Betrayal: Book 3 of the Guardians Saga

Ch. 18.1 Fighting for Na

Alex awoke to hands roughly tearing her away from Na. Before she could respond, there was a dagger at Na's throat.

"None of your tricks, mammal," Cla said. "Or we will slice Na's throat before your eyes and you will watch his life-blood drain into the dirt."

Alex glared but didn't fight the hands holding her, terror for Na slicing through her usual awakening fog.

"Surrender now and I will let Na live," Cla told her.

"Live? You call that living? To be treated worse than the burden beasts? It's worse than death."

"Don't bluff me, creature. You care too much for the little one to risk him."

"Why should I believe you? You'll kill him anyway."

Doesn't mean I won't try anyway.

Cla barked a harsh laugh. "You stink of defeat, but I'll tell you. Na will be valuable breeding stock. I will use him and his offspring to great political advantage."

Alex's eyes burned with unshed tears of rage and she dropped her head. "I surrender."

"No, Tia, no!" Na screamed and struggled.

"I'm sorry, Na." Alex didn't look at him.

"Tia? You dare call that—that warm-blooded hairy freak Tia? You are no son of mine." Cla slapped him soundly.

"Heard and witnessed," a voice from the woods said.

Razz stepped out of the trees. A group of well-armed Anolis males emerged as well, surrounding and outnumbering the females.

"Heard and witnessed," they all repeated.

"Razz, thank the Portal Guardian," Alex said.

"Drop your weapons. Release Alex and the child." Razz's voice was level.

The warriors pushed Alex away and dropped their spears and swords. Cla, who was within the circle of females and still facing Alex, did not drop her dagger. The female holding Na at dagger point also did not move.

"You did not think we would abandon the symbol of the revolution, did you?" Razz asked.

Cla spat at Razz. "You think you can defeat me with a handful of scrawny males? This hairy beast has handed me victory in the Council. The price of her kidnapping my son will be high, very high. The Kuni will demand that you be returned to me and I shall dismember you slowly, claw by claw, toe by toe, finger by finger. You will hold each egg I clutch from you as it hatches, and I will force you to hold the hatchling as I slice it open, as it bleeds to death, in your fingerless palms, over and over again."

Razz trembled and stepped back involuntarily.

"Screw you, Cla," Alex said. "Spineless egg-sucker using a child to force me to surrender. Face me in battle or show all these males what a crawling dung insect you are."

I wish I knew more Anolis insults.

"Females and their threats and claw clanging," one of the armed males said. "Tiresome as always. Razz, drop your weapon as well."

"What?" Razz turned to face the male who had spoken.

"I'm sorry. Drop your weapon. Now."

Razz complied. "Explain."

"We must remove the stain of Alex's crime of kidnapping the child. Cla killed her own child rather than have him taken by Alex. Alex will face Cla in retribution for killing him. Regrettably, both will die in combat. This will save you from re-possession by Cla. The death of the child validates Alex's actions and the Kuni cannot demand satisfaction. The males will be mobilized and we can overthrow the Kuni. This time a male government will be established."