The Dark Prince's Prize

Prologue-3

Hamade Dos stood in the shadows, watching the Ha’darra Prince. His eyes glittered with rage, and he tightened his grasp on the grip of his blaster. The Curizan had easily eliminated the Bovdean assassin. It was the fool’s own fault for underestimating the skills of a Curizan prince.

“Do you want me to draw him out?” Lesher Comoros asked in a hushed voice from behind him.

“No. The Curizan already will have ordered each vessel searched. It is best for us to wait,” he instructed.

“But why?” Lesher protested with a disgruntled frown. “He is right there! A single blast between his eyes would be one step closer to ending the Ha’darra family. Ben’qumain—” His voice faded when he saw the chilling gleam in his superior’s eyes.

“Ben’qumain is an i***t who will get himself killed. If you want to sacrifice yourself for the cause, that is fine, but not when it will compromise my escape—besides, he is shielded somehow, probably with a device his twin created. I cautioned Ben’qumain that his half-brothers would not fall easily. He should have let me deal with the three of them years ago,” Hamade said.

“What about the d’Rojahs? Can they be blamed if you kill Ha’darra?” Lesher suggested, referring to the Sarafin Royals.

Irritation coursed through him. “Ha’ven Ha’darra and Vox d’Rojah have formed too close a bond to fall for that ruse again. I have someone on the inside who will deal with the d’Rojahs. Now that the royal families have united, a different approach must be taken,” Hamade replied.

Lesher frowned and stared at Adalard Ha’darra with a grim expression. Hamade ignored his lieutenant and stepped into the stream of merchants and shoppers. Lesher followed a minute later.

It wasn’t that Hamade didn’t trust Lesher with his plans; he didn’t trust anyone. His allegiance was to a higher power than that of the jealous Curizan or the power-hungry Valdier. It was time for a new power to rule the star systems. One created by a God.

No matter how long it takes, he vowed before he entered a shop to avoid the Curizan General and a group of Curizan warriors walking in his direction.