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A strange sense of kinship stirred in Rael's chest, quickly followed by a flicker of guilt. He pushed the feeling aside, straightening his shoulders as he refocused on the matter at hand. "The outpost is where I'm taking you, yes," he said bluntly. No point in dancing around it. "You're a human, behind enemy lines. There's an automatic bounty on your head — dead or alive."
News like that could never be pleasant to hear. Elian's shoulders slumped, and he ducked his head in a vain attempt to hide the hurt that flickered across his features. When he spoke, his voice was deliberately light, forced casualness masking the fear that Rael could see in his eyes. "Well, I guess that makes sense. Nice to be wanted for once in my life."
The words hung heavy in the air between them, a stark reminder of the harsh realities they faced. Rael opened his mouth, some half-formed thought of reassurance on his lips. But the words died unspoken as he saw Elian's gaze — seeing the resignation there, the weary acceptance of a man who had already lost so much.
Elian's voice was deceptively casual. "So… what exactly will the people at this outpost do to me once you hand me over?"
Rael went still, the question hanging heavy in the air between them. He realized with a start that he didn't truly know the answer.
In all his years as a warrior and bounty hunter, he had never encountered a human prisoner before. They were an enemy spoken of in hushed tones, their very existence a threat to the Borraq way of life.
Silently, Rael's mind turned over the rumors he had heard whispered around campfires and in the shadows of outpost cantinas. Tales of human prisoners subjected to unspeakable tortures, their minds and bodies broken until they revealed every last secret about their kind.
But surely those were just stories, exaggerated tales meant to instill fear and hatred of their enemy. Surely, the military would handle a valuable prisoner like Elian with more care and pragmatism.
"The military will decide what to do with you," Rael said at last, keeping his tone carefully neutral. "Perhaps they will attempt to contact your leaders for an exchange of prisoners."
The words sounded hollow, even to his own ears. Rael risked a glance at Elian, taking in the human's forced nonchalance, the way his jaw tightened almost imperceptibly.
Elian gave a small nod, his voice light as he replied, "A prisoner exchange, huh? Well, that's good. I'm basically half-way home already."
But Rael could see the truth in those expressive eyes.
Elian didn't believe the words any more than Rael did.
They both knew, deep down, that an outcome like that was unlikely. The war between their peoples had raged for too long, the hatred ran too deep.
The weight of that realization settled over Rael like a heavy cloak. He found himself unable to meet Elian's gaze, a strange sense of disquiet stirring in his chest.
This wasn't how it was supposed to be. The mission had been simple — capture the human, deliver him to the outpost, collect the bounty, save Worrak.
But now, with Elian's haunted eyes fixed on the horizon, it felt anything but simple.
Chapter seven
The outpost was a shining spire in the distance, a scar that cut through the untamed landscape. As the hours passed, it grew larger and larger, swallowing up more of the horizon. Soon, they'd be back in civilization.
Elian's heart sank.
He'd known from the start that Rael was taking him for nefarious reasons. There was no other reason for an alien warlord to go on a road trip with a human. A human on Vasz…
The bounty on Elian's head had to be enough to buy a small moon, enough to fund Rael's people for years.
Elian swallowed. What kind of prison was waiting for him? What kind of trial? What kind of punishment?
He had to escape.
Somehow.
Elian tore his gaze away from the approaching outpost and looked at Rael. As they passed yet another marker leading them toward the outpost, the environment around them changing from thick wood to cleared land, Rael's brow was creased with worry. His jaw was tight, his sharp eyes troubled.
Elian had only known Rael for a few days, but he already had the impression that it was rare to see Rael anything other than cooly confident. The sight sent a strange pang of concern through Elian. "What is it?"
Rael hesitated, then let out a breath. "I don't belong in cities," he said, eyeing the open land ahead of them. "I belong in the wilds. The lands where I can hunt, where I can fight for my territory. Not this."
He gestured towards the approaching outpost, as if the mere sight of it offended him. "Not all the politics, the backstabbing, the never-ending games."
"Games?" Elian said. "I thought you alpha guys liked all that stuff. Showing off, throwing your weight around — that's your kind of thing, isn't it?"
