Alex's gaze drifted from the chipped and broken red-painted entranceway to the green walls, which were barely visible underneath years of grime. She could make out a faint light coming from one of the blacked-out windows and noticed patches of cobwebs in various corners of the room. Alex couldn't be certain, but she had a feeling that Zilik had brought them to the same building they had visited before, to meet with the revolutionaries.

Anolis females in leather armor and boots filled the room. Rile, his posture deflated and voice hushed, yet still commanded attention as he gave his report. She felt a spark of guilt.

Rile should love being the center of attention. I should have executed Mina. Maybe that would make him feel better.

"I trust Rile has given you the information you need. What do we do now?"  Alex asked the crowd once he had finished.

The Anolis female stepped forward, her gaze shifting between Alex and the other Anolis. "You have fulfilled your role, mammal," she said confidently. "We'll do the rest."

Alex frowned as she shook her head in protest. "That wasn't our agreement," she said sternly.

A second Anolis approached and placed a hand on her companion's shoulder. "She's right, Reek," she said.

"We promised that creature nothing. She has her male back, thanks to our help, sister." Reek drew back her lips in a sneer, curled her claws disdainfully, and shot Alex an insolent stare.

Alex could feel her temper boiling, and her cheeks turned red with anger. Zilik and Rile stepped forward, each placing a restraining hand on her shoulder, but she shrugged them off as she snarled at Reek. "Thanks to your help? I'm sick of you, Reek. If you oppose me, do it openly."

Riley yanked her back, making sure to keep himself between them and the Anolis. "Alex, you idiot," he snarled under his breath.

She spun around and gave him a hard shove on the shoulder. Her eyes were blazing with determination as she locked gazes with him. "Let go," she said firmly. "This is a female thing."

Zilik looked back and forth between Alex and Rile, his hide shifting from a deep forest green to an irate scarlet.

"Alex, do you intend to fight every female Anolis warrior on this planet?" He asked, spreading his hands apart in exasperation.

Alex ran her hand along the leather-wrapped hilt of her sword, before meeting Zilik's gaze. "Why not? They're all sadistic, lying, morons."

Rile shook his head sadly before mumbling under his breath, "She's hopeless."

Alex stepped threateningly toward her opponent. Her stance was full of righteous anger and righteous indignation, her eyes were smoldering coals. "You're confident, Reek. Is it because you see the cuts Cla gave me? Ask yourself: are you as good as her? You see a mammal with soft skin, but is that all I am? Your sister knows me for the desperate creature I am. I've lost everything, my home, my friends, my sleep-mate. What do I care what happens to me? What do I care if I die, as long as you join me?"

Reek, unnerved, stepped back against her sister and held up her hands. Reek took an instinctive step back towards her sister; raised her hands, palms facing outward in a weak gesture of surrender.

Reek's sister spoke calmly, but her words sent a chill through the room. "She's right. Such a driven one should not be toyed with. If she wants to die for the true Kuni, that is her right."

The statement seemed to infuriate Reek who jumped forward, dagger in hand, and shouted, "No, it's not her right!" Her gaze was fierce and wild as she pointed her blade at her Alex. "Weapons, mammal."

Alex now always wore her forearm shields under her long sleeves. Alex pulled the dagger that Zilik had gifted her. It was a foot long with a double-sided blade tapered down to a needle-point. It had with Chameleons etched on it so finely that Alex couldn't feel them when she brushed her fingertips across them. Chameleons also decorated the crosspiece and they matched her forearm shields. Zilik had made sure that the crosspiece was functional as well as beautiful, curved so that it could bind another blade.

A pebbly textured hide covered the handle, held in place with bronze wire, making grooves that fit Alex's fingers perfectly. The pommel was large but perfectly balanced, and set with a large turquoise.

"This is stupid," Rile objected.

Zilik rolled one eye at Reek and kept the other eye fixed on Alex. "You're being irrational."

"I said this was a female thing," Alex snapped. "Not a rational thing or a smart thing."

The Anolis cleared a space in the otherwise crowded room and shrank back as Reek stepped forward, breathing threats. Alex stood tall, her eyes narrowed in disdain. With a quick step to the side, she avoided the first clumsy rush of her attacker.

Alex's lip curled in a sneer. "You're pathetic. How dare you compare yourself to Cla?"

Reek met Alex's gaze and spoke through gritted teeth. "I'll finish what Cla started and peel off your tender mammal skin."

"I'll make a purse and boots out of your hide." A sinister glint shone in Alex's. Then she clouted Reek across her head as she passed.

Reek stumbled as she tried to regain his stance, anger and determination clear in her posture as she lunged at Alex with a dagger. Her blade sliced through the air, but missed her target. Alex swiftly moved her body out of its path and came back with an agile slash of her own. Reek used the momentary closeness between them to thrust forward and punch her hard in the stomach.

Gasping for breath, Alex staggered back, giving Reek just enough time to dive at her again. She dodged his attack by weaving to the side and raised both hands, gripping her dagger tightly between them. In one swift move she brought down the handle of the dagger against the base of Reek's neck. She shook violently before collapsing to the ground in a heap.

Alex snapped Reek's head back and dragged her dagger across her neck. Alex soaked her fingers in the blood and drew them across her own face. In the stunned silence that followed, Alex released Reek, who collapsed to the floor. Her sister rushed to her.

Alex's face was as cold and hard as a glacier when she spoke. "She's not dead. She wasn't worth it. Yet."

All the Anolis looked to the pair on the ground, and the sister nodded. "Her heartbeat is strong, and the cut is shallow."

Rile gave a rare nod of approval, his respect obvious in his voice as he said, "Good one, Alex."

Alex looked around the room, dagger in hand. "I thought you might like that last touch. So, who's next? Who else challenges my claim to die for the true Kuni? I still need a purse and boots."

The room was deadly quiet as she twirled the dagger between his fingers. She abruptly stopped and held it close to her chest, eyes blazing with determination. "Very well, let's get down to business then."

**

Razz stood expectantly with a pile of white cloth bandages, and Alex felt an immediate frustration. Her gaze flicked to Rile who smiled warmly at the small Anolis male.

"Thanks for the vote of confidence," Alex said with barely contained bitterness.    

Razz paused, a knowing glint in his eye. He then spoke softly, "If I wasn't so sure of you, I would have prepared the embalming herbs for your body already."

Alex huffed and crossed his arms over his chest. "Nice recovery, Razz. But as you can see, I'm doing just fine, and I won the fight too."

Razz's gaze fell to the ground as he tried to contain a smile. "Of course, you won. Why don't you take a seat and I will give you a massage? Would you care to enter the bath?"

Rile eagerly nodded his head and Alex gasped, shaking her head quickly in protest. Razz's lips curved up into an understanding smile as he stepped closer to Alex and opened his arms invitingly. She melted against him, pressing his forehead to her chest while her arms draped around his neck.

         "I'm sorry for snarking at you," she muttered before pulling away.

He stepped closer, his breath warm against her skin as he nuzzled just under her collarbone. "I do not know what 'snark' means, but you never have to apologize to me."

          "You deserve apologies." Alex lifted his face up to hers, and for a moment, their eyes locked in an unspoken exchange. "You're no longer a slave, or property. You're a living being with rights like the rest of us. Do not accept abuse, verbal or otherwise, from anyone."

Razz gazed at her with such adoration that Alex blushed and nudged him away.

          "Who did you fight?" Razz asked.

Razz gestured to the bed, and Alex followed him, sinking into the mattress with a sigh. Razz's hands were nimble as he kneaded her shoulders and she felt a little of the tension melt away. Rile scrambled over, taking up residence beside her while Dex settled in the armchair like a small, watchful owl.

          "Some Anolis female. They all look alike to me."

Rile laughed, but Razz persisted, "What was her name?"

          "I don't remember," Alex said. "Something like 'smells bad'."

Razz stopped massaging her shoulders and peered around to look at her face. "I do not understand. That is not how Anolis females are named."

          "Stench?" Alex squinted in concentration and then snapped her fingers. "Oh, that's right, Reek."

Razz gasped and whispered the terrible name into the air, while Dex whimpered and buried his face in his hands.

          "What? She was a terrible fighter. Nothing to worry about." Alex tried to reassure them, but her words fell flat.

          "It's not her fighting prowess that worries me," Raz said. "She holds a lot of sway politically and has some powerful allies."

          "Her followers saw Alex defeat her soundly," Rile nodded and adjusted his sword belt. "I wouldn't worry about them."

          "Let's have a drink," Alex's eyes twinkled, and she grinned at Razz. "You're more uptight than me."

          "Agreed," Razz said.

After two drinks, Alex stumbled to the bed, Rile and Razz on either side of her like loyal guard dogs. Dex hesitated before settling in next to his brother. The scent of jasmine hung in the air, a gift from a Chameleon's incense box. Outside, the moon cast a soft glow through the windowpane. The four of them lay still, basking in the silence until their breathing synchronized into a deep slumber. It was then that Razz slipped out of bed and disappeared into the night.

***

Alex opened her eyes to find the end of Rile's index finger twirling her hair. The movement was gentle yet persistent. She felt a flush of heat and quickly sat up, awkwardly patting down her hair in embarrassment that it had felt so good.

         "Uh, where's Razz?" she asked.

Rile shrugged his shoulders and looked at Dex, who had since curled himself up in the chair. The tiny Anolis male shook his head solemnly.

Alex's forehead creased with worry. "Let's split up and find him. He was too worried about that Reek. Now I'm worried he's hatching some plot about her."

          "That would be like him," Rile agreed. "I'll take the west wing, you take the east. Dex, you wait here for him."

****

After several dead ends, Alex tread softly down the hallway, feeling the walls for any sign of life. Finally, through a crack in the wooden door, she heard Razz's faint, muffled cries. Adrenaline surged through her veins as she sprinted towards it and kicked open the door with a loud bang. With sword in hand, she faced off against an Anolis female molesting Razz.

"Get. Your. Hands. Off. Razz. This. Second." Alex compacted fury into each syllable. 

This is tiring. For a little guy who's supposedly terrified, he sure gets around a lot. Rile's right about Razz and his manipulative abilities.

"Why? He's mine, and I can do with him as I wish," the Anolis female said.

"He belongs to only himself. I emancipated him."

The Anolis spoke sternly, "You did, but he gave that up."

Alex let out a disbelieving grunt and took a few confident steps forward.

The female warrior shifted her weight, lifted her foot, and kicked the gold freedom collar in front of Alex's feet. She glared at him with narrowed eyes and said, "Ask him yourself.

"Alex held her sword in guard position. "Razz, tell me she's lying. You know I'll protect you. Don't be afraid of her."

"It is true," Razz said, small and miserable.

"What?" Alex's hand convulsed around her sword hilt. "Coercion to give up emancipation is not valid. Release him."

Razz stood before Alex, hands clasped in desperation. "She did not coerce me, it is for the best," he pleaded. His words echoed through the room as Alex stared at him with an unforgiving expression. "Please go. Please?" Razz's voice grew softer with each passing second, but Alex remained unmoved.

"Not until I know what's going on," Ales finally said.

I'm not leaving without Razz. I can lie really well.

"I'll explain. Razz traded his emancipation for your protection," the female said.

"What?"

I'm saying that a lot lately.

The Anolis warrior's voice was low and gravelly, but Alex could make out every word. "I know of Reek's plot to kill you and who her followers are. I told him I would thwart it and guard your backside during the revolution. There are those on both sides who wish you dead."

"Razz. You do not. Under any circumstances. Trade your freedom. To protect me." Alex felt a weight crushing her chest and took a deep breath before speaking. "I don't want your protection, much less at that price. The deal is void. Release Razz."

"You cannot declare it void."

Alex growled, "Razz, you are in the doghouse with me."

"What's a doghouse?" Razz squeaked.

"I'll tell you later," Alex replied tersely. She raised her sword and stepped forward, pointing it at the Anolis. "I challenge you for Razz."

Razz dropped to his knees, eyes full of desperation and pleading with Alex. "Alex, do not do this."

"Shut up, Razz. I told you that you were in the doghouse. No emancipation for you this time. You're staying mine."

"Traditional challenge or to the death?" the female asked.

Alex shrugged. "You choose."

"To the death."

Alex felt a rush of adrenaline as she swished her sword, eyes intent on her target. "Confident are we? Fine, I'm angry enough to kill an entire battalion of Anolis females." At Razz's protest, Alex snarled, "Shut up, Razz, this is your fault. This female you enslaved yourself to, in order to protect me, has chosen to try to kill me. What do you think of her protection now?"

The female lunged forward at startling speed, and Alex reflexively raised her arm to block the blade. Steel clanged against steel and Alex smiled maliciously.

I love the forearm shields that Zilik gave me. This female is truly stupid to not know I wear them.

Alex spun away from the female's blade, and with one powerful stroke of his sword, sent a gash across her belly. She staggered back with wide eyes, lifting her sword to defend herself. Alex kept his weapon raised, circling it around in intricate patterns so that its tip seemed to mesmerize the Anolis.

Alex slammed into the warrior with her slipstream. She crashed onto her back and gasped for breath as Alex lunged forward, sword raised. In one swift motion, Alex sliced through the air to sever the tendons in her wrist, sending her weapon clattering to the ground. Alex's blade sparkled with a menacing glint as she plunged it deep into the female's shoulder blade. With a powerful downward slash, she disabled her other arm too.

It worked so well on Mina.

Alex's eyes blazed with anger as she pressed the cold, sharp edge of her sword to the warrior's throat. The female trembled as she looked at Alex in fear, her breath coming out in short, shallow gasps.

Alex spoke through gritted teeth, her voice low and menacing. "I'm giving you a chance to live. Spread the message that no one should ever take any of my emancipated mates, not even if they are willing. If I hear otherwise, I'll come back and kill whoever dares defy me. Do you understand?"

The female nodded hastily, barely managing to whisper an affirmative.

"Tell Reek I know of her plot. C'mon Razz." Alex stalked away. "I'm too angry to speak to you now. We're returning to our quarter and you will stay there until I decide that you may leave."

Razz swallowed hard as he slowly nodded and stepped closer to Alex. He picked up the heavy gold collar that had been discarded on the ground with trembling hands. His voice shook as he replied meekly, "Yes, mistress."

"That's right, call me mistress. Don't make any more trouble for me. Your brothers need saving and that's what I'll do in this revolution. Don't risk my life needlessly by another dumb stunt like this."

I hope those harsh words sank into Razz.

***

A/N

Dedicated to faithful readers

LirahsNanton

Angel_Eyes1514

WhereTheRiverEnds

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