The Defender by Julie Rollins

Author:Julie Rollins [Rollins, Julie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: science fiction
ISBN: 9780979641374
Publisher: Gyroscope Books
Published: 2012-11-24T22:00:00+00:00

Patting his stuffed belly, David complimented Todd on his cooking.

Todd set a second bowl of lamb on the table. “Say, David, now that you’ve defeated an army of five hundred, perhaps you can help us figure out what to do with the lone mel-hanor we captured. I say we toast him, but Debbie doesn’t like that idea.”

“She’s right, Todd. You don’t ‘toast’ prisoners of war. Where is he now?”

“In your old room. We bound him up and tied a bag over his head.”

Grimacing, David looked down at his dirty plate.

“What’s wrong?” Todd whispered.

“Take me to him,” David said. “Bring your caruk, some raw lamb, and a bowl of water.”

“You’re going to feed him?”

“Dala. Haven’t you read, ‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him’?”

“Yeah…but…well…never mind!” Todd grabbed the provisions and followed David. He had his caruk ready before David opened the door.

The mel-hanor lay on the ground beside David’s bed.

“Phew! It stinks in here,” Todd exclaimed.

“It’s your own fault, Todd. You should have escorted him to the bathroom.”

“Thanks, I’ll remember that next time,” Todd retorted.

The mel-hanor growled.

“Hold still while I cut your bonds,” David instructed the mel. Pulling out his pocketknife, he sawed through the leather thongs. “You tied these awfully tight.”

Todd fidgeted. “I had to. We were afraid he’d get loose and kill us all.”

“This must hurt.” When David finished, he pulled the bag off their captive’s head.

The mel-hanor blinked in the light.

“What is your name?” David asked.

Growling, the mel-hanor answered, “I won’t tell unless you torture me. It is bad enough that I have been so humiliated. I don’t want my name to become the butt of jokes on Morsala!”

“Dala, I understand. Are you hungry?” David asked.

The mel snorted. “What kind of tormentor are you? You give me nothing to eat, and then you ask if I am hungry!”

“Here.” David set down a bowl of meat and a bowl of water. “Give shalar to my friend Todd. He is learning how to handle prisoners. He made your bonds tight because he feared your great strength.”

That seemed to please the mel-hanor and his demeanor brightened. “You speak well and treat me different. Do you fear my great strength?”

“Myute, but I respect it.”

The mel-hanor sniffed the meat, licked it, and ravenously devoured it. Unaccustomed to drinking bowls, he dumped the bowl of water into his mouth. Half the liquid ran down his face.

The mel watched David with golden-brown eyes and asked, “Why are you doing this? Who are you?”

“My name is David. I am also known as the vadelah.”

“Clishtip! You are the vadelah?” Sitting back on his haunches, he stared at David. “Where are your scars from Merloc?”

David took off his cloak and removed his shirt. The nasty marks on his shoulder were quite evident. Todd’s eyes wandered to the bruise on David’s stomach, but he held his tongue.

“Clishtip,” the mel-hanor whispered. “I believe you. Why have you given me food and water? Do you have an especially long and painful torture planned for me?”

“Myute, I just didn’t want you to be uncomfortable.

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