Chapter 11

Casina slept well into the next day. At some point, she recalled hearing voices while she slept, but they faded in and out at various intervals. 

When her eyes finally opened to the bright afternoon sunshine streaming through the open glass doors, it was to spy Mrovia in a chair propped back against the wall, snoring softly with her mouth open. 

Casina grinned at sight of her before rolling onto her back. She gave a long, leisurely stretch, breathing deeply of the fresh air. Not really wanting to get up, she lounged on the bed a moment. She felt rested and more like herself, but she had lost interest in doing anything except staying in bed, where it was safe. Unfortunately, the call of nature was stronger than her resolve, so she managed a quick trip into the bath chamber. When she returned, it was to find Mrovia still dozing in the chair. 

An idea struck her then, and all thought of remaining in her room vanished. She snatched up the clean clothes the woman had already laid out for her and returned to the bath chamber to dress. If her luck held out, she could duck outside before anyone even knew she was gone. She only hoped that no guard was posted at the bottom of the balcony steps, or he'd stop her for sure, once she made it that far. 

Ten minutes later, she was already several hundred feet from the palace. She saw no one about the garden and figured that if she played her cards right, she could find a secluded spot and escape over the wall before anyone even missed her. The aliens would never expect her to make another escape attempt just then, she assumed. So if she was fortunate, she might be able to make it to an unattended spaceship before anyone even figured out where she had gone. 

"Drat," she fumed, when she discovered all the trees had been trimmed back, making it impossible to get over the wall again. But surely, they might have missed a spot, she reasoned. So, running along the wall, she peered about for another way, or for a tree branch that may have been overlooked. Considering she had finally been allowed some pants and tall boots, she knew her efforts in climbing would be so much easier, were she able to find a tree to climb. But...nothing. "Drat," she said again, before slowly making her way back to her suite. She hadn't covered the entire garden since it was so huge but figured the aliens were taking no chances this time, so why bother with the rest of it? 

It was as she had figured would happen. There was now a guard present by the balcony steps, and he was having words with, of all people, the dreaded commander. Nuts. 

At sight of her slinking toward them with a sheepish expression, both men turned their attention on her. But she could read neither of them. Still, she knew it didn't bode well for her this time. She stopped before them, dropping her gaze to their booted feet. 

"No luck this time?" the commander said. 

Grimacing, she shook her head, still keeping her guilty gaze averted. 

"You may go," she heard him tell the guard, who gratefully hurried away, out of the line of fire. But when he remained silent overlong, Casina finally glanced up at him, curiosity overcoming her fear of more punishment. But he was just standing there, watching her quietly. 

"I'm...sorry," she said. "I just couldn't...resist...an opportunity." 

"I'm glad to see you are feeling better. Have you eaten?" Again, she shook her head as he put a hand to her and directed her back up the wide steps to the balcony. "Then eat quickly. I have business I must attend to. Your disappearing acts only get in the way." 

This had never occurred to her before, and a twinge of guilt arose to linger in her gut. Her selfish escapades were obviously affecting more important things. Still, she wondered why the man never yelled at her. He always seemed so...understanding, and it puzzled her. He was certainly not what she thought an alien might be like. 

Mrovia was sitting on the bed, sniffing again, when they entered the room. At sight of Casina, she gave a grateful sob and jumped up. But before she could say anything, Casina apologized. 

"I seem to be making this a habit, and I'm sorry," she said. 

"Hurry and eat," the commander interrupted, and she could sense his impatience. Surprised by this, she moved to the tray by her bed and began shovelling in the tasty, yet cold food and merida that fifteen minutes ago had probably been steaming hot. 

He then, to her surprise, ushered her from the room and down a massive corridor, filled with opulent paintings and other decorations that were clearly of alien design. But she wasn't even allowed to stop and admire them, so swiftly did he move her along. Realizing he must be pressed for time, she brooked no resistance, making every attempt to obey him now. She didn't want to push her luck, where he was concerned. Being put back inside a suspension receptacle was the last thing she wanted just then. 

Outside stood a boréa, again with only one saddle. 

"Oh, great," she mumbled, wondering if he was going to throw her over the thing's neck again. She stepped aside as he swung himself onto the great beast. 

"Come," he said, waving an impatient hand at her. 

She had reservations but was quick to take it, nevertheless. He easily lifted her into his arms, to sit directly in front of him, and her heart swelled with unfamiliar emotion at this surprising, yet intimate contact. His arms came around her to take the reins, and she could feel his warm breath on her neck as he pulled her tighter against him, the musky scent of his cologne swirling about her. 

"So you won't escape," he told her, before kicking the flanks of his boréa. With a jolt, the animal sprang to life. Then, at breakneck speed, he directed the creature away from the palace in a flurry of dirt and gravel. 

When they arrived at the airstrip, Jeiel Vernier awaited them. The commander shouted something alien to him then quickly slid Casina off his mount. Once on the ground beside her, he took her arm, shouted something else to Jeiel, then hastened her across the tarmac, to a small craft similar to the one she had tried stealing while aboard the ship that had brought her there. What had they called 

it? Oh, yes. A canvas module. 

"Wh-Where are we going?" Casina asked, balking somewhat, as bad memories washed over her. 

"You're spending the day with me," he said in a flat tone, daring her to argue the point. 

He ushered her up the steps and inside. He then shoved her into a console seat and ordered her to stay put, as his small crew hurriedly secured the doors and put the ship to flight. 

Casina watched as he moved to a piloting seat, sharing words with the crew members, who wasted no time in doing his bidding. 

Impressive, she thought to herself, never having seen this side of him before. Listening as he tossed orders about, she admired his profile from where she sat behind and catercorner to him. 

Although she didn't know the alien words he spoke, she got the gist of it by the increased activity of his men. 

With incredible efficiency, the ship whisked off into space, sending them who knew how many miles in almost the blink-of-an-eye. 

Awed by the experience, the last thing she was considering right then was escaping. This time, she decided to sit back and enjoy the ride. Perhaps I might even learn something about really flying 

one of these babies, she thought, grinning to herself. 

An hour or so later, they landed on the outskirts of a large city, from what she could discern from the visual on the small view screen of the interior control panel and the port holes around her. Tall, clay-colored buildings of unusual stone masonry and textures were visible, as well as hundreds of quaint-looking homes seemingly packed together. 

When the ship touched down on a flat piece of grassland, several meters from the city limits, and the doors were opened, the commander left his seat to motion her outside. 

"Where are we?" she asked as they disembarked. 

"Dandor." 

But that was all the information he would give her. Still pressed for time, he and the four men with them kept a brisk pace. 

Casina knew it was because of her that they were late and felt guilty. Frowning, she silently allowed them to hurry her along, to wherever it was they were headed. 

When they entered the crowded metropolis of Dandor, she was taken aback by the cobbled streets and incredible architecture. It seemed like some place out of eighteenth-century Earth, what with the open public square and crowds of people milling about the market place. 

At sight of the commander and his party, a sense of excitement stirred the masses. Casina watched as they turned to greet them, crowding about them. Panicking, Casina moved closer to the commander and was grateful when his crewmen stepped forward to hold everyone back. Efficiently, they did their job, growling their displeasure at the people, so the commander and Casina could make their way freely to the large building sitting in the middle of the square. The commander quickly yanked open the heavy door of the building, his hand at Casina's back as he directed her inside. 

The vestibule was dark but Casina felt his hand on her as he pushed her forward, through an open doorway, which led them down a short hallway, to a balcony. Below was a massive room filled literally to the rafters with men, openly arguing about something in their queer language. 

What's this all about? she wondered. 

"Come," she was told, as the alien then took her arm to lead her down the wide staircase that brought them into the midst of the crowd. Frightened by the intense negativity she sensed there, she sidled closer to him as he led her through the center of the congregation, to the front of the room. She was amazed at the sudden hush that instantly fell over the room at their appearance. Moving to the dais where sat two elderly men behind a wide podium, the commander hastened to push her into a chair beside them before turning to the crowd of Dandorians. Knowing better than to interrupt, Casina remained silent, curious as to what was happening. 

She sensed a difference in these aliens. Although of similar dark hair and coloring as the commander and other aliens she had seen, the Dandorians dressed differently, wearing ankle-length robes over black leggings and uniquely-designed sandals. The robes were gold and green, with billowed sleeves and red fringe on their hems. The commander usually wore skin-tight clothes and tall black boots, as did most of his men, when they weren't walking about bare-chested. Not that she was complaining. The men she had seen were in incredible physical shape. But these men were more heavy and shorter in stature. 

The commander gave a powerful speech to the assembly. Casina couldn't understand the words he spoke, but the expressions of the people present were ones of respect mingled with understanding. They nodded their heads along with whatever he was saying, some taking notes while others whispered to those beside them. Then, at the end of his talk, the commander turned to the two men with her and motioned them forward. The men rose and made toward the podium, pulling forth an odd plate with a wide, flat screen atop it. They handed it to the commander, who flicked his palm across it to light it. 

Casina watched the careful consideration the commander gave each page of whatever was on the plate, nodding as he read or making comments to the two men. A long while later, she watched them hand him some sort of writing instrument, which he used to sign or mark several of them. At the sigh of relief coming from the crowd as they watched, Casina felt a strange warmth in her chest as she observed the proceedings. Whatever the commander was doing met with the approval of the majority. 

As she observed the commander, she had her first real opportunity to study him more closely than before. He appeared to be in his late twenties or early thirties and wore an air of confidence and intelligence that impressed her, as well as did his leadership ability while giving his talk. For some reason, these characteristics attracted her as much as his physical beauty. As usual, he was wearing tight black pants and boots. Only this time, he wore a black vest and the gold medallion he had worn previously. His large biceps and well-muscled chest stood out, as did his long black hair flowing loosely about his broad shoulders. Smoking hot would be what Jenny Tompkins would have to say about him. Heck, he was more gorgeous than any movie star or fashion model she had ever seen, that was for certain. 

Memories of the commander's kiss made her blush then, and she had a strong urge to feel his lips pressed against hers again. Then, as if aware of her thoughts, the commander suddenly glanced over at her, as he handed the plate back to the two men. A strange light entered his ebony eyes as he met her gaze, but she quickly dropped hers to her lap, feeling ashamed at her unexpected thoughts toward him. Her enemy. 

Another short speech soon brought the men to their feet, cheering and raising their hands with delight at what had just taken place. Casina looked again at the commander, wondering what had just happened. He smiled and waved briefly at the assembly then hurriedly turned her way. "We are done here," he said, taking her hand to draw her up, to lead her back through the crowded room, up the stairs, and back outside. 

To their dismay, many outside, having heard the commotion inside, were now blocking the exit, with the commander's men trying to keep them at bay. The commander tolerated only so much of their good-natured remarks and touch, before ordering them to disperse. Surprisingly, Casina noticed that his men seemed overwhelmed by the sudden influx of people that seemingly came from out of nowhere to surround them. 

As they attempted to push through the throngs of people pressing them, Casina felt someone take her arm and pull her backwards. Her hand slipped from the commander's as the masses suddenly surged forward to surround him, breaking off all contact with her. 

When a hand suddenly came over her mouth and around her waist as someone hurriedly whisked her away, she knew she was in trouble. Her struggles and muffled protests were futile in the wake of the tumultuous noise of the crowd as they surrounded the commander and his men. 

"Casina!" she heard the commander shout, but it was too late. 

* * * * 

The next thing Casina knew, she was being hustled away into a building down the street, out of the commander's sight. 

Once inside, two strangers grabbed her and took her through a maze of long hallways. Then she was taken down a flight of stairs, through the dank basement there, then out a side door. There awaited an incredibly beautiful woman, with pouting red lips, and dressed in shiny black breeches, a white top, and a long, glittering black vest. Her dark hair was coiled tightly atop her head, with long black ringlets hanging about her shoulders. When she saw Casina, she smirked at her, then moved forward to grab her wrist. The man holding Casina put his arm about her neck and waist, so she was helpless to prevent this. 

The woman turned Casina's wrist over for her inspection, briefly rubbing a thumb over the mark there. Angry, she released her wrist with a jarring snap and stepped back. She made a comment in alien but soon realized that Casina didn't understand the language. With a haughty snort, she sparked an order which soon flung Casina into a nearby transport vehicle, some unique alien invention, that was soon carrying her off to who-knows-where again. All Casina could think of then was of what the commander must be thinking at her sudden disappearance. And for the first time ever, since arriving in Jupitar, did Casina realize just how much that bothered her.