. But she was dazzled and fancied herself in love. Believed she was fortunate to have an arranged marriage with a man she actually liked.” Dmitri frowned and his fangs descended.

“Had she resisted she might have been able to avoid the engagement—the empress is quite fond of her. But Vasili played his game carefully and my poor devochka had his massive ring on her finger before she caught ever larger glimpses of his true character..”

“Why haven’t I seen this ring?” Benet couldn’t remember her ever wearing an engagement ring any of the times he’d seen her.

“She had it on the day you arrived, because her father was here to see, but you were probably distracted by the twenty men assembled to beat you up” Dmitri pointed out sarcastically.

“Yeah, no doubt. And the lingering effect of the cryosleep.” Benet had done protective details during his time in the military, before the arenas.

He guessed Dmitri had picked up the fundamentals during his long time in Outlier.

“What do I wear? Not this, surely.” He gestured at his shorts and tee shirt.

“The housekeeper has sent over a uniform for you. I’m sorry but you’ll have to wear the family crest tonight. We have to do everything by the book to keep Marushka out of trouble. There’ll be many eyes on her.”

“The Empress won’t be there, will she?”

“No. This is a party for the younger set. Vasili is a key player amongst the group, socially and politically. He’s been smart about building his alliances and maneuvering less powerful people into positions where they have no choice but to do his bidding.

Fortunately I’m outside his sphere of influence but even I can only do so much to protect her.

And once she’s married I’ll have no say—” Dmitri’s voice trailed off and Benet heard a faint growl.

He had a bad feeling about the coming event but if Marushka’s fiancé was such a bad actor, he was glad he’d be there to back Dmitri up.