Warrior's Pain (Cadi Warriors Book 4)(19)

“Pardon me,” Cyprian said with a polite nod, as he stepped around the male.

The gallery was more crowded than when he’d left. Cyprian nearly ran into several more patrons, as he wove through the crowd, heading back to his table. One gray humanoid was very aggressive and loud about it. The dumb bastard followed Cyprian for several paces, when he walked away rather than rise to the challenge.

“I ordered for you,” Vintor said when he rejoined the group.

There was a plate of some unusual meat and vegetables, along with a bright green bubbling beverage.

“Thanks. Did I miss anything?”

“No, just a parade of creatures up for auction. They did announce a special performance, but I didn’t hear what it was.”

Vintor casually slid his handheld under the table. Cyprian glanced down and read the message. Vintor overheard the Jurou Biljana tell Mave about the Miran Sona ship. They confirmed it was stationed somewhere on the asteroid.

Good.

Cyprian summarized his conversation with Kagan, then subtly passed the communicator back.

“I saw a few items in the munitions auction, that your friend might be interested in,” Jyk, the Jurou Biljana, mentioned to Mave.

Cyprian concentrated on his food, but didn’t taste a bite, as he listened.

“Really?” Mave replied looking intrigued.

“Take a look.” Jyk handed Mave a tablet.

“They’re automated,” Mave said in surprise.

“And small enough to not attract attention,” the reptile added.

Cyprian wondered what listing the males were looking at. Whichever it was, a small automated weapon didn’t sound good.

“I should contact our mutual friend, though I’m not looking forward to it. He wasn’t pleased after the incident at the airstrip. However, this might help.”

“Let your partner know, he won’t come across a better item to accomplish his goal. Either way he needs to hurry it up. We’ve been very patient, but my Ministro would like to resume our partnership with Cadi,” Jyk commented.

Cyprian took a drink to cover the scowl twisting his face. If he wasn’t mistaken, Mave’s mysterious partner was plotting an assassination.

“Jyk, our goals are similar, but that sounded an awful lot like a threat,” Mave growled.

Everyone at the table turned their attention to the pair.

“Do we have a problem?” Adeoda leaned in.

The warrior was always bristling for a fight. He was the kind of foolish male, that would cause a brawl without thought for the consequences. Cyprian glanced at Vintor, who nodded. They both had to be ready to act, before any of the smugglers caused a fight, and got them kicked off Distraho.

“Do you recall the package we passed to you, when we first met? The items your friend requested came with a price. The Toufik you’re auctioning, aren’t going to cover your debts,” Jyk hissed, his throat swelling red with anger. Then the reptile just as quickly relaxed and leaned back in his seat, his scaly tail flicking idly. “But, because Cadi has been such good customers, minus the unfortunate incident a year ago, we’d prefer to resolve this in a mutually beneficial way.”

Cyprian closed his eyes as the weight of this situation hit him.

Son of a metcor. We should’ve seen this coming, when the Jurou Biljana didn’t retaliate after we confiscated their vessels.

The flesh merchants had been biding their time, looking for a more insidious way back into Cadi’s good graces. If they declared war, they’d turn potential customers into enemies. But, if the reptiles covertly incited another civil war, or deposed Daimio Kagan, then it would be business as usual.

Cyprian’s fist clinched. He had to repress the urge to grab his disrupter. It would be so easy to finish off Jyk and Mave, here and now.

“I will speak to my friend,” Mave gritted his teeth.

“Excuse me. I have other matters to attend to,” Jyk stated, then got up and left with his cohorts.

The general waited for the Jurou Biljana to leave, before turning to Mave.

“It sounds like this partner, you’re so tight lipped about, has dragged our tails into a snarl,” Cyprian bristled.

“The Jurou Biljana are merchants. They have things we need, and we have assets to trade. Cadi is behind every species in our sector. Do you honestly think the other traders we’ll meet are going to be any less distasteful? Look around,” Mave snarled.

“Agreed, but your partner has become beholden to the Jurou Biljana. Do you truly trust your supposed friend? I can tell you for a fact I don’t trust people I’ve never met. What’s more, how do you expect to compensate me for the use of my cruiser, and my lost Toufik, when all the auction proceeds are spoken for?” Cyprian demanded.