Page 12 of Dark Survivor (The Qaldreth Warriors #2)

One by one, the Qaldreth commanders or udaps landed, barging through those gathered around Drafe. Too many voices bombarded Nenn, so he switched off his nodule, unable to bear the onslaught. Only when a sava or security officer collected the uz did he glance at the platform.

The crowd of warriors dwindled.

“We are to convene in the council chambers,” someone said when he reactivated his nodule.

He grimaced, expecting the next hour or so to be most unpleasant.

The Qaldreths flying toward the chamber looked like a swarm of tiaez, their feet ablaze.

He landed on the platform and strode into the dark passage where images depicting tribes and their homes were carved into the stone walls.

Qaldreths of every color filed onto the staggered steps, all gazing at the curved dais where seven udaps sat.

Under the circumstances, scowls marred every face in attendance.

Nenn unmasked from the waist up, baring his skin. Bright beams poured from the yellow, stained-glass lights up high, mimicking the suns on Qaldreth. All yearned for real sunlight and warmth—no one more than a Giniiri. Nenn’s symbiotes reacted with eagerness as if he would return home soon.

“Meorri aac Drafe Arrak, you have been brought before the council in the direst of circumstances.” Meorri aac Kish Udap paused, his face contorting in disgust. “By the grace of Ivoy and Osnir, you were welcomed as a karu, to train under those who earned their place to be protectors.” Kish Udap scanned the room, his lips curling further.

Nenn could only imagine what ran through the udaps’ minds.

The planet was in chaos, losing a significant number of Ivoyan ots.

With so many dead, the zi would be called to duty from their travels.

As far as Nenn knew, all the ruling ots had been in the senate.

With the younger ots still in training, the zis would have to rule.

And the Qaldreths would be blamed for having failed to foresee this.

Nenn studied Drafe who stood tall. Exile would be known to all generations of symbiotes. His family would never live down the shame.

“Worse, instead of rushing to save the Luharp Vadril Ot or any high-ranking ot, you rescued Vizen Aehort Uz…a servant.” Grumbles rippled through the council and the witnesses behind him. “What say you, Drafe Arrak?”

Drafe opened his mouth to speak.

“Giniiri aac Nenn Maed claims your language implant failed, explaining your presence outside the Senate.” Borven aac Eran Udap gestured to Nenn to come forward.

Nenn jerked back, then hurried over the steps, not wanting the council to think he delayed out of doubt.

Drafe bowed his head to acknowledge Nenn.

Nenn stood beside him and met the udaps’ gazes. He raised his chin so his voice would be clear. “It is defective, Great Council. I attached a temp-device until his can be replaced.”

“Happenstance led you to abandon your ot?” Zuphayr aac Srim Udap hummed, his white hair draping over his temple. With the air tribe’s crisp blue eyes so reminiscent of Qaldreth’s sky, he peered at Drafe.

Nenn kept his shoulders stiff even though their focus wasn’t on him. Slumping would draw attention and raise suspicion.

“I rescued the only witness, Great Council, and yes, my implant did malfunction, causing Luharp Vadril Ot to suffer alongside me. Unable to bear the shared pain, he instructed me to seek medical attention.” Drafe inhaled, his nostrils flaring.

“I ensured he was well-guarded, tasking Meorri aac Saha Karu to protect him. Under the circumstances, twenty-two arraks, twenty-three karu, and a dozen sava were sufficient protection against a corpse.”

The council nodded.

“You are wise to mention the protectors, the trainees, and the additional security, Drafe Arrak. Had I been in your situation, I would have acted the same,” Kish Udap said.

Nenn smothered a wince. Any udap complimenting a warrior was not to be trusted. Not that it smacked of evil intent, but praise was rarely given.

“This was an attack none of us foresaw.” Srim Udap scanned the chamber, his gaze lingering for a moment on Nenn. “An illogical strategy is required. You will share your symbiotes with the uz, Drafe Arrak.”

Gasps rippled across the room. Kish Udap slapped the stone desk, and silence prevailed.

Nenn peered at Drafe out of the corner of his eye.

The male didn’t react, as expected, despite this shocking news.

To share his symbiotes with an Ivoyan was only done when a warrior graduated to protector.

The higher the Ivoyan’s rank, the more honor the warrior would bring to his tribe.

Like Drafe had with Luharp Vadril Ot, Ivoy’s revered ruler.

An uz would bring no honor. And until that uz died, Drafe wouldn’t be able to protect another Ivoyan.

“The acting Ivoyan leadership has demanded justice be served. You and your uz will travel the galaxy and hunt down the culprits.” Kish Udap pinched his brow. “All findings will be reported to me.”

Drafe straightened. “As you command, Kish Udap.”

“You leave when the symbiote transfer is complete, your implant replaced, and a ship fueled.” Eran Udap swept out his hand. “Choose your crew. Additional security will be provided.”

“Do not take this mission as leniency on our part.” Kish Udap nodded at his council members. “Fail this, and dishonor and exile won’t be the worst of your punishment.”

Nenn had expected exile, so if this wasn’t that, then what was this mission? A chance for Drafe to regain favor or die trying?

Drafe frowned. “I thank you for this opportunity, Great Council.” Offering his back to the Q.C.C., he addressed the chamber. “One from each tribe would suffice. Riermus aac Vaen, Zuphayr aac Gusin, Jeerlud aac Juunn, Borven aac Igar, Giniiri aac Nenn, and Awayar aac Caah.”

Nenn froze and sucked in a sharp breath, even as his hearing dampened. To be chosen was an honor and a death sentence. Those who jogged to the dais scowled. No doubt, they, too, felt as Nenn did.

“So noted.” Srim Udap banged his fist on the desk.

The Q.C.C. followed, announcing the end of the council.

Nenn studied the warriors around him—a few he knew.

“You are a lucky male,” Vaen snapped. “Not that I thank you for dragging me along.”

“Same.” Juunn’s green eyes flashed. His brown hair ruffled, revealing his displeasure.

“Is this punishment for making you wait for the temp-device?” Nenn rocked on his heels, a smile teasing his lips.

If anyone could make a success of this mission, it had to be Drafe. And, according to his studies, an uz wasn’t as stupid as most of the Qaldreth thought. They just weren’t savants like the ots.

Drafe chuckled. “You were there, Nenn. I assumed you would want to see justice done.”

“As Osnir is my witness, Drafe, the killers will pay. To stand aside, let you go off on this mission alone, my children’s children will forever curse my name.” Nenn grasped Drafe’s forearm.

“You believe we can find them?” Vaen arched a golden brow, glowing against his dark gray skin.

“I do.” Drafe clenched his jaw—an indication of his determination. He met Nenn’s gaze. “Besides, you are the only maed I know.”

Nenn chuckled. “Fair enough.”

“Yet again, you escape justice.” Ulvus shoved through the males to glare at Drafe.

Nenn jerked back. The venom in this sava’s voice was alarming. He resisted the urge to come between the male and Drafe. An arrak could defend himself.

Vaen did though, offering Drafe a shoulder while he tried to usher the angry male away. “Ulvus, now is not—”

“You should not have been accepted as a karu then awarded an ot. Now, this.” Ulvus growled. “Kreta curse you, Drafe.”

“Ah, Meorri aac Ulvus Sava, it is good that you are wishing Osnir’s blessings upon this journey.” Kish Udap parted the males gathered. “For you, too, shall be tasked to assist Drafe Arrak.”

Ulvus’s cheeks paled, but he offered a nod.

Nenn grimaced, dreading having to spend a minute in the negative male’s presence.

Vaen’s golden eyes dulled to brown when he glared at Ulvus’s disappearing back. “Foq, I’d prefer to bring all the untrained karu than that idiot.” His tone dipped, keeping his words to the gathered circle.

“Same.” Drafe chuckled. “A vasquva would be a more helpful addition.”

Vaen snorted then slapped Drafe on the shoulder. “Have Nenn see to your implant. I will ensure the ship is prepped.” He paused, tossing a glance over his shoulder. “May Osnir bless your symbiote transfer with the uz, Drafe. Let us pray the servant survives it.”

Nenn winced. Killing an uz, though only of servant class, would be frowned upon, especially after the day’s events.

When he’d first arrived, he’d toured his new home as much as he was allowed to.

Deep in the belly of the council spire was the transfer chamber.

Venai stones cast flickering lights across the floor, showing the way.

The walls were carved but without inlay to distract from the seriousness of the act—the sharing of symbiotes between Ivoyan and Qaldreth.

Nenn tried not to focus on the fact that he would never have such an honor. Maeds served a different purpose.

Inside the chamber were two S-shaped stone tables, one for the Ivoyan, the other for the Qaldreth.

A Jakar, or priest, with black markings on his temple, would oversee the procedure.

He’d wound each male whose arms would be extended, almost touching.

Two streams of blood, the Qaldreth’s clear, the Ivoyan’s blue, would travel toward each other and merge into the other’s veins.

Some mentioned how painful the process was; hence, Vaen’s hope the uz survived.

If the transfer didn’t take, that wouldn’t bode well for the mission.

The Jakar would wrap a strip of garak leather around their wrists, binding them together. A chant would follow, low, droning on, vibrating through the stone. Almost like Tugo singing at the base of their cavern.

If successful, the bond aligned their thoughts and memories and would remain until one of them died.

In silence, Nenn led the way along the wide, story-filled passages of the Q.C.C.

and passed the steps to the chamber. Weak lilac sunlight filtered through the stained windows.

Still, it caught the gold inlay in the stone walls, telling great tales of defeated monsters worthy of any legend.

He chose an empty ward and gestured to a chair.

Without a word, Drafe lowered himself.

Nenn sprayed anesthetic across the warrior’s neck and waited four seconds for it to take effect.

He grinned. “I am excited to see other stars and species. There is much I can learn.” He leaned closer and plied out the temp-device and its damaged counterpart, leaving a gaping hole in the muscle.

With a delicate touch, he embedded a new one into the same spot.

A quick scan of the med-dev healed the skin around the circular device.

He dabbed to remove the blood smears, then shifted back, with the old nodule and the temp-device in his palm. “Whore.”

Drafe growled and leaped to his feet.

Sensing danger, Nenn’s symbiotes activated his armor. He threw out a hand. “My apologies, Drafe. That is the only word I know in Ivoyan.”

Drafe relaxed and offered a tentative smile. “Then the new nodule works.”

“Good. I assume the uz is awaiting your presence in the transfer chamber?” Nenn nudged his head at the door.

“I assume the same. Until we depart.” Drafe strode out.

Nenn hadn’t lied when he’d said he was excited. What awaited him was adventure and a chance to climb other mountains and cliffs across the universe. Despite the benefits he could imagine of this unexpected adventure, he didn’t want to be in Drafe’s shoes if they failed.