Syrenrei

The Betrothed

No contest winner was ever ugly- the kingdom had aesthetic standards for candidates before they were even permitted entry- but by all accounts Rhiane Black was exceptional. Her fellow competitors had been more dainty flowers with alabaster skin, tiny waists, and slim figures that were pretty but were a more fragile definition of femininity. Rhiane Black was, by contrast, held none of these traits in the same way. The woman was taller by a few inches (not enough to threaten the height of a man however), with bronze skin that shimmered in the lights as if she had been shaped by precious metal, an athletic build, a large bosom and wider hips that gifted her an exaggerated hourglass shape, full lips, and long, thick, dark hair that flowed to her waist in a river of luxurious chocolate brown. It was hard for anyone to imagine how someone who was so sultry was ever born and bred on a farm in one of the most rural sectors of their empire.

To help accentuate her beauty, for she was to be paraded around as a prize of the kingdom, they had spared no expense in making certain Rhiane was appropriately adorned. Light make-up had made her dark eyelashes longer and curled, a cat's eye was painted on to extend the length of her eye, and eye shadow was applied to bring out the emerald color of her irises. Dark wine-colored lipstick had been applied for a dramatic flair. But it was her ballgown that made her impossible to be ignored. The top was sheer and formfitting with faux flowers and gemstones covering the bust in arcs towards her shoulders but leaving the space between her breasts uncovered without being scandalous. Silken fabric was snug at the waist and over her thighs, flaring at the knees and leaving a bejeweled sparkling train to trail behind her.

"She's ready," one of the beauticians told the bodyguard outside the room.

The man nodded and turned his head to speak into a microphone that was attached to the side of his mouth discreetly. "This is Lady Victor 1. Ready and awaiting escort," he relayed.

"Acknowledged Lady Victor 1. Awaiting confirmation of escort's location. Please prepare for arrival," a member of the royal guard positioned in the security center responded. Technically it was the prince who was expected to escort his fiancee to the ball but there had been conflicting opinions as to whether or not this would occur. A 'Plan B' had been created in anticipation that the prince shrugged off his duty.

"Dark Horse 3, please report in," another member in the security center called over the broadcast.

"This is Dark Horse 3," a deep masculine voice responded. The bass send reverberations that even the highly sophisticated equipment could not quite compensate for. 'Dark Horse 3' was one of the more handsome members of the guard whose voice alone had made it exceedingly hard to keep female staff members focused on their tasks at hand when in proximity. On most days he was assigned to patrolling the perimeter but today he was the back-up if his highness decided that Rhiane Black was not worth his attentions until absolute necessarily. 'Dark Horse 3' would be the most presentable of all the guards and made the best impression on the female sex.

"Is something wrong?" Rhiane asked her beautician. The man pressed his lips together in clear disapproval she was addressing him and gave no reply. Princess elect or not he knew she was a commoner of lower birth than he was. He was not beholden to answer her questions until such time she assumed a royal mantle. Then, and only then, would she wield the power to command him.

"You can't arrive at the ball yourself," one of the ladies in waiting advised quietly when it was clear no one else would give an answer. She took the platform stiletto heels that had been set aside for Rhiane to wear and slipped them onto the farmer's slightly calloused feet.

"Wouldn't want to make too much of a scene," Rhiane acknowledged as she flashed a charming smile to the lady in waiting. The other flushed a little as she helped the princess elect to her feet. Rhiane took a few steps to make certain she could walk in the shoes that made her nearly six feet tall. They were nothing like the heavy work boots she was accustomed to but she had enough coordination and balance that she did not feel unstable. At the end of the day she would undoubtedly be blistered from the impractical footwear- but becoming royalty was not without its own challenges.

Star Crossed: The Duke's Rebellion

"The south side of the plantation?" Solae repeated slowly as she came up to his side. Rene did not physically look worse for wear but she was not ignorant of the life he had just taken. "Which way is south?" she inquired further with effortless deception as if she had missed his nod. The marquise had been mentally tracking their position since they departed Amber Horizon by astrological observation and what she had memorized of the maps from Lord Armon's manor. Fortunately the soldier not in a mood to question why she had suddenly lost her bearings for he was already fixated on the next obstacle and what they must do to overcome it. She could have made excuses. The days had been long, the struggles great, the trauma significant, the journey difficult, and perhaps that is why he did not spend the time to evaluate the innocently placed query.

Rene lifted his arm and gestured, turning to face the southern direction instinctively. His noblewoman companion seized her opening and slid underneath the outstretched limb. Head tucked against his chest she embraced him with the only comfort she was able to provide in their circumstances. A hug was hardly enough to bolster one from a murder, however deserved, but she hoped to impart even an ounce of strength and appreciation. When all of this was over they would undoubtedly argue who had suffered more under the yoke of the rebellion and reach a stalemate. Solae would never concede that she endured the brunt of a war's brutality.

"I told you that the courts have superior tactics," she teased impishly before she stood on her toes and bestowed a quick kiss upon his cheek. Rene looked puzzled but did not object to the sudden display of affection. Solae was pleased that she able to distract him from the task at hand even if the reprieve from grim reality was short-lived. "Let's go before we lose the last light." Patting his back and releasing him from her hold, she strode off nonchalantly towards the densely planted grove.

Rubber trees had been planted at precise (if not slightly crowded) intervals in rows for maximum efficiency both in growth and navigation for the workers tasked with tending to the flora. Closest to them were saplings still being nurtured; it appeared the native jungle was being cleared as the plantation expanded its borders. Beautiful as a tropical forest might be it was not as profitable a resource as what man could manipulate. The further south they traveled and the larger the trees grew, each of them incised and bearing a single alloy tap from which a bucket hung. Cursory inspection revealed that most had been recently emptied and no container was more then a quarter full of the milky white liquid that was being extracted.

Solae and Rene were both silent as they kept themselves alert for any slavers or other employees of the plantation. There was shouting in the distance but nothing nearby more threatening than a small group of birds fighting over a piece of discarded fruit on the ground to their left. There was a bigger score to be made than raw latex. Nearly very man and woman on New Concordia greedily eyeing the prizes that could be claimed in the chaos of a change of power. Looting and plundering was still rampant days after the initial assaults. For the morally depraved this was a golden opportunity they were more eager to take full advantage of than most.

They breached the end of the unnaturally straight line of rubber trees, crouching behind the trunks of the largest two they could find, and saw a sprawling estate with half a dozen buildings looming several hundred feet away from their current position. Five structures were composed of imported concrete and steel, drab gray in color, rectangular in shape, and obvious warehouses for goods awaiting shipment. The sixth was a three-story garish white house, complete with more balconies than Solae cared to count, and flags for obscure ethnic factions within the Stellar Empire. Frequent rains and a humid climate discolored many of the homes in the area and so that this one was pristine, rather than dappled with moss and moldy green, spoke to an obstinate obsession with at least the appearance of wealth.

Between the couple and the buildings were fields of various crops that were rotated yearly so as to not deplete the soil of its nutrients. One lay fallow far to their right, on the northern most plot, but the others were filled with sugarcane, sweet potatoes, coffea, taro, and sorghum. Of all the choices the sugarcane provided the most potential to conceal themselves on any approach.

"If I can get to one of the buildings, and if they have an AI, I should be able to get in the system and control things from there," Solae whispered. Even with no one in sight she was not taking chances she might be overheard. Had she not known precisely how rusty Rene was in High Imperial she would have continued in its use for the purposes of added security.

"Are you sure?" Rene asked pensively. It was a large gamble to take and he needed to ascertain her level of confidence to help evaluate their chances of success.

"Criminals, or people engaged in criminal behavior, tend to find the back door for law enforcement to override their directives. The one I used on Mia relies on social status and it's so rarely used that I've never heard of it being disengaged. I doubt they even know it exists," she said as she slid down and began to tie her long ponytail into a knot on the top of her head. "Even if they somehow managed to protect against that, however unlikely, I'm familiar enough with the interfaces to brute force my way in."

"We have to get you there first," Rene remarked grimly. Above the harvests, bobbing and weaving around tall stalks and heavy farm equipment, were the heads of those that the slavers had left behind. They were too far away to spot either one of the pair even if had they been standing in the open. Drawing closer, however, would unequivocally gain the attention of the presumed hostiles.

"A trap?" Solae ventured. "I'll stay closer to you this time, but I'm recognizable. If I get a bit closer, make a bit of noise, I can draw them over here where it will be easier for you to ambush them." The marquise frowned to herself. Such a plan would necessitate Rene doing more of what both of them loathed him to do- killing their adversaries. Taking hostages was a luxury of morality, time, and resources they did not have. Fervently she wished there was another way other than through people. They were out of options and she could think of nothing that would spare their shared conscience.

Star Crossed: The Duke's Rebellion

"Am I okay?" Solae repeated back to Rene incredulously. Both her brows lifted as she took a moment to look him up and down, her eyes lingering on where she knew the fabric to be concealing wounds he acted as if he did not possess. The marquise knew the marines instilled in him a pain tolerance and stamina that exceeded her own but this did not fool her into ignoring them completely. Rene's nerve endings still functioned no matter what he led her to believe.

"You have deep scratches all over your arms, your leg is still pitted from where you pried something sharp out of it, and you were burned, all while trying to save the whole of Amber Horizon, and taking lives in the process so no one else feels the burden. You've consistently put yourself in danger for me, have run yourself veritably ragged selflessly, and just summoned authority you do not relish to make a slaver believe you mean to execute him. And you are asking if I am okay? Renard Lucius Du Quentain," she said, smiling as the name crossed her lips, "if you were not so handsome I might be compelled to strike you upside the head in hopes it knocks some sense into you."

Solae had not answered the question for herself which in itself was telling. The soldier deflected his own needs to focus on her and so she did the same. Such escapism did not do either of them any favors. She had yet to confront the demons of doubt that nightmares had planted into her soul. The marquise was changed by the guilt of survival, the guilt of Rene's protection, the guilt of having happiness when so many were suffering or snuffed out of existence entirely. Articulating this to her consort would place an undue burden on his psyche. He too had crawled out of a mire of death without guidance from the universe as to why or what he ought to do with this opportunity. How could he console her when he was no better?

"I wonder if I asked you the same questions what methods of interrogation I might have to use to get an answer out of you," she wondered aloud idly with an impish grin. Solae stepped forward to be so close that their breath graced one another's skin. "The courts may have the upper hand on tactics here I believe. Maybe if I were to..."

It was as she leaned in as it to plant a kiss upon his neck that two Syshin rounded the corner and found themselves in the midst of human display of affection. One female gasped and dropped a basket she was carrying while the other stared, unblinking, with studious detachment.

Red-faced Solae moved back and cleared her throat. Pink colored her ears no matter how fervently she tried to stifle her embarrassment. Were they happened upon by other people (such as Oanh and Min Ho) then she would have nonplussed, but Syshin did not understand the 'mating rituals' of humans unless they were sold into sexual slavery. Being watched by them felt inherently strange because she was not just herself, performing an action all others did, rather she was a demonstration for curious foreigners.

"We brought... things," one of them struggled in broken common. Leaning down the shorter Syshin picked up her basket and presented it to Rene and Solae jointly. "Things for... move? Journey?"

Rene, who seemed substantially less mortified than Solae, took the gift graciously. There were several items in the basket but they were all thoughtfully sized to fit into the backpack that no longer was being used for transporting wine. Leaves had been wrapped around a foodstuff not unlike rations that was composed of rice, dried fruits, vegetables, and nuts to maximize its nutritional value. Two small earthenware jars were labeled 'Bruise' and 'Cut' and filled with ointments made by their healers. Long strips of fabric had been tightly rolled for use as bandages were they to find themselves injured. Set slightly to the side, however, was a small brick of a sweet-smelling biscuit that was more confection than meal supplement.

"To eat, for hurt, and for..." the Syshin faltered and looked to the other as she gestured to the block that reminded Solae of a bizarrely-shaped cookie.

"Bonded use it to help bring child," the other said as she patted Rene's hand. In their culture fertility was a brief window that all bonded had to make use of if they hoped for the continuation of their species. Due to this facet of their society they assumed that all bonded were actively trying to conceive- including humans. People did not speak with Syshin long enough to clarify this misunderstanding.

Solae was stunned into silence, a rarity that was increasingly common with recent events. "I... we...," she tried to form a coherent sentence but failed. The Syshin smiled knowingly which only made the marquise more perplexed. There was no tactful to broach the fact that although Rene and she called one another 'bonded' for simplicity they were not wed and, in fact, were not preparing to become parents.

[MxF] (Mature; 18+) Looking for Long Term Partner

Bump!

My arranged marriage partner has had to take a hiatus from RP to focus on his real life. As such, I am seeking a royal arranged marriage plot ONLY. It can either be one of the ones presented above or one of your creation. If you had previously reached out to me and disappeared, but these ideas now exited you, if you pinky swear not to vanish again I'm happy to hear from you!

Star Crossed: The Duke's Rebellion

Solae had stood behind Rene, slightly to the left of Enro, and stared at the prisoner impassively as she considered the options before them. To murder an unarmed man in cold blood, no matter how justified it may be with his depravity, felt like it was crossing a line that was not even embraced in warfare. The slaver was helpless. Syshin culture was conflicted on how to handle such captives of conflict- there was such a thing as a mercy killing, but it was also greatly dishonorable to dispose of a life unless it was necessary to do so. This was one of the reasons that Rene and Solae had been summoned; not only were they being regarded as leaders of the resistance mounted the night prior, they were being respected as humans who could speak to what human society would request of the members of their race.

Pursing her lips the marquise knew they could not let the man live. Treating him, if even possible, would rob the Syshin of precious resources they could not afford to waste. It would take weeks if not months for any supplies to reach Amber Horizon. The rebellion had bigger concerns than their subjugated labour force. More importantly, the slaver could and would spread word of Syshin hostility to everyone that would hear him. Retaliation would be swift and deadly. Solae was less concerned about the risk to herself- she already had a bounty on her that placed her in constant danger- but she would not impart any peril to the peaceful beings that had become her saviors.

"Enro," she started, turning and bowing to the elderly male, "please forgive me while I have a word in private with my bonded. This is a delicate matter and I do not want to speak for both of us without his understanding and consent." Her Syshi flowed off her lips. Immersion, even for a singular brief day, had made her accent less stilted and clearer to the aliens. Enro glanced to Rene and nodded in approval as he waited patiently.

"I hope you didn't sleep through your High Imperial classes," Solae began, turning towards Rene this time. "I think we have a couple of options."

Rene groaned a little to himself. It had been quite some time since he had needed to read High Imperial much less speak it but there was no better way to discuss the slaver without him or Enro being privy to the discussion. "What are you thinking?" he managed with a slight clipping of his enunciation.

"We let him go. We can lead him to think he's recovering- inject him with adrenaline perhaps- and then give him just enough opportunity to 'escape.' He'll lead us straight to wherever he came from and, hopefully, the spaceship," she proposed. "He won't make it the entire way, but it will put us in the right direction, and put some distance between him and Amber Horizon so they are less suspect. If he manages to get too close to his home..." she paused and shook her head, "then we could deal with it then." It was a tacit way of implying they would execute him if not for his crimes then because he was too close to death to cheat it even with medical intervention.

"And the other option?" Rene asked thoughtfully with furrowed brows.

"We try to convince him we will take him to get medical help and hope he directs us to where his people- and ship- are instead of the acting military. Considering his profession he's more likely to go home than law enforcement. I'd like to say we can go back their house," she said, referring to the Parks but unwilling to drop the easily-understood name, "but I do not know we can impose upon them again to help. Either way... if he survives this the good we've done here is forfeit."

The pair fell silent a moment as the weighted choice hung between them. There was no right or wrong, only a hard question with an even more difficult answer. Enro had taken to watching the shaking man under the blanket as he tried to afford his guests what little privacy they could be granted without abandoning them in the hallway.

Help Wanted (MxF with a gothic twist)

Mitheral, are you the same as the individual on RPNation? From the avatar, the name, and writing style I would suppose so, but I was curious. If so I am glad you have also made the migration here. =)

Star Crossed: The Duke's Rebellion

Solae could not help but laugh at Rene's declaration she'd make a great marine. He was clearly trying to improve her spirits and, fortunately, he had succeeded both with the rather absurd faith in her person and his peeled mango flower. "I think there might be more to being a female marine than being a morale booster for one specific brother in arms. Just a wild guess, though," she said with a roll of the eyes. Born a nobleman he had not exactly been groomed for the life that had been thrust on him, but he was still infinitely better suited than Solae would have been. Women on both side of the family were delicate waifs. The beauty that was so heavily genetically modified valued a slight frame over one with more muscle, flexibility over strength, and small shoulders rather than broad. With enough effort it was possible to become a marine- just not a good one.

"You can use all the pretty words you want, Rene Quentain, but even if what I am doing, and what you are doing, is not just for me personally, I am still a person. And this person, regardless of the circumstances, is quite allowed to have feelings regarding the state of the people that protect her regardless of their motivations."

Since the bounty had been posted she had been aware that she was not merely Solae but a tool for the PEA that would determine the success or failure of the rebellion. No one would be so desperate to find her unless she was a pivotal piece they could not do without. The marquise could still vividly remember sitting in an overly grand meeting room as one of her superiors droned on about the changes in security procedures. A viscount immediately to her right had been so dismissive of any threat meriting this change in protocol that he had spent the entire hour and a half messaging his fiancee in the Vital Records Hall. Not one person in attendance considered the scenario that faced her now. As elites they arrogantly believed themselves invincible and immune to attacks. War was waged on peasants and fought by soldiers.

Solae was a key both damned and blessed. If she failed she lost herself, Rene, and the lives of countless others. If she succeeded she would be a hero while those that carried her to victory went unrecognized.

"If we make it out this alive, and I become the voice of New Concordia, I may have all the marriage proposals Mother wanted for me. The moment I make it known I intend to fight for the rights of Syshin... well, I dare say I will solve that dilemma," she remarked. And it would. Though she would be theoretically catapulted in status, prestige, and renown to sufficiently affect the plight of the subjugated race, it would not be well-received. People would be reluctant to give up those that worked harder than humans and for far less pay. Only a Syshin uprising- which was a distinct possibility in the future- would make stubborn minds and hearts reconsider. The current social climate made it more convenient to ignore the bigotry than object.

Because of Rene's insistence (and very effective method of persuasion with boyish charms) Solae ate all her food, albeit more slowly than was normal, and the earthenware was whisked away by their hosts almost the second they finished. A roughly teenage Syshin led them towards a less used section of the ship and to a set of mechanical doors that still functioned despite their disuse. One had Syshi scrawled on the surface indicating it was a secured storage room for the rare valuable kept at Amber Horizon. Syshin were more sentimental than monetary in what they considered worth such exceptional shielding; as such the door was more a symbol of the effort than meant as a deterrent itself.

"Yours," the Syshin explained and pointed to the other door which had been left unadorned. Rene stepped forward and pressed the small console that surprisingly had been left intact. The door groaned quietly as it slid open obediently and revealed the room that had been prepared for them as best as the Syshin could. A mattress had been placed on the floor with two blankets composed of discarded garments that had been cut into geometric shapes and sewn together. Two basins, one for each human, were in the corner for washing of hands and faces, and a jug of water for drinking stood beside them on the floor. It was tight quarters but more than sufficient for a single night of rest.

Solae let out a slow breath as the door closed behind them. Surprisingly it blocked out the sound of the jubilation still ongoing in the main hold. "Just like Lord Armon's manor, don't you think?" she asked as she flopped down in the middle of the makeshift bed.

Star Crossed: The Duke's Rebellion

That the life of a marine was dangerous was not something new to her. Despite the courage required to join the armed services they were labeled as 'crazy' and 'unhinged' by the elites who had no illusions about why they joined in the first place. Were the volunteers not criminals trying to expunge their records and earn new identities such stereotypes might not prevail. This made it easier for the highborn to justify why they were thrown in hazards with little thought as to bodily harm; after all, they were violent offenders more often than not and any violence visited on them was undoubtedly earned in their past.

But Rene was blessedly different. The murder accusation against him was false and thus he was one of the rare innocents thrust into a merciless situation he did not deserve. Humble and heroic he would have made a fine poster child for positive public relations had there not been evidence damning him (false though it might be). If she were in charge of such press releases she would have made it her life's goal to clear his name and plaster his face on every piece of propaganda so that marines were not so callously judged. Hell, if she survived this war she might very well politically maneuver herself to do just that. Who could or would stop her? No duke or duchess was tripping over themselves to aligned with the mercenaries employed by the empire.

Seeing him injured made her heart ache more than the Gids that had sought to capture her or the slavers that were ready to pillage Amber Horizon. He was not depraved or without morals. Perhaps it was because someone so virtuous survived that until today she had been able to shrug off the deaths of others more easily. They were flawed, arrogant, selfish, corrupt, and embodiments of sins that the Stellar Empire would swear its citizens would not indulge. Now that even Rene, gleaming as he seemed to her, was vulnerable she felt panic rise in her throat with bile. Nothing and no one was safe.

"I care for you too," she said quietly. "I'm just... today we almost lost," Solae remarked somberly. In the back of her mind Solae had always rationally known that they could fail and that either one of them could die- or worse. It was not until she had been pinned to the ground, screaming, that the reality of this she felt the impact of the realization so acutely.

"Even if you would have done it for someone else, I can't ignore that today that 'someone' was me. My mother must be rolling in her grave to hear me say this," she added, hoping her morbidity would inject humor into the serious confessions they were making, "but to know others are wounded or dead so that fate or purpose might allow me to live... it's haunting. It's not very noble of me to say that, is it? Perhaps I ought to have joined the marines as well," she jested. Both of them knew she wouldn't last a week if she had.

"I don't feel special," she sighed. "The Syshin deserve more and I am embarrassed it took me so long to come here, and that others refuse to see it. In our grand mansions I can't help but wonder if we're isolating ourselves as we hide from worse things than cutthroat politics. Even with the bounty on my head I am not all that worse off than a female Syshin on an average day."

Her eyes roamed around before landing back on the untouched bowl. It would be rude to reject the offered meal but her mouth was still dry. No matter how she tried to convince herself she needed to eat she could not find the willpower to do so. "I'm glad you didn't die gloriously on the fields of battle, Rene. Truly glad."

Without their noticing Lasha had sidled up and now stood over her patients. Disapproval was etched on her features as she crossed her arms in an unnatural way to make certain her displeasure was even more obvious. The healer cleared her throat so as to gain the attention of both humans. "Eat. Eat and retire. If you can not eat here, take your food to your rooms. You can not heal without food," she firmly asserted as she motioned towards the assorted vittles.

Star Crossed: The Duke's Rebellion

"It's a title of veneration- not totally unlike a title, but rather than be given it at birth, it must be earned. It is a great honor. The only humans I know of that the Syshin would dare to call Sy'nara are some of the first people of the empire that lived with their communities as they created textbooks to understand the language." It was a time that was not included in formal accounts of the 'Syshin acquisition' but could not be buried in secrecy. A dozen linguists had been tasked with decoding the Syshin's methods of communication and, to speed the process, they had immersed themselves. Time among the gentle giants had made them fond of the aliens. A few had been so reluctant to return to their place among humanity they had willingly stayed behind and become some of the first diplomats that established relations between the races. This was not without recourse from the then-Emperor and Empress. People were no longer encouraged to live with the Syshin and social stigma prevented curiosity from taking hold of most. Distance was prescribed for all discussions with and of the subjugated beings.

Solae politely inclined her head to the crowd of gathered Syshin as they cheered at the couple who had been newly anointed with what prestige the Syshin could grant in their culture. Rene, following her lead, did the same. Nari allowed this congratulation to continue for only a short time before she raised her arms and let them fall slowly indicating a call for quiet. Enro stood yet by Solae's side but he exchanged glances with his twin without letting a single syllable fall from his lips. Their silent communication imparted thoughts from one to the other and, with another sweep of her arms, Nari moved from the table. The Syshi on her tongue was yet foreign to Rene but he could discern the meaning well enough: it was time to feast.

All eyes turned towards Rene and Solae. There was an expectation the guests, the humans who had led them to victory, would fill their bowls first. "Please, we ask the children are allowed before us so we may gather our thoughts," Solae said gracefully in Syshi. There was some murmuring and, before any parents could object, a cluster of rambunctious youth bee-lined for the soapstone laden with dishes. Adults followed after them with light chastisement on their lips but the protocol had been broken- and anger could not weigh on their hearts when there was such joy to be found in their successes.

"I'm not sure I can eat," Solae confessed to Rene quietly. Her stomach was churning at the sight of the bound prisoner, at the memories his countenance conjured, at the nightmare that had so chillingly foretold Rene's corpse laying at her feet. The marquise shivered and Enro raised a brow but said nothing. It was not his place to comment.

"I will have Lasha fill bowls for you since you do not know our foods," Enro offered. "Please sit," he requested as he motioned towards a lush space of grass that was conspicuously unoccupied. No Syshin would intrude on a place where the noblewoman and her soldier bonded might need to rest while they ate. Solae opened her mouth as if to reassure that his generosity was not needed but the elder Syshin had already departed her side.

"I'm sorry," Solae said as she knelt and then sat on the patch of grass. Though it was only vegetation she almost felt guilty for sitting upon it because it was so well-tended it was bursting with color and life. "You're hurt because of me, aren't you?" Her face was still carefully controlled such that no one glancing their way would see a flash of feeling and feel compelled to interject themselves into the private discussion. Despite the restraint of her features, her voice was laden with guilt.

"I didn't mean to..," she took a shuddering breath as she tried to get herself under control. The day had been full of surges in adrenaline as they were first pressed under sugar cane, anxiously waiting for their stop as they wondered if they would have the misfortune of being discovered, then meeting with Syshin who were wary of them and within their rights to turn them away, then in armed conflict with slavers who had nearly spirited Solae to a life of unspeakable horrors. She oscillated between fatigue, steeled determination to persevere, and tittering with the energy of fried nerves. "I didn't think about the harm I put you in, that I am putting you into, and now it is all I can think about."

Enro approached with two matching earthenware bowls and cups sized for Syshin children but more appropriate for humans than the larger physiques (and digestive systems) of adult Syshin. Each had been polished with lacquer until it glistened and glimmered in the light that was afforded to them by the lamps strewn around the disabled starship. Crystalline water was contained in each cup and each bowl had been piled high with an assortment of cooked vegetables, a bread made of rice rather than wheat, and a medley of fruits from the grove just outside the hull of the encampment. "When you are done one of my people will show you to your room," he told them and excused himself again.

Solae did not move to eat and instead simply stared down at the offering as her stomach knitted tighter with all she suppressed within.

Star Crossed: The Duke's Rebellion

"They are called Syshin," Solae said coldly in a voice so full of frigid contempt that the Inyorin, despite having poor common tongue comprehension, flinched at the tone Solae had assumed. All warmth had drained from her features; she truly appeared every bit the detached marquise as she stared the prisoner impassively. What empathy Solae had for the rest of the living world could not root itself in this depraved individual. The fable of the two sisters immediately sprung to mind and she considered that this heavily injured man in front of her exemplified the type of person that would need to be killed in order for their evil to be mitigated for the safety of all.

"I only see one animal in front of me," the highborn noblewoman continued as she knelt on the floor. Even with the bindings Solae was cautious to stay close to Rene in the unlikely event their captive broke free. As she did not intend to appeal to his humanity it was extremely likely his emotions would flare into vitriol that would flood his body with adrenaline. Surges of wrath had been known to, on occasion, produce superhuman bursts of strength. "And I am looking at him. The Syshin do not enslave their own kind or others for sexual gratification. Only a beast could be so primal."

"You bitch!" the prisoner cursed as he spat towards her feet. A vein throbbed in his forehead and his muscles tensed reflexively. He was not used to being bound, much less when someone was provoking him with insults. Had he been free he would have unquestionably harmed Solae either through brute force or the type of torture she had so recently alluded to. His gaze flickered up at the soldier who was a statue of unfeeling and injured protector of the diplomat. Every ounce of him seethed malevolence and his eyes did not conceal his murderous intentions.

"I would think carefully about what you call the person who is here to determine what to do with you," she remarked icily. "The Syshin try not to take a life unless they have to, but I am not certain that the man behind me is quite so forgiving as they are. What were you going to do with the female Syshin you were abducting? Keep them as pets?"

Enro made a face that displayed displeasure at any Syshin being a pet but he remained silent; Solae was being abrasive so as to make the man's tongue loose. As she was more proficient with conversation and manipulation of this sort he would follow her lead- no matter how insulting the line of questioning was. The blonde lady of the Stellar Empire had proven her compassion and loyalty towards his people so he was obliged to trust it would not falter now or in the future.

"You're out of your fucking mind if you think we'd keep them at the plantation!" he erupted, taking her words as a sort of personal insult. The slaver would have ravaged Solae, and subjected her to physical atrocities, but the Syshin did not appeal to him as much as his cliente. Keeping them near the place they had been taken from would be almost as bad as business as keeping the merchandise indefinitely. "You are out of your depth," he growled. "I could take this whole place, including you and that pretty boy behind you, off world and turn a tidy profit before you could blink. The whole damn world is looking for you- at least with me you'd have had a fun ride before being the duke's slut."

As the prisoner's face turned purple with malice and spittle flew off his lips Solae felt herself flinch both at the visual change and the reference to Rene. The man immediately recognized her momentarily weakness and laughed, capitalizing on the rush of power he had when he realized the hopelessness of the scion and her lackey marine. "That's no hired gun, is it? Tell me, pretty boy, do you want to know how your little missus squirmed when me and my men pinned her to the ground? You stupid shits- you're already dead and you don't even know it!"

Solae stood and turned towards Enro before the slaver could see glistening tears forming in the edges of her eyes. Her voice was still hard as she spoke to the slaver behind her. "I'll see that you're more restrained before we continue," she stated before turning down the hall and out of his sight. Enro motioned to the Inyorin, chattering in Syshi, as they debated what more they could do to make their prisoner uncomfortable and unable to move that would not outright kill him.