Tyrant of Jarl (Rift Warrior Book 4), page 18
“Steady now,” said a gruff enforcer. “Captain wants him conscious.”
We stopped before a relatively fancy door. Synthetic—not the rough wood most buildings used. The door swung open to reveal a suite that belonged on Earth, not this frozen backwater.
Captain Jern’s quarters were obscenely rich, for Jarl. The room was warm—too warm—heated by a crackling fireplace built from river stones. Thick rugs covered the floor, each one worth a month’s rations for a colonist family. The furniture was solid and elegant, crafted from materials I hadn’t seen anywhere else on Jarl. A crystal decanter caught the firelight, refracting it across the room in dancing patterns.
The enforcers shoved me into a metal chair bolted to the floor. Manacles attached to the chair’s arms ratcheted around my wrists with well-machined precision. They were overkill, but I didn’t mind. The more security they applied, the more safe they’d consider themselves to be in my presence.
I took stock of the room while they secured me. Two doors: the main entrance and what looked like a bathroom or bedroom. Three windows, all reinforced but potentially breakable. The fireplace contained several metal tools that could serve as weapons. A letter opener sat on a desk near the window. The chair I was in had soldered points that might break under the right pressure.
Captain Jern stood watching the process, hands clasped behind her back. She was taller than most women on Jarl, with a lean, athletic build. Her uniform was tailored to hug her curves while maintaining its authoritative cut. Silver-streaked black hair was pulled back in a severe bun that emphasized sharp cheekbones and keen gray eyes. She could have been anywhere from thirty to forty—colony life made it hard to tell.
When the enforcers finished securing me, Jern gave a curt nod. “Leave us.”
A stocky enforcer hesitated. “Captain, he’s dangerous. The reports from—”
“I said leave us, Corporal.”
The enforcers filed out, each casting suspicious glances my way. The door closed with a solid thunk.
Jern circled my chair, studying me like a specimen. I fought the urge to smirk. My shoulder throbbed, and dried blood had glued my shirt to the wound. The room’s heat was making me sweat—but I gave no sign of that.
“Dane Tanner,” she said finally, stopping in front of me. “Yes, we know your real name. The mysterious stranger who’s caused more trouble in two weeks than I’ve seen in two years.”
I grinned through split lips. “Nice place you’ve got here, Captain. I’m sure the colonists would love to know where all their ‘requisitioned’ goods went.”
She laughed, a surprisingly genuine sound. “Oh, we don’t hide it, Mr. Tanner. Everyone knows the benefit of serving the Tyrant.” She moved to a cabinet and retrieved two crystal glasses. “Drink?”
“Given the circumstances, I’d be delighted.”
She poured red wine into both glasses. The liquid splashed against crystal. She set one on a small table near my chair, just out of reach.
“I’m curious,” she said, sipping from her glass. “What did Earth hope to accomplish by sending you here? Surely, they knew one man couldn’t destabilize an entire colony.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Earth? You’re assuming a lot, Captain.”
“Please.” She waved a dismissive hand. “I’ve been around long enough to recognize an XCU agent. Besides, Ingrid Dahl has told us everything she knows about you.”
It took a lot of willpower for me not to snarl. Such a traitor! I’d never been turned in by my local contact before. Given this detail, Jern was right. There was no more point in pretending to be some innocent wandered from a distant settlement.
Jern watched my face and smiled. Then she lifted my own wineglass to my lips. I’d hoped she’d free a hand—but she wasn’t that dumb. Deciding she could drug me anytime she wanted, I took a gulp.
She set the glass aside. “You have a particular blend of arrogance and a violent nature. The question is: why come here now? After all this time?”
I didn’t answer. Ingrid had called for help. Maybe she wasn’t telling anyone about that. Maybe she’d been compromised after she’d made the call to XCU. Whatever, I wasn’t in the mood to help either of these women.
Jern continued, pacing the room. “Your timing is fortunate, in any case. The rebellion you’ve sparked is doomed to fail. My enforcers are already moving to crush the outlying villages that have joined your cause.”
“They’re not part of my cause. They’re people who want to live without a boot on their necks.”
She stopped, facing me directly. “Idealism? From an XCU agent? Now I’ve heard everything.”
I shifted in the chair, testing the restraints. Solid, but not perfect. “Speaking of XCU, where’s Ingrid? You two seemed pretty cozy earlier.”
Jern’s smile was all teeth. “Agent Dahl has been most accommodating. She’s been playing both sides for months—feeding information to XCU while helping me maintain order. Quite the survivor.”
“And you trust her?” I asked. “Seems like a woman willing to betray one side might be willing to betray both sides.”
Her eyes narrowed slightly. Had a nerve been struck? “Ingrid understands the world as it is, not as she wishes it to be. She’s currently explaining to her XCU handlers that you’ve gone rogue. By tomorrow, Mr. Tanner, no one will be looking for you.”
The implications settled heavily. I was on my own. No extraction, no backup. Just me against an entire colony and its mad tyrant overlord.
“I’ve been meaning to ask,” I nodded toward the ceiling, toward space. “What’s his deal, anyway? Why stay up there on the colony ship in orbit instead of coming down here to play king on the ground? Is he afraid?”
Jern almost spat out her wine. “The Tyrant fears nothing! He has a vision for Jarl that extends beyond being just another struggling colony. He sees a future where we control our own destiny, not tied to Earth’s whims.”
“Sounds noble. So why all the oppression? The forced labor? The executions?”
“Necessary sacrifices.” She shrugged. “Evolution is painful, Mr. Tanner. The weak must give way to the strong. Those who can’t contribute must be... repurposed.”
“Repurposed?”
She tossed me a cold smile. “The colony ship interior has been altered. The Tyrant enjoys entertainment. Those who cause trouble find themselves providing that entertainment.”
“While you do all his dirty work down here on this frozen rock? Must be nice for him, sitting up there in comfort being entertained while you crush rebellions and break skulls down here in the snow.”
Something flashed in her eyes. Doubt? Resentment? It was gone quickly, but I’d seen it.
“I serve a greater purpose,” she said, sharply. “My position affords me certain… privileges.”
“Like this fancy room while people freeze outside?” I pressed. “Seems like he got the better end of the deal. You fight and die for his vision, while he watches from orbit.”
She stalked toward me, leaning close. I could smell her perfume—another luxury no one else on this planet could afford. Most of them stank to high heaven, despite the cold.
“You know nothing about our arrangement,” she hissed.
“I know a raw deal when I see one.”
A sharp knock interrupted us. Jern straightened, composure instantly restored.
“Enter,” she called.
A young enforcer burst in, breathing hard. “Captain, we have a situation. The rebels have hit three supply depots simultaneously. They’re using our own tactics against us.”
Jern’s face hardened. “Casualties?”
“Four enforcers dead. Six rebels.” The enforcer shifted uncomfortably. “They’re getting better at this, Captain. Someone with a brain is leading them.”
Jern’s gaze flicked to me, then back to the enforcer. “Prepare a full response team. I want those rebels crushed by the end of the month.”
“Yes, Captain.” The enforcer hesitated. “What about him?” He nodded toward me.
Jern considered me for a long moment. “Take him to cell block three. I’ll interrogate him personally after I deal with this situation.”
“Captain?” the enforcer looked uncomfortable. “Cell block three is at minimum staffing. We’ve deployed most guards to the perimeter.”
Jern frowned. “Fine. Leave him here. He’s secured to the chair, and I’ll return shortly.”
“You’ll need an escort—”
“What I need is for you to follow orders, Corporal,” she snapped. “Now go.”
The enforcer scurried out. Jern gathered a few items from her desk, radiating frustration.
“It seems our conversation will have to wait, Mr. Tanner,” she said. “Try not to bleed on my rugs.”
“No promises.”
She paused at the door. “When I return, you will tell me everything about your operation here. Names of contacts, safe houses, communication methods. Everything.”
“Looking forward to it.”
The door slammed behind her.
I immediately began working on the restraints, testing each manacle for weakness. The left one had a pin that wasn’t fully engaged. With some careful maneuvering, I might be able to—
The door opened again. I froze.
Captain Jern re-entered, alone. She’d removed her jacket, leaving just a fitted white shirt that emphasized her athletic figure. She carried her wine glass and the decanter.
“Change of plans,” she said, setting both on the table. “I’ve sent a pack of fools off to play response team, led by my lieutenant.”
She sauntered toward me, all her professionalism gone. Her eyes traveled slowly down my body, assessing.
“You know,” she said, pouring more wine, “we could make this interrogation more… civilized.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Uh… civilized? How?”
She moved behind my chair, fingers lightly tracing my shoulders. I winced when she fingered my wound.
“No one needs to know,” she said softly. “And I find conventional interrogation methods so… inefficient. I’ve always wanted to bed an Earthman. The oldsters who came aboard the ship have all died out—and they were disgusting in any case.”
Her hand slid down my chest. The move was calculated, practiced. This wasn’t her first time using sex as a weapon.
I wasn’t fooled, of course. She still wanted information. Entertainment too, no doubt—but mostly information.
I needed time to work on the restraint. If playing along bought me that time, so be it.
“You’re full of surprises, Captain Jern,” I said.
She came around to face me, sitting on my lap. Her weight pressed me into the chair.
It occurred to me now that the design of the chair was conducive to this sort of thing. It was wide, and held a man’s legs in an open position. Hmm…
“And please, call me Ada,” she whispered, unbuttoning her shirt.
What followed was a thorough and aggressive act. Ada Jern was a woman used to taking what she wanted. She kissed me roughly, bit hard enough to draw blood, and talked the entire time she bounced herself on my lap about what she would do to my rebel friends when she found them.
All the while, my left hand worked at the faulty restraint. Each time she slammed herself against me, grinding her hips, I gained a little more leverage. Her passion worked to my advantage—she was too distracted to notice my subtle movements.
“Tell me who’s leading these fools,” she demanded between kisses. “Give me names.”
“I work alone,” I lied. “Not with rubes. They’d only get in the way.”
She grabbed my hair, yanking my head back. “Liar! Someone’s teaching them military tactics. Is there another XCU agent? Did you bring a partner?”
I grinned up at her. “They’re quick learners.”
Her slap stung my cheek. “Don’t toy with me, Tanner. I can make your remaining time on Jarl very pleasant—or very unpleasant.”
“You’re doing a pretty good job of making things fun right now.”
That earned me a smile. She released my hair and continued her interrogation through more pleasurable means.
Some happy minutes later, Ada Jern lay sprawled across my lap, breathing heavily. Sweat glistened on her skin in the firelight. She’d given herself quite a workout.
“Ready to talk now?” she asked, running her tongue over my face.
I smiled. “Actually, yes.”
With a final twist, I popped open the manacle on my left wrist. In one fluid motion, I secured her wrist in it before she could react.
Her eyes widened as she realized what had happened. “You fucker—”
I stood, dumping her unceremoniously onto the floor, her right wrist was now secured to the chair I’d been trapped in. I worked on my other wrist, which was still attached to the chair. She attacked me, but I shoved her into the seat I’d recently been strapped into.
She drew in a breath to scream, but I put my face in hers, and I put a firm finger to her lips. “Quiet, or I’ll kill you before anyone comes.”
She panted, eyes rolling. She was mostly naked and unable to escape or fight effectively, so she finally relaxed.
“You’re a real bastard,” she hissed, yanking futilely at the restraint. “An abuser at heart—”
I snorted. “Seemed like you were enjoying yourself a moment ago.”
Ada twisted, but the cuff was enough to hold her in place. She wasn’t strong enough to do what I’d done—and she soon realized this.
She lunged to bite me, but I dodged easily. Her motion was now limited by the chain’s length.
“My enforcers will be back any minute!”
“Then I’d better not waste any time.” I’d finally found the key to the manacles in her leather pants, which she’d abandoned on the floor. I unlocked my second cuff and secured her wrist in its place. I dropped the key in my own pocket, buttoned my pants and knelt beside her.
For the first time, a touch of fear entered her expression. She squirmed and grunted, looking pretty good, but was unable to escape.
“Now, let’s have a real conversation about the Tyrant and that ship.”
Frustration contorted her features. “Release me immediately, or I’ll have you skinned alive and sent to the ship in pieces.”
She kicked at me, so I secured her ankles to the chair. She was now the one held helpless. “Here’s how this is going to work, Captain. You’re going to tell me everything about the Tyrant’s operation, the experiments up on that ship—and how to get up there.”
“I can’t do that,” she said, breathing hard, “but you can take me again. I can see that you want to…”
Glancing down, I frowned. It was true, she was tempting me.
Sensing an advantage, she smiled and played the demure victim. “Come on. Let’s have round two. Take your time, Tanner.”
I was slightly tempted, but I knew she just was dragging things out. Eventually, someone with a gun was going to walk in that door despite their orders to stay out.
For old times’ sake, however, I stole a kiss. She made it a good experience. She was either turned on again—or good at faking it.
When the kiss was done, I pulled away from her inviting form. What a she-demon this woman was! “Let’s start with something simple—how does one get invited aboard the colony ship?”
She glared at me, a sudden fury in her eyes. She was adapting, looking for angles, for leverage. I had to admire her resilience.
“What will you do if I don’t talk?”
“I’ll gag you, then cut off your pretty toes, then your pretty fingers. One at a time.”
Her eyes changed then. She looked surprised—and alarmed.
It was time for me to put on an act. I looked calm, cool—even happy to carry out the threat. “I can see you’re not interested in making a speech,” I said. “It’s time for some snipping, then we’ll speak again later.”
I rammed a dirty sock into her mouth. She whipped her head from side to side but couldn’t dislodge it. Thus gagged, she made little shrieks and her eyes widened as I searched a metal box and found a suitable tool for the job.
I went as far as to place her smallest, manicured and painted toe in the blades of my scavenged shears. Throughout this bluff, I smiled while she became increasingly freaked out. I could tell she believed me. The kind of evil I’d described wasn’t out of the question here on Jarl. People always believed you were capable of doing things they could do themselves.
She made some urgent noises, so I finally removed the gag. “What?”
“The Tyrant selects who ascends,” she said hoarsely, breathing and sweating profusely. I’d broken her. “Only his most loyal servants are permitted to board.”
“And you’ve been up there?”
She gave me a small, proud smile. “Many times.”
I could only imagine why the Tyrant had chosen this vixen for these “special missions.” Ada was a hot one, nobody could argue about that.
“How do you communicate with him? To arrange transport?”
Her eyes flicked toward the desk.
I stood up and moved to the desk, keeping her in my peripheral vision. In the top drawer, I found what I was looking for—a small communications device unlike anything I’d seen on Jarl so far. It was Earth-tech, but modified.
“Nice toy,” I said, examining it. “I presume it’s a direct line to your boss?”
“Only I can use it,” she snapped. “You have no idea what security measures—”
I pocketed the device. “I’m starting to get the picture. Now, about getting up to that ship...”
A crash from outside interrupted us. Shouts echoed through the building.
Jern watched me and her smile turned evil again. “Sounds like my enforcers are back early. What’s your plan now, Tanner?”
I moved to the window, peering out. The town of Northaven had dark figures running in the streets. Freedom fighters? Fires burned in several buildings. Were the colonists and enforcers clashing in the streets?
