Punished, Tana Stone [top reads .txt] 📗

I walked over and stood on the other side of the beige-stone counter as he fumbled with the wrapped food. “Where will you go, if you’re exiled from the Vandar?”

Corvak pulled a flattened strip of seaweed from the bundle and offered it to me first. I waved it off then he took a bite. “I was only exiled from one horde, not the entire species. If I cannot join another horde, I will join the Valox resistance. If that fails, I’ll become a solo guerrilla fighter. Anything to keep battling the empire.”

I admired his intensity and his devotion to the Vandar cause of destroying the empire. “Okay, so how do I come into it? I don’t know anything about any of the things you just mentioned.”

He chewed the crunchy seaweed, grimacing as he swallowed. “Maybe not, but you do inventory the arriving supplies from off-world, don’t you?”

“Yes,” I answered hesitantly. How did he know that? Had he been asking around about me?

“Then you’re just the person who can help me stow onto a supply transport ship when it’s time for me to go.”

As much as I dreamed about leaving Kimithion III, I’d never thought of stowing away on a supply ship. Mostly because I’d never leave my sister behind, but also because I’d never set foot off my planet. As much as I liked using old Earth slang, I couldn’t even imagine what it was like somewhere other than Kimithion III.

“So? Do we have a deal? You will help me leave when it is time, and I will teach you to fight like a Vandar?”

I nodded. For some reason, though, the thought that he was already plotting his escape from the planet stole some of the satisfaction from my victory. “We have a deal.”

It was better this way, I reminded myself. The Vandar didn’t fit in here, and he never would. He’d be just as miserable as I was if he had to stay, and I wouldn’t wish an eternity of drudgery and boredom on anyone. Corvak was never meant to stay forever, so it was good that I got used to the idea of him leaving now. Even if he was the most interesting thing that had ever happened to the planet or ever would happen.

“So,” I said, coming around the counter. “Who told you about my glamorous job?”

“Your future mate was more than eager to tell me about it.”

I shot him a deadly look. “I told you, I’m never going to marry him.”

The Vandar’s lips twitched. “I’m glad to hear it. I do not like him very much.”

“You and me both,” I mumbled, as I joined him in his kitchen. “Don’t you have anything to eat aside from dried seaweed?”

He glanced at the food packet then at me. “Is there anything to eat here but dried seaweed or algae or fish?”

I rolled my eyes. “You’re eating Kimitherian food. You should be eating human food. I can’t believe no one explained this to you.” I took the seaweed from him. “The species native to this planet evolved from amphibians, so they love anything that comes from the water. To be honest, the shallows provide us with a lot of protein between the fish, algae and kelp. It’s not bad for you, it’s just not the tastiest thing in the world—unless you’re Kimitherian. When humans came, we planted crops and berries and brought some small livestock. We also get supplies like grain from off-world trading. There are a couple of shops in the village that deal in food you’ll prefer.”

“This place is very different from a Vandar warbird.” He let out a sigh that was sadder than anything.

“I’ll bet.” I put my hand into my pocket and pulled out a slightly flattened roll. “Eat this. My sister is the best baker in the village. I’ll make sure she keeps you stocked up with the good stuff.”

His eyes widened and a smile teased the corner of his mouth. “You always keep bread in your pockets?”

“Do you want it or not?”

He looked down at the seaweed then snatched the bread from me. “Oh, I want it.”

I watched him take ravenous bites and then turned and headed for the window. “We should start tomorrow night. I’ll send you a time and place with tomorrow’s bread delivery.” I swung a leg through one of his windows. “Catch you later.”

“What are you doing?”

“Going out the same way I came in.” I winked at him. “I don’t think either of us wants me being seen walking from your dwelling after dark. Around here, no one would ever believe that a male like you would be able to control himself around a helpless female. No offense, but they think you’re a bit of a brute. Not that I believe that.”

He eyed me as I swung my other leg up. “You should be careful, female. They might be more right about me than you are.”

Chapter Nine

Ch 9

Corvak

I watched her disappear from the windowsill, her head ducking through the triangular hole in the stone, followed by her leg. The thin curtain flapped back in place and the room was silent, leaving no trace that the female had been in my quarters.

Good, I thought, turning on my heel and striding toward the small bathing chamber in the back. If I could, I’d forget she’d ever been there as well.

Lowering my head to pass under the top of the arched doorframe, I unhooked my battle kilt and let the heavy leather fall to the floor, slapping the stone sharply. Light from the moons shone into the small room from an open skylight, giving enough of a glow that I could see to flick on the water for the shower. I didn’t wait for the water to heat, instead plunging myself under the cool cascade and sucking in a breath.

I flattened both palms against the stone wall and let the water flow across my back. Even the slightly