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Horek

I’m not sure what to make of these humans. There is something about them that is different from the ones on Tavikh. The ones on our neighboring planet are much more open with their emotions. More…approachable, perhaps. Despite being out on patrol again, my mind is not on my surroundings, but rather on the females I left back in their new home. From the quick study I took of our new arrivals, most of them appeared guarded. Is it because these females are from what their planet calls the bottom tier?

That was one of Alik’s stipulations when he made the arrangement with the female human’s leader. Eloise had suggested it. She and her Tavikhi mate travelled back to Bohna with us after our last trip to Tavikh and assisted him with the bride negotiations. According to her, the females in the bottom tier would benefit greatly from leaving Earth. They are not treated well, and offering opportunities to those who wouldn’t ever get them by remaining was the right thing to do. On Bohna, the females will have access to anything they want or need, from better healthcare to an education, if that is something they desire.

One female in particular had caught my eye. There wasn’t anything specifically about her that stood out from the rest, and yet I found my gaze drifting to her more than once. Her long dark hair had shimmered with highlights that matched my skin tone perfectly. But it had been her bright eyes that held me. There had been sorrow and pain within their inky depths, yet they glinted with a steely determination that matched the ramrod straight posture she presented. She and three other females remained close to each other but separate from the rest.

I push her image away and return my focus to the task at hand. Pedestrians stroll through the city streets intent on their destination. Conversations carry on the wind, as do the scents filtering from the market square where many of our people still peddle their wares. Food stalls line one side of the market where they sell everything from tannek meat kebobs to leaf wrapped geck. After technology, agriculture is our biggest industry.

My comm beeps. I tap the button on the wrist device and speak into it. “Commander Horek. Report.”

“Sir, there is a disturbance on the outer city perimeter near the rainforest,” the voice on the other end replies.

“What kind of disturbance?” I’m already heading in that direction.

“A rebel was caught trying to sneak into Preska.”

“I’m on my way.” I end the communication and increase my pace.

What is one of the rebels doing this close to the city alone? Is this a diversionary tactic?

I won’t get any answers until I interrogate the male. It takes far too long before I finally reach my destination. There, shackled to a tree, is a lone rebel surrounded by no less than four armed guards. He sits on the ground with an air of confidence like he doesn’t care he’s been detained. There’s no fear in his gaze. In fact, the smirk on his lips indicates he’s amused more than anything.

“Commander,” one of the younger guards greets me.

I nod but don’t remove my focus from the rebel. Unlike most of the city residents, his horns haven’t been shorn. They spiral up from either side of his head and curl slightly backwards. For someone who inhabits the rainforest, his clothing is clean and intact. He could be any one of our citizens, which is problematic. There are rumors of spies living within Preska’s walls.

“So you’re the great Commander Horek.” the rebel drawls.

“And you are?”

His smirk changes into a full-blown smile. “I’m no one important.”

“Is that so?”

“Not to you at least,” he says.

“Maybe you should let me be the judge of that.” This rebel is far too cocky for my liking.

“I’m not sure I trust your judgment. You are, after all, loyal to the interloper on the throne.”

I grit my teeth. “Alik is no interloper. He is the only son of King Danik and Queen Veroneek and the rightful heir of Preska.”

That smirk reappears. “If you say so.”

“I do say so, and for anyone to question otherwise is treason.”

The rebel tsks. “Treason is a such a strong word. Although your defense of your cousin is admirable.”

I’m tired of these games already. “What were you doing trying to sneak in to Preska?”

He sucks in a fake shocked breath. “Sneak? I was doing nothing more than minding my own business when your guards grabbed me and bound me to this tree like a common criminal. What laws did I break?”

“You were skulking about,” one of the guards says.

The rebel laughs. It’s deep and from his belly. “Skulking? Is that what you say I was doing?”

“It’s more than obvious you’re not a citizen of the city.” It’s my job to be aware of every single person that populates Preska. This male is not one of us.

“Do you no longer welcome poor refugees? Or do you only allow those who can afford the prince’s exorbitant price for kanet powder?”

“What do you mean ‘those who can afford kanet powder’? Never has Alik made our people pay for it. Besides, we both know you are no refugee.” I try to maintain the same careless attitude as him, but it is not in my nature and is more difficult than I expect.

“You wound me, Commander.”

“If you won’t answer my questions here, maybe spending time in the pit will loosen your tongue.”

One side of the rebel’s mouth cocks up. “Are you always so eager to imprison innocent people?”

It is my turn to laugh. “Is that what you are? Innocent?”

“As an untried youth.”

A sudden clicking sound has my senses on full alert. I recognize it. My gaze locks with the rebel’s whose smirk turns into a broad smile. A raucous boom is deafening and I slam my palms over my ears as an explosion of dark smoke blinds me. I try to snap out an order, but the noxious gas chokes me. My lungs and throat burn. A coughing fit that has me bowled over. The guards are no better off than I am.

I do everything I can to shield my mouth and nose, but my eyes burn as I try and seek out the perpetrator of the attack. It’s no use. I stumble around, colliding with several large masses until far too slowly the air clears enough for me to get a visual on my surroundings. All the males are present and accounted for. Except one.

Lying on the ground at the base of the tree where the rebel had been bound are the shackles used to hold him. Yet, he is nowhere to be seen. Water leaks from eyes that sting and ache.

“Fuck.” I stomp over to the iron restraints and inspect them.

They haven’t been cut. It’s as though he merely slipped out of them or they were removed with a key. I study the guards. Is one of them secretly part of the rebel’s forces and helped the other male? They are young, but none have a look of guilt about him.

“Return to your posts.”

“Yes, sir,” they say in unison.

I remain a few moments longer after they’ve left and observe the area, hoping to find a clue to…well, anything. The unrest has been escalating over the last few moon cycles until the rebels suddenly went silent. Until today. I fear the quiet is only a temporary thing that will soon turn to something much bigger than either Alik or I anticipate.

What was the rebel doing sneaking into Preska on the same day the human females arrived? It can’t be a coincidence. I tap my wrist comm.

“Yes, Commander?” Lorik answers.

“Increase the rotation of patrols along the rainforest border as well as the humans’ dwelling.”

“Right away, sir.”

I end the transmission and take one final glance around. As before, nothing stands out besides the shackles still lying on the ground and the empty smoke canister used to disorient us. I pocket both to take to our scientists for examination. Perhaps there is something they might discover that I’m unable to.

The back of my neck tingles. I spin to confront whoever is behind me, but I’m alone. I scan the streets and buildings along the city limits, but nothing is out of place. It doesn’t matter. I’m being watched. Whoever it is has hidden themself well. I suspect it’s the rebel we detained.

Since there’s no use waiting him out, I walk away and return to my duties. I’ll need to report to Alik what happened, although I hate not being able to give him any news, or admitting the rebel got away right beneath our noses. So far, they haven’t incited any true violence, only made life difficult for my cousin by vandalizing transport ships and machinery, as well as disrupting trade lines with other cities on Bohna.

Everything they’re doing, however, has made some of our people question Alik’s fitness to rule. More rumblings have made their way to the capitol and there has been a hint of unrest, even within Preska’s city limits. It is another reason for the human females to be here. Not as a distraction, but rather, a way to bring hope to the Bohnari.