Under By Treaty (SciFi Romance) (10 page)

Markl beckoned
members of his ship’s crew to help Jaden dismount as Sonil slid down.

She
dusted herself off and straightened. “Governor Tah. On behalf of the Court of the Qui, I am rescinding your governorship of D’ron forthwith.”

Shock then ra
ge contorted the governor’s face. His hand went inside his robes. Jaden felt alarm. Sonil was unarmed. He bit back a cry of pain as members of Markl’s crew pulled him down off his ride.

“You have no right,
” Tah rebutted.

“I claim the right by duel
,” Sonil responded.

D
’ron’s governor laughed rudely and pulled out a sword. Sonil responded by calmly walking out to a clear space in the arena. Jaden forgot his injuries as the K’lahn holding Jaden on two feet turned to watch.

Jaden
’s heart stopped when Tah disappeared in a blur. Sonil ducked and feinted, spinning into a haze herself.

Tah appeared on her other side. He still held his sword, but his nonchalant attitude had been replaced by a guarded
caution. “You are very confident, Ambassador.”

“I
am Qui, Lady Sonil of Katar, and a trusted Regent of the Qui Court. I have the right to be confident,” she replied. She settled into a watchful pose, ready to attack. Tah sliced the air, limbering up his sword hand. He was a supremely skilled swordsman.

M
arkl appeared at Jaden’s side. “I will see you pay for this, human,” the captain snarled.

Jaden
shot him a startled glance then nodded, accepting his fault. His mind had been on the boy. Not on Sonil. Whatever his feelings about his situation, he had been in no doubt that his job was to stay close on her heel. He didn’t understand everything going on here, but coming to his rescue had clearly forced Sonil’s hand in some way, and Markl obviously did not believe it his place to intervene in her argument with Tah.

The K
’lahn captain seemed mollified by Jaden’s acceptance of responsibility and turned his attention to the makeshift arena.

Jaden missed Tah
’s next move, D’ron’s governor moved so fast. He did see Sonil run towards a whirling dust storm, kick, appear to run up a vertical staircase, pirouette and land nimbly on her feet. The silent crowd erupted into applause as Tah struggled to his feet.

“
Yes
,” Markl whispered, punching the air with a clenched fist.

There w
as a new excitement in the air. Tah was clearly unpopular.

Sonil spun and attacked
. She blurred once more before clashing with Tah. A sword spun into the air, came down. Jaden glimpsed the flash of metal, and then Tah’s head parted from his body. It dropped to the dirt, rolled, and came to a stop several feet from his body. The headless torso collapsed to its knees and toppled forward. It hit the ground sending up a puff of sand and splattering the dirt with alien blood.

Jaden gulped
and glanced at Markl. The captain looked a little shocked, but mainly relieved. But it was the deathly hush that descended on the stadium that spoke volumes – no one had expected Sonil to emerge victorious. The Qui’s ambassador, however, was calmness personified. She stepped up to Tah’s body and wiped the blade clean on his back.

Then s
he moved out towards the enraptured crowd and raised her voice. “People of D’ron.” Her words had an echoing quality that carried to the farthest reaches of the arena. “The Court will not tolerate abuses in the Qui’s name. Governor Tah overstepped his authority. From this moment on, judicial process will be followed. Confiscated property will be returned in a gesture of conciliation between the Qui and the people of D’ron. I appoint my agent Dalish as interim governor until the Qui confirms the Court’s representative for this world.”

Jaden closed his mouth, Sonil’s
speech unexpected. He held no love for the people of D’ron, but Sonil had just risked death to correct an injustice. He did not understand this world, but the roaring cheer breaking out all around him spoke of relief and hopes for a better future.

Sonil
threw Tah’s sword down on his prostrate body and marched up to Markl. The captain quailed before her. Jaden understood exactly how he felt.

“We will return to the ship
, Captain. I am taking the volkran as well. Jaden’s injuries need attending. Then place him in containment. I do not want to see him for several days.”

Jaden swallowed. Her anger rolled
over him in waves, blistering hot and icy cold all at the same time.

Markl bowed. “At once, Ambassador.”

Sonil threw Jaden a hard look of disappointment that reduced his extensive injuries to little more than a dull toothache. One small failure of concentration had cost him her trust. He had no idea what that meant for his future. Or Earth’s.

Chapter Eight

Sonil tapped into the visual of Jaden’s cell. She watched him pace the tiny room. He was wired, ready to explode from boredom and frustration.

The medical officer reported his injuries were healing well, aided by an influx of nano-proteins he had synthesized from the sample he had taken
earlier. The nanos were engineered from Jaden’s own tissue cells and opened up a field of research the K’lahn had not considered before. More than ever, Sonil believed Earth had much to offer the empire and Jaden was the key to his planet’s survival.

A light indicated Markl was requesting to speak with her. She couldn
’t keep avoiding him. The ship’s captain was too astute.

“Join me in my quarters, Captain,” she said into thin air.
The ship’s sensors would accurately interpret her statement.

Minutes later, Markl walked in.

He bowed deeply. “Thank you for seeing me,
Ambassador
.”

She didn
’t miss the inflection he gave her title. “What is it, Markl?”

“I beg your forgiveness, my Qui.
” He bowed. “I would never have presumed –”

“To flirt with me. If you had known?”

He paled and Sonil put him out of his misery. “I would have slapped you down if you had offended me, Markl. You could not know. Put your mind at rest.”

“I
humbly ask your permission to cancel your debt of honor.”

Sonil smiled. “That is gracious, but unnecessary. However, I would request that you make your evening with my propert
y a component of his training.””

He looked pleased. “
I would be honored to assist.”

“Jaden has recovered sufficiently to resume
his training. However, I am not ready to deal with him. I would be obliged if you could resume his fitness regime.”

“Of course, my Qui.”

“
Ambassador
, Markl. It is a long way back to Court.” She noticed the question on his lips. “Speak. I am open to your thoughts.”

“
Is Jaden so important to the Empire that he warrants your personal attention?”

“
Earth
is important to the Empire, and court tradition allows for Earth’s independence and membership within the court only when the Qui can be assured through culmination.”

Markl looked
so uncomfortable, Sonil got the distinct impression he thought himself about to have his head sliced off, too.

“I am still listening, Captain.”

He bowed. “I took the liberty of investigating how Jaden came to be separated from you, Ambassador.”

Sonil flushed. She should have checked on
Jaden more. It had been her mistake to trust him. Her lips parted as the import of Markl’s words hit home. There had been no time to investigate on D’ron. “You had me followed?”

He straightened to attention.

“Go on.” Her voice was dangerous. She wasn’t sure whether to be grateful or outraged.

“It was a moment
’s distraction on his part, Ambassador. You had noticed a young thief in the street. Jaden followed your gaze. He did not realize you had slipped away. When he turned back, he tried to regain his place behind you, but he was following a woman similarly dressed to yourself. The crowd closed in and he was trapped. Other than calling for you, he put up no defense.”

Sonil blinked.
“He called for me?”

“Yes, but you were a street away
and he was quickly gagged. His only fault was to lose sight of you. He did not attempt to fight them, quite uncharacteristic of the General who struck me not long ago.”

She should have heard him
, but her attention had been focused on Tah’s unforgiving rant against the citizens unable to pay the new taxes he had levied without proper authority.

“W
hy did your man not intervene?”

“I had ordered him to watch
over you, Ambassador. I was worried for your safety. He decided to follow you and lost track of Jaden. I apologize.”

“
Thank you for telling me, Captain. That is helpful to know. I trust you will keep my secret.”

He bowed his acquiescence.

“That will be all.”

Sonil did not watch
Markl leave. Jaden’s face was filling her screen. He had finally spotted the recording device. His eyes were thoughtful. He had beautiful, clear eyes. They were a window to his soul and they were telling her he wanted out. She decided to keep him contained for a couple more days.

*****

Jaden resolutely pounded the ship’s indoor running track. Building his stamina and fitness was a natural part of his lifestyle, but that wasn’t why he was putting every waking moment into getting fit again. Jaden wanted out of his cell. He preferred Sonil to four walls and hours of boredom. He missed the warmth of her body against his at night. Craved the pleasure she could give him. God, he was so mixed up.

If she would
only give him the chance to explain how he lost her, but Markl had made it very clear Sonil wanted nothing to do with him right now. He was on probation.

But there was a
nother consideration that drove him, an idea that had rooted in his center and wouldn’t shift. A thought that maybe the Qui’s Ambassador had spoken honestly in Foldane’s office. She seemed determined to teach him how to survive in the Qui world and, for the first time he had begun to suspect her ruthless training was the result of a genuine commitment to Earth’s survival.

Culmination had seemed
such an impossible outcome, and yet, within weeks, she had him willingly sharing her bed and obedience had become second nature. He couldn’t believe she would give up on him now, not for a single moment of distraction.

He saw the captain enter the gym and veered towards him when
Markl beckoned.

“The Ambassador wishes to see you, Jaden. Shower and report to her quarters.”

Jaden’s heart catapulted. So this was it. Relief mixed with trepidation. What had she decided to do with him?

He didn
’t hang around. She would expect an instant response. Five minutes later, he stood outside her quarters. He was trying to work out the protocol for announcing his arrival when the doors parted.

Jaden
walked into an empty room. Then the bedroom doors opened and Sonil entered. She was dressed in a white diaphanous dress that clung to every curve down to her ankles. Her nails were painted black and her hair was pinned up revealing the long line of her slightly ridged neck and the intricate pattern of scaling behind her ears. She looked impossibly slender. A fragile beauty honed from tempered steel. He had seen her disarm and behead a master swordsman with his own blade.

Her eyes narrowed. “
On your knee!
”

Jaden started.
He dropped to one knee and bowed his head.

“I have allowed you too much familiarity. Explain your transgression.”

He went to look up only to discover her hand on his head, forcing his gaze down. His heart raced; she moved so fast. “I was distracted, Sonil.”

“My lady,” she corrected.

Jaden swallowed. “My lady. I thought I recognized your head covering, but it wasn’t you. I’m sorry.”

“Why did you allow yourself to be captured?”

His throat thickened. “I thought… You said…”

“You were correct not to attack. Do not put yourself in that position again.”

“My lady.”

“The yoke was a fitting punishment.”

His hopes lifted.

“But lacked the personal touch of my hand. Strip.”

Jaden’s toes curled. He rose to his feet and removed the shorts and vest top he had been provided with. Once he was naked, Sonil moved around him. She inspected his healed injuries thoroughly, bending down to probe his knee. Then she moved to a drawer and took out a belt, a paddle and a cane. She laid them on the table in front of the recliner before collecting a dining chair, which she placed in easy reach of the implements.

Jaden
’s jaw tightened. She intended to humiliate him.

She straightened and looked at him. “Do you accept this punishment is just
and fair?”

Jaden met her eyes. He wanted the memory of D
’ron over with. He wanted out of that cell.

If this is what it too
k…

Every bone, every fiber, every cell in him
went into revolt.

“What did I do to deserve this, exactly?”

“You allowed yourself to be distracted, and you lost me.”

“You left me without the means to defend myself.”

“You are not K’lahn. On D’ron you cannot exist outside your protectorate.”

“That
’s just complete shit.”

“
That is the D’ron way. I instructed you to stay close. The Qui has to trust you will follow her every command. She cannot watch you every second. It is unacceptable to lose her. You are military trained, a general in your forces. Was your assignment so difficult?”

A
sick hollow opened in Jaden’s stomach. “No,” he replied.

“Your actions
will be a direct reflection on the Qui. If you do not respect the ruler of the Qui Empire then why should her subjects respect her? Whole planets are lost when respect fails. Defense lines break down. Soon the Empire is at risk of invasion. I have to ensure you will never fail the Qui. Your training requires you to be diligent in your duties. I see you will hate this. It offends you even more than torture. And it will be a punishment you will wish never to receive again.”

She sat down and indicated her
lap.

Jaden
’s whole body stiffened. He had been submitting to her every command for weeks now.

But
to voluntarily accept an over the knee spanking?

“And if I don
’t?”

“You will return to the cells and Captain Markl will return you to Earth
, at which point, the treaty will be terminated. You succinctly expressed your confidence in Earth’s ability to defend itself against the might of the Empire. You will have the chance to prove it.”

Jaden couldn
’t breathe, the responsibility crushing him, his earlier bravado coming back to bite him. It would be all-out war. Earth would be caught completely unprepared.

He would never see Sonil again
.

The thought ignited a wave of confusion as
Sonil’s slit-like eyes challenged him with a translucent quality he now recognized as resolution.

She wasn
’t going to ask twice, and the alternative was unacceptable.

He stepped towards her. Inside he was screaming. He settled
over her knees, his cock in hiding for once. He shifted forward in response to the pressure of her fingers on his back. Her left hand reached around his waist and held him in place. Her fingers rested on his ass.

“I
intend this to hurt,” she warned.

Her hand
let loose a series of stinging blows on both cheeks before he could blink. He yelped and bucked but she held him firm. She continued to slap his behind until his feet were kicking in protest. Nothing in his experience had prepared him for this skin on skin contact. It was brutal, humiliating, and penetrated his psyche like nothing before.

When she stopped
, he thought for one blessed moment that it was over. Then she reached for the leather paddle. The strap added a new dimension to his punishment. It bruised less than her hand, but the sting was sharp and loud. He really began to struggle then, but her arm was like a vice around his side. He could not dislodge her grip.

She punished his ass relentlessly without pause.

He was howling before she was finished. She stood up and he tumbled to the floor. He put his hands to his burning cheeks and flinched when she stepped towards him.

“Over the chair,” she ordered picking up the belt.

Jaden shook his head. His ass was throbbing. “Please…”

“NOW!”

He reluctantly crawled to the chair and leaned over, jaw grinding at the near unbearable humiliation. She had been right. The pain was nowhere near as bad as the cut to his pride. The belt whacked into his behind and he launched to his feet.

“Do you want me to tie you down?” she threatened.

He shook his head.

“I think it would be quicker.” She moved to the drawer and took out some rope. “Stomach
on the seat, knees to the legs.”

Jaden
checked a rising mutiny and obeyed. She tied his knees to the chair then bound his wrists together. She pulled his hands out in front of him and tied them to the corner leg of the table. The table was fixed into the floor. It would not budge. Totally helpless, Jaden waited for the second blow from the belt.