As we wait for Warlord Unarmed, the third story in the Chamele Barbarian Warlords series, to release on September 17th, I’m sharing the first chapter.
You can read the first scene here: http://tasteofcyn.com/?p=6971.
Today, I’m sharing the second scene.
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Murad reviewed some system changes to a nourishment fabrication facility as his males joked and teased each other.
All Chameles were warriors. It was part of their nature. But most of the inhabitants of the planet Murad ruled were also agri-lot tenders. They grew nourishment for themselves and many other beings in the sector.
It was his duty to protect them, a duty he took very seriously, despite his public façade of being the lighthearted, humor-loving brother.
“There is an incoming multi-being hail routed through Chamele 1, my lord,” the ship’s system informed him.
Murad stifled a groan. It must be his two older brothers, checking in on him. They didn’t trust him to rule his own planet.
“Quiet.” He gave that order to his warriors and they immediately complied, a hush falling over the bridge. “Secure the line.” Technology was his strength, not his brothers’. “And answer the hail, system.”
“Securing the line and answering the hail, my lord.” The robotic voice confirmed that command.
Khan appeared first on his private viewscreen. His scarred face was etched with lines. Those grooves faded as he saw Murad. “You’re alive.”
Berke’s expression was as dour as ever. “He’s alive.” His voice was flat.
“Yes. Yes.” Murad rolled his eyes. “I’m alive.” His brothers’ overprotectiveness was irritating. “I might not be as skilled a warrior as Khan is—” No one in the sector could match the Warlord’s fighting skills. “—but I can protect myself and the beings answering to me.”
Sartaq and his other warriors grinned.
“Tolui stole your ship.” Khan reminded him, his tone dry.
Sartaq, the being responsible for that embarrassing mishap, stopped smiling. The other males kicked his booted feet.
Murad’s face heated. “That was sloppiness.”
There was no other excuse for it. The ship’s security systems hadn’t been activated before his Second had left it unattended.
“Sloppiness in battle results in death.” Berke shook his head. “Return to your most secure location and remain there until you’re told otherwise.”
Murad stared at his brother. That command was highhanded even for Berke. “I’m a Warlord.” He gritted his teeth. “I’m not going into hiding because one of my ships was stolen.”
“This isn’t about your ship.” His eldest brother’s expression grew more severe. “What was that message Tolui sent you, Khan?”
Khan’s gaze lowered. “A brother for a brother.”
“A brother for a brother.” Berke’s head dipped. “Khan killed one of Tolui’s clones. Our enemy plans to kill one of us in retaliation.”
Zondoo. The rebellion whooshed out of Murad. “Send me the message.” He doubted he could track the source. Tolui had hidden his past communication trails well. But Murad would try his best. “That brother could be you, Berke.”
“I realize that.” His eldest brother’s eyes blazed. “I’m already in hiding, as you call it, and will remain there until Tolui is dealt with.”
“And how are we dealing with him?” Murad raised his eyebrows. “We can’t locate him.”
“When he can’t locate you, he’ll come after me.” Khan looked smug. “I’m ready for him.” He extended his claws.
“Or he’ll simply send one of his clones to kill you.” Murad didn’t trust their enemy. “As he did the last time.”
Some of his warrior brother’s bravado wavered. “We’re changing the laws. That clone will have the option to surrender.”
Being a clone was currently punishable by death in the Chamele sector, which meant the warriors in Tolui’s clone army had no option—they had to continue fighting or they would die.
The laws were being amended to ensure the clones had the right to exist. Once those laws were approved, the clones could surrender and live as regular Chameles.
Khan believed that would prompt mass defections, depleting Tolui’s forces, making him easier to defeat.
Murad wasn’t as optimistic as his brother was. Tolui had proven to be a clever and strong adversary and the warriors were his clones. Murad wouldn’t betray his brothers. He doubted the clones would betray Tolui.
“He will try to locate us, to deliver on his message.” Berke appeared even more grim than he normally was.
Of the three of them, Berke had sacrificed the most since the battles for succession had begun. He had found his gerel, the one female he was genetically destined to be with, and had somehow lost her during the war.
Murad suspected the female had died, and with her, all hope of happiness for Berke had perished also. His brother was facing a lifespan of solitude, wouldn’t experience companionship or have children.
Khan would have all that. Every one hundred heartbeats or so, their warrior brother’s gaze flicked off viewscreen, the gleam in his eyes communicating that Zeta, his human gerel, was close. And knowing his brother, the little bounty hunter was well protected.
Murad’s gerel was also safe. He didn’t know much about her, but he did know her name was Gale, she was a friend of Zeta’s, and she was situated far away, in a secure location, within a peaceful sector.
Once Tolui was dealt with, he would retrieve her.
***
Read the next scene (available September 2nd) here: http://tasteofcyn.com/?p=6979
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Warlord Unarmed
Protected by the Barbarian Warrior
* * *
Murad, a technology-loving Chamele Warlord, has to track down and eliminate a rogue warrior before that male ends Murad’s reign. Permanently.
When a pieced-together wreck of a ship enters the sector without authorization, Murad assumes it is piloted by an ally of his enemy and decides to blow the battered vessel out of open space.
Then he hears the voice of its sole occupant and his orders and his priorities immediately shift. The captain of the ship is his gerel, the one female he’s genetically compatible with—the light to his darkness, his future, his everything.
He will protect her…even if it costs him his life.
Bounty hunter Gale doesn’t want or need protection. She has entered Chamele space on a rescue mission. A tall, muscular, half-naked barbarian with humor-lit eyes and gentle hands won’t distract her from that purpose, no matter what he tries.
A broken ship and an enemy focused on revenge do interfere with her plans. Gale’s goal changes from saving a friend to saving herself. The only being who can increase her chances of survival is the one Warlord she can’t resist.
Pre-order Now:
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