the number of matches—it doesn’t provide a time frame.”
Varga stroked his chin thoughtfully. “I believe you are correct. But if you attempt more frequent matches, you will not have any time to recover between them. Or to train for the next one.”
Baralt shrugged. “The matches will serve as training.”
“You know this is a risky proposition.”
He had considered that, of course, debating his options on the way to Varga’s quarters. Without sufficient time to either recover or train, he would be taking a chance. On the other hand, he wasn’t looking for prestigious opponents. He didn’t care if his ranking slipped, and in fact, he would be forced to accept any available matches if he wanted to complete them all before his time with Isabel came to an end. It would have been much harder at any other time of the year, but this was the final feast week before the annual break, and there were a number of matches every day.
“I know,” he said. “But I don’t have any alternative.”
“What’s your hurry? I thought you intended to sign up for an additional year.”
“My plans have changed.” He hesitated, still not entirely sure about revealing his scheme, but he needed Varga’s help, and he trusted the other male as much as he trusted anyone. “I don’t intend to leave by myself.”
Varga studied him, and Baralt could see the wheels turning behind that impassive face.
“The slave,” he said at last.
“Yes.”
“Well, that definitely complicates matters.” Varga stood and strode over to the window, staring out across the empty sand. “Once your contract has been fulfilled, there will be nothing to hold you here and no one would stop you leaving. But taking a slave who doesn’t belong to you? That’s a whole other issue.”
“Can it be done?” he repeated. If Varga refused him, he would have to make his own arrangements, and while he had no doubt that he would eventually be successful, time was not on his side.
“For the right price, I believe so. I will make some inquiries.” Varga frowned at him. “But Relkhei is not a stupid male. It won’t take him long to figure out that you are trying to bring your contract to an early end. And the timing will be suspicious.”
“I planned to choose only low-status fights. He takes little interest in them.”
“Perhaps not, but I suspect he knows everything that occurs in his organization. If you do not want to go directly to him with an explanation, perhaps we should start a rumor instead.”
“What kind of rumor?”
Varga stroked his chin again. “One possibility is that you are simply getting too old and you are ready to retire.”
Baralt bared a fang. “Didn’t you see my match yesterday?”
“I did. And I saw your knee giving you trouble. If I were a young fighter looking to make a name for myself, I would challenge you.”
“If you spread a rumor about my decrepitude, isn’t that likely to occur anyway?” he asked dryly.
“It’s a possibility. I would want to have the remaining matches scheduled before that occurred. Do you have an alternate suggestion? Perhaps a family emergency requires you to return home?”
The familiar pang washed over him. “I never intend to return home.”
“Relkhei doesn’t need to know that.” Varga regarded him thoughtfully. “And perhaps you should not be so quick to dismiss the idea. Where were you intending to go after you left?”
“I’m not really sure. A planet where my female will not be enslaved.”
“There is a difference between a planet that doesn’t support slavery and one that would protect an escaped slave. Relkhei would be within his rights to come after her. I know you don’t like to talk about Hothrest, but from what I understand, the two of you could hide away safely there—at least long enough to find out if he is going to pursue her and to make other plans.”
It was Baralt’s turn to pace to the window and stare out over the desert. As much as he hated to admit it, Varga had a good point. No outsiders were allowed on Hothrest except for at the main spaceport. But the thought of returning home and seeing all those accusing faces once again chilled his blood.
“There has to be another alternative. Aren’t there other planets that are friendly to former slaves? I thought the new Emperor has been trying to lift some of the restrictions on slavery.”
“There are, but as I said, she wouldn’t be a freed former slave, she would be an escaped slave. Unless you