Champion(18)

A bad taste filled his mouth. He’d just proclaimed he could handle talking about what he’d gone through, and he damn well would. “The Thraxians attacked the space station where I worked. They snatched a bunch of us and brought us here.”

The girl’s nose wrinkled. “I hate Thraxians. The tarnids refuse to let Thraxians ride them.” She tilted her head. “Can’t you go home?”

Blaine felt Saff watching him, but he kept his gaze on Duna. “It’s too far to go back to Earth. I guess this is my home, now.”

Duna gave a decisive nod. “I never had a home.”

Blaine felt something move through him. He realized a part of him had been angry that there was no way back. But Duna had nowhere to go back to…what did that do to a little girl?

“But Varus found me, and now I have my own room, a bed, food.” Duna grinned. “Good food. And I get to ride Yavi, here, whenever I want to, which is extra liquid.”

Blaine kept watching the girl as she leaned far out of the saddle, staring at the ground again. He was sure she’d fall off, but she clung with her legs with ease. A girl who’d had nothing and made something of her young life.

“Out of the mouths of babes,” Blaine muttered. His gaze met Saff’s. She had a faint smile on her striking face.

“There!” Duna shouted, pointing at a patch of ground that looked the same as everywhere else. She lifted her head, looking into the distance. “They’ve gone to Harmony.”

“Harmony?” Blaine asked.

“The Harmony Oasis,” Duna answered. “It’s not very big or popular, but some of the caravans use it when they need to.” The girl frowned. “Corsair doesn’t usually go there.”

Unless something was wrong. Blaine heard the unsaid words.

They turned, following Duna across the arid landscape. Before long, some faint shapes appeared in the distance. They looked like large rocks.

Blaine narrowed his eyes. He caught a glimpse of a small pool of water, and realized the lumps of rock surrounding it were actually dome-like houses carved out of stone.

“It’s not very big,” Raiden said.

“It’s bigger than you think,” Duna answered. “The houses are mostly underground. They mine for multicolored jewels here. Most of the residents are different folk, touched by too much sun. But for the right amount of coin, they’ll offer you food and drink…and information.”

They slowed their tarnids, and walked slowly into the desert town.

A few people looked up from under their doorways. Blaine noted wary eyes, hardened faces baked by the sun.

“No caravan,” Duna murmured, as she led them to a small store that was located closest to the murky oasis pool. A thin man in billowing robes rushed forward, carrying a tray of drinks.

“Welcome, welcome! You look like travelers in need of refreshments.”

The gladiators swung down and when Blaine’s boots touched the ground, his legs protested taking his weight.

“How much?” Galen asked.

The storekeeper smiled, his tanned face full of wrinkles, and named a price.

Thorin sputtered, but Galen lifted a hand. “That’s fine. But I want some information, as well.”

Blaine grabbed one of the drinks, guzzling it back. It was lukewarm and tasted a little salty, but he didn’t care.

As Galen moved away with the shop owner, the two of them murmuring quietly, Blaine looked around the small town. That’s when he noticed someone stealthily watching them from the shadows of one of the houses.

“Saff,” he said quietly.

At his tone, she stiffened and moved closer. He leaned his head down, like they were having an intimate moment. He caught the faint scent of healthy, feminine sweat, and he froze.

It wasn’t strong, but he could smell.

“What did you see?” she murmured.

For a second, Blaine was distracted, thinking of that scent, and wondering what her skin would taste like if he pressed his lips to the back of her long, graceful neck.

“Blaine?”

He shook his head to clear it. “There is a Srinar looking at us from the corner of one of the buildings over there. The one with the bright-white dome.”

Saff looked up, her lovely, dark eyes meeting his. Then she slowly turned her head, and lifted her drink.

But it seemed that they weren’t casual enough. A second later, the Srinar spun and ran.

“Fuck.” Blaine burst into action, Saff by his side. They sprinted after the man. Behind them, Blaine heard the other gladiators cursing and calling out.

Blaine pumped his arms, his boots striking the hard-packed sand. The Srinar was ducking and weaving through the domed houses.

Then Blaine saw the man grip the ledge of one of the houses and pull himself up onto the domed roof. This was one of the larger buildings, with two stories and a small balcony ringing the dome.