Warlord’s Return – Third Scene Of The First Chapter
Warlord’s Return releases on November 3rd. As we wait, I’ve been sharing scenes from the first chapter.
You can read the first scene from the first chapter of Warlord’s Return here:
http://tasteofcyn.com/?p=7513
This week I’m sharing the third scene of that first chapter.
***
His yearning for battle had always been stronger than it had
been for the other warriors. He was the only one inflicted with the os
khonzon.
When they were at war, everyone had fought, and the
difference hadn’t been as noticeable.
Now, it was accentuated.
A gerel might lessen the gap. If…when he uncovered
her location.
The female genetically meant for him wasn’t situated in the
Chamele sector. He had been included in too many transmissions, been involved
in too many campaigns, for her to have not heard his voice, to have known he
was hers.
She wouldn’t be found in the Refuge, where they were headed.
During their last visit to Carinae E’s largest settlement, he had purposefully
met as many beings living there as possible, stealthily looking for her.
He hadn’t located her.
That left Ariq with a choice.
He could search for his gerel on other planets. If he was
fortunate, those planets might be hostile. He could participate in a few more
battles while he looked for his female.
That appealed to him…greatly.
But he would have to part temporarily from Second, Qulpa,
the rest of the warriors. Chameles were very insular. They rarely left their sector.
He couldn’t ask them to make that sacrifice for him.
The other option was to accept his unbonded status, come to
terms with always being the single in a grouping of couples, watch as the
younger warriors like Yesun and eventually, Rinchinbal, met their gerels.
He could ease the os khonzon, the vengeance, with
trips to Chamele 4, the hunting planet. It was occupied by the Chamele clones
now, but they would grant him permission to track and kill prey there.
That would be…bearable.
His nose wrinkled. His choice was, in truth, no choice. He had
to search for his gerel. That, at the minimum, would give him a purpose.
When he found his female, he would return with her to the
Chamele sector. Eventually they would move to his birthing settlement on
Chamele 2.
He squared his shoulders and entered the bridge.
As predicted, Second and Qulpa held their gerels on their
laps. The chatter stopped and the females straightened as they noted his
presence.
Ariq gritted his teeth and claimed his seat beside Second. “Beverage
and nourishment bars have been delivered to our stowaway.”
“It can’t be sanitary in the ceiling.” Lead Medic, Second’s
gerel, frowned.
“Are you implying my ship is dirty?” Second would have previously
fought a being who had dared to utter such an insult. But that was in the past.
This planet rotation, he appeared amused with his human’s comment, his eyes
sparkling with mirth.
“Bots are assigned to the ceiling spaces.” Head of Ship and
Weapons Design, Qulpa’s gerel, tapped on the viewscreen resting on her
leather-clad thighs. “I’ve doubled their allotted time for cleaning.”
Qulpa kissed the top of her head. His hands were on the
viewscreen embedded in the console. The pilot preferred to be in constant
communication with the warship.
“The ceilings aren’t comfortable for a young female.”
Lead Medic expanded on her concerns for Lysagh.
Being on the bridge wasn’t comfortable for Ariq. “She
chooses to be stay there.” His jaw firmed. “I will respect that choice.” He would
also defend it. “And we have mere planet rotations left in the journey.”
There was a long pause.
The warriors and their gerels looked at each other. They
were communicating silently.
Excluding him.
Ariq stared at the main viewscreen, at the vastness of
space, and he contemplated joining Lysagh in her ceiling hideaway.
“I’ll design a bot for her.” Head of Ship and Weapons Design
broke the silence. “Everyone needs a friend.”
Zondoo. Ariq pressed his lips together. She was likely
designing a bot for him too.
“I—”
“There’s an incoming communication.” Ariq interrupted
whatever it was Qulpa planned to say. “It’s originating from Carinae E.”
“Hulagu must be contacting us.” Second smiled.
Hulagu, Second’s brother, was the primary reason for the
visit to the planet. That warrior had found his gerel also.
“I’m opening communications.” Ariq warned the occupants of
the bridge.
A shadowed face appeared on the main viewscreen. He
straightened. That darkened countenance belonged to Kralj, the Ruler of the
Refuge.
A surge of energy flowed over Ariq. It lifted the small
hairs on his arms, caused his skin to tingle.
The all-powerful,
all-knowing modified humanoid was one of the scariest beings he had ever
encountered. His unique abilities extended through the communication lines.
***
Read the next scene (available October 26th) here: http://tasteofcyn.com/?p=7519
***
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Warlord’s Return
Ariq is a barbarian warrior seeking a war.
He locates that battle when he meets Xareni.
* * *
Ariq is one of Chamele’s top warriors. A genetic
predisposition to fighting, paired with intensive training and experience, has
honed the scarred male into an effective killing machine. He loves war, can’t
live without combat.
The Succession Wars, however, have finally ended and the
Chamele sector is now at peace. Seeking excitement and purpose, the barbarian
warrior accompanies his Second to the Refuge, an outlaw settlement on Carinae
E. He hopes to locate the battle he’s been craving there.
Ariq finds that conflict and more when he meets his fated
mate.
Xareni owes the Ruler of the Refuge a favor. That’s the only
reason she has returned to the settlement. She doesn’t like crowds or
structures or a certain barbarian warrior who insists on following her
everywhere. It doesn’t matter that there’s a connection between them, that he
makes her burn with desire, that he looks at her with heat in his dark eyes.
She’s a monster and monsters don’t need anyone.
* * *
Warlord’s Return is a STANDALONE Alien Barbarian SciFi
Romance featuring a determined barbarian warrior, an equally resolute human
female, and an eyeball-eating mini dragon.
Pre-order Now:
Amazon US:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08FTJY7P1
Amazon UK:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08FTJY7P1
Amazon AUS:
https://www.amazon.com.au/gp/product/B08FTJY7P1
Apple Books:
https://books.apple.com/us/book/warlords-return/id1527631786
B&N:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/warlords-return-cynthia-sax/1137482152
Kobo:
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/warlord-s-return
Smashwords:
