Chapter 8

 

"Why are you here?" 

The captain of this odd army glared at us.

"The better question, sir, is why are you here?" I retorted. 

The man's face turned purple. "I am here to track down any trespassers to our lord's planet."

"Who is your lord?" Reyjin asked. 

Let me handle this, Reyjin.

"His name is Tornyai. And that's all you need to know, little lady."

"Now, see here-" Reyjin took a step forward. I quickly restrained her.

Reyjin! Let me handle this! Please?

"So, your lord Tornyai rules this system? Who gave him this power?"

The captain faltered. "He-he gave it to himself."

"How droll. I could do better. When can I meet him?"

"I'll kill you! You and anyone with you!"

Maybe not. 

"The lord doesn't meet with anyone without an appointment," the captain said pointedly.

"Likely." I clicked my tongue. "Is this lord Tornyai by any chance Kykkin Tornyai? If so, he'll want to see me at once." 

He frowned at me. "Just a moment." He turned to the others in his group. 

Reyjin turned to me. "Are you crazy?" she hissed. "Are you trying to get us killed?" 

I shrugged. "If Aera is somewhere around, a crime lord might be a good place to start."

"How did you know his name?" Zenla leaned in. I shrugged again. 

"Someone I knew from before I met Reyjin. Long story. Later."

A moment later, the captain turned back to us. "What is your name, girl? I'll tell him you're here, and we'll see what he says." 

I considered what to say. Any of what I've gone by might work. "Just say she's here." 

After a moment, the guard nodded. "Fine. If he has no idea who you are, don't blame me.''

I smiled mysteriously. "I have no plan to." 

"Captain Syvin!" One of the soldiers ran up. "General Tornyai wants us. Says it might get dirty." 

Captain Syvin glanced back at us. "I'm coming. Put them in the waiting room for now."

A few of the soldiers led us to an area by the cliffs. Then they left us there and put up a rayshield around it.  

Reyjin tapped on the side of the wall. "Well, now I feel like a prisoner. This doesn't bode well." 

Zenla sighed. "So, Winera, next move?" 

I sighed. "We-" I broke off. Someone was coming. 

Kykkin.

Quickly, I looked around. 

Yes, I had wanted to see him, but when I had the upper-hand. 

There - a post. The generater for the rayshield. "Be ready," I whispered to Reyjin and Zenla. 

Quickly, I climbed up the pole and held onto the sides. Using a small knife hidden in my boot, I pried the panel off, reveling a giant network of wires. The red one. It was always the red one. 

"You said three!" I peeked around the edge of the pole. Kykkin was standing there in all his bounty-hunter glory, glaring at the guards. "Where is the third?" 

Reyjin and Zenla glanced at each other nervously.  

Where is it? Where is it? I searched for the wire. 

There!

I grabbed the wire and cut it. 

The rayshield flickered several times, then fell. 

Kykkin turned and stared up at me. Then he pointed.

"Get her down from there! I want her alive!"