Space politics sends The Protector on a mission, the failure of which could result in mass destruction. When her mission is sabotaged, the man bred from birth to be a Protector must leave his lover in order to carry out his duty. However, before he leaves, he promises to meet the white-haired H’asean at Asphodel’s Pit, one of the most dangerous dives in all the known universes, sending him off with Protector’s Brachi friend.<br><br>Meanwhile, at Asphodel’s Pit, inhabitants of other planets are going about their business. Sloff runs the dive, along with his old friend Rinig sa Bre, who provides security. Both men are unaware all hell in on the verge of breaking loose, as a Protector is about to arrive, looking for his young sir.

I Will Meet You at Asphodel's Pit

“Rin…what happened to your face?”


“That hell hole?” Sloff made a commiserating sound.


“Yeah. Skipper told him it wasn’t a good idea. I told him it wasn’t a good idea. But he wanted to go. One of his forebears was a close friend of the owner of the line. Skipper had no choice. He asked me to go with the young sir. You know what the females there are like.”


“Yeah. Lethal ain’t the word for ‘em.”


“I told him not to…” He sighed. “Might as well have kept my mouth shut.”


Rinig shook his head. “I got him out of the way before the blast went off. The worst of it was, it didn’t even hit me full on. I’d’ve been out of my misery then.”


“Even the backflash can do you pretty good.” But Sloff was glad his friend was still alive. He cupped Rinig’s face in his hand and ran his thumb over the ridged cheekbone. “Come on. Let’s go to bed.”


Chapter 6