opened her eyes and landed with lithe grace. She flattened herself against the stone floor and waited for some response from below.
There was none.
Ever so carefully, Marissa scooted over and looked down. She saw Ardane leaning against a far wall, unbound, chewing on a piece of dried cerasa fruit. There was no sign of anyone else except the Simian.
Relief, then confusion, swept through her. Ardane was alive. But why was he lolling down there without an apparent care in the world, rather than bound like the captive he should be? Was it a trap to lure her in? Well, there was only one enemy to deal withand he had made a fatal mistake.
From the care the alien was taking with his captive, it was evident he intended on taking Ardane back alive. Recalling a Simian's love of money, Marissa knew there must have been a ransom offered for Ardane's capture. The Bellatorians seemed determined their countryman serve out his sentence to its fullest extent.
Marissa's hand crept to her stunner. Would even the highest setting be enough to stun a Simian? There was only one way of finding out, but she'd have to get closer. The alien was still out of firing range.
It took a long while to climb farther down, as utmost care was necessary. Simians were renowned for their acute hearing. Marissa thanked the long horas Raina had spent teaching her stealth techniques. They stood her in good stead now. At long last, Marissa moved into stunning range.
The Simian had resumed his place at the fire and was rummaging through the cloth bag she'd stolen the sol before. He growled in frustration at the lack of food in the sack and scowled at Ardane. The creature made a few quick hand motions Marissa couldn't see.
Ardane shrugged. "I told you before. The little Moracan went out to find more food. She should be back soon."
Marissa choked back a gasp. What, by the Crystal Fires, was Ardane doing? He'd all but given the Simian her exact time of return. Uneasiness wound about her heart. Had he betrayed her to the alien? And if so, why?
Her resolve hardened. It didn't matter; nothing had changed. Once she took care of the Simian, the Bellatorian was still coming with her. The only difference was that now he too seemed to play a similar game of deception.
The Simian made a motion of disgust and tossed aside the bag. With a sigh, he leaned back against the cave wall. His action gave her a clear shot. Marissa aimed the stunner and fired.
For a terrible instant she thought the small gun had failed to function. Then the alien jerked and a glazed expression spread over his face. He slumped forward.
"By the five moons!" Brace sat upright, his glance lifting until it met Marissa's.
He grinned. "Bring any food?"
Marissa climbed down the rest of the way. "Ever appreciative, aren't you?" she countered irritably, squatting before him.
She pulled the rag down off her face. "Some sol I'm going to grow weary of rescuing you." ''And did I look like I needed rescuing?" he inquired mildly.
Marissa glared down at him. "No. And why is that?"
"In the interim between your departure and return, this Simian and I have come to an understanding." Brace smiled grimly. "Seems my uncle has offered a bounty of five thousand imperials for my capture. Rodac decided to cash in on the opportunity."
He chuckled. "You can't help but admire his single-minded pursuit of wealth."
"Rodac?" Marissa stared at him for an incredulous moment. "By the Crystal Fires, how did you find time to make his personal acquaintance?"
"He looked familiar, and when I questioned him further, I discovered he was the same Simian you'd hired to rescue me. After several military assignments on their planet of Arbor, I still have some difficulty telling them apart. It seems he'd planned from the start to make money in freeing me from prison, then dragging me back for the reward."
Brace grinned up at her. "I might have to give that novel career opportunity some serious consideration."
"Are you m-mad?" Marissa
There was none.
Ever so carefully, Marissa scooted over and looked down. She saw Ardane leaning against a far wall, unbound, chewing on a piece of dried cerasa fruit. There was no sign of anyone else except the Simian.
Relief, then confusion, swept through her. Ardane was alive. But why was he lolling down there without an apparent care in the world, rather than bound like the captive he should be? Was it a trap to lure her in? Well, there was only one enemy to deal withand he had made a fatal mistake.
From the care the alien was taking with his captive, it was evident he intended on taking Ardane back alive. Recalling a Simian's love of money, Marissa knew there must have been a ransom offered for Ardane's capture. The Bellatorians seemed determined their countryman serve out his sentence to its fullest extent.
Marissa's hand crept to her stunner. Would even the highest setting be enough to stun a Simian? There was only one way of finding out, but she'd have to get closer. The alien was still out of firing range.
It took a long while to climb farther down, as utmost care was necessary. Simians were renowned for their acute hearing. Marissa thanked the long horas Raina had spent teaching her stealth techniques. They stood her in good stead now. At long last, Marissa moved into stunning range.
The Simian had resumed his place at the fire and was rummaging through the cloth bag she'd stolen the sol before. He growled in frustration at the lack of food in the sack and scowled at Ardane. The creature made a few quick hand motions Marissa couldn't see.
Ardane shrugged. "I told you before. The little Moracan went out to find more food. She should be back soon."
Marissa choked back a gasp. What, by the Crystal Fires, was Ardane doing? He'd all but given the Simian her exact time of return. Uneasiness wound about her heart. Had he betrayed her to the alien? And if so, why?
Her resolve hardened. It didn't matter; nothing had changed. Once she took care of the Simian, the Bellatorian was still coming with her. The only difference was that now he too seemed to play a similar game of deception.
The Simian made a motion of disgust and tossed aside the bag. With a sigh, he leaned back against the cave wall. His action gave her a clear shot. Marissa aimed the stunner and fired.
For a terrible instant she thought the small gun had failed to function. Then the alien jerked and a glazed expression spread over his face. He slumped forward.
"By the five moons!" Brace sat upright, his glance lifting until it met Marissa's.
He grinned. "Bring any food?"
Marissa climbed down the rest of the way. "Ever appreciative, aren't you?" she countered irritably, squatting before him.
She pulled the rag down off her face. "Some sol I'm going to grow weary of rescuing you." ''And did I look like I needed rescuing?" he inquired mildly.
Marissa glared down at him. "No. And why is that?"
"In the interim between your departure and return, this Simian and I have come to an understanding." Brace smiled grimly. "Seems my uncle has offered a bounty of five thousand imperials for my capture. Rodac decided to cash in on the opportunity."
He chuckled. "You can't help but admire his single-minded pursuit of wealth."
"Rodac?" Marissa stared at him for an incredulous moment. "By the Crystal Fires, how did you find time to make his personal acquaintance?"
"He looked familiar, and when I questioned him further, I discovered he was the same Simian you'd hired to rescue me. After several military assignments on their planet of Arbor, I still have some difficulty telling them apart. It seems he'd planned from the start to make money in freeing me from prison, then dragging me back for the reward."
Brace grinned up at her. "I might have to give that novel career opportunity some serious consideration."
"Are you m-mad?" Marissa
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