Rogue Warriors of Lorr
Stolen by the Alien Prince Chapter 4

They took a transport through the city for a short while until the streets narrowed and looked rougher. The last bus stop was at a nasty looking bar, and the driver barely paused long enough for them to get out before turning and gunning it back to the city center. Gianna wondered for a moment what sorts of transports Kozien was used to riding in. She doubted they looked anything like the bus that had just clunked away from them, coughing up black gusts of exhaust as it plowed awkwardly back up the narrow road. He's probably used to air cars and fully fitted luxury shuttles. I bet they even serve five-star meals. Gianna's stomach growled loudly, making Kozien look over at her in surprise. She laughed softly.

"Sorry," she whispered. "I haven't eaten in a while."

"No problem." Kozien shrugged. "We need to get a room anyway. It will be safer to lay low in an inn than try to travel further tonight."

"Okay." She paused, waiting for him to lead the way. "I'll go along with whatever you have planned."

He reached out and took her hand, his violet skin incredibly smooth against her own callused palm. She wondered how a prince had gotten so good at navigating the worst parts of town, but she decided it probably had a lot to do with hiding from the royal guard. Maybe they don't like traveling to the really violent areas of town, or they just assume he wouldn't go there.

Gianna kept her eyes down and didn't speak while Kozien bargained for a room at an inn. Finally, they reached an agreement, and he led her through the dusty stone corridors to a small room with a single bed.

Even though she gave the bed a sidelong glance, she didn't mention it to Kozien. If it came down to an argument, he could have it. The floor would suit her just fine.

I've slept in worse places.

Kozien went out to get them some food while Gianna made herself as comfortable as she could in a soft chair. The entire inn was dark and grimy as if it had never been cleaned. The streets outside were noisy, the gruff voices of males grating harshly against feminine whines and the occasional shout of a child.

Sounds just like home.

The thought gave her no comfort. When Kozien returned with a few bowls of dumplings, meat sticks and rice, she tucked in, washing it down with cold sips of beer he'd managed to acquire.

"I'll say something for the poor," Kozien commented as he gulped down the ale. "They know how to make a good brew."

Gianna grinned at him, taking another sip and swirling the little clay cup. "It's dry, shelled kernels of something like corn." She sipped it again. "There are wheat stalks in it... I think it's flavored with barley sugar. Not the purified stuff, but the byproduct that's left when you cut the seed. It'll be soaked in pure rainwater, the barrel was probably just left on the roof to catch the liquid and then ferment in the sun."

"How do you know all of that?" Kozien sounded amazed.

Gianna shrugged. "I'm a street rat. I know all about the ways of the poor."

"But how?" Kozien pressed.

Gianna sighed. "I was eight and my little brother, Gabe, was five when we first came from Earth to look for a place to live up on Noxxa. We were staying at a very nice, upscale establishment in the main city, and my parents went out early to look at land." Gianna looked into her cup, swirling the amber liquid. "They left us in the care of the merchant's wife. It was only supposed to be an hour. But a shuttle crashed, and our parents were killed."

Gianna's hands shook, just a little, as she recalled that time of her life. "The merchant and his wife sent us to an orphanage. Apparently, that was mercy because they could have sold us. Still, it was like nothing we had ever seen."

She looked up to see Kozien watching her with big, shimmering eyes. In the darkness of the room, his eyes almost seemed to glow.

"The orphanage didn't have any private rooms or even enough beds. We fought for blankets and every last scrap of food. The only way to stay alive was to learn to steal and commit other petty crimes."

Gianna looked away from Kozien's gaze. She was pretty sure she could see pity there, and it was worse than if he had judged her harshly for how she'd had to survive.

"That's why you said he was probably looking for a big score," Kozien pointed out. "Because both of you have done questionable things, but if you make a big enough mark, it solves all your problems forever."

"Yes," she muttered. "Gabe always takes it too far, and he spends his money too quickly. He could have done quite well as a laborer, but he said it was too hard and not enough money."

"True enough," Kozien agreed as he finished his beer. "I've seen those guys get whipped to death."

Gianna shuddered, thanking any gods who might be listening that such a thing had never happened to her or Gabe.

"I can't repay you for this, any of it," she whispered, trying not to look at him.

"I know," he answered. She looked up and saw no judgment or hesitation on his face. Apparently, he wasn't going to let her lack of credits stop him.

They finished their food in silence, thoughts weighing heavily on them both. While Kozien took the bed and rolled over to sleep without a second thought, Gianna sat up in the armchair and felt more anxious with each passing minute. Gabe got himself into scrapes. It was just something he did. Now that he'd gone and buried himself in the worst trouble yet, she felt bad about dragging Kozien into this. He had his own problems, but now he was right in the thick of this. Kozien was fairly innocent or appeared to be. He was also honest and generous by wanting to stay even though she couldn't pay him.

The unfairness of the situation hit her hard. She couldn't do this to him. If they continued, Kozien would get hurt because of her.

Moving slowly so she would not wake him, Gianna quickly scribbled a note on the back of the receipt and then slipped out of the room and disappeared into the night.

The noises of the merchants opening their stalls on the streets roused Kozien from a sound sleep. The room was dimly lit yet as the sun was barely above the horizon. He sat up quickly, looking around for Gianna.

When he saw that the room was empty, he didn't worry too much. His first thought was that she would be hungry and he was anxious to feed her. But before he could take two steps away from the bed, though, he saw her note on the table.

Kozien. I appreciate all you have done for me, but I can't endanger you in the search for my brother. You have far too many of your own burdens to carry. Get off this planet and take care of yourself.

G

Anger and fear rose in him as he crumpled the note in his fist. No way was he going to leave her. Stranding an innocent woman would not have set well with him under any circumstances, but he was pretty sure his growing attraction to her meant she was his true mate.

Kozien stood still for a moment, taking long, deep breaths. He didn't think she would be easy to find, and he was going to risk exposing himself if he went running around in public. If word got out that the Lorr prince was hiding out in this quarter, everyone would become his enemy.

He wrapped himself in his hooded cloak, hoping he looked like one of the strange, oversized aliens that had oddly scaled faces. Those guys were often covered up in public, and no one dared ask them to remove their hood.

Kozien hit the streets, weaving through the morning crowds. As the sun rose, gaining strength and light, the markets got even busier. He rather enjoyed the chaos. The hawking calls of the merchants and the shrill cries of the patrons were a complete change of pace from the dignified manner of the inner city.

Kozien couldn't ask around for Gianna because he would expose himself and most likely her, as well. She was probably still disguised and wouldn't have been recognized even if she passed people she knew.

It took Kozien some time, but he worked through a couple of betting houses, eventually ending up in the backstreets where serious games were held. There were no rules but higher stakes. He tried to track down Gabe, not Gianna. He didn't want to use her name, so instead, he acted as if Gabe owed him money.

Far too many people dared him to run Gabe down and make him pay. It seemed he was not a popular man.

Around midday, Kozien had stopped for a rest and a cold beer when a skinny, unkempt fellow paused by his table. "You looking for Gabe, mister?"

Kozien looked up, casually. "Maybe. Why?"

"Because he's not around, that's why. You're wasting your time. If he owes you money, forget about it. It's gone."

"How would you know this?" Kozien grinned.

The man shrugged. "I'm his best friend, Oliver. That's how I know. He hasn't been around for days. If anyone knew where he was, it'd be me." "Oliver." Kozien held out a hand. "Pleased to meet you."

Oliver looked at the purple fingers extended out of the sleeve of the loose robe. "You're from Lorr. I thought you were one of those scaley fuckers!" "Good." Kozien withdrew his hand. "That's exactly the impression I wanted to give. You won't tell anyone I'm a Lorr warrior. Will you?"

"No." Oliver shook his head. "Certainly not!"

Kozien knew that certainty would not hold up if the royal guard were standing in front of him with a stack of credits. "Anyway, even though I am tracking Gabe, I'm doing it on behalf of his sister, Gianna. She seems to have slipped away from me. Do you have any idea where she might be?"

"No one's seen her for days, neither," Oliver muttered. "It's like she disappeared with Gabe."

"I know she didn't because I was here with her last night."

Oliver whistled softly. "So, she's alive? That's good."

"Where would she be, Oliver?" Kozien kept his voice smooth and calm. He was tempted to offer money, but if Oliver realized he was royalty, he could bring the guards down on top of them both.

"I tell you what," Oliver said. "I'll give you directions to their old place. It's not far. She might have gone back there. I'm afraid it's the best I can do."

Kozien wasn't convinced that Oliver didn't know more, but for now, this was all he needed. There would be time to track Oliver down again in the future if necessary.

Oliver gave him directions to the place where Gabe and Gianna lived. Kozien thanked him and left, hoping Oliver wouldn't try and cash in by giving him up to the royal guard.

It would be bad enough for Kozien and Gianna if he did, but it probably wouldn't go well for Oliver, either-the royal guard would rather kill him than pay him.