Mary and the Minotaur by Honey Phillips

Chapter Five

Since they had already detoured into the shopping street, Sendat decided to take the narrow alley that led to the back of his rooms instead of returning to the main passageway. It was faster and more secluded, but it could also be more dangerous. He tucked Miri against his left side and kept his right hand on his knife hilt.

The passageway was much quieter than the street they had left behind, his hooves hitting the stones the only sound that disturbed the quiet. He changed the angle of his steps to silence them. Miri seemed equally conscious of the silence, and didn’t attempt to make conversation.

She was walking more easily now, but he didn’t attempt to hurry her. They were almost at his rooms when an uneasy feeling crept down his spine. He had been a warrior for far too long to ignore his instincts, and he immediately drew Miri into the shelter of an abandoned doorway. Doing his best to ignore the soft press of her body against his, he peered through the darkness, looking for whatever had caused his alarm.

At first, he couldn’t see anything, but then he made out the shape of a Tajiri male silhouetted against the darkness as he shifted position on the wall behind his rooms. The faint click of a communicator led him to another figure, half-concealed by the roofline. Why were these two males watching his rooms? Had the word already spread that he possessed a human?

There was another faint click, and his heart sank as this time he recognized the sound. These weren’t just any ruffians waiting to waylay him. They were members of the Kalima Patrol, the city’s law enforcement agency.

Even though he didn’t know exactly why they were here, he briefly considered turning himself in, wondering if it would be the fastest way to reach his contact. But then he decided it was too risky. Any information they had about him would be about his cover identity, and he wasn’t convinced that they would listen to him long enough to locate his contact. And there was Miri as well. Unless they contacted the Fleet, the best she could hope for was that they would add her to the pool of legal slaves.

No.He would not permit that to happen.

He looked down at her. Her eyes were wide and frightened, obviously aware that something was wrong, even though she hadn’t asked any questions. He bent down until his mouth was against the delicate curve of her ear.

“You must be very quiet,” he whispered.

She shivered, and for a moment he thought it was due to fear, but then he felt the hard little points of her nipples pressing against his side. That aroused her? he thought distractedly, before he forced his attention back to the present situation. Not only did they have to get out of here, but he had to find somewhere to take her. The fact that the police had gone to the trouble of staking out his place indicated that he needed to lie low until he could figure out what was going on.

He sifted through the options, reluctantly deciding that the best choice was to take Miri with him to see Jabbwa. Jabbwa controlled a sizable portion of Yangu’s underground markets. But despite his shady business dealings, and the fact that he personally owned slaves, Sendat had never found any evidence that he participated in the illegal slave trade. He was also known for always keeping his word so he could be trusted—to a certain extent. It was not an ideal solution, but it was the best alternative that he could come up with.

Tucking Miri back against his side, and keeping his hand firmly on his knife hilt, he quietly withdrew down the narrow lane.

Mary didher best to keep her footsteps silent as Sendat hurried her back the way they came, then guided her through a confusing maze of narrow streets. When she looked up at him, he was frowning, and she had the strangest urge to smooth away the deep crease between his brows. He seemed to be lost in his own thoughts rather than paying attention to her, and for a brief moment, she wondered if she should try and escape.

But despite his fearsome appearance, he had been good to her so far. Her new cloak was soft against her skin and her new slippers a thousand times better than her previous rags, even though her feet were still painful. Is that all it takes to win me over? she wondered whimsically. But it wasn’t just the clothes that made her decide not to make the attempt. Trothar’s earlier warning still rang in her ears, and nothing she had seen so far made her feel as if she’d be safe on her own.

Remembering Trothar suddenly made her wonder what had happened to him. Was he still drinking in Mokuu’s office, waiting for a female who was never coming? A small giggle escaped before she could prevent it, and Sendat immediately looked down at her. Yes, he was definitely paying attention.

“What is it?”

“I just remembered Trothar.”

A reluctant grin split his face, and she realized it was the first time she had seen him smile. She wanted to see him do it again.

“I suspect he’s in for a rude awakening,” he agreed, then frowned again. “Although I’m not sure who is coming tonight. I had assumed it was the Kalima Patrol, but I’m no longer sure.”

“Is that who was waiting for you back there?”

“Yes.”

“Because of the slaves?”

“I don’t know. The timing seems odd, especially since the transport left without incident.” He looked down at her, still frowning. “But I don’t have the greatest reputation.”

“Then we should stay away from them,” she said with a cheerful smile.

“Miri, listen. I—” A sound up ahead made him tense and grip his knife. When they both saw a small animal scrambling away from an overturned basket, he relaxed, but he was frowning again and didn’t continue with whatever he had started to say.

This wasn’t the place to ask questions, she decided.

A short time later, he led her down an even smaller alley, strewn with garbage, towards a rickety looking door with a single lantern flickering uncertainly next to it. Her heart sank, but she tightened her grip on his arm and remained silent.

Sendat knocked on the door—which sounded surprisingly solid despite its appearance. She heard a slight whirr overhead and looked up in time to see the glint of a camera lens half-hidden in the crumbling archway over the door.

“State your business,” an unseen voice demanded.

“I want to see Jabbwa.”

“Many do,” the voice agreed, and Sendat huffed.

“Tell him Sendat is here.”

“No doubt he will be ecstatic. Wait there.”

A long silence followed.

“Who’s Jabbwa?” she finally whispered, curiosity overcoming her nervousness.

“A trader. In many things. We have had dealings before.”

Her heart skipped a beat, and she grabbed his arm with both hands. “Please don’t trade me.”

A big, warm hand closed reassuringly over hers. “I have no intention of trading you to him.”

“Shame. She’s a pretty little thing.” A new voice emerged from the hidden speakers, smooth and lightly mocking.

“Have we entertained you enough, Jabbwa?” Sendat growled. “Are you going to keep us standing in this dirty alley all night?”

“I probably should,” Jabbwa responded, but his words were followed by a quiet click, and then the door swung open.

The other side didn’t look any more prepossessing than the alley—another cramped, dirty passage—but at least the piles of garbage had disappeared. Sendat led her down it and around several sharp turns, before they reached another closed door.

“Brace yourself,” he said, just as a cool mist washed over them.

It was cold enough to make her shiver and it had a faint medicinal scent, but it didn’t last long.

“What was that?” she whispered.

“Germicide and insect repellent,” Jabbwa responded from another overhead speaker. “I don’t care for any uninvited guests.”

The door in front of them swung open, and she gasped. A beautifully landscaped garden lay on the other side. Tiny lights flickered in the bushes, and the air was heavy with the scent of flowers.

“Welcome to my humble abode,” Jabbwa said, his voice still coming from a concealed speaker.

“This is beautiful,” she said sincerely as they stepped into the garden.

“Of course.” Despite his arrogant response, he sounded pleased.

Sendat didn’t say anything, his face grim as they followed a winding path through the grounds until they reached an open pavilion. The fattest male she had ever seen reclined on a cushioned divan. He had grey skin with a faint greenish gleam, set off by a deep green robe, encrusted with jewels. His broad head descended directly into wide shoulders, and he could not have been called attractive by any stretch of the imagination, but a shrewd intelligence gleamed in his small dark eyes.

A slender purple-skinned female with long, curling white hair kneeled gracefully at his side. Dressed in a scandalously skimpy gold outfit, she looked the epitome of, well, a slave. Is that going to be my fate? Mary wondered, horrified at the thought. Then she noticed that the other female was surveying her equally curiously from beneath long, dark lashes. Their eyes met, and she flashed Mary a quick, surprisingly cheerful grin before turning her attention back to Jabbwa, offering him a platter overflowing with food. Mary’s mouth watered, suddenly reminded of how long it had been since she ate, but she did her best to ignore it.

“So what brings Kalima’s most wanted to my little home?” Jabbwa asked. His voice was still smooth, but there was an underlying coldness that made her shiver.

“That’s what I’m here to find out.” Sendat scowled at him. “Why is the Patrol after me?”

Jabbwa plucked a berry from the platter and chewed it thoughtfully before responding. “You really don’t know, do you?”

“No. I know the Patrol was waiting at my place, but I don’t know why.”

Jabbwa reached for another morsel, lingering over his choice. Mary could feel the tension in Sendat’s arm, and she gave it a soothing stroke. When she looked back at Jabbwa, he was studying her face.

“Because you’re a murderer, of course,” Jabbwa finally responded, but now he merely sounded amused.

“What?” Sendat growled. “Who am I supposed to have murdered?”

“Mokuu, of course.” Those beady little eyes were fixed intently on Sendat’s face.

“That’s impossible. The last time I saw him, he was updating the arrangements for the auction, and he was most definitely alive.”

“You know, I think I believe you. You can stand down, Ordal.”

She jumped as one of the feline males appeared from the bushes next to the veranda. Since Sendat didn’t react, she suspected he had known all along that the other male was there.

“I don’t understand,” he said slowly. “Why would anyone kill Mokuu?”

“Go and tell Sefrim to prepare dinner for our guests, Ordal,” Jabbwa ordered, waiting until Ordal was out of sight before responding to Sendat’s question. “I don’t know but I intend to find out. Mokuu and I have been partners for many years. I considered him a friend.”

“And I understand your interest, but why is the Patrol involved? They don’t usually care about our sort.”

“Mokuu has—had—family connections. He might have been a wayward son, and they might have disowned him, but he was still a member of an important House. They are demanding answers.”

“So that’s why,” Sendat murmured. Mary thought he was talking to himself, but Jabbwa’s eyes narrowed.

“Why what?”

“Why they’re looking for me,” Sendat said easily, but somehow she didn’t think that was what he had meant. She suspected Jabbwa didn’t either, but he let it drop.

“You will have dinner with me and we will discuss the matter further.” It sounded more like an order than a request, but Sendat didn’t protest. “And perhaps your female would like to refresh herself while we talk?”

Did that mean a chance to be clean again? The prospect was definitely appealing, but she didn’t like the idea of leaving Sendat. He seemed equally reluctant, frowning at Jabbwa.

“I have your word that nothing will happen to her, and she will be returned to me unharmed?”

“I am desolated that you even need to ask.”

“Your word, Jabbwa,” Sendat insisted.

“You have my word.” The statement had the solemnity of a vow, and Sendat nodded.

“Renla, escort Sendat’s female to the Blue Suite,” Jabbwa ordered, and the female who had been kneeling next to him rose gracefully to her feet. “Make sure it is ready for them to spend the night as well.”

“Yes, Master. Follow me, please, Mistress.”

Mary looked up at Sendat, and he nodded, his face unusually soft. “Go on. You are safe here.”

She did her best to smile at him, then reluctantly followed Renla away from the pavilion.