Punished, Tana Stone [top reads .txt] 📗

Realization dawned on me. Someone had let the truth of the planet’s miraculous properties slip to the imperial soldiers. I studied the bowed heads and nervous twitching among the group. “One of you revealed the truth?”

All heads snapped up at once then there was vigorous shaking.

Terel expression was offended. “One of the planet’s own ministers? We would never be so foolish.”

His protestation of innocence was too strong for them to be blameless. “Then who are you all so eager to protect?”

Kerl straightened his shoulders and flipped back his hood. “It was the child of a minister. Someone who also should have known better but who enjoys bragging.”

The human whom Terel had exchanged a nervous glance with pressed his palms flat on the table and raised himself halfway to standing. “He understands his mistake. He could not have known the imperial soldiers would take his claims so seriously.”

I eyed the man, noticing a strange familiarity in the arrogant set of his mouth and the shade of his brown hair. “You are the father of Donal.”

His gaze swiveled to mine, and I saw in it the same weak cruelty I’d spotted in his son. He did not acknowledge my statement, but he didn’t need to.

“That is why you are so concerned and why you asked me to train your males. You didn’t suspect the empire would be coming. You knew it.” I slid my gaze to Terel, my blood firing as the reality hit me. “I suspect you felt fortunate when my Vandar horde reached out to you and asked you to take an exile. It was not just the financial incentive that prompted you to agree so eagerly, was it?”

The man dropped his eyes. “We thought you were the solution to all our problems.”

I tightened the grip on my axe, wishing that I could swing it over my head and bring it down into the dark wood of the table. “Yet you did not tell me everything. You did not give me the information I needed.”

“What do you mean?” Kerl asked.

I slammed my hands down on the table, and the males jumped back in surprise. “I have been training as if the empire might come, when I should have been training as if an attack was imminent. There is now no doubt in my mind that the Zagrath have targeted your planet as one of the next ones they will take over.”

Terel slumped in his chair. “Then it’s over.”

I thumped my palms on the table again. “Not if you let me train your fighters for war, and arm your planet to fight off an invasion.”

The leaders glanced at each other quickly before bobbing their heads up and down.

I straightened. “Good. That means I have a lot of work to do.”

Taking long steps from the hall, I frowned. It also meant I would have little time to spare anymore. And even less room in my life for pretty distractions.

Chapter Seventeen

Ch 17

Sienna

I paced a small circle in the middle of the open ring, tipping my head back to peer at the deep-blue sky, and the three glowing, white orbs high above. Aside from the chirping of the water crickets, the woods were quiet. No sounds of heavy footsteps tramping toward me, or even muffled ones. My cloak was draped over the fallen tree trunk, so I rubbed my arms to ward off the chill of the night.

Where was he?

After he’d disarmed me for the final time the night before, holding my body tight to his from behind as I’d tried to wiggle from his grasp, we’d agreed to the same time and same place tonight. Then I’d let him leave first, watching him stride off through the spindly trees as I’d calmed my racing heart.

I loosed an impatient breath. Did this have anything to do with what had happened with Donal earlier in the day? Shaking my head, I walked back to the log and leaned my palms against it, the curling bark succumbing to the pressure of my hands as I let my head hang between my shoulders.

I thought back, my mind scouring my memories for any indication that Corvak had been upset with me, or worried about meeting. I remembered his hot gaze holding mine but also how kind he’d been to my sister. Not anything like the gruff brute he usually was.

I stood and grabbed my cloak. Whatever the reason, it was clear he wasn’t coming. I swallowed the bitter disappointment as I left the clearing, hating to admit to myself how dependent I’d become on my secret training sessions with the Vandar. Somehow, the drudgery of my job, the horrible reality of my father, and the endless monotony of life were more bearable if I knew I’d have a couple of hours grappling with Corvak.

I almost laughed. If anyone heard me say that out loud, they’d think I was crazy. Why would getting attacked, flipped through the air, and pinned to the ground be something that made my days better? It wouldn’t make sense to anyone but me—and probably Corvak.

Even though he’d never said as much, the Vandar enjoyed our sessions as much as I did. It was the only time he fought an opponent with any sort of agility or skill. And when we were in full battle mode with our fists flying and our kicks high, his usually scowling expression became one of pure joy. The grumpy bastard actually grinned while he kicked my ass. He even smiled the few times I came out the victor, although he still slapped my ass with his tail.

So why bail on me? I stomped away from the trees and past the path leading to the shallows, the sound of the water bugs almost deafening now. When I reached the stone entrance to the amphitheater, I slowed my pace, hesitating at the sound of voices coming from inside. Who was there at this time of night?

My pace quickened when I realized that