Chapter 609
Fuji made a low whining sound in her throat followed by several soft clicks. I’d never heard her make that noise before. Stayne’s family stiffened and one of the Brothers moved toward her. He spoke to her in a firm voice, but I did not recognize the language.
Fuji made the sound again and her tail increased its tempo behind her. Stayne’s brother continued to speak to her and once he was close enough he stroked her spine. The caress and the words seemed to soothe Fuji and the tail slowly receded back into her body.
Gunth’s attention shifted back to Stayne and I saw his eyes narrow.
“You and your family go with us, slavers, whether you like it or not. The females are free, whether you Like it or not. None of these things are points of discussion,” Gunth said forcefully.
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The strange clicks from Fuji started again and the tail whipped out going back and forth. Stayne glanced back at her and I saw the silent communication between him and his Brothers.
“Give us a moment and make no moves toward us,” Stayne finally said sounding defeated.
“Our…girl is upset. The way you speak has upset her. She would fight you to the death so that we can do as we wish. Any…creature from Batra would do the same. Allow us to calm her.”
Gunth relaxed his posture and so did everyone else. I felt Like we were playing a Large game of red rover and someone had just called time out. My assumption was that attacking Stayne when he’d said he would be distracted would be dishonorable. At least the sense of honor was consistent. This text is property of Nô/velD/rama.Org.
Stayne’s family made a circle around Fuji and started to talk softly to her. I’d heard Fuji pray in her Language once before and what the men did sounded Like that. Apparently they could speak whatever Language it was that Fuji did.
“Ciara,” Damien said softly and I looked up into his face, “are you well?”
“Yes, the ride here was strange, but it seems I fared better than you,” I said, touching a cut on his cheek.
“They expected to battle with us,” Christof said as way of explanation.
“They had weapons we had never seen before…”
I smiled at my friend and touched his arm. My family was rarely defeated in battle. Looking at the line of men facing us, I knew how outnumbered they had been. There had to be forty men over there. If some new weapon was involved, then their defeat made even more sense.
Stayne’s voice got all our attention a moment later. He addressed Gunth and he did it very politely.
“We are happy to take your kind invitation to visit your camp,” he said facing Gunth.
“My Brothers and I only ask this female be left in our care for the remainder of the trip.”
“No,” Gunth said sounding irritated, “that is not a slave and you are not owners. You may not keep her. Release her and allow her to be free.”
Stayne and his brothers separated, so Fuji faced the men. Thom and his family approached her, intent on taking her away. The tail was out as soon as their intent became evident.
I watched as a lock of Fuji’s vibrant hair dropped off her head and fluttered to the ground. The men saw it too and stopped moving toward her. They looked back at Gunth as though seeking direction.
“She fears you,” Stayne said nonchalantly.
“When her kind are taken by the conquering side on her home planet they are treated with great indignity. The hair falls out only when safety is supremely threatened.”