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THE LESSER EVIL
By
Susan Kelley
© copyright Sept. 2007, Susan Kelley
Cover Art by Eliza Black, Sept 2007
ISBN 978-1-6039-092-4
New Concepts Publishing
Lake Park, GA 31636
www.newconceptspublishing.com
This is a work of fiction. All characters, events, and places are of the author's imagination and not to be confused with fact. Any resemblance to living persons or events is merely coincidence.
Prologue
Vilicia pulled Slate to a stop. Jolts of pain shot up her arm. She gasped again before pressing her lips together in an effort to defeat the pain. Hot bitter blood seeped into her mouth from her split upper lip.
Her fingers tingled when she tried to clench her fist, causing her to wonder one more time if the limb was broken.
Slate pranced sideways as if eager to continue toward his home-her home, too. Why had she ever thought to leave it? She sighed and reawakened the ache in her ribs.
"Let's go, Slate." The horse needed little urging. He picked his way down the rock littered hillside. Though the trail was rugged, the young stallion had carried her over it many times. He knew the way home to his herd mates without her guidance.
The land evened out, allowing the gray horse to break into a smooth walk. Vilicia thanked him, this wonderful animal who had saved her life. He was a gift from Juston Steele. Slate was the offspring of Juston's own black stallion, Stone. It was a royal gift. She'd thanked him many times, but her appreciation for the fine animal reached new heights as he carried her toward home.
The afternoon sun beat against Vilicia's back and woke her as Slate started up another slope. She'd never actually slept in the saddle before. How long since she'd passed the last sentry? Vilicia vaguely realized she was drifting in and out of full consciousness, but the thought of getting home remained clear and in the forefront of her confused thoughts. Fortunately, Slate needed little more than a loose rein.
Sometime later, an hour or a few minutes, they topped the slope and the Solonian settlement stretched out before them. "You did it, Slate."
The horse, even though the corrals were in sight, maintained his measured pace. A shout went up in the distance, but the meaning of the words eluded Vilicia.
"Whoa there, boy," a deep male voice said. Juston Steele peered up at Vilicia, his fierce blue eyes shooting bolts of blazing anger at her. "What the hell happened, Vilicia?"
She didn't know how to begin, so she shook her head as more people rushed to join them. The movement set her head to pounding and the saddle slid sideways away from her.
Juston cursed as he caught her. Her head cleared enough to realize she'd fallen from her horse rather than the saddle sliding away. Her vision came and went as Just carried her toward the main buildings. He growled a variety of curses as he stalked along.
"I'm too heavy for you," Vilicia protested.
Juston cursed in an exceptionally colorful and novel way.
"Could you repeat that one. I might want to use it sometime," Vilicia mumbled.
"Shut up," Just ordered.
They climbed a set of steps. Just showed no strain despite the fact Vilicia was the same height as him. Her swirling thoughts latched on to the further example of how much physically stronger men were than women. Her current condition was proof of that.
"Bless the Good Father! What happened? How did she get here?" Katerina's familiar voice shook the iron control Vilicia had on her emotions.
Juston continued through the common room and took her into his and Katerina's own bedroom without answering. He laid her on the bed, his movements gentle despite the dark scowl on his face.
Katerina leaned over Vilicia. "My sister, who did this?"
Vilicia winced when Katerina ran her hands in a quick healer's exam.
"Talk to us, Vilicia," Juston demanded.
His righteous anger destroyed the last of her control. A sob swelled in her belly and welled up her throat. Another followed and endless ones after.
Katerina wrapped her arms around Vilicia's shoulders, igniting more agony in her broken arm. Vilicia couldn't stop sobbing enough to tell her sister she was hurting her.
Other people crowded into the room and still Vilicia couldn't stop the flood of tears now that they had started.
"Vilicia, please tell me who did this." Juston's familiar glare comforted her some. Wasn't this one of the reasons she'd come home? She'd known Just would see things put right.
Her voice rough and hoarse, Vilicia managed the name of the one who's actions had sent her limping home.
"Sky Turan."
Chapter One
"Unbelievable, sir," Corporal Brady Gellot said.
Sky Turan didn't answer. Truthfully, he was speechless. They stood on the upper balcony of the cadet training academy, staring out to sea. Almost half of a mile out in the gray churning waters a small ship rode the waves like a child on a wild stallion.
"Do you think they'll make it?" Brady asked.
"They made it this far." Sky narrowed his eyes and held his breath for a moment as a particularly big swell slapped the ship. Somehow the vessel stayed afloat.
"More than forty years since anyone made it," Sky said as much to himself as to the young cadet beside him. Sky's own parents had been part of the small band of explorers that had dared the violent ocean and landed on this foreign shore. Their survival on the seas had been more luck than skill or possession of a fine ship. No one had dared to try the sea again either. Instead they'd built a home here and befriended the native Solonians. Except for the vicious humanoids that inhabited the land, the colony was near to paradise. But now this ship approached.
"I think they might make it, sir," Brady said, his voice rising with excitement.
Sure enough, the sturdy vessel lurched past the last of the large rocks standing sentinel two hundred yards off shore. Sky didn't share Brady's enthusiasm. Perhaps it was his career as a Realm warrior that made him suspicious of strangers, but the approaching ship tightened his belly with trepidation.
A good crowd lined the small docks normally used only for fishing. The ocean was too rough to swim in or venture out more than a short distance in small boats.
"Well, let's join them and see what the surf washed in," Sky said.
Brady grinned and hurried toward the stairway. Sky followed at a slower pace, taking one last glance back at the ship that was now throwing lines toward the dock.
The Realm still struggled to recover from the treasonous acts of its last head counselor. A good man had been lost to them forever because of the actions of that bastard. Now this.
He started down the steps, but his hand would be on his sword, not extended in welcome when he met the strangers.
* * * *
Blayne Speece braced against the bucking of the ship as it fought the ocean currents. The people on land heaved mightily on the lines, slowly but surely bringing the battered ship alongside their pathetic dock. What kind of peasant colony had they stumbled upon?
"Can't believe we made it, Blayne," Sal Hagan said.
Blayne glared at the scrawny little man. "How many times do I have to tell you to call me captain? Remember your roles."
Hagan bobbed his narrow head, his black eyes gleaming with an unholy light that betrayed his tenuous hold on sanity. "Yes, sir, Captain."
Blayne shook his head. He would have to tell the leaders his best sailors had been washed over board. Many men had been lost to the sea on their four months afloat, but they hadn't been sailors anymore than he was. No need for these colonists to know that.
Lonnie Quick lifted the narrow plank from the deck and slid it over the side to the waiting hands on the dock. Finally, Blayne allowed himself to take a deep breath of relief. They'd made it! Beyond all odds, they had crossed the impassible seas and weathered the lethal storms to find land. Land and people. Where there were people, there was opportunity. His only regret was that his enemies would never know their plan to let nature kill him and his comrades had failed. He grinned at the irony as the people on shore cheered and applauded.
Sal, Lonnie, and Stephan quick-stepped across the plank to be greeted with back slaps and more cheers. Blayne followed more slowly, moving with the dignity and proud bearing he figured a real ship's captain would maintain.
The crowd parted a bit as he stepped off the plank onto the solid dock. His knees shook and threatened to buckle as his legs adjusted to the still surface after the endless days on board the pitching deck.
A beautiful woman waited between the swarms of laughing buffoons. Two men in military type uniforms flanked her. An important person then.
"Welcome to the Realm." Her voice was cool and cultured. "I'm the head of our governing council, Karal Panor."
Nye smiled, hoping the months at sea and the months in prison before that hadn't reduced his charm. He bowed over the hand she held out and took it gently in his own dirty, rough one. He kissed her smooth skin and inhaled her clean scent. Perhaps the settlement wasn't as plebeian as he'd thought.
"Thank you. I'm Captain Blayne Speece of Pernia. My crew and I have been sent on an exploration venture to search out other civilizations."
The councilor's mouth dropped open. Her eyes widened. "Our parents were from Pernia. They came here years ago and started this colony."
Blayne's smile widened. Things were looking better all the time.
"Come, we have much to discuss. This is the most exciting thing to happen to us in our lifetime. Let's get you some warm food and a bath."
Blayne could barely contain his grin as he and his men followed the woman. The news of who they were traveled through the gathered throng like one of the ocean's waves. Blayne could have clapped with glee as the sheep welcomed him and his men into their fold as if they were long lost members of the flock instead of predators. These people would be so easy to fool. He might be king of this little empire.
They climbed the rocky shoreline as they followed the lady councilor. Blayne smiled and waved to the gleeful crowd. He paid special attention to the young women. It had been a long time since he'd had a woman. These adoring broads might even be willing to take a heroic sea captain into their beds.
A tall figure stood alone on the top of the rise and caught Blayne's gaze. The sun glinted off the man's silver hair. No welcome softened the uniformed man's stern expression. As the distance between them lessened, Blayne saw the suspicion in the soldier's hard gray eyes.
"Join us, Trainer Turan," Karal Panor said as they passed by the man.
Turan only nodded, never taking his eyes off Blayne. Blayne smiled at him. Years of tricking and cheating had taught him to hide his emotions. He hated that this Turan fellow caused a little itch of fear to start in his back.
Shrugging off his concern, Blayne waved at a group of dark-haired children shouting questions from on top a flat boulder. He'd handled many military types before in his long criminal career. He could handle one rural sword slinger.
* * * *
"I already packed a dress," Vilicia complained as her best friend, Lady Katerina Steele, folded another of the uncomfortable garments and gently stuffed it in the pack.
"You can't wear the same one over and over again to every social function."
"I'm not going to the Realm to attend social functions." At least Vilicia hoped not. "I'm going to share tactics and learn what I can from their trainers. And to see if the Realm is trustworthy now that Herma is gone."
Katerina smiled and shook her head. "You better do more than that."
Vilicia couldn't prevent the hot blood that rushed to her face. She wished she'd never shared her secret dream of finding an acceptable mate while living among the Realm warriors.
"If it happens it happens," Vilicia muttered. What were the chances she'd find a man she could respect enough or care enough for to spend the rest of her life with him? There was only one Juston Steele, and he was married to Katerina. The former Realm warrior was as a brother to Vilicia, but he set the standard by which she judged all men. None of them measured up to her expectations.
"Give them a chance," Katerina said as if reading Vilicia's mind.
Vilicia pulled the straps tight on her pack and carried it outside. She frowned when she noticed her horse was no longer tied at the post in front of her tiny cottage.
"You finally ready?" Juston Steele called as he walked toward her. Katerina's arrogant husband grinned at Vilicia. His blue eyes sparkled with laughter, and Vilicia had to grin back. The two of them were bonded by more than their love for Katerina. They'd fought side by side many times. His presence here in Solonian made it possible for her to leave on this diplomatic mission as well as pursue her own personal dream. Juston Steele would protect her people, now his people, too, with his sword and his very life.
"I'm ready except some one took my horse," Vilicia said. Just was dressed in an unadorned tan shirt and brown pants. His famous sword hung across his back. He led a dark gray horse already saddled, though it held no pack.
"You're riding Slate instead of Stone?" Vilicia asked. Just and she had taken turns training the young gray stallion, Slate. He was the oldest colt sired by Just's powerful black stallion, Stone.
"No, I'm riding Stone." Just handed Slate's reins to Vilicia. "You're riding Slate."
Vilicia gaped at him for a long moment. "But I need to keep my mount with me. I have to have a horse."
Just scowled at her. "Last time I looked, Slate was a horse."
"I need my horse, you thickheaded man."
Katerina giggled but said nothing as Just's glare turned even darker. "Why do you have to make everything so difficult, Vilicia? Slate is your horse."
Vilicia shook her head. Everyone knew Slate was a mount surpassed only by his sire. No other horse in Solonia approached the horse's strength and speed let alone his intelligence.
Just took Vilicia's hand and wrapped her fingers around Slate's reins. "My gift to you."
Pressure built at the back of Vilicia's eyes, but she blinked them back. "Damn you, Steele."
Just grinned. "Make sure you treat all the men in the Realm with the same disarming charm you always show me."
Vilicia laughed and the threatening tears evaporated. She threw her arms around Just and had the satisfaction of knocking a grunt out of him.
Just disentangled himself and patted Vilicia on the shoulder. "I'm going to say good bye to my son. Get packed up. I want to be on our way before the dew dries."
Just stalked away and both women watched him until he entered the front door of Devon Hall. Vilicia sighed and picked up her pack.
"If I can find one like him, I'll take a mate."
Katerina smiled. "You'll find someone, Vilicia. Somewhere there's a man smart enough and strong enough to appreciate you and your talents."
The two women hugged, both refusing to give in to an emotional display. They'd been raised like sisters and considered each other such.
"I'll worry about you," Katerina vowed as Vilicia swung into her saddle.
"Worry about the Realm," Vilicia shot back. She urged Slate over toward the small escort group who would accompany her to the Realm.
Just came back outside and jogged over to Katerina. Their long farewell kiss sent Vilicia's thoughts back to her earlier conversation with her friend. Was there a man she could build such a relationship with? She didn't even need the love. Respect and genuine fondness would do.
After they were underway, she looked back on the only home she had ever known. Despite the friends riding near her, Vilicia felt very alone.
* * * *
Sky shifted in his seat in the small audience chamber of the council hall. The captain of the newly arrived vessel finished the introductions of his crew.
"Only four of us survived. The sea took the others one at a time," Captain Speece said.
"You don't seem in deep mourning for your lost crew, captain," Sky observed.
Speece gave Sky a mild look and raised an eyebrow in a manner that hinted at arrogance. "My grief is private and none of your affair. We've had many dark nights on the open sea to question the decisions that put us all in harm's way."
Sky met the captain's stare with a cool one of his own. A bath and clean clothes didn't make the crew look any more savory.
"I'm sure your travels were filled with harrowing experiences, Captain," Karal said in a conciliatory tone as she flung a warning glare at Sky.
Sky didn't like Karal, but he respected her position as Head Councilor. He sat back to listen.
"Now tell us in more detail what your mission was about, Captain," Karal said.
Speece nodded his head respectfully. "Please call me Blayne, my lady.
"Blayne, then," Karal agreed with a small blush that had Sky rolling his eyes.
"Since your ancestors left Pernia, things have only gotten worse. Criminals work behind the scenes at almost every level of the government, most especially the enforcers of the laws. The poor outnumber the rich and many of the farmers have been killed or chased from their land by rievers and bandits."
Sky hung on the words despite his distrust of the captain. Who didn't wonder about the old homeland? Hadn't the treasonous Herma almost destroyed them all with his insane plan to build a ship that would take him back to the decadent splendor of Pernia?
"A few merchants put together the money to finance our trip. Though a number of expeditions left after your own, none returned or sent any messages. Still, many men of learning believed other worlds existed." Blayne smiled and looked around the room at the small group of councilors and warriors gathered to greet them. "And I'm so happy they were correct."
"So your journey was not sponsored by the governing body?" Sky asked. "What is your background in exploration, Captain?"
Speece's smile didn't hide the annoyance in his eyes as he turned toward Sky. "I'm sorry, but I didn't catch your name or title during introductions."
"This is Sky Turan, our lead trainer for our warriors. He's head of the academy for cadets," Karal Panor explained. "I'm sure Major Turan didn't mean to sound rude."
He had meant to sound rude, but Sky held his peace. He didn't care for the new title of major the council had bestowed on him either.
"I see," Speece said, his tone cool. "You teach the young ones, then?"
Sky raised an eyebrow at the captain's dismissive tone. "And were you a member of the military in Pernia?"
Speece seemed to consider his answer. "Not when I was hired for this mission. My superiors refused to dare the challenge of the seas. Our ships were kept close to shore in protected bays. I longed for more."
Sky glanced at the other three crewmen as Speece talked. They stared at their captain as if he was telling them a great bed time tale.
"I resigned my position and joined the cause of those with greater vision. Pernia needs to move beyond the boundaries of its oceans. Its society is stagnated, the government corrupt and the common people little more than prey to the wealthy and criminal classes."
"Then you've failed in your quest," Sky said, not believing a word the captain spoke. "There's no way for you to return to Pernia."
Something glinted in Speece's eyes, but his expression remained mild. "That has yet to be seen, Major."
Sky settled back in his seat again as Karal quizzed Speece on the Pernian society. Watching the strangers interested Sky more than the ins and outs of a civilization he would likely never see. One could learn a lot about a man by watching the way he carried himself and the emotions betrayed by small changes in his expressions.
Speece smiled often at Karal and by the way she smiled back, Sky guessed she found the captain charming. How one of Juston Steele's old lovers could be attracted to this one was beyond Sky's understanding. But then most things about women were beyond him.
A light meal was served while the conversation continued. During it, Speece quizzed Karal and the other councilors about the Realm and then Solonia. Sky's wariness grew as the strangers learned more and more about their settlement.
Speece gave a toothy laugh at something Karal said. The captain's grin reminded Sky of a crafty old mountain cat waiting for its prey to turn its back before springing upon it.
Over a year ago, Sky had stood by helpless as his friend Juston Steele was sold as little more than a slave to the Solonians. Sky still carried the guilt for not being able to help Just.
He watched the ship's crew eat and vowed he wouldn't stand by and let another danger threaten the Realm. Speece and his boys would have to prove themselves to him or else.
* * * *
"That mountain cat sounds close," Vilicia said.
Just settled down beside her and held his hands out toward the small camp fire. Every night was cool here in the higher altitudes. "It won't approach a group as large as ours. It will make the horses nervous, though."
Vilicia nodded absently. "There seems to be more of the cats since we ran Zar's bunch out of the hills."
"You're probably right. The cats usually avoid people and I guess that might apply to the Savages."
Vilicia didn't start up the old argument. The humanoids her people called Others, Juston and the Realm colonists named as Savages. The Others were savage, but the Realm settlers didn't know their history. The Others were the missing males from the Solonian settlement. Generations before the men of Solonia had experimented with a substance to make themselves stronger. The result had been a reversal of evolution until the men and many women who followed them were not even true humans. The Solonians grieved for their lost ancestors, but Just saw them only as killers and a threat to those he would protect. No one else from the Realm knew the secret of the Others' true origin and she trusted Just to never tell. The fragile relationship Solonia and the Realm were developing might not withstand such a revelation.
They sat in silence for a while. Three of their traveling companions already slept in their bedrolls while the other two stood guard. Though they seldom saw any sign of the Others, they took no chances of being surprised.
"Vilicia, I...I wanted to talk to you about something."
Vilicia looked at him, wondering about the unusual hesitation in his words. Just was nothing if not straight forward. He almost sounded nervous.
"Talk about what?"
"Well," Just stalled. He looked around at the sleeping women.
Vilicia leaned closer. Whatever was he about?
"Katerina asked me to speak with you."
"About what?"
"About men."
Vilicia sat up straight again. This was interesting, especially since Just seemed so uncomfortable.
"What about them?"
"Well, you're going into a situation you know nothing about. There will be men around you all the time."
"I'm around you all the time and I've spent a lot of time around those warriors we've been training."
"But this will be different."
"Why?"
"The men in the Realm will look at you differently."
Vilicia shrugged, having no idea what he meant.
Just sighed. "To me you're like a sister."
"I am your sister," Vilicia corrected.
"Right. And the young Realm warriors in Solonia are afraid of you and of me."
Again Vilicia shrugged. She knew this.
"Because they're afraid of me, they don't...approach you."
"Approach me?"
"They don't try to...to take you to their beds."
Vilicia stared at him and then burst into laughter. "Take me to their beds?"
Just didn't laugh.
Wiping the tears from the corners of her eyes, Vilicia managed to quell her amusement. "Those boys look only at the little tiny sweet girls."
"This is why I have to talk to you, Vilicia. You don't even see the hunger in their eyes when they look your way. You're an innocent babe."
"I'm not an infant," Vilicia growled, no longer amused.
"About men you are," Just shot right back.
"Look at me, Just. I'm taller than most men. My manners are rough and I've little tolerance for weakness of any kind. I can't help myself. I put down every man I meet. The Realm men aren't afraid of me, they don't like me."
Now Just did smile. "As I said, you know nothing about men. Those boys are drooling with lust every time you're around."
"They want to make a baby with me?"
Just groaned and shook his head. "This is what I was trying to get to. They don't want to marry you. They want to...to do the act with you."
"Do the act?"
Even in the firelight, Vilicia could see Just's face turn dark.
"Do it. They want to put their man part inside you. They don't care about making babies."
"Why?"
"Because it feels good!" Just almost shouted.
"They do it for pleasure only? Does it feel good for both of them?"
"Hopefully. But it almost always feels good for the man."
Vilicia thought about what he'd said. "Do you and Katerina do it at times even though you already have a baby?"
Just looked like he was clenching his jaw when he answered. "All the time."
"Does it matter how the people feel about one and another?"
Just sighed again. "Before I met Katerina, I didn't think it did. But I was wrong. It's more than a physical pleasure when you're with someone you love. It's beyond description."
Vilicia nodded. She didn't expect to have that, but the other sounded interesting.
"My point, Vilicia, is that you're going to meet men in the Realm who want to do it with you. They won't care about you at all. They'll only see a beautiful woman and forget about anything else. You have to be careful. They'll use all kind of charm and trickery to get you into their beds, and I won't be there to scare them off."
"I can scare them off myself." But did she want to?
"That won't be as easy as it was at home. You'll be alone."
Just went on about the many ways a man might try to seduce her. Vilicia listened, amazed at the lengths a man might go for this pleasure. Finally Just said they should get some sleep.
As they settled down in their sleeping mats Vilicia thought of something.
"Did you use these tricks before you came to the Realm to get women into your bed?"
"I didn't need to use tricks. Women were begging to take me to their bed."
Vilicia laughed. She'd miss Just, but after their conversation, she was looking forward to meeting some of these men. If Just thought she was beautiful surely some of the other men would also.
"I'm sure it wasn't your charm that worked on the ladies," Vilicia mumbled as she snuggled deeper into the blankets.
"Forget my warning, Vilicia. I'm going to warn the Realm men about you instead."
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