two closed on each other. On the roof, she could hear excited muttering. She wondered if the guards were as sick of him as everyone else seemed to be. Maybe they were hoping he would get killed.
Dragon and lion leaped at each other and became a tangle of scales and fur. Growls and snarls shook the air as they tumbled over and over, snapping and clawing at each other.
The lion held his own at first, using his rear claws to rake at Kaelon's belly, but fortunately it was as armored as the rest of him. Kaelon countered by digging his talons into his foe’s back and starting to crush him against his armored chest.
Torvin squirmed free, tearing the skin of his back in the process, and leave the way, shaking himself. Droplets of blood flew into the air. He crouched quickly again, and leaped on the dragon before Kaelon could right himself, all four sets of claws out.
A heavy thunk like a spear biting into flesh ended Torvin’s snarling suddenly. She looked past her lover's bulk, and saw that his spade-tipped tail had lashed out and driven itself all the way through Torvin's chest. Torvin gasped wetly around the impaling limb for a moment, and then went limp.
Kaelon shook the corpse free of his tail with a snarl of disgust, and immediately shifted back to human form. He ripped off his white cloak as he walked over to her. “Are you alright?”
“I will be now that you're here,” she replied with a smile that hurt the torn corner of her mouth.
He wrapped her in the cloak, and then took hold of the collar around her neck and broke it off of her with sheer strength. Tossing it away with a heavy clatter, he pulled her into his arms. “I'm just glad that I found you in time.”
“Me too, love,” she murmured as she tucked her head under his chin. “Me too.”
Release
Three weeks later, she stood with him in a crowd at one of his gatherings. The palace was abuzz with the latest news: the High Commander had released his breeding slave, uncollaring her and giving her a full-range translator bracelet.
No human had ever been so honored. And there were other rumors as well: that he had offered his other slaves the opportunity to either return home to Earth, or serve him for a proper salary.
As Irina stood there beside him, the skin of her neck rebelliously uncovered in the face of the staring beast-men of his court, she couldn't help but smile back at them a little mockingly. He stayed close to her all the time, attentive, protective.
Every once in awhile, he would hold her hand in his huge one, comforting her and sending a fresh ripple of shocked whispers through the crowd. Finally, walking them to the center of the room, he raised his voice to get everyone’s attention.
“Ladies and gentlemen of my court,” he spoke in a grave tone. “As you have recently heard, after the attempted kidnapping and rape of Irina three weeks ago, I killed Torvin in fair combat. This was witnessed by his men, who now work for me.”
From under his cloak, he took her deactivated slave collar, which hung open in his hand. He held it up. “For two generations, we have used human breeding slaves to improve our genetic diversity.
“As many of you know, Torvin was the loudest and most influential advocate for continuing the status quo of purchasing humans as breeding stock from the slavers.
He has protected the slavers from any strong scrutiny with a combination of calling in political favors, and the strategic use of bribes. Now that he is dead, the veil that has concealed their activities is being lifted. I have verified since then the fact that the slavers have been lying to us all.”
More shocked whispering. A tall, pale man with spiral horns sprouting from his temples raised a black-nailed hand. “High Commander, could you be more specific?”
“We were told that humans were naturally tractable creatures who enjoyed captivity. We were told that their females are bred for obedience. None of this is in any way
Dragon and lion leaped at each other and became a tangle of scales and fur. Growls and snarls shook the air as they tumbled over and over, snapping and clawing at each other.
The lion held his own at first, using his rear claws to rake at Kaelon's belly, but fortunately it was as armored as the rest of him. Kaelon countered by digging his talons into his foe’s back and starting to crush him against his armored chest.
Torvin squirmed free, tearing the skin of his back in the process, and leave the way, shaking himself. Droplets of blood flew into the air. He crouched quickly again, and leaped on the dragon before Kaelon could right himself, all four sets of claws out.
A heavy thunk like a spear biting into flesh ended Torvin’s snarling suddenly. She looked past her lover's bulk, and saw that his spade-tipped tail had lashed out and driven itself all the way through Torvin's chest. Torvin gasped wetly around the impaling limb for a moment, and then went limp.
Kaelon shook the corpse free of his tail with a snarl of disgust, and immediately shifted back to human form. He ripped off his white cloak as he walked over to her. “Are you alright?”
“I will be now that you're here,” she replied with a smile that hurt the torn corner of her mouth.
He wrapped her in the cloak, and then took hold of the collar around her neck and broke it off of her with sheer strength. Tossing it away with a heavy clatter, he pulled her into his arms. “I'm just glad that I found you in time.”
“Me too, love,” she murmured as she tucked her head under his chin. “Me too.”
Release
Three weeks later, she stood with him in a crowd at one of his gatherings. The palace was abuzz with the latest news: the High Commander had released his breeding slave, uncollaring her and giving her a full-range translator bracelet.
No human had ever been so honored. And there were other rumors as well: that he had offered his other slaves the opportunity to either return home to Earth, or serve him for a proper salary.
As Irina stood there beside him, the skin of her neck rebelliously uncovered in the face of the staring beast-men of his court, she couldn't help but smile back at them a little mockingly. He stayed close to her all the time, attentive, protective.
Every once in awhile, he would hold her hand in his huge one, comforting her and sending a fresh ripple of shocked whispers through the crowd. Finally, walking them to the center of the room, he raised his voice to get everyone’s attention.
“Ladies and gentlemen of my court,” he spoke in a grave tone. “As you have recently heard, after the attempted kidnapping and rape of Irina three weeks ago, I killed Torvin in fair combat. This was witnessed by his men, who now work for me.”
From under his cloak, he took her deactivated slave collar, which hung open in his hand. He held it up. “For two generations, we have used human breeding slaves to improve our genetic diversity.
“As many of you know, Torvin was the loudest and most influential advocate for continuing the status quo of purchasing humans as breeding stock from the slavers.
He has protected the slavers from any strong scrutiny with a combination of calling in political favors, and the strategic use of bribes. Now that he is dead, the veil that has concealed their activities is being lifted. I have verified since then the fact that the slavers have been lying to us all.”
More shocked whispering. A tall, pale man with spiral horns sprouting from his temples raised a black-nailed hand. “High Commander, could you be more specific?”
“We were told that humans were naturally tractable creatures who enjoyed captivity. We were told that their females are bred for obedience. None of this is in any way
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