River's Run(58)

“The Prophesy says three warriors will come carrying the items your women carried. I tell you they are the warriors the Prophesy talked about!” Ajaska insisted.



“Father, they had never killed anything in their lives until they boarded the Tearnat’s warship.” Jazin began. It explained so much to him now. How gentle and sensitive Star was. Why she had looked so scared the first time he saw her. Why she often cried out during the night.



“In the name of all the Gods and Goddesses, they did not even know life existed outside their galaxy! The furthest their people had gone was to their moon and it wasn’t even that far!” Manota exploded. “Now you expect them to fight alongside us knowing that we know this?”



“Yes. I do.” Ajaska replied softly. He watched as all three of his sons looked at him in stunned silence wondering if he had lost his mind. “They are the three warriors. I am sure of this. Look what they have done so far. Do not underestimate their skills. Just because they have not been trained as a warrior, does not mean they are not one.”



“I have almost lost River twice. I will not take the chance of losing her again.” Torak said harshly turning to look out the window. “I will send her to our country estate until the threat is resolved.”



“No.” came a soft reply from the door.



Torak spun around. Standing in the doorway was River, Jo, and Star. All three of the women stood perfectly still. River glided into the room. She was wearing a pair of pants that looked almost like the long part of a gown. Around her waist was a jeweled belt. Her top was a sequenced scooped neck with billowing sleeves caught tight at her wrists. She had her hair braided so it fell in a long rope down her back. She looked so beautiful, so fragile, so…mad.



Torak groaned. The last time she had had a look in her eye like that he had ended up pinned to the door of their bedroom. He shifted his gaze to make sure he was standing far enough away from anything she could use should she begin throwing her knives again.



“River.” Torak began softly.



“Don’t you ‘River’ me. I am not going to be sent anywhere. Your father is right. We may not have been trained as warriors but we know how to fight and to defend ourselves and those we love.” River said coming to stand in front of Torak. She placed her palm on his chest over his heart. “You said you would not change who I was. Now accept who I am.”



Jo and Star stood just inside the door. “That goes for us too.” Jo said softly. Star nodded her agreement.



River moved to sit on the low couch. “If Tai Tek is behind the assassination attempts then I have a vested interest in capturing him.” She gently touched her chest and the small scar barely visible. “I owe him a return favor.”



Torak’s eyes darkened at the reminder. He crossed the room to kneel in front of River. “River, it will be too dangerous. I will not allow you to be in harm’s way. Please, little one, I could not live if something should happen to you.” He pleaded softly holding her hands in his.



River leaned forward and brushed her lips against his, softly replying, “Then keep me safe by letting me help you.”



“Besides, wouldn’t it look a little funny if suddenly all three of us were to disappear? I mean, River is your wife, uh I mean, mate. If you show up at this dinner without her, isn’t that going to make the bad guys suspicious?” Jo asked looking at Manota. “It would me.”



Manota sighed heavily. “She is right, Torak. If you, any of us, were to show up at the dinner without the females Tai Tek would become suspicious. It would be too obvious we are planning something. He would never expect us to let our women be where there is possible danger.”



“Then it is decided. The females will stay and participate in the trap.” Ajaska said.



The three brothers nodded, their faces showing the pain such as decision cost them. Jazin looked at Star with barely concealed fury. She was too small, too delicate to be fighting. He should just take her off somewhere safe and…



“Jazin.” Star said softly pulling him from his thoughts.



“Yes, love.”



“It’s not gonna happen so don’t even think of trying.” Star murmured firmly.



Jazin sighed heavily again. “Yes, love.”



The rest of the afternoon was spent planning what the women’s roles would be during the dinner. They would be mingling with the other guests and acting as an extra set of eyes. The men hoped they would be negated since they were female, even though they were considered female warriors. At no time would they leave the main room unless accompanied by one of the men or one of the select elite force members.