Asteron

ASTERON

" P hinade?" I look to my vizier who is bent over a mapping console on the bridge.

"The trail has split, sire," he says. "It looks like one ship took a course through a nebula and then three others took a different course, in the direction of Trefa."

I snort. "That filthy place—it's nothing but a den of thieves, gambling, and debauchery."

"And the games," Phinade says, knowingly.

I tip my horns to him. The only reason I know Trefa is because I was young and stupid enough to think I could take on the dome in Tatatunga. I was lucky to leave with my life, even if the vast winged gladiators called the Gryn took my dignity. They left me with my life and taught my younger self the lesson of respect.

"We follow the three. Trefa is well known for trading in flesh. If they have something they want to get rid of, Trefa is where they will go."

The insane rage inside me boils close to the surface to be speaking of my Ginny in such terms, like she is already lost to me.

"Signal the Habosu. Tell them I am unable to transfer the credits, and we will need to meet with them in order to pay the ransom in Xnosson jewels," I order. "That should be enough to stop their progress."

"As you wish," Phinade says, hurriedly sending the message to the Habosu. "Yes!" he exclaims, looking up excitedly at me within a few minutes. "You were correct, sire. They are in the three ships heading to Trefa…and they are turning back. They'll meet us at the nebula."

"Never underestimate the power of Xnosson jewels," I say. "Get me Minoran."

It doesn't take long for the clan leader to appear on the comm.

"We have located my mate," I tell him. "She's in a convoy of three we are heading to intercept, but there is a missing Habosu ship. It went into a nebula near where we should meet with them."

"Send me the co-ordinates, your majesty." Minoran grins. "We will ensure it causes no further problems."

"I expect nothing less." I terminate the comm and turn to my crew and guards. "This is not going to be pretty. The Habosu fight dirty, so you can forget any of your fancy academy battle drills. We need to go in hard, and we need to go in fast. I will lead, and the aim is to get to my mate before the Habosu have time to think. No prisoners," I growl. "Get what you need from the armory. Phinade, how long until we arrive?"

"Ten nova-minutes, sire."

"You have your orders," I say, and my guard disperse quickly, quietly, contemplating the job at hand.

I look over at Phinade, who has his hand on the pulsar at his waist.

"You do not need to come, Phinade. I could do with my vizier staying here, directing matters."

Phinade picks up a small, robust, and handheld screen. "I can direct from anywhere, Majesty, and I want to ensure the queen's safety as much as you do."

"Then it is time to go to battle, old friend," I say, dipping my horns and running the sharpening steel up each one in turn. "No one takes what's mine and gets away with it."