Chapter 10

Rikash watched as the male native population was pulled from their buildings and crowded into the street before the raised platform. Their fear was pungent on the air, as were the cries of the women and young that had been left in the domiciles. He could see many faces pressed against the glass, searching for their males amongst the crowds. "I hope the women are sensible enough not to let their children watch," Nadyr commented, his face turned towards the nearest building. "Mhm," Rikash kept his eyes on the assembly of men. The human men pushed and shoved amongst themselves, jostling for position away from the edges as if they knew what was coming. The barrier kept them tightly together, barely enough standing room. The noise of their terror and anger rose in an unintelligible roar, echoing off the glass towers and concrete covered earth. "How does your mating go?" Nadyr sought to make conversation. Rikash contemplated what news his second was preparing him to receive. "The men have reported improvements in their Bonds since adopting courting practices." "As with the men, there is improvement, but I suspect the courting practices are so elaborate because the bond takes time to form. My mate has claimed our den, arranging the bedding to her liking and she has been on the verge of marking me several times," Rikash announced. "I will reward her with a gift when I return." "Indeed," Nadyr paused. "None of the other males have reported their mates expressing any interest in marking them. That is quite an achievement." "Hmm." His second was envious, Rikash thought, and whilst it pleased him to be envied, he knew an envious man could also be a covetous one. Nadyr slid his Arken a look from the corner of his eye. "Several of the Hunters have claimed mates from amongst the hunted." Rikash flicked his eyes to his second. "Hmm." "It is not unexpected," Nadyr prompted. "The prey response often triggers mating instincts in dominants." "I am a dominant," Rikash replied with pride. "I am aware of what triggers our mating instincts." More so now, he thought, after a very enjoyable week with the human female warming his mating platform. His mating instincts seemed to be permanently triggered. Even now, he felt himself grow hard just thinking of her compliant body waiting for him in his domicile. "Their punishment will be mitigated, as is appropriate for the transgression," he decided. "You are merciful, Arken." "I am practical. Hunters are a valuable resource on this world. I will not deplete their forces." "Very wise." Rikash considered the sky. "The weather is fair here," he observed. "The weather system will be warm for several days," Nadyr slid a look at him, wondering where Rikash's thoughts had gone. His curiosity went unanswered as the prisoners were led out onto the raised platform before them. Twenty prisoners in total, Rikash noted, pleased. Mostly native males, three older females past childbearing, two females still of fertile age, six adolescents, and two young. Their chains fixed them in place. He walked the platform before them and placed his hands on the young s heads. The Hunters released them from the chain and pulled them away. His pardon of the young was anticipated by his men, he knew, but they would not presume upon it. It was up to him to grant pardon, not them. One of the women began to cry upon seeing their release. She was their mother, he thought. He turned his attention to the adolescents. He released the females. They would go to the mate market. "Where are you taking them?" One of the men in the chain cried out. Another parent who had taken his young into danger, Rikash determined grimly. He did not acknowledge the outcry. The male young, he had no use for, and they were old enough that their involvement in the rebellion foretold a future of similar rebellious actions. It would be better for everyone to end their lives now, but he would do so mercifully. He drew his blade, its surface catching and reflecting the light, and saw the first male s alarm as he realized that he would not be seeing another day. Rikash held his eyes as those in the chain screamed and pleaded for his life. The male did not, his gaze defiant. "Go on, then," he spat. Rikash pushed the blade through the hollow at the base of the skull, severing the young male s spinal cord and ending his life. The chained adults wailed their grief as the body fell forward, empty of life, hitting the platform with a dull thud. The crowd watching seethed, yelling their rage. Their fury did not affect Rikash; they were as cattle to him. As long as the lesson they were there to learn impressed itself on their minds, they could hiss and spit their hate as loud as they liked. One of the other males in the chain soiled himself, the acrid stink rising above the scent of fear that flooded the air. Rikash stepped before him and met the male s eyes. "Do not feel shame for losing control of your bowels," he said to him in his language. "Even the bravest Hunter has been known to lose control of their body when faced with their death." He waited until the male nodded, acknowledging the truth in his words, before ending his life. "Why speak to us?" The next man demanded. "Why offer the poor lad hope and then kill him anyway?" "I didn t offer him hope," Rikash was annoyed enough at being misinterpreted to reply. "I gave him back his pride." With the mercy granted, he sheathed the blade. "Strip them of their skin," he told Nadyr. "Do it slowly." The sun edged its way over the sky. Its rays pricked Rikash s skin to sweat under his uniform and armor. He saw several men within the watching crowd faint from the heat, exhaustion, and overwhelmed by the gory sight, as Rikash s officers carried out the punishment, and they waited for the agonized rebels to die. Rikash had ceased to hear the screams, tuning them out and lost in his thoughts whilst he maintained the appearance of watching the torture with attentive indifference. He contemplated the problem of Verika. After their conversation several days before, she had not responded to any of his comms, which either meant that she was furious at him for taking a human mate or was on board a vessel bound for this world. Neither situation bode well. If she would only be reasonable, the situation could work for both of them. "The ability of the body to survive trauma is remarkable," Nadyr observed as one woman clung to life long after the others. "Some spirits are stronger than others," Rikash agreed. "She has earned her mercy." He stepped forward to deliver it with his blade, watching the spill of the blood out of the exposed vein spill over skinless flesh. All people were reduced to meat, he thought, when the facade of civilization was stripped away. The relief spread through the assembled male humans, sensing the end of the torment. "The center," Rikash decided sweeping his eyes over them. It was where the cowards had gone. He had no use for cowards. Their screams as his men opened fire, the panicked men throwing themselves against the electrified boundaries and dying under the jolts, whilst others were trampled underfoot, were by far louder than the rebels had been. He saw women beating their hands against the glass of their domiciles, screaming for their mates as chaos unfolded on the street below them. When the discipline was done, those that remained alive were released to return to their homes, and his soldiers began the task of stringing the bodies from the conveniently placed light fittings that lined the city streets. "Have the Hunters that have taken mates from amongst the rebels lashed ten times," Rikash decided. Nadyr raised his eyebrows. "That is generous." "Let them know that my second caught me in a generous mood," Rikash was amused by Nadyr s deft handling. "And craftily exploited it." "It is my role as second to do so," Nadyr replied humbly. "Hmm. I will return to my mate." "As you will, Arken."